Fireproof Your Marriage

Fireproof Your Marriage
Let It Burn
Conforming You to the Image of Christ

If the people we work and fellowship with lived with us and had to be in a marital relationship with us, would they still respect us? A spouse has the ability to bring out the worst in us. And God did that on purpose, because a marriage relationship is designed to be a discipleship tool of the Lord to form us into the image of Christ. If we’ll see it that way rather than resisting this person, we’ll say, “God, you’re revealing things that are not like Jesus that are in me that need to be dealt with so that I can be more like You.” God uses a spouse to be like a mirror to us, and He will reveal to us how selfish we are, how greedy we can be, and how we’ll claim our own rights. There’s nothing like a spouse to reveal to his/her spouse his/her real nature. We’ve got to begin to Let it Burn!

I. Definitions of Fire - I Peter 1:5-7
A. a state, process, or instance of combustion giving off light, heat or flame.
B. A severe test; trial or torment
II. Productive Uses of Fire
A. To Purify – Proverbs 17:3, Malachi 3:3
B. To Give Light – show our darkness – Psalms 18:28
C. To Provide Direction – Exodus 13:21
D. To Provide Warmth – Mark 14:54
E. To Burn Away – Daniel 3:19-25
F. To Intensify the Aroma – burning of candles and oil – Ephesians 5:1
III. You Are Not Exempt – I Peter 5:8-9
IV. Where Does It Start? - James 4:1-10, James 1:14-15
V. What Areas of Your Life Can Stand Some Fire?
A. Attitude
1. Unforgiveness – Matthew 6:14
2. Pridefulness – Proverbs 13:10
3. Discontentment “No Satisfaction” – Proverbs 17:1
4. Independence – Matthew 19:4-6
5. Selfishness – James 3:15-17
B. Actions
1. Service – I Corinthians 7:35
2. Commitment – I Corinthians 7:29-32
3. Sacrifice/Compromise – Philippians 2:1-5
4. Conditional Love – Romans 15:5-7
5. Comments – James 3:1-12
C. Appetites
1. Greediness – Mark 7:21-23
2. Lustfulness - 1 Thessalonians 4:4-6
VI. Don’t Run From the Fire - Just Let It Burn! - Romans 8:29, Ephesians 2:10

Books, Books, and more Books

Here's a list of the books I purchased in March 2008.
It's a long list:

Thug Matrimony – Wahida Clark
Latter Rain – Vanessa Miller
The Soldier’s Lady – Michael Phillips
Perfect Timing – Brenda Jackson
No More Playas – Brenda Jackson
In Love and War – Denene Millner & Nick Chiles
Going Broke – Trista Russell
Unconditional – Geri Guillaume
In My Dreams – Monica Jackson
A Heartbeat Away – Maureen Smith
The Key Party – Lisa Nicole & Siddeeqah
Love’s Potion – Monica Jackson
Illegal Affairs – Sheila Dansby Harvey
Windswept Love – Courtni Wright
Devil in a Blue Dress – Walter Mosley
Suddenly – Sandra Kitt
Drama is her Middle Name – Wendy Williams & Karen Hunter
Chocolate Covered Forbidden Fruit – Trista Russell
Whatever it Takes – Gwynne Forster
Tastes Like Chicken – Lolita Files
Dad Interrupted – Van Whitfield
Every Reasonable Doubt – Pamela Samuels-Young
Queen of Miami – Méta Smith
Flyover States – Grace Grant & P.J. MacAllister
The Breaking Point – Maxine Billings
Shades of a Chameleon – Jdaniels
Ladies Listen Up – Darren Coleman
Enemy Fields – J. Marie Darden
Is the Bitch Dead or What? – Wendy Williams & Karen Hunter
View Park – Angela Winters
I Do? – Edwardo Jackson
Missed Conceptions – Michelle DeLeon
Help Wanted – Shawan Lewis
I Know I’ve Been Changed – ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Black Light: The African-American Hero – Paul Carter Harrison
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough – Neta Jackson
As Real As It Gets – Monica McKayhan
The Hot Spot – TaRessa
Living on the Edge of Respectability – Suzette D. Harrison
If You Dare – Adrianne Byrd
Deadly Double – Adrianne Byrd
Killer Riches – Chassie West
Good Women Blues – Lynn Emery
Love Me Like No Other – A.C. Arthur
Sugar vs. Spice – Joanne Skerrett
The Velvet Rope – Brenda L. Thomas
The Company You Keep – Angela Henry
Chocolate Princess – Joan Wright Lewis
The Justus Girls – Slim Lambright
Original Love – J. J. Murray
Destiny’s Song – Kim Louise
A Taste of Reality – Kimberla Lawson Roby
Stranger in My Arms – Rochelle Alers
Bebe’s By Golly Wow – Yolanda Joe
Beeperless Remote – Van Whitfield
Gotham Diaries – Tonya Lewis Lee & Crystal McCarthy Anthony
A Little Yellow Dog – Walter Mosley
Aloha Love – Alice Wootson
A Foreign Affair – Chilufiya Safaa
Illusive Flame – Dara Girard
Summer Breeze – Courtni Wright
Designed for You – Marcia King-Gamble
Island Rendezvous – Michelle Monkou
Foundation for Love – Doreen Rainey

I have a lot of reading to do.

American Idol Season 7 - And Then There Were 9

And the bottom 3 are as follows:














Chikezie














Syesha Mercado




















Jason Castro
















And the one voted off is:
CHIKEZIE

American Idol Season 7 - Top 10

Theme: The Year They Were Born

Ramiele Malubay, 20
Miramar, FL
“Hearts Alone” – 9/6/1987

What was up with the outfit that Ramiele was wearing? Sounded more like yelling than singing in some places.
Randy: “It wasn’t the right song choice for you. It was a little pitchy, all over the place.”
Paula: “I’m really glad America has heard you sing and how big your voice really is. You’re a very big talent in a very small package.”
Simon: “I don’t think it was as bad as Randy said. In the middle it got a bit shrieky and shouty.”





Jason Castro, 21
Rockwall, TX
“Fragile” – 3/25/1987

Every song Jason sings sounds the same. Listening to his voice over gets annoying really quick to me.
Randy: “I thought it was alright. It was very nice and pleasant. It didn’t do anything vocally, but it was nice.”
Paula: “I think you’re staying true to who you are. I don’t think we saw anything different that makes us go WOW.”
Simon: “I think you’ve had two bad weeks and I think it’s time you start taking this a little bit more seriously. That was the equivalent of someone basking outside a subway station. Everything about it was too laid back.”



Syesha Mercado, 21
Sarsota, FL
“If I Were Your Woman” - 1/2/1987

Syesha is my girl and she definitely has proven that she should be in this competition. I love the way she changes up her hair style. The natural is my favorite though. I guess I’m a little bias when it comes to that. I think she did a good job singing her song this week. Really showed her vocals.
Randy: “I think this is the best I’ve ever heard you sing including when you auditioned. I think it was stellar, I think it was unbelievable, I’m shocked, I’m loving it.”
Paula: “This is going to be the moment that everyone remembers, that Syesha flipped it. It was your most brilliant.”
Simon: “Syesha, it was definitely the best so far. I don’t think the end part was as good as Randy thought. I think there is a limit on your vocal and that you sort of stretched it.”

Chikezie, 22
Inglewood, CA
“If Only For One Night” - 9/11/1985
I like it better when Chikezie sings his ballads. That’s what I think he does better at and if that’s what he likes, then that’s what he needs to do. However, a Luther song is not one he should have tried to do. He did the song no justice at all.
Randy: “I didn’t love it for you man. It was very old school. It wasn’t hip and cool. It was just kind of boring for me.”
Paula: “I disagree Randy. I think that you did a great job.”
Simon: “I think you sang it well. I think the performance was very cheesy.”

Brooke White, 24
Mesa, AZ
“Every Breath You Take” – 6/4/1983
Brooke made a big mistake. She started off messing up the song and started over again. I think it’s amazing that she has always played the piano by sound and not by sheet music. I don’t think this performance was as good as some of the others that she has given.
Randy: “I thought the front part of it was very good. I did not love the arrangement. It was just okay for me, it was alright.”
Paula: “I enjoyed this performance so much more than last week.”
Simon: “I totally agree with Randy. Definitely good enough to keep you in for another week. Brooke, better than last week.”

Michael Johns, 29
Buckhead, GA
“We Will Rock You/We Are the Champion” - 10/20/1978
I have no idea what Michael’s performance was about tonight. I just didn’t get it.
Randy: “Finally you believe in yourself and use that big ol’ voice you got. That was the best performance since you’ve been on this show.”
Paula: “This was your shining moment. I’m so proud of you.”
Simon: “This is the first time with you that I saw star potential. Tonight you just got it right.”

Carly Smithson, 24
San Diego, CA
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” - 9/12/1983
I wasn’t happy at first about Carly being in this competition but I have to say that she is pretty good and she has been pretty consistent to me. She really does have a good voice and her performance tonight was good.
Randy: “Very interesting song choice, I didn’t love it, I liked it. It was just okay for me.”
Paula: “I love what you did at the end. Carly, you could do no wrong tonight.”
Simon: “Something kind of didn’t quite work. I didn’t enjoy as much as I thought I was going to enjoy.”

David Archuletta, 17
Murray, UT
“You’re the Voice” - 12/28/1990
I did not like David’s performance tonight and that doesn’t make me very happy. I was really wanting him to have unbelievable performances so that he can make it to the top 3 or 4. But because he can sing and he is so cute, maybe he’ll still make it but eventually he’s going to have to step up his performances.
Randy: “It was a strange song choice. David’s got mad skills. Very nice.”
Paula: “David you could sing the phone book and we’d fall in love with it.”
Simon: “You sang it well in parts. I actually didn’t like the performance at all. I thought it was very reminiscent of a theme park performance.”

Kristy Lee Cook, 24
Selma, OR
“God Bless the U.S.A.” - 1/18/1984
Even though I full heartedly believe that Kristy should have been voted off a very long time ago, I think her performance tonight was decent. Especially compared to all the weeks past.
Randy: “Other than some pitchy spots, I thought it was a very nice performance for you.”
Paula: “It was a very good choice for you. I’ve seen better performances from you. You’re voice is sounding much strong. Watch the pitch problems.”
Simon: “You best performance by a mile. It was the most clever song choice that I’ve heard in years. I think overall it was a good performance.”

David Cook, 25
Blue Springs, MO
“Billy Jean” - 12/20/1982
David has that rock sound. And I hate to admit it but he really does have a good voice. But, I did not like the way he did this song. But it could be because I couldn’t get the Michael Jackson version out of my head.
Randy: “I think you’re probably the most original and most bold contestant we’ve ever had. And what you just did, dude you might be the one to win the whole lot. Hot! Blazing, molting, hot!”
Paula: “I’m blown away. I think you’re brilliant. I think you can beat this thing.”
Simon: “That was brave. It could have either been insane or amazing. It was amazing.”

American Idol Season 7 - And Then There Were 10

Here are your bottom 3 - one of these 3 will not be in the top 10.

Carly Smithson

Kristy Lee Cook

Amanda Overmyer

And the one who will not be returning is:

Amanda Overmyer

American Idol Season 7 - Top 11

Top 11 - The Beatles Theme




































Amanda Overmyer, 23
Mulberry, IN
"Back in the U.S.S.R."
Amanda did not do a very good job on her song. The arrangment just wan't good. Once again, she had that strained voice that I just don't like.
Randy: "For me, I got to give you a 7 out of 10 for that."
Paula: "The timing was a little off but when you connect, you are essential, authentic, who you are."
Simon: "It was what it was. It was predictable, it was a bit of a mess in parts, it's just the same week after week. You are in danger of becoming actually a bit boring.



Kristy Lee Cook, 24
Selma, OR
"You've Got To Hide Your Love Away"
I felt the song was pitchy and the performance was quite boring. She didn't do much.
Randy: "It flet a little boring and really safe and I'm not even sure you were singing the melody in the chorus right."
Paula: "It was a little safe."
Simon: "I think you need something like hypnosis because the problem is that you're not a good performer. The last 2 seconds were okay. It's like musical wall paper - you notice it but you can't remember it."





David Archuleta, 17
Murray, UT
"The Long And Winding Road"
David has a good voice but the performance just didn't have the "WOW" factor.
Randy: David Archuleta has brought the hotness back to his game tonight with that one."
Paula: "This probably for me is the most exciting and wonderful performance."
Simon: "Last week was a complete mess, this week I thought you were amazing."


Michael Johns, 29
Buckhead, GA
"A Day In The Life"

Although last week I didn't know who Michael John was, I liked the first part of his song. But then it went downhill in the middle and then good at the end. Not bad at all.

Randy: "It wasn't your best performance."
Paula: "I was able to catch a little of your dress rehearsal and you were phenomenal then."

Simon: "It was a mess. You didn't hit the right notes and the song went all over the place."


Brooke White, 24
Mesa, AZ
"Here Comes The Sun"

I like Brooke but I just didn't care for her song choice nor her performance.
Randy: "That performance was really awkward for me for the first time for you."
Paula: "You can't help but smile when you watch you and listen to you sing."

Simon: "I thought the performance was terrible. From the horrible dancing to the absolute lack of conviction. It was wet. It was forgettable."


David Cook, 23
Blue Springs, MO
"Day Tripper"

Just like the other performances thus far, David's performance did nothing for me. But his performance has been the only star-like one so far.
Randy: "It's like going to another song at a David Cook concert. I don;t know if it was your best performance but it's another solid look for David Cook. I love it."

Paula: "There's not really much anyone else can say because you're ready to go sale records."
Simon: "I don't think that was as good as you thought it was actually. You looked a bit smug throughout. You've lost your element of surprise a little bit."


Carly Smithson, 24
San Diego, CA
"Blackbird"

Another boring performance. But Carly does have an excellent voice.
Randy: "Another great performance. Very nice, very controlled, very emotive. I love that man. Very nice."

Paula: "You have an amazing tone to your voice. The arrangement was beautiful."
Simon: "You chose a song about a blackbird. I don't think that was a very smart thing to do. Becuase I thought the song was indulgent. I didn't like the song at all."




Jason Castro, 20
Rockwall, TX
"Michelle"

I just can't understand why Jason Castro is still in this competition. I just don't think he's a very good performer or singer.


Randy: "I was very subdued by you this time. I don't know. I don't know if I really got it. It was just alright for me."
Paula: "You have a very distinct charm about you. It was just a little uncomfortable for me."

Simon: "Your face sold that. If I was just listening to that French/English version on the radio, it would be off."

Syesha Mercado, 21
Sarasota, FL
"Yesterday"

Syesha is my girl. She just seems like a really cool and fun person. She did well on her song but the performance - like all the others - was boring.
Randy: "In my estimation - very, very, very good performance tonight."
Paula: "That vulnerability is really where you need to be because that sets you a part from everyone else. The only thing I would work on is connecting more with your eyes and really connecting with the audience."
Simon: "Syesha, I thought that was probably your best performance so far. It wasn't incredible but you chose the best song. I thought you sung the song very very well."



Chikezie, 22
Englewood, CA
"I've Just Seen A Face"

Horrible performance. I hate to say that because I think Chikezie is really good. I hope his peformance doesn't get him voted off.
Randy: "There was some good parts for me and some bad parts for me."

Paula: "You're showing who you are. I get a whole scope of who you are and I love you. You did it again."
Simon: "I thought it started off okay and then you played the harmonica which was literally atrocious and then it turns into achy breaky heart at the end. I thought it was gimmacky."


Ramiele Malubay, 20
Miramar, FL
"I Should Have Known Better"

My first impression of this performance was a high school musical.
Randy: "You showed that confidence that I know is in there. It was alright. You did your thing."
Paula: "Definitely better than last week."
Simon: "It sounded very amatuerish."

American Idol Season 7 - And Then There Were 11

Here are your bottom 3 - which one will not be returning in the top 11?

Syesha Mercado





















Kristy Lee Cook





















David Hernandez





















And the one who will not be returning is:

DAVID HERNANDEZ