Bob Moeller is a pastor who cares deeply about marriages and helping couples connect their hearts for a lifetime. Bob is an in-demand conference and retreat speaker, an author, and television host.
Cheryl Moeller is an author, comedian and homemaker who ministers to women's groups all across the nation.
Since
the Titanic's demise, there has been much speculation of what went on
aboard this ship, when finally those left behind did not have an ounce
of hope to board a life boat. Some of the life boats were whisked and
whirled in a downward effect from the suction of the steamliner going
under, losing their lives.
The
Captain could not comprehend that his ship was in such deep distress
until the water was ankle deep in the mail room. It was then that he
realized that the multi-layered hull had been cracked making sinking
inevitable. Ships that could have been sent to rescue the Titanic were
not called upon until it was too late.
While we have to give the movie, Titanic, originally released in 1997, now Titanic 3-D, high points for its accuracy in portraying the facts, the message of the movie is a hopelessness about death and life.
Some
people say they have an uncanny, almost eerie fascination with the
Titanic and the Titanic Movie. Some people will go and see the movie
because everyone else is. Some will go many, many times.
How
can it be that the movie so many people have claimed to be so powerful
and beautiful is really an idolization and exaltation of sin and and
living large when last breathes on this earth are breathed? Faced with
death, sinning greatly in the last moments is not a beautiful thing.
Sin never celebrates life, but breeds death. It's being proud of what
we should be ashamed of.
I read a one sentence review of the Titanic, "The movie, Titanic, makes me cry ...it's so full of love ♥"
Really? Is it?
The
movie, Titanic, in the 15 years since it's release has lied to it's
viewers. Having pre-marital sex as you face eternity is not beautiful.
This is not love.
It's real powerful, but the power is not of God, so it's not the kind of power that you want or should desire. Some of you reading this article will say, don't worry about it, it's just a story.
The
problem is that people, young and old, leave the theater believing the
lie that drama in life or death, as long as it's powerful, is also
beautiful. And, some of them, more than you know, will be inspired to
pretend and play out the "beauty" and the "power." But friends, life is
not a drama, we are living real lives and the winner takes all, heaven
or hell.
The Movie, Titanic, makes me cry. It makes me cry because it is a lie.
But
the truth is, as a non-believer, IF you are given any notice that this
will be your final moments, I pray that you would call out to Jesus to
save you from your sins, not delve deeper into them.
If you
know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and you are awake to face
your final moments, may your voice be filled with the Gospel message to
all those who can hear and your hands be lifted high to welcome the
angels coming to carry you to your eternal home.
My
fascination is not eerie with the Titanic; it's a heart filled with
sorrowful concern and love. Jesus looked over a city and wept. Those
that don't know the Lord today in 2012; they are on a "Titanic."
The Good News of Jesus Christ is that there are unlimited life boats for ALL who repent and believe.
- Cheryl Moeller, written on the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic
"But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57
Remember, marriage is for better for worse for keeps.
Run for Your Life or Ruin Your Life? Very
few affairs begin with someone waking up one morning and saying, "I am
going to ruin my life, marriage, and family by having an affair with
someone today." On the other hand, affairs don't start in a vacuum.
They start with you playing with fire, whether you know it or not,
whether you care or not.
Do whatever it takes today
to avoid an affair. Begin by running and then keep running. Change
friends, change churches, change jobs, resign from a Board or move to a
different neighborhood today.
"Run
from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one
does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body." 1 Corinthians 6:18
The Bible gives a one word answer to sexual temptation - "Run!"
If you
stay to discuss, pray or rationalize, you are putting yourself at risk
of losing the battle. Remember, hormones have no intelligence or
character. Christian maturity is when you act upon Biblical truth and values, not feelings.
Let
us say a word to anyone who is struggling right now with an intense
temptation to stray from your vows. Please realize that it isn't love
drawing you to the other person. It is actually illicit desire, acting
as an emotional anesthetic, which promises to deaden the pain in your
heart. You don't love the other person; you need help.
And, can
we say this in the strongest and plainest terms possible? The strong
attraction you feel to the other person is not from God.
(Galatians 5:16-17)
May
we also say, the war going on inside you is a real conflict. It isn't a
harmless emotional struggle simply between the good and the best,
boredom and excitement, or Option A or Option B. It's an all out
winner-take-all loser-is-destroyed ruinous war between good and evil,
blessing and destruction, and ultimately life and death.
Proverbs 5:3-5 lays it on the table,
"For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother
than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged
sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the
grave."
Satan
is lieing to you right now and telling you that you have made some steps
in the wrong direction, so now it's inevitable. That is a big fat
lie. Run in the opposite direction instead. Run. Run. Run.
During
this week of Holy Week, we want you to get real honest with God about
some relationships that need to be cut out and off in your life. This
includes even members of the opposite sex you could or would say you are
"only friends" with at this point.
8 Reasons Why it's Wrong and Dangerous to Have a Close Personal Friend of the Opposite Sex, if you are Married?
1. If they are similar in age or potentially attractive to you, there is a problem.
2. Every love affair begins as a friendship, just as your marriage did.
3. As you spend time alone together (or even in a group), a deeper connection can develop.
4. You can learn to turn to them for emotional support (rather than your spouse).
5. The energy that should go to your spouse, now goes to your friendship with this other person.
6. Once the two of you share secrets, you've entered the danger zone.
7. Your emotional bond easily opens the door to a physical one.
8. Your heart is now divided in a way God never intended it to be.
Do
whatever it takes today to avoid or stop an affair. Begin by
running and then keep running. Change friends, change churches,
change jobs, resign from a Board (even a church Board or committee) or
move to a different neighborhood today.
This year for Lent
it's more important to give up your "girlfriend" instead of soda pop,
gluten or chocolate. Run from the "girlfriend" or "boyfriend", so you
don't get ruined.
"Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well." Proverbs 5:15
"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."Proverbs 4:23
-Bob and Cheryl
Remember, marriage is for better for worse for keeps.
