Welcome to the Truth@Life Blog Site by Curtis Songer


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There are 5 threads of thought in this blog site:
1. Church Stuff - things pertaining to the evangelical Christian Church of today
2. Leadership Corner - concepts on management & leadership
3. Two Becoming One - principles of marriage enrichment
4. Train Up a Child - principles of parenting
5. Personal Thoughts - my mental ramblings on how God is growing me

I highly recommend you find an entry on one of these topics that interests you and click on that label at the end of that entry. It will bring up all the entries on that particular category. And be sure to check out the great web site links in the lower right corner of this page - Enjoy!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Is It Enough?

Through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:12


It began as a short, one-night romantic getaway for Martin and Gracia Burnham. It turned into a year-long nightmare when armed Philippine rebels burst into their cabin and took them hostage. These humble, hardworking missionaries, whose hearts had been wedded to their work in the Philippines, now found themselves with a handful of other captives, trudging at gunpoint through the tropical jungles of this island nation.

By the time it was all over, Martin was dead from a stray bullet fired during their rescue. Gracia escaped but was a widow. There are many amazing accounts of faith recorded in Gracia's autobiography, In the Presence of My Enemies, describing the events and emotions of those harrowing 12 months. But one of the most haunting was one she shared with us one day in a radio interview.

As their hostage odyssey neared Easter, Martin and Gracia were told by their captors that a sizable amount of ransom money had appeared in the camp. Gracia's family had collected it, hoping against hope that it would be sufficient to satisfy the terrorists' demands. But in the typical fashion of irrational diplomacy, the leaders of the group called the couple over and made this curt pronouncement: "There is a ransom that's been paid for you, but we've decided it's not enough."

That really struck me, especially with "Easter" and "ransom" being mentioned in such close proximity. How tragic would it be to go through life, not knowing for sure whether Christ's payment -- His ransom for us -- was enough. What if our lives, instead of being safe and secure in the arms of His forever provision, were still teetering in limbo, subject to the changing whims of an unpredictable, unjust God?

There are many things in this life we do worry about. But thankfully, we won't have to worry about our eternal salvation. His (Jesus) ransom has already been declared complete and acceptable on our behalf.

Please comment below or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Five Essentials for a Thriving Marriage

The following are 5 essentials for a growing, thriving marriage:

1. Be thankful for your spouse.
The demands of life, family, and work can cloud your attitude toward the one you chose to accompany you through life. Thanking God often for your spouse is a practical way to focus on what is good and admirable about him or her. It is helpful to occasionally reflect on the early days and recall what attracted you, what made you pledge your life and love to each other, and be thankful.

2. Practice communicating from the heart.
It is vital to communicate authentically in both the good and the difficult times of marriage. As you grow together, you will learn more about the how and when of communicating well with your spouse, so pay attention to what works and what doesn't. Transparent conversation where each of you risks revealing your deepest thoughts, ideas, fears, hopes, and dreams creates the strong foundation of a lasting marriage.

3. Be intimate.
From relational intimacy springs sexual intimacy. The safety of being known and still being accepted--in spite of our flaws--finds its expression in marriage through sex. It is a gift to married couples from God. Relational and sexual intimacy keeps a marriage from deteriorating into little more than a legally arranged partnership. Remember, it takes time and attentiveness to nurture this kind of relationship.

4. Practice the power of forgiveness.
Because we are broken, imperfect human beings, we will fail our spouse repeatedly. We will focus on flaws, cease to communicate, and offend each other without trying. All of this demands a steady supply of forgiveness. There is great power in forgiveness; it says, "The fight is over and I will not try to punish you." Failing marriages can be revived by forgiveness; healthy marriages are sustained by it.

5. Be teachable.
Marriages are always a work in progress. Each spouse is changing and developing, which means there are new things to learn at every age. Sometimes marriages run into problems that need the help of a third party. If this happens in your marriage, find someone who will work in support of your marriage, not just agree with your grievances. Make sure this person is committed to both Christ and the two of you.

As you break from the noise of your day to reflect on the ways God is blessing you through the life of your spouse, I pray that your heart will be filled with gratitude for this gift He has given--someone to love and to be loved by - fashioned by the Creator especially for you. I pray God will show you ways to express your heart openly to your spouse so the two of you will grow even closer. I pray that you will enjoy intimacy of soul and body and that your passion becomes fuller and deeper each day. I pray that the love in your marriage will be so real, so vibrant, so lasting that all who see it will know God gave this love to you.

Please comment below or respond via email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

An Update on the Songer Family

Many people have been asking how we are doing as we transition off staff at New Community Church, so here is an update...

We have very fond memories of our years of service at New Community and the many ministries we helped to get started there: the AWANA children’s discipleship program, the College Ministry, Compassion Days, the Prayer Ministry, the Mission Team, the TLC adult discipleship classes on Wednesday nights, the growth of the 20-something ministry via the innovative Sunday Night Worship service, and re-establishing the church-wide community events - just to name a few! I will also forever remember and be grateful for the countless opportunities to counsel with, pray for, and cry with people going the difficulties and trials that make up life. It was the best part of my job as Executive Pastor. Martha and I love all those whose lives have touched us and who have allowed us to be a part of their lives.

The severance package the church provided us with comes to an end in on May 31. We have no other source of income at this time. Given our ongoing financial recovery from going into ministry 2.5 years ago, we are in a very difficult position financially. So much so that I have even considered leaving the ministry and going back into business in order to feed and clothe my family. The job search has been going exceedingly slow despite our diligent efforts. Many positions have been applied for, inside and outside of Pittsburgh, both in ministry and in business. Some interviews have occurred, but no jobs have materialized. At this point, it is still the strong desire of our heart to stay in Pittsburgh and to stay in ministry. The thought of leaving the ministry makes me grieve – it feels like the death of a close friend.

Although it has not been easy, we continue to have faith that God has a marvelous plan for our family. To date, we are not sure what that plan entails. We still believe that we are called to remain in ministry and in Pittsburgh. Since no ministry positions have become available, we are even praying about the possibility of starting a new church, focused on family ministries and helping those in need. This would be a huge undertaking, so I would love to hear your feedback on this idea.

Consequently, your prayers are still desperately needed and appreciated. In addition, if you have any ideas or ways that you can help us (e.g., job referrals, godly advice), please let us know – soon!

Your Brother & Sister In Christ,
Curtis & Martha Songer
10570 Crest Rd.
Wexford, PA 15090
248-396-6255

If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com