Marriage today is struggling. Divorces, adultery, misconceptions, etc are plaguing not only the marriage itself but products of those marriages (my generation and the next). My hope in this poem is to highlight the most frequent and problematic issues marriages face today while also pointing to Jesus as the ultimate healer, redeemer, and restorer of every marriage. Whether single or married, my intention would be that this poem would allow you to look more deeply to Jesus to either better your current marriage, or prepare for your future marriage.

Poem inspiration: http://realmarriagetour.com/

Book that inspired the poem: http://amzn.to/zdxCFv

Jeff’s INFO:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeffersonbethkepage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jeffuhsonbethke
website: http://www.jeffbethke.com

The Real Marriage Tour kicks off this February with 7 tour stops, starting in Corona, California. To celebrate, we’ll be giving away a special-edition, Real Marriage iPad 2 preloaded with Pastor Mark’s entire sermon archive, thanks to Logos Bible Software, as well as the following ebooks, courtesy of Vyrso:

Preloaded Books by Mark Driscoll

• Real Marriage
• Doctrine
• Religion Saves
• Disciple
• Death by Love
• Vintage Church
• Vintage Jesus
• Church Leadership
• Who Is God?
• The New Testament
• The Power of Words and the Wonder of God

How To Win

To be entered to win you can fill out the Giveaway form over on the Real Marriage Tour Facebook page  (you’re one-stop shop for all the updates on the RM Tour).

Here’s the best part: you have 7 chances to win, and the more you share, the more chances you’ll have to win. Each winner will be announced the Monday before each event. So,tell your friends on Twitter and Facebook about the contest and the Real Marriage Tour to up your chances for a free iPad 2.

If you haven’t already, make sure to check out the Real Marriage event nearest to you, or visit our Real Marriage Tour page to find out info on times and locations.

Free Ebook Offer

At The Hub we are always trying to create fun new opportunities for our conference attendees to get the most out of their conference and now we have a new offer – starting January 5th the first 75 registrants for the Real Marriage Tour will receive a free copy of Real Marriage in eBook form!

Just use Promo Code RMeBook at checkout. 

Free Autographed Book Offer

If you are planning on coming to one of the 7 conferences, round up a group of friends, purchase 10 tickets or more and you’ll receive a free autographed copy of Mark and Grace Driscoll’s book Real Marriage.

How to Get Your Free Autographed Book

When buying your group tickets of 10 or more, please enter promo code FREEBOOK at checkout.  When you arrive at the registration desk on the day of your event, just give them your name and your autographed copy will be given to you then.

Special-Edition iPad 2

The Real Marriage Tour kicks off this February with 7 tour stops, starting in Corona, California. To celebrate, we’ll be giving away a special-edition, Real Marriage iPad 2 preloaded with Pastor Mark’s entire sermon archive, thanks to Logos Bible Software, as well as the following ebooks, courtesy of Vyrso:

Preloaded Books by Mark Driscoll

• Real Marriage
• Doctrine
• Religion Saves
• Disciple
• Death by Love
• Vintage Church
• Vintage Jesus
• Church Leadership
• Who Is God?
• The New Testament
• The Power of Words and the Wonder of God

How To Win

To be entered to win you can fill out the Giveaway form over on the Real Marriage Tour Facebook page  (you’re one-stop shop for all the updates on the RM Tour).

Here’s the best part: you have 7 chances to win, and the more you share, the more chances you’ll have to win. Each winner will be announced the Monday before each event. So, tell your friends on Twitter and Facebook about the contest and the Real Marriage Tour to up your chances for a free iPad 2.

If you haven’t already, make sure to check out the Real Marriage event nearest to you, or visit our Real Marriage Tour page to find out info on times and locations.

The Hub is always looking to bring you the best Bible teaching and in 2012 we have some exciting new studies to complement the digital studies we already offer. We are partnering with leading publisher Zondervan to bring you The Reason for God by Tim Keller & Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas as well as many more. You can already download and watch bible studies from John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, Tom Nelson and Nancy Guthrie. These studies are high quality digital format perfect for people on the go with iPhones, iPads or Android devices.

To pair with your Bible Study we have PDF of study guides available as well for just $1.99.

Also, be sure and check out this great opportunity to win a fully loaded iPad complete with Mark Driscoll’s sermons and books – Enter Now.

Your friends all tell you “Don’t get into a rush, you’ll find the ‘Right One’ soon…” but you expected “soon” to have happened years ago and so you have grown impatient and maybe even a little angry. Trust me. I know. At 35 I’m still single. I’ve had a lot of great relationships (and a few not-so-great) but for some reason (God) they never worked out. I tried various dating sites and participated in various singles groups at church, but here I am, still single – just where God wants me.

I think that as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to appreciate the freedom that being single provides, but more than that, I’ve learned to understand that there can be a joy in the anticipation of waiting. Immediate gratification starts to sour after a while and always getting what we want can really take the fun out of waiting for something great…

This Holiday season is the first year that I have heard of Advent. I’ve been a Christian for 30 years and very active in church and ministry and so how has this wonderful tradition escaped me? While attending The Village Church in Denton they showed us this great video. It is a “must-watch” this Holiday season.

Advent: God With Us from The Village Church on Vimeo.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait…

I love this video and how it repeatedly says that the Israelites “Waited”. They waited on a Savior, they waited on Jesus. They waited for this Messiah that was going to set them free from the curse of the law. Abraham and Sarah waited. Over and over in the Bible we see people waiting for the Lord and when they wait patiently, there is this great blessing. But what happens when we get impatient? What happened with Abraham, Sarah and Hagar? We try to come up with alternative solutions that circumvent God’s perfect plan for us and in the end it only leaves us miserable and in pain.

So this year I rejoice in knowing that the Lord has something great in store for me whether that is a single life which allows me much more freedom and flexibility or a wife (and kids?) that will allow for more challenges and opportunity to grow. Either way I’m complete in Jesus Christ. This year I’m not looking around for a woman to fill some Holiday void. There are no voids this season. This year I’m focused on Jesus, His birth and His ultimate gift and I wait patiently, but with much anticipation and joy, for his return.

Be blessed this Holiday Season!

-Eddie Renz

Eddie is an avid fan of Lord of the Rings, Adobe Software, Dr. Pepper and Apple products. He is the graphic and web designer for The Hub.

We are warming up the Holiday’s by giving away 5 Kindle Fire’s!

Starting Monday November 14th thru Friday December 16th we will be giving away a Kindle Fire every Friday. Keep it for yourself or give it to someone you love!

How do you win?

Follow Us on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and make sure you have mobile notifications turned on.

We will be tweeting a winner every Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. CST. You will have 15 minutes to claim your Kindle Fire, if you don’t claim it, we pick another winner. We will keep tweeting winners until we get one and so you’ll want to be following us on your mobile phone so you can win!

Why Follow The Hub?

The Hub is your source for great Biblical Truth from today’s most popular Bible teachers: Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, Tommy Nelson, John Piper & more!

We use Facebook and Twitter to communicate Free Bible Teaching, Amazing Study Specials and of course fun contests – but we also want to keep you updated on what is happening with our Real Marriage Tour 2012 featuring Mark Driscoll, behind the scenes photos, advanced previews of new books and other relevant news and updates.

How do I Mobile Follow on Twitter?

It’s easy. Just follow us @gotothehub on Twitter and then look for the small phone icon. Click on it and it will turn on mobile notifications. For detailed instructions click here.

Note: Void where Prohibited. Must be 18 years old to win with a valid shipping address. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash value.

Starting November 1st through December 1st we will be giving away a DVD Box Set of Matt Chandler’s extremely popular teaching series every Friday. We love to connect socially and share the truth of God’s word and you can help us by following us on Twitter and Liking us on Facebook.

How do I Win?

It’s so easy to win. “Like” The Hub on Facebook and then leave us your favorite quote by Matt Chandler on our wall on Monday – Wednesday or Follow Us on Twitter and write your favorite Matt Chandler quote with the hashtag #ChandlerQuote . We will pick a winner at random. One from Facebook and one from Twitter.

Rules for Winning

1. You must be 18 years old to win with a valid mailing address.
2. The prize cannot be redeemed for any cash value.
3. This contest is void where prohibited.

Order before November 15th and save 25%. Use code "ThanksgivingSOS" at checkout. » shop now

Give up lesser pursuits and make your life count for eternity. Ask the average person to sum up his or her ideal life, and you the American dream: College. Job. Marriage. House. Kids. Comfortable income. Cushy retirement. But God has designed us for far more than this. Rather than wasting life on lesser pursuits, the members of your church, ministry or small group can, with this high-impact resource, awaken to the soul-saving reality that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Help us connect people to truth. Like Us on Facebook.