MARKINC Ministries

Making Abundant Riches Known In the Name of Christ

Cultivating Covenant Community

Posted At : August 24, 2010 11:08 PM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Community

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

Over 4000 years ago, God made a promise to Abraham. In Galatians Paul says that if we belong to Jesus, that promise is ours as well. Abraham was a moon worshiper, minding his own business, when God stepped into his world and declared, "From this moment on, you belong to Me. I will never leave you. For the rest of your life, I will always be with you, teaching you about My character and showing you how to live a life that honors me. From you I will build a great family, a community of people who number more than the stars or the sands on the shores of the earth. I will bless every one of them who are bound to me and because of that blessing, they will be a blessing to others. This world will be a better place because of their presence."

The ramifications of this covenantal promise are unending yet very practical. It's a perfect grid through which to plan ministry or develop the vision of a local church. Try pushing every ministry or program through these questions:

  • Does it connect people?
  • Does it cultivate a covenant community?
  • Will it equip participants to reflect redemption, i.e. be a blessing to others?
  • Does it introduce participants to the call of Jesus?
  • Will it encourage participants to recognize God keeping the promise of His presence to His children?

One of the ways we implement the promises of the covenant in our church life is through small group opportunities. Every fall, we offer small group Bible studies for men and women. We believe in the exhortation of Paul to Titus, that older women should teach younger women and older men should mentor younger men. Our Family Night activities reflect our commitment to an intergenerational ministry, that is, where all ages interact and learn from one another. We're not interested in having a program just because we've always done it that way or because it's the next big idea. Instead, we are creating an environment that intentionally cultivates covenant community.

Sharon and I have written several Bible study books that were published with this covenantal grid in mind. We include hundreds of scriptures that encourage readers to reach out and touch one another, to open our hearts and minds to relationships that reflect the Proverb that "iron sharpens iron." Each book emphasizes the different aspects of covenant community.

We hope that many of you will consider using one of these books for your small group or personal study. We are offering special discounts to encourage churches and Bible study leaders to check out these resources. We're confident that God will continue to use them to help turn hearts toward Him.

If you have used one of our books, we'd love to hear your response to the study.

In His grip,

Dr. Chuck Betters



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Ten Ways to Help Divorce-Proof Your Marriage: #9 & 10

Posted At : July 18, 2010 8:50 PM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Marriage

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

9. Be transparent and honest in your communication. Most marriage counseling I do centers on teaching couples Biblical principles for communicating. We come into marriage with preconceived ideas of the right way to speak, to resolve conflicts. Even when we hate the way our parents communicated, we often find ourselves becoming just like them unless we are determined by God's grace to break the chains of the past. Observe how others communicate, study Biblical principles and be accountable to one another for practicing communication that builds up rather than tears down. Often a couple does not realize how their communication reflects badly on their relationship to Christ. As trusted friends what does your communication reveals about your relationship to one another? You may be very surprised.

10. Learn to embrace pain as your friend. This is perhaps one of the most difficult principles to live out. The hard places in marriage are God's sandpaper designed to smooth out the rough places in our characters. There is no better woman in the world for me than my wife. I know this because we are married and God's design is for her to complete me. Our relationship not only brings joy and pleasure, it also is an opportunity for us to become more like Christ. Marriage requires sacrifice, seeing our spouse's needs as more important than our own. Such moments are often painful and yet that is the model of Christ. And isn't He the One whom we are to emulate in all of life? So with Jesus I encourage you to "go home to your family and tell them [by the way you treat them, love them, encourage them] how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you."

In His grip,

Chuck and Sharon



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Ten Ways to Help Divorce-Proof Your Marriage: #7 & 8

Posted At : July 7, 2010 10:05 PM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Marriage

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

7. Partner in ministry. Find an outreach ministry in which you can serve together. Not only will this activity deepen your relationship, it will help teach your children to love serving the church.

8. Always remember the Biblical priorities in your relationships. When our children were very little I gave Sharon a plaque that reminded us of our priorities: The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Our Biblical family priorities are: Christ, Spouse, Children. Church. Work. Note that your spouse comes before your children - always.

And note that there is no other person on the face of the earth that can take the place of your spouse. Fidelity in American culture appears to be up for grabs. Wedding rings don't seem to act as a fence for many people. Great temptation comes against godly marriages because God's plan is for marriages to reflect His love. Commit to praying for one another to be faithful in all ways.

In His grip,

Chuck and Sharon



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

A Serious Case of Buyer's Remorse

Posted At : July 6, 2010 2:01 PM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Politics

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

America got it completely wrong, not that we had much of a choice. The presidential election of 2008 was driven more by hype about hope than substance. As I said in earlier blogs, "I wish I could have voted for Mr. Obama." I wanted more than anything else in my role as an American citizen to vote for the first African American president. But his politics, ideology and mentors was too much for me to handle. Thus, I voted for John McCain. I must say, I was not too thrilled with him either. But what choice did the American political system give me? Were these two men the best we could offer? Given the plethora of brilliant political minds we have in this great country, was this really our brightest and best?

Now we have children running the greatest country on the face of the earth. We have a president who continues to embrace our enemies and make apologies for America while shunning our friends as he recently did with the Prime Minister of Israel, at least until he saw the political fallout of the Jewish liberal community. Now he is rolling out the red carpet for Netanyahu. He continues to drive this country into a forced socialism, ignoring the will of the people with Obama-care. He has more than tripled the national debt he criticized when running for office with no end in sight. The campaign promise of an open and televised government has become a joke. He continues to bless Islam as a peaceful religion. Most recently he has instructed NASA to become more user-friendly toward Islamic nations. He mocks the Tea Party as out of touch and has thumbed his nose at the will of the people.

I truly believe we got what we knew we had - an immature and inexperienced community organizer at the helm. He continues to "blame Bush" for everything while accepting no responsibility for his policies that have driven our country to the brink of financial ruin. Had he allowed the flow of financial capitalism (i.e. the survival of the fittest) to run its course when he first came into office with no bailouts, no stimulus packages, no bank purchases and no irrational bridge leaps into the massive debt from which we will never recover we would have emerged from this recession by now.

It all comes back to the purpose of government - to protect its citizenry and to punish wrongdoers. Now we have a commander-in-chief who the top generals do not respect. One even went as far as to vent his frustration to the press. He was promptly (and correctly) fired. But what did he actually say to Rolling Stone Magazine? Surely he knew he would be fired, but he did not care. His conscience would not permit him to blindly follow a president who seems more concerned about offending the Muslim world than he does about winning the war.

There is so much more I could say - the horrible choices he has made for the Supreme Court vacancies, his handling of the Gulf oil crisis, the sure to come middle class tax hike, and the denigration of Arizona's new immigration law and the refusal of the Federal government to seal the borders to mention a few. It is time for America to cut its losses and for the first one-term president since George H.W. Bush.

In His grip,

Dr. Chuck Betters



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Hope and Help for Military Families

Posted At : July 1, 2010 2:03 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Hope

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

It's appropriate that our summer radio broadcasts available on our website focus on David: The Shepherd Warrior. Like our military families, David's family struggled with the consequences of war. And just as it was for David, so it is for us. War is hell. This is not a political statement. Over 200 years ago, thousands upon thousands of American citizens lost their lives and even more thousands of families experienced trauma beyond imagination as the United States struggled to establish her identity as a free nation. We celebrate this historic time in America on July 4, Independence Day. The price of freedom is the blood of Americans and thousands continue to pay that price, if not with their physical lives, then with long separations from family as they travel to foreign lands in response to the call of our government. Today, the number of military personnel who commit suicide is staggering. Our government is so alarmed by the lack of emotional support for returning soldiers, Marines and Sailors, that they have asked psychiatrists to donate counseling time. Other military leaders have admitted that the resources they offer are sadly lacking. We often forget that it's not just our soldiers, sailors, Marines and National Guardsmen and women who pay a price. War impacts their families as well. Military families have the same struggles as every other family. But extreme anxiety created by fear over the safety of their loved ones, the added stress of long separations, preparing for and experiencing deployment, and fear of the unknown magnifies those struggles. When Sharon spoke at women's conference in Japan, she met numerous Navy wives who described the difficulty of transitioning from being in charge of every family detail to sharing that responsibility with their husbands when they returned from sea. They talked about rebellious teens who couldn't fathom having to listen to their dads when their dads knew little about their lives. At that time, resources for dealing with such every day stress were minimal.

Through out Learning to See When the Lights Go Out CD library, you can offer help and hope to our military families. Help us send a complete set of the Learning to See When the Lights Go Out library to a military chaplain or a military family counseling center. Our military families serve us, please help MARKINC Ministries serve them.

In His grip,

Dr. Chuck Betters



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Ten Ways to Help Divorce-Proof Your Marriage: #5 & 6

Posted At : June 30, 2010 12:15 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Marriage

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

5. Pray and worship together. Pray together every day. Sharon and I started our marriage with the habit of praying together every night before going to sleep. It's tough to pray with someone with whom you are arguing. Our children tell us that they sometimes heard us praying late at night. Such moments not only strengthen a couple but help a child feel safe.

6. Don't ever take for granted your relationship. Continually focus on growing up in your marriage. Do not discount the little things, treating each other with respect and dignity, expressing your love regularly. Early in our marriage Sharon witnessed a newly married friend looking deep into the eyes of her husband and smiling warmly. That picture imprinted on her heart the need to save her best smiles for me as well as her children. Consider how you are able to stop yelling at your spouse in order to answer the phone with warmth! How do we do that? Because we make a choice to treat others better than our spouse. This should not be so in your home.

A few years ago, the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, MO made public 1,300 recently discovered letters that the late President wrote to his wife, Bess, over the course of a half-century. Mr. Truman had a lifelong rule of writing to his wife every day they were apart. He followed this rule whenever he was away on official business or whenever Bess left Washington to visit her beloved Independence. Scholars are examining the letters for any new light they may throw on political and diplomatic history. For our part, we were most impressed by the simple fact that every day he was away, the President of the United States took time out from his dealing with the world's most powerful leaders to sit down and write a letter to his wife. Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, pp. 15-16.

In His grip,

Chuck and Sharon



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Ten Ways to Help Divorce-Proof Your Marriage: #3 & 4

Posted At : June 28, 2010 11:24 PM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Marriage

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

3. Pick your battles. Is it really worth fighting vehemently over who takes out the trash, loads the dishwasher, is the sloppiest? You fill in your own pet peeves.

Consider this wise woman's plan for dealing with conflict:

On her golden wedding anniversary, my grandmother revealed the secret of her long and happy marriage. "On my wedding day, I decided to choose ten of my husband's faults which, for the sake of our marriage, I would overlook," she explained. A guest asked her to name some of the faults. "To tell the truth," she replied, "I never did get around to listing them. But whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, 'Lucky for him that's one of the ten.'" Roderick McFarlane, in Reader's Digest, December, 1992.

4. Understand the uniqueness and greatness of Biblical roles. After 38 years of marriage, Sharon and I are still learning how to live out God's commands on marriage! How do I love her as Christ loves the church? I am willing to physically die for her but dying to myself every day is what Christ requires and my wife desires. Sharon is called on to respect and honor me, to submit to my leadership as her protector and provider. Sharon is a strong, gifted woman and it's my responsibility to make sure she has the freedom to use her gifts to build God's kingdom. Although it is much easier now because of the habits of grace God is growing in us, there are times when we must step back and resolve conflicts and differences in the context of those roles. Study Ephesians 5 together and especially note verse 21: 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 21 A marriage that lives out this command will reflect redemption. In His grip,

Chuck and Sharon



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Ten Ways to Help Divorce-Proof Your Marriage: #1 & 2

Posted At : June 28, 2010 1:25 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Marriage

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

1. Develop a Christocentric Worldview, in particular God's view of marriage.

Consider this challenge to live out God's call to reflect His relationship to the church in our marriages:

They say a wife and husband, Bit by bit, Can rear between themselves a mighty wall, So thick they cannot speak with ease through it, Nor can they see across it, it stands so tall. Its nearness frightens them, but each alone is powerless to tear its bulk away; And each dejected wishes he had known for such a wall, some magic thing to say. So let us build with master art, my dear, A bridge of love between your life and mine, A bridge of tenderness, and very near, A bridge of understanding, strong and fine, Till we have formed so many lovely ties, There never will be room for walls to rise. (Author unknown)

And:

Joseph H. Choate was a thorough gentleman as well as a distinguished lawyer in this country some years back. He had a quick wit which made him good copy for journalists. Someone once asked him, "Mr. Choate, if you were not yourself, who would you most like to be?" Without a second's hesitation Choate replied, "Mrs. Choate's second husband." Bits & Pieces, May 27, 1993, p. 23.

2. Marry the right person. Consider the price John Wesley and his wife paid for entering marriage without good counsel:

While crossing a bridge in London, John Wesley stumbled and sprained his ankle. Some friends carried him to the house of Mrs. Mary Vazielle on Threadneedle Street. She was a widow with several children. She cared for Wesley and his response to her concern was to ask her to marry him. If we were writing fiction we might say that the sprained ankle was God's providential way to bring those people together. But the marriage was a disaster, and Mary finally left John. Had Wesley consulted with his brother Charles, and asked for the prayers of the brethren, he might have avoided that unfortunate situation. Mary was accustomed to her quiet home, and it was difficult for her to travel with her husband and stay in uncomfortable inns. It is unfortunate that Mary was not content just to ignore John's ministry; she actually opposed it. She gave certain personal letters to his enemies and even made additions to them that made them worse! Once she even pulled her husband around on the floor by his hair! "I felt as though I could have knocked the soul out of her!" one of Wesley's friends said. Wesley concluded that his unhappy marriage encouraged him to work harder and not complain about missing the comforts of a home. Certainly it encouraged him to be away from home more! W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, Moody Press, 1984, p. 246.

In His grip,

Chuck and Sharon



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Priorities that build strong marriages

Posted At : June 23, 2010 10:46 PM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Marriage

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

People of faith often forget that the first place to serve our God is in their marriages and homes. And when we forget that important principle, we endanger the godly legacy that it is our privilege to help build. If we are going to leave a godly legacy for the next generation we must divorce-proof our home and our legacy.

A few years ago, I preached a message series titled, "Twenty-seven Precious Promises." Every week our congregation looked at a Scriptural promise from each book of the New Testament. We determined how that promise equips us to be a redemptive presence in this fallen world. We learned the definition of "redemptive presence" in

Matthew 6:33: But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

My wife, Sharon, and I chose to engrave this verse on the inside of our wedding bands as a reminder of our life calling. These few words teach us a profound truth: our faith is practical and we must choose to live life through the grid of a Biblical worldview.

How often people excited and passionate about Christ and living for Him, forget that the first place we need to be a redemptive presence is in our own homes, our own marriages. When it's easier to be holy while "serving God" at church with Christian friends, we convince ourselves that our homes are not our priority. Yet this is a lie from the enemy because it's in our homes that we show a broken world what the love of Christ really is.

In Mark 5 Jesus makes it clear that our first priority for reflecting redemption is in the context of family. In a stunning show of power, Jesus healed a demoniac by forcing the demons into a herd of pigs. Their demonic power was so great the pigs rushed over a cliff and died. The grateful man is filled with joy and passion for Christ. He wants to go with Jesus and His disciples to help build God's kingdom. Jesus' response is startling:

Jesus did not let him [go with them], but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

We often hear that 50% of marriages, even in the evangelical church, end in divorce. Would that statistic be different if couples applied this command to their marriages? If they saw their homes as their priority for reflecting the love of Christ - even when it's tough?
Over the next couple of weeks, we are posting Ten Ways to Help Divorce-Proof Your Marriage. We pray that God will use these nuggets to make your marriage and home your priority.

In His grip,

Chuck and Sharon



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Tipper and Al Gore: Drifting Apart

Posted At : June 17, 2010 12:23 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Marriage

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper shocked many friends and supporters when they announced the dissolution of their over forty-year marriage. They explained that there was "no one else" but that they had drifted apart. We hope that the media and public give Al and Tipper privacy and the freedom to find their way back to one another.

A friend commented, "You just never know. They always acted so in love and committed to each other." It's true. No one but the husband and wife really know what a marriage is like. And sometimes, not even the husband or wife know the true condition of their spouse's heart. We can take a lesson from our former Vice President and his wife. We must guard our marriages. Scripture teaches us much about building a strong marriage, from the Song of Solomon to thousands of verses that address how to treat one another in any relationship to the many Proverbs that directly address faithfulness between a husband and wife.

According to this very public couple, adultery is not an issue. Neither of them have turned to another person. Yet when a couple "drifts apart" the root cause is neglect of their relationship which means other priorities have created an environment of unfaithfulness to their marriage vows.

According to Jesus, it's possible to commit adultery and never have an immoral physical relationship with another person. Let's think about this for a minute. Paul declared that ALL scripture is profitable for doctrine, correction, reproof, and equipping for righteousness. Therefore, we need to determine how Jesus' warning about looking at another woman with lust in our hearts is adultery applies to each of us. How do we drift apart in marriage? Perhaps it starts when we look at any other avenue for satisfaction and that avenue does not lead us back to a stronger relationship with our spouse. Instead, we end up at the corner of Discontent and Boredom rather than at the center of Satisfaction and Delight.

There are numerous passages in Proverbs that warn a young man to avoid the adulterous woman. Many readers cannot relate to a woman dressed as a prostitute walking under their window, seductively whispering, "My husband is out for the evening, come and talk a while with me..." Yet this scripture is profitable as a means to equip us for all good works.

Proverbs 5 - 6 outlines the downward spiral of adultery with specific, graphic warnings of the outcome. If lusting after another person is not your core struggle, replace the "adulterous woman" with any desire, activity, or relationship that you may be putting before your spouse. Before you reject the possibility that you may have such an idol, consider Proverbs 29:20 - This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, "I've done nothing wrong." Remember, we're trying to learn from Al and Tipper and guard against drifting away from our spouse. It's time to do a marriage gut check and that won't happen if we are unwilling to consider the possibility that we need to make some changes.

After Solomon graphically warns his son in Proverbs 5, he encourages him with how to guard against anything that could distract him from his marriage:

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well...Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer - may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.

There is much more in this passage than a call to recapture the ecstasy of youthful physical intimacy. One assignment we give couples struggling to rebuild their marriages, is for them to make a list of what attracted them to one another. What did they enjoy doing together in the beginning of their marriage? We try to guide them to recapture the FUN of their marriage. While this will not solve deep-seated issues, sometimes it's all a couple needs to get back on track.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will post clips from an article by Chuck, Priorities that Build Strong Marriages.

We've been married forty-one years. And we endorse Solomon's counsel to his son. It applies whether you're 21 or 62.

In His Grip,
Chuck and Sharon



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

War is Hell

Posted At : May 31, 2010 4:19 PM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Encouragement

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

War is hell. This is not a political statement. Memorial Day is set aside as the day to remember this fact: that thousands upon thousands of Americans made the ultimate sacrifice when they went into the hell of war and didn't return to their families.

Last night we watched a movie (Taking Chance) based on a true story that chronicled the emotional journey of the Colonel who requested the privilege of escorting home a fallen Marine. It's a painful movie to watch but in honor of all those who have given their lives so that we can experience the freedoms of America, we had to see it to the end.

We both cried and the aftermath of that stark picture of the reality of the ultimate sacrifice of our military and their families will stay with us forever. We have family members who are serving us in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every day they are safe is a gift. Saturday a team from MARKINC Ministries distributed the Coming Home from Warto veterans who participated in the motorcycle Run for the Wall. Thousands of Viet Nam Veterans and their families travelled to pay tribute to the thousands of men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice but were not honored by our country until much later.

We must not forget those families and friends whose precious loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice or those who continue to pay a price only war veterans understand.

Perhaps it's because of the families we have met through the distribution of our resource, Coming Home from War, that this Memorial Day is more poignant and emotional for us. This summer we will produce the fourth interview in our Coming Home from War CD series: The Ultimate Sacrifice. We will spend time with the wife of a fallen soldier and the mother of a fallen Marine. Because of our own life journey, we intimately connect with the grief caused by death. We will continue to urge others to acknowledge that while it is possible to find purpose and joy once more, there will always be a piece of our hearts that belong to those fallen loved ones. Just acknowledging that fact gives permission to grieving people to embrace life.

We recognize that most people do not want to face the aftermath of death but on this day designed to remember, we recommend that you read this article and view the accompanying photographs and video. You will be moved to tears but your appreciation and respect will be changed forever.

In His Grip,
Chuck and Sharon Betters



MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

God's Parenting Manual

Posted At : May 15, 2010 1:38 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Parenting

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

Our first child entered the world on July 4, 1970. Sharon's doctor was out of town and after fourteen hours of hard labor, the substitute obstetrician decided to do a C-section. Sharon and I were twenty-two years old and had not attended one birthing class. My young wife had not learned any breathing exercises and neither had I! That night and into the early morning, I learned just how strong my wife is - the hand she squeezed through each contraction was never the same!

How sweet to hold our new born baby girl. In that moment, our lives were changed forever. Every decision we made was filtered through the grid of what was best for our daughter and then what was best for all four of our children.

We wanted our children to know, love and fear God but we felt ill-equipped to pass on that worldview. We attended numerous marriage and parenting conferences and prayed a lot. I learned that the most important thing I can do for my children is to love their mother the way that Christ loves the church. And together we concluded that parenting was not so much about rules and ten easy steps as it was about our hearts and our view of God. Did we know, love and fear God in the same way we wanted our children to experience? Then I discovered that children come with directions. The book of Proverbs is God's Parenting Manual and it is filled with practical tools that help inexperienced and seasoned grandparents alike focus on character building. Two generations ago, parents naturally passed on the truths of Proverbs to their children. We've lost that solid foundation. It's time to go back to what works.

I preached through Proverbs as a young father and a few years ago preached the same messages through the grid of being a grandfather. Listen now! And now those messages are in book form with a companion Study Guide. Order now!

Dig deep into these truths and your children will never be the same.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Heroes and Heretics: Our Fathers Who Are In Heaven - Pt. 2

Posted At : April 25, 2010 12:05 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Current Audio and Video Sermons

Dr. Chuck Betters



Click here to access Dr. Betters' Heroes and Heretics: Our Fathers Who Are In Heaven - Pt. 2 sermon.

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Heroes and Heretics: To Know the True Jesus, Know Your Bible

Posted At : April 18, 2010 12:52 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Current Audio and Video Sermons

Dr. Chuck Betters



Click here to access Steve Jeantet's Heroes and Heretics: To Know the True Jesus, Know Your Bible sermon.

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Heroes and Heretics: Our Fathers Who Are In Heaven - Pt. 1

Posted At : April 11, 2010 1:50 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Current Audio and Video Sermons

Dr. Chuck Betters



Click here to access Dr. Betters' Heroes and Heretics: Our Fathers Who Are In Heaven - Pt. 1 sermon.

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Heroes and Heretics: The Battle for the Church - Pt. 5 The Early Persecutions - Pt. 3

Posted At : March 28, 2010 12:23 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Current Audio and Video Sermons

Dr. Chuck Betters



Click here to access Dr. Betters' Heroes and Heretics: The Battle for the Church - Pt. 5 The Early Persecutions - Pt. 3 sermon.

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Heroes and Heretics: The Battle for the Church - Pt. 4 The Early Persecutions - Pt. 2

Posted At : March 21, 2010 3:43 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
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Dr. Chuck Betters



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Heroes and Heretics: The Battle for the Church - Pt. 3 The Early Persecutions - Pt. 1

Posted At : March 14, 2010 3:40 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
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Dr. Chuck Betters



Click here to access Dr. Betters' Heroes and Heretics: The Battle for the Church - Pt. 3 The Early Persecutions - Pt. 1 sermon.

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Treasures of Faith

Posted At : March 11, 2010 12:05 AM | Posted By : Dr. Chuck Betters
Related Categories: Encouragement,Faith

Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters

"All you have to do is preach through Hebrews 11 and I'll do the rest." Sharon had just shared one of our dreams with me. She loved Hebrews 11 and wanted to write a book on what she called "God's Waiting Room." She also wanted us to co-author the book. She said my task would be to research and preach on each character in the chapter. She would condense the preaching into book form.

I responded, "As long as all I have to do is preach. Yes, I can do that."

It was fun to see how excited she was as we mapped out a timeline and talked through the process we would follow.

As the sermon series unfolded and Sharon transcribed every message and organized the material, we began to see that preaching doesn't always lend itself to writing. This process would be much more difficult than we expected. I preached fourteen sermons on Abraham alone. This promised to be a grueling process.

Anyone who writes books knows that publishing dates often get moved up. But this was not an option for us. Every year the Women in the Church of the Presbyterian Church in America recommends a small group Bible study . That year they were holding a national conference and would introduce our book as the recommended small group study for that following year. Our publisher endorsed our plan and we committed to a detailed timeline for getting finished chapters to our editor. While it was difficult we met every deadline.

Through circumstances beyond our control, the publication of the book was delayed. The Women in the Church leadership told our publisher that if it was not in their offices by a specific date, they would not be able to recommend it as the small group Bible study.

Suddenly we had about two months to edit, finalize and publish not only the book but a detailed Leaders Guide. The editing process had not even begun. Anyone with any sense knew that we were embarking on an impossible task. But everyone involved agreed it was worth trying.

Let the writing marathon begin. Every few days we received two edited chapters from our publisher., one for the book and one for the Leaders Guide. After a couple of weeks of non-stop writing that started earlier every day and lasted until late at night, I knew Sharon could not keep up this pace. One of the themes of the book was cultivating community and becoming channels of God's compassion. I told Sharon she needed to practice what she was preaching. Ask two of her writing friends to help her write the Leaders Guide. These two women joined the writing team and their fingerprints are all over the Leaders Guide. We wouldn't have met our deadline without them.

Fifty-seven sermons and months of intense writing later, Treasures of Faith: Living Boldly in View of God's Promises arrived in the offices of the Presbyterian Church in America in time to meet the deadline. That fall it was introduced to several thousand women at the conference in Atlanta as the recommended Bible study for the year.

This book is filled with in-depth Bible study that gets the reader into the skin of each person in our spiritual family. Sharon says that sometimes she couldn't see the keyboard or computer screen as she wrote because of how emotionally connected she felt to the biblical person she was writing about.

We are offering Treasures of Faith at a reduced price and including an Introductory CD interview in which Sharon and I talk about the writing process and this study. Click here to order. We also have a Small Group Study Package that includes 10 books, 10 Bonus CD's and a FREE Leaders Guide for a savings of $78 off the retail price.

This book traces our spiritual family tree and will change the way you think about your spiritual roots. For more details visit our Treasures of Faith book page

Remember Sharon's promise that all I would have to do is preach? Not. I'll share more about the book in the next few weeks.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

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