Marital Musings

Recently in Community Group, we had a fantastic discussion on marriage.  I figured rather than letting that content end there, it should be documented! My wife, Hannah, and I were the only married couple there so we were put on the spot as far as input goes. We hope that 

It Comes Back to Context...

We started off with the question "What would keep someone from getting married?" We discussed things like spiritual maturity, career path, and financial stability. That was when it hit me. 

Not all things are subjective, but some are. What if the context of two people coming together in marriage is subjective? What if there is no magical checklist that needs to be done prior to marriage? But if there is no checklist, then what should prevent two people from getting married?

“The role of protector/provider is best understood in the context of the woman you’re protecting/providing for.”

To gain some better traction, we took a look at my relationship and the events surrounding our marriage. I wasn't making bank. I wasn't in a career job. I was busy. Working full time, school full time. The situation was not ideal. But we got married anyway. Was it wrong? We didn't think so. So what made it right?

I suggested that the role of protector/provider is best understood in the context of the woman you're protecting/providing for. This seemed to shed some light on the situation. 

Hannah and I had been dating since 8th grade. I knew her better than I knew many of my friends. I knew what she liked, and what she didn't. What she loved, and what she feared. What she needed, and what she had. It was in that context that we examined if we could get married, and in that context I proposed. In that context she said yes, and in that context we got married. 

What Should You Do?

Below are some simple... "recommendations", if you will. My hope is that they will help guide you in your relationships, and that they will culminate in a God-honoring marriage!

• Stay in community- The best place you can be is in a community of fellow believers. At MD, we're a close knit bunch, and we have each other's backs. That's exactly the kind of support you'll want while you're dating/courting.
• Date in community- Don't become "that exclusive relationship" once you start dating! You and you're date are officially invited into community at MD. If you haven't been in community before, now's the best time to start. 
•  Marry in community- You can feel like you want to be "on your own" when you get married, kind of like moving out of your house for the first time. Marriage definitely takes some adjusting to, but that doesn't mean you seclude yourselves from your church family either. We're here for your growth, so don't shoot yourselves in the foot/feet!

Hopefully you've found this little article helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments below or reach out to us on social media by clicking on the Connection Center tab at the top of the page. 

The Importance of MD|Online

This past week we announced the launch of a brand new service called MD|Online. This is going to be every MDer's one stop shop for giving, online community, and events. It took the elders several months to review a few different platforms to find the perfect fit for Missio Dei. Listed below are why we picked MD|Online, and why it’s so important to sign up for a free account.

• Access to what you need- Like I mentioned earlier, MD|Online is a one stop shop. No more searching facebook groups that you may or may not have access to, missing event invites, or anything of the kind. Users have access to our calendar of events, event sign up, online giving, and groups. What more would you need?
• Better event processes- Very few people actually sign up for events. We know this purely by experience. MD|Online integrates the events with our public calendar, as well as RSVPing for each individual event. Events are listed on the main page of the software, and are the first thing you’ll look at each time you log in. That said, don’t forget to RSVP for events!!!
• Lets the leaders do what they do- You won’t see all the tools available on the back end of MD|Online, but the elders do and use them to better understand our little flock. It has ways to track people who may have drifted away from community, or remind us to reach out to newcomers that check in. These little details are crucial to “running a tight ship.” We think you’ll start to notice a difference soon!
• Better group systems- We call them better for a few different reasons. First off, they’re all in one spot. No more searching between platforms!

We've already started to add groups to MD|Online, and there have already been communications sent out through it. Don't miss out! Sign up here.