EdYoungBlog

Purity for Politicians...

...and purity for pastors, priests, poets and all people.

By now you've probably heard the sad and disappointing news of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's affair. It's a story that is sure to be in the headlines for the next several days. But after the hype of the news channels and tabloids, newspapers and magazines, the reality is that a marriage, and a family, hangs in the balance. And this story has caused me to think about my own marriage and the marriages of the people I meet every day.

Over the years, Lisa and I have been asked countless questions by thousands of people about our marriage. But one of the most important questions we've been asked is how we keep our marriage pure. So years ago I wrote out: 

The 10 Commandments of Purity

        1.     I shall have no other human relationship before Lisa, including our children.
        2.     I shall remember our date night and keep it holy. 
        3.     I shall honor Lisa on anniversaries and special days so that I may live long in the land the  Lord has given me.
        4.     I shall not take the covenant of marriage in vain.
        5.     I shall not ride in a car or eat in a restaurant alone with a member of the opposite sex.
        6.     I shall not travel alone. 
        7.     I shall not counsel a woman with the doors closed.
        8.     I shall not share the details of our marriage with others.
        9.     I shall not watch, read or expose myself to sexually explicit shows, books, websites, etc.
        10.   I shall remember the implications of committing adultery.

No matter who you are, I challenge you to make these your own. Follow them in your marriage every day. They may seem extreme. But something that has extreme consequences calls for extreme action.

Remember, everyone deals with temptation. It's what you do before facing temptation to stay pure that determines what happens in the face of it. You have to protect your marriage. So do I. Because failing to do so can result in heartache - for ourselves, our families and most importantly, our God.

This issue is bigger than only calling for purity for politicians. We need to call for purity as politicians, pastors, priests, poets and as all people.

Part of the Colbert Nation

I had a blast on The Colbert Report last night! If you missed it, check it out.

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Ed Young

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Colbert Christmas DVD

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Bill O'Reilly Interview

The Challenge Continues

There's no doubt this challenge has been, well, challenging. With the pace of life, the rush of our schedules, we've all had barriers to negotiate. I have to admit, my schedule has gone to a hole 'nutha level this week! But it's great to hear that so many couples are finding ways to overcome those barriers.

God is doing some amazing work in the lives of so many people - not only married, but single as well. Keep sharing those stories here.

And make sure you're at church this weekend. Because this is going to be one message you do not want to miss!

7 Days of ?!?!

I'm not even sure what day it is! We've been going at such a whirlwind pace getting ready to go to London and Johannesburg that it's been a challenge to keep the challenge.

But don't worry. Lisa and I haven't bailed out. It's just made us think more about our strategy to make time to make love. And there are so many things that Lisa and I have discovered so far.

For one, we are thinking more creatively about sex in order to avoid the monotony that can set in. We know this challenge isn't for competition. It's something that will strengthen our marriage and give us the greater "reward" of deeper intimacy. The last few days we've really had to rachet up the thought process and communication that goes into sex.

We've also taken time to pray for so many couples who aren't laughing about this challenge, but crying because of pain and hurt. We know that God is the great healer and that he can provide that healing for every couple. And this challenge can play a big role in that healing as we grow closer together and closer to God.

So far, Lisa and I are having a great time with this challenge! How about you?

7 Days of Sex - He Said/She Said (Pre-Challenge)

He (Ed) said:
The amount of press this challenge has gotten over the last several days has been a little surprising. I can't say I'm shocked, though. Our culture is so used to toilet water that it's refreshing when we get a taste of God's pure desire for sex in marriage. So no, I'm not shocked. I'm excited. But the most exciting aspect of this isn't the press. It's not the news coverage or the interviews.

The most exciting part of this right now is the potential that this challenge has to help heal and strengthen so many marriages and families. I pray over the next week that communication lines are opened, intimacy is restored and marriages are strengthened as they "do it" God's way. Please join me in this prayer.

She (Lisa) said:
I mentioned this at Flavour, but let me say it here. I'm so excited about this challenge! (And yes, ladies, I'm the one who brought the idea to Ed through a magazine article I'd found.) Why am I so excited? That's simple. Because God has revolutionized my view of sex and removed a lot of preconceived notions I had. And I can truly value intimacy done God's way.

This challenge is about so much more than the act of sex. This is an opportunity for marriages to get back to what God designed them to be. It's a chance for all of us to reinforce our love for our spouses.

So here's my prayer for this next week. First, to the ladies. I 'm praying that God expands your view of the importance of sex in marriage and that He gives you the diligence in prioritizing this aspect of your marriage. And for the men, my prayer is that you will lead out spiritually for your wife so that the oneness God has in mind will supernaturally flow through every aspect of your marriage. (And yes, that includes sex.)

Don't Miss the 7 Days of Sex Challenge!

Riding the Waves of the Retreats

Words can't describe how much I enjoyed being a part of our dual marriage retreats last week! It was so inspirational to rub shoulders with so many people and to see the great things that God is doing in their lives and marriages.

We had one retreat called the "Creative Marriage Retreat" for pastors and their spouses. I went into the retreat not knowing what to expect. But I've got to say that it was one of the most powerful times we've had with pastors...just to sit down and talk so openly about the joys and challenges of marriage and ministry.

I want to thank, once again, Craig and Amy Groeschel, Dr. Jonathan Cude (who I highly recommend as a Christian counselor), and Dr. Randy Perkins, who works so closely with so many in the ministry. And lastly, to my wife, Lisa...you did an amazing job at the retreat!

While this retreat was going on, we also had another one for our people at Fellowship Church called the "Wholly Holy Marriage Retreat". We would talk for an hour in one session and then walk across the hotel to teach for another hour to another group entirely. What an amazing time for growth!

And the response was so overwhelmingly great during this time that people are already asking about the next one. So we're working on that right now.

On the heels of those retreats, I would love to hear from some of you pastors. Maybe share one or two of the greatest things you find in ministry and marriage. And also some of the greatest challenges you face. Let me hear from you!

Again, I'm still riding the waves of excitement, and I'm looking forward to doing this all again...

Craig Groeschel On A 'Hole 'Nutha Level

It was awesome to have Craig and Amy Groeschel at our Marriage Retreat the past few days.

And I can't wait to see all that happens as a result of this summer's One Prayer series. Check back here for more details!

Marriage is hard...amen?!

Marriage is HARD! Always putting someone else's needs ahead of my own. Always having to consider someone else's feelings. Always putting my stuff on the backburner. Sometimes I think "I could be fishing somewhere in south Florida if I didn't have to focus on my marriage!" And it's right then when I realize...

Marriage isn't the easiest thing; it's the hardest thing. But when we do it God's way, it can definitely be the greatest thing.

Lisa and I have been married for 25 years. That's more than half my life. And for 18 of those years, we've led Fellowship Church. That's a whole lot of thinking of other people ahead of ourselves. The realities of ministry and marriage are tough. And I know that anyone who is in the same shoes is screaming, "AMEN!"

But there's no doubt, the journey has been well worth the effort. And as I get ready for this new series on marriage, I thank God that he's led the way. Because without him, there's no way we'd be able to make it!

If you are in any kind of leadership in the church, you know how tough it can be. That's why Lisa and I invite you to check out our Creative Marriage Retreat coming up May 8-9 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas.

Lisa and I will be there. And we'll have some phenomenal guest speakers with us, including the founding pastor of LifeChurch Craig Groeschel and his wife Amy (check out Craig's blog at http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/).

Don't miss this perfect opportunity to reignite the passion in your marriage and relax for a weekend at one of Texas's premier resorts! For details, just check out our site at http://www.creativepastors.com/.

We look forward to seeing you there!