10/07/2005 Extreme Relationship Makeover

10/07/2005
"Extreme Relationship Makeover"
John Burns
CityLife Church Sunday 11am

It's not the things that you hear but the things you embrace will shape your relationships. The things you embrace become the miracle of life.

A marriage isn't just a dream. It's a dream coupled with strategy, know-how and wisdom.

Prov 24:3-4 Relationships are built, they don't just happen. It doesn't matter what has happened in the past, with God you can start new relationships anew.

We need to address "how-to" issues rather than "want-to" issues.

The 5 stages of rebuilding relationships:

1. Foundation

• you cannot build without starting with the foundation
• the foundation of relationship are dreams and visions.
• faith is the substance of dreams.
• a life of dreams is an attractive life.
• dreams embrace the future. No dreams, no future, no life, no love.
• you become boring, church becomes boring, when the dreaming stops.
• Phil 3:13 the way to forget about a negative past is to press towards a positive future.

2. Build the structure

• the structure is built on the foundation and to contain the lifestyle.
• you need to plan for expectations and dreams.
• you can't have what you won't structure into your relationships.
• planning involves time and communication.
• date = special planned time for communication (not just to go out and eat!)
• when married, date your wife and children!

3. Build the roof and outside walls

• build protection for your relationships
• protection is setting boundaries.
• boundaries = "recognising how susceptible you are"
• we need to recognise and set physical (where you are) and emotional (how much you open up) boundaries.

4. Place the doors and windows

• these are portals - the external relationships.
• are we around people of good influence?
• we need to be people who are planted in, not just attend, church.

5. Add the decoration

• this is the celebration of relationships.
• choose to stay amazed with the people in your life.