Webzine for the Christian Woman
PROFILE OF A SAINT
Psalms 16:1-3:
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the LORD, You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You. As for the saints who are on the earth, They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."
| My husband, Thomas, and I attended Dr. Jerry and Lynn Jones' marriage enrichment seminar, "Marriage Matters". It is an experience we will never forget. It has strengthened our marriage and helped us to have a broader understanding of the problems couples face at different stages of their lives. Dwan Reed |
Dr. Jerry and Lynn Jones
Marriage Matters -
Strengthening Marriages Across the Country
by Dwan Reed
Recovery from Death and Divorce of a Spouse, Parenting 101, God's Ideal Marriage, Affair-Proofing Your Marriage, and Trouble in Paradise are some of the topics that Dr. Jerry and Lynn Jones discuss in their four-day marriage enrichment seminar, "Marriage Matters". Twenty-six to twenty-eight weeks out of the year, the Joneses travel around the country educating couples of all ages and providing counseling (free of charge) as part of their mission to strengthen and heal families.Dr. Jerry Jones is a former Bible instructor and former chairman of the Bible department at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He is author of "Beyond the Storm". Lynn is a Christian psychotherapist and former instructor at Southwest Oklahoma State University.Jerry is from St. Louis, Missouri, and Lynn is from Edmond, Oklahoma. When they are not traveling, they enjoy spending time at home in Missouri where they worship with the Maryland Heights Church of Christ.Jerry and Lynn are very effective in their ministry. They have helped thousands of couples to improve their marriages. Part of what makes them such a dynamic duo is their understanding of death and divorce. Jerry's wife, Claudette, passed away from cancer leaving Jerry and three grown children.Lynn's husband of 23 years and a deacon in the church divorced her in 1993 after admitting multiple affairs. Their two sons were in their teens. According to Lynn, "In divorce everyone looses; there are no winners. Although one cannot live with adultery and abuse, children are the ultimate victims of the divorce of their parents and they pay the price for the rest of their lives." "
I had the pleasure of interviewing Lynn. I asked her about the greatest problem married couples face today. Lynn said, "The greatest problem that couples face is selfishness. We enter marriage with our own agendas. If a person marries for what they can get rather than what they can give, they will have problems. Couples that are incapable of adjusting expectations are destined for emotional estrangement. Selfishness is the root of all sin. Marriage is no exception. All of the moonlight dinners, cards, and special weekends are merely Scotch tape and Band-Aids on cancer if the servant heart is absent. The world is led to believe that I can be happy if you do this. Contrary to this mindset my behavior should not be contingent on yours. Each person must do what is right because it is the right thing to do not because something is coming back in return." Lynn said that when your spouse is not behaving as a Christian, then you should "make God your spouse." When we focus on God and live to please Him, we gain strength to deal with life's struggles.I asked Lynn what advice she has for couples who are struggling with marital problems. She said, "Understand that when you say, 'I do,' you give up the right forever to make a decision for yourself. From that point on it's the two of us. Many married people are really living as single people."I asked Lynn why more couples who are in crisis don't reach out for help. Lynn replied, "Our prideful nature often keeps us from obtaining good help. The Bible is a great example of people helping people. We need God's help with 'skin on.' Take advantage of the help offered by brothers or sisters in Christ and Christian counselors."
As mentioned previously, Jerry and Lynn travel twenty-six to twenty-eight weeks out of the year. I was curious as to how they spend so much time together and are able to maintain such a happy, healthy relationship. Lynn said, "Jerry and I are truly best friends. He is my soul mate. I honestly never get tired of him. I can't get enough of him. He is a spiritual giant. He doesn’t play religion. He truly has the servant heart. Ordinary days are wonderful days with Jerry."I wish that every couple would have the opportunity to attend one of Jerry and Lynn's marriage enrichment seminars. Below is a schedule of the "Marriage Matters" seminars up through the year 2003: