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I'm promoting a new diet/exercise program over on my fitness blog.

It is from Flavia Del Monte, and it is designed specifically for women. Please check out my review of Curvalicious if you want more information.

I was amused when Mare Cris told me she didn't care for the yellow bar of soap that I always used in the shower.  "Who cares what color the soap is?" I asked.  She told me it clashed with the colors of the bathroom (it's a girl thing).  More importantly, she wanted me to start using Johnson's Baby Soap because she liked the color (white) and the scent.

I now use the soap she prefers, and I often hear my wife say, "ang bango mo (you smell so good)" after I step out of the shower.  This subtle change in my life was a no-brainer: I could care less what brand of soap I use, but it meant a lot to her.

You may be wondering why I'm taking time to write about personal hygiene.

Here's my point:  I believe successfully married couples have learned the art of compromise, also known as give-and-take. Be prepared for this if you plan to get married.

Sometimes the adjustments are easily made, like the example I've just mentioned.  But neither the husband nor the wife can (or should) get his/her way every time.  My wife and I are still working on this balance, and so far we are enjoying the journey.

I'll give you another example:  The author of His Needs Her Needs recommends couples spend most of their recreational time together.  My wife has begun to take interest in some of my hobbies, like training in the gym and watching mixed martial arts.  

We've only been married for two months, but I could easily think of other compromises and adjustments we have made.  I think one of the keys is an attitude of humility and service towards your spouse:  "Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)."

Marriage is a big adjustment, but it's definitely worth it.

Birthday Dinner with my Wife

I turned 40 today!

This has been a great birthday because I celebrated it with my beautiful wife.  She cooked lasagna for lunch, and we've spent the day reflecting on God's goodness.

I’m profoundly grateful to God for the life He has granted me. I know I’m right where He wants me, doing what He wants me to do.

Thanks to everyone who has greeted me through email, text, and Facebook.  I haven't been able to respond to every greeting personally, but they are all important.  

One of the most popular online bodybuilding programs I've reviewed is Mass Intentions (MI40) from Ben Pakulski.  I think the training videos are one of the main strengths of MI40--you'll learn something new from each one.  I'd recommend this program for intermediate or advanced trainees who want to break through mass building plateaus.  You can check out my review for more information.

I'd recommend something like No Nonsense Muscle Building for beginners who are just starting to lift weights.

Movies based on comic books tend to be either major flops or some of the best flicks of the year.  Fortunately, many of the recent big-screen interpretations of Marvel Comics did not disappoint (Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor come to mind).

We knew these before-mentioned movies were all building up to the Avengers.  Comic book nerds like myself have all been wondering if this movie would do justice to one of the most beloved super hero teams of all time.

The Avengers story is built upon now familiar characters:  the witty and egotistical Iron Man, the noble Thor, and the idealistic Captain America.  Other heroes are thrown into the mix, like Hawkeye, Black Widow, and The Hulk. 

One of the movie's major themes is teamwork.  The Avengers don't really see themselves as a team at the beginning of the conflict.  But they must learn to work together to have any hope of defeating their foe and saving the world. 

The movie builds up to an epic 30-minute battle between the (outnumbered) heroes and an alien army.

The Avengers lived up to the hype as far as I'm concerned.  This may be the best super hero movie I've ever watched.

Let me say a quick word as far as the content/ratings:  There was no nudity or sexual content, and I don't remember any profanity.  There are intense action sequences, but the violence was not very graphic in nature. 

My wife and I have read several books on marriage. We've been blessed with a better understanding our responsibilities and how we are to relate to each other as husband and wife.

But there's another issue we've decided to learn more about: money.  Financial issues are the #1 cause of conflict among married couples, and we are not naive enough to believe we are immune.  We want to have a plan, and I knew of a great resource for this.

We decided to read The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness. I started listening to Dave Ramsey's podcast a few years ago and found it tremendously helpful.  My only regret is I didn't discover him back in my early 20's (I did some stupid things with money back in those days). 

One thing I've always liked about Ramsey is his emphasis on the behavioral aspects of using money.  His "debt snowball" approach encourages readers to pay off the loans from smallest to largest.  The reason is simple--you'll be more motivated to continue once you see the debts start disappearing (fortunately we are not in debt, and Ramey's teachings are the reason we avoid it like the plague).

This book will show you how to get out of debt, make wise financial decisions, and build wealth.  There are no "get rich quick" schemes, and some of the things he says may go against everything you've heard (example: Ramsey advises people to buy used cars with cash instead of having a car payment).  But I've listened to him for quite some time and I'm a believer.

I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to succeed financially.

A while back I shared our love story--how Mare Cris and I met and fell in love. Words can hardly express just how happy I am right now.  I’ve only been married a month (as of today), but I can’t imagine life without her.

But there’s another part of the story I haven’t shared. I left it out before because I didn’t want to take the focus off my relationship with my beautiful wife (fiancée at the time of the post).

Here it is:
I went through one of the most difficult seasons of my life before meeting Cris. I experienced two failed relationships within a period of about twelve months. A couple of those months were especially dark, lonely times for me.

Some of these personal issues happened while God was doing some amazing things in my ministry. It was ironic to say the least: ministry had never been better, but I was privately hurting—very deeply at times. Go figure.

The irony, of course, doesn’t stop there. I have written two books about love, yet that season of my own love life seemed to more closely resemble a nightmare than a fairytale.

Perhaps you can relate to some of these emotions I’ve described. Maybe your love life hasn’t turned out as you planned. If so, finding love may require tenacity on your part. You may have to be just plain stubborn about not giving up, regardless of how many times people let you down. 

I could have responded differently when Cris came into my life. I could have chosen not to pursue her, thus protecting myself from another potential disappointment. I could have allowed past hurts to keep me from experiencing her love. Opening my heart once again was, after all, a considerable risk. But I chose to believe God might just have something great in store for me this time.

The Bible never promises a life free of pain—physical or emotional. But we Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit and with Jesus by our side, always have the choice to move forward with a sense of profound optimism about love and life.

I like the way Proverbs 24:16 puts it: “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”

I’m so grateful I chose the way of stubborn love. I hope you will, too.

Trust God, and don’t give up on love.

 “Be prepared at all times for the gifts of God and be ready always for new ones. For God is a thousand times more ready to give than we are to receive.” -Meister Eckhart