Mike and Marti Show

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you a Merry Thanksgiving. We pray that your turkey was moist, the drama was at a minimum, spirits were flowing, and that you spent it with a few people you love.

Spiritual and Emotional Maturity

How old are you emotionally? Every year we grow older but sometimes we don't deserve the promotion. Are you stuck by a traumatic circumstance, stress or setback. The question and quest of life becomes how do we grow to emotional maturity? What holds us back? What tools do you have or need to add to your arsenal?

Based on Mike's sermon, we explore the fruits of the Spirit as the basic building blocks of wholeness, which are attained as we grow in Christ. This core understanding provides an important foundation for discerning God's will, becoming more like Christ and improving our relationships with those around us.

We are wired to be connected and emotional immaturity is the greatest roadblock for nurturing relationships with those who are most important to us. Explore with us a new understanding of God's love, how to receive it and give it to those around us so that we can be happier, more fulfilled and satisfied because we will know who we are in Christ. A solid understanding of who we are, in Christ, will facilitate stronger connections with others.

Dig in with us as we explore this vital topic to our everyday lives.

Click here to listen to the podcast:MMCS6

Here are links to work we mention in the podcast:

1 Corinthians 13: 4-13 The Love Chapter

Galatians 5: Fruits of the Spirit

Characteristics of Emotional Maturity - Click here

What is Maturity, Traits of Immaturity - Click here

Marti's Musings on this topic, Desires of the Heart - Click here

Happy 14th Anniversary Mike and Rocio

Fourteen years ago today, Mike and Rocio said I do, the first time.

This episode Rocio joins the podcast to talk about their whirlwind romance that led them from strangers to married in less than four months at 18 and 23. Hear their story from their decision to love, through accidents, a miscarriage and children.

Discover insights they've gained on the journey and how they have grown to love each other more.

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Who Am I?

From the time we are born people are trying to figure out who we look like. Do we look like mom or dad? Then as we get older we're told who we should act like or who we shouldn't. Be more like your brother, don't get in trouble like cousin so and so. But we have to answer this fundamental question of, who am I, on our own.

There are many books and tests that help us do that. As Christians we know that we are children of God, born with a purpose to live a life of meaning, but how do we specifically fit into that plan? What did God design us to be and do for Him that only we can do? What patterns, ways of thinking and other habits get in our way so that we keep stumbling? 

Our personalities are in part due to our genes, things we inherited from our families. Another part is our environment, what kind of family and culture in which we grew up. In this podcast, Mike and I both took the Myers Briggs Temperament Analysis to figure out more of our innate tendencies that guide us in relationships and outlook on life. Take the test here.

Myers Briggs looks at four basic questions:

1. What is your natural energy orientation (who do you recharge?); 
2. How do we receive and understand information?;
3. How do we make judgements and decisions?;
4. What is your action orientation towards the outside world (how do you structure your world)?

Personal Update: Today our parents divorce is final. We talk a bit about how we feel and how we are handling this major life event.

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Back from the Beyond

We know that you thought we were MIA, but we've resurfaced. We're like a bad penny, we keep coming back. Find out what we've been up to and what we're learning including:

• Dealing with a pre-teen child and the growth opportunities it provides
• Marti helping Aunt as she goes through chemo. How do you help someone in a crisis?
• Mike's participation in a new church plant and its goals. How do you do church differently? How do you do life together? Marti's big church confession. What is the point of church? What aspects of church do you like and not like?
• Books we're reading and being inspired by and will include in upcoming podcasts including, The Birth Order Book - what affects our personality and life other than trauma.

Click below to listen to our podcast: 

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Transitions

As Mike finally graduates from college we talk about pivotal moments in life, goals, options, feeling lost and   wondering what to do next.

Both Mike and Marti are in a place of uncertainty wondering where life will lead. Not wanting to stay in a rut we explore how the past has led us to this moment and what will be next.

Congratulations Mike on a long journey towards this moment of accomplishment.

Job well done.

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We've Fallen and We Can't Get Up

Just a note to say that we have not abandoned our podcast. Mike is in the middle of finals and doing all of the last minute crap required to graduate. So his attention span is short, tempers are flaring and he's exhausted. So as soon as he returns from California to walk and receive his diploma we will be back with more exciting topics and sarcasm will abound.

Don't give up on us, keep checking back.

Vulnerability & Forgiveness, Oh my!

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Inspired by an article in Radiant Magazine about a woman who forgave her father after an affair, that produced a child, we tackle the process of forgiveness, according to our experience.

Exploring the depth of emotions, hang-ups, and struggles associated with the traumatic events that require forgiveness and being forgiven we realize that these moments bring us into a reality and truth about ourselves we wouldn’t have otherwise. It can bring us closer together and into a deeper, more honest relationship, if we let it.

These traumatic events can also make us stuck in life unable to move on and realize our true purpose. Forgiveness is not for the other person, it is to bring peace and a healing to ourselves. We have to learn to let go, in the proper time.

As usual we have no answers, we’re just exploring the options.

Getting To Know You, Part 2 - The Finale

This is the end of the informational interview sessions. 

This time we’re exploring the benefits of dysfunction, roadblocks to a true relationship with God and what makes us feel true joy. The answers are revealing about where we are in life. We joke about the past yet we’ve found an optimism and realism to embrace the future.

Questions are:

1. What is one lesson learned in childhood that you’re grateful for? (Mike to Marti)

2. What was obstacle you had to overcome to fall in love with God? (Marti to Mike)

3. What always puts a smile on your face? (Mike to Marti)

4. What makes you little kid happy? (Marti to Mike)

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Getting To Know You, Part 1

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This is the very first one.

Get to know a little more about us (Mike and Marti) as we explore the wide wonderful world of podcasts.

In this episode we decide to interview each other with questions never before asked, promising not to be embarrassing, at least not this early. Tackling some of the topics this podcast will cover we dive right into weighty issues like what is the meaning of your life, the need for vulnerability, role of conflict in relationships, perseverance/resilience in the face of life’s greatest pain, and can single’s be whole without a mate - all while wondering what to name the show.

Questions are:

1. Knowing what you know now, what would you go back and tell your 10 year old self? (Marti to Mike)

2. What mark or legacy do you want to leave on the world? (Mike to Marti)

3. What purpose does marriage serve today and how do you keep your 14-year-old marriage fresh? (Marti to Mike)

This first podcast is a light exploration of these topics to see how we do. Each episode will be more in-depth, revealing and educational or perhaps damaging for them.