Mike Potter's Blog » Marriage

The Importance of Punctuation

Mike Potter — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:12:09 +0000

A WOMAN WITHOUT HER MAN IS NOTHING.

An English professor wrote these words on the chalkboard and asked his students to punctuate it correctly. All of the males in the class wrote: “A woman, without her man, is nothing.”

All of the females in the class wrote: “A woman: without her, man is nothing.”

Punctuation is powerful!

Father of the Bride

Mike Potter — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:13:02 +0000

My little corner of the blogosphere has been quiet lately, and for good reason. My oldest daughter, Emily, is getting married this Sunday (February 14). She is marrying a young man (Aarron Rogers) whom both Michelle and I approve of and like a lot. Good thing, huh?! I’ll be performing the majority of the ceremony. My father-in-law (a pastor as well) will do the beginning of the ceremony so that I can walk Emily down the isle. Family and friends are coming from all over the country, and my entire church is invited to the wedding.

Needless to say, this is a busy time in the life of my family, and this week promises to be busier and even more stressful! If you think about it, please pray for us this week.

And, when things calm down a bit, I will re-enter the blogosphere. Lots to blog about, but no time to do so. Gotta go meet with Franck. Talk to you soon!

Forgive Ted Haggard? Are You Kidding Me?

Mike Potter — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:56:08 +0000

Every once in a while, a story of forgiveness comes along that causes you to pause and take note. An article in today’s Denver Post did just that to me. It’s an article about a book written by Gayle Haggard called, Why I Stayed: The Choices I Made in My Darkest Hour. Gayle is the wife of former pastor and national Christian leader, Ted Haggard, whose secret life of of drug use and homosexual liaisons were revealed in 2006.

In the book, Gayle reveals that almost from the day she learned of Ted’s indiscretions, she knew she would try to forgive him. She says she wrestled with the question: “Will I be the woman who washes her hands of the situation and walks away from Ted, or will I be the woman who loves him and shows forgiveness?” She knew the choice was hers.

As a matter of fact, in the days after everything came out in the open, Ted actually encouraged her to leave him, claiming that he was so toxic that he would ruin her. But ultimately, she chose to stay because she says that she knew that Christians are called by God to forgive, and she says that she wanted to be the person who remained faithful to her Lord, husband, family and church.

I’m pretty sure that what Gayle Haggard has chosen to do is something that not many Christians would choose to do themselves. I often overhear married Christians proclaim that if they ever caught their spouse cheating on them that they would leave – which always makes me feel very troubled. I’m sure glad the Lord doesn’t leave me when I “cheat” on Him. On the contrary, He proclaims that He will never leave me regardless of what I do, and He willingly offers me forgiveness when I betray Him.

I have great respect for Gayle Haggard, and I find her forgiveness of her husband incredibly inspiring and Christ-like. May the Lord help all of us to extend grace and forgiveness to those who hurt us just like Gayle has. Just like He did.