In 1994, the year we got married, two Americans were invited by the Russian Department of Education to come and teach morals and ethics in the public schools. They were even allowed to teach biblical stories and principles. When they shared the Christmas story at an orphanage of about 100 boys and girls who’d been abandoned, abused and left in the care of the government...one little boy named Misha changed the story of Jesus’ birth in a way you won’t believe! In fact, it’s the inspiration for today’s five ways you can become someone’s favorite person!

Near the end of this podcast, I’ve got yet another ridiculous story for you. This one is about chickens. All I can say is, come on people!

Upcoming Event: I’ll be doing a Church Marriage Strategy training for West End Assembly of God in Richmond VA November 11th through the 13th.

Resource: Pursue Oneness: 7 strategies to help you build the relationship of your dreams.

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Show Content:

In 1994
2 Americans
Russian Department of Education
Morals and ethics
100 kids in orphanage who’d been abused, abandoned
Close to Christmas time, they shared the story of Jesus’ birth
Had them make their own manger

As they were encouraging the kids, Misha stood out, because he had two babies in the manger:

And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?’ And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.’ So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him—for always.

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon or abuse him, someone who would stay with him – ALWAYS. I’ve learned that it’s not WHAT you have in your life, but WHO you have in your life that counts. - by Will Fish

"Part of romantic intimacy is the feeling of being someone special in our partners’ affections and desires." Lawrence Josephs, Ph.D.

1. See each other realistically: be honest about each other, you are both bad and good! It's ok to be flawed because we're all flawed!
2. How often do you really try and change each other? Maybe focusing on feelings helps you let each other go. Maybe you try to change each other because you are focused on the facts.
3. Accept each other
4. Embrace the imperfections: when we love someone unconditionally, this is the very act that could change things we wish would change. Ultimately...I don't need anything to change in order to be totally satisfied.
5. Say thank you a lot more: Take time to tell that someone special how much you appreciate them for accepting you for your flaws. Appreciation leads to really good things...like romantic feelings and fun! 

Distraction of the Day:

The CDC is warning folks not to dress up their chickens for Halloween.
The agency says handling chickens to put on a costume or cuddling them can lead to salmonella exposure.

For some chicken owners, like Stephanie Morse, the birds are family and their owners like dressing them up each year.

“I just like to put a t-shirt on them or a sweater,” Morse said.
“Can you ever imagine not being able to dress up your chickens? Or hold them?”
“No. No. I love to hold them, I love to talk them. Everybody has names,” Morse said.

• Do you know the symptoms of Salmonella?
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Blood in the stool

It can even lead to Typhoid fever!

But wait, this appears to be yet another example of fake news! “The CDC issued a statement to clarify that “despite news reports to the contrary,” officials have “not warned people against dressing [live] chickens in Halloween costumes.”

Some other strict warnings remain, however. Pet owners should never “kiss your birds or snuggle them, and then touch your face or mouth,” the CDC warned. Also, children under five shouldn’t touch chickens, the birds should never be brought into the house, no one should eat or drink around the chickens and people must always wash their hands after touching a chicken.

But really people...we have to be told things like this?