Marriage is both a tremendous blessing and difficult pursuit. 

I love my wife for so many reasons and I can't think of living life without her.  She is so beautiful and caring and does way more for me than I do for her.  But this doesn't mean that our road has been easy and that we haven't had our share of problems and battles.  In fact, in the beginning of our marriage she would have been wise to leave me.   I was a drug addict, alcoholic, and an all around bad dude.  Now to be fair she isn't perfect either - but she definitely didn't put me through the hell I put her through.

Why am I telling you this?  Because if we can make it through the problems we have dealt with, others can too.

I find it extremely sad that divorce is an epidemic in our country and even higher among evangelical Christians than non-Christians.   Yes, I think there can be valid cases for divorce such as abuse and infidelity but many marriages end over such things as money, personal differences, sexual problems, or careers.   It also amazes me to hear of people who have been married for 20 years or more and just call it quits.  It takes so long to train your spouse why give up now?  OK, I am joking but why throw in the towel for small things.

Marriage is worth fighting for!  None of us are perfect and divorcing because we can get a younger model, a richer guy, or someone who puts the lid down is still going to have it's set of problems.  If you are having marital difficulties don't give up or give in...pray for your marriage and fight for it.  Seek counseling and talk to each other.  Most of the time things can be worked out if we are willing to just do it.

Donetta and I have had our up's and down's - as well as having to make sacrifices - but every day I am thankful that we have kept the course.  I have failed and quit at many things but my marriage is going on 17 years in just a couple of weeks and wouldn't have it any other way. 

I pray for struggling marriages right now and that God would restore these relationships into healthy and happy marriages.

Sounds like it can be painful doesn't it? 

In case you haven't noticed - Branding Shed.com was redirected to James Dalman.com over the weekend and there may be a little confusion to what's going on so I'll give those who have been out of the loop the 411 on this change.

Through the course of the last year I have finally realized that God has called me to a dual vocational life of creative pursuits and ministry.  I simply cannot deny it or separate the two.  It's like the Yin and Yang symbol - they work together in perfect harmony and if you take one away it looks like some type of freakish tear (maybe sadness for losing the Yin or Yang). 

The deal is that I am not quitting.  I am going to continue to be a branding dude and artist but I am also going to find and pursue my groove in ministry. 

In order to do this with keeping some idea of sanity I decided to simply brand James Dalman instead of the business name Branding Shed. Branding Shed is and has been a killer name but my life-long goal isn't building a business but building the Kingdom.  Plus, the business side is just me (except for Becky Martin's awesome design help and counseling services) so it makes sense to simplify. 

So everything is as normal as normal gets in my life.  The only difference is I am going to answer the phone without a chessy tag-line, the invoices will be with my name on them, and I'll stop having multiple personalities.  Thank you for your patience and understanding during this awesome time in my life! 

This is just food for thought but how do you know when it's time to change direction - in business, church planting, ministry, or an idea you have been working on for some time?  How do you determine whether you should keep pushing or find another way around the wall?

This was part of my conversation with a great friend yesterday.

There are times where, for whatever reason, we just can't seem to get the results we had hoped for.  We work out consistently and eat the right foods but the pounds don't dramatically decrease.  We start a business that is better than the competition yet they get more recognition and clients from the target audience.  Or maybe we launch a church that is unlike anything in the community and needed but it just hasn't grown or reached new people.

We know that there are going to be times where it just takes patience and persistence because worthwhile goals don't come easy or come fast.  But what if after 6 months,  1 year or 5 years the fruit isn't quite there?  Is there a formula for knowing when it's time to readjust, start on a new path or give up completely?

My answer is I don't really know.  

It's different for each of us and I am in a situation right now where I am asking these questions.  I started a homeschool soccer group four years ago in the dream of building a couple teams to play competitively in a way that honors God.  We have had a super group of kids involved during this time and have a small group who has remained involved most of this time but I can't seem to get the type of involvement from parents and players to actually have one team in a specific age bracket.  Why is this so - especially when many people have expressed such a great interest in this sport?  Is it time to regroup and change direction or quit completely?  My decision is to make this the breakthrough year by changing up a few things and if we don't have the type of results we need by 2009, then it's time to move on.

A few things I believe that are helpful for making the right decision: