The document describes the story of Tom and Lori Penton, who started MarriageFire.com after discovering how focusing on their marriage through activities like love languages and small groups made their relationship stronger at a time when their friends were divorcing. It promotes MarriageFire.com as a tool to help strengthen marriages by providing reminders and activities to keep investment in the relationship strong over time to counteract divorce and the "fade" that can occur in marriages.

1. MarriageFire.com
Strong Marriages Getting Stronger

2. Were you dragged here?

3. Our Story – Lori & Tom Penton
• We started dating in 1989
• Married in 1994
• We have 3 kids: Aly (14), Brock (12), Eva (8)
• We live in Prior Lake
• We attend church at Hosanna!, Lakeville (since
2000)
• We love to take vacations, go out on the boat,
and watch sports together

7. Our Story – Lori & Tom Penton
• Discovered Love Languages and it changed our
marriage!
• Became involved with a small group, mission
trips, Dudes’ Group, retreats
• We became stronger as a couple
• Meanwhile, our friends began divorcing
• Why?

8. Decline of the American Family

9. Kid-Centric Crazy

10. A vision came to me to help counter divorce, to
build a tool to strengthen marriages

11. Our Story (it’s a long one)
Lori & Tom Penton
• 2008 - Slowly, but surely, MarriageFire
community is building
• 2011 - Aligned with Alpha and The Marriage
Course
• Fall of 2011 - Lori diagnosed with breast
cancer
• Spring 2012 – Energized and ready to move
forward – encouraging marriages
• Here we are today

14. How did they get so strong?

15. How did they get so strong?

16. How did they get so strong?

17. How did they get so strong?

18. How did they get so strong?

19. How did they get so strong?

20. STRENGTH
• Invest in the gym and eat right, you will be fit.
• Invest in your marriage and work at it, your
marriage will be stronger.
• What you are doing right now, is equivalent of
going to the gym for your marriage. We
applaud you! It all adds up!
• Why stigma with working on marriage?
• TMC Husband Story – “I thought we had a
good marriage?”

21. MarriageFire.com
Where did MarriageFire come from?

22. MarriageFire.com
“MarriageFire.com is the perfect companion to
The Marriage Course. It’s one thing to talk
about marriage best practices. MarriageFire
helps put them into action, striving to keep
your marriage strong, well after the course is
over."
– Derek and Cathy Rust, Directors The Marriage
Course USA

23. Brain Storm
• Write down some LIFE goals (5 mins).
• Dream travel destinations, a marathon, bucket
list, sky diving, etc.
• Share/discuss with your spouse (5 mins).

24. MarriageFire Analogy
The start of any hot romantic relationship.

25. MarriageFire Analogy
What happens when you sit back and do nothing.

26. MarriageFire Analogy
Keep working at it and enjoy.

27. TMC Reflection

28. Taking Stock of Your Marriage
Revisit Exercise 1

29. TMC Reflection
• Session 1 – Building Strong Foundations.
• This is the primary area of TMC that MarriageFire
reinforces.
• How are you doing since the course?
• Are you going on a weekly date night?
• Are you connecting daily?
• Are you speaking each other’s love languages
daily?
• Are you in the comfort zone?
• Comfort zone = Fade zone.

30. Brain Storm
• Write down some objectives that you would
love to see accomplished in next 12 months.
(5 mins).
• Share/discuss with your spouse (5 mins).

31. Expectations – Reality = Disillusionment
Normal to come out of seminar fired up.

32. Expectations – Reality = Disillusionment
Normal to go back in comfort zone.

33. Expectations – Reality = Disillusionment
Fade kicks in – tiny steps each day turn into miles.

34. • The best businesses constantly bench
mark/measure themselves. So should
marriages

35. Session 1 – Making Time
• We need reminders.
• We need a plan.
• We need to be held accountable.
• You build a list/Outlook/plan at work, why
wouldn’t you do the same for your marriage?

36. Get a greater understanding
of each other – The ‘WishList’

37. Self Centered to Others Centered
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to
the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:4-5 NIV)
“You are most like Christ when you ask, “What are her/his needs, and
how can I meet them?” When you're angry, you're preoccupied with
yourself. But when you're like Christ, you look to each other's interests
and not merely your own.” - Pastor Rick Warren
That is what MarriageFire.com is all about. Tuning in better to your
spouse’s needs and how you can meet them. If you consciously did
that everyday and your spouse did the same, your marriage will be
stronger.

38. WishList
• Your WishList is broken down into several
major categories:
– My Favorites
– Daily Wishes
– Weekly Wishes
– Monthly Wishes
– Annual Goals
– Life Goals

39. Get a greater understanding
of each other – The ‘WishList’

40. Click on ‘My Scheduler’

41. WishList Builder Exercise
• Fill out your WishList Form.
• If you have extra time, share with your
spouse.
• 10 – 15 minutes.

42. Implementation
• Fire up your lap tops and tablets
• Enter your key data
• Follow the packet
• We’ll be here to support
• Estimated session time 20-30 mins

43. Thank you!!!
• Feedback – will you help us improve?
• Make sure to sign email list.
• Email us at info@marriagefire.com
• Spread the word – sign up marriages(s) closest
to you.
• Like us on Facebook.
• @MarriageFire

44. Have fun!
It’s your MarriageFire.
Stoke It!

45. Building Up of the American Family
• How to Counter the ‘FADE’?
• Invest in the marriage.
– Bi-monthly date night reminders.
– Doing exactly what you are doing right now (Church, seminars
together).
– The Marriage Course, Love Languages, Sheet Music,
Rebuilders, MarriageFire.com.
– Act on what is most important to your spouse.
– Date night ideas/suggestions.
– Daily ‘connection time ‘ reminders.
– Counter lack of communication with email/text reminders.
– Once set, reminders continue on far beyond the class and
continue for the life of the marriage.