Singles Workshop: 

"Love Thinks™" by "How to PICK a Partner... 

or: How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkett)" 

Workshop for singles Oct 2 & 4, 2007 Tues & Thurs 6:30-9 p.m.

Downtown YMCA (2nd floor Library Conf. room TBA)

Next workshop April 25-26, 2008 tentative at VCU Medical Center sponsored by CMDA Christian Medical and Dental Association

"Love Thinks™" 

With   Bob & Dianne Ruthazer from First Things First. Learn practical skills for developing great relationships that will go the distance based on the new book and program by Dr. John Van Epp a  Marriage and Family Therapist.   Learn to assess and pace your relationships and what you need to know in order to Avoid being stuck with or marrying the wrong person!  

Who is it for: singles of all ages: older teens and parents who desire healthy marriages for their children will benefit greatly from this seminar.

Tuesday and Thursday . Oct 2 & 4 , 2007 at 6:30 - 9:00 pm.   Downtown YMCA 2 W. Franklin St

$30 each;    

Reservations call Betty 288-3431 ext-11 or     info    @firstthingsrichmond.org   with no spaces

Directions: 

___________________________________________________________________________

Link to Download brochure pdf (1meg)    

by Dr John Van Epp  www.nojerks.com 

What's It All About?

At one time or another, we have heard someone quote the old saying,

"LOVE IS BLIND."

It might have been at that miserably mismatched wedding;

Or, when your best friend forgave her boyfriend the hundredth time for the SAME CRIME;

Or, when the divorcee, after analytic contemplation, finally saw the warning signals of his/her dating years;

Or, perhaps it occurred within the depths of your own soul upon the realization of a broken trust.

    The accumulation of experiences like these lead you to wonder if you could ever...

FOLLOW YOUR HEART WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND.

    In other words, is there really any explanation for why love is blind?  Do we have any hope for learning how to avoid marrying a jerk?  The answer is a resounding...

YES!!!!

    Much, if not all, of what a person will be like can be clearly predicted during dating.  For years, while conducting counseling sessions with relationally confused and hurt clients, I searched through self-help books and thousands of pages of research on the premarital relationship and the predictors of marital satisfaction.  I gleaned many valuable principles and insights.  However, I did not find any author who organized this plethora of information into a pictorial model which would portray the delicate balance between your mind and heart.

    For your mind needs to know what to look for in order to shape an accurate profile of the person you are dating.  And your heart needs to know how to keep proper balances between the bonding forces which form the attachment in your growing relationship.

    Two of the most common remarks I have heard when counseling dismayed spouses are:

"I should have known better..."

and,

"I saw it when dating, but I just overlooked it..."

    I am convinced that these regretful reflections reveal the two most prevalent sources to an unhealthy, "blinding love."

    The first, as indicated in the first remark, is an UNDER-DEVELOPED education of the mind.  Too many people simply do not know WHAT to look for when dating.

    The second source of minimizing problems is an OVER-DEVELOPED attachment of the heart.  In this case, too many people simply do not know HOW to keep a dating relationship in balance.

    It was these two needs which led me to develop a system to follow in the premarital relationship and decision-making process.

    Based upon a thorough review of research pertaining to this subject, the How To Avoid Marrying A Jerk video series EXHAUSTIVELY and HUMOROUSLY describes:

THE MAJOR AREAS THAT PREDICT WHAT A PERSON WILL BE LIKE IN MARRIAGE,

and

THE BONDING FORCES THAT MUST BE KEPT IN BALANCE AS A RELATIONSHIP GROWS.  

Or e-mail:             info@             FirstThingsRichmond.org           NO SPACES   

(804) 288-3431 x-11

Name(s):  ___________________________________       phone: _______________            

e-mail: _____________________________________________    fax: _________________

Organization: _______________________________________            

Address: _____________________________________________          

City: ________________________   State: ____   Zip: ___________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link to Download a general brochure pdf (1meg) 

For a Program  Outline go to:  www.nojerks.com 

"Love Thinks" ™"  is a trademarked phrase and program used with permission by  PICK a Partner, Dr John Van Epp

Comment by Bob Ruthazer, CFLE:  This is an excellent practical program for singles that "answers the questions they are asking" 

... it gives them hope that they can identify a prospective lifetime mate in a world of uncertainty.  

(For Churches it is best coupled with good Biblical teaching about marriage and sex such as Love Sex and Relationships Book and 8 week Video Curriculum by Dean Sherman, it makes a well rounded program for College and Singles as well as older Youth Groups.)

"A Lasting Promise" couples workshop followed by Marriage Mentoring using FOCCUS or PREPARE Inventory complete the "ideal preparation for marriage".