Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Not Just a Fairy Tale
    Not Just a Fairy Tale
    Not Just a Fairy Tale
    Ebook108 pages1 hour

    Not Just a Fairy Tale

    By Stefanus Mantik Ph.D.

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Are you happily married? Are you disappointed with your spouse? Are you thinking of giving up your marriage? Do you want to have a better understanding of your marriage? Do you want to improve your marriage?

    Dr. Stefanus Mantik and his wife, Priscilla, had gone through a period where their marriage seemed to be dying. However, by Gods grace, their marriage was restored. In Not Just a Fairy Tale, Dr. Mantik shares some biblical principles that have helped their marriage. Based on Gods Word, you will learn the original design of marriage and how to re-ignite romance and a love life that may have become stale. Your marriage may not be a fairy tale, but you could have a blessed marriage that is better than a fairy tale.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWestBow Press
    Release dateOct 1, 2012
    ISBN9781449760021
    Not Just a Fairy Tale
    Author

    Stefanus Mantik Ph.D.

    Dr. Stefanus Mantik has been married with his wife, Priscilla, for more than thirteen years during the writing of this book. Together, they have started and led several home-life groups for many years. They have been blessed with two children. They live in San Jose, California. Through the restoration of their marriage, they want to share their experiences to many other married couples.

    Related to Not Just a Fairy Tale

    Related ebooks

    Relationships For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Josh & Tara McCauley On A REDEMPTIVE Mission

      Sep 4, 2020

      Whilst his friends were out playing cops and robbers, a young Joshua would sit in the front row of church listening to the sermons of his dad (Rhema Church founder, Pastor Ray McCauley) blissfully unaware that one day he too would be standing behind

      10 min read

    • Article

      Letting Go Of Perfectionism

      Mar 10, 2023

      This testimony follows the life journey of Jordyn, a 28-year-old digital marketer, podcast producer, and musician based in Cape Town. Growing up in a family of pastors, she was introduced to Jesus at a young age, but struggled with perfectionism and

      2 min read

    • Article

      Comfort In A Time Of Loss

      Oct 30, 2020

      Comfort In A Time Of Loss
      3 min read

    • Article

      How To Hang A Mezuzah

      Sep 1, 2020

      How To Hang A Mezuzah
      24 min read

    • Article

      Thursday, June 24

      Apr 15, 2021

      SINCE MOVING INTO THE MARINA, we’ve intentionally built relationships by being hospitable and helping with fix-it jobs on our neighbors’ boats. We’ve made lots of friends, but we’ve yet to find another believer. Our neighbors’ lives are difficult and

      1 min read

    • Article

      Marriage That’s Happy and Lasting

      Jan 4, 2018

      A Christian Science perspective: We can all realize and express God-given qualities such as love, joy, and selflessness.

      2 min read

    • Article

      Heidi Baker

      Oct 21, 2019

      Heidi Baker
      6 min read

    • Article

      Wedding Belles

      Jul 2, 2021

      Wedding Belles
      5 min read

    • Article

      Pastor Jo Swart

      Aug 26, 2022

      Pastor Jo Swart
      7 min read

    • Article

      Have A Little Faith

      Apr 1, 2023

      Jenna* is Greek Orthodox and her husband, Mark* is Jewish. They have been happily married for six years, but lately Mark has been hinting that it may be a good idea for Jenna to convert to Judaism. “Mark always knew that I didn't want to change my fa

      3 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Aug 7, 2020

      Greetings in the Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In your July issue of JOY! you asked what we are grateful for. I’m grateful for the fact that Jesus Christ saved me and my family. My third born son suffered severe burns on his body, and my last b

      6 min read

    • Article

      Jonathan’s Journey Of Faith

      Jun 9, 2021

      Jonathan’s Journey Of Faith
      3 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The EDITOR

      Feb 11, 2022

      Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to ke

      6 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The EDITOR

      Dec 30, 2022

      Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to ke

      8 min read

    • Article

      Keeping The Faith

      Sep 1, 2020

      Keeping The Faith
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Eternal Promise

      Jan 5, 2023

      The Eternal Promise
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Year That CHANGED US

      Mar 23, 2021

      Since the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, first announced a national lockdown in Britain one year ago, in a bid to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect the NHS, life for many of us has changed dramatically. Gone are the days of holidays, meeting

      4 min read

    • Article

      What Marriage Looks Like In 2020

      May 11, 2020

      POP THE Q A proposal traditionally kicks off your wedding planning journey. But who’s to say it has to follow tradition? ADI JUHASZ + AUTUMN WOOLMAN Adi and Autumn, who met in college, approached the topic of marriage sort of like they approached wed

      7 min read

    • Article

      Celebrating 37 years

      Nov 18, 2019

      Celebrating 37 years
      3 min read

    • Article

      The List

      Jul 30, 2021

      The List
      6 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The EDITOR

      Mar 18, 2022

      Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to ke

      7 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Not Just a Fairy Tale

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Not Just a Fairy Tale - Stefanus Mantik Ph.D.

      Copyright © 2012 by Stefanus Mantik, Ph.D..

      Cover art by Samuel Gandasaputra

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      Editor: Deirdre Chatham, Christian Author Services

      Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Other Scripture quotations are taken from the following:

      KJV—The King James Version of the Bible.

      NIV 1984—Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

      WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

      WestBow Press

      A Division of Thomas Nelson

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.westbowpress.com

      1-(866) 928-1240

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-6001-4 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4497-6002-1 (e)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2012912857

      WestBow Press rev. date: 09/26/2012

      Contents

      Acknowledgements

      1. Happily Ever After?

      2. Designed by God

      3. Man versus Woman

      4. Love and Respect

      5. Where’s the Romance?

      6. Sex: Taboo?

      7. 70 x 7

      8. Godly Family Structure

      9. Marriage Security System

      10. Regular Maintenance Needed

      11. Conclusion

      References

      To my lovely wife, Priscilla,

      and to our children,

      Josephine and Nathaniel

      Acknowledgements

      First and foremost, I would like to return all the glory to God. This book will not exist without the guidance from the Holy Spirit. Most importantly, our marriage may have been dissolved without God’s interventions.

      I am extremely grateful to Pastor Paul Gerlach for his guidance and counsel that have helped our marriage to be back on the right track. Through his coaching we are able to restore our relationship and find the purpose for our marriage.

      I am thankful for Pastor Ida Hardy and Pastor Chris Cobb who have helped us to restore our spiritual relationship with God. I am also thankful for Gary and Mona Shriver from Hope and Healing Ministries for their help in restoring my relationship with my wife.

      I am greatly indebted to my mother-in-law, Debbie Gandasaputra, who is now in heaven. While on earth, she had prayed for us every day. God had used her many times to encourage us.

      Finally, I am thankful for all our friends who have supported and trusted us.

      1

      Happily Ever After?

      It was a cool Saturday morning. The sun started to shine through the morning mist. The golden ray of the morning sun shone brightly on top of a hill where a majestic church was standing. The quiet morning atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the engine sounds from several cars coming in to the church parking lot. Florists, musicians, ushers, and other workers were arriving one after another for the preparation of a big wedding just in few hours.

      The groom and his groomsmen arrived just about an hour before the ceremony. After taking a few pictures with his attendants and family members, he went inside to get ready for the big event. Meanwhile, the bride and her bridesmaids came through a different entrance. They were getting ready as well with the flower bouquets and any last minute make-up touch ups.

      The anticipated moment finally arrived. After a short praise and worship service, the officiating pastor, the groom and his best man came forward to the altar to wait for the bride. Then, groomsmen and bridesmaids walked down the aisle, one pair at a time, until the maid of honor made her solitary way down the aisle. As the musicians started playing Don Moen’s Hallelujah to the Lamb, all attentions were shifted toward the back of the church. Several dancers came out to prepare the way for the bride. Accompanied by her father, the bride moved elegantly down the aisle towards the groom. Finally, at the altar, the groom received the bride at the climax of the song.

      Minutes after minutes, the ceremony went through smoothly. It was ended with a magnificent ride inside a stretched limousine to a grand hotel in downtown Los Angeles where the celebration would continue for one more day. The joyful celebration was followed by a spectacular honeymoon trip to the beautiful island of Hawaii and the newlywed couple lived happily ever after.

      Does it sound like a fairy tale wedding? It was actually a real story except the happily ever after part. The above story was a short description of our wedding celebration at the Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California. Do not get me wrong. We are happily married, but we have not always been jolly in our marriage life.

      I was born and raised in a good Christian family. My father, who had become a pastor, was a very active member of our church. I had attended Sunday school and church services since youth. I had been involved with ministry since I was in junior high. During my college years, I became one of the youth leaders in my church. I was also involved in the ministry as a musician.

      My wife was also raised in a good Christian family. Her father was also a pastor, although of a different church. During her college years, she was also involved in a lot of ministries as a singer, a dancer, and a choreographer. Together, we had led several church events, including winter camps, Christmas celebrations, and various other performances before we got married.

      Based on our backgrounds, it’s easy to see that both of us were deeply rooted in Christian family; therefore, our marriage should, ideally, be a great one. We had been close friends for about five years before we got married. We served in the same ministry and had lots of things in common. However, all of these were just the beginning of our journey.

      We were still close together in the first few years of our marriage. Unfortunately, we had gradually shifted our focus away from our marriage without realizing it. We started to occupy our lives with activities and commitments that slowly drew us apart from each other. Shortly after our first daughter was born, I received a job offer that required me to move from LA to San Jose, the city of Silicon Valley. It was a big step of faith for us because we only knew one old friend of mine in the area.

      We decided to join Jubilee Christian Center, which happened to be the only church that we knew in the San Jose area. We passively attended the church as regular members for a few years while we continued to occupy ourselves with works, kid, and hobbies. Later, I decided to join the music ministry but without the blessing of my wife. This new commitment for the ministry, along with my expanding role at my work place, slowly took more of my time away from my family.

      While I was fulfilling my commitments to the ministry and other interests, I neglected my role as a husband to my wife and as a father to my daughter. My wife and I had drifted apart from each other. We did not have any intimate communication anymore. Even though we were still communicating, our conversations were only about superficial things. Finally, we arrived at a point where we realized that our marriage would not survive if we did not make drastic alterations.

      During our wedding day, we would have never thought that nine years in the future our marriage would be falling apart. We almost did not make it to our tenth anniversary. How could two good Bible-believing Christians

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1