Fireproof.

sooo, i heard lots of good things about this movie, that every married couple should watch it, yadda yadda. we rented it tonight and watched it. it wasn't *quite* what i expected....i thought it would be a little more action, a little less cheesy. but i liked it all the same. and yes, kirk cameron may have helped a little :) i have always liked him, despite the naysayers. and there were several things that stuck with me....the main message, the whole "never leave your partner" idea. i also like the part where in the book the movie features, "The Love Dare", they are talking about parasites in your marriage:

“Watch out for parasites. A parasite is anything that latches on to you or your partner and sucks the life out of your marriage. They’re usually in the form of addictions, like gambling, drugs, or pornography. They promise pleasure but grow like a disease and consume more and more of your thoughts, time, and money. They steal away your loyalty and heart from those you love. Marriages rarely survive if parasites are present. If you love your spouse, you must destroy any addiction that has your heart. If you don’t, it will destroy you.”

it definitely made me stop and think about some of the addictions that i face; though to the outside world most of them would seem benign (my interwebz addiction, for one). it has definitely caused a rift btwn us on more than one occasion.

the part about not always following your heart spoke to me as well....especially for being in a society that seems to always be telling us to do just that.

"One of the most important things you should learn on your Love Dare journey is that you should not just follow your heart. You should lead it. You don’t let your feelings and emotions do the driving. You put them in the back seat and tell them where you’re going.

In your marriage relationship, you won’t always feel like loving. It is unrealistic for your heart to constantly thrill as the thought of spending every moment with your spouse. Nobody can maintain a burning desire for togetherness just one feelings alone. But it’s also difficult to love someone only out of obligation."

so, in conclusion :) if you are married, or thinking about getting married, or single, or a monk....i would recommend this movie. be prepared for a little bad acting and a few cheesy parts, but for a strong inspirational message.