PODCAST · religion
Called to Marriage
by Thomas & Marcia
A podcast for the bride of Christ. If you are called, come! As a married couple, the Oppongs talk about their marriage and life in parallel to their union with Christ the King. Through their conversations, they aim to glorify God and edify his body, at the same time leaving a legacy for posterity. Tune in!
Episodes
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#60 How Charlie's Learning Changed at Age 5
Charlie is growing up, and that means the way he learns is changing too. In this episode, we share an honest update on parenting a five-year-old, why his Scripture memorization looks different today, how his love for God's Word has matured, and why we'...
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#59 Our Baby Came Before the Midwives Arrived (Dad Delivered Her)
Our third baby, Maggie, arrived sooner than we expected… and before the midwives made it. In this episode, we share the short version of Maggie’s birth story, how labor unfolded unexpectedly, what it was like welcoming her at home, and why going throug...
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#58 How Your Childhood Quietly Shapes Your Marriage
How much of who you are today was shaped by your childhood? In this episode of Called to Marriage, we sit down for a simple conversation over dessert and answer questions that led somewhere deeper than expected. We talk about: • What we loved most as children • How our childhood experiences…
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#57 Why Siblings Are One of God’s Greatest Gifts
In a culture that increasingly fears family, we wanted to talk about something we believe is deeply valuable: sibling relationships.In this episode, we reflect on our own experiences growing up, the beauty of watching our children bond, and why we believe siblings can become one of life’s…
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#56 Modeling Connection Calls: Deepening Intimacy Through Questions
Communication is essential in marriage, but knowing how to deepen it is where many couples struggle. One simple and powerful exercise we’ve used in our own marriage is asking each other intentional questions. Some are light and fun. Others invite us to reflect on our past, our experiences, and…
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#55 Reflecting on 7 Years of Marriage, Family Life, and God's Faithfulness
In this intimate episode, we celebrate our 7-year marriage anniversary. We reflect on our journey together, from moving from China to the States, raising two boys, and experiencing God's constant faithfulness. We also share insights on parenting, facing challenges, documenting memories, and...
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#54 Building a Vision: Our Homeschooling Conference Experience
In this episode, we share insights from a Christian Homeschooling convention we attended recently. We discuss our plans for home education, the enriching experience of the convention, and provide a compact list of 10 lessons we learned from the convention. From fostering a vision for your…
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#53 Fatherhood, and the need to lead, be present, and involved.
In this episode of 'Called to Marriage, we dive deep into the challenges and joys of the postpartum period, emphasizing the crucial role of paternity leave. We share personal experiences from our journey with our second child, contrasting it with our first, and highlight the transformative power…
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#52 The Birth Story of Baby Nti
In this episode, we share our personal experience of home birthing our second child, Nti. We recount the details from the early contractions to the challenges of labor, and the joyous moment of delivery. We discuss the spiritual significance of childbirth, the importance of trust in God, and the...
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#51 Choosing Names for Our Children
In this episode, we delve into the thought-provoking and personal journey of naming our sons. From discussing the significance of names to sharing family traditions and personal anecdotes, this episode provides a heartfelt look at how we navigated this important aspect of parenthood. Learn about...
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#50 Breastfeeding in Modern Culture: A Vital Discussion
In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of breastfeeding. We discuss the challenges and rewards associated with breastfeeding, share personal experiences, and explore cultural perspectives. Marcia highlights the difficulties she faced while breastfeeding both of our children and emphasizes…
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#49 Navigating Wedding Culture with Intentionality and Faith
Marcia and Thomas challenge the conventional wedding and event culture, emphasizing a return to simplicity and biblical principles. They discuss the significant impact of societal norms on our celebrations and explore key themes such as financial stewardship, cultural traditions, and the true...
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#48 The Power of Contentment: Embracing Your Season
In this episode of 'Called to Marriage,' we delve into the significance of finding contentment and simplicity amidst the busyness of life. Beginning with a scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:6, we reflect on its meaning and relevance to our current season of life, which is characterized by living…
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#47 Waiting on the Lord
What are you waiting on the Lord for? How are you waiting? What is your attitude and posture toward God in delay? Thomas and I answer these questions for ourselves on this episode. We are waiting, hoping, and praying for another baby. Feel free to agree with us in prayer 🙏🏾 😊 but we are...
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#46 Finding the Right Partner: Christian Marriage Essentials
Key Qualities to Look for in a Christian Marriage Partner In this episode hosts Marcia and Thomas discuss essential qualities to look for in a potential Christian marriage partner. They emphasize that choosing a spouse aligned with Christian values and beliefs is crucial for a harmonious and...
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#45 Downsizing to Upgrade
After a few lovely years in our last apartment, we have decided to move! Some would consider it a downgrade, but we consider it a great move for us in this season! God has prospered us, and we are trusting Him in our new place and in this new season! We are just sharing some life updates for...
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#44 Marital and Pre-Marital Counseling
Counsel is important for life in general, and especially when making one the the most important decisions of life, which is who to marry. On this episode, we discuss the value of counseling at every stage of a relationship, whether simply interested in someone, actually seeing someone, about to…
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#43 Lessons we've learned from Charlie
Lessons we’ve learned from Charlie 1. The activity of the flesh causes visceral reactions in us. We should apply grace but also discipline! (00:43) 2. We are made to be moving constantly! (9:06) 3. From a young age, we have the capacity for extreme focus and diligence (17:10) 4. We are born with...
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#42 The Wisdom of the Ancestors
We’re talking about the wisdom of the ancestors! NO, we aren’t talking about soliciting the voice of your dead ancestor through seance or mediums. We are talking about walking in the GOOD ancient path referred to in Jeremiah 6:16. We are talking about not forgetting the old, good ways of the past...
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#41 How we add value to each other
It is good to make a frequent habit of appreciating your spouse. On this episode, we list the ways we help and add value to one another. Gratitude is good for the soul, and it helps your spouse feel joyful and fulfilled in their service to you. Try it! OUR WEBSITES: thomasandmarcia.com...
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#40 Living on One Income - Part 2
On this episode of CTM, we dig a little deeper into how we live on one income, particularly since having our son. The lifestyle is not for everyone at every time, but if you want it, there is a very good chance you could do it! Set your priorities and make decisions according to them. Most of…
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#39 Living on One Income
Many families struggle to imagine how they could possibly live on one income, but on this episode of Called to Marriage, Thomas and Marcia offer encouragement to those who aspire to do so. They recount going from Marcia being the “primary breadwinner”, to both working for a short period, to…
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#38 Responsibility
Responsibility. Life calls for it, and most of the good things in life require it. Sometimes we are afraid of being responsible for anyone or anything other than ourselves. It feels very risky, but we must remember: with big risk comes big reward. We talk about all that and more on this episode…
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#37 The Importance of Going to Church
On this episode, we discuss the importance of going to church. We start out by naming some reasons folks give for not attending church, and then we break down our thoughts and finally try to summarize some reasons why people absolutely should go to church. In addition, we make mention of the fact...
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#36 Date night is overrated.
Date night is OVERRATED! 😆 Honestly, date nights are wonderful, but in our opinion, not having regular date nights doesn’t mean your marriage is in the red! Date nights are a tool with an important sentiment behind them. That sentiment is vital to a healthy marriage, but the utility of date…
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#35 The Reality of Sex Within Marriage
Does a person’s sex life diminish and become boring and dry once he/she gets married? What can you expect your sex life to look like once you start your married life? On this episode of Called to Marriage, we discuss what we’ve discovered over the past four years concerning sex. The reality of…
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When I look back to my younger self
I reflect on how when we look back to the past, we're able to make sense of many things that we were blind to. One of the lessons I take away from this realization is that I need to be humble. I figured the more I grow, the more I'm able to recognize and sincerely appreciate the fact that I'm not...
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#34 Things We Love About Our In-Laws
In-law relationships can be tough to navigate! On this episode, we draw out the good qualities that our in-laws have which others can adopt for the benefit of everyone. We also caution against some notoriously shady in-law behaviors! Finally, we thank God that in Him we find wisdom for every...
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#33 Boundaries
Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must...
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#32 Security and Insecurity
What does it mean to have security in marriage? And what does it mean for a man to protect his wife? On this episode, we discuss the importance of having a level of commitment that endures even when your spouse isn't doing the right thing. We give some examples of things that cause insecurity in...
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#31 It's not all about you!
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 Have you ever realized something about yourself that you...
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#30 Working Dad, Stay-At-Home Mom
What does it take to have a stay-at-home parent in the house? On this episode, we talk about establishing our values as parents and the associated costs and benefits that come with our decisions. We also declare our thanks to God and trust in God to help us carry out the vision for our family.
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#29 Living Through Covid-19
Oh give thanks unto the Lord, His mercy endures forever! What was it like to experience the thing that many in this season dread? Having survived by the grace of God, we chronicle our experience with Covid-19. With words of encouragement from Scripture, we affirm that we will not fear, and we…
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#28 Postpartum and Learning to be Parents
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 On this episode of Called to Marriage, we talk about our experience and insights nine weeks into the postpartum journey. We also discuss our experience…
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#27 Working Through Pregnancy
"A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world." -John 16:21 On this episode of Called to Marriage, we talk about working through all...
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#26 Planning for Pregnancy & Parenthood
"There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel- that will stand." - Proverbs 19:21 In this episode we recount our decision and planning to have a child. We also talk about looking forward to being first time parents and the responsibilities that come with that.
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#23 Leaving China after 4 years (Part 2)
At the time of recording this, we were closer than ever to leaving China indefinitely! We were moving back to the States, but before leaving, we wanted to reflect on the process a bit more. Here is Part 2 of the topic, "Leaving China after 4 years." We talked about seeing God at work in the midst...
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#22 Leaving China after 4 years
The countdown begins! After four blessed and exciting years in China, we are moving to the United States. As we close one chapter and begin another, we reflect on what we'll miss about China and what we look forward to in the U.S.
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#21 The Importance of Family
In this time of global lockdown, people are spending time with family whom they live with, or perhaps reaching out to loved ones distant from them. But how important is it to stay unified with your family? And what are some of the roadblocks to family unity? On this episode, we explore these…
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#20 Personal Faith
Just because you had a Christian upbringing doesn't mean you automatically become a Christian yourself. Faith is personal, and on this episode, we talk about the transition from being guided as young people to having our own personal faith and relationship with God.
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#19 Christian Upbringing
How did your parents both intentionally and unconsciously raise you in Christian faith in your formative years? We are exploring this question as we reflect on what we feel was the most important gift our parents have given us: fear and knowledge of the Lord, leading to faith in the gospel, and…
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#18 The Significance of Good Friends
What friendships do you consider dear to you, and why? We're discussing our oldest and closest friends, and the roles they have played in our lives.
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#17 Spending time together
How do we spend time together, both intentionally and unintentionally? We are getting real about what spending time together looks like in our marriage.
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#15 Humble Beginnings
Should we have achieved complete independence and success before getting married? We're discussing the humble beginning of our relationship, and how we've been able to embrace it and see advantages of building success together.
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#14 The Coronavirus Outbreak in China
Since we are living in China, the origin country of the Coronavirus, we thought we'd give a personal update on what it's been like for us since the outbreak. Our thoughts may surprise you!
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#13 Eating In China
What's the food like here in China, from our perspective? And how do we eat while we're here? We answer that and more on today's episode.
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#12 How Thomas Came To China
How in the world did Thomas end up in China? Let's hear his account of the series of events that led him to becoming a civil engineering student in Changchun, China.
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#11 How Marcia Ended Up In China
How in the world did Marcia end up in China? Let's hear her recount how she ended up becoming an English teacher in Changchun. As well, she covers what her experience has been like as a university English teacher the past few years in China.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast for the bride of Christ. If you are called, come! As a married couple, the Oppongs talk about their marriage and life in parallel to their union with Christ the King. Through their conversations, they aim to glorify God and edify his body, at the same time leaving a legacy for posterity. Tune in!
HOSTED BY
Thomas & Marcia
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Called to Marriage have?
Called to Marriage currently has 56 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Called to Marriage about?
A podcast for the bride of Christ. If you are called, come! As a married couple, the Oppongs talk about their marriage and life in parallel to their union with Christ the King. Through their conversations, they aim to glorify God and edify his body, at the same time leaving a legacy for posterity....
How often does Called to Marriage release new episodes?
Called to Marriage has 56 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Called to Marriage?
You can listen to Called to Marriage on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Called to Marriage?
Called to Marriage is created and hosted by Thomas & Marcia.
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