Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? …who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind…. Psalm 15:1, 4b, NIV My grandfather, Leverne, was an old school, North Dakotan farmer. His word was his bond. It was a word and a handshake. That is … Continue reading “Pet Peeve: Breaking one’s word.”
No substance behind that picture.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” -Matthew 23:27, NKJV I have noticed a common phenomenon with cheaters and their families of origin. Often times, they come from families that have an appearance of … Continue reading “No substance behind that picture.”
Fact: Cheaters flunked marriage.
“You shall not commit adultery.” -Exodus 20:14, NIV (from The Ten Commandments) Fact: Cheaters are marriage flunkies. One of the most basic lessons in Christian marriage is adhering to this classic and consistent prohibition regarding sex with marriage outsiders. Cheaters have–spectacularly, in some cases–flunked this most basic of marriage lessons. Yet for some reason, … Continue reading “Fact: Cheaters flunked marriage.”
You ARE wanted!
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. -Ephesians 1:4, NLT I love the feeling of being “wanted” or “needed” by someone. It is the feeling of knowing your love and attention are welcomed and desired. How about you? I … Continue reading “You ARE wanted!”
Carl Lentz–disgraced former Hillsong pastor–in the news again
Carl Lentz, former Hillsong pastor, is in the news these days because he and his wife, Laura Lentz, participated in a FX and HULU documentary “The Secrets of Hillsong.” Lentz was caught in an “affair”–more on this later–that eventually resulted in his termination from the church. He and his wife are still married. This “affair” … Continue reading “Carl Lentz–disgraced former Hillsong pastor–in the news again”
Where are all the “Adultery Prevention Seminars?”
Where are the “Christian Adultery Prevention Seminars?” Sure, there are plenty of “affair-proofing” marriage seminars. But I am talking about the sort of seminars where pastors talk about adultery and taking personal responsibility for one’s own sins. Instead of talking about the horrors of divorce–like pretty much every pre-marital book I read does–why not talk … Continue reading “Where are all the “Adultery Prevention Seminars?””
Adultery impacts the community
If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. -Deuteronomy 22:22, KJV Too often, adultery is treated as a private matter between the faithful … Continue reading “Adultery impacts the community”
Eyes opened.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. -I Corinthians 13:11, NKJV I was dangerously naive in my first marriage. This was very apparent to me as I entered through the valley … Continue reading “Eyes opened.”
Is God’s forgiveness for everyone?
“It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’” -Luke 24:47, NLT (emphasis mine) Is God’s forgiveness for all? As I was preparing for this Sunday’s sermon, this verse jumped out at … Continue reading “Is God’s forgiveness for everyone?”
Were not looking for it!
Even when filing the divorce papers, the faithful spouse really did not choose this outcome. What they chose was a marriage free of infidelity! The filing of the papers was the choice they had left after the choice of the cheater to destroy the agreed upon future by being unfaithful. The good options–the preferred option–was … Continue reading “Were not looking for it!”