Monday, January 14, 2008
5 Year Anniversary
Just to let everyone know, today is Sarah and my 5 year anniversary from our first date. If I had known then that I was going to marry her one day, I'm sure I would've made that date a whole lot better than ice cream at Marble Slab and going to see Antwone Fisher. Anyway, things worked out great from where I'm standing. Sarah, I LOVE YOU!!!
SOnTheM 17
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to be come an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery." Matthew 5:31-32
Mawidge...mawidge is what bwings us togewer today...
Mawidge, the bwessed awwangement, that dweam wiffim a dweam...
... Ven wuv, twoo wuv, wiw fowwow you fowever..
... so tweasuwe your vruv..
Sound familiar? It's the Impressive Clergyman's lines from The Princess Bride. Great movie, and I think it may shed some light on our society's attitude toward marriage these days. In biblical times, marriage was viewed with reverend sanctity. However, in America today, marriage is just something you get involved in and then quit later if you want to, like a community baseball team.
I think it is very clear here that Jesus is saying that divorce is wrong (except for the case of marital unfaithfulness). No where in the Bible does it even seem like anyone says differently. Not only that, Jesus is saying that divorce, like lust, is the moral equivalent of adultery, since the divorced woman and the man who marries her after she's divorced both commit adultery.
Here's where I think a lot of people (especially in the Bible belt) have gone astray: Divorce is wrong, but IT IS NOT UNFORGIVABLE!!! I think that getting divorced is sinful, but, then again, so is speeding, lying, cheating at work, lusting (previously addressed), and a million other actions that we all commit regularly, but don't address as harshly. In our eyes, there are sins greater than others--killing a man is far worse than stealing a candy bar from the store. Guess what...in God's eyes, sin is sin. Stealing that candy bar would get you a one way ticket to the fires of Gehenna just as easily as killing someone.
Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but to save the world from condemnation (John 3:17). Don't judge others because they have been divorced. Rather, be Jesus to them and love them. Against this, there is no law!!!
Today, may you rest in God's everlasting forgiveness. Know that His grace abounds more greatly than you could ever comprehend, and you will only fail to receive it if you fail to seek His face and ask for it.
Mawidge...mawidge is what bwings us togewer today...
Mawidge, the bwessed awwangement, that dweam wiffim a dweam...
... Ven wuv, twoo wuv, wiw fowwow you fowever..
... so tweasuwe your vruv..
Sound familiar? It's the Impressive Clergyman's lines from The Princess Bride. Great movie, and I think it may shed some light on our society's attitude toward marriage these days. In biblical times, marriage was viewed with reverend sanctity. However, in America today, marriage is just something you get involved in and then quit later if you want to, like a community baseball team.
I think it is very clear here that Jesus is saying that divorce is wrong (except for the case of marital unfaithfulness). No where in the Bible does it even seem like anyone says differently. Not only that, Jesus is saying that divorce, like lust, is the moral equivalent of adultery, since the divorced woman and the man who marries her after she's divorced both commit adultery.
Here's where I think a lot of people (especially in the Bible belt) have gone astray: Divorce is wrong, but IT IS NOT UNFORGIVABLE!!! I think that getting divorced is sinful, but, then again, so is speeding, lying, cheating at work, lusting (previously addressed), and a million other actions that we all commit regularly, but don't address as harshly. In our eyes, there are sins greater than others--killing a man is far worse than stealing a candy bar from the store. Guess what...in God's eyes, sin is sin. Stealing that candy bar would get you a one way ticket to the fires of Gehenna just as easily as killing someone.
Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but to save the world from condemnation (John 3:17). Don't judge others because they have been divorced. Rather, be Jesus to them and love them. Against this, there is no law!!!
Today, may you rest in God's everlasting forgiveness. Know that His grace abounds more greatly than you could ever comprehend, and you will only fail to receive it if you fail to seek His face and ask for it.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
SOnTheM 16
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Matthew 5:27-30
In the Old Testament, the commandment to abstain from adultery was seen more as matter of stealing another man's wife than it was a matter of purity. Here, Jesus makes it clear that adultery deals with the purity of the body, and He takes it a step further to make sure the people know that it is also a matter of the purity of the heart. Jesus (and therefore, also, God) has always been and will always be mainly concerned with the condition of our hearts. He knows that we will mess up in life, but longs for our hearts to be drawn to and connected with His.
Gouging out your eye and cutting off your hand are not literally recommended. Jesus is saying that sin is a serious issue, and, as such, should be dealt with in a radical and serious manner. Don't just try to change things, be radical about what you need to do to remove the temptation to sin and to abstain from sinning, not so you can be pious, but so you can be closer to the heart of God.
May you be serious about your sin today. Pray that God will reveal sin to you that you were not aware of, or that you were hiding from others. Confess these sins to God, and to other Christ-followers. Then, be radical about the ways you intend to deal with your sin, so that you may walk closer with God.
In the Old Testament, the commandment to abstain from adultery was seen more as matter of stealing another man's wife than it was a matter of purity. Here, Jesus makes it clear that adultery deals with the purity of the body, and He takes it a step further to make sure the people know that it is also a matter of the purity of the heart. Jesus (and therefore, also, God) has always been and will always be mainly concerned with the condition of our hearts. He knows that we will mess up in life, but longs for our hearts to be drawn to and connected with His.
Gouging out your eye and cutting off your hand are not literally recommended. Jesus is saying that sin is a serious issue, and, as such, should be dealt with in a radical and serious manner. Don't just try to change things, be radical about what you need to do to remove the temptation to sin and to abstain from sinning, not so you can be pious, but so you can be closer to the heart of God.
May you be serious about your sin today. Pray that God will reveal sin to you that you were not aware of, or that you were hiding from others. Confess these sins to God, and to other Christ-followers. Then, be radical about the ways you intend to deal with your sin, so that you may walk closer with God.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I've Got the Joy, or Do I
"Joy is not found in the absence of suffering; joy is found in the presence of God" - David Arcos (sp?)
Joy is not based on circumstances. It does not arrive in good situations and go away in bad situations. It is not happiness.
Joy is found when we immerse ourselves in seeking God's face, when we wholeheartedly commit to His best for us, which is ALWAYS better than our best for us, even though we almost always fight it.
Joy is found in loving God, and in loving His creation, mankind. Joy is found in submitting your life to a cause greater than any other: having a relationship with the Creator of the universe.
May you know joy today. May you know joy tomorrow. May the joy of God flow through you, regardless of your circumstances, because circumstances can not bring you joy, and they can not take joy away.
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
WHERE?
Down in my heart
WHERE?
Down in my heart
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
WHERE?
Down in my heart
To stay!
Joy is not based on circumstances. It does not arrive in good situations and go away in bad situations. It is not happiness.
Joy is found when we immerse ourselves in seeking God's face, when we wholeheartedly commit to His best for us, which is ALWAYS better than our best for us, even though we almost always fight it.
Joy is found in loving God, and in loving His creation, mankind. Joy is found in submitting your life to a cause greater than any other: having a relationship with the Creator of the universe.
May you know joy today. May you know joy tomorrow. May the joy of God flow through you, regardless of your circumstances, because circumstances can not bring you joy, and they can not take joy away.
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
WHERE?
Down in my heart
WHERE?
Down in my heart
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
WHERE?
Down in my heart
To stay!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
SOnTheM 15
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." Matthew 5:23-26
There are two different illustrations shown in this passage. The first is worshipful, and the second is judicial. One concerns your relationship with your brother, and the other with your adversary. However, neither actually mentions the anger of the reader. The anger caused by the reader is being addressed. How often do you remember when someone else has wronged you? How often do you remember wronging someone else (or even realized that you have wronged someone else)? We need not only to focus on our own anger, but also what we've done to make others angry.
Has something you've done caused your "brother" or your "adversary" to become angry with you? Regardless of their reaction and how they will welcome you, you should go to that person and make things right. Then bring your gift before the Lord.
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." Matthew 5:23-26
There are two different illustrations shown in this passage. The first is worshipful, and the second is judicial. One concerns your relationship with your brother, and the other with your adversary. However, neither actually mentions the anger of the reader. The anger caused by the reader is being addressed. How often do you remember when someone else has wronged you? How often do you remember wronging someone else (or even realized that you have wronged someone else)? We need not only to focus on our own anger, but also what we've done to make others angry.
Has something you've done caused your "brother" or your "adversary" to become angry with you? Regardless of their reaction and how they will welcome you, you should go to that person and make things right. Then bring your gift before the Lord.
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