Why Stay Married
Theologian Scot McNight reflects on the question: Why Should You Stay Married? – http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2009/06/the_story_calle.html
Community
Monday’s Passion: Following an Anti-Religion Activist (Mk. 11:12-19)
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ” (Mk. 11:11-17 TNIV).Read More »Monday’s Passion: Following an Anti-Religion Activist (Mk. 11:12-19)
The Offering: How Relationships Transform When You Offer Community (Rom. 12:13, 15)
For many, these are difficult times. Most of us have been touched by the economic struggles in some way. Some of you have lost jobs. Some of you have had pay cuts. Most of us know people who are struggling. A couple of weeks ago my family took our first hit. Kendra’s supervisor sat her down and told Kendra that her hours were being cut. Her salary would be reduced by 20%. Of course, we thankful she still has a job. Nonetheless, it was a significant cut.
Read More »The Offering: How Relationships Transform When You Offer Community (Rom. 12:13, 15)
The Offering: How Relationships Transform When You Offer Blessing to the Bad (Rom. 12:14, 17-21)
I heard a story about an elderly couple who couldn’t get along. Though they had been married for 60 years, they constantly argued and engaged in shouting contests. Even when they had to move into a nursing home, they kept fighting. The couple spit and spat from breakfast time to bed time. It became so bad that the nursing home threatened to throw them out. Finally, the wife said to her husband: “I’ll tell you what, Joe, let’s pray that one of us dies. And after the funeral is over, I’ll go live with my sister.“ The story is an imaginary example of a real fact in life: relationships don’t always work out the way we hope.