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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Alien, Earthling, or Tourist?
1 Peter 2:11
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
If I ever print T-shirts, this verse is going on the back. More and more, I find myself thinking about the kinds of metaphors which are meant to capture the role of our lives as believers in the world. In describing our place in this world, the Bible uses words such as, ambassadors, aliens, sojourners, strangers and soldiers.
There are many titles that the Bible uses to describe our place on this earth. The word, “tourist” isn’t among them. Although, I think it would be a more accurate descriptor for many of us; myself included at times.
The Question
When we look at the terms that I have mentioned, what is the common theme? (aliens, sojourners, ambassadors, soldiers, strangers)
I’ll leave you with that thought for a moment.
I don’t know about you, but I often wonder what it would have been like to be alive in Jesus’ day. Specifically, when I hear the messages that Christ preached, they don’t sound similar to the kinds of sermons that I hear from pastors and preachers in our time. I’m not being critical of those who preach in our era, in fact, I prefer to think that I walk among them.
But be honest. If you listen to the words that Christ spoke, they don’t sound the same as if you are listening to a sermon from John Piper or John MacArthur. Do they? In fact, Jesus rarely, if ever, delivered what we would characterize as being a classical sermon. Sure. He gave what we have labeled to be “The Sermon on The Mount”, but it doesn’t read as a true sermon.
The Answer
Matthew 4:23
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
If you read the Gospels, it won’t take you very long before you notice the phrase, “the good news of the kingdom.” The message that Christ proclaimed through His stories wasn’t a message against spousal abuse, drug use or homosexuality. His message was often described as the good news of the kingdom.
Words such as soldier, ambassador, alien, and sojourner have implications with regards to our citizenship. The good news that Jesus preached was the opportunity to become a citizen of God’s Kingdom.
Now, the word, “kingdom” holds little value in our time. So when we hear about the good news of the kingdom, it has the potential to leave us with some freaky ultra spiritual feeling. The word kingdom might take us back to a time with men wearing armor, jousting for the hand of their fair lady.
The good news, is that through Christ, we have the opportunity to become card carrying citizens of God’s country. Is that good news?
For many, it is. When is the last time you heard anyone say, “I am so happy with the government that we have.” “Boy. Every time the government does something, they do it so well.” I don’t know about you, but I hear SOOOO much complaining about the government, no matter who sits at the top.
Whenever we have elections, there is this sense that if we elect the right person, they should be able to fix our problems. I remember the optimism that seemed to capture the world when Obama won the US presidency. George W, was the bad guy, and this new guy had the right answers. How did that turn out? If they elect a republican back into office, maybe that will put America back on top again.
No matter who takes the helm, our problems don’t go away. Christ offers us citizenship into a nation that will never go the way of the Mayans, whose credit rating will never be downgraded and whose citizens are all cared for. It’s a country without end, without crime, without sickness or death.
That might not sound like good news for you. You might like it here. You might like the very things that are outlawed in His country. You have the privilege to enjoy them while you can. Perhaps you really are an earthling. That wouldn't be a compliment.
Where do you belong? Is this your home? Are you quite comfortable here? If Christ were to reign here in a literal sense, would that ruin your fun?
Sunday, August 28, 2011
You Know It's True
What is your attitude towards people who think that they are better than you? Does anyone come to mind? Some people just seem to leave us with the impression that we would have to climb up a notch in order to come to their level. You might notice it in the way that they look at you when they talk. They may even say as much. Have you ever tried to impress such a person? It doesn’t work does it? No matter how hard you try, they still think of you as a miscreant.
If you gravitate towards people who think that they are better than you, let me know. You’d be an interesting case study. For the most part, we tend to dislike those who seem to carry an air of superiority about themselves.
I often find it quite humorous, that wherever God is concerned, we somehow think that the rules should change. We rarely admire those who carry that, “I’m better than you” attitude, yet miraculously, we expect that God should be impressed.
Have you ever thought to yourself,
“I must be okay with God, because I’m better than most people.”
“I don’t do any really bad stuff, like those drug dealers, murderers, or thieves.”
“I know people who are always trying to do good, surely they must be in.”
The cross really is foolishness to those who are perishing, but at the same time, something within us knows the Gospel to be true. When we look at many of our theories for what they are, they really do break down when we look at them in light of life and truth.
Understanding life helps us to understand truth. Maybe you really do admire people who look down on you. The chances are that you don’t. If we live with an elitist attitude, can we really suppose that God will reward us for being self righteous? Personally, I think He’ll be more prone to accuse us of being a pompous jerk. (Another phrase comes to mind, but it’s not appropriate.)
Ephesians 2:8
8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
I’m not here to argue with you. I’m fine with you believing whatever it is you choose to believe. However, I implore you to be consistent in your thinking. Rather than climbing up, He sent His Son to rescue us, even from our own self righteousness. If you are one of those people who tries to do good everyday, I really am thankful for all that you do. I truly am. Just don’t be duped into thinking that you can impress a God who is better than you.
Maybe you have friends who really are great people. In fact, they are better than most Christians you know. God wants them in His family too. Have you told them as much?
If you gravitate towards people who think that they are better than you, let me know. You’d be an interesting case study. For the most part, we tend to dislike those who seem to carry an air of superiority about themselves.
I often find it quite humorous, that wherever God is concerned, we somehow think that the rules should change. We rarely admire those who carry that, “I’m better than you” attitude, yet miraculously, we expect that God should be impressed.
Have you ever thought to yourself,
“I must be okay with God, because I’m better than most people.”
“I don’t do any really bad stuff, like those drug dealers, murderers, or thieves.”
“I know people who are always trying to do good, surely they must be in.”
The cross really is foolishness to those who are perishing, but at the same time, something within us knows the Gospel to be true. When we look at many of our theories for what they are, they really do break down when we look at them in light of life and truth.
Understanding life helps us to understand truth. Maybe you really do admire people who look down on you. The chances are that you don’t. If we live with an elitist attitude, can we really suppose that God will reward us for being self righteous? Personally, I think He’ll be more prone to accuse us of being a pompous jerk. (Another phrase comes to mind, but it’s not appropriate.)
Ephesians 2:8
8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
I’m not here to argue with you. I’m fine with you believing whatever it is you choose to believe. However, I implore you to be consistent in your thinking. Rather than climbing up, He sent His Son to rescue us, even from our own self righteousness. If you are one of those people who tries to do good everyday, I really am thankful for all that you do. I truly am. Just don’t be duped into thinking that you can impress a God who is better than you.
Maybe you have friends who really are great people. In fact, they are better than most Christians you know. God wants them in His family too. Have you told them as much?
Friday, August 26, 2011
If Dying Seems Like The Only Way Out...
If you’ve lost all hope, don’t know where to turn and can’t possibly see how you can continue on, please consider Christ. Be honest with yourself. That crutch you turn to hasn’t been able to hold you up anyway. In fact, it’s the very thing that’s killing you.
Cry out to Jesus..
If you are open to Him, have a read through Luke. Click here. You just might find that you’re exactly the kind of person He cares most about.
Cry out to Jesus..
If you are open to Him, have a read through Luke. Click here. You just might find that you’re exactly the kind of person He cares most about.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
A New Spiritual Gift?
Pop Quiz;
So what do you do when a fellow believer does or says something wrong?
A) Gossip behind their back, complaining about the things they have done.
B) Write a blog, exposing them to public shame and disgrace.
C) Tell the leadership of their church and demand that disciplinary action be taken.
D) Approach them personally to discuss the issue at hand.
I once asked this question to a group of people. I asked them to answer from two perspectives. First off, I asked them how we tend to respond as Christians. Most of them admitted that we tend to gossip and complain about the offense.
I then asked them, what is the right answer? They picked ‘D’.
In my mind, it’s becoming increasingly popular to trash people via the internet. The way that we handle doctrinal issues has become an extension of the world. You see it all the time in the headlines don’t you? “This GUY, Trashes that WOMAN”. Rebuking someone publicly using the world wide web has become a tool that allows us to act every bit as worldly as our favourite celebrities.
Matthew 18:15-17
New International Version (NIV)
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
I’m not going to write a blog on a complete procedure for discipline. What I do want to share, is that subjecting a fellow believer to public scrutiny(or even a non-believer for that matter) should have little place in our faith.
Rather than complaining behind their back, writing an article or taking it up with the elders, we’re called to bring our concerns directly to the person in question. We don’t do that very often. Do we? Why not? Is it because we’re biblically illiterate? Is it because we haven’t earned the right to speak into their lives? Is it because we don’t even know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone who knows them? Is it fear?
We are called first to approach the person personally. Jesus didn’t come to earth to make us better citizens, teach us theology or to fight drug abuse. He came to seek and to save the lost. He came to bring us into a right relationship with The Father. Part of that plan involves us actually loving each other. Think about it. If you are headed down the wrong path, how would you prefer to have it addressed? Do you want some person you’ve never met trashing you on their blog space? Do you want your church to hold a secret meeting about how to discipline you? Do you prefer that people would gossip behind you back? Do you want them to write a book which argues against your book? Or would you rather hear the words from someone who knows you, someone who cares about you and is genuinely concerned about your well being?
As for me, I prefer the way of Christ. Sometimes, I wonder if public fault finding is a new spiritual gift for the 21st century. I am so thankful for the few men and women of faith who have confronted me with things that weighed heavily on their hearts. I’m thinking specifically of two women in particular from my old church. I remember their tone and their posture. I remember the look in their eyes; that look where I knew they were almost afraid to say anything to me. That very same expression carried with it a measure of care and compassion.
I pray that you are surrounded by people who care enough to rebuke you in the same way. I pray that we’ll all refrain from turning our sins and disagreements into a public spectacle.
So what do you do when a fellow believer does or says something wrong?
A) Gossip behind their back, complaining about the things they have done.
B) Write a blog, exposing them to public shame and disgrace.
C) Tell the leadership of their church and demand that disciplinary action be taken.
D) Approach them personally to discuss the issue at hand.
I once asked this question to a group of people. I asked them to answer from two perspectives. First off, I asked them how we tend to respond as Christians. Most of them admitted that we tend to gossip and complain about the offense.
I then asked them, what is the right answer? They picked ‘D’.
In my mind, it’s becoming increasingly popular to trash people via the internet. The way that we handle doctrinal issues has become an extension of the world. You see it all the time in the headlines don’t you? “This GUY, Trashes that WOMAN”. Rebuking someone publicly using the world wide web has become a tool that allows us to act every bit as worldly as our favourite celebrities.
Matthew 18:15-17
New International Version (NIV)
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
I’m not going to write a blog on a complete procedure for discipline. What I do want to share, is that subjecting a fellow believer to public scrutiny(or even a non-believer for that matter) should have little place in our faith.
Rather than complaining behind their back, writing an article or taking it up with the elders, we’re called to bring our concerns directly to the person in question. We don’t do that very often. Do we? Why not? Is it because we’re biblically illiterate? Is it because we haven’t earned the right to speak into their lives? Is it because we don’t even know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone who knows them? Is it fear?
We are called first to approach the person personally. Jesus didn’t come to earth to make us better citizens, teach us theology or to fight drug abuse. He came to seek and to save the lost. He came to bring us into a right relationship with The Father. Part of that plan involves us actually loving each other. Think about it. If you are headed down the wrong path, how would you prefer to have it addressed? Do you want some person you’ve never met trashing you on their blog space? Do you want your church to hold a secret meeting about how to discipline you? Do you prefer that people would gossip behind you back? Do you want them to write a book which argues against your book? Or would you rather hear the words from someone who knows you, someone who cares about you and is genuinely concerned about your well being?
As for me, I prefer the way of Christ. Sometimes, I wonder if public fault finding is a new spiritual gift for the 21st century. I am so thankful for the few men and women of faith who have confronted me with things that weighed heavily on their hearts. I’m thinking specifically of two women in particular from my old church. I remember their tone and their posture. I remember the look in their eyes; that look where I knew they were almost afraid to say anything to me. That very same expression carried with it a measure of care and compassion.
I pray that you are surrounded by people who care enough to rebuke you in the same way. I pray that we’ll all refrain from turning our sins and disagreements into a public spectacle.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Maybe It's Not You
This past Sunday, I spoke on Luke 15. The first part that I walked through was the parable of the lost sheep. In His story, Jesus speaks of how a responsible shepherd will leave his 99 sheep in order to search for the one that is lost.
Please read it for yourself if it interests you.
On the surface, the story can leave us with the impression that Jesus was saying that the Pharisees were okay, and that he needed to spend his time with the notorious sinners and tax collectors. It doesn’t take too much meditation or study to realize that this isn’t the case. If He is counting them as the 99, His commentary might go something more like this;
“You guys seem to have life all figured out. You really don’t need me.”
In my own little world, I often wonder if I’m making the best use of my time as I take this brief journey here on earth. Lately, I’ve been tempted to waste my time arguing with people who have it all figured out, and I know I need to spend my time searching for the lost sheep instead.
As for me, the more I study the Bible, the less I realize I know. When I was a newer believer, I had my theology pretty much sorted out, but the more I study the actual scriptures, the more I realize that God doesn’t paint life in black and white. I often find myself at odds with people who seem absolutely clear on issues that I find are not crystal clear in the Bible.
I don’t believe that the Bible is crystal clear on free will and election. There are passages in scripture that seem to defend either side. So in the end, I often come across as being a hypocrite, because if you get into a discussion with me, I’ll refer to some passages which imply that each of us has a choice to make. And a few minutes later, I’ll refer to the passage which says that the book of life was written before the foundation of the world.
You’ll also hear me say that the Bible is the final authority on spiritual truth. At the same time, you might also hear me say that I see little evidence which indicates that God has stopped communicating directly with humanity.
If I were a betting man, here is my wager. If you are one of those people who is absolutely certain on many of the debatable doctrines of the Christian faith, I bet that the Bible isn’t your only source. I bet you read other books. Don’t you?
Oh! I didn’t bet any money. That would be gambling. (Which is forbidden somewhere I’m sure.)
I don’t believe that God has left me in this world to argue with people who know everything. I believe that he has left me here to find perhaps that one coin or that one sheep. So if you want to respond by telling me how wrong I am and how right you are, I’m pretty sure you aren’t the one He has left me here to find.
PS No. I don't think it's a sin to read books other than the Bible.
Please read it for yourself if it interests you.
On the surface, the story can leave us with the impression that Jesus was saying that the Pharisees were okay, and that he needed to spend his time with the notorious sinners and tax collectors. It doesn’t take too much meditation or study to realize that this isn’t the case. If He is counting them as the 99, His commentary might go something more like this;
“You guys seem to have life all figured out. You really don’t need me.”
In my own little world, I often wonder if I’m making the best use of my time as I take this brief journey here on earth. Lately, I’ve been tempted to waste my time arguing with people who have it all figured out, and I know I need to spend my time searching for the lost sheep instead.
As for me, the more I study the Bible, the less I realize I know. When I was a newer believer, I had my theology pretty much sorted out, but the more I study the actual scriptures, the more I realize that God doesn’t paint life in black and white. I often find myself at odds with people who seem absolutely clear on issues that I find are not crystal clear in the Bible.
I don’t believe that the Bible is crystal clear on free will and election. There are passages in scripture that seem to defend either side. So in the end, I often come across as being a hypocrite, because if you get into a discussion with me, I’ll refer to some passages which imply that each of us has a choice to make. And a few minutes later, I’ll refer to the passage which says that the book of life was written before the foundation of the world.
You’ll also hear me say that the Bible is the final authority on spiritual truth. At the same time, you might also hear me say that I see little evidence which indicates that God has stopped communicating directly with humanity.
If I were a betting man, here is my wager. If you are one of those people who is absolutely certain on many of the debatable doctrines of the Christian faith, I bet that the Bible isn’t your only source. I bet you read other books. Don’t you?
Oh! I didn’t bet any money. That would be gambling. (Which is forbidden somewhere I’m sure.)
I don’t believe that God has left me in this world to argue with people who know everything. I believe that he has left me here to find perhaps that one coin or that one sheep. So if you want to respond by telling me how wrong I am and how right you are, I’m pretty sure you aren’t the one He has left me here to find.
PS No. I don't think it's a sin to read books other than the Bible.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
AbellFIFA Summary
Soccer season has come to a close today on the open fields of Aylmer. Apparently, if your shoe falls off during play, your goal doesn’t count. Who knew?
Between our 4 children, our family’s record was 10 wins, 21 losses and 1 tie.
We’re kind of like the Toronto Maples leafs; chalking it up to a rebuilding year. The team with the overall best Abell family performance goes to Matthew and Nathaniel’s team, missing third place by only one point. We asked one random fan why they thought their team performed best overall.
Random Fan said, “It was the coaching. Definitely the coaching. You need to appreciate how the assistant coach had nine players on the field for every shift. Wow. Can that guy ever count to 9 or what!?”
The Abell Offensive award for the year goes to Nathaniel Abell, having tallied 3 goals and four assists during the regular season. That total earned him second overall for points on his team. Game after game, he has proven to be a tenacious player who has the drive, energy and determination to work the entire field.
His offensive prowess can only be challenged by the defensive aggression of his older brother Matthew, who once again proved himself to be a fearless goaltender. His reputation as the team’s stone wall has been well deserved. Whereas most goaltenders in his level tend to wait in net until fired upon, Matthew’s signature move is to rush out to meet his opponent, knock him down and take the ball. This always brings his fans to their feet. Seeing as he is on the younger end of his age group, one might think that he would shy away from larger foes, but that has never proven to be the case.
The greatest soccer fan of the family would be Rebecca Abell. She has the audacity to even like soccer more than she likes hockey. Her love of the game and her solid work ethic make her the mainstay of her team’s defence.
Perhaps the brightest future star in the Abell family would be young Jeremy. This season has been proven to be a bit of a drought as far as scoring goes. However, in the last few games he has shown greater determination and a tremendous depth in his soccer sense. He was ready to score his first goal, just as the final whistle blew for the last game of the season. He returns next year to u-7 soccer as a seasoned veteran. Watch for him to rise once again, as he is poised to resume his goal scoring superstardom that made him such a fan favourite last season.
Thanks for following folks!
Between our 4 children, our family’s record was 10 wins, 21 losses and 1 tie.
We’re kind of like the Toronto Maples leafs; chalking it up to a rebuilding year. The team with the overall best Abell family performance goes to Matthew and Nathaniel’s team, missing third place by only one point. We asked one random fan why they thought their team performed best overall.
Random Fan said, “It was the coaching. Definitely the coaching. You need to appreciate how the assistant coach had nine players on the field for every shift. Wow. Can that guy ever count to 9 or what!?”
The Abell Offensive award for the year goes to Nathaniel Abell, having tallied 3 goals and four assists during the regular season. That total earned him second overall for points on his team. Game after game, he has proven to be a tenacious player who has the drive, energy and determination to work the entire field.
His offensive prowess can only be challenged by the defensive aggression of his older brother Matthew, who once again proved himself to be a fearless goaltender. His reputation as the team’s stone wall has been well deserved. Whereas most goaltenders in his level tend to wait in net until fired upon, Matthew’s signature move is to rush out to meet his opponent, knock him down and take the ball. This always brings his fans to their feet. Seeing as he is on the younger end of his age group, one might think that he would shy away from larger foes, but that has never proven to be the case.
The greatest soccer fan of the family would be Rebecca Abell. She has the audacity to even like soccer more than she likes hockey. Her love of the game and her solid work ethic make her the mainstay of her team’s defence.
Perhaps the brightest future star in the Abell family would be young Jeremy. This season has been proven to be a bit of a drought as far as scoring goes. However, in the last few games he has shown greater determination and a tremendous depth in his soccer sense. He was ready to score his first goal, just as the final whistle blew for the last game of the season. He returns next year to u-7 soccer as a seasoned veteran. Watch for him to rise once again, as he is poised to resume his goal scoring superstardom that made him such a fan favourite last season.
Thanks for following folks!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
For My Newlyweds (Also Some Decent Dating Advice)
I would much rather be in Calgary today, but apparently, I was needed here. A close personal friend of mine is leaving soon to pastor a church in Manitoba and today his church held kind of a farewell service in his honour. I think I needed to be there for him. I was also asked if I would return to speak in a couple of weeks. I think ghetto grandma was right. ;-)
I have however spent much of my day thinking about my friend and her wedding. As we’ve done our best to celebrate here in Port Burwell, my wife and I have been reminiscing together on our own wedding. We pulled out our wedding and honeymoon pictures and showed them to the kids. Our children thought it was quite hilarious to see that I used to have hair.
In fact, most of this weekend has been devoted to romance of one kind or another. Last evening, we watched Pride and Prejudice as a family. Much of our discussion around the home lately has revolved around courtship, marriage and affection.
Normally, when I tell stories about myself, I like to use illustrations where I play the villain. There are however some parts of my life where I remain steadfast in believing that I actually did something right. I was never the sort of guy that girls seemed to swoon over, and I’m quite thankful that I have been made that way. When I was going out with Barb, my parents used to even criticize me.
“Why don’t you do more nice things for her? You should buy her flowers or something.”
They really didn’t seem to like the response that I gave them.
“I don’t want to do things now, that I don’t think I’ll end up doing for her later on in life.”
Yeah. I could have done more for her then. There were many things that I could have changed in order to try and win the woman who had caught my affection. Of course, my parents were right from a certain point of view. Had Barb have been a different kind of woman, had she have been the kind of person who needed flowers or candle lit dinners, I might have lost her.
However, what would be worse? Would it be worse to lose such a person in the early stages? Or would it be worse to live a life of disappointment after the flowers and candle lit dinners turn into babies, diapers and mortgage payments?
If you’ve lost that girl or that guy, it might seem like the end of your world. There are worse things than losing the girl, although popular culture might beg to differ.
Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
Much of what I see in North American dating is merely a romantic form of deception. We put on a good face and we do things that we really can’t do, or don’t intend to do over the long haul. So as husbands and wives, we often live in disappointment because, “He doesn’t do that for me anymore”.
“All those things that you used to do, that made me fall in love with you”
These words come from Brad Paisley’s song, Remind Me, with Carrie Underwood.
I’ve done a lot of things wrong in life, as well as in my marriage, but as Barb and I reflect on our lives together, there are few (if any) things that cause us to say, “You don’t do that for me anymore.” There are no guarantees for what tomorrow might bring for us, but as for thus far, after 15 years, it continues to get better and better.
To my young friend; congratulations on your wedding day. It can be good. It can be very good. I pray that you experience all the fullness that this relationship has to offer. The piece of paper has little to do with your actual marriage, but there are legal implications for marriage in this country. So sign it. I’m glad that you didn’t get raptured before today. Enjoy today. Enjoy tonight. ;-) Enjoy the rest of your lives. Continue to walk together in Christ. As wonderful as today has been, I pray that it is but a shadowy reflection of what lies ahead.
Love Kevin
I have however spent much of my day thinking about my friend and her wedding. As we’ve done our best to celebrate here in Port Burwell, my wife and I have been reminiscing together on our own wedding. We pulled out our wedding and honeymoon pictures and showed them to the kids. Our children thought it was quite hilarious to see that I used to have hair.
In fact, most of this weekend has been devoted to romance of one kind or another. Last evening, we watched Pride and Prejudice as a family. Much of our discussion around the home lately has revolved around courtship, marriage and affection.
Normally, when I tell stories about myself, I like to use illustrations where I play the villain. There are however some parts of my life where I remain steadfast in believing that I actually did something right. I was never the sort of guy that girls seemed to swoon over, and I’m quite thankful that I have been made that way. When I was going out with Barb, my parents used to even criticize me.
“Why don’t you do more nice things for her? You should buy her flowers or something.”
They really didn’t seem to like the response that I gave them.
“I don’t want to do things now, that I don’t think I’ll end up doing for her later on in life.”
Yeah. I could have done more for her then. There were many things that I could have changed in order to try and win the woman who had caught my affection. Of course, my parents were right from a certain point of view. Had Barb have been a different kind of woman, had she have been the kind of person who needed flowers or candle lit dinners, I might have lost her.
However, what would be worse? Would it be worse to lose such a person in the early stages? Or would it be worse to live a life of disappointment after the flowers and candle lit dinners turn into babies, diapers and mortgage payments?
If you’ve lost that girl or that guy, it might seem like the end of your world. There are worse things than losing the girl, although popular culture might beg to differ.
Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
Much of what I see in North American dating is merely a romantic form of deception. We put on a good face and we do things that we really can’t do, or don’t intend to do over the long haul. So as husbands and wives, we often live in disappointment because, “He doesn’t do that for me anymore”.
“All those things that you used to do, that made me fall in love with you”
These words come from Brad Paisley’s song, Remind Me, with Carrie Underwood.
I’ve done a lot of things wrong in life, as well as in my marriage, but as Barb and I reflect on our lives together, there are few (if any) things that cause us to say, “You don’t do that for me anymore.” There are no guarantees for what tomorrow might bring for us, but as for thus far, after 15 years, it continues to get better and better.
To my young friend; congratulations on your wedding day. It can be good. It can be very good. I pray that you experience all the fullness that this relationship has to offer. The piece of paper has little to do with your actual marriage, but there are legal implications for marriage in this country. So sign it. I’m glad that you didn’t get raptured before today. Enjoy today. Enjoy tonight. ;-) Enjoy the rest of your lives. Continue to walk together in Christ. As wonderful as today has been, I pray that it is but a shadowy reflection of what lies ahead.
Love Kevin
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