DIVORCE

Men, when Christ stops loving the church, you can stop loving your wives.

A short, but good, reflection on Ephesians 5, HERE.

A very high calling indeed.

Teen and Teacher Together: What to think?

I can't believe the article I just read this morning.  It has greatly disturbed me.  I saw very a similar thing happen in my own high school.  How are we going to think about these things?  How are we going to react?  I am not talking about "Christian activist" extremism but we have to have some kind of reaction, don't we?  In youth group, we've been talking about sowing works of the flesh and works of the Spirit.  What kind of fruit will this have in the lives of these two people?  I think the answer is already obvious...The man (who is 41) left his wife and children to move in with this 18 year old girl because they were "just following their hearts".  His family is not just broken but destroyed.  Yet, this mentality of letting your emotions and feelings drive your decisions is the culture we live in.  The idea is to tie your level of commitment to your feelings of love and you will find what it truly means to love.  In other words, when you feel love for someone else, forsake everything and everyone in the name of love because that will bring you true happiness.  This kind of thinking is so twisted from the truth.  Is this the kind of love Paul was talking about when he listed of the fruit of the Spirit?  What are your reactions?
Remember, we must guard the deposit of truth!

Lambs in the midst of Wolves

Luke 10:3 : 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 

I just read this as part of my daily devotions and wanted to share some initial thoughts.  There is a lot of work, not many workers, and the harvest is among the fiercest of enemies.  It will be this way until he returns.  Taking up your cross daily is no small task in these conditions but it is the calling of every Christian.  Talk about tough.  All I can think of are the words of Paul, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain".  Not once did Christ ever call someone to a life of good health and wealth.  The reward of Christ is eternal but getting to eternity will be no small task.  We will be troubled, persecuted, and brought low.  We must be ready to fight this good fight of faith which God has put before us.  We must be ready to take the role of the suffering servant with Christ, himself, as our example.  We must keep our eyes on that eternal prize of the glory of God so that when we are under fire, we will not lose hope.  I pray you find your hope in His perfect glory.