Today I Get Married . . . Again.

I thought of the title for this post back when I started this blog. I don't think that I really thought much about what would be in this post, simply that this would be a catchy title. There was a thought that I could talk about my journey from divorce to marriage. I figured I could talk about how things are different. I have come to realize that this is really about how what I see as a failure God has used for good. How my plan is never as good as God's plan for me.

Unforgiven

I'm sorry, this blog is not about Metallica or Clint Eastwood. If you came here expecting me to talk about those you might be disappointed. I'm not saying I won't, just that this probably isn't what you think. But enough disclaimer. On to the intro.

There is a passage in the Gospel of Matthew which we often look over. (If I am honest there are quite a few!) It comes right after the Lord's Prayer, right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. In this passage Jesus tells us that if we do not forgive others God will not forgive us. Yes you heard me right. Most people when they hear this ask one simple question. Does this mean that you can lose your salvation? That is indeed a good question.

Loving the Bride

I get married in 11 days. And as the time gets closer and closer I find myself thinking more and more about marriage and the church. My bride-to-be and I are keenly aware that our wedding is just foretaste of the beautiful wedding between Christ and the church. As I think about my own wedding and how I can best love my bride-to-be, I find myself wondering the same of the church.

The Fear of a Fence

Since when has the church cared about offending people? Like seriously? We create movies where we insult atheists. We boycott Starbucks because they took Christmas off the cup. We even try and pass legislation that forces transgender people to use bathrooms that they don't want to. But when we try and clean house, when the church tries to point the finger at itself suddenly we care about offense?! Seriously?! THAT is the line that we can't cross?! I hate to tell ya, but we have it ALL backwards people.

Black & Blue

I have spent this past week helping out with a camp of kindergarten through 3rd graders. It has been draining. But not as draining as the national news this week. It has been a week of contrasts. A week where my spotty cell phone service would tell me of another horrific shooting, followed by singing upbeat songs about Jesus. It has been a week where, everyday that I drove the kids to the pool, I passed a sign that said Blue Lives matter. The cogitative dissonance has been deafening. Our nation is tearing apart and we see the bruises. 

When Cold Winds Blow

Over a month ago I talked about Scars. I said that we all carry the wounds of past hurts with us. I mentioned that we have a choice. We can let these scars continue to hurt us. We can focus on the bad that happened and in turn become bitter evil people. Or we can choose to see them as something that God has used to make us better. 

I ended with an analogy of cold winds and talked about how there are times in our life when things happen that inflame these old wounds. Last weekend was one of these for me. I learned that God is with us even through these. I learned that God gives us people to help us through these times.

4 Things Every Christian Should Believe In

I'm going to start this one by saying that you are probably going to be offended. My fiancee tells me that I like to stir up trouble. It's true. But she also tells me that I shouldn't do it unless there is a point. Trust me with this one there is a point. 

Over a month ago I talked about how our hope was not in heaven, but in the Resurrection. Last week I answered the question "How do we live in the kingdom?" This week I want to give some concrete examples of working in the kingdom. Let me also say, if you did not read my blog from last week do it now. That one is far more important.