Friday, March 23, 2012

Happiness or Marriage?

Some believe you must choose. Happiness or Marriage?

In the article When Overachievers Divorce, medical professional Erica says: "I believe marriage is challenging and efforts should certainly be made to stay together…but not at the expense of our own happiness."

What if that rationale was applied to parenting? “Kids are worth keeping, provided we are happy with them.”

What if that was the approach to caring for aging parents? “We should help mom in her declining health, but not if it interferes with our happiness.”

It amazes me that anyone could make such a self-centered argument.

How selfish.

How short-sighted.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Three Poor Substitutes for Application

Instead of applying Scripture, here are some things I do instead.

Insight. I listen, read, study, and gain understanding into God’s word. Amazed by incredible new information, I walk away satisfied with insight. Even effectively teaching it to others means nothing until I obey.

Rationalization. Coming up with reasons, excuses, and extenuating circumstances for why I haven’t applied truth is second nature.

Emotion. I can react to Scripture with comfort, hope, happiness, blessing, or conviction. But unless and until I change, I haven’t applied truth. It’s just an emotional charge that drains like a battery. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

My Hipster Fail

I read 10 steps on becoming a hipster. Looks like I won’t make it.
  1. Be the right age. (Not even close)
  2. Date other hipsters. (Immediately vetoed by my wife)
  3. Be educated. (Yes!)
  4. An early adapter. (Undecided)
  5. Make what’s old new again. (Check my closet)
  6. Listen to independent music (My playlist: Springsteen, U2…)
  7. Carefully careless grooming. (It looks like I don’t care, but I do)
  8. Get the lingo. (I’m pulchritudinous)
  9. Hone your irony and sarcasm. (my humor is made entirely of iron)
  10. Grow your own food and turn vegan. (I don’t even cook my own food, except when I grill steaks)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Dirty Water

While traveling in Thailand recently, a cab driver handed me a water bottle. The label had a lovely picture of flowing springs. I was thirsty.

The bottle wasn’t sealed. It looked okay, but I couldn’t trust the source. And when I saw a quarter inch of sediment at the bottom, I left the bottle in the cab for the next customer.

Source is important. That’s why Inspiration matters. What is the source for the Bible? Peter says it didn’t originate with humans. It was from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21). From God, through humans, by the Spirit. There’s no better source.