Justified or Incarcerated

Most of us weren’t made to think that marriage is a way towards Godliness, a way towards holiness .  Gary Thomas, in his book “Sacred Marriage,” reasons through the practical Christian life with his and other marriage examples.  The main purpose of this book is to show what marriage is all about: “the real purpose of marriage may not be happiness as much as it is holiness” (22-23, italics added). http://covenantlifetampa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/sacred_marriage.jpg Thomas gives enough examples to the readers, common problem that usually occurs among the families do to a wrong pursues.  In the first couple of years, spouses are trying to build relationship, romance is usually the big part of marriage, but with a misunderstanding about what marriage is all about, marriage becomes a struggle.  Thomas gives example of his own life: “The joyful exploration of our honeymoon; filling out a preliminary application for a miss...

1. Your spouse is inclined to drift from grace to self-effort. Preach the gospel to your spouse. Encourage meditation upon the riches of the gospel. Encourage resting in God even as the battle rages. 2.  Your spouse may tend to become discouraged. Remind your spouse that God works beneath the surface well before change becomes visible. Celebrate what you can see, even if it is not directly related to the area of desired change. Review the game plan for change. 3.  Your spouse can lose sight of the ultimate goal. 4.  Your spouse must be pointed not to grace, but to the one from whom all grace flows. Great example of God’s grace in our life: "When my daughter was about four years old, she decided she was ready to ride her bike without training wheels. My wife and I celebrated that big moment and took her to a big, empty parking lot. We pulled the bike out of the van, took off the training wheels, and placed my daughter on the seat. She was giggling with deligh...

Couple practical questions by Dave Harvey in the book  "When Sinners Say 'I Do:'"  "Remind yourself that your greatest enemy is “the enemy within”—your own sin. We covered this in chapters two and three.  When you’re not in a conflict, ask each other the question, “What behavior of mine expresses anger or a lack of love for you?” Take your spouse’s answer and attempt to do the opposite when you feel sinned against.  Learn to love in the style of 1 Corinthians 13 by being “patient, kind, and not resentful.” Resist being a defense attorney in your mind. Fire the “prosecuting attorney” within—it’s nothing but an expression of the sin of arrogance.  Memorize and apply this wise advice from James, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires” (James 1:19–20). Applying this one verse in the heat of conflict can have an amazing effect on where the conflict goes....

I finally finished the book that we are reading ("Knowing God" by J.I. Packer) with Ira.  This has been an amazing journey, a little over a month of reading, but it's worth it.  I guess it's harder to read a book with someone because you are dealing with two schedules instead of one.  But still the conversations between us are unforgettable and enjoyable. Why I suggest this should be the book that others should read as they start the relationship.  Most of the time when there is someone dating, they take the dating books that talking about marriage, and which is good.  But don't pay that much attention on their faith, what they believe about God.  It's one thing that a guy would be telling a girl what he believes, and with that, uses the bible to prove his point.  But it's totally different when a professor, pastor, and a good influential respected Christian speak about the truth that are just too essentia...

Tedd Tripp writes a counseling book (Shepherding a Child’s Heart) on how to disciple your child in the biblical view.  This book is directed to parents in order to help them identify their own goals and methods that should be put to practice.  Interesting to note here, the methods that he exposes are so practical and intertwined and so easily be used, but they don’t work because they are not based on the biblical truth.   In the book he explains how the heart of a child needs to be taught, educated when spanking a child for a good reason with a right motivation.  He explains the balance in how and where to spank and at what circumstance, which is biblical teaching.  Spanking a child for a wrong reason with a wrong motivation does not develops a child heart in the right way.  Our culture denies this way of practice but it is something that God instructs a parent to do as they discipline their children.   In the book T...