The Way of Escape in Scripture When facing trouble or trauma, who doesn’t want “the way of escape.” “For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such... Read more
Come and dine! I like the way that sounds in 1907. Charles B. Widmeyer (1894-1974) first published his song by that name. It soon became a staple of revival services and camp meetings. It was recorded about 20 years later by a quartet called “The Happy Four.” There is a great deal to be said about the call to eat together and to be happy about it. The theme of the song is taken from John 21. After Jesus’ resurrection,... Read more
Marriage is a wonderful God-ordained institution filled with situations requiring forgiveness. If a person has trouble forgiving, they will most likely have a difficult time in marriage. From forgetting special occasions to messing up airplane reservations, all the way to checking out of difficult conversations, to badgering, to flirting with a member of the opposite sex or having an affair, being married presents more opportunities to practice and perfect forgiveness than most any other type of relationship. In a healthy... Read more
Marriage Under Pressure When you have a marriage under pressure, little things turn into bigger things, a spat becomes a fight, and both parties feel the need to win. This is Part 6 of “7 Steps To A Healthy Marriage.” When a young couple starts, they are often amazed at the number of things they have in common. Perhaps it’s their taste in music, cuisine, hiking, or reading a particular genre of books. Over time though, the couple begins to... Read more
Israel & Hamas – A Christian Response. Many of us know someone from Israel or someone who currently lives there. Today, I recognized this picture on CNN as the interviewer shared this gentleman’s grief. Yesterday, a friend and fellow writer, posted their picture on Facebook. Her post read, “Shlomi a dear man, a wonderful musician fell yesterday along with his wife. They defended their house and the children in a sandy kibbutz and were murdered in cold blood by the... Read more
Truth & Lies In Marriage “Truth & Lies In Marriage” is part 6 in the “7 Steps To a Healthy Marriage.” The phrase, “Honesty is the best policy,” is usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Actually, Sir Edwin Sandys first wrote the sentiment in 1599. His interest was more political. Still, the truth is the truth! Here’s a bit of truth for you, everybody lies. You might disagree, but it’s true. Consider this statement, “It’s a fact that everyone lies. According... Read more
Spirituality and Mental Health Spirituality and mental health are important and frequent topics of newscasts, talk shows, books, and magazines. Hardly a day goes by without hearing about research and treatment options as well as the unprecedented rate of violence, often due to mental health issues. As a bishop, I am part of an active community of trained professionals who counsel hurting people. While my training and relationships help ensure quality care, it’s my personal life experience that motivates me... Read more
Healthy couples worship together. Here are 2 questions to think about: What is worship? Can church attendance make relationships healthier? Those are 2 very different questions. The 1st question refers to worship and the 2nd deals with church attendance. Christian worship is both a personal and corporate experience. In the Bible and throughout history, groups of like-minded worshipers set aside a day, time, place, and style of worship to God. Today, while the day, time, and place are fairly consistent, Christian... Read more
How To Stay In Love “How to Stay in Love” is an unplanned addition to the series “7 Steps To A Healthy Marriage.” I hope you’ve enjoyed this series of articles as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. I’ve written “How To Stay In Love” to clarify a few things about the 1st few articles in the series. Following steps or principles alone will not make your marriage healthy. However, they provide a kind of relationship growth chart, that allows... Read more
“Working on Projects Together Strengthens a Marriage” is step 3 in my series “7 Steps To a Healthy Marriage.” Yes, you read the title correctly. Working on projects together is a very good way to build a healthy marriage. Just to review, in part 1, I suggested that becoming lasting best friends is the foundation of a healthy marriage. Further, the 7 elements of being a best friend are synonymous with those of a strong marriage. Next, we looked at... Read more
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