Transparent Freedom

Guys, before this week I’d never heard the term “mommy wars.” If you’re like me-a man with a wife and kids-you cannot afford to be out of touch on this deal. The link below will take you to the first post in the series. I encourage you to read all posts in the series, perhaps with your wives, and discuss these wars. To what extent is she battling here on a daily basis?

Mommy Wars

Protect her by praying for her, listening to her, praying for her, and listening to her.

Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Eph.5)

God let me celebrate my third anniversary of marriage last week.  My wife and I read our vows to each other again, and we were able to say to one another, with love and gratitude, “you are fulfilling those vows perfectly.”  Not us, but God’s awesome grace.

We also read the passage above from Ephesians.  Men, if you’re like me, you hear the call as Paul begins, “Husbands,” and your mind gets in action mode.  A clear command is coming! Yes! I love getting direction and challenges and commands from God.

But try this: rather than reading it as a “what I need to do” try reading it again as a “what Jesus is doing.”

Jesus loves the church.  He gave himself up for the church.  To make the church holy.  He cleanses the church, washes her, and presents her to himself in perfection.

Consider your brothers and sisters around the world who are Christ-followers, and how Jesus made them all holy and blameless.

May we love each other as a family, chosen and made beautiful, by the Perfect God-Man, Jesus.

This Week: THE EXPLICIT GOSPEL, by Mt. Chandler (Listen and encourage many, many more to listen)

There is something morally repulsive about modern activistic theories which deny contemplation and recognize nothing but struggle. For them not a single moment has value in itself, but is only a means for what follows.

-Nicolas Berdyaev

“We live in a pragmatic age and are reluctant to do anything if its practical usefulness cannot be demonstrated.  It is inevitable that we ask regarding worship (and being still and reflection and rest), is it worth it?  Can you justify the energy and expense involved?”

We must.  Take time to sharpen your tool, and you will do far more when once again you resume your labors.

(Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction)

“Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”  (Moses, Psalm 90)

Imagining yourself invincible is no way to act manfully.  Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. (Ecc. 7:2).

I remember when my dad first taught me that he would one day die.  I was probably just three or four years old, since the conversation took place in a bathtub with him and my brother.  (You never know what’s going to stick in your kids’ memories.)

Dads, are you teaching your sons to number their days?  How?  Are you leading by example, living in light of the brevity of this life?

Here’s the rest of the story: eternal life.

He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. (Ro. 2.7)

When we’ve been there 10,000 years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we first begun.  10 million years.  10 billion years.  100 trillion years bright shining as the sun, we’ll have no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.

How are you teaching your sons about eternal life?  How are you living in light of eternity?