When Truth Isn’t Enough

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Every Thursday we’ll post something to do with relational or emotional concerns. Hope it helps. — When Truth Isn’t Enough  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. - Romans 12:15 One of my worst memories ever is of a funeral service I conducted as a young minister. A twenty-something mother contacted our church asking if someone would do a eulogy for her baby, who’d just been violently killed by her boyfriend. The offender was in prison; she had no family, only a few friends, so would we Continue Reading

Business As Usual

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Every Tuesday we post something about strengthening or rebuilding marriages. Hope it helps. — Business as Usual Someone to hold you too close Someone to know you too well Someone to sit in your chair And ruin your sleep And make you aware Of being alive -“Being Alive” by Stephen Sondheim I got an education from my wife and son last Saturday on the subject of predictability. We were gathered around the kitchen counter when I started to sneeze, and between my ‘ah-choos’ I noticed Renee counting out loud. I finished Continue Reading

About Jason Collins, Homosexuality and Christianity

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Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps. — About Jason Collins, Homosexuality and Christianity Two weeks ago I posted about a then-unknown pro athlete who was shortly going to “come out” and declare his homosexuality. Yesterday NBA pro Jason Collins ended the suspense by announcing not only that he was the one, but that he’s also, in his own words, someone who “takes the teachings of Jesus seriously.” So this is how I’d respond to him if given the Continue Reading

Hear Ye

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Every Tuesday we’ll be posting an article about restoring and strengthening marriages that have been damaged by sexual sin. Hope it’s helpful. — Hear Ye My wife says I never listen to her. At least I think that's what she said. ~Author Unknown Bill Cosby called it The Weapon, a technique husbands instinctively catch onto early in marriage, and use as needed. The wife says something he’d rather ignore, like “Did you take the trash out?” or “We need to talk about taxes.” His mind is elsewhere, or he’s watching Continue Reading

Let Me Entertain Her

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Every Tuesday we’ll post something to do with strengthening marriages. Hope it helps. — Let Me Entertain Her My shoulder’s sore from patting my own back all morning. I feel like a king, a real stud, The Man. And all because last night I made my wife laugh. Not a polite giggle, mind you, but belly deep guffaws that had her doing those out of control, helpless spasms that are so beautiful to see. I don’t even remember what I was saying that brought it on, but I was on a roll just as we went to bed, and quirky witticisms were Continue Reading

The Feminine Mistake

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Every Tuesday we’ll post something to do with strengthening marriages. Hope it helps. — The Feminine Mistake This year marks the 50th anniversary of Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking The Feminine Mystique  a landmark book which shaped and propelled the modern feminist movement. Today some of Friedan’s ideas would seem pretty tame, even to social conservatives like myself who see nothing wrong with women working, or opting not to marry, or choosing and pursuing careers. Nor have I ever found the idea of equal pay to be anything but Continue Reading

Random Ramblings #48: Gun Control, Lance Armstrong, Jodie Foster and The Impossible

Photo Credit: ABC News.

Every Friday we’ll leave the topic oriented post, and instead post some personal comments. — A Cuppa Joe Gun control seems to be on everyone’s agenda or hit list, depending on which side of the aisle you root for. The restrictions Obama’s proposing, in light of the Newton tragedy, look innocuous enough, and I personally am not afraid of background checks for gun owners or limits on sales of automatic weapons. What does have me nervous is the trend, which I doubt will end with these initial proposed laws, regardless of the fact Continue Reading

Random Ramblings #46: My Little Christmas Sinner

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Every Friday we’ll leave the topic oriented post, and instead post some personal comments. — A Cuppa Joe - Random Ramblings from a Fellow Struggler My Little Christmas Sinner My son hates it when I tell stories that make people want to pinch his cheek and say “Awww!” At the ripe age of 16 he’s entitled to balk at re-tellings of his cuteness, just as I’m entitled to write about them with impunity. (I’ve often told him he’s free to write about me when he’s grown, just as long as his accusations against me are Continue Reading

Before You Use

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Every Monday we’ll post something about maintaining your sexual integrity. Hope it helps. — Before you Use I know the porn habit is strong and stubborn, having had it myself. So today you may be one of the millions who feel the enticement to use the stuff. Before you do, as a Christian, would you please ask yourself these simple questions today? Would you view this material, and stimulate yourself while viewing it, while sitting on the altar of your local church? Because if you wouldn’t think of doing such a thing inside an Continue Reading

Good Grief

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Every Thursday I’ll post an article having to do with either relational or emotional matters. Hope it helps. — Good Grief “Nobody wants to be good at grieving – we are half afraid that having such a skill would only attract more grief. But because you will not be spared from times of loss, it is important to believe that your grief has a purpose.” -Bob Deits, Recovering After Loss I’m a loser. I’m losing hair, strength, eyesight, patience. With each loss comes a degree of irritable sadness and a little amusement at Continue Reading