Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson...... short review

Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson lays the problems in marriage at the feet of the man.  He makes the case that when a man refuses to lead spiritually he is like one who stands in the middle of his own garden and watches the weeds grow, wondering why the fruit is rotten.

This is a good book for anyone considering marriage, getting married or already married.

A few quotes:

Marriage problems are overwhelmingly problems with sin -- lack of conformity to the Word of God in thoughts, words, and actions.

Maturity in the Lord is a prerequisite to maturity in marriage.

...countless marriages have not really been spiritually consummated... a marriage cannot be spiritually consummated if the husband acts the part of a spiritual eunuch...

Thieves Respect Property

Enter Villian:

"Look at my gloves," he stated jubilantly.

Glancing down I noticed his glow-in-the-dark skeleton gloves.  "Those are nice," I replied.

"Yeah, I know," he said as he walked to his desk at the front of the class.

Three minutes later the class phone rang...

I answered, "Room 10, how may I assist you?"

The voice on the other end said, "Did any of your students come in with glow-in-the-dark skeleton gloves?"

"Hmmm. Now that you mention it, yes, one of my students does have a rather nice pair of  glow-in-the-dark skeleton gloves. Why do you ask?"

"Well", she began, "He took those off of my table.  They belong to another child."

"Oh! So this other child would like to have them back?"

"Yes!" was the response.

Upon questioning the student with the rather nice pair of glow-in-the-dark skeleton gloves, he stated that his kind dear mother had given them to him that very morning as an early Christmas gift for his wonderful demeanor and behavior. When told that another child was missing a pair just like them back in his other class, he said, "Huh, well, that's sad, I have to go work on my spelling, now."

...As he turned away I picked up the phone and said, "Just one more thing... what will your mother say when I phone her and ask about the gloves?"

In a rush, the words fell out into the room, "I found them on the floor and I put them on and they fit so nice I thought I could keep them."

Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it. Gilbert K. Chesterson

The Righteous Discontent

You may not be able to change their opinion nor their behavior... but you can still do right.

Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. (Luke 23:50-53)

Thankful for Thankful Farmers

Breathe on such Dry Bones as We

 To hear a modern rendition click here

Hymn 111

Lord, we confess our num'rous faults,

How great our guilt has been!

Foolish and vain were all our thoughts,

And all our lives were sin.

But, O my soul! for ever praise, For ever love his name, Who turns thy feet from dangerous ways Of folly, sin, and shame.

'Tis not by works of righteousness Which our own hands have done; But we are saved by sovereign grace Abounding through his Son.

'Tis from the mercy of our God That all our hopes begin; 'Tis by the water and the blood Our souls are washed from sin.

'Tis through the purchase of his death Who hung upon the tree, The Spirit is sent down to breathe On such dry bones as we.

Raised from the dead we live anew;

And, justified by grace,

We shall appear in glory too,

And see our Father's face.

Isaac Watts

A Worthy Cause: Samaritan's Purse

 "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God." Bob Pierce wrote these now-famous words in his Bible after visiting suffering children on the Korean island of Kojedo. This impassioned prayer is what guided him as he founded and led the ministry of Samaritan's Purse in 1970. His mission for this organization was "to meet emergency needs in crisis areas through existing evangelical mission agencies and national churches." (From the Samaritan's Purse Website)

Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:30, 33-37)

The Christian Worldview in Four Easy Steps

Well-Meaning Gentlemen with Different Ideas 

has written down the The Christian Worldview in Four Easy Steps

from Kevin DeYoung.