A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. -Ruth Bell Graham Continue Reading
January 12, 2015
“My Husband’s Not Gay” – Appreciation, Concerns, and Random Thoughts
Update: Tomorrow, January 14, I will be discussing this on-air with radio host Kevin Bolling on his show Knowing the Truth. To hear the show tomorrow, click here It was pretty bold of The Learning Channel to present last night’s show “My Husband’s Not Gay.” Continue Reading
November 18, 2014
Beware the Grudge
A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. ~ Ruth Bell Graham Even on the best of football teams, fumbles happen. Continue Reading
September 16, 2014
Still in the Dog House? Try This
For the married man who's let his wife down, there can be a real helplessness that goes along with repentance. You know you’ve messed up, you’ve apologized every which way you can, and you’ve taken some concrete steps to get help. You’ve joined an accountability group, you’ve gotten yourself an accountability partner, you’re in counseling, and you make sure that on a daily basis you’re in the Word and praying. But you’re still in the dog house. She says she forgives you, then she rips into you with a fresh round of questions. (“How could you Continue Reading
August 18, 2014
Armed
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. – I Peter 4:1 Continue Reading
July 29, 2014
You Want Her to Trust You Again?
The married man who uses porn, commits adultery, or gives himself to other kinds of unclean behavior breaks trust. He’s in a covenanted relationship with a woman he pledged himself to, probably with the best of intentions, but somewhere along the way he’s given himself permission to indulge. Sometimes there are problems in the marriage his wife is largely responsible for, and she’ll need to ‘fess up to that if things are to improve, but that can never excuse his sin. Other times (and I find this true more often than not) it’s a pretty good Continue Reading
July 28, 2014
Naked and Unashamed
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. - Genesis 2:25 Shame wasn’t part of the human vocabulary until sin entered the picture. Adam and Eve were, as countless paintings and films suggest, innocently erotic and erotically innocent. No clothes and, I daresay, no inhibitions. That was then, and then was worlds away, ages ago. Continue Reading
June 23, 2014
Nice Flesh
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. -Galatians 5:19 When you’ve struggled with a “juicy” sin, it’s easy to judge your whole life by how well or how poorly you’re handling that one behavior. Folks who are alcoholic can do this by assuming that as long as they’re sober, then they’re doing well. Drug addicts, gamblers and Continue Reading
April 21, 2014
Armed and Suffering
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. – I Peter 4:1 In 1982 I tried getting into some serious bodybuilding, putting my then 27 year old carcass through a tortuous regime which I came to really love. My trainer spent a good deal of time prepping me for the bodybuilding lifestyle, emphasizing what became an important, obvious point: If I could fully embrace the necessity of pain for the sake of gain, I'd succeed. I Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
Self Watch
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, after I have preached Christ to others, I myself should become disqualified.” - I Corinthians 9:27 You’ve gotta appreciate Paul’s honesty. Here’s the great apostle/evangelist admitting that even at this point of his life and ministry, self-watch is essential. After preaching Christ to others, he realizes he could step outside God’s approval, and here, I think, he’s warning all of us to remember that whatever has been attained needs to be maintained. Continue Reading
Follow Joe