Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together
I just finished reading this book.
I have to say that when I saw another book on marriage was coming out, my first impression was to think: : “What is Mark and Grace Driscoll going to say that I haven’t heard before?” Honestly, in most cases, the concepts of friendship and how God views marriage is not new. In fact there are a lot of books out there that will tell you a lot of the same stuff.
What made it stand out for me was that the concepts presented weren’t from a “case study” point of view. This came from the story of their lives together. What they did wrong and what they work on doing right to make thier marriage stronger is what kept me reading. To top it all off, they were dealing with a lot of these issues while starting and pastoring a large church which takes the things they had to deal with and the ramifications if they couldn’t work things out to a whole nother level.
Another thing that stood out for me is how the Gospel is applied and scripture is exalted, not psychological techniques, to each area covered, which is something that you don’t see normally. Most books are “you-focused” its all about you: your behavior, your actions, your feelings, your desires, ect. This is where this book deviates from the conventional. It talks about how to be a servant to your spouse, how to forgive, how to choke the root of bitterness in your life, and recognize destructive patterns of behavior in your marriage that you inherited from your parents.
I also love the simplified way in which Mark and Grace explore the various ways we express our love sexually to our spouse and is it a way that is scripturally healthy and benefical as a married couple.
There are a lot more things I enjoyed but I think you need to go and get a copy for yourself and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
Kevin
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Some Thoughts I Wanted to Share
Image via Wikipedia
I was praying this morning, and God started showing me some more idols in my life that I have. It’s funny how sometimes our prayers will reveal them very quickly if we are paying attention.
We think we can bargain with God to get Him to do stuff for us because we are doing certain things, but it really doesn’t really work that way. There are some things we can have faith that He will do because He promises us in scripture that He will do certain things if we are obedient, but it’s ultimately His grace.
Our problem is our lack of understanding of what grace really is. His grace is not dependent on our prayers, our goodness, or any other thing that we think we can “hold over His head” to get Him to do what we want. He doesn’t need our talents, gifts, degrees, our muscle, or our “amazing” intellect.
I hate to say this, but He is God. His grace is so much greater than all these things. In defiance of our misconceptions, He uses the weak, the broken, the fearful, the untalented, the most unlikely, to accomplish His purposes.
I read this great post by Jim Thornber today. An excellent reminder of how great God is, despite our abilities (which are God’s anyway). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Thank you God for loving me enough to remind me how great You are.
Kevin
Book Review:The Grace of God by Andy Stanley
This review is long overdue. I have read Andy’s leadership books and listened to his leadership podcasts, but I haven’t had an opportunity to delve into the theological side of Andy Stanley. Wasn’t quite sure what I was going to hear. I was not disappointed.
I remember always hearing about the “age of grace” before the law of Moses and the “age of the law” after God gave the Israelites the law of Moses and then we go back into an “age of grace” after Christ died, rose, and ascended. I think Andy does a great job walking through much of the old testament showing God’s grace working despite the fact the law of Moses was in effect. It shows that God’s grace is without limit and able to reach out to whomever He decides to pour it out to, as many times as He chooses.
I was glad I did not hear about a sloppy grace that is taught these days. A grace that allows us to keep on sinning and does not demand life change. It is a grace that pursues our heart until we can’t help but change because of our love for Him.
If you want to do a study on grace through the bible this book will be a big help in that study.
Thank God for His grace that He shows us every day!
Kevin
- Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
What You Need
I was praying in my car on the way to work this morning, and I was asking God to help me with some things that I felt like I need help with. He began to speak to me and led me to Acts 3:
Acts 3
1)Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2)And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4)And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5)And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6)But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8)And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9)And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10)and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
The beggar asked for what he felt like he needed. God gave him what he truly needed. There could be a countless amount of reasons that God decided to heal him at that moment but God gave him what he needed; the ability to walk. Why at this point? That’s something we can all ask Him one day.
After I pondered this story, He said: “My grace is sufficient. My mercies are new every morning. I will give you what you need when you need it.”
I think that sometimes if we get what we need too soon, it can easily turn to pride.
I look back on how many times I have asked God to back me up on what I thought was what I was supposed to do. I have fallen on my face so many times and I blamed God and would say “I thought you told me to do this! Why are you doing this to me?!” He was giving me what I needed. I needed to fall on my face. I needed to humbled. I needed to realize that God truly gives us what we need, when we need it, and how we need it. We must accept Him as our Lord and not just our Savior and truly put our trust in Him that no matter what, He provides everything we truly need.
Trust Him today. His grace is sufficient. He makes all things work together for your good.
Kevin
Loved by God Part I
For a long time, I was a “captive of God and Church.” Let me explain. As a child, I was told about Jesus and how He died for my sins, but I was also told how if I didn’t “accept His love”, I would be doomed to an everlasting, burning, eternity in the lake of fire. Being a fairly intelligent child, I knew that was not something that just didn’t sound “fun”, so I accepted Christ. That was a no-brainer to me. I was supposed to go to church, and pray and read my bible cause that’s what God wanted me to do so I would not go to hell. As I started getting older, the fear of hell was there, but there were desires to do things I was told I shouldn’t do. I felt like I was in a constant war with my desires and what I knew was the “right” thing.
It wasn’t until I reached my late teens that God revealed to me His love that freed me from the fear of hell and propelled me into the loving arms of my savior! I not only understood that He didn’t want me to go to hell, but that He wanted to have a relationship with me! This was the beginning of a relationship that will continue till my last breath and into eternity! However, I was still finding that the tight-rope changed from doing the right things so I wouldn’t go to hell, to doing the right things so I could be loved by God. As I made mistakes (which we are going to do because we sinful creatures, prone to sin) I felt less loved by Him, not realizing at the time I was buying into a non-truth that the enemy was speaking into my brain. The burden of “maintaining my salvation” was overwhelming for me, cause I so wanted to please Him and be loved by Him, but I always felt like my faults and shortcomings were keeping me from Him. I was falling into despair in my walk with God and I had no hope.
But God had other plans……
Stay tuned,
Kevin
I’m Still Alive!!
Today was one of the most stressful days of my life!! I had an issue that I had to go to court for. Not fun at all!! There were some tolls that I thought were paid that were not. The fear of the unknown was terrifying. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I talked to some folks about what happened. It’s amazing how much of a fine they will hit you with for not paying one. Believe me, that will never ever happen again! I haven’t had a ticket in like 10 years so this experience was terrifying!
I had some great brothers in my source group praying for God to move on my behalf and I believe that He did! They may not have thrown out everything and I didn’t have to pay nothing, and I have no idea where I am going to get the money to pay what I have to pay, but it could have been a lot worse. So what I have I learned from this experience? I have learned that I would rather pay at a toll booth than use some high tech gadget, but more importantly I have learned to see the blessings in the midst of our tribulations. We all make mistakes but I would suggest that we don’t always get the full consequences of what we deserve. We need to be thankful for the countless messes that God gets us out of that we don’t even realize!
We didn’t deserve His mercy but He gave it and continues to give it. Even when it looks like He wasn’t so gracious. It could always be worse if not for His grace. I need Him to provide more than ever, and I know He will. I’m still alive and kicking! I’m still just as excited with what He is doing in my life! He has a great purpose plan for my life. Just like you!
Kevin
Common Grace
I am always amazed at how God works despite our imperfections! I had a lot of distractions this last week and I didn’t get to prepare like I would like to for Source Group. I must say God’s grace is greater than we can imagine! We had a great time of fellowship, food, and discussion. This leads into the topic of this blog.
I have been reading about the subject of Common Grace. Common Grace is the undeserved blessings that God gives believers and unbelievers alike. For example, despite the fact that in Genesis 3:17-19, God declares that because of man’s sin, the ground is cursed. God’s Common Grace still allows the ground to produce food in abundance despite the curse of thorns and thistles which was a result of Adam’s disobedience. There is the example of Potiphar, captain of the guard for the Paraoh of Egypt. He did not worship the God that his servant Joseph worshipped, but his house was blessed because he knew everything Joseph put his hand to succeeded and prospered. These are examples of Common Grace. God’s grace is greater than we fathom.
So the big question that I said I would answer in this post was why do people who do not believe get blessed? The answer is Common Grace. In Psalms 19:1 the Bible declares:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
If God declares His glory and goodness in the skies above, why wouldn’t He show His goodness in the greatest of His creation? Man. Why would He not bestow His blessing to all His creation? There are many reasons why God would bless people who do not believe in Christ. God has a will and it will happen on Earth just like His will is done in heaven. God may bless a business man that He knows will give His money to a charity that will help a homeless person who is crying out to God cause he is hungry, or in need of shelter. God may bless an atheist scientist with great knowledge so he may discover a cure to an incurable disease or sickness that could cause a worldwide pandemic. There are so many reasons why God may bless those who do not believe in Him. They are countless.
I think the question that more Christ-Followers ask is: “Why are they blessed and I am not?” Let me declare to you (and myself) that the same Common Grace that is bestowed upon the great is available to the least of us. In 2Cor 12:9 the scriptures say:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
This should bring us comfort that despite what we feel we lack, His grace is sufficient to fill in those areas. You may not have a mansion, but you have a home that provides you shelter. You may not be a genius who will create the cure for cancer, but He gave you a job with health insurance so you can get medical care for your family. You may not be able to go out and eat all the time but you have enough to have 3 meals a day. His grace is available to all and is poured out on us all in different measures. Why is it not the same? You can ask God that question.
This week I would also like to talk about His Saving Grace as well. Till then, may an extra portion of His grace be upon you.
One of His (Kevin)
