Marriage: To Serve and to Protect...

Day 12: Genesis 3:1-8

As a husband who loves his wife dearly, I think one of the most striking things about this story about the fall of man, is how disengaged Adam was with the activities of his wife, Eve. I have to ask myself the following questions: Where was Adam when his wife was engaged with the serpent and why wasn't he there to encourage her not to sin? Why didn't he insist on doing what was right for the sake of both of them, rather than succumbing to the temptation of sin by eating the forbidden fruit? Why didn't he understand that he was one with his wife and accountable to look after her? As a matter of fact, take a look at Adam's weak response to God in verse 12, "The man said, 'The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.'” Adam, Eve was much more than the woman that God put there with you. She was your wife, bonded to you as "one flesh" and your responsibility to take care of and to love as your own body.

It's a reminder to spouses that our actions and activities affect both parties in a marital relationship. Since God makes married couples "one-flesh" it only stands to reason that a sin that is committed by one adversely affects the other. Additionally, husbands have the God given responsibility of taking care of their spouses. Genesis chapter 3 is also a reminder to us men that when something like this happens, God looks to us men for an answer. Ephesians 5: 28-30 affirms, "²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body."

I also believe that God expects us to know and understand what our spouses are involved with. We in turn need to love them enough to encourage them not to sin and be accountable to God for when they do sin to then humble ourselves before God, seek forgiveness together and seek to restore our spouses back for the sake of the "oneness". (either husband or wife)

Lastly, we need to know that Satan is crafty and seeks to destroy what God has created in our marriage. It is vitally important that we understand and anticipate the risk and understand that our enemy and his advances are real. He will seek to destroy ones marriage and couples need to be vigilant to this ever present threat.

~JRF~

Sunday Service.... as comfortable as going to work

This past Sunday while attending services it came to me; "I attend church as naturally as I get up in the morning for work." I was filled with joy with the sudden realization that I came to church on that morning without thinking twice. The difference between work and church is that I'm attending church not out of some obligation or religious ritual, but rather attending something that I enjoy doing and it wasn't difficult or a burden. In the past, I had this burden to attend church and if I didn't then I felt guilty as if I missed some type of merit in heaven. I have found myself in a place where I thorough enjoy attending church and various church activities throughout the week; and it's not out of obligation but out of a sense of enjoyment and pleasure. If I miss a service now, I feel the loss for missing what I enjoy versus the guilt associated with an obligation. It's a great place to be when I enjoy the presence of the Lord and the brothers and sisters the Lord has brought me to fellowship with.

~JRF~

How important are you to God?

Day 11: Psalm 8 (Genesis1-2)

Yes Mr. Fields, I would be glad to name three things I'm thankful for as blessings from God: the free gift of salvation, the love and devotion of a beautiful wife and wonderful children.

While I appreciate the fact that this is a song of praise, David is noting truths about God that may not be so easily recognized in today's culture. God is noted as using the simple things, like the mouths of babes, to garner praise and "establish stronghold's" against His enemies. In our weakness He is strong. In the simple things of this life, God is magnified. Additionally, at a time when animals are held in higher regard than man, or at least at the same level, this Psalm speaks to me at a level that appreciates the fact that God has placed special value in mankind over all of creation. We are God's special creation created in His image and set to oversee the world and the rest of creation that has been set at our feet. These are simple truths. "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Thank you for loving us this much.

~JRF~

Oneness as Modeled by God in our Marriage...

Day 10: Genesis 2:7, 15-18, 21-25

Fields points out in today's devotional that at the core of God creating Adam and Eve is the idea that they became "one flesh" (by way of sexual relations as noted in the side bar of this devotion). While this design and model for marriage is important, I also saw another deeper relational model being developed in this concept. The deeper model is the relationship that is made that represents the type of "oneness" experienced in the spirit with God with each of us. In other words, we are united as one with our spouses, and in this way our marriage models a oneness relationship that is representative of the oneness we experience with God in the Spirit.

God provides for us various models in our lives that are representative of His nature; and God reveals attributes through these models that give us a glimpse of who He is. God is one with Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and He unites to us through the spirit in oneness when we accept His free gift of salvation. Our marriages are important because we become "one flesh" with our spouses (man and woman), and at the same time model a nature of God which He represented to us from the beginning when scripture states in Genesis 1:27, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Part of being created in God's image is being united in marriage and in "oneness", and in this small way,we get a glimpse of the nature of God and His "oneness".

~JRF~

Side note: This definition of marriage as one male and one female becoming one flesh is not simply some religious agenda to suppress people's sexual preference but rather a fundamental truth at the core of who God is. Marriage as defined in Genesis chapter 1 and supported in the New Testament, represents an attribute of who God is and our relationship to God as being created in His likeness. The proper definition of marriage properly sets forth a right understanding of God's image to man; His representative to mankind.

In the Beginning was the Word...

Day 1: Genesis 1:1-2 (John 1:1-5)

I think we often forget John chapter 1 is a creation story that is in line with Genesis chapter 1. Whenever I teach on the subject of creation based apologetics (and my favorite apologetic creation theory being the cosmological argument) I teach not only the creation facts as found in Genesis but also those established in John chapter 1.

I have to disagree with Mr. Fields on his assessment that there are no quick and easy answers to the evolution/creation debate. On the contrary, I think the answers are as simple as they can be; and answered in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. "In the beginning God created..." and "In the beginning was the Word...". How much more simpler can this be? Man comes along makes the debate complex by removing God and creating a fruitless debate. Make no mistake, the debate is important and the beachhead to establish since we're speaking about the foundations of the Bible and the foundations of the Gospel message both at the same time, however, let us not allow the world or our own faith and practices over complicate the simple truth as stated in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. If someone in science or other humanistic endeavor is willing to remove the core foundations of our faith, the Bible or the Gospel message, then the discussion need to go no further. Let us also not be ignorant, however, in providing the answers that the world around us needs to hear (1 Peter 3:15). As it relates to the complex evolution/creation debate, we keep God in the creation discussion because it's properly basic. "In the beginning God created..." "In the beginning, the Word became flesh..."

The Sacred Sandwhich... When You Suddenly Realize that they're Laughing at You

I got an anonymous tip that I would enjoy this site, The Sacred Sandwhich . I visited the site and thought it was a hoot. Sometimes I think you just have to laugh at yourself from time to time and the Christian Community does a great job of setting themselves up for a good laugh. The Sacred Sandwhich is an equal opportunity offender and if you're a stiff conservative who thinks that humor is watching Pat Robertson's 700 Club, then this site is for you (even if you're not you may enjoy it anyhow).

Everyone is in scope and nothing is sacred but the Word of God. Their disclaimer reads as such:

"As one might surmise, the League of Tyndale and The Sacred Sandwich do not officially exist, except in the peculiar mind of its creator, Chris Carmichael. This publication (and the organization behind it) is nothing more than lighthearted parody of current Christian issues, produced to invoke and honor the spirit of bygone days when Christian organizations such as this were committed to grounding themselves fully in the standard of God's word, and were not ashamed to stand firm for the sake of the true Gospel.

Do not be misled, however, in thinking that the satirical framework of this project implies a lack of real biblical truth. The editorial content of our site is not a joke. All the articles, as well as many of the parodies, are dead serious in their purpose of proclaiming sola Scriptura to the postmodern church in a biblical and factual way. Despite the tongue-in-cheek style, The Sacred Sandwich's main objective is to herald the sufficiency of Scripture as one of the surest means in which the visible Church might humble herself to God's will and enjoy true spiritual revival.
Indeed, our satire might have an edge, but it is that edge which often cuts more quickly to the marrow of the truth.

We invite you, therefore, to join us in this creative experiment by taking our noble cause seriously in the midst of our whimsy. Return with us to the days of the small town church and their simple faith in Jesus Christ, where the world has not yet encroached upon their thinking and theology. Consider the possibility that the League of Tyndale truly exists, at least in our hearts, and that The Sacred Sandwich is their humble effort to bring forth His truth for the glory of God alone.

Won't you please join us in this fight?"

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Other sections I enjoyed on The Sacred Sandwhich:

• Gallery of Dubious PhotoJournalism - These photos are great and the taglines simple but quite a laugh and a half.
• Our Recipe for the Sacred Sandwich - A great introduction of the who, what, when and how of the website.
• The Twin Theologians - Great paradies ready to knock your Sunday shoes right off. I'm ready to start a petition for the "Gospel of Larry".
• Ok, so check out the whole site, it's a blast!

Enjoy,

~ Furtak ~

$2 for a meal... 2 cents for your thoughts...

I ran into this article and it sparked a thought I had about a discussion I had with my wife about the topic of giving to the homeless.

New Attitude: Humble Orthodoxy
$2 dollars for the homeless - http://www.newattitude.org/blog/entry.php?id=171

I thought I would add my thoughts...

Sometime down the line I got in my head that giving money to someone on the street was wrong because they might do something bad with the money like buy drugs or alcohol rather than attending to basic needs. Here's a thought, "sometimes you give money and the person doesn't buy drugs or alcohol". Perhaps giving money means more than the monitary value and despite what the money is used for, the message of caring for the person may mean more than anything the person can buy. Perhaps giving to the person is as much a ministry to you as it to them.

Over the years I've created plenty of excuses and when it comes to taking care of my neighbors, I'm afraid I'm just falling short. I don't think the answer is easy and I don't believe there is one right choice but what I do believe is that taking care of those around us is central to the heart of God. It's easy for me to consider the words of Jesus when he says, "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" ( Matthew 25:40 ), when I'm giving to the poor from the left overs of the lunch I just had but how many times do I pull up to the traffic light and make sure I don't come in eye contact with the person who's hobbling up holding the cardboard sign and think of Jesus' other words when he says, "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" ( Matthew 25:45 - emphasis is mine) Jesus' words here send a chill up my spine and it motivates me to action because of my love for Him but the next verse (v. 46) is a picture we should all take to heart and not take lightly. Verse 46 states, "'Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.'" ( Matthew 25:46 - emphasis is mine ) The point here isn't to highlight salvation based on works but rather to show how important this is to our Savior that we take care of those around us. It's the heart of God that we take care of those needing clothes, shelter, food and any other basic need of life and between you and me, I want to make certain that when I look around me in heaven I'm standing among the sheep. (Full passage: Matthew 25:31-46 ).

... and that's my .02 cents for my thought.

~ Furtak ~