How to do Marriage

Andy Naselli links to a talk given by Tim and Kathy Keller on the marriage relationship. I've not listened to the question and answer section, part 2 but I just finished part 1 and it is excellent. It's the most helpful stuff on marriage I've ever heard/read and I highly recommend it for anyone (anyone who's Christian that is, since that's the starting point). I wish I had heard it sooner in our marriage. If you have a spare hour or two, or can make one available, this is a definite must-listen.

The talk necessarily involves complementarian-egalitarian discussion. This is the best I've heard from complementarians as they do an excellent job defining, expounding, and qualifying the complementarian viewpoint of marriage roles, even to a compelling degree. Both complementarians and egalitarians would do well to listen.

If you don't care about such stuff, that's ok because the majority of discussion is simple and profound practical talk about how to do marriage and I think it's incisive.

Strangers on the Earth

Lately, I've found myself under immense pressure. It is very difficult to satisfy the demands of the corporate machine, be at least a semi-decent father, and attempt to prepare for God's calling elsewhere all the while not being able to transition but stuck floating between the (intentionally) fading career and not being able to move ahead and then wondering if the effort is even worth it.

In such times I turn to Hebrews 11: 13-16:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland ... But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (ESV)

"Strangers and exiles on the earth" - Do you find yourself content with the wealth, comforts, and ideals that our country/society/culture (I live in the U.S.) offers? What about the constant distractions away from real life drawing us into dreamlands created by electronics? What about sports? - Many in this country live and die based on their team winning. Of course one hastens to add, though it should be obvious, that none of these things are intrinsically bad in and of themselves. But let's not kid ourselves. It is very easy to fall into their trappings and become enveloped by them.

Moreover, many of these things fall under and are created by those seeking power, greatness, and wealth at another's expense. Our culture, like all who achieve such great heights, is built on the backs of slaves. The south wasn't the only one with slaves. The industrial revolution was fueled by slaves. If you disagree, study for yourselves the inhumane treatment and the wages of many industry workers only sufficient to survive, many times from buying food/clothing from the industry owners. It's a practical equivalent to slavery.

The corporate world is in many ways not much better and what is better only came through turmoil and rebellion such that the people actually gained leverage. I've heard many times something like, "You the employee are our most valuable asset." Really? Of course that may be true but that's the problem. Asset is property, people as property is slavery. Even at this, often the employee is not treated as the most valuable property. In my experience this is common across corporate-world, in America at least.

So, I've found myself more and more the outcast, the one not understood ... life is hard ... stranger and exile on the earth.

"Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God..." NOT ASHAMED??? Whatever that is, it is too difficult to comprehend. The blessings in Christ Jesus are immense beyond measure or thought! Come quickly Lord Jesus!