Tag: Sanctification

3 Tips For A Better Marriage

I’m no expert on marital counseling. I’m not even sure how good a husband I am.

I’m one of those fortunate people who married a fantastic woman.  My wife is beautiful, charming and the most selfless person I’ve ever met. So, I suspect I’ve had it easier than most.

But in having been happily married for twenty years, I have learned a few things I can pass on to those just starting out.

My wife and I do three things that are fundamental; I’d even call them no-brainers. Yet I bet only a small percentage of married people do them consistently well. Continue reading “3 Tips For A Better Marriage”

A Story About Contrast

If you spend much time around Christians it’s easy to become disappointed.

That disappointment is often a result of the justifiably higher expectations we place on Christians.

Sometimes a little perspective helps.

Three weeks ago, I was on the Re:create Cruise with a group of Christian writers and artists.  My wife and I spent most of our time with the Christians who were part of the conference, but toward the end of the cruise we went to one of the other restaurants on the ship and sat at a table with non-Christians. Continue reading “A Story About Contrast”

Sandwiches, Sand Wedges & Sanctification

© 2011 Gregory Scott

I was looking forward to playing golf today because I was expecting to play well.

We teed off at 11:45, so I ordered a cheeseburger at the snack bar. I hit a great drive off the first tee and lit into my burger. I knew it didn’t taste right. Sure enough, it was barely cooked. Now I’m thinking I’m going to be hungry for two hours until we can get back to the snack bar.

I hit my second shot right of the green, make a bad chip and make bogey. The second tee is not level on the left side, but I’m still thinking about the $10 I just wasted on the Palm Springs burger tartare. So, I tee up on the left side and hook it out of bounds. Inside I’m starting to boil. Continue reading “Sandwiches, Sand Wedges & Sanctification”

On Being vs. Doing

If you are Christian, the twin goals of your life should be the expansion of the kingdom of God on earth and becoming conformed to the image of Christ.  (Matthew 6:33). That means one of your goals should be to live WWJD.

In modern Christendom there seems to be more of an emphasis on being rather than doing. Being is more mystical and attractive to post-moderns who have rejected the religiousness of an older generation and its attendant hypocrisy. Being professes no standard and thus risks no hypocrisy.

Doing holds up a standard and thus risks not attaining it. It’s this failure–a failure inevitable in a fallen world–that has led so many Christians to reject it as a means to sanctification and so many non-Christians to reject it as an ends. Continue reading “On Being vs. Doing”

Was Jesus Nice?

Ok, so here’s the story.  A Pharisee (a religious leader) hears Jesus speak and is apparently so intrigued he invites Jesus to lunch.

When Jesus doesn’t follow the religious custom of ceremonially washing before the meal, the Pharisee notices it.  Jesus notices that the Pharisee notices.

Jesus then tells the Pharisee and the other Pharisees present that although they are concerned about religious ritual, they are really hypocrites.  (Luke 11:37-54).

Now, granted, we don’t know the tone of voice Jesus used, but I can’t imagine any non-insulting way to say such things.  And, in fact, one of the lawyers responds, “Teacher, when you say this, you insult us too.” Continue reading “Was Jesus Nice?”