Mike Holmes has a simple philosophy: Make it Right. He is the host of the HGTV show Holmes on Homes. In the show Mike comes to the rescue of homeowners who have been taken advantage of by bad contractors. He comes to their home, assesses the problem, and…you guessed it makes it right! It is simple, yet profound. Being a homeowner myself it scares me a bit that there are enough bad apples out there to warrant an entire hit television show highlighting their mistakes but it’s true. Well I want to borrow Mike idea here for a new blog series entitled “Christ on Christians”. Many times Christians have blown it and others always pay the price. I would like to consider a situation and ask what Christ would have done differently. I would love your thoughts and comments as we go along on this project!
Christ on Christians #1: “Looking Isn’t Free”
Christ said that t
he followers of God in his day had been told not to commit adultery. Adultery was a violation of the marriage vow. We all are familiar with what that means: physical unfaithfulness outside of marriage for one who is married. But Jesus took a step further, he said adultery is not simply the physical act, it’s deeper. If you look at a woman with lust you’re guilty of adultery.
Wow does this ever apply to our lives today! Our world is saturated with opportunities to look with our eyes. Billboards, tv commercials, internet, magazines, newspapers, literally all forms of media have figured it out…sex sells! There is a phrase that we hear thrown around quite a bit and I even hear from some Christians: “Looking is Free”. As if to say I can lust with my eyes and not commit adultery. Wrong! Isn’t it ironic that some sinful habits are always present. Jesus had to address this issue 2000 years ago and yet we still struggle with it.
Christ on Christians Housekeeping Tips:
1. Make your room, dorm room, apartment, or house a safe place.
I’m a guy, so I know the challenges that are in the world today. Everywhere you go you eyes are tempted to look. You need a rest. Make sure you home is not one more place you should not allow your eyes to wander. If you married, enlist your spouse to help out with this one. Have a zero tolerance policy for any inappropriate material in the house. Believe me, look around the house and chances are you will find something you need to pitch.
2. Know Your Destination.
If you headed out into the world, don’t get sidetracked. Really. Most of the time we are only a few steps away from a place where we can commit visual adultery (gals, you are not exempt from this one). If you go to the gas station, don’t meander to the magazine rack. If you go to the mall don’t wander past the explicit stores just to have a peek. If you’re in the book store, stay away from the sections that offer visual adultery!
Christ on Christians says: Looking isn’t free…let’s make it right!
Community Questions:
How can a Christian who practices a “looking is free” life style negatively affect a non-Christian?
What helpful things have you done to avoid “visual adultery”?
Do you have a question for “Christ on Christians”?
For many of us the only marker of spiritual success in our lives is how much we know about God. The more we know the better off we are. So we often go through a viscous cycle. We hype ourselves up to read the Bible 15 minutes a day, then we begin to read 10 minutes a day, so we begin to feel guilty for only reading 5 minutes a day, then we get mad at God for being so legalistic and we don’t read the Bible at all for 3 months. Sound familiar?
Don’t get me wrong, we can spend a life time pursuing God and yet never fully comprehend all there is to know about Him and we should know more about who He is as we progress in our faith. But be that as it may, don’t make the mistake of confusing knowing more about God for knowing God better.
I love to read the writings of men and women who love God deeply. One thing that has recently impressed me is that these individuals know God better. (Ironically, they often know more too!). They extrapolate page after page of meaning and depth from a simple verse I learned in Sunday School. As I ponder their ability to see beyond just the words, I am shamed to the fact that so many times I am content to leave my understanding of God and His Word at an elementary level.
So let me challenge you to begin a new spiritual journey. Ask God to give you 2 or 3 verses that you need to know better. Write them on a 3×5 card and then contemplate on them for several weeks. Who knows, you may find more in one verse than you could in a whole month of speed reading your Bible. Here are the ones God has given me:
My yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me. (Psalm 23:4)
Community Question:
What verses are you going to think deeply about?
Over time come back and share some of the things God is showing you through these verses?
Who knew that 85 yeas later Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher would be contending for the title: “World’s Longest Married Couple”? But that is exactly the case. Yesterday this couple (102 and 104 respectively) decided to give aged advice via a modern method. These two love birds tweeted (yes I do mean twitter) 14 bits of relationship advice to some 2,100 followers on Twitter. They received hundreds of questions from the followers and answered the top 14 here they are:
Question 1: What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?
Answer: With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure.Divorce was NEVER an option – or even a thought.
Question 2: How did you know your spouse was the right one for you?
Answer: We grew up together & were best friends before we married. A friend is for life – our marriage has lasted a lifetime.
Question 3: Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?
Answer: We wouldn’t change a ting. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other & our family.
Question 4: What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there?
Answer: Zlemyra: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith – when you meet him, you’ll know.
Question 5: What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?
Answer: Respect, support & communicate with each other. Be faithful, honest & true. Love each other with ALL of your heart.
Question 6: What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?
Answer: A hard worker & a good provider. The 1920s were hard, but Herbert wanted & provided the best for us. I married a good man!
Question 7: What is your best Valentine’s Day memory?
Answer: Z I cook dinner EVERY day. Herbert left work early & surprised me – he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook! H: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her & she could relax – the look on her face & clean plate made my day!
Question 8: You got married very young – how did u both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?
Answer: Everyone who plants a seed & harvests the crop celebrates together” We are individuals, but accomplish more together.
Question 9: What is your fondest memory of your 85 years of marriage?
Answer: Our legacy: 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Question 10: Does communicating get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?
Answer: The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.
Question 11: How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long periods of time?
Answer: We were apart for 2 months when Z was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children, otherwise I would have lost my mind.
Question 12: At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?
Answer: Remember marriage is not a contest – never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win
Question 13: Is fighting important?
Answer: NEVER physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree, & fight for what really matters. Learn to bend – not break.
Question 14: What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?
Answer: We are both Christians & believe in God.Marriage is a commitment to the Lord.We pray with & for each other every day
Here’s to love!
Need some good news this morning? How about this…a 28 year old man was pulled from the rubble of a destroyed building in Haiti today…27 days after the earthquake!! (Read the article) I know that many of you have been praying for the people of Haiti and I just want you to know that God answers prayers.
Has God used this tragedy in your own life? What are some of your reflections on God, yourself, or Haiti as a result of this earthquake?
Just finished reading book #5 in my race to 30 by 2010. Read about it here.
