Love and Lordship

Marriage - The Highest of Human Relationships

As we remember the tragedy of 9/11/01 let’s continue to pray for the only Peace that can bring about the needed changes in our hearts, lives and nations around the globe…the Truth, Peace and Love of Jesus and that must begin in our homes and families!

Marriage:  In God’s Image

So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”  “I will go,” she said. (Genesis 24:58)  Read More

God's Covenant Order and His Love

Once again God makes it very obvious in His Word that there is a priority when it comes to love and relationships.  And it begins with Him!  He even uses the words “first” and “greatest,” and that should compel us to respond with the same priority and urgency when it comes to love for Him and others.  Reiterating Dr. Tony Evans’s words, “Our God is a Covenant-making and Covenant-keeping God and every Covenant has an order.”  So based on God’s Word, what is the order... Read More

A Tale of Two Loves - God's Full-orbed Love

Hesed/Agape – The Real Truth About Real Love We’ve spent quite a bit of time over the last few weeks discussing the brokenness of relationships and the lusts and selfishness of porneia and pride that destroys them.  It’s time we shifted to what God’s Word has to say about love.  Don’t miss this—God’s love is a commitment, a choice, and an act of the will.  Feelings aside, we choose to love and, as a matter of Biblical principles, that’s exactly what we’re called to do... Read More

Self and Lust – A Biblical Story and Modern Movie Mash-up

I present the Love and Lordship series multiple times a year.  In our discussion on agape and porneia we view a clip from Fireproof: The Movie and I connect it with King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah (one of his top lieutenants).  A few years ago as I was presenting this The Holy Spirit gave me some insights that have helped many in their battle against porneia and other sins. We view the movie clip where Caleb (Kirk Cameron’s character) is looking at some pictures... Read More

The Cookie Jar - A Satire on Love

This may come across as corny or silly, but I have so many that come up to me after sharing this—sometimes even months or years later—and share their appreciation for this illustration.  So here it is… Picture yourself as a child, or maybe as a parent with your children, gathered around the dinner table nearly finished with the meal.  The children in the picture are struggling to clean up their plate, so mom or dad grabs a jar out of the pantry and takes the... Read More

Loving Disciplines vs Lustful Desires

We must be brutally honest with ourselves if we are to live as Christ’s disciples and build His Kingdom in loving relationships. Because as I share this couple’s story I have to say that this is not at all uncommon.  As a matter of fact it is very much so, and all too, common. One Couple’s Battle with Porn/Porneia They had been in my office several times and, while there was improvement, it was evident that there was still a lot of tension and struggle. …Read More

Loving Relationships vs Stuff/Success

God’s Word calls us to seek His Kingdom and Righteousness first (Matthew 6:33) and to focus on that which is eternal rather than temporal (2 Corinthians 4:18).  These commands prompt us to explore what The Holy Spirit means in His Word when He speaks of eternal or Kingdom things to ensure that we understand where we are to invest our lives.  After a thorough search I could find only three things that exist on this temporal earth that are Kingdom in nature.  They are: 1)… Read More

Loving Relationships: The Currency of Christ's Kingdom

Relationships…What We Were Created For The answer lies in a personal relationship to Jesus Christ…We can ever remain powerless, as were the disciples, by trying to do God’s work not in concentration on His power, but by ideas drawn from our own temperament. We slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him… This is your line of service — to see that there is nothing between Jesus and yourself. Is there? Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest  Read More

Social Injustice and Loving Relationships

Building on last week’s post, we find ourselves in a culture that is wrestling with how to deal with and as best we can delete (or at least diminish) social injustice and inequalities in an imperfect world.  I talked about the need to be sure as Christ followers that we not get caught up in the heat or emotion of the moment, practicing a compassion that does not align with God’s Truth.  And by the way, there is a place for proper anger…”Be angry and...Read More

Social Injustice - Responding with Compassion in Truth

Social injustice and bigotry…How do we know what’s true and what to do?  Compassion without Truth only gives short term, self-centered facades posing as solutions with long-term destruction.  We as Christians have to be alert to practice compassion that fully aligns with God’s Truth!  His Word is always our foundation and first priority to find the answers to our personal, cultural and social problems. What I’m going to share will likely ruffle some feathers but I pray and ask that you test it against the...Read More