In the Zone

It is human nature to escalate events. Whether that's a grand scale, like events that lead to wars, or on a smaller scale, where we constantly try to "one-up" the other person.  As humans, we just can't seem to let well enough alone.  We've always got to hurt someone more than they hurt us. That's why Jesus' words in Matthew 5:38-42 are so radical.  He teaches that not only should we not escalate a conflict, but that we should go above and beyond to not retaliate at all.  He says if they strike your cheek, give them the other cheek.  If they sue you, give them more than what they ask for, if they require you to do something, do it for a longer period than they ask.  That's more than just passive resistance.  That's out-right love and forgiveness.  It means serving them, even though they oppose you.  It means loving them, even if they hate you.  It means going the extra mile to show them how much God loves them through you. It's a...

I remember when my mother broke the news to me:  her and dad were getting divorced. It hurt then.  It still hurts now. Divorce is a no-win scenario.  Everybody loses.  The couple loses.  The children lose.  Their friends and family members lose.  Everybody loses.  There are no winners or unscathed people in a divorce. That's why Jesus, in Matthew 5:31-32, is so adament that divorce is a bad thing.  He knows that divorce hurts his children.  God hates to see his children in pain, suffering and dealing with broken relationships.  God knows all about broken relationships.  Jesus came to earth to die for our sins just to heal humanities broken relationship with him.  Divorce is messy.  It means we don't get to spend time with both of parents.  It means separate Christmases and other holidays.  It means bickering and bitterness.  And that's why God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16).  He hates divor...

Patience is not one of my strong suits.  You can ask my wife.  She'll tell you I'm not a very patient person.  Maybe it's the fast food society I grew up in where everything was instant and easy access.  Maybe I just don't like to wait. Either way, I'm not a patient person. Right now, we're potty training my two-year-old daughter.  She's doing rather well, but often times I'm not patient enough.  She'll sit on her potty, and after a minute or two, I'm ready to go.  My wife tells me to wait and let her take her time.  (She's right of course.)  After a few minutes more, sometimes my daughter will then use the potty.  Patience, in those cases, works out. But God calls us to patiently wait on him. Starting in Genesis 6, we see the story of Noah.  God called him to build an ark to save his family, the animals and all of humanity.  It took Noah 120 years to build the ark to God's specifications.  All this time, it didn...