Articles categorized as Relationships

Sleeping Together and Christ’s Global Cause

I received an email from a man who asked a very particular question. He is a Christian, divorced, and in his forties. He met a Christian woman who seems to be an answer to prayer. Over time they have fallen in love and hope to get married eventually. But they can’t marry right now because […]

Something New Under the Sun: Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living – 11. MONEY, SEX AND POWER

11. Money, Sex and Power   I amassed silver and gold for myself and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well-the delights of the heart of man.   Ecclesiastes 2:8   Solomon had a harem, all right-seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. Historians tell […]

Something New Under the Sun: Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living – 12. THE VIEW FROM THE PENTHOUSE

12. The View From the Penthouse   I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.   Ecclesiastes 2:9   Here is his story, briefly told: At age six, his mother threw his birthday cake off the porch. He played the French Horn at age […]

Something New Under the Sun: Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living – 23. EACH PRECIOUS MOMENT

23. Each Precious Moment   There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1   Missionary friends in Nigeria have told me that Africans and Americans hold radically different views of time. For Westerners, time is to be managed, obeyed, and strictly observed. We spend large amounts of […]

The ABC’s of Wisdom: Building Character with Solomon – Passion

PASSION   The Flame That Keeps a Marriage Burning   A loving doe, a graceful deer-may her breasts satisfy you al­ways, may you ever be captivated by her love. Proverbs5:19   There are many secrets to a good marriage, such as re­spect, communication, commitment, forgiveness, a good sense of humor, and the ability to disagree […]

The ABC’s of Wisdom: Building Character with Solomon – Peacemaking

PEACEMAKING   The Mark of the Children of God   There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace. Proverbs 12:20   A few years ago pollster George Gallup surveyed Amer­icans on the top five questions they would most like to ask God. The list included […]

The ABC’s of Wisdom: Building Character with Solomon – Prudence

PRUDENCE   Street Smarts   For giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young. Proverbs 1:4   Prudence is a word that has almost fallen out of contem­porary usage. Partly that is due to some unfortunate connections with concepts of cleverness and undue cau­tion that have been associated with it. However, prudence […]

The ABC’s of Wisdom: Building Character with Solomon – Simplicity

SIMPLICITY   Learning to Live with Less   Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injus­tice. Proverbs 16:8   Most of us live on the opposite principle. We figure our contentment on the basis of how many of our needs are met. Unfortunately, it’s hard to reach a place where all our needs […]

The ABC’s of Wisdom: Building Character with Solomon – Character

CHARACTER   More Precious than Gold   A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be es­teemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1   Of all the gifts we can give to our children, none is greater than the gift of a good name. In the small town in Alabama where […]

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About The Christian Life – Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Which church should I join?   I live in a suburb of Chicago called Oak Park. Approximately fifty-three thousand people live here. On many street corners you can find a mas­sive church structure. At the turn of the century, when Oak Park was the first affluent suburb on the railroad west from Chicago, […]