You probably noticed in the little satirical story below the absolute disdain for the idea of looking for, "The One." This is the idea that God has ordained only one possible person for you to marry and that you must spend your life searching for that one. It is a mystical fairy-tale sort of search through the sand for a gemstone. That description sounds rather exagerated, but it seems to be a prevalent issue. While I believe God, in His soveriegnty, has ordained only one person who is right for each one of us, I don't think that implies we must search diligently until we find that one and get that peaceful, easy feeling somewhere inside. That is not what we are called to. We are called to faithfulness.
Marriage is about two people who have been living faithfully coming together and living faithfully. We are called, when single (a hideous word full of misconceptions), to live in obedience to the loving commands of God's word. Generally this results in marriage, in which we are called to live in obedience to the loving commands of God's word. When a single young man is living his life faithfully to God and finds a woman who is living her life faithfully to God and they search, under the supervision of all their God-given authorities, to find if they can live together in faithfulness to God, then they will know if they have found the one God has ordained for them. It is time for the young people of the church of Christ to grow up and realize they are emulating Him in their relationships. He is our One, our Bridegroom, and He has called us to love Him by faithfully obeying Him, wherever we are at in life.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Boy Meets Girl, or How It Didn't Happen
Once upon a time there was a young drywaller named Micah. He spent his days spraying walls, alone. One day, as he sprayed a wall, Micah, who had gone to church all his life, finally gave his life completely to God. "Lord," he prayed, "Please show me 'The One'." In a very near approximation to immediacy the heavens opened, the angels sang, and the light shining through the window illuminated the sheet of drywall he had just sprayed. When he looked at it, if he tilted his head just right and squinted, he could read the word Natalie.
Micah knew this must be the name of 'The One', because he had just prayed about her. He cut down the sheet of drywall, hung it in his bedroom, and began calling all the local churches in search of 'The One' (whose name he now knew).
His search was made easier because of a list of specifics he had felt led to write down. When he had started the list he began to despair. All the good traits he was looking for were too much for anyone to match up to. Finally he settled for simple things, like hair, eyes, and the way her breath smelled.
It took Micah almost two weeks to talk to all the churches in the area, but he still hadn't found 'The One'. Finally, which was when all the good things in his life happened, Micah visited the last church in the phone book.
As soon as he walked in, Micah saw the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. As he walked closer he could see a sticker on her shirt that said, "Hi, my name is Valarie". Standing beside her was another, shorter girl, whose sticker read, "Hi, my name is Natalie." Micah's heart jumped. She matched his list exactly, except that she was shorter than his hopeful 5'2". But he could fudge on one detail. He knew she must be 'The One'!
Natalie knew as soon as she saw Micah that he was different. She didn't know if it was his buck teeth, or the way his eyes were sunk back in his head, but he wasn't like other guys. She too had been searching for 'The One'. She had just gotten back from a trip, where she had gone to find herself. Neither of her friends had realized she was missing, but that was just like them. After she got back she spent her time reading inspirational books to help her be content with her singleness. She thought about learning to cook, but didn't feel that it would be "redeeming the time."
After they met, Micah and Natalie began going out and dating with a purpose. Natalie's parents had some qualms with this, but when Micah showed them his piece of drywall they knew they couldn't get in the way of God's will. During their courtship, Micah and Natalie insulated themselves from temptation by praying the prayer of Jabez whenever they were together. This also resulted in expanding waistlines, despite their gnostic tendencies.
Soon they were married. The story must end here. If it continued you would see how difficult their marriage was because they didn't understand the value of hard work, faithfulness, beauty, or covenant love. Eventually, after many hard years, they learned these things and lived happily ever after.
Micah knew this must be the name of 'The One', because he had just prayed about her. He cut down the sheet of drywall, hung it in his bedroom, and began calling all the local churches in search of 'The One' (whose name he now knew).
His search was made easier because of a list of specifics he had felt led to write down. When he had started the list he began to despair. All the good traits he was looking for were too much for anyone to match up to. Finally he settled for simple things, like hair, eyes, and the way her breath smelled.
It took Micah almost two weeks to talk to all the churches in the area, but he still hadn't found 'The One'. Finally, which was when all the good things in his life happened, Micah visited the last church in the phone book.
As soon as he walked in, Micah saw the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. As he walked closer he could see a sticker on her shirt that said, "Hi, my name is Valarie". Standing beside her was another, shorter girl, whose sticker read, "Hi, my name is Natalie." Micah's heart jumped. She matched his list exactly, except that she was shorter than his hopeful 5'2". But he could fudge on one detail. He knew she must be 'The One'!
Natalie knew as soon as she saw Micah that he was different. She didn't know if it was his buck teeth, or the way his eyes were sunk back in his head, but he wasn't like other guys. She too had been searching for 'The One'. She had just gotten back from a trip, where she had gone to find herself. Neither of her friends had realized she was missing, but that was just like them. After she got back she spent her time reading inspirational books to help her be content with her singleness. She thought about learning to cook, but didn't feel that it would be "redeeming the time."
After they met, Micah and Natalie began going out and dating with a purpose. Natalie's parents had some qualms with this, but when Micah showed them his piece of drywall they knew they couldn't get in the way of God's will. During their courtship, Micah and Natalie insulated themselves from temptation by praying the prayer of Jabez whenever they were together. This also resulted in expanding waistlines, despite their gnostic tendencies.
Soon they were married. The story must end here. If it continued you would see how difficult their marriage was because they didn't understand the value of hard work, faithfulness, beauty, or covenant love. Eventually, after many hard years, they learned these things and lived happily ever after.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Happy, Distracting News That Might Knock Your Socks Off
Up until now you all have known me as a tall, strapping, and brilliant single, young man. But I would like to announce to you that I have graduated. Yes, I am still a tall, strapping, and brilliant young man, but no longer can you attach to me the pronoun single. I am not. No longer will I bow down to the tyranies of those who lord their married status over me. No longer will I, like a foot, be walked on all day long, but like a head, full of hair with no signs of a receeding hair line, will flourish. Evermore I will stand and grow as a husband and father. I will, like the strong arm of Stalin, lead my red army to victory. All this to say, I am engaged to the most wonderful, Godly young lady, Natalie.
Monday, February 05, 2007
The White Darkness
On a grey dreary day, the kind that causes little children to stare listlessly out the window, a cold, white darkness desended upon the unexpecting countryside. Weather, in a relentless fit of passion, spread her icy fingers over all the land. The forests, which had once stood as tall, regal sentinals, became distorted shadows of what they had been. Trees, bereft of their noble limbs, stooped, ready to seize the unsuspecting passerby. The land was filled with a chill that would persevere even when the air regained its warmth.
We will have reminders of the Southwestern Missouri 2007 Ice Storm for a very long time. No tree will be the same for years to come. But this is also a reminder of the grace of God. His grace in keeping us safe during times of peril, in providing shelter against the cold when our homes were without heat, in bringing us together as a body after seperating us for a time. In providing cold from which to be sheltered.
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A curious few have been wondering where I've been. Before losing power for two weeks, thus being deprived of the wonderful world of internet, I was dreadfully ill. I had planned on taking a trip with a group from our church to a conference in Louisana. Instead I spent the time, and several extra days, layed out hoping to either recover immediately or go commatose until I could recover. Since then I have been trying to catch up at work and regain my strength and the fifteen pounds I lost. The decline in posts has not been over personal attacks, slights, or signs of dislike.
We will have reminders of the Southwestern Missouri 2007 Ice Storm for a very long time. No tree will be the same for years to come. But this is also a reminder of the grace of God. His grace in keeping us safe during times of peril, in providing shelter against the cold when our homes were without heat, in bringing us together as a body after seperating us for a time. In providing cold from which to be sheltered.
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A curious few have been wondering where I've been. Before losing power for two weeks, thus being deprived of the wonderful world of internet, I was dreadfully ill. I had planned on taking a trip with a group from our church to a conference in Louisana. Instead I spent the time, and several extra days, layed out hoping to either recover immediately or go commatose until I could recover. Since then I have been trying to catch up at work and regain my strength and the fifteen pounds I lost. The decline in posts has not been over personal attacks, slights, or signs of dislike.
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