Something Greater

Solving the Stepfamily Dilemma Biblical Counseling Center Don Hart writes a short article that is packed with interesting facts and practical advice for blended families . I want to put a spotlight on the most important parts, but you should read the entire article here: http://www.biblicalcounselingcenter.org Divorce Rate Take a survey of 100 married couples. 75 of the men and 60 of the women want to divorce and marry someone else . Most second marriages involve children. Out of every 100 divorces, 90 of the mothers will be the primary custodian. Survey 100 second-marriages. 67 of those marriages will also end in divorce. Don asks a good question: What can stepfamilies do to be one of the 33% of those whose second marriage succeeds? Problem 1: Time to Build the Marital Relationship It seems even more important for second-marriage relationships to spend as much time together as just husband and wife...yet it's even harder to do. The blended family tends ...

f(x) = x Line Equation of Suffering and Joy As x increases, so increases y. Let x = suffering Let y = joy This is true only as the suffering, and the joy, are in Christ. Psalm 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place - the Most High, who is ...

Conversion, The Creation of a Christian Hedonist Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, Part 5 By John Piper - Copyright 2003 by Desiring God Foundation, www.desiringGod.org, published by Multnomah Books A Study Guide prepared by Milt Reynolds Part 1: Introduction Part 2: The Happiness of God Part 3: The Goal of God in Redemptive History Part 4: God Delights in His Glory Part 5: Conversion, The Creation of a Christian Hedonist (page 53) What do you think? Jay E. Adams writes that counseling others should emphasize the "what" of behavior, rather than the "why" of behavior. Do you think it's important to know why a person is caught in a habitual sin, before trying to help them out of it? Is the "why" of sin insignificant? (Competent to Counsel, Jay E. Adams, 1970 Zondervan, pages 48-49) God's quest to be glorified and our quest to be satisfied both reach their goal in one experience: our delight in God, which overflows in praise...

Anne Jackson’s Permission to Speak Freely What is one thing you feel you can't say in church? Anne Jackson asked that question on her blog and received hundreds of responses . Out of that question she's written Permission to Speak Freely – Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace . She's shared seven essays from her book on seven different blogs . Each essay ends with a link to the next essay. Her seven essays form an emotional, convicting, heart-breaking yet encouraging story of faith lost and gained...relationships betrayed and restored . To read all the essays, you can follow the route below: Donald Miller (Essay #1 – The First Brick) Jon Acuff (Essay #2 – The Final Brick) Carlos Whittaker (Essay #3 – Losing Faith) Pete Wilson (Essay #4 – Finding Love in All the Wrong Places) XXXChurch.com (Essay #5 – Shattered Pixels) Catalyst Conference (Essay #6 – Ghosts of Churches Past) FlowerDust.net (Essay #7 – Listen...

Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, Part 4 By John Piper - Copyright 2003 by Desiring God Foundation, www.desiringGod.org , published by Multnomah Books A Study Guide prepared by Milt Reynolds Part 1: Introduction...How I became a Christian Hedonist (page 7) Part 2: The Happiness of God Part 3: The Goal of God in Redemptive History (page 308) Part 4: God Delights in His Glory (page 41) What do you think? Cite an event from the Bible that obviously shows God acting for the sake of His own glory, or His Name's sake. A brief survey of the high points of redemptive history supports the conclusion that God's own glory is uppermost in His own affections . He puts a greater value on His own glory than on anything else. He delights in His glory above all things. God's glory is His infinite greatness and worth . It could be a bright and awesome radiance sometimes seen, or the infinite moral excellence of His character. God loves His glory infinitely. He lov...

Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, Part 3 By John Piper - Copyright 2003 by Desiring God Foundation, www.desiringGod.org , published by Multnomah Books A Study Guide prepared by Milt Reynolds Part 1: Introduction...How I became a Christian Hedonist (page 7) Part 2: The Happiness of God Part 3: The Goal of God in Redemptive History (page 308) In Chapter One, the author asserts that God's own glory is uppermost in His own affections. In everything He does, His purpose is to preserve and display that glory ...He puts a greater value on His glory than on anything else...He delights in His glory above all things (page 41) Appendix 1 presents the biblical evidence for this assertion. First, glory of God in the Bible refers to the visible splendor, or moral beauty , of God: His unveiled magnificence and excellence . The name of God signifies much the same. In Scripture, something done for God's name sake means the same as for His glory . The name of God is n...

The Happiness of God By John Piper - Copyright 2003 by Desiring God Foundation, www.desiringGod.org , published by Multnomah Books A Study Guide prepared by Milt Reynolds Part 1: Introduction...How I became a Christian Hedonist (page 7) Part 2: The Happiness of God (page 31) God is uppermost in His own affections . The Westminster catechism could well be written from the viewpoint of God: The chief end of God is to glorify God AND enjoy Himself forever . Redemption, salvation, and restoration are not God's ultimate goal. These he performs for the sake of something greater: the enjoyment He has in glorifying Himself . What do you think? What are some reasons why we might be more accustomed to think about our duty rather than God’s glory? The Sovereignty of God (page 32) The foundation of God's happiness and ours, is His sovereignty . God has the right and power to do whatever makes Him happy: "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases...