2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach…. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. -I Timothy 3:2, 4, NIV Because divorce prejudice is real … Continue reading “Vulnerability of being a Pastor Faithful Spouse”
Divorce Minister 2023 in Review
What a wonderful year 2023 has been! The highlight of the year was attending and speaking at Chumpalooza 1.0! What a wonderful event that was. It was a delight meeting many of you all there and sharing my heart and expertise there. One take away from my time at Chumpalooza 1.o is the need for … Continue reading “Divorce Minister 2023 in Review”
At peace finally saying, “I did not cause my divorce.”
My ex-wife cheated on me and chose divorce over repenting from her sins. That is how my first marriage ended. I was looking at some old papers recently that chronicled my ecclesiastical trial and aftermath. One thing that stuck out to me was this assumption that “no one is completely innocent” in a divorce. Such … Continue reading “At peace finally saying, “I did not cause my divorce.””
Do you really need to stay connected on Social Media?
Do you really need to stay connected with them on Social Media? One of the important steps I took towards healing from my divorce was to disconnect my Social Media accounts from my ex-wife’s. It was a hard but necessary step. The temptation is to keep on looking at their posts, and that just leads … Continue reading “Do you really need to stay connected on Social Media?”
Symptom? Sure, of a wicked heart!
21 “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” -Mark 7:21-23, NIV A typical response from some folks about cheating is treating as a symptom of marriage problems. That … Continue reading “Symptom? Sure, of a wicked heart!”
Therapist missing the mark
Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. -Proverbs 20:11, KJV We, faithful spouses, have a tendency to put up with terrible “help.” I know I did. A Cheater could confess to an emotional affair with a therapist or pastor present, and then we would … Continue reading “Therapist missing the mark”
Revisiting memories and “The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill Church” Podcast
Recently, Mrs. DM has been listening to the podcast “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Church.“ This podcast was created by Mike Cosper of Christianity Today in 2021. It chronicles the story of Mars Hill Church of Seattle and its demise. In particular, the podcast focuses on the main figure of that story–namely, Mark … Continue reading “Revisiting memories and “The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill Church” Podcast”
“Agreed, you didn’t file the papers.”
“Agreed, you didn’t file the [divorce] papers.” -Church Official After I had successfully defended my ministerial license with my now former denomination, I was forced to undergo a year of pastoral “care.” The official in charge of this year–knowing the awful details of my divorce–made a version of the above statement. If you did not … Continue reading ““Agreed, you didn’t file the papers.””
Gift of the new thing.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. -Isaiah 43:19, NIV A little over a decade ago, I was fresh off my divorce. That year I decided to go to a conference in Kansas … Continue reading “Gift of the new thing.”
Divorce: A choice of a righteous man!
NIV1984 Righteous. This is the word used in the same sentence about a man choosing divorce in light of (assumed) adultery. The Bible has forever associated the word righteous with the choice to divorce. It is part of the Christmas story! God does not shame Joseph in this passage for deciding to divorce a pregnant … Continue reading “Divorce: A choice of a righteous man!”