21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in … Continue reading “Professing Christian Cheaters”
Divorce as Morally Injurous Event
While doing my year-long residency as a chaplain at a Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, I gained education on a relatively new area of research for professional chaplains and psychologists. Most people today are familiar with the acronym PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), but I would be surprised if many are aware of this accompanying concept–i.e. moral injury. Please … Continue reading “Divorce as Morally Injurous Event”
Worse than we suspected
One thing too many pastors get wrong about faithful spouses is how we are just “looking for a way out” when we divorce our cheater. That is NOT what is happening! There are far less painful ways to end a marriage than through infidelity discovery. Trust me. The reality is we–faithful spouses–probably undersold the mess. … Continue reading “Worse than we suspected”
God is very serious about adultery.
“If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death.” -Leviticus 20:10, NLT This verse says it all. It teaches us that God viewed adultery as a marriage ending sin. How so? God required the adulterous spouse to die in light of said … Continue reading “God is very serious about adultery.”
Cheaters and their precious image
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” -Matthew 23:27, NIV Few things are more hypocritical than committing adultery while maintaining one is a “good Christian.” … Continue reading “Cheaters and their precious image”
Yesterday would have been our 17th anniversary.
Seventeen years ago, yesterday, I married my cheater. I feel like I am a completely different person than that young man back then. It is odd viewing oneself with such a long time having passed. I do not feel so much grief as I used to on this date. It is mostly just another day … Continue reading “Yesterday would have been our 17th anniversary.”
Blaming Behavior of “Friends”
Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. -Psalm 64:2-4, NLT “She never did anything to you that you weren’t already doing in the marriage. … Continue reading “Blaming Behavior of “Friends””
Stay strong and do not repeat my mistake!
The Other Man was discovered. I wrote a letter to my (then) wife letting her know I would not tolerate her cheating anymore. She could either choose to work to prove to me that her cheating days were over, or she could expect me to terminate my relationship–friendship included–with her permanently. Obviously, she chose the … Continue reading “Stay strong and do not repeat my mistake!”
“Model Divorced” Expectations
“Yes, we are divorced. But we’re friends. I understand I made mistakes, too, in our marriage.” – “Model” Divorcee If you do get divorced, I sense this is what people–maybe Christians especially–want to hear. They want a nice narrative where they do not have to pick sides. Maybe some divorcees can become friends with each other after the … Continue reading ““Model Divorced” Expectations”
Choosing to not dwell on troubling thoughts
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -John 14:27, KJV “Let NOT your heart be troubled…” (Emphasis mine) This is a command from Jesus. A command that implies we have a … Continue reading “Choosing to not dwell on troubling thoughts”