A Tribute to My Wife, Elizabeth

Today, February 23, is the third anniversary of my marriage to my wife, Elizabeth. It would only be fitting to publicly affirm and praise her. Like all living followers of Jesus Christ, she has much remaining sin. However, God’s saving and transforming grace is surely evident with her. And I am confident that the Spirit of God will continue to change her more into the image of Christ through the rest of her days in this life.

Here is simply a sampling of the things that I find immensely desirable about her (in no particular order):

• Elizabeth strongly embraces the sovereignty of God in all of life, including the salvation of sinners. This can, by no means, be underestimated. It is so essential to a strong and enduring marriage. My wife, Elizabeth, is one of the very few men and women who are humble enough to adhere to this precious reality. I am so thankful to God!
• Elizabeth is so diligent in the so-called, “spiritual disciplines.” She is disciplined enough to get up before 6:00 am on the weekdays to read the Word of God and to pray. (I am sure she looks at Facebook, too!). I am so thankful to God that He inclines her to nourish her soul with His awesome Word. She doesn’t speak about it much, but she also memorizes lots of Scripture. God will certainly bless her profusely for such diligence.
• Elizabeth possesses intense love for her family. She surely honors her parents and has a healthy relationship with her siblings and their families. If needed, she would do whatever it would take to provide for them and to protect them physically and spiritually.
• Elizabeth deeply cares for the lost. I often see her anguish over those who are rejecting Christ and are on a path to hell. Her passion for the glory of God in the salvation of sinners is such an inspiration to me.
• Elizabeth exemplifies biblical submission to me, her husband. I can scarcely remember a time where she has challenged my leadership. In fact, when I fail in leading her, she often exhorts me to pursue the biblical mandate for a husband.
• Elizabeth is independent enough, by nature, and content enough in the Lord, by a supernatural work, that I am confident that she would be more than okay, if God caused me to die early in our marriage.
• Elizabeth is an absolutely gorgeous woman. Her face, smile, hair, skin, and other features J are so satisfying. Most men would envy me because of the beautiful woman that God has given to me.
• Elizabeth is such a hard-worker. Whether at work or at home, she represents Christ very well in her excellence and organization.
• Elizabeth is so frugal for the glory of Christ. Unlike many wives, I have complete trust in her in her handling of money. In fact, I occasionally have to prod her a little to indulge in various God-ordained pleasures.
• Elizabeth loves children. In this age where many women have abandoned God’s will for their femininity, Elizabeth joins many other Christ-following women through history in her delight and care for children, including the unborn. I have no doubts that she would be a fantastic mother.
• Elizabeth enjoys God’s spectacular creation. She puts me to shame with her energy in going on hikes, bike rides, or other activities in this dazzling world that God has made. At the same time, she always directs this wonder to the God behind all this beauty.
• Elizabeth is amazingly creative and romantic. Before we got married and during our marriage, Elizabeth has surprised me often with creative and thoughtful presents that have extremely touched me. I want to strive to just have a measure of her creativity, so that I can reciprocate all the satisfaction she has given me these last three plus years with her thoughtfulness. 
• Elizabeth shows much patience with me. Even though I disappoint her often, she is careful in voicing her disapproval. I am sure she is aware of God’s continual work in me. I am also certain that she earnestly prays for me that God will strengthen me to be a more obedient follower of Christ and to be a husband who leads, protects, and provides for her for her ultimate good and for the glory of Christ.
• Elizabeth demonstrates her genuine love for other believers in a variety of ways. For instance, she is deeply concerned about the welfare of a former boyfriend that she had a long and deeply emotional relationship with. While others might harbor irresistible bitterness in such a scenario, I see the love of Christ radiating through her.
• Elizabeth is constantly battling sin which blocks greater affection for Jesus Christ in all of life. She understands the gravity of sin and the terrifying prospect of the hardening of her heart if sin is left unchecked in her life.
• Elizabeth is not afraid to die. She knows that death is simply a gateway to paradise with Christ. She is not so attached to the things of this world, that she would hesitate to give it all up (including me) if it meant being in the literal presence of Jesus Christ.

Again, this is a sampling of the things that I commend Elizabeth to my readers. I could definitely list more. May the Spirit of God continue to powerfully work in Elizabeth as she passionately pursues Jesus Christ as her all-satisfying Treasure.

Happy 3^rd Anniversary My Luscious One!

The Theology of Pets

To have a thoroughly Christ-entranced worldview, nothing must be excluded from its sway. Everything must be filtered through the lens of coming from satisfaction in God, through the will of God, and for the eternal good of others and the ultimate glory of God. Is this difficult to accomplish? Absolutely yes! My remaining sin is so evident in regard to failing in possessing a thoroughly Christ-immersed worldview. Others believers in Christ fail constantly, too. One area that is often overlooked is the category of pets.

So, what would a theology of pets entail? First, there is no indication that pets are prohibited by God. There are indeed benefits from owning and caring for pets. For instance,

• Pets could provide some measure of companionship to those who are lonely, especially for the elderly.
• Pets can be useful for children in teaching them about responsibility of things outside of themselves.
• Pets can certainly serve pragmatic purposes such as dogs protecting people and property and cats controlling rodents.

However, as is the case with most things in our fallen world, there is a flip-side to owning pets. What are the downfalls? They would include,

·    Pets are often an escape route in the difficult world of relationships with fellow human beings. Most pets adore their masters and they never talk back. Nevertheless, this is utterly unrealistic in the real world. The real world is tough! We cannot use pets (or, for that matter other things, such as computers, video games, hobbies, leisure, etc) to seclude ourselves from others who are actually made in the image of God.

·    Pets can surely be a strain on a person’s financial resources and time. It is simply astronomical to see how much money people will spend on their pets. Just as I need to learn how not to waste my money for the glory of Christ, others need to do likewise with their pets. Also, the maintenance of pets should never impede on serving others. For example, if one cannot go out for the evening, invite others over to their home, or take an extended trip because of their pets, then they should rethink their priorities.

·    Pets can sometimes be a litmus test of how we literally love our neighbors. A follower of Christ should always look out for the interests of their neighbors above their own. Pets can often be an immense irritation to neighbors. To remedy this, if this means having no pets or curtailing the activities of their pets then, this must happen at all costs.

These are a few of my thoughts. Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with having pets. However, it deeply saddens me when people, especially Christ-followers, do not have a Christ-exalting worldview concerning their animals.

O Sovereign Lord, may you convict your children (myself, included) of lacking a worldview that is completely enthralled with you in all aspects of our daily lives.

Glorifying Jesus Through My Work

I have been pondering much lately about how to glorify Jesus Christ through my employment. This is indeed a huge issue! Our work simply cannot be a parenthesis in our daily life from the so-called really big issues on our lives (marriage, family, friends, ministry, church, leisure, etc.). This stems from the obvious conclusion from Scripture that God created us men to work. If God created us for His glory, and if He created us to work, then God intends to be glorified through our work. Any man who is able to work and is not working, then surely his masculinity should be rightly questioned.

Thus, how can I make Jesus Christ look great through my work? Here are a few of the ways that I am striving to accomplish this:

• I should be diligent in my work. In short, I must be a hard worker for the glory of Christ! A simple reading through the book of Proverbs makes this crystal clear. Anything short of hard-work is outright disobedience to God. Our hard work will do much in backing up our verbal witness about Jesus Christ.
• No matter whether my job is mind-consuming or not, I must be spiritually-minded throughout my work experience for the glory of Christ. Jesus Christ must be the centerpiece of my thoughts. To be sure, no one sees this but God and me. It is so easy to fall on the extremes of thinking entirely about my job or of unceasingly day-dreaming during the brain-dead portions of my job.
• My hard work is not enough. It might get the praise of superiors and it might get a raise, but to be really eternally helpful to others, I must speak the truth of God’s Word for the glory of Christ. Except for rare job scenarios, I should eagerly find appropriate opportunities to speak the truth of God to all the people I encounter through my work. There can be no excuses here.
• There are many ways to seek the good of others in our work for the glory of Christ. For instance, in a sales atmosphere, it can easily be a “dog eat dog” mentality among the employees. However, even in the midst of a competitive climate, I do not have to win at all costs, and I can genuinely rejoice when others succeed.
• My employment is meaningful and has the potential for great eternal reward. If I perceive my current employment to be a little thing, then I must be faithful in this little thing for the glory of Jesus Christ. This does not mean that I must stay at the same job indefinitely. It does mean, however, that I must trust God’s eternal purpose for my work here and now. God is in charge and He is definitely working out everything for my ultimate good.

O, Sovereign Lord, may you enable me to glorify you at my job by working hard, being spiritually-minded, speaking your truth, seeking the good of others, and trusting you during your appointed time for my job.