The Western Carolina mountains are the coldest climate I have ever lived in full-time. As it snows a few inches today (to my more northern friends; try not to laugh), my attention is turned to something God has been trying to get through to me, which I admit I have been reluctant to embrace. I think I am willing to embrace the concept , but apparently not the practice of Sabbath. Rest. Slowing down. Being still. If I'm honest, I hate it. A couple of months ago we experienced a natural disaster here in the Carolina mountains when hurricane Helene devastated this region . Many people lost their lives and we experienced catastrophic damage to our basic infrastructure systems. Personally our home was not damaged, but we didn't have power, signal, internet, or clean water for a couple of weeks. And we were some of the fastest back on the grid. We had friends that didn't have clean water at their home for two months. During those days and nights we were forced to go to sleep when the sun went down, and realized the importance and necessity of clean water for survival when we would normally not think twice about having the luxury of turning on a faucet and having an endless supply of clean water, at temperatures that I can control no less. It was in this experience that I began to better detect my addiction to going , my aversion to slowing down . Sure, for a few days it was nice to slow down and live so much more simply. But after that wore off, I found myself being incredibly restless. Feeling bad about not being productive. Missing the opportunities to tune out and be entertained by a screen. Wondering how people lived in the past without high-speed internet. In this mountain climate that experiences a genuine winter (unlike where I grew up in Florida), the entirety of creation and the animal kingdom seem to slow down when the temperature drops and the hours of sunlight shorten. The bears around here hibernate, aquatic life slumber in the depths of the ponds and lakes, you rarely see birds fly around. Everything slows down ... But not me. Not us . We continue to flip the switches of our electricity that give us light during all hours of dark, we fuel our engines and travel far distances in relatively small amounts of time (except for those of you that deal with nightmarish metro traffic everyday of your lives - my heart breaks with yours). And we continually scroll on our screens ... searching ... for God only knows what. As the first snow falls here outside my house today, I am reminded of God's whispering call to me, "slow down ... be still. I am here." His call is bolstered by my own child's voice that recently ask, "Daddy, do you have to work every day?" Ouch. 🤦‍♂️ I know that not everyone will necessarily share this same struggle, but for those of us that do ... This winter may we learn from the created order around us and slow down . [ And not feel bad doing so ] Even with high-speed internet ...

In a world full of identity politics and a culture that wants us to define our identities by our feelings, here we look at Colossians 2-3 to see Jesus at the center of our identity, an ancient, yet poignant, vision of what new identities in Christ look like.

Is VR church a bad thing? What about having a microchip brain implant as a Christian? As Christians should we endorse gene editing in order to help eradicate disease, what about to give our children the eye color we prefer? “When you start editing the code of life, where do you stop? Are we soon going to create designer babies, with predetermined eye color, intelligence and physical traits? Should we alter the genome of mosquitoes in Africa so that they no longer carry the malaria virus?” ( Forbes, 3 Reasons To Believe The Singularity Is Near ) Where do we draw the lines as Christians with questions like these that are pressing in on us, whether we want them to or not? Whether we are ready to answer them or not. Technological advancement is developing at a rate that the average Christian’s theology can't keep up. We simply don’t know how to think about such things from a biblical worldview. Because of this Dr. Douglas Estes , associate professor of New Testament and practical theology at South University and regular contributor for Christianity Today , has written an incredibly accessible, and highly valuable work in his book “ Braving The Future, Christian Faith in a World of Limitless Tech ”. “Technology is changing around us at a blistering pace. We are entering an era in which human bodies merge with devices, corporations know everything about us, and artificial intelligence develops human and even godlike potential.” (from back cover) Written to help inform and equip the average Christian on how to think and best navigate in the technological sea that we all swim in while remaining faithful to Jesus’ call to be set apart and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey. The book is structured well with each of the eight chapters focusing on a particular type of technology paired with a modern sci-fi movie that highlights that particular piece of tech in order to help the reader contextualize the concepts (I’m a decent sci-fi fan and even I haven’t seen all the movies, but you can still readily see his connections). The book starts with the nearest technology such as virtual reality (something that is already here), ending with tech that is furthest away such as cybernetics (something that will likely still be far off in the distant human future). Estes book is a popular work written to address the transhumanism movement from a Christian perspective (for academic volumes on the subject see Transhumanism and the Image of God by Shatzer, and Modern Technology and the Human Future by Gay). And don’t worry if you have never heard of transhumanism (or sometimes referred to as H+ or techohumanism) … you aren’t alone … even my word processor doesn’t recognize the word yet. “Maybe you have never heard of any of these terms, but our culture has already exposed you to the ideas behind them, and you have surely felt the effects. Transhumanism is one of the main ingredients baked into the cake of Hollywood movies from X-men to Transcendence. It is a philosophy designed to help make sense of all the rapid tech change. Some thinkers anticipate it will be the biggest philosophical and cultural force in the twenty-first century.” (p. 25) And although you may have never heard of this worldview by name, its effects are indeed far reaching. “From Tylenol to dermal regenerators, from virtual reality to salt water pools, each new invention in our lives is an excuse for culture to whisper in our hearts, ‘You’ve got everything you need.’ Culture will also promote transhumanist ideas - those which bring with them a spirit of aseity. The idea behind transhumanism is more than simply for us to advance in our abilities to shape the world; the goal is to redefine what is means to be human. Transhumanism suggests that we are all that matters in our universe, and that we must evolve to the next phase of human existence so that we can be truly self-reliant.” (p. 47) This effect of transhumanism, that we ultimately have no need for God and can be completely self-reliant is in my opinion the greatest contribution of the book. Estes does a great job unpacking the humanistic and anti-God worldviews of much of what lies behind our understanding, and use, of technology and urges us as Christians to be thoughtful in our uses, and rejections, of technology in our daily lives. He encourages us to be thoughtfully engaged and critical in our consumption and absorption of technology (for another great resource on this topic, see my interview with Andy Crouch author of Tech Wise Family here ). Another vital contribution from Estes book is his call for Christians to remain (or become) “people of the book”. For the Christian to be able to brave a new world of limitless tech, it is going to demand of them unlike any generations before that they be better versed and equipped in understanding, interpreting, and applying the Scriptures. “In ages past, a casual reading of Scripture seemed enough to handle many situations. This is no longer the case. Instead the faster the world evolves, the harder it becomes to extrapolate biblical truths into daily situations. Therefore, in a world of limitless tech, the more precise our interpretation of the Bible must become and the more diligently we need to study its pages and its history. For all the work the church has done, it mist work harder if it will have any ability to speak into a future world.” (p. 132) One area that I think the book could have done a better job is perhaps connecting the dots a bit more clearly for folks that are not ‘tech savvy’, as I believe it might be all to easy for some demographics to write off this important book on such a critical topic as some unrealistic science fiction type of doomsday-er book, which of course it is not. From the young parent looking how to wisely raise their children in a technological environment that even they will quickly not recognize, to the savvy Christian millennial and Gen-z’er who is or will be working in the industry of science and technology, to the retiree who is making disciples of Jesus in relevant ways in a rapidly evolving technological culture, Dr. Estes book is a must read! #technology #transhumanism #bookreview #discipleship #review #tech

As I approach 40, I have watched far too many of my peers go through tragic affairs, divorce, and the separation and destruction of families that change the landscape of children's lives forever. Being a child of divorce myself, I am now reflecting on what I learned during my decade as a "born-again virgin". A "born-again virgin" is a popular term used to designate someone who, "after having engaged in sexual intercourse, makes some type of commitment not to be sexually active again until marriage (or some other defined point in the future or indefinitely), whether for religious, moral, practical, or other reasons." For almost a decade after living a sexually promiscuous lifestyle, I was sexually abstinent (though I struggle as a Christian with lust in its various forms), and for me the reason was religious (i.e. I became a Christian - Mat 5, Gal 5, Eph 5, 1 Cr 5). But I think what ended up as my abstinence from sex because I decided to follow Jesus, really didn't start out that way. I think it was initially catalyzed and spawned from frustration, emptiness, unfulfilled longing, and hollowness that worldly sexuality had turned out to be in the long run. My worldly sexual pursuits of pleasure originally began as a search for something more - a search for love, meaning, validation and acceptance. Of course I didn’t necessarily know that at the time, but inevitably this lead to a decade of chastity due to the greatest love, meaning, validation, and acceptance that can possibly be found; in the love and salvation of the Lordship of Jesus. So if my younger self asked me if my 10 years as a "born-again virgin" was worth it ... I would respond, " It literally could not have been more worth it". Although I lived a celibate sexual life for nearly a decade because of my discipleship to Jesus (that caused some who found my sexual abstinence hard to fathom to wonder about my sexual preference and orientation), it was still worth it. It was worth the ridicule, worth being misunderstood, and ultimately worth my own doubt and struggle as to whether I would ever find a spouse or ever have sex again ... Jesus was, and is, worth it. And if my younger self were to ask me now that I'm married and have children, if it has been easy and without challenges to heal from my broken sexual past, I would reply, "Absolutely not". I have struggled with guilt, shame, doubt, regret, and a whole host of other things due to my sexual sin (and many other types of sins as well). “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” (C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory) God teaches us (and my personal experience confirms this over and over again) that we are to reserve sex for a marital relationship between a man and a woman because it is such a deep, intimate, and spiritual union with another. This is not to be taken lightly, and when we take it too lightly it is to our own demise and detriment. God is not some cosmic traffic cop getting his jollies from making sure that we don't go too fast or run any red lights, trying to keep us from real sexual fulfillment, joy, satisfaction and pleasure. On the contrary, as the designer, creator, and author of sex and sexuality, He actually directs us to a live a life of obedience that leads to the greatest possible fulfillment, satisfaction, joy, and pleasure humanly possible! Even when it comes to sex . But the great paradox of this kingdom life in God is that freedom is found in restraint, pleasure in self-denial, and true life in cross-carrying death (Lk 9:23-26). #sex #sexuality #discipleship

So obviously in our digital age where information travels at the speed of light, this post about Kanye's album " Jesus Is King " that dropped a month ago, is perhaps more than just a bit fashionably late, "but I'm just glad that I made it". (I hope the Kenny G fans see what I did there) At the urging of some friends of mine (thank you) I finally listened to Kayne's new album and wrote this post. I honestly don't know if I was reluctant to listen due to time and priorities, or if I was just conflicted internally, but it seems like ever since Tim Tebow it has become increasingly fashionable to rep Jesus as a marquee athlete or entertainer in America. I have mixed emotions about this. It has the potential to rep Jesus on a massive scale which fires me up. But if these celebrities are not careful, it puts the name of Jesus on the very fragile scaffolding of their character and thus their ability to actually represent Jesus by obeying him over the long haul, which is crazy hard for anyone . And my fear is that with all the pressure of money (which there are so many biblical warnings about), the cultural spotlight, and isolation (so many don't have strong Christian community and mentors to walk with them, disciple them, and help them grow and mature), that they are prime targets for the enemy to try to destroy their faith, and thus their witness to Jesus the King. I can understand how the early brothers and sisters in the Jesus movement were skeptical of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:26), perhaps like some in the Christian community are skeptical of Kanye and his new found submission to the kingship of Jesus (an entire track is dedicated to this on the album), but I want to remind us in the Christian community that much like Saul, we never know how God is going to work in people's lives to bring himself glory (and besides, what does it matter? As long as Christ is preached - Phil 1:18). Indeed this is what God has done that in each of our lives, mine included, for "who am I to judge ... I'm as crooked as Vegas". Now after those disclaimers, a word about the album "Jesus Is King": Kanye, true to form, got my head bobbin so hard I thought my neck might break by minute 1 of the second track of the album ("Selah"). A beat so hard and so grimy drops over his lyrical weave of John's gospel proclamation of freedom that it transports me onto the ship Amistad ready to rise up in revolt as a melodic gospel choir harmonizes over my emotions ... "Hallelujah". Hallelujah and Amen. I can appreciate how real and vulnerable Kanye is on the album; honestly discussing his daddy issues (so many of us have those), how those in the Christian community are some of the biggest haters of him reppin' Jesus now (which unfortunately isn't that surprising), and his honest recognition that the devil use to have his soul. And most of all I applaud, am proud of, and encourage his honoring and lifting up of Jesus as the King. I also liked how he seems to break with industry tradition (I mean who raps about Jesus in the mainstream?) to execute what I perceive as greater artist freedom and genuineness (à la Andre 3000), which might not be exactly my cup of tea (what can I say ... just give me that boom-bap with my trunk rattling like cans in the back), but I can appreciate the freedom of expression and the obvious confidence Kanye has to make music he believes in, not just music that will make him money or fame (which of course is obviously much easier to do when you have plenty of both). All in all I thought the album has some great music and few great tracks in particular are killer. But most of all I want to champion people like Kanye from the sidelines through prayer and encouragement, that God will use them in powerful ways to bring himself glory, and like Paul, be ready to suffer for the name of Jesus. I pray for you Kanye, and all those on a cultural pedestal with a cultural megaphone, that you will trust and obey Jesus ... and that Jezebel really doesn't stand a chance ... CHICK-FIL-A! #hiphop #JesusIsKing #culture #review

In my context the eminent threat of the coronavirus (what the World Health Organization has deemed a world wide pandemic , and now President Trump has declared a national emergency for the United States) has caused a wide spectrum of reactions. Everything from the visceral hoarding and stockpiling of toilet paper and other goods (so the most vulnerable in our society are made even more so because those that have, decide they need to have more), to the lackadaisical, and even skeptical, attitude that perhaps the virus isn't even real but rather a hoax or conspiracy of some sort by the 'powers that be'. Yes the stock markets my plummet, yes 401(k)s might get depleted, yes people might act like idiots in the line at Walmart … and yes millions of people could die ... but our God is a sovereign God, who sovereignly rules over the nations and the course of human history. And he is a God of love and can be trusted. In the midst of wide spread anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and panic, those of us belonging to God's kingdom are called to be characterized by peace. A peace that transcends understanding or circumstances ... even viruses (Phil 4:4-6). This of course is not to make light in any way or ignore the reality of people's suffering, this is simply to draw our minds and hearts to an eternal kingdom (Heb 11:16). And in no way is this to say that we shouldn't all do our part to help stay healthy as individuals, and as a broader community and world. (For the best thing I have seen on this watch Dr. Finny Kuruvilla's brief presentation: Coronavirus: How we should be thinking and responding as Christians ). We should be shrewd and wise (Mat 10:16; Lk 16:8) as we seek to adhere to current medical and governmental agencies direction in how to best deal with the pandemic as a community. But in the midst of remaining wise and prudent, we are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). We are to choose faith over fear ... and when faced with our own mortality Jesus teaches us to not be afraid of things that can merely kill the body, but instead to fear the one that can kill both body and soul (Mat 10:28). “ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body. . . . Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:25–27 This is not the first time something like this has happened, and this not likely going to be the last time. C.S. Lewis offered his panicking culture words of wisdom during his era of nuclear threat. We must remember that this temporary life is not where we put our ultimate hope, and staying alive is not more important than living a life that pleases God. In a time like this it is imperative as Christians that we remember we are followers of the Prince of Peace, not doomsday preppers. So please Christians, let's not hoard goods and commodities, emptying the shelves of our local supermarkets and grocery stores, but instead let's look to be those that give to others and serve them while the world looks to survivalism and self-preservation. "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 As Christians we are called to love; to love our enemies and our neighbors as ourselves (Mat 5:44, 22:39), and to not treat people with prejudice and enmity, regardless of where they are from or what they look like. In this moment of crisis, we must rise above our culture and not allow ourselves (or any of our brothers or sisters) to mistreat or act in any unbecoming way towards those that are from China or look like they might be. May God have mercy for our self-righteousness and haughtiness (Ps 18:27, 101:5; Prov 6:16-19). "This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together . If we are all going to be destroyed by a [virus], let that [virus] when it comes find us doing sensible and human things ... not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about [viruses]. They may break our bodies but they need not dominate our minds." C.S. Lewis Further Resources : For the best thing I have seen on this watch Dr. Finny Kuruvilla's brief presentation: Coronavirus: How we should be thinking and responding as Christians For a great podcast on this see Dr. Douglas Jacoby's post: Coronavirus: A Christian Response Christianity Today's article: 7 Lessons from Singapore’s Churches for When the Coronavirus Reaches Yours Help from the American Psychological Association in dealing with anxiety about the virus Updates from the CDC #coronavirus #love #discipleship #culture #faith #fear

In this interview with John Eldredge of Ransomed Heart Ministries and author of Wild at Heart, we discuss what life is like in the midst of the pandemic and how we can use this as a gospel moment and be part of spiritual revival. PauseApp.com #coronavirus #culture #meditation

A discussion with pastor Scott Kirkpatrick from Columbia, SC and bible teacher Michael Burns from Minneapolis, MN about race relations and civil unrest and how to meet it as the church of Jesus Christ. #culture #race #diversity #protest #racism

What if Jesus meant every word he said? Dean Taylor is president of Sattler College in Boston and author of A Change of Allegiance , a book that chronicles his journey of faith to wrestle with the question, " what if Jesus meant every word he said ?" While a soldier in the United States Army, Dean wrestled with the idea of Christian nationalism as he and his wife sat in the bunks reading their Bible every night. They simply couldn't get past Jesus' abundantly clear teaching to love your enemy. What if Jesus really meant every word he said ... Referenced Just War Debate: "It's Just War" : https://youtu.be/K4xQaDDKY7k #interviews #nonviolence

I often hear a lot of different opinions on the meaning and importance of Christian dating. I rarely hear much about "courting". That seems like such an archaic word to me. But could one be more biblical than the other? Before we begin let me state that I understand that many people might think this is an argument of semantics and that these words can mean different things to different people, which is very true, but I would like to try to expose what is behind some of these words as best I can. I also recognize that strictly speaking dating and courtship are not biblical. They are modern culturally relevant means in which to pursue romance. But I believe our understanding of these things can be more or less rooted in biblical principles. Now, let's begin with a working definition of courtship. Courtship ordinarily begins when a single man approaches a single woman by going through the woman's father, and then conducts his relationship with a woman under the authority of her father, family, or church, whichever is most appropriate. Courtship always has marriage as it's direct goal. What then is dating? Dating (a working definition) is a more modern approach, again when either the man or the woman initiates a "more than friends" relationship with each other, and then they conduct that relationship outside of any oversight or authority. Dating may or or may not have marriage as its goal. So what are the differences between courtship and dating? I would like to propose three main differences: Differences in Motives: Dating tends to have one primary motive; self . What can this relationship do for me? How can I gain from this? Many times this is also seen through a sexualized lens, and often sexual criteria is used, overtly or subtly, when making decisions to either enter or continue a dating relationship. And while in the church (hopefully) the overtly sexualized component of decision making is removed when dating, these selfish lenses are often still prominent and even primary when Christians make decisions about how to involve themselves romantically. Not so when seeing romance through the lens of the Scriptures. Courtship (as I am using the term here) typically has one motive: to find a spouse to partner with to the glory of God. Courtship is the process in which two Christians will discern if this particular partnership is desirable and effective for God. This motive is not in view of romance in the world. Many times marriage is not a goal at all to romantic relationships in the world. If you don't see yourself being a happily (and spiritually) married man or woman within a year or so, you are probably not ready to date. The explicit motive and direction of Christian courtship (or dating if you want to call it that) is to pursue marriage in the Lord. Some practical advice to single Christians is; if you don't see yourself being a happily (and spiritually) married man or woman within a year or so, you are probably not ready to date. The truth is many times single Christians enter into exclusive dating relationships not because they are seriously pursuing marriage, but because they selfishly enjoy the feeling of having someone pay attention to them, or perhaps are simply afraid of the idea of being alone. These are not the right motives in the Lord. Differences in Mindsets: "How do I know if I have found the one?" This is often a question I hear, and one that most (if not all) young people spend much of their time and energy fretting over. But what is the unspoken ending to that question? ... " For me ." When asking the question "How do I know if I have found the one for me?" we considered things such as; Will this person make me happy? Will this relationship meet my needs? How do they look? What is the chemistry like? Is this person the best that I can do? etc. This type of thinking is a fundamentally selfish starting point when looking at love, romance, and dating, but we know from the Scriptures that Godly love is not primarily selfish (1 Cor 13:1-4). Have you ever found yourself in a relationship, or even contemplating a relationship, wondering if something better might come along just around the corner? This is not the mindset of Godly courtship. A worldly mindset asks, "how can I find the one for me?", while a Godly and biblical mindset asks, "how can I be the one for them?". Differences in Methods: This is where the rubber tends to meet the road. In modern worldly dating intimacy precedes commitment. From a biblical worldview, commitment precedes intimacy, for there is to be not even a hint of sexual immorality among God's people (c.f. Eph 5:3). According to the world, the best way to figure out if you are "compatible" with one another is to "kick the tires", which typically translates to "sexual compatibility" (as if there even was such a thing), God made sexual compatibility when he made them male and female (Gen 1:27), anything else beyond this is a worldly notion that always leads to disappointment. Believe it or not this thinking creeps into the church as well as I have heard of young couples who are pursuing marriage being counseled by older married Christians to "fool around" with each other sexually to make sure they are "compatible". Please, if you are having problems with your sexual intimacy in your marriage, please don't take it out on some young unmarried couple by telling them to sin. This is not only unscriptural, but in no uncertain terms it is from the evil one who wants to kill, steal, and destroy (c.f Jn 10:10). Let me dispel a myth at this point: sex is not as Hollywood wants us to think it is. This euphoric bliss of erotic and emotional passion that magically and mysteriously falls into place after the first kiss 23 minutes after meeting each other is a lie . A bold, emblazoned, charming, lie . Sex, like every other part of life and relationships takes work, mutual sacrifice, genuine compromise, and perseverance. The world thinks that when the sexual component of a relationship grows stale, then they must no longer really be in "love" and its time to move on to the next thing. I for one, am really glad that God does not treat me like that, for God is love (1 Jn 4:8). The worlds way (often found in the church as well) of figuring out if you want to be with a person is to act like you are married and see if you like it. Spend large amounts of time alone together. Become each other's primary emotional confidantes. Share your deepest secrets and desires. Get to know that person better than anyone else in your life. Grow your physical intimacy and intensity on the same track as your emotional intimacy. What you do and say together is private and is no one else's business, and since the relationship is private, you need not submit to anyone else's authority or be accountable. And if this pseudo-marriage works for both of you, then get married. But if one or both of you do not like how it is going, go ahead and break up, even if it means going through something like an emotional and probably physical divorce. In this self-centered process of dating we want as much information as possible to ensure that the "right" decision is being made. And if we enjoy a little physical or emotional comfort along the way, great. No one wants to marry "damaged goods" ... so don't damage them. That is not God's plan. God's plan is that young men would treat younger women as sisters with absolute purity (1 Tim 5:2) and that they would show leadership and willingness to bear the risk of rejection by defining the nature and the pace of the relationship. There should be no physical intimacy outside the context of marriage. I'm defining as "any physical intimacy" as that born out of an unrighteous, impure, or lustful motive - a good litmus test can be, "Would I feel comfortable doing this physical act with my mother or father?" The couple should seek accountability for the spiritual health and progress of the relationship, as well as for their physical and emotional intimacy. This includes the topics, manner, and frequency of conversation as well as the amounts of time spent with one another. Within this method both parties should seek to find out before God, whether they should be married and whether they can serve and honor God better together than apart. A man should not treat a woman like his wife who is not his wife, and a woman should not treat a man like her husband who is not her husband. Ask yourself, "Am I interacting with this person in a way that I would be happy for other men (or women) to interact with them"? If you do not end up married, you don't want that person to marry someone else having been emotionally and/or physically marred by you because of your selfishness ... we are all 'damaged goods' in one way or another, but let us not add to the damage. In Conclusion: Worldly "dating" is one that is primarily self-focused, while biblical "courtship" is primarily God and other-focused. Obviously you can see why God's methods are far less popular because it demands our humble submission and sacrifice, and yet, almost paradoxically, it is what yields the most loving, fulfilling, meaningful, and satisfying marriages and lives. *Excerpts taken from: Sex and the Supremacy of Christ by John Piper & Justin Taylor Further Reading: You & Me Forever - Francis & Lisa Chan The Meaning of Marriage - Timothy & Kathy Keller #singleness #culture #relationships #dating #spirituality