The Pregnant (Wo) Man

Wanting to have a child is neither a male nor female desire but a human desire.

-Thomas Beatie

You can read more here.

Some questions:

-Does this raise ethical questions?

-Do you agree with the above quote? Is context important?

-If science progresses to the point where "real" men (or women) can have their own babies, would that be acceptable? Why?

-If you change your sex, should marriage with one of your former sex be allowed legally? What about biblically?

*Bonus question: What if one had a sex change, converted to Christianity at some point afterwards and was already legally married, should they divorce? Is that union biblical?

Einstein: The Bible Is An Expression Of Human Weakness

Albert Einstein described belief in God as "childish superstition" and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to be sold in London this week, an auctioneer said Tuesday.

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.
"No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this," he wrote in the letter written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, cited by The Guardian newspaper.

And this from a man who has no regard for his own wife to boot!

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-Because you are an expert in one field, does that make you an expert in another?
-Do you agree with his assessment of the Jews? (FWIW I do. IMO Christ is the "seed" of Abraham and all blessings, and promises given to the "seed" has been bestowed to us, the Church, through Christ)
-Does this change your opinion of Einstein?
-Does the Bible an expression of human weakness as posed by Einstein? (I think it is, but not how Einstein saw it. It shows our need for something outside ourself that reconciles us to one who is most holy due to our unworthiness. This need is for perfection; perfection we cannot attain by our own merit. Christ did and was able to sustain His perfection and He imputed it to us! So, indeed, the weakness of man is laid bare in scripture and points us to a need for a savior: namely Jesus! Einstein was so close.)

The Benefit Of Understanding The Purpose Of Marriage

A Chinese couple who recently married has struggled with living together after marriage. Even their honeymoon was botched by arguments and fights. A little over a month since the marriage they got into another argument and decided it would be a good thing to drink some alcohol to take the edge off and calm down. Below is what happened next.

"At about 10 p.m., Luo watched her husband get into bed without cleaning or washing his feet. In a fit of anger and intoxication, she set fire to the sheet he was sleeping in," the report said.

"When he awoke, the two began fighting before a very drunk Wang collapsed. As fire engulfed the bedroom. Luo escaped to the living room, leaving her other half to burn," it added.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-What is the purpose of marriage?
-What do you think would have saved this man's life and marriage?
-Do you think a proper understanding of the purpose/intent of marriage is makes all the difference in the marriage relationship?
-What of religion? Does it play a role in marriage?
-Should this matter in marriage?

Luther on Love & Marriage

Justin Taylor wrote some on the views Martin Luther held concerning marriage and love and the impact those views (and actions) had on his culture and how it permeates even our own today.

Here is an excerpt:

...Luther wrote, "If I can manage it, before I die I will still marry my Katie to spite the devil." Perhaps not the most romantic line in history, but Luther was well on his way to turning in his membership card to the "Bachelor to the Rapture" Club!

Luther didn't believe in long engagements. In fact, he had one of the shortest engagements in history — he proposed to Katherine and they were married that very same day (June 13, 1523). Their marriage not only shocked their friends, but eventually led to the transformation of church and culture.

You can read the rest here.

Some questions:
-Given the mindset of Luther and of Katherine, do you think they would have married save for the providence of God?
-Is it a good thing to look outside of our current culture for wisdom on marriage and love? Do you find yourself gravitating towards the "latest and greatest" author on the subject when you read within the topic?
-What are some things you pulled from reading the article? Was it helpful?

Einstein: Good With Physics, Bad With Marriage

Challies wrote on a wedding he recently attended in which the pastor quoted the below during the wedding ceremony. I added it to the sidebar but thought it worth highlighting here.

With his marriage disintegrating and already participating in extra-marital affairs, Einstein made a last-ditch effort to keep his marriage somewhat intact, even if only for the sake of the children. This is the contract he sent to his wife:
A. You will make sure that my clothes and laundry are kept in good order; that I will receive my three meals regularly in my room; that my bedroom and study are kept neat, and especially that my desk is left for my use only.
B. You will renounce all personal relations with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons. Specifically, you will forego my sitting at home with you;
my going out of traveling with you.
C. You will obey the following points in your relations with me: you will not expect any intimacy from me, nor will you reproach me in any way; you will stop talking to me if I request it; you will leave my bedroom or study immediately without protest if I request it.
D. You will undertake not to belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behavior.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-What of this man who was a genius in some regards but resorted to a miserable disdain towards his wife?
-How does one keep from cultivating such disdain in one's heart?
-His wife eventually agreed to the contract; why do you think she agreed?
-How should a believing Christian handle such a contract if it is handed to them by their spouse?

State Sponsored Sex Camp

"Nashi", meaning "Ours" - is youth movement run by Vladimir Putin's Kremlin that has become a central part of Russian political life.
Nashi's annual camp, 200 miles outside Moscow, is attended by 10,000 uniformed youngsters and involves two weeks of lectures and physical fitness.
Attendance is monitored via compulsory electronic badges and anyone who misses three events is expelled. So are drinkers; alcohol is banned. But sex is encouraged, and condoms are nowhere on sale.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-According to the article, Russia is running these camps in an attempt to boost the low birth rates to make Russia strong. Do you think this is the "best" way to accomplish this goal?
-Would you procreate for the state?
-Mass weddings are conducted at these events, but apparently are not prerequisites for "furthering the nation". What are your thoughts on these mass weddings in light of your view of marriage?
-Will the child really help boost the nation if the child winds up in an orphanage or is adopted by longing American's?
-What are your thoughts on these "events"?

Loving Your Wife As Christ Loved The Church IV

4. Be the head.
Do not abdicate your authority. If she comes to you asking for your opinion or leadership, give it. Do not say, "I don't care" or "You decide". You are held responsible for the relationship and will have to give an account to God for how you led in the marriage. Take this very seriously. Your wife should be very comfortable coming to you for guidance and assuming you will make the decisions that need to be made. She should trust that you have gone to God, before the elders, before the church even to make your decision(s) if it warrants such a progression. You should also not neglect to include your wife's thoughts and opinions in your decision. You do have the final say though and if you are doing the other things well, your wife should have no problem submitting to your authority in this. Remember: if you cannot do it in faith, you do it in sin.

Links to the other three posts on this topic: 1, 2, & 3.

Loving Your Wife As Christ Loved The Church III

3. Do your chores (without being asked)
What is more, do some of her chores. This will play back into meeting her needs. If you take out the trash, mow the yard, do the dishes, make the bed, etc. for your wife's benefit (because we all know this is not something high on men's priority list) this will go a long way in her appreciation of you as her husband. You will also be fulfilling a need that she has- to be appreciated. If she has to remind you to pick up your socks daily and to rinse your plate and place it in the dishwasher instead of leaving it to dry in the sink, you will quickly find that she will build up bitterness towards you. Not that she is trying to or even conscience of it. It will make her think that you do not care enough to do these simple things that make her life and ministry to you simpler. The main point: Do whatever it takes to make her ministry to you and home upkeep easier. In the end, she will cherish you.

Links to the other three posts on this topic: 1, 2, & 4.

Loving Your Wife As Christ Loved The Church II

2. Listen.
Christ tells us to pray at all times about all things. In the same way, women have a need to tell us things. They want us to listen and to hear them. To feel what they feel. To experience their day with them (We would do well to pray in such a manner as that). She will want to come home and tell you a 50 minute summary of her day... you could do with a 2 minute version. Listen. Care. Interact. This will mean more to her than almost anything else you could do (save taking out the trash and washing the dishes). *Important: She does not always want you to fix the issue. Men tend to want to fix things while women don't always want a "fix". They just want someone to listen. Make sure you feel her out and know if she is asking for help or just a listening ear.

Some questions:
-Do you find this to be a tenet of your marriage?
-Do you agree with the point of the advice?
-What would you tell a young man about to enter marriage in regards to advice?

Links to the other three posts on this topic: 1, 3, & 4.

Loving Your Wife As Christ Loved The Church

I was recently asked by a young man who I have been working with this question: "What are some ways and practical things you do to love your wife as Christ loves the Church?"

I responded with 4 things for him to consider. I will post one a day.

1. Consider her needs above your own.
This is a hard one. We all want to be selfish and think our needs are more important or else we wouldn't have them. This is not true. Her needs are just as important as mine, but I don't always see it that way (read selfishness). This is where I must lower "self" and raise up my wife. You will find that meeting your wife's needs above your own will be a key component to happiness. Once you start being selfless, you will reap the benefits of a wife who truly wants to meet your needs in return. It is like a cyclical reward system in which you both benefit. You would do well to implement this no matter how hard it gets or how much you feel you are getting the shaft. I think we all have a tendency to think that we are doing what we should to meet the other's needs and they are not holding up to their end of the deal. I bet though if you were to ask your wife, she would say the same thing but with you being the culprit. Key point: Always consider her needs above those of your own.

I will post another tomorrow.

Some questions:
-Do you find this to be a tenet of your marriage?
-Do you agree with the point of the advice?
-What would you tell a young man about to enter marriage in regards to advice?

Links to the other three posts on this topic: 2, 3, & 4.