Marriage Needs a Vacation

This last week was spring break for me.  My wife and I took a trip to Fredericksburg, TX, in order to rest, relax, play, and shop.  Ok, the shopping part was not me, it was her, but hey, she deserved it.

Anyways, as we accomplished our week of relaxation, I learned that time away from home with our wives is important.  With all the stresses of seminary and ministry work, we need a time to recharge our marriages.  Spending time away from the computer, telephone, and books is a must, and I decided to put all those aside during our retreat.

The outcome was no less than the development of a closer relationship with my wife, as we took time to just talk without the distractions of school, work, or our busy schedules. As we walked through the quaint shops of Fredericksburg, we simply enjoyed each others company, something we all to often put aside at home in favor of the computer, television, or our favorite blog.

So men, my charge is to take your wife on vacation, just the two of you, lock away the computer, turn off the television, and talk to your wife.  Your marriage will be all the better for it.

What is the Gospel? An Introduction

The Gospel, or the good news of Jesus Christ, is a life changing message we must seek to understand because it is mankind’s only hope in this life and the next. Without the Gospel, mankind would be damned to eternal punishment, having no hope for salvation. And without the Gospel, mankind could not fulfill their purpose, namely, to exalt and glorify God.

It is only through the death of Jesus Christ that sinful men have access to God. Jesus’ blood redeems mankind, making them holy and repairing their relationship with God. No amount of work or religious activity can restore man’s relationship with God. It is only through the saving power of the Gospel.

Since the Gospel is the only means for salvation and a restored relationship with God, it is important that we understand the content of this message and how we might obtain Jesus Christ’s salvation.

In the series that follows, I will discuss the Content of the Gospel, the Functional Centrality of the Gospel, and how the Gospel provides us with a right relationship with God.

photo © Daniel Steger for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-ShareAlike