Life Learning Series

Please consider the matter of lifestyle sacrifice, as you read the following Scripture:

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

(Philippians 3:7-15)

Maybe, it would be helpful if you fixed the mark in your mind, in this exercise, too; however, as pertains to marital unions of male and female, the mark is more on the natural level.  We say that, because; we think that, after rounding the bases of pursuit of one another . . .

– Explore How Do You Know: Part Seven –

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Almost always, there is an intervening period during which the LORD clears away, so called, skeletons of the past.  Actually, it may be more appropriate to speak of it as being, a time for uncovering skeletons.  These may be as easily remedied as this:  the “toilet seat up, or down” issue.  It may be as complex as:  that, there is already a child (or more) on one side of the relationship.  Please think of this word, child, in its broadest sense.  For instance; a man who just must wash and wax the car by hand, has a “child”.

Generally, the thing that must be reconciled is of a sort that, it occupies the highest level of influence over your life.  Of course, this is exclusive of the LORD God, and excludes Him from ever being displaced from the Penthouse Level of your existence.  Let us explore that, for a moment.

The Penthouse Level of your existence is the place which is totally under the control of the LORD God.  In history, there has only been one time when the LORD authorized anything else to enter this area; and, it is this one . . .

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

(Revelation 3:19-21)

Other than allowing the Son of God into the highest area, we must exclude everything else from entering that space.   Moreover, even the Son is subject to the entry rules that are applied on us, by the LORD God, the Father.  In a portion of the writing of the apostle Paul, he describes this interaction between the Father God and the Son God.

– Explore How Do You Know: Part Six –

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Relationship planning begins when there is an independent intercessor for the relationship.  Ideally, this is the same intercessor that is in the life of both, the man and the woman.  In this thought, I am reminded of the components of an arbitration intercessor.  In the case of arbitration, there is one party that is chosen by two sides of the arbitration, together, and there is one party, each, which is selected by the individual parties to the arbitration.  I think that this leads us to the following intercessor for both:  their pastor or other religious figure that accepts responsibility for both of them, as pertains to analyzing romantic potential and readiness.  This leaves the individual selection.  This is the best place to start that selective process.

Ask, and it shall be given you;

. . .

(Matthew 7:7a)

On each side of the relationship, there is some person that has taken responsibility for the psychological and sociological well-being of the ones who are courting.  Ideally, for each one, this will be their parents.  In this outreach, the parent is not limited by biology; rather, the parent is linked by a strong feeling of trust.

Prior to serious courtship, it would be wise to allow the intercessor-parents to meet privately, with one another, to match the expectation of the man and the woman.  Ideally, the answer of the intercessor, as to the advisability of proceeding toward romantic discovery, will be yes–within interpretation of intention.  It must be assumed that you have discovered one another by passing through the procedure that was outlined by Jesus Christ . . .

. . .

seek, and ye shall find

. . .

(Matthew 7:7b)

On the human side, the interpretation may be as simple as saying, “You’re both adults; you decide.”  It may also be as complex as saying, “Your religious beliefs are such that you cannot perform joined worship.”  This is much like the statement of a physician, telling you of blood type issues that will adversely affect the ability to have children.

– Explore How Do You Know: Part Five –

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Many a man has the notion that; if a woman just looks back at him, he has already made it to first base.  So, let us switch the focus to the man that was already on first base when the woman first started running there.  If they are to be on the same team, it should be obvious that he cannot stay on first base, or he will be out, as according to the rules of a certain sport of man.  Therefore, the man must run ahead, toward second base.

As the man moves in the direction of direction base, there are these two things that he must consider:

What he wants from her, only

What he wants her to want from him, only

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[What he wants from her, only]

I think that every man should ask God for a visible setback that is seen by the one toward whom he has affection.  In other words, there should be a problem that arises in his life; such that, it will, if it is not resolved or accepted, affect his future romantic potential.  Then, the man will have a chance to experience what he really wants from his love interest.  Then, the man will see if she will stand in the gap of turmoil that sits between periods of calm.  For instance, Jacob was in this romantic calm, before a gap of turmoil . . .

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

(Genesis 29:26-27)

At that time; as relating to the younger daughter, Jacob did not do anything physically romantic, such as, kissing–this was not allowed.  Even so, Jacob had romance in his mind, and it was enough to take him through the time of separation.  There was though, one thing missing:  Jacob needed to know that the younger daughter, Rachel, would stand by him in the rough times.  The knowledge came, in that; Jacob received a commitment from the girl’s father.

– Explore How Do You Know: Part Four –

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Faith is now firmly in the equation.  Moreover; since we have not received the desire of our heart, hope is still laying in the spirit.  At this time, though; there is a possible concern about whether hope is alive.  And, even if we accept that hope is alive, in reality; is it (she or he) just teasing us?  We are in this land . . .

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life

(Proverbs 13:9-12)

Though we may want to have things be different; still, we cannot, yet, project our joining-love at the other person.  That is to say; at this time, we cannot fall in love with them–for, it may be that there is no, them, to share in the love, along with us . . . yet . . . as pertains to falling.  However, there is a means of practicing, being in love with them:  because, there is already Someone in Love, with Whom we can fall.

– Explore How Do You Know: Part Three –

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When we look at that special other one, a certain biological reaction will occur.  In this tournament, it might be nice if we were able to bypass swing one in the desire to hit a homerun with our approach to marriage.  It would be just perfect, if we could skip forward, to the time when human expectation stops, and the Spirit’s control begins; but, this will not happen.  This is not how that arena was set up:  we will have to consider the pressure of being in this location in reality, which seems to be fashioned to push us toward this place of yearning, as mixed with a little contradiction.

But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

(1 Corinthians 7:36-40)

Wouldn’t it be nice, if the LORD would repeat this time, here . . .?

– Explore How Do You Know: Part Two –

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Mankind is a paradoxical creation; in that, mankind wants to know things, and, yet, knowledge must be based on a certain thing that cannot be known.  The thing that cannot be known is this:  reliability.  In the scientific community, for instance; there are things known as, the Laws of Thermodynamics.  These have been accepted as being somewhat immutable.  However, let me place a theory beside those Laws.  Let us add the theory of evolution to the Laws of Thermodynamics.  When we make this combination, then we have a thing that can change.  The thing that we cannot totally rely on is that the Laws of Thermodynamics are not evolving.  So, if these Laws are evolving, then we have no hope of knowing how to approach reliance on a long-term relationship with nature.

Think about this:  what if adhesiveness decides to evolve and, concreteness follows suit.  Then, we would not know that a building that has been constructed will always have the kind of adhesiveness that keeps the joints glued together.  Moreover, we will not know that the bricks will retain their solidity, and not become as mud, again.  The reason that this would become a problem is because; we would have no way of controlling the evolution of these accepted facts of our universe.  Indeed, there have been several science fiction writers that have presented views of what might happen when our, assumed to be solid, proofs of the universe do not apply.  Nonetheless; in spite of that potential fluidity of science, we must do something; mustn’t we?

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Previously, we introduced that, exercise in logic, because that is the same type of analysis that must be done when we are approaching a lasting love relationship.  In this analysis, we are speaking of the relationship that precedes marriage.  In this analysis, the assumed facts that come from this relationship are what form the basis for imagining that there will be a lasting marriage.  As an additional benefit of the analysis, we may build on our knowledge of why we see so much time spent, in the Bible, trying to establish the dimensions of a pre-marriage commitment.  As I think about this, I am reminded of this; one of the longest courtships of record, in the Bible.

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.  Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:  Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.

(Numbers 14:26-32)

No, we are not saying that, this is the longest courtship, ever.  Among mankind, I can believe that, there have been longer courtships.  Also, I am not saying that this is the only somewhat lopsided courtship, ever.  Among mankind, there are some men who have devoted their life to a much younger girl child, and passed through the time required for her to mature, for her to be able to fully participate in the marriage relationship.  That is what the Man, the LORD, did for the child, the little ones of Israel.  It was a most unique motivation process, as joined with, necessary purification and excising of a certain cancer.

– Explore How Do You Know: Part One –

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