Pure Religion...

The greatest problem we face today in the philosophy of man is that man thinks he is innately good. That man in and of himself can determine what is good, loving, and true. The atheist claims that ALL religion is bad yet they are wrong. Man is bad and if man creates religion then it will be bad. Yet if God has created one true religion then it has to be good because God is good and in him there is no evil. James1:26 speaks of the man who “thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” James continues on with this by describing what is true religion.

As I was thinking about the view of humanity in our society and how we view man’s opinion as the ultimately reality of truth, I was reminded of how sexual immorality is being promoted by our society. The greatest place I see this is in how homosexuality is now being accepted and even pushed through various media. Last night the NBC Olympics coverage even had a segment on a diver who was apparently homosexual. It reminds me of the ever growing battle for the sanctity of the Church, the holiness of God’s people and the call for us to be separated from the world. As I searched for some deeper clarification on what “sexual immorality” is, I came upon Matthew Henry’s commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 where he says the following:

“Our bodies have been redeemed from deserved condemnation and hopeless slavery by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are to be clean, as vessels fitted for our Master's use. Being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of unspeakable value, the believer should consider himself as wholly the Lord's, by the strongest ties. May we make it our business, to the latest day and hour of our lives, to glorify God with our bodies, and with our spirits which are his.”

It ties in with James and his exhortation to “keep oneself unstained from the world”…this is part of the fulfillment of what James says that God views as pure religion. The other part is in regards to taking care of the widows and orphans. It seems like many people today like to focus on the part about taking care of widows and orphans but often neglecting the part regarding sanctification. I like how John Piper defines sanctification, "progressively becoming like Jesus. Gradually becoming like Jesus, or becoming holy. Becoming conformed to the image of Christ." So, as we are doers of the word and not hearers only, let us be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Let us look to the needs of the widows and the orphans...the least, the last, and the lost. But let us also keep in step with the Spirit so that we can progressively, gradually become more like Christ.

Chapter 3: Cold hands...but NO cold feet!

 

Chapter 3:  Cold hands…but no Cold Feet! (Mandi’s perspective)

A Little Park right on the water is cute and all, unless it is about 50 degrees and windy, then, it’s just another place you don’t go! 

Well, there we were, parked with no one around, and Jeremy says, “Let’s go for a walk!”  All the while, knowing, that I hate being cold, and it’s the last thing I want to do on a relaxing Friday adventure! 

Walking so close we could have been Siamese twins, and shaking because of the chill factor, it wasn’t long before Jeremy turns me into himself, pops the ring out and says “Will you marryyy-yyy meee??”  

“Yesss!” I chattered back as I know that my lips were at that point, purple! (Go Pirates, Arghhh!) 

“We’re engaged” hit the text messages, phone calls, and Facebook real quick, and before long we found ourselves in the midst of planning a wedding. 

“A wedding!!?!? AHH!!”  That one season of life where you get real close to your family, as you prepare to break away, and as scripture tells us, originating in Genesis, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” 

 We are thankful to our family, who along this whole journey has supported us %100 percent in our ventures, jobs, decisions, and failures. 

They have lavished us with unconditional love just as our Heavenly Father does.  Our family to this day continues to be the ones we can trust, depend on, and always call for help.

Dad, I guess I STILL do that everyday, don’t I?!  Thank you for always teaching me by example how to do for others, sacrificing whatever it takes to “fix” whatever is broken. 

Moma, I do the same to you too, but my greatest joy comes from our conversations about the Lord we have now more than ever!  What a blessing and joy to be able to truly have this foundation in our lives. 

Bob and Tandy, thank you for letting me spend the rest of my life here on earth with your humble, God fearing, loving, compassionate, goofy son!

We are thankful for our friends, who walked through these days with us as an intimate support system, praying for us and giving wisdom as the first day to the rest of our lives drew near. 

Jenny, I am thankful for you, as my sister in Christ.  Over the years you have been that woman in my life who will ask me (and I to you) point blank, “How’s your heart?” and ready to discuss for hours sometimes truth; transparent, ugly, beautiful, truth. 

A woman who for 31 days before my wedding prayed through Proverbs 31 with me, as God help me understand it was only the Holy Spirit and his work within me that would teach me to be the godly submissive wife to Jeremy.  

May 2011 provided an opportunity for Jeremy and I to have our first experience together in the DR.  A trip of Jeremy coming to see and meet what I can call a second home, and second family to say the least.  These days were special, and as we prepared to go and serve together there it was over a time of prayer with His family, that the Lord humbled us together, to love and serve those in desperate poverty. 

In the midst of job changes from a semi-professional baseball team, which the Lord used to open doors into scouting, equipment, and connections for the boys in the DR, to involvement into the organization familiarly know as The Salvation Army, I begin to see in full effect, how God’s grace was really being poured out over our lives.  How His sovereign and perfect will heals, protects, guides, and sanctifies us along the way. 

Captains, thanks for hiring me to be apart of the Mission of God, and living into the call of Jesus on our lives, in true sacrifice through your lives. “And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted…” Isaiah 58:10

September 2011 came and we found ourselves preparing for a New Family Store grand opening, and wedding on consecutive weekends.  A whirlwind to say the least, but surely one of the sweetest and most memorable time of our lives. 

Plans were set, pastor Marcos flown in, and the wedding party began their march down the aisle, towards the groom and preparing the way of the bride.  Vows were shared and we committed ourselves to our Savior, then to each other, a time of worship and adoration through communion, closing the celebration with a song that says it all to well, “So good, so soo good to me, Jesus!”

Game time at the reception included the wedding party dancing down together to Jock Jams! Jams, pump it up!!  Ohh how appropriate for the lineup at hand!  Ladies and gentleman, thank you all for sharing in this special day, the sacrifice made, and the joy it is to have you in our lives!  And to all who stayed to dance, bless you!

We dance, to the cupid shuffle, of course.  We sang, we laughed, hugged, cried, almost forgot to sign our marriage license, then, well, let the “married games” begin!(wink, wink)

Our Story Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Full Speed Ahead! (Jeremy’s perspective)

After the “official” conversation had taken place, we embarked upon a journey over the next four months to engagement. I’m not so sure either of us imagined that we would be engaged on March 25, 2011 but that’s what happened.

Through those 4 months we grew to understand each other and spend time playing tennis, watching movies, going to church, having coffee, watching sports, and simply enjoying each other in conversation. We found our pasts were very different yet very much what has made us who we are and where we are in our relationship with Jesus. The greatest conversations centered on the grace we have experienced through God in giving His Son.

These four months were a wonderful time filled with getting to know each other and getting our families to meet! That was really exciting because we all come from different backgrounds and that always makes for a good time. We had our “first” Christmas and that just so happened to be the first time we told each other “I love you.” The next day we had 11 inches of snow on the ground!

Mandi left for the Dominican Republic and was there during New Year’s Day. It was one of her many trips that she had been on through the years and her last one without me! January and February sped by with us talking about marriage and ministry and being missionaries in another country…wanting to give up our comfortable lives to know God deeper and to take the Gospel to people who need to hear it.

During this time I was training for my first running race, which just happened to be a half marathon. I had gotten talked into it by my friend Ben from church and the date was set for March 20^th…5 days before our engagement. Mandi and our friend Moth supported me in the race but had trouble keeping up with me because I was chugging full speed during the race. Moth has been a great friend first to Mandi and now to us…she’s been a piece of our story as all good friends are.  ( I love my mothy! -Mandi)

Here I am, finishing my race and planning to pop the question soon after. Mandi and I love sunsets and that was one thing that we shared with each other through pictures and texts during those few months…so my plan was sunset at the beach. The only problem is that a storm came up and was going to be a miserable day on that Saturday so I had to improvise…Friday night was going to be the night! The plan was New Bern and the place was a little park right on the water.