In addition to the books of the Bible, I am currently in the process of reading five books. I am reading one on the subject of connection to God, one on the theme of living well as a man / father / husband, one recounting the history of religious diversity in America, one telling the tale of a magic castle, and the story of Little Joe Otter and his adventures.
The mixture of fact, fiction, advice, adventure, critters, creeds, prayers, pups, knights, and kids pours into my brain and leads me to lands of exciting imagination and places of personal reflection. I enjoy the diversity of subject, focus, and intention as I read.
I also enjoy that diversity as I live my Ordinary Life. Among other things, I am . . .
a husband
a father
a pastor
a teacher
a friend
an Alaskan
Each day as I prepare for hours ahead, I do so without knowledge of much that day will bring -- even though I enjoy routine. I will face fact and fiction as I talk with people and, hopefully, we will agree on which is which. I will offer and be offered advice and, hopefully, good advice at that. When the chance for adventure comes my way, I will consider the opportunity and, perhaps, jump in. I will pray, play, read, and run; and I will connect with my kids, hug my wife, and laugh with my friends; and, hopefully, I will embrace the richness of it all.
When you choose the Ordinary Life, you choose to embrace and enjoy diversity. In that diversity, while you face both clarity and uncertainty, you see the beauty of God using all things to His glory. Check out Paul's reminder.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Not all things that happen are good or God's will, but all things are malleable in the strong hands of God. He will work through and in them to strengthen you.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)
As you read and as you live, go enjoy the mixture.
It is referred to by many names:
The Book
The Good Book
The Word
God's Word
The Holy Text
Scriptures
The Bible
The Holy Bible
It comes in many versions:
NIV
KJV
NKJV
NASB
ESB
THE MESSAGE
RSV
NRSV
NLT
(just to name a few)
It comes in many forms:
Paperback
Hardback
Leather
Imitation leather
Olive wood cover
App
Kindle
Biblegateway.com
It has been translated as a whole into:
636 languages
Portions of it have been translated into an additional:
2587 languages
So many choices!
Rick Warren says that "the best translation is the one you read." Whether your collection of Bibles is vast or limited matters not. Whether you read the words or not matters much.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
Psalm 119:9 (NIV)
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Matthew 7:24 (NIV)
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Luke 11:28 (NIV)
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NIV)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
Call it by the name you prefer.
Pick up your preferred version,
bound in your favorite material,
and
Read.
Happy Reading!
In three days, just before "the kiss," I will pronounce a man and a woman "Husband and Wife." After pronouncing such, in short order, I will send the couple down the aisle with a blessing, namely "Go now, and the grace of God go with you both."
With those words, the newly proclaimed couple will join over 60 million ring-bearing couples in the United States. One hundred and twenty million people live their everyday ordinary lives as married adults.
I am one of those adults. I have been, so far, for nearly twenty-two years.
Healthy marriages certainly consist of generous gift giving, flower bouquet surprises, and exotic anniversary trips; but those things are the proverbial "icing on the cake." How about the cake? Since you asked, I'll share my not-so-secret recipe.
Mark's Recipe for an Ordinary Life Marriage
Ingredients:
One Man
One Woman
Attraction
Love
Commitment
Faithfulness
Forgiveness
Optional (and highly encouraged) Ingredients:
2 rings
Shared Interests
Moving out of Parents' Basement
$ Set Aside for Fun
Children
Instructions:
- Carefully choose a compatible man and woman and introduce them to each other.
- Continue to stir as the mixture of attraction and love thickens into a firm commitment.
- Engage the services of a pastor, priest, or willing and qualified friend to invite the couple to voice their commitment publicly. [Optional (highly encouraged): rings exchanged here.]
- Encourage the couple (in most cases, very little applied pressure is needed) to slowly and steadily increase the temperature (aka - turn up the heat). Warning: Results may vary. Any long-lasting results will fully appear in about nine months time.
- Invite the happy couple to set goals in regard to their life.
Suggested topics (along with words to say):
God "Serve Him."
Church "Choose, attend, and serve in one."
Debt "Avoid it."
Money "Save for the future." "Buy memories."
Conflict "Expect and deal with conflict."
Fun "Have it."
- Introduce the couple to passages from the Bible.
Genesis 1:27
Song of Songs
Ephesians 5:21-33 (Make sure they start in verse 21.)
- Remind the couple to pray for one another and encourage them to continually repeat steps 2 -6.
- Ask the man and woman to commit to faithfulness and forgiveness.
Other notes:
- If the first two ingredients begin to separate, introduce them to a trained recipe counselor.
- If the first two ingredients, when mixed, create a child or children, remind them to continue to nurture their connection as they care for their offspring.
- Remind the first two ingredients of Jesus' words in Mark 10:9 - "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
- Add spices as necessary and desired.
Happy Cooking!
