The following subject comes up periodically, requiring me to give a biblical explanation. Therefore, for those who may not have done much study on it, let us consider the question of divorce and the pastorate.
My Story
I will never forget the phone call I got from a church in Rome, GA over 20 years ago. Someone on the other end of the line was part of a search committee looking for a new pastor. They had gotten my resume and were impressed enough to give me a call. Everything was going well until they asked a very pointed question, “Bro. Anthony, does your wife have a spouse that is still living?” With an undeniable tone of frustration, I replied, “Yes, ME.”
Unfortunately, this would not be the last time something like that happened.
What I encountered on the telephone that day was not unusual, nor unexpected, but it stung. You see, even though our (then) pastor told me marrying Valerie would “put the final nail in the coffin” of my ministry hopes, I chose to marry a woman who had been divorced – and there were consequences.
However,I was aware the scripture (1 Tim. 3:2) being used against me was lacking in exposition, and it was ultimately up to God whether or not I pastored a church. So, after much study, I felt peace that what I was doing was right (but it didn’t hurt when the late Dr. Spiros Zodhiatesgave us his approval).
But let me be clear about a few things…
First, I have never been divorced, so for me the whole argument of 1 Timothy 3:2 should be moot. Second, my wife was left with no choice but to divorce; furthermore, it happened before she was a believer. Third, my wife’s ex-husband remarried and divorced again before I even met her. By all accounts my wife was free to remarry, so both she and I were clear from any “adultery” issues.
Also, I am “the husband of one wife,” and Scripture NEVER said a bishop “must be the husband of one wife who was the wife of only one husband, ever.” Just a minor observation.
So, what DOES the Bible say?
1 Timothy 3:2 says, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...” Also, verse 12 says, “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife...” The difficulty with these verses is not what is being said, but how it is interpreted.
Is Paul telling Timothy that in order to be a pastor, deacon, or elder in a church, you must have only been married once? Could it even be possible that Paul is saying that a man of God MUST have a wife, because being single would disqualify one from ministry? These are things that have been debated for centuries.
Some believe that a pastor, deacon, or elder should have never been divorced (or married to a divorcee) . Others believe that in order to be a proper leader, one must be married. Still, many commentators believe that the proper rendering of the Greek is “one-woman man,” implying faithfulness and character over the number of wives.
In reality, what the Bible says is one thing, but as William D. Mounce put it, “The Greek gives us a range of possibilities, but our theology is going to determine our interpretation.”
I think there’s another way to look at it…
Take a look at 1 Timothy 3 and read through verse 12. The best I can figure is that there are between 16 and 17 qualifications for the bishop, and between 6 and 8 for the deacons. All of these are preceded with a literal or an implied “must be,” as in “must be blameless,” or a “must have.” How does this affect the argument that an elder “must have” only been married once, never remarried, or never divorced?
Think of any great man of God you know that has stood behind the pulpit and faithfully proclaimed the Word of God. Has he always been blameless? Has he always been on his best behavior? Did he ever get drunk, covet, lose his patience, or curse his wife or children in anger? Was he ever a novice, a beginner subject to pride? If so, then according to the logic of some, he should never be able to preach or lead in God’s church, for just as a man “must be the husband of one wife,” so he also must be “blameless, vigilant, sober, well-behaved, given to hospitality, patient, never greedy, and always in control of his house and children.”
Do you see it? If your interpretation leads you to believe that the bishop must have only had one wife – ever – then the same hermeneutic (the study of the principles of interpretation) should apply to the other “must be’s.”
“Must be the husband of one wife” = never divorced.
“Not a novice” = never been a beginner in the faith.
Doesn’t make sense, does it?
1 Timothy 3:1-12 is in the present infinitive tense (i.e., must be / dei einai). The requirements listed are ones that describe a man of character and faithfulness, of sobriety and gravitas; not a beginner or one untried and unproven. What I see is a list of requirements that may not have always been present in a man, but should be NOW, after God has done a verifiable work in his life. In other words, the Bible says a bishop “must be,” not “must have always been,” or “must have never done.”
Paul said, “and such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11
Here’s my point…
I believe that there are plenty who are sitting back or hiding out because someone has convinced them that they are used up and un-usable. For example, I can think of men right now who, for whatever reason, are divorced. Yet, these men, now Christians, are sold-out, God-fearing, faithful, Spirit-filled fathers and husbands with proven testimonies and unimpeachable character. Sadly, however, because of mistakes made when they were young, unsaved, and stupid, they cannot serve as deacons, much less as pastors.
On the other hand, I can think of several pastors today who were once murderers, drug dealers, fornicators, extortioners, and abusers of mankind (do I need to explain that last one?). Yet, only because they don’t have “divorced” to add to the list of past sins, they are accepted and given full authority as leaders in the church.
Sad.
It’s time the body of Christ re-examine this issue in the light of GRACE.
Folks, just in case you missed it, there’s another blog to which I contribute very regularly – Proverbial Thought.
Here is today’s entry… I hope it’s a blessing, especially if you are experiencing a storm in your life.
“As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.”
Comparison of Versions
To begin with, let us look at some other Bible versions. I think it would be interesting to see how this verse is treated.
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. – NLT
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. – NIV
When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. – ESV
Do you see the similarity? Do you understand the point being made? Storms will come to both the righteous and the wicked, but only one has a sure foundation.
Foundations
My favorite hymn is The Solid Rock. It is an old hymn that says, “My hope is built on nothing…
Let me begin by saying that the Charleston, S.C. coffee scene is ALIVE and WELL! Keep reading to discover why!
Vacation
I can’t tell you about the coffee in Charleston without first telling you about what got all this started. Last week we went to Charleston to see our oldest daughter and son-in-law (Alicia and Josh), and, of course, our first grand-baby, Emma Louise.
Emma Lou and Me (I don’t know why she looked worried)
We had a wonderful time staying with Alicia and Josh and Emma, but what made it great was that Emma puked on everyone else but me! YAY me!
We were there from Sunday night till Saturday afternoon, and I had plenty of time to read, study, and eat shrimp and grits. But during our visit I thought it would be great to spend some quality time with my youngest, Haley, who is also a coffee lover. Therefore, I came up with the idea to visit at least 10 (we ended up with around 14, I think) of the “best” coffee shops in the Charleston area.
Backstory… A few years ago a day came when I had to visit four (4) funerals in one day. Being the dutiful PK (preacher’s kid), Haley went along with me. So, in order to put the “fun” in funeral (sorry), we came up with a contest – which funeral home had the best coffee? So, now you know why this idea for a Coffee Crawl through Charleston didn’t seem that crazy.
The Plan
The plan was simple: Go visit at least 10 (ended up with 14) coffee shops in the Charleston area, primarily in the downtown area where they’d be closer together. One reason for keeping it close to the downtown area was the time involved: I wanted to do this quickly, hopefully in one day. The other reason was that I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on gas!
Since I only knew of one coffee shop in the area, the one where my son-in-law buys all his coffee, I did a quick Google search. From that I was able to pull a list of the most recommended establishments and their locations, and from that I developed an agenda.
Unfortunately, the best-laid plans are always subject to unplanned events. So, when 4 inches of rain fell in a few hours and the alternator on my car died (which Josh and I had to replace), the Charleston Coffee Crawl got spread out to a total, including the final visit to buy a bag of beans, of four days! In the video I made I only mention two days, but I wasn’t trying to mislead.
Below you will find a list (in order of our visit, not ranking) of every coffee shop, cafe, and roaster we visited, along with what we thought about each one. There will also be links to their websites and such in the reviews so that you can find out more about them and hopefully pay them a visit 🙂
1101 East Montague Avenue, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405
The Orange Spot was the first place we visited. If I had gotten the hang of things a little earlier, I would have done some video there, but I didn’t. Nevertheless, Haley and I really liked the little place. The atmosphere was inviting and casual (as most places are), and evidently a great place to hang out – we couldn’t even find a seat!
Jenny was the lady we spoke with, and she was the first to hear our idea for the coffee crawl. We asked for a sample of their regular coffee – the already-brewed kind – and she was happy to oblige. When we tasted it, I thought it had a hint of citrus and a slight acidity; Haley thought it was bitter. I did think it had a smooth finish, however. Jenny said that she likes it a little “zippy.”
The Orange Spot wasn’t exactly in downtown Charleston, but we decided to drive through North Charleston on the way from where we were staying with family.
Overall: Good coffee. If I lived in North Charleston, I’d definitely go back.
Mercantile and Mash is located in a “recently renovated cigar factory,” and it was our next stop on the crawl. We were nearly blown away by the merchandise of this mercantile, so it took a little longer than we planned as we strolled around. Unlike any of the other coffee shops, this place actually had a meat shop! I mean, they sold gourmet cuts of meats, not your average hamburger.
Not a dedicated coffee shop, Mercantile and Mash is also known for its adult beverages, specifically the kind with a little more kick than caffeine. However, even though coffee wasn’t the big seller, the folks behind the counter were happy to talk and offer advice.
They were the first to offer us samples of coffee in actual espresso cups, and that set a new standard for the rest of the crawl. And as for the coffee, I thought their basic black coffee was excellent. Haley said, “This is some of the best black coffee I’ve ever had!” It was light, low in acidity, but rich in flavor.
Overall: Great place. Great atmosphere. Lots and lots of seating with room for computers or books. LOTS of stuff besides coffee. Dustin served us, and he was originally from Tennessee 🙂
The Daily was a hoppin place! I’m talking busy! After getting our samples, along with a wonderfully-moist and tasty lemon cake-like-thing, I proclaimed that the basic coffee they gave us was the best-tasting coffee so far – and it ended up being my favorite of the whole trip. They offered a blend roasted by Springbok Coffee Roasters (affiliated with Kudu Coffee) called “Butcher and Bean.”
Interesting note: Come to find out, several of the coffee shops that didn’t roast their own coffee used Springbok Coffee Roasters beans or specialized blends (like the “Restoration Blend” made for the hotel in which The Rise coffee shop is located).
Overall: Wonderful place. Fast-paced initial atmosphere, but plenty of room to sit, chill, and sip a fantastic cup of coffee.
The rain really put a damper on our tour of Charleston, and as you can see in the video I’ve attached, many roads were actually closed! However, as we were driving out after leaving The Daily, a random turn led us right by Babas on Cannon. Here we thought we were done for the day, but the next thing we knew we were in unique coffee heaven.
Go to their website (linked above) and you will find that Babas is not your average coffee shop. As a matter of fact, the barista who helped us that day (I never got his name, but his photo is in the video) was the most hospitable, proud-of-what-they-offered kind of guy we met! Not only did he gleefully agree to give us samples of their regular coffee, he practically pleaded with us to let him make for us two other drinks to try! One was a tall, cold, shaken coffee that was as smooth as water; the other was a shaken, cold, foamy espresso that left Haley and I speechless – except for “wow.”
Overall: Totally unique. Great coffee and service. Very hospitable. Quaint.
The Rise was the only coffee shop that we visited that was attached to a hotel. By comparison, the Rise was small. It really didn’t offer too much by way of coffee options, options for food, or even merchandise to take home to the waiting family. No, The Rise was simply a place to get a good cup of coffee made with beans specially roasted by the Springbok folk.
As strange as it may sound, two things made our stop at The Rise memorable: the marble counter and the reading room. Well, I don’t know if the counter where we sat was actual marble, but it was certainly nice! But it was the suggestion from the barista to walk through a door into the library and reading lounge of The Restoration (a hotel) that made all the difference.
I’ll be honest, it was really funny when I stepped out of the men’s room at The Restoration and was met with “What did your bathroom look like? Was it nice?” Haley was totally impressed with the ladies’ restroom, so much so that she had to show it to me…and it was fancier than the men’s – just saying.
Overall: The Rise is a good place to pick up a cup of coffee as you’re passing through to see the sights, read a book in the library, or before you visit the swanky restrooms. Oh, and sitting at the white marble bar asking strangers what they think about it is fun, too 🙂
Second State Coffee was the first one of the coffee shops that we visited while walking around downtown Charleston. And let me just say that doing the walking tour of coffee bars is totally worth it. I mean, it’s not just the coffee that makes the walking worth it; it’s the sights you see along the way, especially the ones you miss while driving, that add to the experience.
My first impressions of Second State were that it was very friendly, cute, bright, and lively. Those might not be words you’d choose, but surely charming and inviting might be. I just loved the look of the old place from the outside, then fell more in love as soon as I opened the door.
Second State serves their own roasted coffee blends, and the day we visited they served us an Ethiopian blend that had a “sour” tang to it, was a little acidic, but needed no creamer, that’s for sure. Ethiopian blends are not my personal favorite, but this one was nice. Haley said it “wasn’t her favorite.”
Overall: This is the kind of place where college students and professors alike come to sit, compute on their MacBooks, and enjoy a good cup of coffee prepared by people who care about what they do. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
When I think of a “bar,” coffee is not the first thing that comes to mind. What comes to mind is either a smoky dive where unhappy people consume beverages meant to numb their pain, or the stereotypical “Cheers” place where everybody knows your name. City Lights Coffee had an atmosphere a lot like the latter.
I’m not joking when I say this, but “character” was the first word that came to mind when I walked into City Lights Coffee. And I’m not exaggerating when I say that the girl who served us seemed more like a sympathetic bartender than someone who works at a coffee bar. The next time you lose your job, or should your wife leave you for a millionaire, instead of getting drunk at some dive, pay a visit to City Lights – the coffee will do you good 🙂
Overall: I really liked this little place. Keep in mind, it’s not a place you drive to, park, and then go inside. There is literally NO parking; you have to walk to it. They served an Ethiopian roast that Haley actually liked.
I’m going to be totally honest with you on this one – you really need to visit Bitty & Beau’s, whether you like coffee, or not.
Bitty & Beau’s is not famous for its coffee, but for those who are employed to serve it to you. This company has three locations, but we, of course, went to the one in Charleston. However, at all three locations Bitty & Beau’s hires people who are intellectually challenged or were born with Down Syndrome. This, alone, will make your day. The coffee is just icing on the cake!
Overall: Honestly, the coffee was good, but had it been through-the-roof great I wouldn’t have noticed. The joy I received from watching people do their jobs with such enthusiasm and pride; being reminded as I stood in line that even though the world sees a disability, those with Down Syndrome are #notbroken; the visit alone made the coffee worth it.
Honesty is the best policy, right? Well, if so, I must tell you the truth about Caviar and Bananas: It’s NOT a coffee bar.
Maybe it was all about other things, but we were really looking forward to visiting this establishment. My son-in-law’s brother made a big deal of the place and told us we “had” to put it on our list. I mean, if “caviar” is in the name, why not? But it was not too long after we walked in that we were disappointed with the lack of “coffee shop” atmosphere. Oh, don’t get me wrong! The place was pretty nice and hip – it was like a scaled-down Whole Foods store meant for a college campus crowd, but it had little charm.
Here’s probably the biggest difference between Caviar and Bananas: the counter staff. Haley and I both felt no love from the people who served us – to them we were just another customer. Basically, the people that work there seem to do a good job, but they aren’t there because they’re passionate about coffee.
Overall: This is a great place to stop for a quick sandwich or salad, some pastries, a cold beer, a cup of coffee, and then get on about your day. It’s not a place to bring your laptop and sit while you enjoy an espresso.
If you want to visit a cute little coffee bar that pays homage to one particular extinct dinosaur, look no further than Tricera Coffee. As a matter of fact, all you have to do is walk out of Caviar and Bananas and turn right – it’s not even a stone’s throw away! Ironically, I asked a couple of ladies who were grabbing a bite to eat with their kids at Caviar and Bananas if they’d ever been to Tricera Coffee. Neither one had heard of the place, even though both had lived in the area for 3 years! Seriously?
Anyway, there is a whole triceratops theme going on at this place, and it’s pretty cute. As a matter of fact, if you want a good laugh, make sure you go to Tricera Coffee’s website and look at the pictures.
Overall: The coffee was acceptable, but not the best. Maybe it was just the roast they had that day. Haley thought it tasted like “mud.” I thought that was too harsh of a comparison. It might have not been my favorite coffee, but it was nice and had a sweet finish.
Kudu Coffee was the only coffee establishment that was recommended to us by at least four other coffee shops. Literally, at least three other baristas asked, “Have you been to Kudu’s, yet?” I mean, if the other coffee shops are telling you to go there, what else do you do?
Kudu Coffee and Springbok Roasters were both started by the same South Africans. Actually, the names Kudu and Springbok come from the names of South African animals – the long-horned antelope type. Therefore, there is a horn theme to some of their logos and decoration. When we found out about the animal names it all made sense.
On the day that we visited Kudu, we were treated with a creation by the local award-winning barista who made a pretty cappuccino for us (you can watch it in the video I made).
On a funny note: Right across the street from Kudu’s is the offices of an evangelical Lutheran church. I told Haley that I’d bet a dollar the staff of the church drinks more than coffee when they step over for meetings 😉
Overall: Some parking on the street. Plenty of sitting room inside, plus a beautiful and spacious coffee/beer garden outside. And since the other coffee shops recommended this place so much, it really doesn’t matter what I think the coffee tastes like, right?
Let me share with you the exact words I wrote in my notebook just seconds after walking through the doors of Broom Wagon, a coffee shop that wasn’t even on our initial list until it was also recommended by other coffee shop owners: “Pretty, lively, happy, fresh, upbeat music.”
Broom Wagon was not on our initial list, but it was recommended…and it was on the way back from downtown Charleston to the Ashley River area. So, even though we were running out of time that day, I convinced Haley we should stop. We were both glad we did.
John was the one who served us that day, and let me just say that he was full of energy, enthusiastic, and happy to share his knowledge about coffee with us newbies.
Overall: Like I implied earlier, this is a happy-feeling place with plenty of parking, easy access, and a super friendly, knowledgeable staff. Oh, and the coffee was great, too! The only place that served us nitrogen-infused coffee and took the time to explain it. I’d like to go back.
If there was an overall favorite with Haley, this was it. I can’t blame her. There was just something about this place that struck a chord with us, and maybe it’s because at Highfalutin Coffee Roasters the main thing is not pastries, ambiance, or craft beer – it’s the art of fine coffee. And we’re not talking about sugary, syrupy, froo-froo concoctions people who don’t like coffee drink in order to make believe they like coffee, either. This place just makes dang good coffee.
When we first walked up to the counter, Haley asked the owner and founder Adam Hunt the following question: “We’d just like to try a sample of your regular coffee.” Adam replied with: “There’s just one problem with what you’re asking. We don’t serve regular coffee; we serve exceptional coffee.”
So, what did he offer us? A small batch from Burundi that he’d imported in an effort to help encourage the quality of the coffee growers there. His description: “Sweet with big fruit acidity and creamy mouthfeel; chocolate, sugar cane, lavender and grapefruit flavors.” Dude, all I can say is that the man knows his stuff and is serious about coffee – and you can taste the difference.
Overall: One of the top 3 coffee shops in all of Charleston. Plenty of sitting area inside and out. Parking could be better, but oh well. The only place we went to where there was live music – and that was good, too!
2875 Ashley River Road, Suite 1, Charleston, SC 29414
This is the place where my son-in-law buys all his coffee. Literally, it’s only a mile or two down the road from his house, so that’s a contributing factor. However, like I told my youngest, no other coffee place smells as nice as this one when you walk in the door. Part of the reason could be the 20 or so bags of coffee sitting out in the open!
Charleston Coffee Exchange is certainly the place to go if you want to buy a good cup of coffee and take home with you a bag of coffee beans. The choices leave little to be desired.
Overall: Really good coffee by the cup. Not as personable as some of the other coffee bars, but still friendly. Plenty of parking and room to sit for a while. In a shopping area, so a little more fast-paced and less-likely to see more than one or two people chilling and chatting.
Conclusion
After all was said and done, even after visiting the most wonderful coffee shops around, the best part of the Charleston Coffee Crawl was spending time with my beautiful daughter, Haley Brianna.
Take the time to do something fun and inexpensive like this with someone you love, especially over a cup of good coffee 🙂
Some of you may be unaware of my photo blog, i4Daily.
Well, here’s an opportunity to check it out and subscribe to it.
I believe you’ll enjoy it almost as much as I like posting the photos – especially with my new iPhone, not the original i4 🙂
Today I found an old souvenir from Six Flags Over Georgia. Unfortunately, I’m a lot older and my eyesight wouldn’t allow me to view what was in the viewer.
So, I held the souvenir viewer up to the camera of my iPhone Xs.
Voila! My iPhone is now my EYE phone!
And guess what? Only when I viewed the photo I took with the iPhone did I see that the problem with my eyesight was that the magnifying lens wasn’t even attached… you can see it lying in front of the picture!
Do you consider yourself to be a good friend? What makes a good friend? More than that, what makes a real, true friend? I believe there is a difference.
A Good Friend
Good friends are the ones you have over to watch a ball game, but don’t worry if the house is messy. He’s the type of friend that you don’t mind bringing along to dinner with the family. She’s the one with whom you don’t mind sharing your gripes and complaints, like when your spouse ticks you off, or your co-worker make you jealous.
A good friend is one that remembers to invite you to a birthday party, a movie, or loans you a pick-up truck to move a piano (God bless’em). They’re the type of friends you get along with, even though you may have different tastes or opinions. You care about each other and say things like, “If you need anything, just let me know.”
Job had Good Friends
Job (as in the Bible, not to be confused with Steve) had some good friends. Really, they were not that bad. Just look at how they acted when they saw Job after the tragedies came about.
“And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” – Job 2:12-13 NKJV
Obviously, his friends cared enough about him to break down into tears at the sight of his brokenness. They were good enough friends to even tear their clothes, sit down with him on the ground, and weep with him for seven days. They even cared enough to keep silent seven days so Job could pour his heart out in grief. They were good friends.
Superficial Friends
If the friends of Job had only been the partying type, do you think they would have come to see him after hearing of his loss? No, if they had only been superficial friends, they would have stayed far away from Job and his problems. They would have said, “Oh, that’s so sad…we should send him a Hallmark card…Honey, where are my keys?…I’m going to be late to the gym.”
Religious Friends
Anyone who goes to church has these. Religious friends are the ones who always have a smile and a warm handshake, but never really want to hear about your life. These type of people give a bad name to church folk. Have you ever met any? If you have, you know. They ask, “How are you doing today?” Then, just as you start to give a response they say, “Great, great…love your heart…well, I’ll be praying for you, honey, don’t you worry.” Riiight.
User Friends
This is not a scientific assessment of friendship types, but sometimes I think most friends are only users. When you stop and think about it, how many friends would you have if you had nothing to offer? At least Job’s friends weren’t users. They came around when Job had nothing to offer but tears. They came to offer him something – if only judgmental advice.
True Friends
This may only be my definition, but I think it is a good one: A real, true friend is one who lets you cuss, spit, and even question God when times are tough. A real, true friend is one who will not only cry with you when you hurt, but stand there by your side as you kick the furniture, throw the dishes, slam the door, or even ask, “Why?!”
The truest test of real friendship is how he/she responds when you say things you may regret. This is where Job’s friends fell behind.
Job came to the point where he “cursed the day he was born,” and asked God, “What have I done to you? Why have you made me a target?” Job literally became suicidal and terribly depressed as he struggled with trying to understand the reason for his troubles. But instead of keeping quite, or simply saying, “It will be OK, Job,” his friends started accusing him of wrongdoing. They blamed him for the trouble he was enduring, even though they had no proof. All they could do was pour salt on his wounds.
When Job cussed and spit, these friends said things like, “How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a bunch of wind (Job 8:2)?” They called his painful rants “empty talk” and “vain words” which proved he deserved God’s judgment.
A real friend will let you expose your pain in ugly ways, with ugly words. Job’s friends should have understood that his words were spoken in grief. They should have understood that sometimes we say things we don’t mean when we are hurting, but need to say them, anyway. A real friend would have taken it, listened, and given only kind words of encouragement.
“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” – Job 6:14 NKJV
If you know someone who is going through a tough time, don’t be judgmental – just love them. Even if they say things that are wrong, even vulgar, let God be the Judge – you just love them.
Job had to answer to God for the things he said, but the only ones who incurred the wrath of God were Eliphaz and his cohorts (42:7). As I see it, God understood Job, but He found no excuse for the response of his self-righteous friends.
Don’t just be a good friend – be a real friend. You may wish you had one, someday.
It’s been 6 months since I posted a picture on my old i4 Daily blog. But now that I have a new phone/camera, I thought it would be fun to start anew…with something old (like my 1995 Ford).
This was a shocking piece I wrote for Proverbial Thought. As a father and a pastor, I’m just as concerned for the safety of my children in church as outside. Now, I raised girls, not boys, so we had different challenges. Nevertheless, because the Enemy is clever, we must be on guard for our children (and the children of others), no matter where we are – even in church.
“So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.”
One of the greatest myths is that all church-going girls are “good” girls. These verses are a good example. Not only has this woman been waiting in the dark for her prey, she is openly religious, and uses her surface piety to lure the fool. But let’s break down these verses one at a time.
“So she caught him, and kissed him..”
Look who is the aggressor; it’s not the man. Conventional wisdom (not godly wisdom) has taught us that men are always the aggressor and that women should be wary. However, there are plenty of young women, as young as middle school…
Life seems to be so hard. Nothing really seems to work out for you. You feel like you’re being pulled in different directions – so many different directions. You don’t know which we turn. You wonder if it really matters which way you turn. Is there a right way? Is there a good way – a way that is better than any other way? Some people will tell you not to bother yourself too much about all this. Have you ever heard the words, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” These are amazing words. As you read them , don’t you think that they must have been spoken by an amazing person – someone who was well and truly out of the ordinary? They were spoke by an amazing person – Jesus Christ. You can find these words in the Bible. They’re in the New Testament –…
Continuing from last time, let me conclude my thoughts on the difference between being God-centered and Christ-filled.
The Realization
When contemplated what I had asked of God (to make me characterized by a God-centered life), the mental picture of a wheel came to mind. It was the picture of a wheel with a center hub and spokes, much like a bicycle or wagon wheel. As I thought about this, however, something seemed wrong. Something seemed almost selfish.
You see, when you look at a wheel, especially the kind with spokes and a hub, it may not be obvious at first, but there are parts. In such a wheel I can distinguish the spokes from the hub, and the rim from the spokes. I can even see that there are spaces in between the spokes that are empty and not attatched or filled with anything – just empty. If God is supposed to be represented by the hub, the center of the wheel, then the wheel is not really all about the hub, but the wheel itself.
It’s about Jesus
The Apostle Paul told the Athenians (Acts 17:28) that in Jesus we “live, and move, and have our being.” In a letter to the Galatians he said “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). It would seem to me that Jesus should be more than our “hub.” He should be our “ALL.”
That is when I thought of a different picture. This time I imagined a solid circle – a disk. Unlike the other picture where God was the center of everything, yet separate, here was a picture of wholeness. In this picture, if my life is this type of wheel, people won’t notice anything about me, just Christ.
All of the spokes (my life, my dreams, my habits and hobbies, my talents, and my desires); the empty spaces (the areas of my life that seem irrelevant); and the rim (the total expanse of who I am – my identity, my sphere of influence); each part is now inseparable from the life and power of Christ who lives within me.
May they see Jesus
So, I no longer want to be characterized as a man with a God-centered life. I want to be a man characterized by the life of Christ. When people look at me, I don’t want them to say, “Hey, that guy really knows how to serve God,” or “Hey, that guy really loves the Lord.” Even though there is nothing wrong with those things, how much better would it be if they could say, “Hey, I met this guy… at first I thought he was that man they call Jesus.”
Remember, it was to the Church at Corinth that Paul said, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” There must have been some hearing this letter read who were deceived. Don’t be like them. Make sure your life is in Christ, and He is in you.
May your activities be “God-centered;” but your life “Christ-filled.” May the world see Jesus in you.
For Discussion:
Can you distinguish between a God-centered and a Christ-filled life? What characteristics would you expect to see?
Do you think someone could live a God-centered life and still be unsaved?
First, I have never been divorced, so for me the whole argument of 1 Timothy 3:2 should be moot. Second, my wife was left with no choice but to divorce; furthermore, it happened before she was a believer. Third, my wife’s ex-husband remarried and divorced again before I even met her. By all accounts my wife was free to remarry, so both she and I were clear from any “adultery” issues. 
1 Timothy 3:2 says, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...” Also, verse 12 says, “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife...” The difficulty with these verses is not what is being said, but how it is interpreted. 
Go to their website (linked above) and you will find that Babas is not your average coffee shop. As a matter of fact, the barista who helped us that day (I never got his name, but his photo is in the video) was the most hospitable, proud-of-what-they-offered kind of guy we met! Not only did he gleefully agree to give us samples of their regular coffee, he practically pleaded with us to let him make for us two other drinks to try! One was a tall, cold, shaken coffee that was as smooth as water; the other was a shaken, cold, foamy espresso that left Haley and I speechless – except for “wow.”
The Rise was the only coffee shop that we visited that was attached to a hotel. By comparison, the Rise was small. It really didn’t offer too much by way of coffee options, options for food, or even merchandise to take home to the waiting family. No, The Rise was simply a place to get a good cup of coffee made with beans specially roasted by the Springbok folk.
Second State Coffee was the first one of the coffee shops that we visited while walking around downtown Charleston. And let me just say that doing the walking tour of coffee bars is totally worth it. I mean, it’s not just the coffee that makes the walking worth it; it’s the sights you see along the way, especially the ones you miss while driving, that add to the experience.
When I think of a “bar,” coffee is not the first thing that comes to mind. What comes to mind is either a smoky dive where unhappy people consume beverages meant to numb their pain, or the stereotypical “Cheers” place where everybody knows your name. City Lights Coffee had an atmosphere a lot like the latter.
If you want to visit a cute little coffee bar that pays homage to one particular extinct dinosaur, look no further than Tricera Coffee. As a matter of fact, all you have to do is walk out of Caviar and Bananas and turn right – it’s not even a stone’s throw away! Ironically, I asked a couple of ladies who were grabbing a bite to eat with their kids at Caviar and Bananas if they’d ever been to Tricera Coffee. Neither one had heard of the place, even though both had lived in the area for 3 years! Seriously?
Let me share with you the exact words I wrote in my notebook just seconds after walking through the doors of Broom Wagon, a coffee shop that wasn’t even on our initial list until it was also recommended by other coffee shop owners: “Pretty, lively, happy, fresh, upbeat music.”
When we first walked up to the counter, Haley asked the owner and founder Adam Hunt the following question: “We’d just like to try a sample of your regular coffee.” Adam replied with: “There’s just one problem with what you’re asking. We don’t serve regular coffee; we serve exceptional coffee.”
This is the place where my son-in-law buys all his coffee. Literally, it’s only a mile or two down the road from his house, so that’s a contributing factor. However, like I told my youngest, no other coffee place smells as nice as this one when you walk in the door. Part of the reason could be the 20 or so bags of coffee sitting out in the open!
The Recovering Legalist 