NowTHINK!AboutIt

Avoiding Hackneyed...Making Sense

Divorce Help For Women

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Generally, people have no idea what a divorce involves.

They focus mostly on the “right and wrong” of getting a divorce and a large number opt to oppose the idea for any reason. It is generally not well accepted, especially in religious circles, so the practicalities of getting a divorce are usually ignored.

While some divorces can be avoided and we applaud couples who manage to stay together, not every marriage can be saved. And, if that is true then we should put as much time into helping people get through a divorce effectively as we do helping them to avoid it. Little, however, is offered in that regard.

Often friends, associates and even family continue to express regret over the breakup, after the fact, which only feeds the pain and does little to help the struggling party get on with life.

It is no wonder that divorce is one of the most traumatic experiences a person can go through. Not only are they dissolving one of the closest relationships in life, they are left hanging with very few understanding friends who are willing or able to meet their emotional needs or provide guidance. That is tantamount to losing support from every direction.

But that is where Tracy Scorzafava’s book comes in handy.

In DIVORCE 101: A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO DIVORCE Tracy provides emotional insight and practical support for those navigating a divorce and she is writing from experience. She’s been there and in her experience: [Read more…] about Divorce Help For Women

“The Final Summit” by Andy Andrews

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In The Final Summit Andy Andrews gives very clear and practical instructions for saving humanity one person at a time.

Although fictional, he draws lessons from the real-life experiences of many well-known leaders from the past. He even sprinkles in anecdotes from a few that aren’t so well known. Andy takes more of a “how-it-was-done” approach to solving life’s problems rather than just give us another missive on what modern experts say.

The book is practical, philosophical, theological, and historical.

The storyline focuses on a final summit at which the main character of the book, David Ponder, along with many great leaders from the past – all dead but in heaven – will confer in finding the two word answer to one significant question:

What should humanity do, individually and collectively, in order to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?

Obviously, the question assumes humanity has strayed from the path and they are close to doom. The answer provides practical advice for getting realigned.

There was one very interesting and practical tidbit that didn’t directly apply to the question but is useful nonetheless. Andy gleans insights from two leaders, Winston Churchill, and Abraham Lincoln, on how to handle depression. Very relevant for people today.

Philosophically the book explores ideas such as hope, wisdom, courage, self-discipline, and character all of which are obvious choices for the answer but none of which are exactly right. Although none are THE answer all of them are illustrated clearly in the discussion.

Andy plays a little with theology, humanizing the historical figures who attended the summit. Winston Churchill smokes his cigars, several attendees show signs of age and they freely express their anger and frustration. These touches are useful because it makes the story a bit more relateable to earthlings, the ones for whom the book was written. [Read more…] about “The Final Summit” by Andy Andrews

10 “Heaven Is For Real” Discussion Questions

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Heaven Is For Real Conversation Guide

Is The Gag Order
On Reports Of Heaven Absolute

There are several recently published books that focus on the reality of heaven. The books are based on actual visits by people who temporarily died and report the sights, sounds and feelings they experienced while there.

Though this topic catches the interest of many people it evokes very diverse responses.

Some people believe there is no heaven and view the books as nothing more than hopeful thinking. A few of these types, however, are open minded enough to read the books.

There are many who believe heaven is a reality but they don’t all agree on how to view these reports.

  • Some read the books with a sense of hope, asking no questions at all.
  • Some approach the issue skeptically, not allowing the possibility of a temporary visit to heaven or at least not allowing any reports about it afterward.

It is interesting that this second group are the ones who are the least thoughtful. They dismiss the reports out of hand “claiming” the Bible does not allow such things, assuming the devil is behind it all, attempting to deceive the faithful.

  • Others are fair enough to ask important questions and search the Scriptures to see if the reports match what the Bible actually says.

One book that has become popular is Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo. I’ve listed a few questions to help stimulate questions about his son’s (Colton) visit to heaven, but since then more has been added.

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The book became so popular the author decided to produce a DVD-Based Conversation Kit for families or small groups. It includes five sessions lasting 10 to 18 minutes each featuring Colton and his parents, Todd and Sonja, answering questions about heaven and their experiences.

To be honest, I think the videos are a bit preachy and often stray off topic. The questions asked aren’t always answered well but it does give you a glimpse of the people behind the story.

And the story is quite interesting.

Just under 4 years old when he visited heaven, Colton was quite a bit younger than most who report the same kind of experience. His book makes a great read and his experience, coupled with the Bible, makes a great study source and that is why I put a few discussion questions together specifically for this book. The questions are intended to explore:

  • Accusations undermining the validity of the experience.
  • Misunderstandings about Bible teaching on the subject.
  • Confusion around the differences between Colton’s experience and that of others.

Hopefully you will find the questions thought provoking regardless which category you fit in. And the DVD Kit will make the study personal. It brings the Burpos into your study group. [Read more…] about 10 “Heaven Is For Real” Discussion Questions

7 Ways God Spoke To Moses’ Mother, Jochebed

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God said nothing to Jochebed audibly, but He spoke.

God Uses The Mundane
To Produce The Miraculous

Mention the name “Jochebed” and most people give you a blank look. But refer to Moses’ Mother and the light comes on.

Everyone knows the story of Moses. He features prominently in Exodus through Deuteronomy and, in fact, wrote all four books. There is little question that he edited the Book of Genesis also – with God’s guidance, of course.

There is also little question that Jochebed should get a lot of credit for everything Moses did.

Of the many unusual things about the life of Moses, the one that is rarely mentioned is the fact that the Bible covers his complete bio from birth to death. Very few have that distinction: Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus to name a few. It is also interesting that the lives of these people are accompanied by miracles, at least at birth.

Unlike the others, however, Moses’ conception wasn’t miraculous. His survival immediately following birth was.

Pharaoh, the reigning monarch when Moses was born, decreed that all male born Israelites be sacrificed to the Nile. Not only did Moses survive that decree he was also protected in the safest possible place, the palace of Pharaoh.

It was a miracle, yes, but not in the normal sense of the word. This miracle required a large dose of human activity by someone with a lot of courage, tenacity and ingenuity.

Enter Jochebed, a little known figure otherwise, but one that will forever be associated with the miraculous survival of Moses. The question is, did God speak to this woman and if so, how?

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The story unfolds like this: [Read more…] about 7 Ways God Spoke To Moses’ Mother, Jochebed

Judgments On Divorce – 1 Corinthians 7

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In Defense Of Divorce: Why A Marriage Should Never Be Saved At The Expense Of A Life

A Proper Reading
Of The Bible
Encourages Good Sense

The Bible is often treated like a list of inflexible laws, meaning every statement is applied as if it is a hard fast rule, no variation allowed.

Those who take this approach use the remarks of Jesus to reinforce the idea:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19

A quick reading might give the impression that Jesus endorses the “rule book” approach but a few verses later He said things that would challenge this idea. He actually moved a few legal goal posts.

  • Not murdering someone is a good rule to follow but avoiding getting angry with them is even better, 5:21-22.
  • Not sleeping with a woman, other than your wife, is a good rule to follow but not entertaining the idea is even better, 5:27-28.
  • Not committing the sins to which you are vulnerable is noteworthy but avoiding the situations which tempt you to commit those sins is even better, 5:29-30.
  • Taking no more than an “eye’s” worth of penalty for an “eye’s” worth of offense is a good rule to follow but taking less is even better, 5:38-39.
  • Not taking revenge on your enemies is a good rule to follow but actively loving them is even better, 5:43-44.

Obviously, Jesus saw the law as restrictive not prescriptive. It was designed to limit the expression of our human tendencies and prevent us from going too far in our zeal for justice. And His remarks change our perspective entirely.

Not only should our lust for revenge be limited by the law it should be replaced by love and taking that approach helps us focus on being more like God. Jesus clearly made that point.

That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven, 5:45.

Loving your enemies instead of hating them is the God-like thing to do and one purpose of the law was to help us learn this approach. It was designed primarily to inhibit our natural responses to sinful tendencies and offenses. It provides boundaries not step by step instructions. The law is a guidebook not a rule book.* [Read more…] about Judgments On Divorce – 1 Corinthians 7