One Date Changed Everything – The Bedroom
The lavender fog had followed us into the bedroom. I hadn’t been here since I filled a duffle bag with clothes and moved out. The unnatural tragedy of that day still [...]
Archive
An Evolution of Consent – Rape Victim and Predator
Consent is part of public discourse now. I have known what it is to be a victim. Recently, though, I've realized that I have also been a sexual predator. [...]
Navigating a Nation with Abortion
I’m **talking about politics** as much as religion in this series. At least on the surface. Feel free to move along to something more innocuous (like [dwarf [...]
How to Tie a Slip Knot
In the bedroom (and in the rest of the world), one of the most useful knots to know is the slip knot. It's extremely easy to do — in fact, it's so simple it's the only one I remember from my scouting days — and is highly versatile. Some of our other How-To posts call for slip knots, so it might be helpful to know. [...]
Pomegranates, et. al. – Song of Songs 4:14-15
Song of Songs 4:14-15 KJV: Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; / Camphire, with spikenard, / Spokenard and saffron; / Calamus and cinnamon, with [...]
Elegant Integrity – a Complex Cosmos and an Infinite God
Realizing I live in a big, complex universe (and I serve an infinite God) challenged my black-and-white, linear, Evangelical thinking. [...]
Your Plants – Song of Songs 4:13
Song of Songs 4:13a KJV: Thy plants are an orchard NIV: Your plants are an orchard NASB: Your shoots are an orchard At a glance, by itself, this verse and the following one [...]
Healthy Truth #6 – A Healthy Goal
Truth #6 – Health is my most healthy goal. In a letter to his pupil, the apostle Paul offered some insight into the nature of health (1 Timothy 4:8, NIV): For physical [...]
Confronting Boundaries — Part 2
I take a systematic, methodical approach when confronting boundaries (or assessing any potential truth) because it produces reliable results. I've adapted John Wesley's quadrilateral to this task, since my personal boundaries are essentially doctrine or truth applied to me personally. [...]
Raya’s Dance – Analysis and Conclusion
This story depicts a culture drastically different from modern America and much of the Western world. It tells of a people with social stigmas and taboos that almost seem an [...]
Under the Needle – Tattoos in the Bible
It wasn’t that long ago when a man with tattoos would be shunned by society at large and likely barred from most churches. Today, getting ink done is far more widely [...]
Feeling Like a Creepy Old Man
I have a problem. You see, my wife has always been really sexy. Now, this might not sound like a problem to you, but hear me out. Throughout our relationship, I have been [...]
Honey and Thickets – Song of Songs 5:1
Song of Songs 5:1c KJV: I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; NIV: I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; NASB: I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; A fair amount of [...]
Touch 2.0 – Love Dialects
As you grow to consider your natural tendency to speak and understand one language over another, you can start to expand on the basic premise of language and begin to dissect dialects. Sure, she needs me to spend time with her, but what increases the quality? [...]
My Joseph Journey – The Brothers
Prior to my prison sentence, I was a part of a vibrant, healthy, biblical church. Vibrant leaders led our church who were well-trained in theology and focused on integrity [...]
Raisins and Flagons – Song of Songs 2:5
Song of Songs 2:5a KJV: Stay me with flagons… NIV: Strengthen me with raisins… NASB: Strengthen me with raisin cakes… Given the raisin-oriented [...]
Scripture on Masturbation
The dreaded “m” word. There are so many colloquial labels for the act. My personal favorite is used at my church’s men’s groups: “Taking matters [...]
Loving in a Nation of Presumers
I’m talking about politics as much as religion in this series. At least on the surface. Feel free to move along to something more innocuous (like dwarf bunnies) if you [...]
Making It Happen
The default pattern of shopping, for some reason, involves the man assuming the mantle of Pack Mule while the wife does her business. If you're not going to go that route, you've got to deliberately choose to do otherwise. The Husband experience has to be a mutual decision. That means: talking about it. [...]