As a relatively new pastor, I have come to realize to a greater degree the pervasiveness of sin–the tight grip it has on the world and even its influence over Christians. Quickly, I am coming to recognize the essentiality of being skilled in biblical counseling. Sin, with all of its evil, continues to give rise to one of the most common subject matter for counseling–broken or damaged relationships. It sincerely breaks my heart as a pastor, and especially as a fellow-Christian, to see disunity among Christians. This is particularly and pronouncedly true when it comes to broken and damaged marriages.

Why are broken marriages so painful for me to observe? Honestly, it has to do with the fact that “Christians” have lost their fear of God. Consequently, when a man and woman exchange vows on their wedding day, the promise or covenant that that they make with each other, with God, and with the observing congregation becomes nothing more than a formality for many. When people make the decision to get a divorce, they act as functional atheists as they disregard this covenant and promise and spurn the authority of God. Neither is God the foundation of the relationship, nor does He prove to be the Lord or Master of the individuals involved in the relationship. Covenant and promise have sadly lost their significance in this functionally atheistic and pseudo-Christian church culture.

I have recently been encouraged by two videos–one, a conversation between pastors and theologians, and a second, a music video. In these videos, what is made central and foundational to a marriage relationship is not health, comfort, sex, money, romance, chemistry, or anything material or physical; it IS covenant and promise. Marriage relationships will always be wrought with difficulties and challenges, but as Andrew Peterson says, “That’s what the promise is for.” If marriage can be founded on this promise and covenant, then (and only then) will they be able to experience the true joy that the marriage relationship can bring as they seek to live out the Christ-church marital dynamic for the glory of God and their joy. For those of you who might be struggling with your marriage, don’t give up. And look to Christ who has given himself for us, instituting an unbreakable covenant with us in order to save us from our sin. Covenants and promises are not made to be broken. God will never break his. Neither should we.

People have often asked me if meeting and/or interacting with another American, or even another white person for that matter, is a positive occurrence. One would think, in light of the fact that I live alone in a village in which there have been stretches as long a month-and-a-half with no interaction with someone besides the resident Aukaaners, that I would jump at the chance to converse in my native tongue. The reality, I have learned, is quite the contrary.

There are typically what could be eloquently categorized as three “white people” groups you meet in the interior of Suriname. The more common two: Peace Corps volunteers and European Tourists from France or Holland, who are generally somewhat risky because of their perception of missionaries–which is unfortunately often negative and with Europeans, the whole language guessing game: not knowing exactly where they’re from, both of us being unsure if we might be proficient in the other’s language and to what degree they understand and speak English (which is, more often than not, pretty well). With the Peace Corps, it’s a real grab-bag. You might find a guy like a friend we have who is born-again, evangelistic, and down-to-earth, or you might get a liberal, pluralistic, feminist who sees you as someone destroying the beautiful and harmonious indigenous culture. [...]

Human rights. The general consensus among people in the world today is in support of the protection, advocacy and defense of human dignity. Principles nearly universally favored – aid to the poor, help for the sick and marginalized, and the just treatment for people of all races – prompt people to assist in a number of possible ways. Individuals, governments and organizations have programs for the amelioration of weaker, downtrodden groups. It’s rare to find anyone who would dare question or criticize another helping the disenfranchised. Such a person would invariably be considered calloused and selfish: a base character worthy of neither respect nor admiration. [...]

Have you ever wondered why God gives us wisdom to guide our living?  In this article, Whitney Clayton implores young people to walk with wisdom concerning sexual issues and to seek the well spring of all true wisdom, Jesus Christ himself. [...]

How do we know what the right thing to do is?  Is there a way to differentiate between right and wrong without a standard?  Speaking of the latter, when there is no standard for what is right and what is wrong morality then becomes relative to the mind, or eye, of the beholder.  Questions people ask when speaking of morality are:

• Is what is right for me concerning morality right for everybody?
• What about the tribe in South Africa who kill people for sport?  Are they right in doing so?
• Is murder in America okay to do?  If not, then why?
• Is the ‘law’ relative only to certain societies?
• What about other cultures who practice the abuse of women and discard baby girls in dumpsters?  Is that okay for their culture?
• Is murder in general wrong?
• Is homosexuality morally ethical?  If yes, why?  If no, why?
• Is there a difference between not obeying the speed limit and raping a young girl?
• Is sex, explored in relative ways, right for the individual partaking in it?

These are only a summary of questions one might ask when thinking through the topic of morality: what is right and what is wrong?  We must ask, “how do we know this?”

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