The Cross and Pen

In regard to the question in the title of this article, many men might be inclined to answer “she is,” and some women might reply “he is.” Such responses demonstrate the dominance of one person in the relationship and recessive nature of the other. While one person is typically dominant and the other recessive, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the dominant person is dominant all the time, or that the recessive person is recessive all the time. What I have found in my marriage is that while I tend to be dominant most of the time, there are many instances when my wife has been dominant. And when it comes to leadership and marriage, it may seem a bit strange to consider the idea that marriage needs leadership, but it does. Therefore, the question remains, who’s in charge? Often time marriage is regarded as a partnership not unlike a business relationship. Each partner is supposed to be equal, which is the desired end-state. However, marriage usually consists of a dominant personalit...

“Money, it’s a gas.” At least that’s how the song by Pink Floyd goes. Money is a gas too. It’s literally the golden ticket that unlocks seemingly locked doors. And who could forget the classic by the O’Jays, For the Love of Money ? We love our money, don’t we? Our society has been having a love affair with money for centuries. It’s an inherent part of our culture, which revolves around capitalism and the accumulation of wealth. More is better, or so we’re told. Let’s face it; we need money. Without it, we don’t eat, pay our bills, or have a place to live. Churches need it too. Pastors and church staff are compensated for their effort. The landscaping company has to be paid. No house of worship would be acceptable without a pristinely manicured lawn, right? We have to pay for new carpet in Fellowship Hall. Mission trips require funding. After all, making disciples of all nations doesn’t come cheap. It stands to reason Christians and churches need money. So what’s the problem with it? ...

Ah, sin! Without its existence the Bible would have a decidedly different message. In fact, there might not even be the need for a Bible other than to serve as a history of creation and man’s involvement in it. In a simple act of defiance, sin entered the world and man’s plight was changed forever. The harmonious relationship between man and his Creator had been irreparably marred. A savior was needed, someone who was without sin and who possessed the capability to restore the severed relationship. Sin’s grand entrance was not solitary. No, anchored securely on its arm was salvation. God’s plan was indeed perfect in that it provided a means for salvation before sin reared its ugly head. Thus, man was not resigned to eternal damnation by a single act of disobedience.             The Bible is replete with stories of sin and forgiveness. Amid the history and genealogies of the Old Testament lay the prophecies of the coming Messiah, ...

What does it mean to be successful? Well, that depends on who you ask, I suppose. In our modern society, success is often associated with wealth and status. As part of preparation for a men’s retreat with my church, I read How to be Rich by Andy Stanley. In it, he asserts that most people are rich. They just don’t know it. He goes on to posit one of the best ways to be rich is to be generous in giving. The overall theme of the book involves our appetites for wealth and possessions and how feeding them only makes us hungry for more. Stanley notes that even Christians can get caught up in the melee and soon lose focus. As Christians, we are commanded to be set apart from the world. Paul wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).             With the constant bomb...