Marriage

   Marriage is a subject I like to talk about.  Sadly, in my many years as a Christian, I have heard few sermons on the topic.  I have only read one good Christian book on dating, a rather obscure book I got for three dollars.  And getting down to brass tax, marriages seemed to have drastically dwindled in churches in the past two decades in my observation.  There seem to be fewer and fewer.  Having said that, when I was at Colorado Christian University for my second degree, I was impressed by how many students there were mature enough to get married, most soon after graduation.  The number of folks I met at CCU getting married was encouraging!

   I spent much time this week preparing to officiate a wedding even though I was the “backup.”  Amidst the preparation, there was some truly blessed time for me as I pondered the sanctity of Christian marriage, and I share considerations.

   First of all, God ordained marriage.  The first two people created by God, Adam and Eve, were married by God.  We know this since the Bible states that Eve was Adam’s wife (see Genesis 2:25; 3:8; 3:20-21).  From the get-go it was God’s intention for men and women to get married.

   Second, God still calls for marriage.  Jesus affirmed this by His teaching as recorded in Matthew 19:4-6.

   Thus it is makes sense that in most cultures in the world, even cultures which are drastically different from one another, marriage is still a common institution.  And even for folks who practice a number of the world religions, marriage is sacred, though in some religion it takes a different form.  Marriage has been a practice in many cultures through-out recorded history.

   In my view, a tragedy taking place in American culture today is that marriage is being viewed less and less as a sacred union.  For many, the covenant of holy matrimony is seen as a loss of independence.  Simply living together without a vow before God to permanently bond is increasing in popularity.

   Not trying to stifle anyone’s independence, Scripture teaches our need for dependence on our holy God.  We people were created to be in a loving relationship with God.  Second, we people were created to be in loving relationships with others.  We were never created to be mere individuals.

   I know America developed in a mode of independence and freedom.  Hey, I like adventure and some independence.  However, speaking for myself, for me to be a loving person, I need serious help from God.  Scripture teaches God is love, and that we need His love.  Secondly, I have learned in all of my adventures, even during my journey of great freedom thirty years ago as I thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, relationships are important during any journey.  I could not have accomplished that journey without help from loving people.

   And Scripture teaches the blessing of being married, that special loving covenant made between a man and a woman before God.  God ordained marriage right from the creation of people, and I think we Christians should be giving marriage more attention.  I for one commit to working in this direction.

Hunter

Why did God create germs?

   Two young people here in Colorado are my genuine loving friends, and we have been doing activities together ever since I use to “baby-sit” (have fun with) them one day a week.  A few years later, there was a period of time when the boy was getting sick more than average.  One day when we were eating, he asked me, “Why did God create germs?”  Good question.  It led to a Biblical explanation about all of God’s creation being good, but that things go bad when there is a separation from God.  There was an explanation about the disobedience of Adam and Eve, which resulted in a discussion.  These facts from Genesis are not children’s bedtime stories, rather they are revelations from God that obedience to God results in true goodness, whereas disobedience to the instructions of God results in disaster.  In this world where there was a separation between God and people, harmful germs are part of the disaster.

   Praise be to God, there is hope in the face of harmful germs.  God truly cares about every single person in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic catastrophe.  God cares that many people have died.  God cares many people are suffering.  God cares about the unemployment.  Countless problems have been encountered by countless people worldwide as most of us have been impacted by this pandemic, and God cares.  God loves people, and when you truly love someone who is hurting, you care.

   There is still hope for us all.  Regarding death, though we all physically die sometime, eternal life is available to all who believe in Jesus.  Why?  When Peter was speaking to Cornelius and a large group of Cornelius’ relatives and friends, Peter stated: “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10: 43 NIV).  That “him” is Jesus.

   What does forgiveness have to do with eternal life?  With God’s forgiveness, a person is justified before the Father and united with the Holy Spirit.  The result of being united with our Holy God who created us is eternal life.  A follower of Jesus will still physically die sometime, however the person will spiritually live forever.

   Regarding the fact we all hurt sometimes, a person who opens his or her heart to the love of Jesus will still have hurt and hardship in this world, unique to that person, yet blessings will be available due to the relationship with a loving Father.

   Thus the forgiveness of sins by Jesus does lead to eternal life, and the reason this ultimate forgiveness is available: Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins.  As John stated: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (John 2:2 NIV).  Jesus took our sins within His own Spirit, to be our substitute as He died for sins.  Then He was raised on the third day.  Now he gives us the offer.  Giving your heart to Jesus results in receiving His true love and forgiveness, and we all need true love and forgiveness for eternal life.

Hunter

Remember God's Faithfulness

   I hope you had some blessings from God on Easter.  For me, Easter did not seem like Easter.  You know why.  I did pray for families of people who have died from COVID-19, and for those who are sick.  Then in the evening, I talked with my friend on the phone.  His mom, who is a longtime genuine friend of mine, is close to dying (not of COVID-19).  Though expected, it was still hard on me.
   Yet even on a challenging Easter, I had a special morning worshiping God in my room.  And near the end of my morning with Him, I had a special blessing.  And first and foremost, the ultimate blessing is always available to live day by day knowing Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!
   During my full morning with God, at one point I started thinking much about one particular blessing from God over the years, which has brought much joy in my life.  To this day I know it was God who opened the door for that opportunity in February of 2007.
   Thinking about God’s faithfulness in the past can be encouraging when circumstances look hopeless.  In a few of the Psalms, the authors recalled the fact that God was faithful to the Hebrew people in the past, restating specific blessings from Him in past years.  For example, in Psalm 105 the author recalls the blessing of getting to settle in Egypt during a famine, and then their miraculous deliverance from Egypt.  And he recalls God’s miraculous provision: “He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.” (Psalm 105:41 NIV)
   These Psalms surely encouraged the Israelites years later when their circumstances looked hopeless, and they can encourage us today.
   Granted we still need to trust God concerning the details.  For example, Israelite people were in captivity in Babylon for 70 to 50 years, since Israelites were taken captive in three waves in 605 B.C., 597 B.C., and 586 B.C.  This long captivity was the result of many years of vast sins by many Israelites.  Yet Israelites were eventually delivered from Babylon, in my opinion against all odds, since God was faithful in carrying out His promise to Abraham, a promise rooted in His love for all people.
   If you would like, please take a moment now, and remember a time when you were facing a serious challenge, which was sooner or later resolved with God’s help.

   I personally just said a prayer for whoever happens to read my blog that you have a special blessing here at this time of the pandemic crisis in our world, whatever your circumstances.  And first and foremost when remembering God’s faithfulness, remember in your heart that Jesus died on a cross to be your substitute for the wages of sin.  He submitted to that ultimate suffering, taking the sins of the world upon Himself, since He loves you.  Then He was resurrected!  If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life with Him.
love,
Hunter

Christ is Risen

   I have had some challenging Easters since turning to Christ.  Once when approaching my church for the big morning, a tire blew out.  Fortunately I was only two blocks away, and I drove super slow.  After the service and special fellowship time was over, our head pastor volunteered to change my tire.  The students in the church became quite entertained by the event and were lively spectators and commentators.  Though I ended up having to buy two new tires, I savored the blessing of the enthusiastic students.
   Another challenging Easter was when I was away from my home doing college ministry work in 2015.  The church was jam packed, and I sat with my friends in a pew where everyone was shoulder to shoulder.  Being on the far left of my friends, to my left was a woman and her husband in their early twenties, whom I had never seen in church.  During the sermon, the man started massaging his wife’s back.  I was trying to pay attention to Pastor Eric, but it was totally distracting to have the woman next to me getting a back massage by her husband inches away from me.  Honestly, being single is a tough calling, and in my experience some folks in churches only make it tougher.
   Then there was the Easter when I got a virus. (This was a few years ago, and though nasty, it did not compare to the current dangerous coronavirus.)  My housemate got sick in late February which resulted in him getting laryngitis, and he remained sick for several weeks.  (But he did not go to the doctor that entire time.)  Just as he was recovering, I got sick.  It was the Wednesday before Easter, and I immediately called my doctor, hoping it was a bacterial infection so I could get on antibiotics immediately.  But my doctor diagnosed me with a virus, and said there was nothing she could give me.  I had to miss Easter service.  (I am a longtime advocate that anytime you are sick, out of loving consideration to others and yourself, you should refrain from church and spend some time personally with God.)  I was really disappointed.  I wanted so much to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ on the most important Christian church day of the year.  Yet that Sunday morning I worshiped God in my room, knowing Jesus is resurrected, and gaining a peace which passes understanding.
   Easter of 2020 may appear to be thwarted because of the coronavirus pandemic catastrophe.  In most cases throughout the entire world, churches will be, or should be, locked.  Easter services for many Christians in the world will be electronic.  Easter services for some Christians in the world will not happen.
   I will be doing what I do most every morning.  With only God and me in my room, I will read a passage from my Bible, study the passage, ponder the message, pray, and sing a hymn, all aspects of worshiping God.  Key is the fact I will not be alone.  God is with me daily.  I know that this Sunday, like every day, I can celebrate that my Savior and Lord, Jesus, is risen from the dead.
   Yes I would give the world if I could worship with people and preach an Easter sermon this Sunday.  On March 29th I was supposed to offer a sermon as part of a preliminary pastor interview process, but it was indefinitely postponed.  Now I can only wait until an unknown date.  And the sermon I prepared for that cancelled service would be ideal for Easter.  But on Easter I will remain unemployed, churchless, and without an opportunity to offer my sermon.  Yet I will have love.
   In nearly 30 years of following Jesus, I have had countless disappointments and I still have plenty of regrets.  Yet daily, I have had the love of Jesus.  And daily, it has been possible for me to celebrate in my heart the resurrection of Jesus.  Having a loving relationship with Jesus, the One who died on a cross as the substitute for sins to save us from spiritual death, results in eternal life in heaven with Him in the future, and results in hope in our days in this world.
   Recognizing we are all hurt to some degree by this coronavirus tragedy which is bringing much suffering worldwide, I can still proclaim that you can have a blessed Easter wherever you are, if you rest in the love of Jesus.
Hunter

Touched by Jesus

   In the midst of this coronavirus worldwide tragedy, “social distancing” is saving physical lives, literally.  I have been trying to carry out social distancing to the max.  Sacrificing money, convenience, and much else, could physically save someone’s life.  A projection I heard today for continued deaths worldwide brought me to tears.  The heroes in this nightmare tragedy include people, any people, who are carrying out social distancing as well as they can.

   Now please read this carefully since I do not want this to be misconstrued, and there is a point to this.  The only person who would not need to do any social distancing, if He was physically here, is Jesus.

   The irony is that even in the face of leprosy, Jesus did not do social distancing:

   A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  “I am willing,” he said.  “Be clean!” (Mark 1:40-41)

   Now if it was me, I would get as far away from the guy as possible, yet Jesus touched him.

   Likewise, Jesus touched children:

   “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them…” (Mark 10:13)

   I noticed during my years doing youth ministry that the more the years went on, the more careful us youth workers had to be about touching students, because sexual immorality consistently increased as the social norm in the U.S., thus marring the intention of a caring touch.  Yet Jesus touched little children.

   And how about Jesus spitting into dirt and then rubbing it on the eyes of a blind man.  He was surely not modeling a practice for the rest of us on that one.  Yet the blind man received his sight.

   Jesus did not need to do social distancing since though He was fully human, He was also fully God, and He was able to heal people who were sick.  Regarding social distancing now, all of us humans worldwide need to be carrying it out as able.  However, there are messages from Jesus’ touching for us to learn from.

   First, as I stated in my last piece, we need the spiritual touch of Jesus.  Touching can be an expression of love, and Jesus loves us.  For a person who gives his or her heart to Jesus, the Spirit of Christ will touch him or her in a spiritual manner.

   Second, in this time of tragedy where many are dying and where many are suffering, which obliges us to avoid physical contact with people, we need to continue to look forward to the time when we can resume with social closeness. How do I know God wants social closeness?  Why not simply have church online from now on?  Just think of the benefits of listening to sermons in our pajamas while being able to fast forward though the boring parts of a sermon.  And think of the money churches would save on facility bills.  Simply note the ordinances which Jesus commanded.  There is nothing virtual about them, rather they are relational and real.  Baptism in water is relational and real.  People taking bread and juice in a community setting is relational and real.  Truly, we human beings were never created to be isolated from God or one another.

   The coronavirus makes it necessary for all people to practice social distancing at this time until the danger of COVID 19 is over.  When finally over, may we believers resume engaging in appropriate relational expression to people in the love of Jesus.

Hunter

Free Hugs

   A day or so after the tragedy at my first Alma mater, Virginia Tech, on April 16, 2007, there were two students who stationed themselves by a bench on the drillfield, which is a huge grassy area at the center of campus.  They held a sign which said, “Free Hugs.”  I saw a picture of them, and though many miles away from my beloved university, I was touched in my heart by their loving offer at a time when so many of us were hurting.  And hug many people they did.

   In the midst of this worldwide tragedy of the coronavirus, which is bringing death or pain or an assortment of hardships to countless people worldwide, an additional tragedy is people are being more separated from each other.  Gatherings of people have been halted, truly a safety necessity.  Only such discipline will keep the coronavirus contained.

   In public, everyone is supposed to be carrying out “social distancing,” which includes people refraining from getting close to one another; everyone is supposed to stay at least six feet away.  We human beings are not supposed to touch those outside of our homes, including handshakes or hugs.  No one knows for sure how long this will need to continue.

   This past Sunday, many churches in the United States were closed, and most will be closed for a number of Sundays to come for genuine safety purposes.  Some leaders are speculating all churches may be closed on Easter.  How sad to know churches are locked up.  Now many churches are having online services, which is a good thing for this period, but obviously impersonal.

   At this time of trial, may we Christians realize the basis of Christianity is a relationship with Jesus, not a ritual.  Scripture teaches the foundation of being a follower of Jesus is faith in Jesus, the One who was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of people.  Faith results in a loving relationship.  A believer becomes born again, being permanently indwelled with the Holy Spirit.  Thus any Christian has the opportunity to be spiritually and lovingly touched in his or her heart by God day after day!  As we all are being physically separated from one another due to the coronavirus, this is a time to rely on being touched by our Savior and Lord in a spiritual manner.  Jesus loves us, and He wants to touch our hearts.

   And regarding our fellow human beings, we are commanded by Jesus to love them.  Our culture for years has been plagued by sexual immorality which involves wrongful touching, plagued by anger, and plagued by many other sins which interfere with loving human relationships.  There is a grand need now for followers of Jesus to continue to carry out the commands of Jesus, loving God and loving people.  Thus we need to keep forgiving and caring.  Personally, my circumstances are financially rough now, however, in spite of “social distancing” and little cash, I see opportunities to be a light for Jesus now as many people are hurting and confused.

   When churches unlock their doors in the future, church norms may be changed in most for safety reasons.  Sadly enough, I think some churches will get rid of the time when we greet our brothers and sisters during worship.  Yet when this crisis finally ends, I see a day when opportunities will arise to once again give holy hugs to people in the love of Christ.

Hunter Irvine

Home

I John 4: 13-16       We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (NIV)

Luke 23: 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NIV)

   My grandma was in a nursing home for a year and ten months before she passed away.  I visited her every single day for the first six months, and frequently after that.  A nursing home is one of the last places I would chose to hang out, yet I loved Grandma, and I wanted to spend time with her as she suffered being bedridden and lonely.  I would talk with her, I would read to her, and I would usually sing one song to her before I left, which also made me popular with her roommate who liked my singing.
   Visiting the nursing home so much, I got to know several residents.  There were some really nice people there.  A few residents were blessed to have family members visit them consistently, but for most residents, visitors came on rare occasions or never.  Then there were a few people who I did not talk with but saw often, since they were often up and about.  One of those folks was Jane, not her real name.  Jane was 103 years old.  She was extremely active.  Normally when I walked down the hall to and from Grandma’s room, at different times, Jane would be shuffling around on her walker.  And though she often was not intelligible, many times she was in a conversation with someone on the hall or to herself.  I never talked with her, but sometimes I would say, “Hi Jane,” when I walked by her.
   One evening I was visiting Grandma a few days before Christmas.  As I walked by Jane, she pushed her walker in front of me and started talking with me for the first time.
   She said with upmost sincerity, “I need to go home.”
   I casually responded, "You are home, Jane."
   Looking right at me, she responded, “You don’t understand.  It is Christmas and I need to be at home.”
   I then got real serious and said something like, “Jane, people here care for you, and you are like family here, so this is kind of your home.”
   I tried to comfort her, but it was sad.
   Growing up in a transient area in Virginia inside the D.C. beltway, experiencing the divorce of my parents, and remaining single all of these years, even though it has been a longstanding dream to be married, has made “home” often seem elusive.
   There is an old saying, “Love makes a house a home.”  I agree, realizing home is a place, yet home also involves relationships.  We learn the atonement Jesus made on the cross as the substitute for sins, which is stated in I John 4:10, resulted in the opportunity for people to be in a truly loving spiritual relationship now with Jesus.  Thus if you receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord, wherever your abode, you can be at home with Jesus.
   Secondly, receiving Jesus, you gain a forever home.  As Jesus promised one of the men being crucified alongside Him, a believer will be ushered by Christ into heaven.  After following Jesus for coming on thirty years next month, I recognize more and more the journey I have been on in this world does not find completion here.  The result of journeying with Jesus is an eternal home with God in heaven.
   Knowing this in my heart, sometimes it does not seem so.  I have been in churches where leaders or people have been focused on money or whatever else blocks love, and then when I moved on, I felt church homeless.  And there have been two periods in my life in my calling of ministry work when I had to move so frequently, “home” seemed like it may be out of reach.
   Yet whether I am church homeless or a nomad, I live with the Holy Spirit being in me, and I have the promise of heaven.  If you are not a follower of Jesus, you can be today by simply believing in Him.  And if you are a believer, rely on the promises of our loving Father that He is with you right now and cares for you right now, and that He has an eternal home for you, praise be to Jesus!
Hunter