Commonality

I had a conversation quite some time ago with a younger person about dating relationships. I was asked advice on something and part of my response was that we all feel closer to people we have things in common with. It is just human nature. When we show an interest in what matters to someone we care about, we build that relationship up. Conversely, when we do not show an interest in something important to someone we are close to, we can invite distance. Overall, in relationships, we want to do things to cultivate closeness, and this takes effort. There are some nonnegotiables in life, and if these are a factor in a relationship and there is disharmony, it may be worth taking a serious look and deciding if a change of direction should happen.

An example of this is with serious political differences if both parties are active. If your intended spouse is an avid, perhaps elected Democrat, and you and your family are on the other side of the aisle and also active, this could cause tension. If it doesn't, closeness is less likely to be promoted. It isn't impossible to work through that, but relationships already take work, so knowingly taking on a tough area like that is worth some consideration. We all inherently feel closer to people who share our deepest held beliefs and ideals.

For this reason, relationships within organizations or groups we're a part of change, friendships come and go, and sadly, if not worked on and kept a priority, marriages end. Relationships that are worthwhile take time, and those that aren't sometimes need to be given less time.

Here's to 20 yrs with the best person I know~

Bachelor's of Science in Dental Hygiene for Christians

If you are interested in studying to be a Dental Hygienist and are a Christian, please consider contacting Bob Jones University's interim dean of their new Health Professions school. There are currently no BS programs for Dental Hygiene in South Carolina, and there is not any Dental Hygiene program at a traditional Christian college in the U.S.. Schools are often looking for programs that are in demand, and my hope is that one decent Christian college will either start a DH program on their own, or will partner with a nearby technical college to facilitate a Bachelor's degree program. If you or your student would be interested in this, please pray and tell Bob Jones University your desire to stand a solid Christian school with a four year dental hygiene program.

Thank you!

Trusting God

John MacArthur has a couple of great sermons about trusting the Lord.

How much does this play in to our life as a Christian?

When things don't go as we expect and we fly into a tailspin, what does that say about our level of trust in God?

Are there 'levels' of trust?

Can we trust someone we don't really know, as they are meant to be known? Or is it possible we can create a person to be what we think they are or want them to be, 'love' them according to our flesh, yet not really know them?

Can we trust someone we only 'think' we know?

Root cause analysis isn't just for the chemical industry. 

Proverbs 4:23 New King James Version (NKJV)

²³ Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.