It’s been almost 50 years ago that I went from being a cultural Christian to getting serious about being a true follower of Jesus. Hundreds of times since I’ve been asked not only how that happened but how did I come to the conclusion I was not a true Christian? This is going to be one of the shortest blogs I’ve ever written because the answer is so simple. Until I was 31 years old I believed the Bible and I believed in God. I just didn’t live for him. That is the difference!

Almost every divorced Christian I know cannot imagine reconciling with their former spouse. So much hurt, so many bitter words,legal bills and fights. “Clare why would I take that risk and jump back into that snake pit again?” Not only are there risks but in most cases one or both of the spouses have remarried. “So Clare even if I wanted to reconcile with my ex it’s impossible.” Surprisingly it isn’t. At least not the kind of reconciliation I’m encouraging. So what follows is

Every theologian throughout history has attempted to explain God's decision-making process in granting salvation and man's responsibility to receive it. Almost all end up in either Calvin's camp or Arminius', with plenty of nuanced explanations within each. Briefly, John Calvin believed salvation start to finish was a sovereign act of God. God chooses those he wants to save (election) makes them want to be saved (irresistible grace) and once they are saved keeps them that way

II spend a good deal of my time spiritually mentoring 20- to 30-year-old men, often single. And I'm still shocked when they freely disclose without a hint of embarrassment that they're living with their girlfriend. I'd expect this indifference to violating God's moral laws from non-Christians. But I often get the same response from men raised in Christian homes and who actually attend church with their girlfriends! They often ask me to name a verse in the Bible that clearly p