Sex, Philosophy and Kids These Days

Last updated on: November 8, 2014 at 10:48 pm By Abra Carnahan

[o]ne of the biggest obstacles to repentance for revival in the Church is the basic fact that almost all singles outside the Church and a majority inside the Church are sleeping with each other. In other words, good old-fashioned fornication. Fornication—Good times. Some might initially balk at the suggestion: “Really? Almost everybody outside the Church? Most inside?” Yup. Lest anyone think Keller is giving in to typical preacher’s tendency for over-exaggeration, his claim can be backed up by the latest... Read more

Do You Still Believe?

Last updated on: November 8, 2014 at 9:18 pm By Abra Carnahan

Christian, it is good that you accepted Christ and believed in Him once, but do you still? We need to stop and really think about this because it is important – arguably more important than your initial willingness to believe. Jesus is merciful to the lost, but harsh with the Pharisees. So I encourage you to ask yourself again, do you still believe in the God of Israel? When trials come, do you get discouraged or do they bring anticipation... Read more

Marriage

Last updated on: November 7, 2014 at 10:12 pm By Abra Carnahan

I listened to these two sermons today and they were the best sermons I’ve ever heard on marriage. They are both worth listening to, but if you are only going to listen to one of them, This one is directed more towards husbands: Destroying Pop-Christian Views of Marital Bliss (1) and this one is directed more towards wives: Destroying Pop-Christian Views of Marital Bliss (2) Please take the time to listen and share these sermons. The world needs strong marriages,... Read more

Help for Hurting Wives

Last updated on: November 7, 2014 at 3:10 am By Abra Carnahan

Check out this excellent post, The Trauma of Your Husband’s Porn Use, for eight practical tips on how to deal with pornography in your marriage. Number two is, “Find a way to reach out. This can be a tricky place for women. Who do you tell? Many women don’t want to “expose their husbands” and so carry the burden of “the secret” as well as their own trauma. Find someone. Tell a spiritual leader, a therapist, or a 12-step group.... Read more

Suicide, Heroism and Worth

Last updated on: November 6, 2014 at 11:42 pm By Abra Carnahan

The questions about assisted suicide aren’t the right questions. We tend to ask shouldn’t everyone have the right to end their own life if they want to? The answer isn’t really the answer. Anyone can end their life at any time. You’re asking the wrong question. The question is what is your life worth? What does it take to get your finger off the trigger and put the gun down? I’ve often wondered why more people don’t kill themselves. I know. That sounds awful.... Read more

All Saints Day

Last updated on: November 1, 2014 at 5:26 am By Abra Carnahan

My kids are asleep so I traded out the Halloween decorations for the new ones. This is the first year we are trying to observe All Saints formally. This is take one on decorations. Thankfully, I’ll have all year to work towards next years! Do you have any ideas to help me out for next year? Read more

Sola Fide

Last updated on: October 31, 2014 at 9:38 pm By Abra Carnahan

In case you were wondering: Halloween: Hallow = Holy/Sanctified. Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve is the day of preparation for All Saint’s Day (November 1). We are Christians. We decorate for Halloween and hand out chocolate and take our own kids trick or treating (aka repent or perish). This year, at midnight, will be trading our skeletons and spider webs for peacock feathers (eternal life), and painting our orange pumpkins white (holy) and gold (joy) as we remember our fellow... Read more

Becoming One, Take Two

Last updated on: October 28, 2014 at 5:02 pm By Abra Carnahan

Finding privacy, time and energy for sex seem to be common dilemmas for couples with littles. For us, finding time is particularly challenging. Something my husband and I have learned is that there is no such thing as “finding” time — you must make it. The following are collected ideas for the purpose of aiding prioritization of the marriage bed. It is our prayer that these suggestions will help couples overcome obstacles, so they can strengthen their marriages through toe-curling,... Read more

Guilt and Grace

Last updated on: October 22, 2014 at 12:31 am By Abra Carnahan

In the grip of sin, in the grip of guilt, it feels impossible. It feels like millions of miles between you and goodness, between you and relief, but the gospel is the good news that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, it’s near, it’s here. Repent for grace is at hand. You can turn to Him now. You can give Him your sin now, and in an instant, in a blink of an eye, it will be gone forever... Read more

Motherhood Can Be All Consuming

Last updated on: October 21, 2014 at 4:33 pm By Abra Carnahan

Please join me today over at Pearl’s OysterBed, where I am talking about intimacy in early motherhood. Read more