Tried With Fire

This is one of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes comics.  I never thought my mom or dad (my dad did most of the cooking) would feed me paint or weed killer, but I did turn up my nose at some of the things on the dinner table including squid. Too chewy, like fishy rubber bands. But even though I never suspected my parents, how often have I  treated God like Calvin treated his mother, doubting His character and goodness? I'd rather not give an answer because I'd be ashamed of the number. All the more reason to side with the Word over feelings, circumstances, and whatever would tell me otherwise even if it's myself. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matt 7:9-11

Divorce is a touchy subject. We have our opinions of what can or cannot be done. Those ideas may be based on scripture, the opinion of someone we respect, or even our concept of what is "fair". Sunday's sermon was on the Mark 10:1-12 - a very difficult passage where Jesus answers questions about divorce from the Pharisees. Pastor Ryan made the observation that often our first response is to ask, "What am I allowed to do?" whether it is in terms of pursuing a divorce or remarriage, and I think he's correct.  This question can be mere idle speculation about worst case scenarios from someone who has never suffered the pain of divorce. It may be the question of someone looking for any loophole to get out of a marriage that doesn't meet his/her expectations. This also may be the valid, gut-wrenching question of a cheated, abandoned, and/or abused spouse.  I don't want to minimize anyone in the last scenario. I've been there. But I wonder if there a...