Please don't make me, part 2….

If you followed my blog on Tuesday, you read about the first two awkward conversation topics that I have been known to have as a pastor’s wife.Here are the last two. If you are a Highpointer, please apply the principles and spare us both the conversation.

 3. A Different Kind of Stumble

 My husband and I do not drink. This is a personal conviction we have individually held for years. While this is a debated topic in churches, what is not really debatable is that people's lives have been wrecked by alcohol. Your personal decision, I will leave between you and the Holy Spirit. How your choices impact others, however, needs to be considered.  On numerous occasions, I have had people involved in our recovery ministry come to me because they have been invited by church friends to a an off campus event where alcohol was being served. The one place that should be safe, just became dangerous. We must never cause another brother to stumble. We need to live with the understanding that even in the freedoms we are given that there is usually a weaker brother in our midst. I encourage you to always make your decisions based on the weaker brother. Their family will be so grateful you did. Also, don’t make the mistake of assuming no one in your circle of acquaintances has this struggle. The battle is not always visible, but it is very real for many people.4. No T-shirt ContestsA few years ago, my husband went to greet a woman moments before she was getting ready to enter the stage for her baptism. My husband then made his way to his seat next to me at an unusually quick pace. He leans over to say, "She isn't wearing a bra. I need you to go fix it." Those are the moments I know my life has an adventure all it's own. So, note to self... No wet T-shirt contests please. Yes, this applies to baptisms but if you could sit with me for just one or two appointments you would realize that everywhere around you are people who have been scarred by what started out as a lustful thought. You are no less a Christian around the office, in the classroom, or at the gym. Aim to dress and live in a way that you guard the marriages and future marriages around you. Besides, you are worth so much more than a lustful look!There are thousands of conversations that I love to have… just not these. We only have one shot at this life. Let’s purpose to make choices that honor each other.