Getting a head start on the topics, Keith shares a word before the other hosts arrive.

In a short passage that Keith titles, Abiding Love for the Brothers, the focus is on 1 John 4:16,20-21. Listen to a few thoughts on the fact that God is love, he abides in love, and how it can be possible to be both loving, and have moments where wrath or anger is called for. The verses depict a test of how we’re doing in reflecting a Godly love, in how we show love to our brothers. Particularly as brothers is defined as other believers, because if we can’t do that… How can we hope to love strangers, meaning the non-believer?

Not wanting to pass up those skipped over verses, 17-19 holds a further measuring stick of how well we’re doing in this love stuff. There’s no place for fear, hate, or lies in showing love to someone. If we do that, we’re doing it wrong. Love should cast out fear, hate, and lies, just as certainly as light casts out darkness, and displaces it.

Co-hosts begin arriving, or at least Nathan does, and we transition to the chat room. We cover a few random topics to get caught up a little since we last recorded together last month.

Though it’s late in the month, we touch base on any new year’s resolutions, or plans on making fresh starts this year. Have you made any resolutions, or attempts at changing habits? Listen to see if we have any new approaches to bible study, or reading?

Keith repeats his comment on the person who found us on Twitter, and liked an episode. It begs the question for each listener to respond. How did you find us, and which episode did you like best so far? Why not tell us? Just as well, go tell a friend.

Main Topic.

With February typically associated with matters of love, the plan is to bring a series of love related topics. One basic principle in those who are planning to be married is finding someone who is compatible with yourself. Or as it is put by the Apostle Paul, being equally yoked.

Open your bibles to 2 Corinthians 6:14. What does this concept mean? Isn’t it true that opposites attract? What’s wrong with that? Just how far should we go with this being equally yoked? Is it a sin to marry outside your own faith, or denomination?

The passage sets up the requirement: “Be not unequally yoked together. with an unbeliever.”

To put it under a microscope, it opens with a phrase that literally means “Don’t become…” The best time to apply this teaching is to take a long look at compatibility issues before you agree to put that ring on your finger. If you find yourself already married, and unequally yoked, there are instructions later in this passage.

There’s a compound word that spreads out into the phrase: “unequally yoked together”.

The idea isn’t all that strange. In a practical way, as you walk through life, a partner who is of like mind, and moves at a similar speed will only enhance getting the work at hand done. The more similar you are, the less conflict you’ll have. The more matched the set, the more affective you’ll be together in life. Sure, opposites spice up the relationship, and make it more interesting, but it’s also the source of most conflict.

There could be many areas where you want things spiced up. One area that should never be compromised on however, is in belief in God. The absolute base line here is over whether your potential partner in life is a believer. Not which denomination they’re in, or where they are in believing the same doctrines within a religion. Are they a believer, yes or no?

Remember, differences mean conflict. It may be cute when the relationship starts out. It may seem like a matter that can be overcome later. The more matched set you are at the start in political, social, parenting, ethics, morality, faith,