Interfaith and Relationships

Dating in this day and age can be overly complicated. No one meets in person any longer. It is all done over apps, and texting.

If you ever get out of that stage and into dating it is really important to ask the hard questions first.
What are the hard questions? Your partner’s spiritual and religious beliefs. Their core values in and out of a relationship etc.

From there, you can ask other questions that can help you find out if you are both compatible.
Let’s pretend, that you and your partner are extremely compatible. There is only one issue. He/She is an atheist.

Would that be a dealbreaker for you? Should it be a deal breaker for you?

Whenever I am confronted with atheism I am reminded of a quote from Alexander Dumas The Conte of Monte Cristo, Just before Edmond is about to flee from prison. A priest reminds him to escape and live a happy life and let God give him justice against those who wrongly incarcerated him. The Count tells the Priest “I do not believe in God.”

The Priest tells Edmond, “Don’t worry. He believes in you.”
Whether or not an atheist chooses to believe in God does not take away from God’s Power.
God can and will use anyone to spread his word.

As a believer, it is our job to live by example and share God’s Joy and Love with everyone we come in contact with.

Red Flags

If you are marrying someone who is an atheist and is constantly testing or mocking your faith, you may want to reassess the relationship, not only is that behavior blasphemous to some, but also disrespectful to you as a person.
It can also be said if your partner is a non-believer and you are ‘forcing’ your religious beliefs on them and not respecting their boundaries, you may want to evaluate the relationship.
Regardless of our religious affiliations, I believe we can all live in peace if we continue to love one another with the love of God, freely and with complete abandon.

Dear God
Help couples with different faiths, come together and share in their spirituality so that they may know Your Love.-Amen

This recipe is gluten-free and takes 35 minutes to make.

Chicken Breast With Spring Vegetables and Dijon Mustard Pan Gravy

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons Olive oil
• 4 Chicken breasts
• Sea salt
• Pepper
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 Tablespoons honey Dijon mustard
• 4 shallots, peeled and quartered
• 1 bunch radishes, halved
• 1/2 pound sugar snap peas, thawed/fresh
• Chopped fresh chives

Cooking Directions

1. Heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Season the chicken Breasts with salt and pepper, and cook until 165F internal.
3. Transfer to a plate.
4. Save Pan drippings from chicken. Add the broth and the mustard to the skillet.
   With a wire whisk scrape up any browned bits.
5. Cook until the gravy is thickened, 2-4 minutes.
6. In another skillet heat the remaining oil over medium heat
7. Cook Shallots, tossing occasionally, until browned (5-7 minutes)
8. Add the radishes and cook them until they are soft (3-4 minutes)
9. Add the sugar snap peas and cook until they are crisp-tender (4-5 minutes)
10. Add the peas, and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
11. Toss to combine.
12. Serve the chicken over the vegetables, with the gravy drizzled over the top. Sprinkle with Chives.
    Serve.
    Serving: 4