Marriage Bliss

Visiting over at Barb’s A Chelsea Morning, you could not miss that there is a wedding about to take place. Barb’s daughter, Mandy, is getting married this coming Saturday. And, Barb is up to her eyeballs (almost literally) in preparations. She is also hosting a Sunday brunch for about 40 guests the morning after the wedding. I have been through this before,(the wedding, not the brunch) and it’s a lot of work!

No matter how much you try to make things perfect, something always goes wrong. It might be something very trivial as not enough food being prepared for the reception. Or, it could be something as bad as the lights being turned off during the ceremony, ruining the taping of the wedding (happened at my daughter’s wedding). You can do without food, but, when the wedding tape does not turn out correctly, that’s a disaster. Hopefully, nothing past trivial will take place at their wedding. We want Barb to enjoy this wedding without any problems. After all, her little Chelsea was clipped by her groomer and, according to Barb and her picture, they are both embarrassed. This is all the trouble Barb needs before the wedding!

Weddings are wonderful. It does not matter where they take place, whether in a church, at home, Justice of the Peace, or in a Judge’s office - just that both are ready for this marriage. Why would I know? Well, on July 6th, my husband I will have been married for 43 years. We did not have a big, expensive wedding. There were no bridesmaids or grooms, no best man; in fact, nobody was at our wedding, with the exception of the Judge’s secretary. Yes, we got married in the office of the Probate Judge in a downtown Courthouse. My soon-to-be husband was in his Air Force dress uniform and I was in a blue shantung dress. He was on leave for our wedding. Looking back, I would not change a thing, other than for my Mother and Daddy to have been there. But, they understood. After all, my Mother said she was not losing a daughter, but gaining a son.

When I was young, I always imagined having a large church wedding. But, it did not work out that way, and it has never bothered me. I see all the money spent on big weddings that could be spent on other things. Guess I’m just conservative. I understand lots of brides save for their wedding day and they want to splurge. My daughter did that, and it lasted nine years. Oh, she would have stayed married forever, but it takes two to make a marriage of bliss.

But, I digress. Marriage is something to take very seriously. We should marry someone of our own faith, although most do not. We fall in love and don’t give a thought to having a spiritually strong marriage. And, this will be the downfall of lots of marriages. Not all fail, but things would be better if both husband and wife were of the same faith, and Christians. When Jesus is the center of your marriage, then you have a better chance of surviving and really enjoying true marriage bliss.

To Mandy and her future husband, Aaron, I wish the best. May God be the center of your life always. And, may your marriage be steeped in extreme happiness! And, may your honeymoon be delightful!

Barb, I already see a proud Mother and mother-in-law. I know you feel like my Mom did – you and your husband are gaining a son in your family! And, I know you already love your future son-in-law. Having been ‘watching’ you and the preparations you have been involved in for this wedding, I know you are enjoying this tremendously. As this day comes to pass, may God bless each of you with love, joy, peace, and happiness. I know it’s going to be an exciting time around your house!

Technorati Tags: Marriage, Wedding, Guests, Bliss, God, Love, Honeymoon

Never too old

We've all heard the quote 'never too old'. But, most of us never think about what we will be doing at 100, since most of us won't be here to worry about it.

In Nigeria, though, the quote came alive when a pastor of 107 took his third wife. That doesn't seem too awfully unusual, since lots of people get remarried in old age. But, in this case, the bride is 77 years his junior!

Lagos - Samuel Akinbode Sadela, Nigeria's oldest preacher at 107, said he derived his strength from God after marrying a 30-year woman, said his church member on Sunday.

After the wedding, they quoted him as saying: "The Lord is my strength. I am very strong and energetic." Sadela, founder of Gospel Apostolic Church, had been on the pulpit for 75 years.

The pastor first got married in 1934, and this marriage lasted 21 years until his wife died. None of their seven children made it past infancy. The second marriage was in 1965, and lasted until his wife died in 2001. They had four children, but only 2 survived.

This really makes the verse of Matthew 19:26 ...'with God all things are possible' meaningful to many!

Linked at Conservative Cat
Pursuing Holiness

Technorati Tags: Marriage, Wedding, Nigeria, Oldest Preacher

Men and Wedding rings (or not!)

Seems Betsy Hart, writing over at Political Mavens, is upset that all married men do not wear a ring. Seems she's been in social scenes where men have talked with her, and she noticed they weren't wearing a ring. And, she says that 90% of the time they are married.

Betsy said she was tired of hearing about men who lost their ring finger in the shop or got their finger caught in the fence while playing soccer. Well, I'm here to tell Betsy those things do happen. My deceased brother-in-law worked for a big company where he had to jump into railroad cars to check product. One night, when he jumped, he got his ring caught, and, had it not been for another man who came to his rescue, he would have lost his finger. So, his wife had him take his ring off.

My own husband wore his ring without fail, in fact, never taking it off but once in 41 years. We had been married 4 years, and he had it on, working under the hood of our car, and burned his finger through the ring. It stayed off until his finger healed. But, about a year ago, he jumped down into the bed of his big dump truck, and almost lost a finger because he caught his ring. I had him take it off, and it occupies a place on my key ring. He had it in his pocket, but I was afraid he would lose it.

I'm not one to look at a man who doesn't have on a ring and assume he is single. My Daddy never wore a ring. I think a man should act married, if he is indeed married. And, if he does mention his wife, who is missing at the time, and then proceeds to act unmarried, then he suffers the consequences of his actions! I see nothing wrong with a single woman talking to a married man, but the married man should never cross the line!

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Pirates Cove

Technorati Tags: Marriage, Wedding Ring

Is marriage on the way out?

For someone who has been married for over forty two years, I think marriage is alive and well. But, as one looks around, you sometimes wonder if that is really so. There are so many divorces, even among Christians. "Until death do us part" has no meaning any longer, it seems. The attitude is 'if we don't jive,then we will just divorce. And, many never even legalize their union; they just merely co-habit. These are certainly not good for onlookers who question marriage for themselves.

Birds of the Air has a great blog on 'Marriage at it's end?'. He spoke about how many states have 'no-fault divorce' where it's easy to get out of an unwanted marriage. He also talks about Christians who do nothing to help the state of marriage. They will identify themselves as Christians, and still shack up and divorce, therefore, laying aside the Word of God on these matters. This is a bad message going to the secular public.

To me, marriage is a union between a man and woman, committed to each other. If they have children, they then set the example for those children to live by. It sends the message that marriage is a great thing to those children, and to be desired, rather than just shacking up. Too many have lost their focus in their marriages, getting divorces without realizing the after effects on the children, as well as the one left behind. If a marriage is interrupted when children are home, don't fool yourself and think your children won't be effected. Some will go through life wondering if they were the reason for the divorce. It is hard for children to comprehend about adult relationships, and see themselves as the cause, even though they are told it is not so.

I do not think that marriage is on the way out, because it is sanctioned by God. He tells us in His Word to marry and 'multiply'. And, multiplying can only be done through a man and woman. Marriage is also to be only between a man and woman, although society today is trying to change God's law, and say that marriage should not be seen as just between a man and woman. They find ways to have children - with man and man or woman and woman. This is not a healthy marriage, no matter what society says. There would never be any question in people's minds, if that were so, because we would have no reason to question it. But, I digress to the Word: Leviticus 20:13.

The world may look at things differently than Christians. Their definition of marriage can be different, as well as their belief that different ways are a sin. Cohabitation is shown on television, and homosexuality is flooding the mainstream, as well. As more and more 'come out of the closet', marriage will be more and more subjected to the ands, ifs, whys, and buts. But, that never will change the Word. It will never take away the right of a child to have both a father and mother. And, it most certainly will never change my thought on marriage, that it is sanctioned by God, and between a man and woman. And, I thank God for my husband who also thinks the way I do. We both came from a home where our parents were together as long as 56 & 67 years before the death of a spouse. May our marriage last as long!

Linked to Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Pirate's Cove Tuesday Linkfest

Technorati Tags: Marriage, Divorce, God

Seeds of doubt can destroy

Regardless of the truth of an allegation, when seeds of doubt have been placed in the minds of the people, they can destroy a person's reputation, his family, and even his life.

Allegations have been made by Mike Jones of Denver, a former gay male escort, against Rev.Ted Haggard, pastor of New Life Church in Denver, Colorado. He is saying he had a 3 year long affair with the pastor. Pastor Haggard says this is not true, and that he has never had an affair outside his marriage with his wife.

Jones made his allegations known to the public on a radio station in Colorado. He says he is coming forward because he feels Rev Haggard is being hypocritical in his stance against gay marriage. Sounds a little fishy, just a few days short of the elections, but he says he has recorded voice messages and a letter with $200 that this preacher gave him.

Only time will tell. But, Jones is having a polygraph test on the radio show today. Nevertheless, Haggard has stepped down from his pastorate temporarily. He has also resigned as leader of the National Association of Evangelicals. In the meantime, the Christian community needs to be in prayer for this pastor, the situation, and also for all the rest of America's Christian leaders. None are immune to attacks such as these, and they need our prayers daily.

Other links to this story: Gay affair charge leveled at Pastor Ted Haggard.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Is It Just Me?
Pursuing Holiness
The Liberal Wrong Wing

Battle of same-sex marriage debate in California

Read the events that led up to California's appeal court ruling that the ban on same-sex marriages did not violate the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians.

HT: Church and State - Traditional Marriage Victorious in California

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: California, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage,

Bush Backs Federal Marriage Amendment

In his Saturday Radio address, President Bush pushed for the Federal Marriage amendment to be passed in Congress. He believes that a healthy marriage between a woman and a man promotes the welfare of our children and the stability of society. He decided to dedicate his speech today to this issue because it comes up for a vote in the Senate next week.

"Marriage cannot be cut off from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening this good influence on society."

The resolution has little chance of passing in the Senate. The Democrats think that their time is being wasted on this issue. The proposal needs 2/3 support in the Senate and House, and then 38 states legislatures would have to ratify it.

In his radio address, Bush struck back at judges who have overturned state laws similar in intent to the proposed legislation.

"Unfortunately, activist judges and some local officials have made an aggressive attempt to redefine marriage in recent years," the president said.

Bush said there is broad consensus in America to protect the institution of marriage.

Lamda legal's Marriage Project Director, David Buckel, says this resolution, if passed would brand all lesbians and gay people as inferior. He said it would give people license to discriminate against them. But, President Bush says this would fully protect the institution of marriage, and it would leave all state legislatures free to make their decisions on legal arrangments for all outside marriage.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Federal Marriage Amendment, President Bush, Senate, Democrats