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  • Eugene Adkins 8:39 pm on June 7, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Biblical Scholars, , , , , marriage,   

    How Much Plainer Does It Have To Be??? 

    I just finished reading an article by some supposed “professors” of “history” and “religious studies” (which I’ve noticed is a world of a difference from actual Biblical knowledge even though they call themselves “academic biblical scholars”) that actually contends that the Bible doesn’t say marriage is only between one man and one woman but that multiple forms of marriage are actually acceptable according to biblical teaching.

    Does “Professing to be wise, they became fools,” (Romans 1:22) ring a bell to anyone but me?

    In their futile attempt to promote the homosexual agenda they revealed (I almost spelled reviled) their contempt for anything that the Bible plainly contradicts when it comes to the sins of past, present and future cultures and societies.

    The supposed “proof” of their claim rests upon the fact that individuals such as Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon had multiple wives. Oh how I wish these wolves in sheep’s clothing critics of the Bible would recognize the difference between the Bible’s record of something and God’s approval of whatever is recorded! David murdered people, but that doesn’t mean it was approved of by God!

    If that weren’t enough, the supposed and self-professed ”professors of the Bible” go on to completely ignore the point made by Jesus in Matthew 19:1-10. In the middle of a discussion about marriage and divorce Jesus brings the discussion back to the beginning of the marriage covenant when there was – wait for it – only one man and one woman who were meant to become one flesh! Not two men and one woman, not two women and one man and not three, four or twelve fleshes! There’s no way around it other than to stick your finger in your ears and yell la la la la. A biblical marriage is meant to be between only one man and one woman.

    Entering into marriage is not a command that every man and woman has to follow, but a lawful marriage in the sight of God cannot be entered into without following the commands of God which makes marriage today exactly what it was meant to be from the beginning!

    A person can call the Bible ancient all they want to, ironically it’s not anything new, but this ancient book still contains all the answers for today’s problems and it also contains the words by which every single and married person alike will be judged by regardless of what our modern-day ethical and moral “standards” think about it.

    How much plainer does it have to be. There are none so blind as those who will not see still rings sadly true.

    And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5)

     
  • Stephen R. Bradd 9:28 am on May 23, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: christian couples, , marriage,   

    Survey for Married, Christian Couples Only 

    We are conducting a survey exclusively for MARRIED, CHRISTIAN COUPLES & we need your help in two ways:

    (1) If you meet the criteria above, we invite you & your spouse to take the survey together.
    (2) We need your help sharing this survey with others via email, Facebook, at church, etc.

    Please visit http://Survey.AudioEvangelism.com/ for more information & to take the survey. Thank you!

    Survey

     
  • Eugene Adkins 6:40 am on April 18, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage, ,   

    “Funny” Quote 

    One of the quotes that I will remember from our revival this week with Larry Acuff said something to the effect of:

    Political correctness wants a woman everywhere except in a marriage to a man.

    So true. So sad.

    The very culture that’s promising to make a woman more than she’s ever been is taking more than what’s ever been taken! That’s because the world promises what it can’t deliver, but God will deliver whatever His word promises.

     
  • John T. Polk II 4:29 am on April 11, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , fears the LORD, , marriage, ,   

    Psalm 128 What’s In It For Me? 

    There is uncertainty regarding the author, time, or circumstances of these Psalms, but it is apparent Psalms 120-134 work together, and are called the “Songs of Degrees,” and sometimes “Songs of Ascension.”

    Verses 1-4 show wonderful blessings of a family that fears God;

    Verses 5-6 show their hope for the future.

    Verses 1-4: (Verse 1) The rule is “everyone who fears the LORD” is “blessed” (happy, contented), regardless of skin, salary, or social status. “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin” (Romans 4:7-8). “The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7).  “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him” (Ecclesiastes 8:12). Everyone who “fears God” walks in His ways. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). (Verse 2) Honest work is rewarding, supporting, and satisfying. “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). “He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer” (Proverbs 18:9). Those who live on government give-aways never know the true wealth of health that comes to those who earn their rewards. It is repeated of those who “will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). (Verse 3) “A fruitful vine” is one that produces something good, and is a good description of a good wife. She is considered the “very heart of your house.” It is in husbands best interest to “to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28).  “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones” (Proverbs 12:4). “Olive plants” produce very useful oil, capable of many applications, so  children add many moments of pleasure and happiness. A man whose wife and children sit around his table cannot be more satisfied. (Verse 4) A home that “fears God” cannot be improved upon for sheer joy.

    Verses 5-6: (Verse 5) For Israelites under Moses, “Zion” was the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the center of their worship, and from which their blessings originated. When individuals “fear God” and “walk in His ways,” it benefits their city for all of their lives. Obeying God is always good for our country, city, community. (Verse 6) Those who serve God not only are blessed themselves, and their families, and their neighbors, but into the next generations, “children’s children.”

    All Scriptures and comments are based upon the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

     
  • John T. Polk II 4:26 am on April 10, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , marriage, , , ,   

    Psalm 127 Living in a Safe House 

    There is uncertainty regarding the author, time, or circumstances of these Psalms, but it is apparent Psalms 120-134 work together, and are called the “Songs of Degrees,” and sometimes “Songs of Ascension.” This one is attributed to Solomon.

    Verses 1-2 describe a Safe House is the Lord’s House;

    Verses 3-5 describe a family in a Safe House.

    Verses 1-2: (Verse 1) Since this is credited to Solomon who had built God’s House (the Temple in Jerusalem, 1 Kings 5:1-5), this naturally fits. Moses’ “house” was the family of Israelites under Moses’ Law: “And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:5-6). Today the “household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15) is the church of Christ, thus the application would be that it is useless to establish any other church, or claim to be a part of the church of Christ, unless one goes all the way by obeying all of what God demands (Acts 2:36-47). Jesus said: “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:7-9). Since the “home” must be established upon the heterosexual love relationship in a marriage (Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6), then all attempts to build a family (house) based upon homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality is “in vain.” The same applies to Solomon’s Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7-9), and every other city that has no foundation of faith in God! There is no purpose in building a house without God, and the sleepless watchman of a city is useless “unless the LORD guards the city.” There is no security in a church, home, or city, without God’s blessing. (Verse 2) It is “vain” (useless) to get up for work early, sit up late, suffering for food, when God is blessing. Diligence is good, as Solomon said: “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4).    Solomon also said: “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). Jesus, the wisest Man of all, said: “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

    Verses 3-5: (Verse 3) There is no greater tribute to the blessing of a child than these verses. First, children are a “heritage” (inheritance) from God. There is no godly way to decide to have an abortion. The miniscule percentage of women whose lives would be in jeopardy should they birth the baby inside them in no way justifies the bloodthirsty, murderous, savage, brutal, sacrificing of human lives called “abortion.” (Verse 4) Second, children of our youthful years become a parent’s strength to endure, like arrows arming a warrior. Parents are people God is preparing to “take on” the struggle of life. (Verse 5) Third, the man should be “happy” because of his responsibility of fatherhood.  His children, unashamed by his duties common to man have his guidance that helps them to be able to take leadership in civic matters, as well. Good parenting affects the future, also.

    Thought:  Males who won’t commit to the responsibility of producing a child with their own marriage spouse, should never be given the opportunity by any female. Females who encourage or accept males as sires and not permanently married mates, are reducing child-bearing to an animal level. Having children without marriage is ugly, degrading, deceptive, and destructive, and should never be judged lightly.

     All Scriptures and comments are based upon the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

     
  • Richard Mansel 1:12 pm on April 3, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , marriage, ,   

    Is Adultery Covenant Breaking? 

    face to face

    by Richard Mansel

    A growing belief is that the traditional definition of “adultery” is erroneous. Instead of being sexual sin, it refers to the breaking of the marriage covenant. Truman Scott admits that the heart of our differences lies in the definition of “adultery.”

    He admits,

    “Up front let me tell you that every publication, I mean Bible dictionary, commentary, Greek Lexicon, Greek word study, specific treatises on divorce and remarriage, I mean everything that has been written or translated within the last 350 to 400 years, define adultery as follows: ‘Sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her spouse.’ That settles it. With such an array of scholarship, who would dare to think anything otherwise?’” [i]

    He goes on to justify challenging the traditional definition of adultery. [ii] First, the restoration movement only succeeded because we questioned denominational beliefs on such things as baptism, music in worship and church organization. Second, the traditional definition leaves too much ambiguity. Third, these sources have failed to give the root meaning of the Greek word for adultery. Fourth, the fallacies of Bible translations. Fifth, the study of the Hebrew and the Septuagint point to  the legitimacy of the concept of covenant breaking. Sixth, a proper reading of the Old Testament will prove undeniable proof.

    (More …)

     
  • Ed Boggess 8:12 am on March 5, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage, , se   

    . No more dangling participles or double negatives please. That is the word that comes from the latest survey of what both single men and women want in a potential mate. Good grammar came in second just behind a great smile. It was more important than their hair or clothes or whether they had a tattoo or not. So all of you who are looking to attract the opposite sex, a little less time in the beauty salon and fashion boutique and a bit more attending to simple English. I suppose I am out of the mix when it comes to contemporary thought. I’m just an old fogy because as far as I am concerned, I’m still more interested in character and companionship and Christian faith when it comes to making a lifelong decision as to who to travel through life with. Of course, I still hold to that old-fashioned idea that marriage is for life, too. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess

     
  • Chad Dollahite 2:22 pm on February 18, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: marriage, ,   

    Yesterday’s Sermons 

    marriagePer Randall’s request, here is my cartoon…can you guess what yesterday’s sermons were about?  It was all actually one sermon that was a bit long, so I started it Sunday morning and finished it in the evening.

    .

    .

    .

    The “so what” of the sermon was that marriage need not be “okay” or “tolerable,” but marriage can be a little taste of heaven here on earth.  And, since the church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:21-32), there’s an application there for all, whether married or single.

     
  • Ed Boggess 8:01 am on February 8, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage, teeth   

    Anthropologist Helen Fisher of Rutgers and an advisor for Match.com says she is not surprised, that the quality of a prospect’s teeth, are most important in a potential date, as revealed in a recent survey. She says, “From a Darwinian perspective, good teeth indicate your health, how much you drink, smoke or eat.” So there you have it, singles. Your ideal match has nothing to do with faith, character or personality. The question is: how good is their dentist? Are those pearly whites genuine or does she use Polygrip? To be perfectly honest, on our first date I never said to my future wife, “Let me have a look at those teeth.” She won my heart with her splendid personality and strong Christian faith. Maybe I missed the boat, but she and I celebrated 46 happy years recently. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess

     
  • TFRStaff 1:57 am on January 31, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage,   

    11 ways to make prayers more meaningful 

    by Charles L Brown (sent by Glenn Hitchcock)

    1. PRAY MORE. The average Christian spends a very limited amount of time in prayer. We often reserve prayer for emergency use only. How much time would you estimate you spent in prayer yesterday? How much time last week? More Daniels are needed today (Dan. 6:10).

    2. BE MORE SPECIFIC IN PRAYER. Prayers are often far too general, too vague. More praying should be done for specific people, specific needs, etc. Prayer should be fitted to the occasion and need. Too often our prayers are like that of the young boy when he and a friend found themselves in the pathway of what appeared to be sure disaster with no way of escape. One of the boys prayed the only prayer he had ever heard his father pray, and that before meals. He said, “God, make us thankful for what we are about to receive!” It may be that our prayers are often no more appropriate for the occasions.

    3. PRAY WITH GREATER FAITH. James said that weak faith and futile prayers are connected (Jas. 1:6). Doubts and uncertainties hinder prayers. The source for a greater faith is God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).

    4. RISE ABOVE THE SIN OF COVETOUSNESS. James also tells us that a covetous spirit hinders our prayers (Jas. 4:2). Selfish hearts do not gain the ear of God. A loving and giving God is seeking to bless those with generous spirits.

    5. PRAY WITH GREATER ZEAL AND FERVENCY. Another important ingredient of acceptable prayer is enthusiasm or fervency, so declared James (Jas. 5:16). Prayers coming only from the lips, and not from the hearts, are hollow and empty. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day prayed such prayers.

    6. GROW MORE GODLY. The more righteous we become, the more prayer accomplishes (Jas. 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:12). Elijah’s success in prayer was directly related to his righteousness in life. The rebellious spirit and the unrepented sins will always hinder our prayers (Prov. 1:28; Isa. 5 9:2).

    7. IMPROVE MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS. Peter tells us that relationships between husbands and wives either help or hinder prayers (1 Pet. 3:7). When relationships break down between marriage partners our relationship with God is affected. (More …)

     
    • UChenna F. Bekee 4:39 pm on February 1, 2013 Permalink | Reply

      Being criticized for emphasizing these facts and more in my ministry to the brethren that a fellow preacher was asked to recommend my work for a support by a congregation and he told them that I emphasize so much about prayers to the Christians. I believe som much on the efficacy or prayers and the closeness that a Christian enjoys when He has a living prayer relationship with God.

    • Glenda Williams 9:01 pm on February 2, 2013 Permalink | Reply

      I’m going to email this to everyone on our church bulletin list. Excellent article.

  • Eugene Adkins 6:45 pm on January 19, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage   

    Nudge: What “Small” Thing do You do for Your Spouse? 

    There are ”small” things that I do for the sake of my spouse. I may not do them often enough, but when they’re done it’s pretty much for her benefit.

    So here’s the nudge:

    What are some “small” things that you do that only your spouse can really appreciate? Or if you would rather brag on your spouse, what are some “small” things they do for you that only you can appreciate?

    These things don’t have to be expensive, complicated or even too serious. For example, one ”small” thing that I do from time to time that makes my spouse happy is I shave…that’s right, no one appreciates me shaving like my spouse does, and if it wasn’t for her I would do it a lot less.

    So speak up, let’s hear what you’re doing or let’s hear your ideas for what can be done.

    Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33 - NKJV)

     
    • Stephen R. Bradd 8:51 am on January 21, 2013 Permalink | Reply

      Emptying the dish washer or sweeping the floor.

      • Eugene Adkins 6:06 pm on January 21, 2013 Permalink | Reply

        Thanks for the comment, Stephen. I knew there had to be at least one fella out there who knew the big value of doing little deeds when it comes to our better-half.

  • James M. 1:18 pm on January 19, 2013 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage   

    What’s wrong with this article? 

    Marriage isn’t a sacrament. One. But is there anything else in this article you’d differ with?

     

     
    • Stephen R. Bradd 9:03 am on January 21, 2013 Permalink | Reply

      Hi Randal. The only thing that I question is this:
      How is it the case that the love Adam & Eve shared was sacrificial?
      I suppose one might reply in regards to Eve’s origin. As I read Gen 2, however, there is no indication that Adam volunteered his rib. If Eve was created without Adam’s foreknowledge, is this really sacrificial love on Adam’s part OR rather God doing what was best for man?
      It is true that Adam is pleased with the bride God provided him, but I see nothing of sacrificial love in Gen 2.
      I definitely don’t see it in Gen. 3 either. Adam throws Eve under the bus pretty quickly for their transgressions, though he was more responsible (per I Tim 2).
      Am I missing something here? Can we support the notion that Adam & Eve shared a sacrificial love?

    • J. Randal Matheny 1:36 pm on January 21, 2013 Permalink | Reply

      Hi Stephen, good question. I didn’t think much about it when I read over it. I suppose one could apply the idea of a sacrificial love to the daily relationship, though there wouldn’t be much textual evidence for that, only suppositional. I agree with you that Adam probably had no idea that he was going to give up a rib.

  • John T. Polk II 1:10 am on December 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , marriage, massacre, , ,   

    Why Sandy Hook? 

    On Friday, December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, a 20-year-old gunman massacred 20 Sandy Hook Elementary Students, 5 Faculty members, his mother, and then himself. Too late, he took himself out of our misery. The inevitable question is: WHY?

    (1) Former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, the next day on Fox TV News noted the answer is “complex,” involving medical, psychological, mental, sociological factors, and anyone who had a simple answer could not be right. (2) Politicians and their Propaganda Press, began their tyrannical mantra of, “all guns must be outlawed.” (3) Even before the precious bodies began to be buried, President Obama did not let this crisis go to waste, and on Sunday opened his address to that stunned community gathering with a Scripture quotation:

     A) “Thank you. Thank you, governor. To all the families, first responders, to the community of Newtown, clergy, guests: Scripture tells us: “…do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away…inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

    He also used the occasion to advance his political agenda:

    B) “In the coming weeks, I’ll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens — from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators — in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this,” Obama said. “Because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine. Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage? That the politics are too hard?”

     A response to their remarks follows.

    (1) Mayor Giuliani’s comment shows abysmal ignorance of the Word of God. God created humans and knows everything about us; the Bible is the gradual unfolding of the revelation of God and what He provides in our best interest; Jesus Christ is the only personification of perfection in a human being. God condemned the first murderer, Cain, who killed his brother Abel. “Why?” is answered in 1 John 3:11-12: “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” In the entire history of mankind, those who choose to do evil obey the Devil, of whom Jesus Christ said, “”Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:43-44). The simple solution to all evil is that, for whatever reasons, evil is chosen and the Devil obeyed. Jesus Christ is available for everyone who repents and is baptized in His name for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

    (2) The Propaganda Press drive a political agenda by reciting its current mantra, without investigating and reporting only the facts. Any horrific crime where a gun is used, “the gun must be outlawed.” Almost every school shooter has been a boy from a broken home. God planned that every child born should have two parents: a male and a female (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Colossians 3:18-21). A Government which sanctions divorce for every cause, “legalizes” homosexual “marriages,” and provides welfare for single parents has virtually destroyed the will and need for the home as God would have it. For every “single mother” there is a delinquent dad. But the Propaganda Press completely ignores this fact because they headline their “party line.”

     (3) A) The Scripture the President quoted is 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1, and it comforts in that it emphasizes that the stresses and pains we encounter in this life should not keep us from achieving the greater goal of “an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

    However the President of the United States of America, standing before the American Flag and behind the Presidential Seal, in a public school facility, and in his official capacity representing the Executive Branch of the Government, quoted Scripture??? What happened to the “separation of church and state” arguments? The President proved by his quotation that there is NO “Law of the Land” that separates “church and state,” therefore THERE IS NO LEGAL PROHIBITION FOR PREACHING SCRIPTURE, PRAYING, OR OTHER RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES!!! Since he disregarded all supposed claims that separate church from state, WHY CAN’T ALL CHRISTIANS DO THE SAME?

    The President’s quotation was written by an “Apostle of Jesus Christ” and to those whose “sufferings” and “consolation” are connected with Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:1, 5). Was the President being insensitive to other religious groups? Were there no Jews, Muslims, or Atheists present to object to Christian Scripture, or the concepts of “inner man,” or “eternal?” One parent’s objection has been all it has taken to stop such references throughout the rest of the country. Since the President of the United States of America can preach from Scripture written in the name of Jesus Christ in complete disregard for minority objections, THEN WHY CAN’T ALL CHRISTIANS? Those who do not accept the beliefs of the group should simply absent themselves from that group assembly.

    That the President would quote Scripture to show concern for these dead children makes one wonder why he doesn’t quote other Scriptures for the living children?

    -Has he not read about the Egyptian king who “dealt treacherously” by having babies killed as they were born (Acts 7:17-19)?

    -Has he not read how God described how His sparing Jerusalem was like saving a newborn baby that had been “loathed on the day” it was born and thrown to the ground that it might die (Ezekiel 16:1-6)?

    -Has he not read that God’s Prophet, Elisha, wept foreseeing a king’s “evil” who “will dash their children, and rip open their women with child” (2 Kings 8:12)?

    -When abortion murders millions of babies who, though conceived, were “not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil” (Romans 9:10-11), what is the President doing to prevent “more tragedies like this?”

    If the President only quoted Scripture for a political photo-op, then, we must conclude he uses God’s Word to cover selfish ambition, and is “handling the word of God deceitfully” (2 Corinthians 4:2). If, however, he believes in God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ, then we must conclude that he’ll “use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens — from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators — in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this” by Executive Order, thus remove all laws and rulings that presently “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

    (3) B) The President said, “We can’t accept events like this as routine. Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage? That the politics are too hard?”

    -Then how can he accept “as routine” abortion clinics, Planned Parenthood, or The Supreme Court’s ruling that approve the genocide of abortion?

    -Then how can he accept “as routine” thousands of American military service personnel who continually die in foreign countries?

    -Then how can he accept “as routine” Federal policies that hamper public education (and protection!) of our precious children, that take it out of local, loving hands?

    There is no answer or preventative to be found in the institutions of men who “only fix our eyes on what is seen,” and refuse to see the solution offered by the God who cannot be seen about that which we cannot see. Only God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ can prevent more sin.

              —–John T. Polk II

     
  • Eugene Adkins 6:31 am on December 14, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage,   

    Happy 54th to My In-Laws and to Their Example 

    My in-laws have been like, acted like and felt like my parents in many more ways more than one. They have filled a big spot and have been a huge influence for good in my life for about the last 15 years of my life. The influence for good hasn’t stopped at 15 years…it keeps going! One reason is because they have celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary together! My wife and I have quite a way to go before we catch up to that number, but because of their example we want too. The amazing thing is that while this anniversary is absolutely wonderful, among the peers of their generation it isn’t exactly rare!

    I fear that while the life expectancy of my generation is expected to grow past my in-laws’ due to medical advancements, and other reasons, the fact of the matter is that anniversaries won’t be as commonplace among my peers. My generation has been raised by the “flower power” generation to believe that marriage is a come and go relationship rather than a leave and cleave relationship.

    My generation as a whole has traded homes for houses! My generation  as a whole has traded holy matrimony for happy musings! My generation as a whole has traded a lawfully wedded husband and wife for unlawfully wedded husbands and wives! My generation as a whole is in the hole when it comes to appreciating the value of marriage. What kind of generation will this generation raise???

    My prayer is that my generation will continue to see the beauty of marriages that last beyond the “joys” of life by being a part of each other’s “joy” in life. And on top of that, my prayer is that the great generation of mighty marriages will explain to my generation that a lasting marriage is built with hard work and love and not flat-screen TVs, credit card debt, a closet full of shoes and the newest model of vehicle off of the assembly line every two years…please remind us that marriages are built with an abundance of love and not an abundance of stuff!

    Now let me finish where I started – Happy Fifty-Fourth Anniversary Albert and Christine, I love you both!

    Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

     
  • John T. Polk II 4:51 am on November 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , marriage   

    Psalm 45 

    Vs. 1-9 describe the Groom to be married, and it points to Jesus Christ;

    Vs. 10-15 depict the church of Christ as the Bride;

    Vs. 16-17 describe the offspring produced by that marriage (no abortion here!).

    Verses 1-9: It’s wonderful to read the joyful anticipation of a wedding of two good people (verse 1). Jesus Christ is the Groom being described, and He: verse 2) has a tongue of grace (Luke 4:22); verse 3) has a sword of authority (Luke 9:42-43; 2 Peter 1:16-18); verse 4) is blessed for His “truth” (John 18:37), “humility”(Philippians 2:8), “righteousness”(1 John 3:4-7); verse 5) is victorious (Matthew 12:15-21). This Groom is Regal as only Jesus is. Verses 6-7 are quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9 to prove the Deity of Jesus Christ: “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions’” (Hebrews 1:8-9). God’s place for angels is different (Hebrews 1:7), therefore Jesus Christ was/is no angelic being at any time! The mythologies that make Him one are patently, completely false! Jesus was/is God, not an angel! Verse 8-9) His royal robes have the same fragrances as the “holy anointing oil” under the Law of Moses (Exodus 30:22-25), which shows Jesus Christ “has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).

    Verses 10-15: describe the Bride, which is the church of Christ: composed of those baptized into Christ “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38); whom “the Lord added to the church” (Acts 2:47); who have died to the Law of Moses (Romans 7:1-4); who live faithfully “betrothed” to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2-4); who love Jesus who died for them (Ephesians 5:22-33); and anticipate their marriage (Revelation 19:5-10; 21:1-27). The church of Christ must be devoted to Jesus Christ: verse 10) over family; verse 11) in adoration; verse 12) “praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47); verse 13-14) cleanly clothed (Ephesians 5:25-27); verses 14-15) properly presented.

    Verses 16-17: Being in the Royal Family is promised to all who obey the Gospel: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). The church of Christ can say Jesus “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6).

     All Scriptures and comments are based upon the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

     
  • Ed Boggess 9:15 am on November 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: homophobic, , marriage   

    This is Just-A-Minute. Ordained Baptist minister and Georgetown University professor Mike Dyson proclaimed on MSNBC, “We cannot interpret the Bible literally. Marriage is a complicated affair. It’s evolved over the last several centuries.” Is that so?! The only thing that has evolved is man’s opinion. The Bible reads the same and the sins it condemns remain the same. Dyson is trying to justify same-sex marriage, but that which God condemns, let not man try to justify. Someone says, “Preacher, you must be homophobic, talking about this so much.” The fact is I’d rather not focus on it. Things were better when it was in the closet. But now gays and lesbians are Hollywood favorites and media darlings and I’m tired of having perversion pushed down my throat.

     
  • Ed Boggess 8:03 am on November 1, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: against nature, , marriage   

    This is Just-A-Minute. Marriage is holy and sacred in the eyes of God and it once was in the eyes of man. Now days, however, men argue that men can marry men and women can marry women; and the majority of public opinion says, “Well, I’d never do it, but if that’s what they want, who am I to object?” A society, that accepts anything, stands for nothing! I, for one, object! If God had intended for a man to marry a man, He could have created Adam and Steve; instead of Adam and Eve! Had He done so, however, there would have been no Cain and Abel or anyone else. This is why the Bible says homosexuality is “against nature”, Romans 1. Two men or two women will never produce offspring. It might solve overpopulation, but in the end it is against nature, perverse and condemned by God.

     
    • robertebarger 1:24 pm on November 1, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Hi Ed,
      I agree that what you are saying is true, Marriage is to be holy and within the guidelines of God’s word, but the reason that people do bad things is because of demons from satan. We must come to the place that we understand that Satan has had the first shot at us. By the sin of one man sin entered into the world. and death upon all men, from Adam to Moses, than came the law which cannot save us, but it condemns us. What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law, of Moses, and Christ. When we sin, we allow a demon into our life that controls us, and wants to steal, kill and destroy us. When we condemn a person, we enter into their sin by judging them. In 2 Timothy 2:23 it tells us to avoid foolish and unlearned questions. Why? because it causes strife, and it goes on to say that when we do not avoid foolish and unlearned questions, we oppose ourselves and Satan has taken us at his will. When we are in this place, causing strife, we are a babe in Christ and have need of Milk, and not meat.
      2 Peter 2:1 & 2) Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
      2) As new-born babes (your babes because you are doing these things) As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby: When we are doing these things we are yet carnal, and not spiritual.1 Corinthians 3::1-3
      1Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man recieveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him: ( demons being the cause of sin) neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
      1 Corinthians 3:1-3
      1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even unto babes in Christ.
      2) I have fed you with milk and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet are ye able,
      3) For ye are ye carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
      Christ has become” the Judge” of the quick ( the made alive ones) Christ has become” the Judge of the quick and the dead.”
      Acts 10:42 & 43
      42)And he (Jesus Christ) And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He (Jesus Christ ) which was ordained of God to be the “Judge” of the quick and dead.
      43) To Him (Jesus Christ) to Him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall recieve remission of sins.
      (If we judge people, we are showing mercy, but judging them. WE have taken Jesus’ place as judge! and now we are sinning because we are judging people instead of showing them mercy. When we judge, we cannot pray, Father forgive them for they know not what they do!
      Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself: for thou that judgest doest the same thing.
      I hope that we can be brothers in the Lord and be friends and give Jesus Christ the glory.
      Father, I pray for Ed and ask that you bless him in Jesus name. I pray for Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, that you would send him to give Ed understanding in Paul’s understanding that Ed might see and understand in Jesus name.
      Ephesians 6:18-21
      18)Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
      19)And (pray) for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
      20) For which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
      21) But that ye (ED) also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, ahall make known to you all things.
      22) Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your heart.

  • Eugene Adkins 5:57 pm on August 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage, ,   

    Who Else Would Know? 

    English: A little girl has her first visit to ...

    English: A little girl has her first visit to the dentist. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    My wife brought our daughter with her today to the dentist office. Since this was my daughter’s first visit to the dentist office the employees mentioned how they would have been able to tell who her father was even if they didn’t know me because she looks so much like me.

    They went on to tell my wife that our daughter even holds her mouth like me. When she said this I told my wife I would have to ask them what they meant by that, to which she replied: if anyone would know how I hold my mouth it would be the dentist office!

    Just another reason why I love my wife…and daughter.

    Note: The little girl in the picture is not my daughter – I just thought the picture was too cute not to use :)

     
  • John Henson 2:16 pm on August 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage,   

    Not a Piece of Paper 

    One of our favorite wedding photographs is where Judy and I embrace and she winks while holding our wedding license on my back.

    For many years, the state’s part in a wedding has been very small: it has been confined to the issuance of a license and, later, a certificate. Now, however, the government is placed in the role of defining marriage.

    Why has the government’s role become so large? The answer is simply divorce. Once God is taken out of marriage all that is left is a civil union defined by the state and not by the word of God. Divorce is a piece of paper.

    When God is no longer associated with marriage, then it becomes something the state can begin and end with court papers. So, for many people these days, marriage is nothing more than a scrap of paper.

    The latest man-made deviation from God’s plan for marriage has been fostered by those who wish to make same-sex marriage the law of the land. Since marriage is recognized by many people as simply a civil matter, homosexuals have decided they wish to have “the right” to get married.

    All of man’s digression from God’s institution of marriage, whether it is divorce or same-sex marriage, springs from one motive: remove God from the process.

    For the joining of a man and woman to become marriage, it must of necessity include God. Marriages cannot be made without God. In the wedding ceremony, the bride and the groom are asked if they take each other and will live “after God’s own ordinance.” God’s ordinance is not man’s contract law. It is GOD’S LAW.

    Homosexuals claim they want the “right” to get married, but do not understand marriage is in accordance with God’s law, not civil law. It is not a civil contract: it is a MARRIAGE by God’s ordinance.

    If it is the case that marriage is described as only a union between a man and a woman, then it is the case that marriage is not a union God allows for homosexuals. It is the case that God designed marriage only for a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5,7). Therefore, marriage is not a union God allows for homosexuals. Instead, these are people who are only mentioned among those who will never inherit the kingdom of God and its blessings (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

    Marriage isn’t just a piece of paper signed by an official of the state. It is according to the divine ordinance of Almighty God.

     
  • Eugene Adkins 6:56 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , marriage, ,   

    “Proverbs Are The Piths” (10) 

    In Proverbs 5:1-14 Solomon has warned his son about the end result of adultery; now he gives a solution to help extinguish the tempter’s fire in Proverbs 5:15-23. And what is this solution? Feed the fire that burns at home and you won’t have time to feed the ones out on the street!

    Verses 15-17: If you don’t go around drinking from any ole’ water source, then why trust just anybody with something that goes straight to the heart? The consequences are rampant even today. Illegitimate children who suffer because of bad decisions made through lust, broken homes and STD’s aren’t just modern casualties of illicit sex! But modern-day TV shows reveal hearts by having no shame in profiting from the spectacle of people not knowing who has fathered their child, marriages that get dissolved before they ever began and circus-like atmospheres that supposed adults create for our culture to be spoon-fed with all because someone decided to take a drink from a stagnant and deadly source. Stick with running waters and the source we can trust and there will be no sickness that others suffer with.

    Verses 18-20: Solomon urges his son to be “intoxicated” with his wife and he won’t be poisoned by adultery! Sex was designed by God and God designed marriage to be the place where the passions get played out. Any other avenue results in grave danger (Hebrews 13:4). There is intended to be much more involved in sex than just the physical pleasure. Notice how Solomon does not leave out the word “love.” To reduce the act of sex to the physical act alone, is to reduce the one with whom the act is shared with down to a physical object that can be replaced, removed and resold! There is no safety in the arms of someone who seeks only the fleeting physical pleasures of sex and not the lasting bond of love, care, concern and happiness through God’s ordained marriage covenant.

    Verses 21-23: Why listen to this marriage counselor? Why think with the mind and not the flesh? Because our Creator is watching! The immoral person couldn’t care less about the soul that we must give an account for. This lesson that’s worth remembering for our culture today has a lot more to do with the Law of Heaven than it does with the Law of the Land! Instruction has been given, but the results and deadliness of not heeding it can sadly be seen in every generation.

     
    • Don Ruhl 7:52 am on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      “Feed the fire that burns at home and you won’t have time to feed the ones out on the street!” Nice wording, brother.

      • Eugene Adkins 4:08 pm on July 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Thanks, Don.

        Use it to teach brother. It should be an analogy that’s easy enough for anyone to understand. Might even help us and others to understand what to do if/when that “old flame” appears in person or over the web.

        Solomon isn’t done with the fire analogies either. More advice to come; some that he’s probably giving from personal experience when he got burned on several (hundred) occasions.

  • Eugene Adkins 6:47 am on July 12, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage, ,   

    “Proverbs Are The Piths” (9) 

    Think the advice of Solomon is outdated??? Read chapter 5:1-14 to change your mind! In this section, Solomon tackles the topic of adultery, and you know what? The only thing that has changed about adultery is the name our culture calls it. Who was it that said, “There’s nothing new under the sun” again?

    Verses 1-6: Right away Solomon urges to listen up! This is serious! When we mess with adultery we’re messing with candy-coated poison. Steer your lips clear and keep them clean with discretion and knowledge. Two things that every body doesn’t want. The strange/immoral woman/prostitute promises a life like no other, but it only leads in one direction (vs. 5). Solomon pleads with his son to remember that she has no interest in the right path for your life, and she’ll do whatever she can to keep you from thinking about it too. She’s nothing like the woman called knowledge in Proverbs 4:5-9 – you can’t figure this one out so don’t even try!

    Verses 7-14: Commit adultery and we’ll walk in something, but we’ll leave out with nothing. Like Paul told Timothy, there are times when we’ll never regret running away (2 Timothy 2:22). Honor, years of life, wealth, health, senses and self! Do you know what they all have in common? Commit adultery and you can kiss them goodbye according to Solomon. Ignore this advice, and we do so to our own peril.

    Have you ever wondered how Solomon found out about the way his father and mother met each other? Maybe his point of view toward adultery came from that knowledge; but if I had to be honest, it sounds like words from personal experience to me. After all, not only do we know about the mistakes of Solomon’s father when it came to women; we know about the mistakes of David’s son too. Perhaps Solomon was trying to break a family tradition that will break up a man, a faith, a heart, a conscience, a life, a soul and the entire family.

    In the next several verses Solomon reminds his son about two ways to avoid getting caught in the trap of adultery. We’ll save those for next time.

     
  • Eugene Adkins 7:05 am on June 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage, ,   

    Here’s a Few Randomly Ordered Thoughts 

    I’m going to “borrow” one of Randal’s post themes to share a few thoughts with you this morning:

    I have bought my last bag of Oreo’s! Don’t know why? Google “Oreo and Controversy” and you’ll probably find out real quick. I’ll do just fine with the generic version of the cookie.

    A young man came walking through the county I live in the other day while carrying a cross (on wheels of course). He had decided to walk from Texas to Washington D.C. to draw attention to the nation’s behavior and to raise money for missions that were important to him. The local radio station caught up with him to ask him what was going on. In the interview he said when he got to D.C. that he was going to hold a prayer service and pray that the nation’s leaders would listen with their heart and make the right choices. I’m not knocking the young man’s intentions, there are several things admirable about them, but the whole reason that America is suffering from some of the problems we have is that our leaders are already listening with their own hearts instead of listening to God’s word! (see also 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Daniel 5:18-28 and Proverbs 13:34)

    I love being a father. My first child has taught me two things. Lesson One: I can understand how some parents could want to have 7 children! Lesson Two: I can understand how some parents could want to stop at one! :)

    I saw a story about a couple who tore down a $4.2 million mansion just so they could have a better view! I don’t know about you, but it sounds like they’re doing better than all right in this economy. I can think of a Bible verse or two that describes the foolishness of such behavior too.

    Want to know a simple way to make your wife smile guys? Put supper up in the fridge when they cooked enough for leftovers on purpose, but they’ve forgotten about it because they’re doing “little things” like bathing and dressing and feeding and putting your child to bed. She got up this morning and remembered that she didn’t put up the food, only to find that “super-man” had saved her day. Maybe I should have referred to myself as “supper-man” instead. I love being married. My wife and her family have helped me in ways that I can’t even explain.

    I’ll be back with a sermon outline for Psalm 71 in my next post. It’ll be the ”bare bones” but I promise it’ll help you preach the text (one worth preaching I might add) without a problem.

     
    • J. Randal Matheny 8:10 am on June 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Your two fatherly lessons were worth a good laugh. So true. I joke around saying I’m proud of my kids, when I’m not wanting to choke them. :)

  • James M. 10:50 am on June 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage   

    My end may be near 

    The server that hosts many of our sites (FMag, BNc, my weblog, etc.) has again blocked my Internet provider. For about the third time. Getting this unstuck proves to be a challenge.

    • Blocking an Internet provider is like this: One person hacks or does something foul on the Internet, so the provider he uses gets blocked, along with all the people that use that provider. That’s the moral equivalent to when a 25-year-old steals something, you put half the 20-30 year olds in jail for it. How’s that for logic? Or am I missing something?

    • I regularly help Brazilians, and others, connect around the world. This time, a Brazilian sister from another state going to spend a year in France. Apparently, no churches meet where she will be, so I pray she can find spiritual strength during this time.

    Pãozinhos and tea for breakfast. Ah! the small pleasures of life. Another is sleeping in one’s own bed. Truly, no place like home, be it ever so humble.

    • At supper, The Missus said it seemed like something was missing. (That something was The Maiden, who, if you’ve not heard by now, we left in the US.) I told her to consider it an extended date. Reckon that’ll work? Doesn’t that appeal to feminine need for romanticism?

    • Since The Missus had her shoes on already, she went to buy bread this morning, and I put on the water for tea. She said there was Earl Grey, and when I saw a new box of it on the table, I opened it and used that. She returned and said there was a box in the cabinet already opened. As she came toward me with hands in that choking position. Now, I appeal to all men everywhere: Was I not justified in opening the Earl Grey on the table?

    • I told y’all to pray for me as we came back to an empty nest. I may not last the week before The Missus does away with me.

     
  • Ed Boggess 8:07 am on May 29, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage   

    John Harrison advertised in the Knoxville Journal for a husband for his daughter. The ad said, “Needed: son-in-law. Hunting and fishing a must. Must be willing to wash dishes on hunting trips.” Harrison says his daughter was dating too many men who weren’t outdoorsy. For years many have thought that compatibility was the most important ingredient in a successful marriage. However recent studies show that commitment and communication are far more important. Commitment is the determination to make it work. And communication is the ability to understand another’s viewpoint. It is not fighting, nagging, insulting or arguing. At the root of communication is unselfishness. Real communication desires to understand what the other thinks and feels. Each should be seeking the happiness of the other. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess

     
  • Ed Boggess 7:49 am on May 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage   

    Marital conflict is a fact of life. Disagreement of one degree or another is sure to come. I once had a lady say, “We’ve been married 40 years and have never had a cross word.” I don’t trust a person like that. I figure if they lie about that, they’ll lie about other things too. Some marriages have occasional skirmishes, others have all-out-war. One man referred to his wife as “The War Department”. I’ve stood at the Southern tip of Illinois, and have watched the great Ohio and Mississippi rivers converge. Where they come together there is a lot of turbulence, but 20 miles downstream the two have become one. When two people marry, it takes a while to blend two wills into one. Conflict is sure to happen. The question is how to handle it? Is it resolved? or Is it kept and nursed until it explodes some day? Paul said, Be ye angry (that is express it) and sin not (that is control it) and let not the sun go down on your wrath (bury it). Express it, control it, and bury it. . This is “Just-a-Minute” with Ed Boggess

     
  • Ed Boggess 7:42 am on May 21, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage   

    Recently, I heard of a fellow who was flying into Dallas. He couldn’t help but notice that the fellow seated next to him was wearing his wedding band on the wrong finger, his index finger. He thought that was just a bit unusual, so he remarked, “Friend, I notice you’re wearing your wedding band on the wrong finger.” The fellow replied, “Yeah, it’s to remind me I married the wrong woman!” A lot of people feel that way. Chances are if you asked his wife she’d say that she had married the wrong man. A long time ago, a wise man said, “More important than finding the right mate is being the right mate!” That is a truth many have yet to learn. You marry Cinderella, but she ends up the wicked witch of the West. Prince Charming and Snow White are fine for fairy tales, but marriage is no fairy-tale. Real marriages are made with real people. If you would “live happily ever after”, you’ve got to be willing to work at it. This is “Just-a-Minute” with Ed Boggess

     
  • Ed Boggess 8:00 am on May 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , marriage   

    Professor Hans Jurgens asked 5,000 German husbands and wives how often they talked to each other. After two years of marriage, most of them managed 2 or 3 minutes of chat over breakfast, about 20 minutes at supper and a few more minutes before retiring. By the sixth year, it was down to 10 minutes a day. By the 8th year of marriage, a state of almost speechlessness was reached. Surely, this sad lack of communication contributes to the skyrocketing divorce rate. Marriage experts tell us that there are “three C’s” that are the keys to successful marriages: commitment, communication, and cohesion. When couples stop communicating, the marriage already has one strike against it. The other two usually come in short order. If you want to have a successful marriage, start by talking to each other; not shouting, not insulting, not nagging, sut simple communication. “What God hath joined together let not man put asunder.” This is Just-a-Minute with Ed Boggess

     
  • Eugene Adkins 6:28 pm on May 5, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage   

    Who’s the Crazy One? 

    My wife left this message for me on my dry erase board: “My husband thinks I’m crazy…But I’m not the one who married me!”

    And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”” (Genesis 2:18- NKJV)

     
  • Richard Mansel 3:25 pm on May 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage, mdr,   

    Battleground Passage 

    I have been asked to speak on 1 Corinthians 7:14-16:

    14: “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

    15: But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

    16: For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

    Considering the number of doctrinal fights over this passage concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage, this is a daunting task. I guess I will find out how many theories there are out there for this passage.

    The first and last verses are rather easy — the middle is a battlefield passage in the Lord’s church.  Entire books have been written on this passage doing battle against false doctrines.

    What are your thoughts on this passage? Thanks for your input!

     

     
    • Weylan Deaver 3:31 pm on May 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I recommend Thomas B. Warren’s book, “Under Bondage To the Law of Christ (The Only Real Freedom),” in which he refutes the error of James D. Bales’ book, “Not Under Bondage.” Error on MDR will continue to be a thorn in the church’s side as long as we cave to society rather than listen to what the Lord said in Matthew 19.

    • Richard Mansel 3:41 pm on May 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thank you, brother. I have that book right in front of me.

    • Ron Thomas 4:40 am on May 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I think as Weylan does, but all applications belong to the couples that might be involved in a compromise. What I mean by this is simply this: I am not an investigator; if one mentions to me something on the topic, I will show them the Lord’s teachings, and encourage them to make application where required.

      It’s a tough subject, but more so because of the compromises that have resulted with the break down of morality.

    • Russ McCullough 7:53 am on May 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      First and foremost, Paul is 100% consistent with Christ in Matt. 19. That is a given. Jesus says that marriage is only between one man and one woman for life, death and adultery excepted. Those separating for other reasons must relegate themselves to “eunuch for the Kingdom” status for the rest of their lives – no sexual unions with anyone else…ever. A very high standard. Paul is allowing the Christian freedom to let their pagan mate to leave. The Christian is not “bound” to go with them. However, if there is no adultery on the part of the pagan mate, there is also…according to Christ…no permission to remarry. In pagan society, however, adultery at the pagan temples would be the norm, not the exception. When that would happen the Christian could then scripturally remarry. Not many can hear this truth. Bro. Keeble once observed; “Baptism washes away sins, not marriages.”

      • Royce Pendergrass 6:27 am on May 4, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        I am not a book salesman but I would recommend Bro. Burton Coffman’s Commentary on 1 Corinthians on this subject particularly his footnote on the chapter. I had a good brother tell me he felt compelled to take a candidate to the back room to determine if they were fit for baptism. My simple thought was, “where is the doctrine that teaches that?”

  • Eugene Adkins 9:10 pm on April 12, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , marriage   

    “Sad Times at Pilgrim High” 

    What’s the new controversy on the street? A mural of a young boy, growing up and graduating from school? Nah. There’s nothing controversial about that. But a mural of a young boy, growing up, graduating from school…getting married and starting a “traditional” family. Now that’s controversial! At least that’s what some leaders of Pilgrim High School in Rhode Island considered it.

    Whatever “progress” those at the Pilgrim school have in mind, it will never get ahead of God’s plan for the family: one man, one woman, one life (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-5).

     
  • Eugene Adkins 6:57 am on April 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage,   

    Husbands, which one is it? 

    All right you fellas with a ring on “that” finger, I have some questions for you.

    Do you still remember what it was like when you were just dating your wife? Do you still remember what it was like to do random things for her that she didn’t expect?

    What’s it like today compared to the past? Which one is it? Is it still those sweet nothings from time to time – or has it turned into nothing sweet?

    “Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.” (Colossians 3:19, NKJV)

     
  • James M. 6:32 am on March 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage   

    A woman’s prayer (cartoon) 

    Image/photo
    So that’s why The Missus was asking for strength (under her breath) the other day! #cartoon #backpew #marriage

     
  • Ed Boggess 7:27 am on February 22, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage   

    Someone has said, “The honeymoon is over when he quits calling her slender and calls her skinny and when he stops helping her with the dishes and has to do them by himself. All marriages have a honeymoon stage when everything about the other is peaches and cream. But after awhile it turns to pits and curds. Prince Charming turns into a grouch on a couch in a slouch and Cinderella has switched to a witch with an itch to nag. Each one says, “That’s not the same person I married.” Well, welcome to reality. Each is disillusioned. Each is disappointed with the other. The question is: what to do about it? Do you throw in the towel, get a divorce, and start the cycle all over again? Too many find their ideal turns out to be an ordeal, so they are ready for a new deal. But that’s not the answer. The solution is to work through the differences to a healthy and mature relationship. This is achieved through adjustment and acceptance, and working it out. This is “Just-a-Minute” with Ed Boggess

     
  • James M. 1:37 pm on February 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage, , , Ronald Reagan   

    Why I love my wife &c. 

    Rob Lester did a series on Facebook about the reasons why he loved his wife, many of them humorous. Here’s one of mine. I go into the kitchen after my Saturday afternoon nap for a drink of water (The Missus had forwarded an email to me the day before about the need to drink water to keep the kidneys in good shape), and she prepares me a homemade cappuccino and two, not one, but two brownies. Ah, life is hard.

    • Been busy with some poetry in the past few days. Today, a love poem for The Missus (she said she assumed I’d written it for her): “To Speak of Love.” Yesterday, last night actually, before I hit the sack, a piece here on TFR: “So Let’s Dance in the Aisles.” And also yesterday, an almost melancholy piece, “In Wings and Walls.”

    • The first two were written on the fly, popped ‘em out and posted. The latter I wrote a few days earlier, tweaked it a bit, then posted. Maybe I should give the poems a rest next week, reckon? But then they appear at their own behest, not mine.

    • My dad spent the night in the hospital Wednesday. He passed out in church. Apparently, a combination of sinus infection and dehydration. Drove himself home the next day (Mom had gone for a checkup on her pacemaker), I talked to him last night, seems to be OK. But I’d appreciate a prayer for him. He’s only 81.

    • Do you like the sound of your voice? I don’t. Maybe I should take voice lessons? Some supporters are interested in me doing some audio/radio. I’m interested too, but for that dislike.

    • I read somewhere once that Reagan used to drink hot water before he spoke. Relaxed his throat. Have you ever tried that?

    • And last, a link I shared on Twitter, for a big Saturday-night helping of ignorance. “Christians must stand up for gay marriage.” Lots of “I believe,” with no evidence to back it up. Such is our world. And such is our task, to shine light upon the darkness. Go shine! Isa 60.1!

     
  • Ed Boggess 8:33 am on December 19, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , marriage,   

    . The latest census figures say that there are 131,729 same-sex marriages in America. While that is far fewer that they anticipated, it is still 131,729 too many! God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve! Moreover, when Sodom and Gomorrah got into the same-sex business, God put an end to it by raining fire and brimstone on their heads. The way the US is going, if God does not step in soon, He will have to apologize to the cities of the plain. Men burning in lust for men and women committing shameful acts with women, is both debased and perverse. It is not natural! If it were natural, children could be conceived from it. Had it been Adam and Steve, mankind wouldn’t have lasted long. This is Just-A-Minute

     
    • Alex Haiken 11:02 am on December 19, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      I happened to come across your blog. Nearly every person who acknowledges an aversion to homosexuality does so on the basis of what he or she believes the Bible has to say. In their mind, there is no doubt whatsoever about what the Bible says and what the Bible means. Their general argument goes something like this: Homosexuality is an abomination and the homosexual is a sinner. Homosexuality is condemned in both the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, if we are to be faithful to the clear teachings of Scripture we too must condemn homosexuality. This premise is being widely debated among evangelicals today and seriously challenged by biblical scholars, theologians and religious leaders everywhere.

      It rarely occurs to any of us that our reading of Scripture is profoundly colored by our own cultural context and worldview. Clearly, throughout church history most Christians who have used the Bible to condemn other Christians believed they were acting in good faith. However, history has revealed that what many were defending was their presumption of what the Bible teaches, not the truth of Scripture.

      Since I happen to speak and write on this very topic, I thought you might find some of these posts of interest. I would particularly recommend to you the following: “Romans 1: What Was Paul Ranting About?”, “Romans 2: Paul’s Bait and Switch” and “Why No One in the Biblical World Had a Word for Homosexuality.” You can find links to these and others on my “Index” page. I trust you will find them applicable and relevant.

      -Alex Haiken
      http://JewishChristianGay.wordpress.com

  • Ed Boggess 7:02 am on December 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage,   

    I suppose every storm cloud has a silver lining. Even the dismal economy is having, at least one positive fallout. Some married couples who would otherwise divorce are putting forth the effort to repair and mend their broken marriage. Clinical psychologist Susan Heitler says, “It is radically cheaper emotionally, as well as financially, to fix the marriage than to declare it dead.” For too long marriages have ended in divorce without serious effort or thought given to reconciliation. The couples suffer hurt and trauma, but when there are children, the consequences are multiplied. To those who have been through divorce, God offers help and healing. But for those who are married God says, marriage is a lifelong covenant! Work to make it work. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess

     
  • TFRStaff 3:00 pm on December 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , marriage   

    Adultery is still not virtuous 

    My friend, purity is as purity does. Our memory verse for this week is 1 John 3:3. Those who have sexual relationships prior to or outside of the marriage bed are not pure. When a married person has such relationships with someone who is not their mate, they are adulterers and fornicators. Our text, Matt. 14:1-12 is an event recorded for us some time after it had occurred. John, the baptizer, is already dead. His death was the result of his preaching the truth on the subject of adultery. He had particular angered Herodias with his preaching. It was she who precipitated his death.

    I read somewhere that the last census revealed that 25% of American “couples” were living together without marriage. Virtually no television sitcom has family situations with everyone married. Even insurance companies in our nation have been pressured to grant family status to “partners” without the benefit of marriage. The present ungodly conditions have even altered our language. Many have learned to not assume the person you are living with is your husband or wife, but a “partner.” There is no longer any embarrassment when it is known that a person is sleeping with someone outside of marriage. Unlawful divorce (in the eyes of God) is rampant and the divorced have no problem jumping in bed with someone else when the desire arises. We could go on. This is a brief lesson. It took John only one sentence and he did not have to explain himself. He said, “It is not lawful …”

    It is still not lawful. Despite those who hate God, despite those who hate godliness and purity, despite those who call the concept of adultery old-fashioned or outdated or prudish, it is still not lawful. It is not lawful if one who is divorced for a reason other than fornication (Mt. 19:1-9) is remarried. It is not lawful for an unmarried person to sleep with a married person. If most people completely ignored marriage and decided to “shack up,” it still is not lawful.

    If any one reading this finds themselves in the category of being in an unlawful marriage state, there is good news for you. One can be forgiven – but not while you continue to commit adultery. As Jesus told the woman in Jn. 8:1-11, "go and sin no more.”

    For those of you who do not get the bulletin, the attachment is the article in the bulletin. For those who do the bulletin below is number one.

    Mike Glenn

    12-1 Purity Is As Purity Does.doc

     
  • James M. 4:18 am on November 17, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , marriage   

    Ephesians 5 

    Following the New Testament plan, today we read Ephesians chapter 5. Its content includes:

    • Imitate God in everything: love and light (5.1-14)
    • "Watch where you’re going!" (5.15-21)
    • Take it home: wives and husbands (5.21-33)

    That second point is my paraphrase of verse 15a. My parents had to tell me that a lot, and I still need hear it.

    The NET Bible’s divisions of the chapter, at the link above, are also nifty: Live in love; Live in the light; Live wisely; Exhortations to households.

    Next week, the plan starts Monday with the book of Revelation. Why not join us?

     
  • TFRStaff 9:42 am on September 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marriage,   

    Wives, submit to your husbands 

    Note: Below is Mike Glenn’s email to which a person had objected. It’s included here today (was sent yesterday) for your own objective analysis.

    Our text for the JG study today is 1Pet. 3:1-6. We are now living in a world where both in politics and in homes, women are claiming equal rights and equal position. The argument is made that women can do any job that men can. While our different physical make-up makes our abilities different, it would not matter if that were not the case. Remember that our slogan is, ‘if God says it…that settles it.’ God has said that wives are to be in subjection to their husbands (Eph. 5:22-24; 3:18). Moreover, He has said that women in general are to be subject to men for the following reasons: (1) The woman is the glory of the man (1 Cor. 11:7). (2) The man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man (1 Cor. 11:8). (2) The man is not for the woman, but the woman for the man (1 Cor. 11:9). (4) Adam was formed first, then Eve (1 Tim. 2:13) (5) Eve was deceived, not Adam (1 Tim. 2:14). God, of course, did not have to give us any reasons. His word alone would be sufficient for the faithful to follow. That is what it means to respect authority. Let’s briefly examine our text to see how diligently God expects this command to be followed.

    • God presents a case where the one whom God says is the leader is not the man he should be – he is not a Christian. His outlook on life, death, money, recreation, relationships, sex, raising children, dress and a host of other things is different than that of the Christian wife and is obviously not what God wants it to be.
    • This is a man who is not interested in studying the Bible, not interested in obeying God. God says that the wife’s subjection and faithfulness may be the avenue through which the husband is converted.
    • God also makes it clear that the wife is to conduct herself as a Christian in this relationship. She is not to give up her faithful conduct (vs. 2-4). She is under the authority of God first. God says that women who trusted in Him have always so conducted themselves (v. 5).
    • Sarah, Abraham’s wife, is set forth as an example of such subjection. You will remember that her subjection was such that she acquiesced in Abraham’s request to lie about being his wife. That is going beyond God’s will, but does show Sarah’s complete respect for Abraham’s authority.
    • While it is true that men are to treat their wives as they would treat themselves, their failure to do so does not change God’s requirement of the wives subjection. By the same token, in all matters of authority, the ungodly or hypocritical conduct of the man does not change the authority of his office so long as he is in it.

    I pray we are seeing the importance of this matter of respect for and submission to authority.

    Mik

     
  • TFRStaff 9:40 am on September 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , marital abuse, marriage,   

    On the abuse and submission of women 

    Note: Mike Glenn responds to someone who objected to his email, sent through his list.

    I received a response to yesterday’s email from someone who is not on the Joshua Generation list, but received it from someone. His objections merited some consideration and a response. This person basically made these points in stronger (not vulgar) language than I am including below.

    1. The biblical writers wrote about marriage they way they did because of the influence of their patriarchal society.

    2. That I suggested that women sin when they are unwilling to take abuse from their husband.

    I am sending you all my response to him as a tempering of any idea I may have left with any of you that men can be abusive or that women are required by God to take that abuse.

    Sir,

    Thank you so much for your response even though you are not on the Joshua Generation list. You have particularly objected to my last bullet point in the previous bulletin. Actually, you have read into my statements some things that are not meant and that I do not believe. I acknowledge that upon rereading the particular paragraph you note, I could have tempered it with some clarifying comments. I will send out another email doing that very thing. I do not ever “welcome” abuse and certainly do not intend to imply that women are required to take any abuse that comes their way. If you had a larger picture of my teaching, as those who are actually on my JG list, you would know that already.

    I do see the influence of a patriarchal society in scripture. Some of that influence is ungodly and contrary to God’s will, but thankfully, most of that influence is God inspired. Men are to love their wives as their own bodies. They are to nourish them and cherish them. Tlhey are to treat them in such fashion that their influence will lead their wife to salvation (Eph. 5:22-31). In addition, Peter says that they are to give them honor (1 Pet. 3:1-6). All of this is to be done whether or not the wife chooses to follow God’s plan of submission. Of course, a husband who does this would never make demands that are not spiritually, physically or emotionally beneficial to his wife. Christ loved the church in the same way.

    Also, Eph. 5:21 says that we are to “submit one to another. That raises some interesting thoughts. Elders are overseers of the church and yet they are to submit to the church. Husbands are over their wives and yet they are to submit to their wives. How can that happen? The answer lies in the the biblical teaching of servanthood and in the principles of love that guide that. As Jesus is the Lord and Master to whom we must submit, he yet gave us an example of continuous service to his fellow man, the majority of whom would continue to reject His efforts to save them (Jn. 13:13-15). We are taught to consider the needs of others first (Matt. 6:12; Phil. 2:3-4). Paul, an apostle with authority from the Lord, said that he was willing to use himself and to be used by others in order to serve them (2 Cor. 12:15). The Bible teaches that authority is never exercised correctly if it is not in conjunction with service. This is why elders are told to oversee and rule the church of God (Heb. 13:7, 17, Acts 20:28) at the same time they are told not to be “lords” over the sheep. They do that by first considering the needs and desires of the congregation and the impact of their decisions.

    All of us sir, have some situations wherein our mate does not obey what God says about how they should act in the marriage relationship. Quite a large number of those in marriage relationships take varying degrees of mistreatment that affect us emotionally, physically or spiritually. That mistreatment of a husband toward his wife or a wife toward her husband does not negate our responsibility to act as God directed. We must be very careful to not read abuse into every little mistreatment that occurs. That does not mean that a person must take abuse that is dangerous to their well-being. Their are biblical concepts of spiritual and physical self-protection and self-preservation that may bring about the separation of spouses rather than the suffering of abuse. I do not believe that wives are to continually suffer abuse at the hands of their ungodly husbands.

    Mike

     
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