News-Record.com

Somehow, this reminds me of my second ex-wife, her parting words were "write often, especially if it's a check."

"Sure we can give away concert tickets, and we do," said Nunley. "That's going to make you happy for a little while. This is the chance to make someone happy for the rest of their life."

Oh yeah. The observations and stats say otherwise. This is just a rather crass version of a larger socail pattern in our culture. If you cheapen marriage by feminist antagonism, gay marriage and endless media assaults - even church fiascos, you can expect exes murdering thier hated other in school classrooms, run-away divorce stats, fractured childrens' lives, general social dissolution, ad nauseam.

What a travesty - but a telling one.

My ex was a born-again sort from a born-again family. She ended up bedding the "best man", ex-best friend. Granted, he was a non-believer, like myself.

That was 20 years ago. Now I am much better off (and FAR happier!!) with a fellow non-believer. Of curse, my born-again mum-in-law hasn't given up. She periodically forgets and seems appalled afresh if and when the topic (rarely) ever comes up. But there's no acrimony, let alone alimony. Neither my fully secularist wife nor I could have found a more gentle companion. And we are both rather pro-feminist, by the way. None of that "wives, submit to your husbands" baloney. Last thing any marriage needs is power structures and power plays; now, that doesn't mean children are best left running their own lives from day one...
but we are talking adults here.

I also have no idea what danger one gay person's desire to be exclusively devoted to another could possibly do to harm anyone else's marriage. Unless, like my vaunted holy ex, he or she decides the first choice isn't the last. But free-floating hypocrisy takes no heed of orientation.

FN, I'm glad you have a viable and satisfying relationship. This is NOT the case with many others, however. In most instances the terrible effects that a fractured home life has on both adults and kids is, sometimes disastrous, always troubling and painful.

There are almost as many divroces among church-goers as in the rest of the population; but fewer among couples who evidence a strong faith and spiritual growth in the Word.

A great marriage is not the result of simply joining a church or even regular attendance; but of hard work, truth, love and honesty. The spiritual dimension CAN make a big difference in the joyfulness, stability and purposefulness of the union; but all the variables have their influence.

My contention, along with other Conservative Christian ministers and laypersons, is that couples that take their Bible study and church life seriously, that study and apply biblical principles consistently and prayerfully, will reap the intended benefits: fulfilling marriages and happy, much-loved, and well-adjusted children.

However, if sin enters into the picture (such as adultery, porn, drugs, etc), it will inevitably wreak havoc, because all lasting and productive human happiness is founded upon conformity to God's Word, whether done consciously or by cultural continuity.

My wonderful wife and I founded our relationship on God and His Word, always seeking to conform to its truths. I sought to love her as Christ loves His Church (Eph. 5) and she submitted to my leadership in love. We NEVER saw the thing as my dominating her or she being some kind of doormat, which is not at all what the Scripture teaches. Any attempt to spin it otherwise is a willfull attempt to distort the biblical MO.Plus, she's a strong, talented and self-aware woman.

We respected each other from the beginning, trying to recognize one another's special gifts and strengths. We discussed all issues, and usually came to a reasonable consensus. Then, if a decision had to be made, I did so, as head of the home and marriage. At that point it was always perfectly right and natural; because reason, respect and love had been the MO, and I could fullfill my responsibility freely and confidently. This is what God intended in the dynamic of headship and submission, NOT some heavy-handed, smothering kind of oppression. Fortunately, we had excellent teaching and premarital counseling regarding Christain marriage dynamics.

We found the dynamics of God's model in Scripture to be joyous, loving and wonderfully successful. Both our children are very happily married, with great kids who are learng about God's model from them. What a pleasure!!

To wrench apart the tender affections and mutual surrender that almost any marriage at least begins with is NEVER good or healthy, and always leaves emotional scars and bitterness. And if there are children they too suffer from it all.

And I don't know what gay "marriage" has to do with anything here, Freddy. The maariage of one man and one woman is a HOLY thing. All other "arrangements" are a distortion of GOd's created plan, doomed ultimately to incur His wrath and judgment, even as adultery and fornication does. Plus, they just don't work. Righteousness, in love, always does.

IMO we have, as a culture, strayed so far from the vision of marriage revealed in Scripture that the way back will be a slow and painful journey. We are deceiving ourselves and pretending God does exist, unable and unwilling to see the repurcussions of transgressing his holy ways.

trust steven look german key no global we