Many couples have bought into the idea that it is just logical for them to live together, kick the tires, work through the kinks, and then get married if everything seems to work out. It just seems to make sense. No need to rush. Is that really the best approach?
In a recent survey by Bennett, Blan, and Bloom (American Sociological Review, 1988, Vol 53: 127-138), it was discovered that 80% of couples living together without marriage vows later decided to separate not get married. That’s 80%! 60% of couples that were married by a Justice of the Peace later divorced. Tragically, 40% of couples married in a church were later divorced.
But of those couples that were married in a church, before God, friends, and family, and who made the decision to read the Bible together regularly, their divorce rate was just 1 in 1,025! That’s a failure rate of .009%!
So, living together before marriage isn’t the best approach. It’s best to do it God’s way. Marriage is his idea and it was given to us as a gift. God knows what is best. So, to make your relationship last, get married in a church, before God, friends, and family. Then commit to read the Bible together and worship on a regular basis. With that strong spiritual foundation you’ll be able to weather any storm!
From the Jackson 5 singing, “ABC”, to the 1982 album “Thriller” that sold over 100 million copies, he became the king of pop. Five years later, Bad sold 22 million copies. In 1991, he signed a $65 million recording deal with Sony. Jackson was so popular that The Walt Disney jumped on board and launched a 3-D movie at its parks called “Captain EO.” One of Jackson’s most lucrative deals was the $47.5 million acquisition of ATV Music, which owned the copyright to songs written by the Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The royalties from these songs gave Jackson the money to live a lavish lifestyle. But, my how is life began to fall apart. What a shock this week to hear of his death.
Has the joy run out in your marriage?
We live in an age when some seek to push the historic doctrines of the faith aside, or at least not emphasize them so much, maybe even water them down a bit.
Our world is increasingly pluralistic.
Exodus 1:15-17 – Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,
Genesis 34:1-2 – Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 
Is Bigger Government The Answer?
There seems to be a philosophical and ideological shift taking place in the minds of Americans over capitalism (free enterprise) and the role of government. Socialism (redistribution of wealth) is rising in popularity as I’ve never seen it in my day. Government is being looked to as the answer to all our problems. Capitalism is now seen by many as the great evil, the chief cause of so much hardship in history.
Because the chief problem with man is the spiritual disconnect because of our universal fallen nature big government will never be the answer. The level of corruption we see in Wall Street, banking, and in the health insurance industries will only be shifted to Washington, where it will only worsen because the power will be so concentrated in the hands of a few.
We see the weakness of our government in the slow and lethargic response to the Gulf Crisis. Why would we then look to it for all our answers?
What is the hope of the world? It’s not in a program but in a person. Jesus is still the answer for the world today. When he comes into our hearts through faith he so transforms us that we want to better not only ourselves, and our families, but the world around us. Because he gives us salvation and so much more, we in turn naturally desire to come to a place where we can give. This is not a top down, but a bottom up solution that can change the world!