Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London Friday. There were so many picture-perfect moments from the star-studded guest list and the bride’s gorgeous gown to the carriage processional and two balcony kisses, we just had to share them all. Click through to see highlights from the royal wedding including the queen, the Middletons, the gown, the newlyweds, and so much more!
Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London Friday. There were so many picture-perfect moments from the star-studded guest list and the bride’s gorgeous gown to the carriage processional and two balcony kisses, we just had to share them all. Click through to see highlights from the royal wedding including the queen, the Middletons, the gown, the newlyweds, and so much more!
Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would not have divorced if they had lived together before marriage. Actually Diana was a virgin, and it was Charles’ uncle (Louis Mountbatten) that gave him the advice that he should seek to marry a virgin.
I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.
Derek and I believed the lie of today’s culture that living together is a natural progression of a lifelong relationship. Nowhere in Scripture does it suggest a man should leave and cleave to a woman by renting an apartment. For me, living together was a farce, a halfhearted commitment with a huge “EXIT” sign looming over it. Marriage is a lifetime commitment — a covenant — not a six-month lease.
Thankfully, God is using our mistake to encourage other couples. As the opportunity arises, we share our story. We steer them away from living together and towards God’s plan — marriage.
Dr. Adrian Rogers – Steadfast Loyalty To Your Wife
The Royal Wedding Ceremony of William and Kate Live part 3/4
Prince Harry and The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
Prince Harry and The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor – the daughter of The Earl and Countess of Wessex – travel in the carriage procession to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey following the wedding service of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, 29 April 2011.
I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I am writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.
Not only did my relationship with Derek suffer because of my fears, my relationship with my mom suffered too. I was afraid I’d hear, “I told you so,” if I was honest about my insecurity. I hid behind an “everything’s fine” facade. I was determined to make living together work — even if it was a mistake.
My mom’s words haunted me. “You can’t try it on before you buy it; it’s not a dress.” Although I wasn’t walking with God at the time, I knew enough Scripture to feel guilty and ashamed. But I justified it because I wanted to make sure the two of us were compatible before we said “I do.” After all, I knew that more than half of all marriages end in divorce. I didn’t want the “D” tattoo if our relationship didn’t work out.
A month into our lease, Derek and I bought an Alaskan Eskimo puppy. A way to keep Derek, I thought. But weeks later, the shy puppy we picked out was still acting skittish. He started biting. So, we gave him away.
So much for “our” dog — and my security.
Even though I wanted a commitment from Derek, my commitment was conditional and temporary. I gave my body and my resources, but withheld my heart.
I longed for intimacy and relationship, but living together didn’t satisfy. It’s like planning a vacation to Hawaii, envisioning sunny, white beaches and then arriving to trash-lined shores and overcast skies. One is a dream. The other is a disappointing reality.
Despite our struggles, Derek and I eloped around the time our lease expired. Fifteen years and two children later, we’re still together.
Nevertheless, Derek and I still regret living together. We missed out on the honeymoon experience. We regret sharing our meals, our households, and our bodies prior to being emotionally and spiritually committed as husband and wife. We started our marriage with a past. It took me years of marriage to trust Derek’s real and lifelong commitment.
Someday I plan on sharing this with our children. It won’t be easy. However, I believe they deserve the truth. I hope they will understand why we regret our decision and why God’s design for a man and a woman is marriage.
Weekend to Remember Story – Dennis Rainey
Tim Hawkins – “Some Songs Should Be One Verse”
Revelation (Biblical Numbers 4 of 4)-Dr Adrian Rogers
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge approach the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace, 29 April 2011.
The Royal Wedding Ceremony of William and Kate Live part 2/4
Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would not have divorced if they had lived together before marriage. Actually Diana was a virgin, and it was Charles’ uncle (Louis Mountbatten) that gave him the advice that he should seek to marry a virgin.
I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.
Derek and I signed a six-month lease on a two-bedroom apartment, but I didn’t trust Derek’s long-term commitment. I demanded separate closets and bathrooms. I didn’t want my dishes, pots and pans getting mixed up, so I shoved Derek’s stuff into different cabinets. Like a student practicing a fire drill, I mentally rehearsed my escape — just in case. I had one foot in the door and an eye on the exit.
All I had was six-months of security — a signed rental agreement. Even though I prepared for the day the fire alarm would sound, I constantly pushed for commitment. I wanted intimacy and a way out at the same time.
“Where’s our relationship going? Are we just going to live together? Do you see a future?” I complained.
“Sure I do. I want to marry you someday. But how can we? We don’t have the money,” Derek said. “I don’t know how else to prove to you I’m committed. I left my friends and moved in with you. I say I love you every day. I come home every night. What more do you want?”
Living together is too easy for you. How about marriage? An engagement ring would help.
The truth was, I hated the living arrangements. But it was my way of controlling something, since I couldn’t control our future.
Whenever Derek and I argued, I shut down, pouted and slept in the second bedroom. I waited in the dark for him to come and make up. Instead, Derek fell asleep. He wasn’t interested in knocking down my protective walls — at midnight. Great, Derek is probably getting sick of this. What’s going to happen when our lease expires? Will we stay together? He’s probably going to leave me.
Tim Hawkins – The Dog’s on Fire
Weekend to Remember Story – Dennis Rainey
Revelation (Biblical Numbers 3 of 4)-Dr Adrian Rogers
Catherine Middleton, accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton, makes her way to Westminster Abbey for her wedding to Prince William, 29 April 2011.
The Duchess of Cambridge
The Duchess of Cambridge waves to wellwishers as she makes her way in the carriage procession to Buckingham Palace after her wedding to Prince William William at Westminster Abbey, 29 April 2011.
The Royal Wedding Ceremony of William and Kate Live part 1/4
I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I am writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.
“Hi, Hon, I just wanted to let you know I’ll be home late. I’m going to hang out with the guys after work,” Derek said.
As I hung up the phone, I swallowed the bitter taste of disappointment. Why doesn’t he want to come home and be with me? So much for security once we moved in together.
The Lie That Living Together Offers
After dating on and off for three years, Derek and I were serious about our relationship. We agreed that living together was the next step. It sounded as natural as riding a tricycle before a bicycle and as practical as packing before taking a long trip.
And, we had other reasons:
No more roommates interrupting our candlelight dinners.
No more wasted time or gas driving back and forth to see each other.
No more overnight packing.
No more wondering if we were committed. We’d be sharing a place, after all, and could see where living together leads.
Weekend To Remember Conference Testimony
Inappropriate Wedding Songs
Revelation (Biblical Numbers 2 of 4)-Dr Adrian Rogers
The Bible maintains several characteristics that prove it is from God. One of those is the fact that the Bible is accurate in every one of its details. The field of archaeology brings to light this amazing accuracy.
The Bible maintains several characteristics that prove it is from God. One of those is the fact that the Bible is accurate in every one of its details. The field of archaeology brings to light this amazing accuracy
From time to time you will read articles in the Arkansas press by such writers as John Brummett, Max Brantley and Gene Lyons that poke fun at those that actually believe the Bible is historically accurate when in fact the Bible is backed up by many archaeological facts. The Book of Mormon is blindly accepted even though archaeology has disproven many of the facts that are claimed by it. For instance, glass windows did not exist in North America when they said they did.
The Book of Mormon describes that the Jaredite people were familiar with the concept of “windows” near the time of the Biblical Tower of Babel (presumably circa 2000 BC.) and that they specifically avoided crafting windows for lighting in their covered seagoing vessels because the windows would be “dashed in pieces” during the ocean voyage.[91] However, the earliest known production of glass dates to 3500 BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia, in the form of opaque beads.[92] The earliest known production of transparent glass panes is much more recent, dating to the 11th century AD in Germany[93] which is many hundreds of years after the conclusion of the Book of Mormon record.
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Qumran Jar (Dead Sea Scrolls) Did the Dead Sea Scrolls actually contain Old Testament scrolls written hundreds of years before the time of Jesus?
This painting is of the Qumran Jar which contained the Scroll of Isaiah, one of the hundreds of scrolls discovered in caves around the area of Qumran, on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea in Israel. The most important fact is that there were copies of the Books of the Bible dating back a hundred years before Jesus was born. This means that hundreds of prophecies about Jesus were amazingly accurate. In fact the Old Testament Book that testifies most to the life and death of the Messiah is the Book of Isaiah, which an entire scroll was discovered.
The discovery began in 1948 and became known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. What is most significant about these scrolls is that they contain many of the Jewish documents known to Christians as the Old Testament. Before this discovery the oldest copies of Biblical documents of the Old Testament were from the Masoretic time, around the 9th century A.D., because the Jewish scribes took careful measures in copying documents, numbering them, and destroying the originals. The Dead Sea Scrolls date back to at least the 2nd century B.C. making them important in the study of Biblical Archaeology. This is especially important to Christians because it puts hundreds of Old Testament prophecies about Jesus, at least 2 centuries before the events took place.
Isaiah 53:5-7 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
Matthew 21:42 – “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? “
John 10:35 “the Scripture cannot be broken”
John 10:34 “Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law..”
2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Shrine of the Book houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a section of the Israel Museum in West Jerusalem. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 and more caves were discovered until 1956, totaling 11 caves located around the Wadi Qumran area.
John 5:39 – Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jewish Rabbinical Writings Chart
Midrash
Divisions – Halakah and Haggadah
Dates – 100 B.C. – 300 A.D.
Writers – Tannaim
Content – The Halakah was the legal commentary on the Torah and the Haggadah were the homiletics (preaching and sermons) about the entire Old Testament text.
Notes – The Halakah was the legal portion of the Gemara, derived from the Old Testament. The Haggadah was interested with non-legal issues (history, folklore, parables, scientific knowledge like medicine and astronomy) that was not necessarily apparent in the Mishnah.
Tosefta
Dates – 100 A.D. – 300 A.D.
Writers – Tannaim (“repeaters” or teachers of the Oral Law before the completion of the Mishnah. They date back as far as Ezra and to Hillel, Akiba and Meir to Judah Hansi.
Content – The teaching that is not found in the Mishnah. (Tosefta means “supplement”).
Palestinian Talmud
Divisions – Gemara (literally the “completion” of the Talmud)
Dates – 200 A.D.
Writers – Amoraim (sages who worked hard in Judaism once Mishnah was complete.
Content – Commentary on the Mishnah.
Babylonian Talmud
Divisions – Mishnah and the Gemara
Dates – 200 A.D. – 500 A.D.
Writers – Tannaim and Amoraim
Content – Mishnah – Legal commentary on the Mishnah. Gemara – Commentary on the Mishnah.
Notes – The Mishnah was divided into six sections.
See The Tractates of the Mishnah
The Jewish High Priests from 200 B.C to the Reign of Herod the Great
1. Simon II the Just, 220-190 B.C.
2. Onias III, 190-174 B.C.
3. Jason/Jeshua,175-172 B.C.
4. Menelaus, 172-162 B.C.
5. Alcimus, 162-156 B.C.
6. Jonathan, 153-142 B.C.
7. Simon, 142-135 B.C.
8. John Hyrcanus I, 134-104 B.C.
9. Aristobulus I, 104-103 B.C.
10. Alexander Jannaeus, 103-76 B.C.
11. Hyrcanus II, 76-67 B.C.
12. Aristobulus II, 67-63 B.C.
13. Hyrcanus II, 63-40 B.C.
14. Antigonus, 40-37 B.C.
The Jewish High Priests from Herod the Great to the Destruction of Jerusalem
15. Ananel, 37-36 B.C. (Appointed by Herod the Great)
16. Aristobulus III, 35 B.C.
17. Jesus, son of Phiabi, ? -22 B.C.
18. Simon, son of Boethus, 22-5 B.C.
19. Matthias, son of Theophilus, 5-4 B.C.
20. Joseph, son of Elam, 5 B.C.
21. Joezer, son of Boethus, 4 B.C.
22. Eleazar, son of Boethus, 4-1 B.C. – (Appointed by Herod Archelaus)
23. Jesus, son of Sie, 1 – 6 A.D.
24. Annas, 6-15 A.D. (Appointed by Quirinius)
25. Ishmael, son of Phiabi I, 15-16 A.D. (Appointed by Valerius Gratus)
26. Eleazar, son of Annas, 16-17 A.D.
27. Simon, son of Kamithos, 17-18 A.D.
28. Joseph Caiaphas, 18-37 AD.
29. Jonathan, son of Annas, 37 A.D. (Appointed by Vitellius)
30. Theophilus, son of Annas, 37-41 A.D.
31. Simon Kantheras, son of Boethus, 41-43 A.D. (Appointed by Herod Agrippa I)
32. Matthias, son of Annas, 43-44 A.D.
33. Elionaius, son of Kantheras, 44-45 A.D.
34. Joseph, son of Kami, 45-47 A.D. (Appointed by Herod of Chalcis)
35. Ananias, son of Nebedaius, 47-55 A.D.
36. Ishmael, son of Phiabi III, 55-61 A.D. (Appointed by Herod Agrippa II)
37. Joseph Qabi, son of Simon, 61-62 A.D.
38. Ananus, son of Ananus, 62 A.D.
39. Jesus, son of Damnaius, 62-65 A.D.
40. Joshua, son of Gamal iel, 63-65 A.D.
41. Matthias, son of Theophilus, 65-67 A.D.
42. Phinnias, son of Samuel, 67-70 A.D. (Appointed by The People)
Some dates cannot be known for certain.
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I read this today and I wanted to pass it along. It is my family’s practice to read chapter of Proverbs per day. We always read the chapter that corresponds to the day of the month. For instance, if it is May 8th then we will read chapter 8. One of the verses that caught my attention in today’s reading were 10 and 11: Choose my instruction instead of silver…nothing you can desire can compare with her.” That about sums it up. There is nothing we can desire that comes close to God’s wisdom. I have told my kids, “If I offer 1 million dollars every morning to get up at 6am and study the Book of Proverbs for an hour would you do it?” They all responded, “Yes!_ However, according to these verses it is more valuable to you if you get God’s wisdom than worldly riches. Below is a portion from Steven Camp’s blog concerning the principles you can get from Proverbs.
I saw this wonderful article recommended on the Grace To You twitter just yesterday. It is written by a long time friend of mine, Dr. S. Lance Quinn. Lance is the senior pastor of the Bible Church of Little Rock. He is a gifted Bible expositor, teacher, and pastor of God’s people.
He displays uncommon wisdom and insight in the following post by extracting twenty biblical principles from the book of Proverbs encouraging us all to a life of productive God glorifying work in all the things of living and how to avoid the pull and tug of laziness. It ministered greatly to my own heart and trust it will to you as well.
1. Remember, working hard is first a mindset (and so is laziness).
2. Working hard and staying on task is a matter of self-control.
3. Get up early. Try to stand up right when the alarm clock goes off.
4. Do hard jobs first and easier jobs second; then you can have fun.
5. Love what you do as a vocation, regardless of what it is. Ask God to grant His blessing and favor in your work (cf. the account of Joseph in Genesis 39).
6. Don’t try to make money by deceit or fraud. If you do, God will punish you, sooner or later.
7. Be honest with your employer about how much you work. If you’re lazily collecting a paycheck, that’s stealing.
8. Don’t work so much, however, that you need to re-introduce yourself to your family. Strive for a healthy balance between your work and your family life.
9. If you travel too much (according to your wife’s/family’s honest, loving assessment), seek to curb your travel, if possible. Perhaps another position would provide greater harmony in your home.
10. If your wife is regularly wondering how the bills are going to be paid, and you’re not taking initiative to lead, confess your failure in leadership and take control of your family finances.
11. Treat your work (house cleaning, school work, or whatever it is) as though you will reap a harvest from your labors.
12. Don’t work only in order to receive. Rather, find satisfaction in simply doing good work for God and men.
13. Lazy people often assume that others owe them a handout (whether they’ve worked hard or not). Don’t fall into an entitlement mentality.
14. When you are asked to serve in some way, don’t attempt to take the path of least resistance (because of laziness).
15. Consider how much more would be accomplished for the kingdom of Christ if you worked as hard in ministry as you do for a paycheck.
16. Consider how your employer would evaluate you if his assessment were based on your work ethic in ministry. (Would you be fired?)
17. If you are a lazy person, or if you tend toward laziness in certain areas of your life, confess your sin to God. Whether at home, at work, or in ministry, admit to God that you haven’t been working as hard as you should (He knows already); and ask Him to cleanse you from sin.
18. Abandoning laziness and growing in diligence means you must be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Here are some practical steps you can take:
a. Ask the Spirit to make you a hard worker for God.
b. Read, re-read, and even memorize the proverbs that pertain to both laziness and work.
c. Trust God to overcome any bad habits you’ve developed regarding work and diligence.
d. When you are tempted to be lazy, seek the Spirit’s help in prayer and remind yourself what the Word of God teaches.
19. Show how the Proverbs on diligence and laziness are important by reading them to your family and then applying the biblical principles. Discuss with your family how you can hold one another accountable to be diligent workers for God and men.
20. Ask God to give you opportunities to become a hard worker, and then look for Him to answer in every realm of your life (home, work, school, ministry, etc.).
A person on the third floor of a Japanese airport photographs damage and debris.
I grew up listening to sermons by Adrian Rogers who was the longtime pastor of Bellevue Church in Memphis.
Adrian Rogers sermon “No other way to heaven except through Jesus” based on Romans chapter one (part 2).
Are we supposed to understand and accept that Mike Huckabee is in hell where he has official duties as a greeter,welcoming Osama bin-Laden?
Let us resist the evil urge to say it all makes sense — that the Big Huckster would be in that location and that Lucifer would have tabbed him for special responsibilities on account of his gift of gab.
But no one — absolutely no one — could possibly compete in the grandstanding sweepstakes with the tacky Floridian, meaning the second-favorite son of Hope, Mike Huckabee.
“Welcome to hell,” Huckabee presumed to say to this dead body, revealing himself, again, as more a tabloid headline than a responsible communicator.
Huckabee opened his altogether superfluous public statement by saying it was most unusual to celebrate death. So then he proceeded to celebrate death, apparently licensed by his own pre-emptive acknowledgment of the questionable taste that he was about to display.
That’s a little like the first three paragraphs of this column — saying something tacky by the trick of asserting that it would be inappropriate to say the thing being said. Those paragraphs were written only for ironic effect, you see, to make the point of applying Huckabee’s device to himself.
We all suspect strongly, of course, that bin-Laden will spend eternity in hell, whatever his form and whatever hell’s. But we should not embrace a politician’s seeking electoral gain by dictating and announcing after-life dispositions. Those we should defer to a higher power, whose divine authority no mortal man should dare usurp, even for TV ratings or votes, or both.
I really am uncomfortable with all this kind of lighthearted talk about hell. Jason Tolbert mentions this same concern in his article yesterday, “American pride; Christian mercy,” Arkansas News Bureau:
However, in spite of the jubilation, some of the reaction was troubling.
“Welcome to hell, bin Laden,” Mike Huckabee wrote on his website last Sunday evening.
Wait a second. A minister of the gospel of Christ is welcoming someone to hell? Something about that just does not feel right.
The gospel I believe teaches that Christ died for all, the good and bad. It teaches that Christ’s redemption is strong enough to save the very worst person on the face of the earth. I think bin Laden meets that definition.
God’s redemption is much stronger than the human mind can comprehend. I can’t forgive bin Laden; only God can do that. I take satisfaction and flag-waving American pride that he was met with justice. But I take no pleasure in the fact that he rejected the love of God and never turned from a life of fanatical hate, leading to his ultimate eternal fate.
I was reminded last week of another fanatical, hate-filled terrorist. This religious leader of his day hated Christians so much that he made it his goal to see them stopped and executed, which he watched and supervised with glee.
He became the apostle Paul after Christ changed his life. He went on to write half the New Testament and was perhaps the greatest missionary of all time.
My point is this. Let us rejoice in justice but let those of us who profess to be Christians remember that we are driven not by hate but by love. And let us tell the world that God’s love is big enough to save even those we hate the most.
The traditional Christian view of hell is a very serious doctrine.
Recently I was in a enjoying a pleasant discussion with an atheist named Gus. After answering most of his objections against Christianity, he paused for a moment of contemplation. He then leaned over the table and said, “I find it hard to believe in a God of love who says, ‘Love me or I will throw you into the fire!'”
This statement represents a common misunderstanding. God does not send anyone to hell; people choose to go there.
I explained that God is a loving God, and His earnest desire is that all turn from sin and receive His gift of eternal life. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God desires all to be saved and has made the way possible by sending His son to die in our place. He invites everyone to accept His free gift of eternal life through Christ.
Since God’s desire is that all be saved and He has made this possible for all men, God cannot bear the blame for people going to hell. People go to hell because they knowingly choose to reject His love. C. S. Lewis said, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ “{4}
God’s love also keeps Him from imposing His will on individuals. If a person does not want to be with God in this lifetime, He will not force that person to be with Him for all eternity. In other words, the door of hell is locked from the inside.
After a brief moment, Gus asked, “Do people really have a choice since the Bible states that we are all born sinners and cannot help but sin?” I acknowledged that we are born in sin (Psalm 51) and have a bent to sin. However, our sin nature does not force us to sin. We are sinners and it is inevitable that we will disobey God. However, we can avoid sinning and often do so because disobedience to God involves a choice we make. We can choose otherwise. In a similar way although we are on the road to destruction, we can decide to get off that road and choose life.
What about predestination, some may ask? Does that not negate one’s ability to choose? There are various views on this doctrine but it does not negate our responsibility to repent. God holds us accountable for our decisions, and this responsibility implies the ability to respond. Although we as finite beings may not fully comprehend this doctrine, that does not excuse us from the choice we must all make about Christ.
The sad news is that all who go to hell could avoid going there, but they make a horrible choice.
Notes
1. Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics (Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 282. 2. Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not a Christian (New York: Touchstone Books, 1957), 17 – 18. 3. Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, ed. Nora Darwin Barlow, with original omissions restored (N.Y.: W. W. Norton, 1993), 87. 4. C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters (New York: Macmillan), 69.
Catherine Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey, 29 April 2011.
Royal Wedding: William and Kate’s First Kiss, Too Short for Buckingham Palace Balcony
Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would not have divorced if they had lived together before marriage. Actually Diana was a virgin, and it was Charles’ uncle (Louis Mountbatten) that gave him the advice that he should seek to marry a virgin.
I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.
Whether you call it “test-driving marriage,” “living together,” “shacking up” or “living in sin,” cohabitation is on the rise. Sadly, so are the consequences of sharing a home without the commitment of marriage.
So, what do you do if you’re convinced that living together is/was a bad idea, after all?(There are 5 things you should do and the first 2 were in last post and the last 3 today.)
If the person you’re living with disagrees with changing your relationship, is he or she really worth having anyway? Ask, “So you love me enough to live with me, but not enough to keep dating me and work toward a lifelong commitment together?” If that’s the case, ask yourself, “What kind of commitment is that?”
Get some support. It’s probable this won’t be an easy transition. Doing the right thing rarely is. Whether you’re faced with the loss of a lover who wasn’t willing to stick around after you moved out, or you’re just going through sexual withdrawal (because he was willing to make the change with you and now you’re abstaining), it will be easier to honor your new way of relating sex-free if you have the encouragement of other people. Spend time with couples who agree with your decision to live apart until marriage. Seek out the input of a pastor or other trusted adviser who will reinforce your decision. Don’t go it alone. The temptation is too great.
Get married. If your reason for moving out is to improve your chances for a lifelong marriage, why not get started? If you were serious enough to live together, you should be serious enough to seal the deal. Talk about getting married. If he/she is willing, find a premarital counselor. The best place to start the search is at church. Going through a class together should help you make a wise decision about your suitability for marriage to each other. And if you’re not meant to be, why delay the inevitable. Life’s too short to waste precious time with the wrong partner.
1Only 30 percent of couples who live together actually get married. John D. Cunningham and John K. Antill, “Cohabitation and Marriage: Retrospective and Predictive Comparisions,” Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 11 (1994), pp. 77-93.
2Ibid.
3From a nationwide survey conducted by the University of Rhode Island, quoted in “Live-in Relationship More Prone to Violence,” by Robert Haddocks, South Coast Today, http://www.s-t.com/projects/DomVio/Livein.html
4Michael D. Newcomb and P.M. Bentler, “Assessment of Personality and Demographic Assets of Cohabitation and Marital Success,” Journal of Personality Assessment, 1980, p.16.
5Cunningham and Antill.
Weekend to Remember-Family Life…Fireproof your marriage
Tim Hawkins 70’s music in 6 minutes
Revelation (Biblical Numbers 1 of 4)-Dr Adrian Rogers
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee attends a rally at the Veterans Memorial Building during the final day of campaigning before the Iowa Caucus in Grinnell, Iowa on January 3, 2008. Iowa will hold its presidential caucus tonight. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh)
Are we supposed to understand and accept that Mike Huckabee is in hell where he has official duties as a greeter,welcoming Osama bin-Laden?
Let us resist the evil urge to say it all makes sense — that the Big Huckster would be in that location and that Lucifer would have tabbed him for special responsibilities on account of his gift of gab.
Huckabee opened his altogether superfluous public statement by saying it was most unusual to celebrate death. So then he proceeded to celebrate death, apparently licensed by his own pre-emptive acknowledgment of the questionable taste that he was about to display.
That’s a little like the first three paragraphs of this column — saying something tacky by the trick of asserting that it would be inappropriate to say the thing being said. Those paragraphs were written only for ironic effect, you see, to make the point of applying Huckabee’s device to himself.
We all suspect strongly, of course, that bin-Laden will spend eternity in hell, whatever his form and whatever hell’s. But we should not embrace a politician’s seeking electoral gain by dictating and announcing after-life dispositions. Those we should defer to a higher power, whose divine authority no mortal man should dare usurp, even for TV ratings or votes, or both.
I really am uncomfortable with all this kind of lighthearted talk about hell. The traditional Christian view of hell is a very serious doctrine.
Hell is also necessary because of the nature of man.
Human depravity requires hell. The only just punishment for sin against the eternal God is eternal punishment. God is absolutely perfect and mankind is sinful.
Romans 3:23 states that all are guilty of sin and fall far short of God’s perfect standard.Sinful, unrepentant man cannot stand before a holy and perfect God. In order for God to maintain His perfection and the perfection of heaven, sin must be accounted for. For those who have received the gift of God’s grace, sin has been cleansed by the payment of Christ’s life. Those who have rejected Christ remain guilty of sin. Heaven cannot be a perfect paradise if sin is present. Therefore, man’s sin requires separation from God.
Second, human dignity requires hell. God created us as free moral creatures, and He will not force people into His presence if they do not want to be there. If a person chooses not to be with God in his or her lifetime, He will respect that decision. In Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel because they rejected their savior and thus were not willing to accept the love of God. Christ as Lord of creation could have forced His will on His creatures, but instead respected their decision even though it broke His heart.
My grandfather suffered a stroke as the result of high blood pressure, a high level of cholesterol, and a few other ailments. While in the hospital, the doctors recommended a diet and treatment program. However, he found the diet and treatment not to his liking. The doctor explained the treatment and the ramifications if my grandfather would not change his lifestyle. He chose not to follow the doctor’s prescription. Even though the doctor knew the serious consequences that would follow, he respected my grandfather’s wish and allowed him to return home. In the same way, although God knows the consequences of our choice, He respects our dignity and honors our decision.
Romans 1 states that all have had an opportunity to respond to God’s invitation and are therefore without excuse. Human beings are created in God’s image and are creatures of incredible value. God does not annihilate beings of value even though they rejected His love. Instead He respects their decision, honors their dignity, and allows them to dwell eternally apart from Him as they have chosen.
God’s justice and love plus man’s nature requires a hell.
Notes
1. Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics (Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 282. 2. Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not a Christian (New York: Touchstone Books, 1957), 17 – 18. 3. Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, ed. Nora Darwin Barlow, with original omissions restored (N.Y.: W. W. Norton, 1993), 87. 4. C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters (New York: Macmillan), 69.
Huckabee on Bin Laden’s Death: Who Cares How We Did It, This Was a Murderer
As we waited for President Obama to speak at Fort Campbell, Mike Huckabee talked to Neil about how Usama bin Laden’s death went down.
Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London Friday. There were so many picture-perfect moments from the star-studded guest list and the bride’s gorgeous gown to the carriage processional and two balcony kisses, we just had to share them all. Click through to see highlights from the royal wedding including the queen, the Middletons, the gown, the newlyweds, and so much more!
Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would not have divorced if they had lived together before marriage. Actually Diana was a virgin, and it was Charles’ uncle (Louis Mountbatten) that gave him the advice that he should seek to marry a virgin.
William asked Kate to marry him during a private holiday in Kenya last month, after getting her father’s permission.
Charles told reporters that he was “thrilled, obviously,” and said, joking, “They have been practicing long enough it makes me feel very old.”
Of course, who did Charles end up with? Camilla Parker-Bowles, a divorcée who was neither virgin nor hot. Camilla had one thing in common with Kate Middleton, however: longevity.
Kate’s been dating William on and off for eight years, so long the tabloids dubbed her “Waity Katie.”
I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did. I wish the term “Waity Katie” had been earned for staying a virgin until marriage like Diana did. I writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.
Whether you call it “test-driving marriage,” “living together,” “shacking up” or “living in sin,” cohabitation is on the rise. Sadly, so are the consequences of sharing a home without the commitment of marriage.
Try as you may, it’s not easy to defend cohabiting as “just the same as marriage.” The following myths and truths paint a compelling picture.
Myth: “This is just temporary. We’ll be getting married when we feel ready.”
Truth: Only 30 percent of couples who live together actually get married. 1
Myth: “We want to try each other out. We’ll have a better chance of staying married if we live together first.”
Truth: The dissolution rate for couples who lived together before marriage is 80 percent higher than it is for couples who didn’t. 2
Myth: “We’ll get along better once we’re married.”
Truth: Thirty-five out of 100 couples living together experienced a physical assault in a 12-month period; that’s more than double the rate of violence among married couples, which is 15 out of 100.3 The top three problems for couples who live together before marriage are: drunkenness, adultery and drug abuse.4
Myth: “We just want to get a head start on our finances before we get married.”
Truth: Men who live with their girlfriends before marrying them are more likely to be underemployed (before and after the marriage) than men who have not cohabited. Women who live with their boyfriends before marrying them are more likely to need to be employed full time to compensate for their husbands’ underemployment. 5
1Only 30 percent of couples who live together actually get married. John D. Cunningham and John K. Antill, “Cohabitation and Marriage: Retrospective and Predictive Comparisions,” Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 11 (1994), pp. 77-93.
2Ibid.
3From a nationwide survey conducted by the University of Rhode Island, quoted in “Live-in Relationship More Prone to Violence,” by Robert Haddocks, South Coast Today, http://www.s-t.com/projects/DomVio/Livein.html
4Michael D. Newcomb and P.M. Bentler, “Assessment of Personality and Demographic Assets of Cohabitation and Marital Success,” Journal of Personality Assessment, 1980, p.16.
5Cunningham and Antill.
Tim Hawkins Free Credit Report Dot Com Spoof
(5/5) Adrian Rogers – No Other Way to Heaven Except Through Jesus
Are we supposed to understand and accept that Mike Huckabee is in hell where he has official duties as a greeter,welcoming Osama bin-Laden?
So here is what happened: Super-elite American military personnel acting bravely and ably in our national defense shot Osama bin Laden in the side of the face and killed him, then dumped him in the sea.
President Obama credited himself a tad too generously in his announcement of this news to the nation. He spoke too freely of his favorite person, “I.”
Expert underlings gave him information and options on elaborate plans. He chose the most surgical, eschewing a bombing of the compound where, he was advised, there was a 50 percent to 80 percent chance of bin Laden’s presence. Then he gave the go-ahead to a daring night raid that Navy SEALS performed admirably.
That the president would have borne full blame had the raid failed — inside a sovereign and semi-hostile nation at that — is an insufficient excuse for taking too much credit. Great leadership is the art of delegation, of praise for others and of personal understatement. It is self-deference, not self-reference. Bragging should be received, not self-inflicted, and biographical, not autobiographical.
Alas, politicians swarmed like termites from the woodwork to get their names into news releases by which they could leverage some supposed association with this shooting death. Even the state Republican Party headquarters in Little Rock felt a need to make official comment.
At the risk of generalization, let us assume that politicians would not be politicians if they understood the beauty of personal discretion.
But no one — absolutely no one — could possibly compete in the grandstanding sweepstakes with the tacky Floridian, meaning the second-favorite son of Hope, Mike Huckabee.
“Welcome to hell,” Huckabee presumed to say to this dead body, revealing himself, again, as more a tabloid headline than a responsible communicator.
Huckabee opened his altogether superfluous public statement by saying it was most unusual to celebrate death. So then he proceeded to celebrate death, apparently licensed by his own pre-emptive acknowledgment of the questionable taste that he was about to display.
The doctrine of hell is a very serious thing to Christians, and I think that bringing it into political discussions does make some people laugh. However, it is not a laughing matter. Huckabee really does believe in hell, but I have my doubts about Brummett.
Is hell necessary? How is this doctrine consistent with a God of love? These are questions I face when I speak on the fate of unbelievers. The necessity and justice of hell can be recognized when we understand the nature of God and the nature of man.
Hell is necessary because God’s justice requires it. Our culture focuses mostly on God’s nature of love, mercy, and grace. However, God is also just and holy, and this must be kept in balance. Justice demands retribution, the distribution of rewards and punishments in a fair way. God’s holiness demands that He separate himself entirely from sin and evil (Habakkuk 1:13).The author of Psalm 73 struggles with the dilemma of the suffering of the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked. Joseph Stalin was responsible for the death of millions in the Soviet Union, but he died peacefully in his sleep without being punished for his deeds. Since evil often goes unpunished in this lifetime, it must be dealt with at a future time to fulfill God’s justice and holiness.
A second reason hell is necessary is that God’s love requires it. Love does not force itself on an individual, but honors the option of rejecting the love of another. Those who do not wish to love God must be allowed not to do so. Forcing oneself upon another is to dishonor the dignity and right of the individual. Those who do not want to be with God in this lifetime, will not be forced to be with Him for all eternity. It is important to understand that heaven is where God dwells and being the Lord of all creation, He is the heart and focus of heaven. His glory fills the entire realm, and inhabitants of heaven will be in His immediate and intimate presence for eternity. One cannot be in heaven and not know the presence of God. Therefore, those who do not want to be with God in this lifetime will not be forced to be in His presence for all eternity. Instead, God will honor their desire and let them dwell apart from Him in hell. Love honors the right of the other person to reject that love.
Third, God’s sovereignty requires hell. If there is no hell, there would be no final victory over evil. If there were no ultimate separation of good from evil, good would not ultimately triumph and God would not be in ultimate control. God declares He will have victory over evil (1 Corinthians 15:24-28 and Revelation 20-22). God will defeat evil by quarantining evil and separating it from good eternally.
The biblical teaching on hell fulfills the justice, holiness, and sovereignty of God and remains consistent with His character of love.
Notes
1. Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics (Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 282. 2. Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not a Christian (New York: Touchstone Books, 1957), 17 – 18. 3. Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, ed. Nora Darwin Barlow, with original omissions restored (N.Y.: W. W. Norton, 1993), 87. 4. C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters (New York: Macmillan), 69.
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