Couples

One of the things we really enjoy doing is meeting with young couples who are trying to get through the cultural hurtles so they can marry. We typically have them over for dinner and a Bible study and then have follow-up meetings. In some cases we know them both very well in others, we might only know one of them. We have gotten quite comfortable in this roll and have worked up a kind of lesson series that we do. The Bible has much to say about marriage and relationships and we enjoy this roll. I guess that is an advantage of our age, no one can argue with the fact that we have been married a long time and that we still love each other very deeply.

It is a such a joy, and yet such a responsibility as often times we fly in the face of culture when it comes to marriage. The Bible is clear and marriage is a covenant before God; it is to be taken seriously in any culture. We try to prepare our young friends as it doesn't solve all your problems (to get married) as we have discovered some think here. For example, what does it mean for the husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her? What does it mean when it says that the wife should submit to her husband? We also ask them things like "how many kids would you like" and "what dreams to you have" and often they are very surprised to see how each other answer, and what great discussion starters. We ask questions about family, jobs, money, and all that jazz for these marriage problems are common to all cultures, they just manifest themselves differently. And at the heart of it all is putting the other first....

God created this relationship (marriage) and when it is working right, there is nothing sweeter; it is truly a blessed gift from God.

We thought you might enjoy this photo of our dear friends Carlos and Tina. Pray for them as they prepare for their upcoming wedding.

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