Recently, there was a picture in the newspaper of a three-wheeled tractor, with the following editorial comment, “The old farmer in his 50s or 60s sits on a tractor, driving it down a street, perhaps on his way to get it repaired. There is a major problem: he is missing the front left wheel. Not a flat…

Clint Eastwood says, “They say marriages are made in heaven. But so is thunder and lightning.” -- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell Some marriages have more thunder and lightning than others. We should work to follow Biblical advice on how to have a peaceful family. The Week, April 10, 2015, p. 15; Colossians…

In an article in Relevant magazine, Debra Fileta, a licensed Counselor, lists five ways couples can invest in their marriage. She says, couples need to connect spiritually, and the best way to do that is to pray with each other about the concerns of the day. The second is to communicate meaningfully…

Love that is special, and a marriage that lasts, are not automatic. Many of the celebrities we are fascinated with wish they could have found lasting love. Jack Nicholson, now in his 73rd year, admits that “his wandering attentions haven’t made for lasting relationships. ‘I’ve been in love in my life,…

The very first institution created by God was marriage. (See Genesis 2:24) When Paul looked for a way to describe the relationship between Christ and the church, he chose the marriage relationship. (See Ephesians 5:22-33) Because marriage is so essential in God’s economy, it is only logical that it comes…

DIVORCE According to researcher George Barna, the ratio of Christians who have been divorced is higher than the percentage of non-Christians. In his sample of almost 4000 adults, Christians led non-Christians in divorce by a margin of 3 percentage points, 27% to 24%. —REV Magazine, May-June, 2000 Illustration…

MARRIAGE Studies are showing that being a good, supportive spouse is good for your health. “Men over 65 whose wives consider them a source of emotional strength usually live longer than less needed hubbies.” —Reader’s Digest, October 2002, p. 48 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson Galatians 5:13 NIV “You,…

Time magazine asked several people the question, “Is Monogamy Obsolete?” Pastor Andy Stanley replied that it is more like an endangered species. “Rare, Valuable. Something to be protected.” According to Stanley, “beside the fact that women and children do not fare well in societies that embrace polygamy…

Stephen Hawking, the physicist who is renowned for his work on the most complex questions of astrophysics, admitted there is one topic he thinks about often that stumps him. “Women,” said Hawking. “They are a complete mystery.” --The Week, January 20, 2012, p. 6 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger…

Marriage is still an important element in our culture. For many, the wedding is a major life event that requires detail planning. Perhaps none has planned like Rearna Ackord, a 22-year-old British woman who has spent six months planning her wedding down to the tiniest detail. She has picked out a church,…

MARRIAGE According to an Australian Lawmaker one of the best ways to save the planet may be to stay married. Senator Steve Fielding, who heads the independent Family First political party down under, told a senate hearing that staying married is better for the planet because divorce often leads newly…

There is another new kind of marriage on the horizon according to Ryan Anderson, a Heritage Foundation senior research fellow. He is referring to an idea introduced in the Washington Post called “wedlease.” “A wedlease would be a 5-year marriage contract that you could renew if you wanted to, but otherwise…

32-year-old Walid Chaabani had enough, so left home to get away from his wife, even though he knew that doing so would result in going to prison for breaking the terms of house arrest. According to police, "Living with his wife was particularly difficult and unbearable." He told authorities that he was…

In a case that I remember the husband lived all his life indifferent to divine things, while the wife was an earnest Christian woman and saw all her children grow up in the ways of the Lord. The father lived unregenerate and died without giving any testimony of a change of heart. When our sister speaks…

Anthony Hopkins spent his career as an Actor; most would agree he was a good one. The English crown knighted him Sir Anthony for his acting achievements. At age 73, Hopkins is dissatisfied with his life’s profession. Recently in Memphis, he visited a cinema complex. “They were just about to start the…

According to a new study, 65% of men, 48% of women, 36% of fathers, and 20% of mothers agreed that pornography was an acceptable way for someone to express their sexuality. Pat Trueman of the Alliance Defense Fund says porn gives young men a sense of “entitlement” when it comes to sexual relations in…

In his weekly column in Time Magazine Joel Stein comments on Gwyneth Paltrow’s conscious uncoupling remarks as a nicer way to say divorce. Paltrow’s holistic doctor wrote the essay defending her actions. He said that human traditions of marriage date back to when life expectancy was 33 years. Now that…

Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist studies happiness. One thing he discovered is that married people are happier than those who just live together. He uses himself as an example. “My girlfriend and I had been living together for a dozen years.” Because of his discovery, he proposed marriage. How…

You may have more in common with Priscilla Presley, who married Elvis in 1967 than you think. As she reflected on her marriage to the King, she said “I was hated for marrying him, hated for getting a divorce,” she said. “Having people being critical but not knowing what your life was and not knowing…

Marriage is the foundation of a stable society. It provides a secure place to rear the next generation of citizens. For years, we believed that families were best for the children. In 1962, half of all adult women believed that parents in bad marriages should stay together for the children’s sake. Then…

Motives After we pay the mortgage, utility bills, tithe and other obligations, we pretty will split the money down the middle. With Susan's share she buys groceries, cleaning supplies--you know, girl stuff. My share goes to things like boat repairs, fishing lures, and popcorn at the Dukes' game. (Not…

As Jason and Jessica Roth were preparing to celebrate their tenth anniversary, an old photo revealed that they had known each other a lot longer than they thought. Instead of meeting at students at Florida State University, they actually met for the first time in preschool. It turns out that when Jason…

In Taiwan, a culture that prizes families and denigrates unmarried women, Chen Wei-yih has reached 30 years old with no prospects. Her answer? Marry herself. She has planned a wedding, complete with photographs, reception, and invitations to 30 of her closest friends. The only thing missing will be a…

MARRIAGE A defense of marriage showed up in a mainstream news source recently. Time Magazine printed an essay by author Caitlin Flanagan entitled “Why Marriage Matters.” In the essay, Ms. Flanagan points to the statistics in building a case for commitment in marriage. She appeals for lasting unions based…

Research shows that married people tend to be healthier overall but a new study from Michigan State University indicates that people in contentious marriages are much more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a heart attack or stroke than their more happily wed contemporaries. Now instead of just…