Its been awhile!

Yes I know I haven't blogged in over a month. The holidays and my seminar work kept me from getting into the blogging thing much. My appologies. I did turn in my post seminar paper and now get to start preparing for another one this month and two in March. Yeah!...

Things have been going well lately here at church. We had an awesome Sunday and then I got to lead a young man to Christ on Monday - It just doesn't get any better than that. Last night we had a great Bible study and discussion on Colossians chapter one. The implications are incredible.

Today I am meeting with a young couple about possibly performing their wedding ceremony. I have been thinking about this a lot in relation to my final doctoral project. The wedding and marriage are so important. Communication is taught and exemplified in a marriage. We show our beliefs about communications in a marriage. Those skills and beliefs overflow into every area of our lives.

I am learning and praying to become a better listener and a better questioner. I will be asking lots of questions of this couple, such as: Do you both attend a church? If so why are you not wanting to be married there? Do you plan to attend church after the wedding ceremony? If not why is it important for you to have a wedding in a church? It is my belief that a wedding in a church is to say that we have invited God to be a part of this relationship and that we are committing ourselves to God and to each other. If a couple does not want to make that committment, then a justice of the peace will do just fine.

I will probably ask if the couple is currently living together. If they are would they be willing to live apart for a period of time before the wedding? Their answer to that will tell alot about each ones committment. Most often the guy will say no because He's used to the free sex and doesn't want to lose that. The girl will say no because she knows that the guy is not really committed and will only hang around because of the free and convenient sex. This young lady has to have a guy around and especially this guy because she has given herself wholly to him. That is really unfortunate and that is why they will most likely become divorced within a short time. A man and a woman should give themselves wholly to each other but within the committment of a marriage.

I honestly don't know anything about the couple I will meet with and so I am praying for them to be Christians who want to follow Jesus in their marriage. If not I hope that I can share Jesus with them.

If they happen to be living together then pray for me - my goal is never to hurt or discourage a couple. I would much rather they get married than live together. I also want them to have a committed long term healthy marriage - not just a convenient way to use each other.

Well those are my thoughts for the day.
Be blessed and memorize I Peter 3:15 a "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord."
Trent