Reviving Marriage

Creating a Culture of Reconciliation

    Spirit of Revival (SOR) sat down with Mark Vroegop, pastor of an evangelical congregation in the heart of mid-America, to talk frankly about the subject of divorce in the church. That divorces are occurring at an alarming rate among believers is a dark reality.   What to do about it may be one of the most important questions for the church today. SOR: What has been the impact of divorce on your congregation? Pastor Mark: The ripple effect of divorce on our congregation has been colossal - especially when the divorcing couple have been longstanding members and, as has sometimes been the ...

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No Kidding

    According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Joe and Deb Schum of Atlanta aren't worried about baby proofing their house or buying a car seat. As a matter of fact, the couple doesn't ever intend to have children, and they are proud of their childlessness.   According to the newspaper's report, "The Schums are part of a growing number of couples across the country for whom kids don't factor into the marriage equation." The paper also pointed to the fact that the nation's birthrate fell in 2002 to a historic low of 66.9 births per 1,000 ...

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Finding God in Marriage

    There is something mesmerizing to me about standing beneath a tree that is seven hundred years old. "What was happening here when this tree first started growing?" my daughter asked me as we hiked the western slope of the North Cascades in the state of Washington. "Not much," I laughed, stunned by the realization that this tree was nearly two hundred years old when Martin Luther was born. One of the reasons the trees on the western slope of the Cascades survive so long is quite simple: The Washington forests are so wet that lightning strikes cause relatively few fires ...

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Why Won't They Change

    Jill walked into my office with a slight smile on her face. After we exchanged greetings I asked the question, "And what is on your mind today?" At that point, the smile departed and she started crying. "I don't know," she said. "There are so many things. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. It's my marriage. Bob and I can't seem to understand each other. We spend a lot of time arguing. Some days I feel like giving up."   "What are the issues over which you argue?" I asked. "Lots of things," she said. "I just don't feel ...

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The Longest Kiss on Record

   

The longest kiss on record lasted for 30 hours, 59 minutes, and 26 seconds!

A kiss like that doesn't "just happen." The young couple that executed it undoubtedly had a plan and a remarkable level of commitment. In contrast, their first kiss was most likely driven by spontaneity and passion. But this award-winning kiss required purpose and resolve. The same can be said of every successful marriage.   It takes more than human passion to finish victoriously. What often begins as a "red hot" attraction ultimately requires an understanding of God's purposes and plan - and plenty of personal sacrifice ...

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