"I have some good news and bad news on the marriage front. First, the good news... the divorce rate for married couples with children has fallen nearly to the rate of the early 1960s... the bad news nearly cancels it out. Fewer of us are bothering to tie the knot at all. The rate of cohabitation — "living together"— has exploded. The study finds that cohabitation has increased fourteen-fold since 1970."
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/the-coh...%29
After reading the above article it would seem that the traditional family is at a premium. Nothing provides more stability... even though itself is under the attack of divorce. The article points out that the kids ultimately pay the price. Over 20% of homes are in a cohabitation situation, and that means many more children will find this a norm for the future... and what does that mean?
"Those who are part of cohabiting households, according to the study, report "more conflict, more violence, and lower levels of satisfaction and commitment." Children in such situations face real emotional and physical risks"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/the-coh...%29
More violence conflict and depression... cohabiting households offer the future a bleak outlook. IF you thought married homes were bad, these modern arrangements seem far worse. I had the privilege of seeing my parents married, it didn't however insulate me from some of the abuse and trauma of dysfunction... the modern household has less protection and structure, more pressures and less stability. And to top it off the Media and "Hollywood" slams the traditional family with nothing better to replace it.
While promising a world of "freedom" and "options" ...our society is crumbling apart, one household at a time. Just because I belong to the "wholesome" minority is it any less my responsibility? I hear it in my circles sometimes that we are only responsible for our own... what ever happened to "love your neighbor?" By us reaching a hurting world we do two things... stabilize our own homes and strengthen others. But where does that sit on the morality fence? It doesn't it is on one side or the other!
I see many in relationships that don't meet the Biblical criterion, but it doesn't stop me from loving, and counselling. Most of the people were like me before I found the truth...
or more accurately, the Truth found me... we forget! Shame on us! We have the very answers to life and happiness and we selfishly keep it all to our selves... we have the obligation to share our very lives... not just advice or condemnation.
At no time in history do we have such a great wealth of resources for struggling families of all descriptions... but how will this get from the "helped" to the hurting? It is not good enough to brag about your marital success... your very children will be living in the future world of cohabitation! We owe it to the next generation to build-up what is falling and establish new foundations where there are none. It is never easy to do the right thing... especially when our society is cursing the very line that might be their salvation.
I was again challenged to return to the basics, Jesus said...
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35)
...ours is the challenge to shine, we say we have the Light! There is no greater joy than to see couples investing in tools that will help them survive the "incompatibility" lie, and see them choose to love beyond their selfishness. When we have worked with men and their potential... we have found satisfied women our best advertisers! There isn't a woman who can resist a real man... there isn't a man that can resist a real woman! The message of love is a contagious one, filled with hope and purpose... we just need to get it out of the package into the lives that need it.
However, "love" doesn't mean stupidity! If you plant bad principles in your relationships (like selfishness) you will get the undesired response. We need to be smart and invest all the good things we can in relationships to see them grow and flourish... my wife and myself have been attending marriage courses for years, and still do. Our last 10 years are better than the fist fifteen! I have such a terrific hot wife all because I believe in her, and satisfy her; previously I took instead of gave... I could tell you where that got me. I see such potential in young relationships... they need to stay blind with love... and wide-eyed to opportunities to love on their mate! Try to out-care for the other.
I don't know why they call it "living together" when each person is so far apart!
I believe the greatest SIN is not teaching people how to love... by our demonstration.
I would like to share the following links to great videos, they have been valuable to us in understanding the opposite sex, without suffering the opposite of sex...
Mark Gungor - Sex is what men want from women...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbJOL0X4P...Get Your Husband to Do What You Want...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ccJeRh_U...Is there a such a thing called a Soul Mate...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPdAR12Z-...