Marriage

Saturday, August 15, I had the honor of serving as the minister for my son and his bride’s wedding ceremony. Shawn Allen Scruggs and Bethany Nicole Vestal were married atBrookstown Inn in Winston Salem, North Carolina in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony.

I have performed a bunch of wedding ceremonies in my life and to be quite honest for the most part did not find them particularly enjoyable. In too many cases the minister is there because he is needed to sign the paperwork and make it official. Too few grooms and brides see the wedding as a spiritual coming together of husband and wife with the blessing of God on the marriage. Too many marriages leave God out all together.

I was proud of Shawn and Bethany as they both proclaimed to the wedding party the night before the wedding they wanted their marriage to be built on God’s love and truth. Again during the wedding reception they shared with the guests the same desire. This wedding was truly a blessing to perform. No doubt it was special because it was the wedding of our son. However, I must say it was a blessing to witness two young people proclaim to all they wanted their marriage built on the solid rock, Jesus Christ.



Every time I perform a wedding ceremony I wonder do the bride and groom really realize the depth of the commitment they are making. A commitment not only to each other, but in the presence of witnesses they make the vows to God as well. The wedding vows are words of deep commitment. “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy law, I pledge you my faith.” With today’s divorce rate at an alarming rate, over 40% of all first time marriages end in divorce. Sadly to say the divorce rate among professing believers in Jesus Christ is no different than unbelievers. Statistics don’t lie and they clearly show us that too many couples do not take the vows to heart.

Shawn and Bethany I am proud of you for your declaration to build your marriage on a firm foundation. May you know nothing but martial happiness and joy through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Vacation

Last week my wife and I and grandson Derek went on vacation to New York City. It sure was a change. NYC is an amazing city of 13+ million people, five large burroughs; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island, each a large city in itself. Manhattan is where we spent our time. Manhattan is home to skyscrapers, a beautiful harbor, financial district, Times Square, media centers, broadway plays, Chinatown, little Italy, Harlem and much more. We toured Manhattan atop an open air cruise bus, with guide on board, every sight and sound of the city was pointed out.

It is said of NYC, it is the city that never sleeps. We would go from early morning to late night and it never seemed the city slowed down.



We also went by ferry to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and Staten Island. Went shopping in Macy's and other NYC stores. Derek got his first subway and bus ride.

Big cities are teeming with all kinds of people going here, there, and everywhere. They seem to always be in a hurry. One can see why the Apostle Paul was drawn to the big cities of his day to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, what a mission field for Christ.