FROM THE ALTAR TO FALTER

FROM THE ALTAR TO FALTER

Candy is flying off the shelves, even diet chocolates, Florist are scurrying to fill orders, and cards are mailed or placed in conspicuous locations for the sweetheart to find…Ah! Yes, it is Valentine Week. The special evening dinner out is planned, so make your reservations early or you’ll be in line at the fast food place.
There are some “love at first sight” relationships and we live in an age of online dating. There is something though to be said about the old traditional dating, waiting, before mating approach. Some Hollywood marriages found that out. Actress Robin Givens married her tennis coach and it lasted only one day. She later married boxer Mike Tyson, it lasted 11 months. Brittany Spears and Jason Alexander got married in Vegas and that’s where their marriage stayed. It lasted all of 55 hours. Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman also left their $75.00 wedding in Vegas after 9 days. Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas ground out 19 days of wedded bliss. The list goes on from the altar to falter for many who rushed past the engagement period.
During Gov. Frank Keating’s stint as our state’s leader, he helped form the Marriage Initiative. The purpose was to halt the divorce rate which was nearly half the ratio of marriages in Oklahoma. It called for pre-marital counseling and post marriage (divorce) counsel where children were involved. It is still in process and progress. There is truly great wisdom in preparation for a life together rather than weeks spent on designing a wedding ceremony. Many Pastors’ have become reluctant to perform marriages where couples rush to the altar without counsel.
Valentine’s Day is symbolic of love, even with all the commercialism; it helps us to form those simple, profound, beautiful words… I LOVE YOU. Borrowing the verse of the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.” Phil. 1:7 To your sweetheart from your genuine love, say it, show it, mean it, live it and make it last. The old verse said, “Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.” Happy Valentine to every age. New love stories are being written everyday. Be one of them by showing love is real by the test of time.
I Corinthians 13:8 says “Love never fails”.

Pastor/Chaplain Larry Sparks