Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
Tornados, floods, and scary times, oh my. We’ve been promised eternal life, but not earthly security, and that’s OK: each day here is a gift from the Lord. We are pleased to report, that while we have many members who live in ‘Tornado alley’ and received near misses last month or this past weekend, so far everyone that we have talked to has been spared the worst. Please let us know if you need help or prayer, in any situation – we exist to be a help to families of all kinds. You can share your prayer request in the forums at any time also.
July 1-3rd Retreat and Conference
Our big news remains our first National Biblical Families Teaching Conference and Fellowship Retreat, just 6 weeks away! We have about 40 adults confirmed, but there’s still room for you. Why would you want to make the effort? If God has laid plural marriage (or Biblical Marriage if you prefer) on your heart – there’s nothing else like this conference available, at least in North America. Please see here for some perspective on our retreats. We are adding extra time to the holiday weekend, so that even though we have some great speakers, we will have plenty of time set aside for fellowship, for worship, for individual encouragement and prayer, and for relationship-building – something that so many people find invaluable at the retreats. The primary days for the conference will be Friday-Sunday (all day), July 1st-3rd. However, there will also be events on Thursday, June 30th, and on July 4th. On the 30th, we will do a symposium on the state of biblical marriage in America – all adults are welcome to join, this should be a great time of sharing ideas. If you are able to attend all 5 days, we think you’ll find yourself blessed. If you can only make the weekend, great, come for what you can! For details, drop us a note now, at retreats@biblicalfamilies.org .
Giving We don’t mention it often, but we rely on you, in order to be able to provide retreats, counseling, support and more. Biblical Families is a faith-based mission devoted to encouraging men and women to build God-honoring families. To do this we need your financial support. Would you please prayerfully consider making Biblical Families a part of your regular giving so we can in turn bless other families? No buildings, no salaries, here: what you give goes directly to expenses involved in fulfilling the mission God has given us. You can participate via the paypal link here. Thanks for your support! Just click on "Donate" in the Biblical Families menu at the top of the page.
Patience How about this for a slogan for Biblical Families: “Real men take it slow”? Don’t like it? Why not? We have repeatedly stated that one of the primary things we want to encourage both men and women towards, is to use wisdom, caution, and take plenty of time, when approaching any relationship. Marriage is hard enough, in any circumstance: to rush in, particularly in our society, to a potential plural marriage, is just setting folks up for failure – we’ve seen it too many times. What does the Word have to say about it? “Love is patient; love is kind”. If something is worthwhile, if something is real, it will be worth waiting for. Biblical Marriage is not about bringing more heartache, and we want to see you avoid that pain. If someone is rushing you into a commitment relationship, we’d encourage you to take that as a red flag. Instead, relax, slow down, pray together, get to know each other and enjoy the season of the growing relationship, instead of rushing to the ‘harvest’. If you need prayer and encouragement in this area, just ask. Pastor Whitten has more to say in this area this month:
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. Luke 14:28-32
The wisdom of our Lord, as presented here, is valuable when applied to many areas of our life. Sometimes the same wisdom is phrased as “Sin in haste, repent at leisure.” Generally speaking leaping before we look will get us to an unexpected destination. Nowhere does this seem more applicable than in the arena of marriage. It matters not if it is a single marriage or a polygynous marriage, research, preparation and commitment are extremely important for a harmonious home.
No one can fully know a person, ever. Only God can, for the rest of us, surprises are always possible. But, we should take time to get to know a potential spouse as well as we can, before committing to such an important relationship as marriage. Many movies and TV shows have used the scenario of a person going to Las Vegas and waking up in the morning, being married to a total stranger. While it may be humorous to watch, such an experience should, in reality, be labeled a horror flick. It is never taught in the Bible, that all people are compatible as potential spouses. Therefore we should get to know an individual before making a commitment to such a sacred relationship as marriage. Praying for the leadership of God in our relationship is far safer than listening to our hormones. Hormone levels increase/decrease, but God is the same forever and remains consistent in His will and desire for us.
It is important for us to consider our own motives for marrying. Motives may be different at different stages of life, but at any stage, the love of God for others and a love for Him ought to be of the highest consideration.
Last thought (for now), marriage is more about commitment than emotion. When we marry a man or woman we are making a lifetime commitment. Any man or woman that reneges on that commitment for any reason other than that given by Jesus, is behaving in an ungodly fashion. Surprises will come, history will be revealed, obstacles will arise, but none are a justification for abandonment of a spouse or marriage. Rather, these are opportunities for growth and showing to the world the truly, wondrous love of our God for us, with all our imperfections. He remains faithful and so must we.
Pastor John Whitten
Tornados, floods, and scary times, oh my. We’ve been promised eternal life, but not earthly security, and that’s OK: each day here is a gift from the Lord. We are pleased to report, that while we have many members who live in ‘Tornado alley’ and received near misses last month or this past weekend, so far everyone that we have talked to has been spared the worst. Please let us know if you need help or prayer, in any situation – we exist to be a help to families of all kinds. You can share your prayer request in the forums at any time also.
July 1-3rd Retreat and Conference
Our big news remains our first National Biblical Families Teaching Conference and Fellowship Retreat, just 6 weeks away! We have about 40 adults confirmed, but there’s still room for you. Why would you want to make the effort? If God has laid plural marriage (or Biblical Marriage if you prefer) on your heart – there’s nothing else like this conference available, at least in North America. Please see here for some perspective on our retreats. We are adding extra time to the holiday weekend, so that even though we have some great speakers, we will have plenty of time set aside for fellowship, for worship, for individual encouragement and prayer, and for relationship-building – something that so many people find invaluable at the retreats. The primary days for the conference will be Friday-Sunday (all day), July 1st-3rd. However, there will also be events on Thursday, June 30th, and on July 4th. On the 30th, we will do a symposium on the state of biblical marriage in America – all adults are welcome to join, this should be a great time of sharing ideas. If you are able to attend all 5 days, we think you’ll find yourself blessed. If you can only make the weekend, great, come for what you can! For details, drop us a note now, at retreats@biblicalfamilies.org .
Giving We don’t mention it often, but we rely on you, in order to be able to provide retreats, counseling, support and more. Biblical Families is a faith-based mission devoted to encouraging men and women to build God-honoring families. To do this we need your financial support. Would you please prayerfully consider making Biblical Families a part of your regular giving so we can in turn bless other families? No buildings, no salaries, here: what you give goes directly to expenses involved in fulfilling the mission God has given us. You can participate via the paypal link here. Thanks for your support! Just click on "Donate" in the Biblical Families menu at the top of the page.
Patience How about this for a slogan for Biblical Families: “Real men take it slow”? Don’t like it? Why not? We have repeatedly stated that one of the primary things we want to encourage both men and women towards, is to use wisdom, caution, and take plenty of time, when approaching any relationship. Marriage is hard enough, in any circumstance: to rush in, particularly in our society, to a potential plural marriage, is just setting folks up for failure – we’ve seen it too many times. What does the Word have to say about it? “Love is patient; love is kind”. If something is worthwhile, if something is real, it will be worth waiting for. Biblical Marriage is not about bringing more heartache, and we want to see you avoid that pain. If someone is rushing you into a commitment relationship, we’d encourage you to take that as a red flag. Instead, relax, slow down, pray together, get to know each other and enjoy the season of the growing relationship, instead of rushing to the ‘harvest’. If you need prayer and encouragement in this area, just ask. Pastor Whitten has more to say in this area this month:
Look Before You Leap
Or Once You Land, Stand
Or Once You Land, Stand
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. Luke 14:28-32
The wisdom of our Lord, as presented here, is valuable when applied to many areas of our life. Sometimes the same wisdom is phrased as “Sin in haste, repent at leisure.” Generally speaking leaping before we look will get us to an unexpected destination. Nowhere does this seem more applicable than in the arena of marriage. It matters not if it is a single marriage or a polygynous marriage, research, preparation and commitment are extremely important for a harmonious home.
No one can fully know a person, ever. Only God can, for the rest of us, surprises are always possible. But, we should take time to get to know a potential spouse as well as we can, before committing to such an important relationship as marriage. Many movies and TV shows have used the scenario of a person going to Las Vegas and waking up in the morning, being married to a total stranger. While it may be humorous to watch, such an experience should, in reality, be labeled a horror flick. It is never taught in the Bible, that all people are compatible as potential spouses. Therefore we should get to know an individual before making a commitment to such a sacred relationship as marriage. Praying for the leadership of God in our relationship is far safer than listening to our hormones. Hormone levels increase/decrease, but God is the same forever and remains consistent in His will and desire for us.
It is important for us to consider our own motives for marrying. Motives may be different at different stages of life, but at any stage, the love of God for others and a love for Him ought to be of the highest consideration.
Last thought (for now), marriage is more about commitment than emotion. When we marry a man or woman we are making a lifetime commitment. Any man or woman that reneges on that commitment for any reason other than that given by Jesus, is behaving in an ungodly fashion. Surprises will come, history will be revealed, obstacles will arise, but none are a justification for abandonment of a spouse or marriage. Rather, these are opportunities for growth and showing to the world the truly, wondrous love of our God for us, with all our imperfections. He remains faithful and so must we.
Pastor John Whitten