HEART FOR LOVE

The picture above was taken a number of years ago when we were in Ukraine visiting kids and churches. Nancy and I took a walk one cold afternoon and found this artistic metal work in a park. The creation was made for picture taking so we took one, even though it was not Valentines Day or our anniversary.

I believe the golden rings pictured a husband’s and wife’s wedding rings linked with some decorative metal flowers at the bottom. Between the intertwined rings was a small heart. You get the idea? Love is a commitment of two people “committed” to each who become like one. That is a universal principle that comes from Scripture. Marriage was God’s idea from the beginning.

The Bible refers to this concept in Genesis 2:25 where God creates man and woman and performs the first wedding ceremony were Adam married Eve in a perfect garden wedding. Note how many times that same idea is repeated in Scripture.

Gen_2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Mat_19:5 and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'?

Mat_19:6 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

Mar_10:8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

1Co_6:16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH."

Eph_5:31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

Amazing isn’t it? That verse is the foundation of what all weddings essentially should be since Creation (thousands of year ago). The three basics are leave, cleave or be joined together with commitment, and become one flesh. Note the order also. If you get them mixed up, you will have problems; then you need to humble yourself and seek God’s forgiveness in Christ and refocus. Only He can forgive our sin.

This is what constitutes God’s plan for marriage even if culture reverses things, or goes off track. Sincere, unselfish and committed love is what holds it together. We can say that from experience having been married over 50 years now; happy to tell you about it, too. Neither of us is perfect but, thanks to the Lord, we are forgiven and still “crazy about each other.”

Happy Valentines Day

Pastor Mark

Our engagement picture in 1968.

FIFTY YEARS OF MARRIAGE...NOT A 50/50 DEAL

Nancy and I are thankful for the 50 years of marriage He gave us in spite of ourselves. God brought us together and we were married June 29th 1969 in Moses Lake, WA. I was in the military and gone much but soon I was transferred to Point Robinson Lighthouse Station USCG (Vashon Island, WA). Here is were we began our family of eight kids. Life led us many places after that but this week we came back to Point Robinson again to celebrate God's goodness in giving us those 50 years.

Point Robinson Lighthouse where I was assigned during some of our first years of marriage. This picture was taken June 29th on the exact hour we were married fifty years before (1969). The lighthouse still functions as a beacon to ships that have to navigate one of the few 90 turns in shipping lanes in the US.

You might ask how is it possible to get along that long? My answer is that marriage is not a 50/50 deal. Some say “if you do your part then I will do mine.” “But if you don’t keep your end then I’m done.” However, when God performed Adam and Eve’s garden wedding He made it clear they were to leave and also “cleave” to each other in Genesis 2:24.  The Hebrew word for “cleave” can also be translated “hold fast” or “be joined to.” It has the idea of clinging to or being committed to a person. This is the part of the vows that emphasizes the covenant of marriage which is to be “until death do us part.” For the believer this means self-sacrifice and putting the other person first and yourself last. Christ is clearly the greatest example of this because He willingly submitted to execution on a cruel cross so that He could redeem His bride the Church by His blood.

Scriptures says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-26

We entered marriage with Christ first and ourselves last. Understanding and living His Word has made the difference for us.

Nancy and I in front of our Keepers Quarters when we lived here in the 70’s just before Josh came.

A picture 50 years later (this week) in front of the same quarters with some of our local family. On the left is Hannah’s family. On the right is some of our son Josh’s family. He was working that day. Josh was our first son and was born while we lived here. He is what is called a Child of the Light.

Lighthouse duty may seem romantic. It was for us. But some Coast Guard men couldn’t handle it because of being with their wives 24 hours a day. One I knew quickly and sadly put in for a transfer to a polar icebreaker so he could be at sea for a major part of the year…and away from his wife. Another young keeper had problems with his spouse so he set up his bed in the small attic storage room of the lighthouse. It was not a hospitable place being next to the fog horn which I assume he preferred listening to. However, regardless of your surroundings a life of following and living for Christ makes any relationship or situation better.

Night at the Keepers Quarters built in 1885 and the lighthouse down the long sidewalk.

The light still functions although it is now automated. The sparkling 5th order prismatic lens is still there but the actual light is now a small resin lens on the catwalk outside the lantern room. It has a LED light that functions on solar energy. It still guides ship around one of the few 90 degree turns in the shipping lanes in the US (between Seattle and Tacoma). The fog horn still works too. Dozens of large commercial and small private vessels rely on it daily. This weekend an annual Low Tide Festival will draw nearly 800 people to the station. I’ll be helping with this event as former Keeper.

Sunday July 21 at 9:15 Nancy and I will be doing the main adult Sunday School class on “Biblical Insights from 50 Years of Marriage: No 50/50 Deal.” We don’t know all the answers but we know where they can be found. Join us then or on Livestream.

Pastor Mark