Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No. 24                          SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                      August 11, 2006

The Bulletin Board

Camp Notes - The senior session of the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp ends Saturday. It will be followed August i3-17 by Quest, a five-day family camp:. The next important happening at Fallhall' Glen will be the Labor Day Encampment. See Wayne Alexander if you are interested in attending that.

The Sick - Carolyn Buettner, who is nearly blind, has gone to Cincinnati for surgery that hopefully will help her regain some of her eyesight.... Karaline Jensen is recovering well from her recent surgery ...Nathalie Campbell, who has fought cancer for many years, has now been in remission for three -years. We rejoice with her in her good news.

Ladies' Retreat - "Recognizing the Enemy" is the theme of our Ladies' Retreat September 8 & 9 at the Sienna Center in Racine. Becki Kidd will be the speaker. The cost is $45.00 for those attending Friday and Saturday or $18.40 for those taking part only for Saturday's events. Reservations need to be in by August 23^rd. Pick up a flyer at the church building or see Cathy Ribar.

Address Change - Clark and Diane Speck, contact us for details..

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 125; second service, 105

Remember the Milwaukee area inter-congregational picnic on August 19 beginning at 11:00 am. at Kletzsch Park. Plan to attend if you can. Conflicting activities will keep some that usually go from participating so we need those who are able to attend^, if possible.

Praise and Palate will be this Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Bring summer fruits for the palate part,.

We were. blessed last Sunday morning with guest speaker Bob Hendren of Florence; AL; He has been one of the speakers this week at the Lake Geneva Family Encampment.

Calendar of Events

August 13 -Elders/deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.

August 13 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

August 13 - 2 7 - Quest Family Camp session, Fallhall Glen

August 19 - Inter-congregational picnic, 11:00 a.m., Ktetzsch Park

September 1- 4 - Labor Day Encampment, Fallhall Glen

September 8, 9 - Ladies' Retreat, Sienna Center, Racine

September 25-27 – 43^rd Annual Midwest Preachers' Retreat, Fallhall Glen

`Til Death Do Us Part

Last week the Louisiana legislature passed law for - a more binding farm of marriage called "covenant marriage." Since the advent of no-fault divorce in 1970, the divorce rate has gone up 34%. Nearly half of all marriages now end in divorce. The result has been a host of social problems with which all of us are too familiar.

Covenant marriage would be voluntary. It would provide for divorce only in narrow circumstances such as adultery, abuse, abandonment, or imprisonment for a felony: Couples entering covenant marriage would have pre-marital counseling. The purpose of covenant marriage would be to help couples enter marriage with a resolve to make it lasting. Those planning to marry would have to choose between covenant marriage and no fault marriage in which they could dissolve their bond whenever they decided they wanted out.

I have married a lot of couples. When they marry they make vows to one another that they will stay married "'til death do us part." Why, then, do so many divorce? There is no single answer, but it is true that many who marry do not make their vows seriously and do not take them seriously. But a covenant is a solemn promise. If one does not intend to abide by the promises he makes; he is lying. I don't think that most couples intend to split up, but divorce is perceived as a viable option in case things don't go too well. If one knows that there is an easy out; he will not try hard to make marriage work: The fact is that all marriages must be worked at if they succeed.

Covenant marriage is based on the premise that those who are marrying are willing to commit themselves unreservedly to the other. Actually, this is what marriage is all about. The reason some people live together without the benefit of marriage is that they are unwilling to make that commitment. But living together without commitment destines the relationship to failure.

The teachings of Jesus provide the best basis for a successful marriage. Jesus teaches that there must be fidelity in marriage. When both parties in the marriage are willing to truly commit to each other; they can also trust each other. And when they share a mutual trust, they will usually be able to reconcile their differences.

Some people in Louisiana are going to have to decide whether they want their marriages to be permanent. Those who opt for pre-nuptial agreements will find that their marriages will end on the rocks because, in looking over their shoulders about what might happen, they have been unwilling to commit themselves to a permanent marriage.

     Monroe Hawley, reprinted from Southside Oracle, July 4, 1997

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