News analysis from a prophetic Christian worldview
Marriage
NOTE: When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus–the actual original names and the true nature and character of them.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
My parents were married just a few months shy of 50 years-my dad checked out early for a trip to heaven. My wife’s parents were married 61 years before her dad passed away. Chris and I are into year 31. This is at a time when many young people are not seeing the value of marriage. More and more are opting to live together, even have children, before getting married. Some young adults have told me that marriage is outdated. Others say that with the trauma they experienced with their parents getting divorced, they do not want to risk marriage. The divorce rate is as high among Christians as it is in the general population. But marriage is essential to the family unit and the core of the nation.
There is a story about a couple in California who have been married 68 years. It is worth a read, as reported by CBS 13 in Sacramento: “It’s one thing to match on your wedding day but it’s another to match for 68 years. That’s what Francis and Rosemary Klontz have been doing for seven decades. And they sing, too! Francis and Rosemary Klonts met in Junior High in Auburn, Washington.Every note they sing and every outfit they wear is perfectly harmonized. “My mother got us matching shirts when we were in high school-well, I picked them out-and we’ve been matching ever since,” Rosemary Klonts said. “And I thought she was the cutest little thing,” Francis Klonts said. “By the time we were seniors, we started going together.”
“Married for 68 years next month, Francis knows the term happy wife, happy life all too well – letting his bride of more than half a century pick his outfits every day. “Jesus first, others second, you last – that’s the way you spell JOY. (singing) Jesus and others and you – what a wonderful way to spell joy!” Rosemary Klonts said. And these “singing chaplains” perform at their local church, hospitals, and even just around the house. It’s a pitch-perfect, match made in heaven.” This couple has found the formula to maintain a happy life. They have Christ in the center of their union. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.”
Verse 4:12 finishes that “a three-strand chord is not quickly broken,” which is interpreted by many as the strength of two people tied together in marriage as strengthened by the third, which is Christ. While this is a bit out of context, it is true. Without God at the center, things can fall apart pretty quickly. Divorce statistics are showing there are slightly fewer divorces, and it is largely attributed to people living together and not getting married. Marriage and family are foundational to a strong society. We should celebrate those who have successful marriages and learn from them. For as Christ said in Matthew 19:6, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Again, the three-strand chord concept.
For the children in rural Ghana, the need is great
By Pastor William Agbeti
“Father, we have a huge challenge!” That was the alarming prayer that sprung up in my heart when we registered the 181st child that showed up for our feeding program this month, against an invited number of 150! The makeshift auditorium of the local rural church, Bread of Life Sanctuary, that we are supporting and where we fed the children, was packed to full capacity by both invited and uninvited rural children. These started showing up in their numbers, with great excitement, hours before the announced time of 1:00 pm! They came from poor rural communities spread miles apart.
As a result, we were compelled to set up an overflow area outside the auditorium to contain the extra numbers that kept pouring in! Many were reported to have come very early in the morning to survey the area to assure themselves that the feeding program was for real! We ran out of rented chairs and could not get any to rent in the whole of the Kojonya community where the program was held, forcing us to go for benches and other types of chairs for the children. An hour before the official start of the program, which was held under the theme, JESUS – OUR BREAD OF LIFE!, we had 200 rural children on our hands to feed with both spiritual and physical food!
Naturally, I started panicking! How could we possibly feed all these needy children? And we were still counting! Just then, definitely by divine intervention, a volunteer stepped up unto the platform where the musical instruments were and started singing: “We serve a Miracle working God who never fails!”
Immediately, the spirit of panic left me and I dashed down to where the cooks were. I asked the chief volunteer cook if we have enough to feed all the children. She reported they had noticed the situation and had reduced the size of the fried chicken by half, thereby creating 300 pieces! Thankfully she confirmed also there was going to be enough rice for all, if the intended portions were also reduced by half! Thank you Father, I exclaimed silently! Half a portion is better than no portion at all! I tried to convince myself!
It turned out to be a
The Daily Jot supported ministry in Ghana feeds, clothes and provides clean water for hundreds of children
first-time experience for the 200 children. Many of these had never eaten fried rice! They were treated to a popular nutritious local drink called SOBOLO, made out of the hibiscus flower. They also had popcorn and a received donations of clothing. Our regular musical chairs and dancing competitions were held and the winners were presented with Bibles. At the tail end of the program, majority of the children took decisions to accept Christ and were invited to attend church. These were given summarized lessons about the Old and New Testaments. They learned there are 66 books in the Bible, with 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New.
The need for them to have their own Bibles and carry them at all times was emphasized. We had a head count of the children who had Bibles and it turned out only a handful of them had bibles. Well over 150 had no Bibles. We promised to organize Bibles for distribution to them.
As usual, I observed four developments that greatly humbled me and brought tears to my eyes! First, the portions of meals were obviously not enough for some of the children! Secondly, many did not have popcorn to eat and were openly disappointed! Thirdly, when we assembled to have a group photograph, scores of children came over to cling to me, and will not let go; making me almost fall down! I had to control the tears welling up in my eyes! Lastly, after it all, a small boy aged about four walked to me and pointed out to something on a table somewhere.
It was another child’s pair of shoes! I checked his name on the register of names, asked a volunteer to find out where he came from, and promised to bring him a pair of shoes! How can I ever fail to deliver on this promise? Meanwhile, I am still thinking about how to address the overwhelming food needs of the children, with a regular monthly, if not weekly, feeding program for at least a year! This is my newest burden I have chosen to carry, so help me God!
Against above backdrop, we have purposed to have follow up activities to help establish the children in local churches, give them Bibles, supply some of their personal needs and win them and many more away from the reach or influence of Islam, traditionalist and other pagan and oppressive religions!
Hopefully, with a rippling effect and impact on our target children and rural communities, we would make a profound mark on rural Ghana with the feeding program! On the whole we had two local rural churches and two local NGOs supporting the program with children they bused to the venue, biblical literature and volunteers! To God be the Glory for a power-filled program like this!
The Daily Jot is totally reader supported. My wife, Chris, and I do not take a salary or receive any remuneration for this work. Your gifts go directly to assisting us in maintaining this column, the website, outreach, and the Lord’s work we do in Ghana, West Africa. Thank you for your prayers and support.
