"LOVE THAT LASTS A LIFETIME"-(Ephesians 5:17-33)
In this months edition of SBC LIFE I recently read this story by Charles Lowery:  One man forgot about valentines Day, and his wife got quite angry.  She told him that the next morning she had better find a gift in the driveway that goes from zero to 175 in six seconds!  The next morning there was a BIG gift-wrapped box in the driveway.  She ran outside, and upon opening it, she found a brand new BATHROOM SCALE!
Another was told about the wife of a missing husband. She called her neighbor and told her that her husband had been gone now for over two hours!  They raced to the police station to fill out the missing person's report.  She described her husband as "Tall with a slim waist and broad shoulders".  He was also "sharply dressed with thick curly hair"...She then added that he was "soft-spoken and a wonderful father"!  About that time, the confused wife's neighbor said, "That's not your husband"!  Your husband is short, overweight, dresses sloppy, foul-mouthed and can't stand to be around kids"!!!  The wife then looked at her friend and said, "I know, but who wants HIM back"???
(Psalms 90:9--"we spend our years as a tale that is told.")
THIS IS THE TALE OF OUR LIFE:  I was born in Statesville, raised in Los Angeles as as a non-churched person.  Jonna was raised in church and on a farm all her life.  Following a visit to NC, I was saved at age 12...Jonna a age 4.  Probably the ONLY compatability we have is our relationship with Christ. You've heard it said that "OPPOSITES ATTRACT"....and that is the truth!  We were both rased 3000 miles apart and by differing standards.  But somehow thru the providence of God we met at the Taylorsville Camp Meeting.  I was 16 preaching for the first time, and Jonna was 14, and played the organ for morning services.  Within  6 months we were intent on spending the rest of our lives togher!-(Hanger with ribbon story...everyone has there story!).  Today, we are on our 26th year of marriage!  Our children have told us that we raised them in some "Imaginaery World that no longer exists"....and that "People do not find love like you did nearly 30 years ago"...."People are different now!!!"  
*When treating drinking water, the only way to CLEAR THINGS UP is by the addition of  chemicals to create both a possitive and a negative charge so that particles will ATTRACT and settle together; and so it is with couples!  (eHarmony.com, Myspace, Yahoosingles, Millionare Matchmaker Show!, etc.....Often the best and most lasting relationships occur by mere chance!  I see young people comprimising their principles just to BE WITH SOMEONE!  I tell my daughter, "The boy you are dating now will not change from what he is 20 years from now"!.....YOU WON'T CHANGE THE WAY A PERSON IS BY MARRYING THEM!!!)(*Dissolve Oxygen Test on water...variations of color change noted:)
CLEAR WATER..................(Marriage the way GOD intended it to be.)      PINK...................................(Woman)OTHER................................(Man)	MUD/Can't SEE YOUR WAY THRU!!!.....(All marriages have their own MUD that develops POWDER............................(The advice and opinions of the world)       SEPARATE VESSEL MARRIAGE-(Measured and set aside)           THE GOSPEL added         THE STARCH of tribulation and struggle-(The world constantly combats a stabile marriage!)   THE GOSPEL, HOLY SPIRIT, THE CHURCH CLEAR WATER -(A type of the marriage dedicated to God)
*WHAT WE LEARN IS THAT MARRIAGE is a life-long labor and commitment.  When things go wrong, it takes commitment to clear things up!  YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT ALL YOUR LIFE!!!  The time when you need each other's love the most is NOT when the bills are being paid, or the kids are behaving....but when your world seems to be falling apart!  (I am amazed at how couples take SO LIGHTLY their vows these days!  Out of 28 years pastoring and preaching I have never married a couple who ended up separating---WHAT A BLESSING!!!)
It has been said that there are 5-M's that are most important in the retirement years:  Your MONEY, MOBILITY, MIND, MAKER, MARRIAGE!......The latter 2 are your partners till the end no matter what!