Announcement

An event has occurred recently that probably most of you thought was impossible. Susan Garrison has agreed to marry me. For those of you who know me better than others, and have witnessed some of my previous relationships, this might spell the end of what could have been considered a soap opera. I asked her Monday night, and she obviously accepted. For those of you who are curious, we will not be able to set a date for a while. I rather think Susan might be posting some of those juicy details y'all will want to know.

I would like to share with you some of what I believe God has been teaching me during the last few years. The first thing is that a prudent wife is from the Lord. Finding a good wife is not a matter of luck or circumstance, for we serve a sovereign God. There is no way I could have met Susan and pursued her unless the Lord had opened the doors.

The second thing I believe the Lord taught me is the importance of grace in relationships. Before he gave me permission to court, Susan's father asked me why I thought a relationship with Susan would work, where the previous ones failed. My answer was that of all the ladies I had been interested in, Susan is the most aware of the role grace played in her life. She is saved by grace, and knows it. Therefore, she doesn't have to stand up for herself. Without fear, she can voluntarily put herself under the headship of a sinner like me.

The third and last thing I believe the Lord taught me is about the relation between contentment and God's gifts to us. I would like to quote Carolyn McCulley in her essay, “Sex and the Single Woman,” part of a collection entitled Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor. She writes,

One more thought: I've often heard married people say to singles that we won't get married until we're content in our singleness, but I humbly submit that this is not true. I'm sure that it is offered by well-meaning couples who want to see their single friends happy and content in God's provision, but it creates a works-based mentality to receiving gifts, which can lead to feelings of condemnation. The Lord doesn't require that we attain a particular state before He grants a gift. We can't earn any particular spiritual gift any more than we can earn our own salvation. It's all of grace. However, we should humbly listen to our friends and receive their input about cultivating contentment – after all, the apostle Paul says that “there is great gain in godliness with contentment” (1 Tim. 6:6); we just shouldn't attach it to the expectation of a blessing.

We serve a gracious God Who delights in giving good gifts to His children. Rejoice with me, my friends, for I am happy.