The Old Rugged Cross

A couple of years ago I attended an exciting wedding! To be honest, I did more than attend a wedding; I was invited to play the piano during the ceremony and leading up to the main event.

I arrived at the venue about 45 minutes before the Bride arrived and started playing about 30 minutes in advance. I had a good stock of music on my iPad and in my head. As I relaxed and got settled in, the task became easier, and the music seemed to flow. I love playing music, but playing in front of an audience raises the stakes and produces some tension. 

A belated Happy New Year to you

A belated Happy New Year to you. The Christmas and New Year period is such a strange time of the year – on the one hand it is relaxing and yet on the other hand it is incredibly busy. The mix of organising, decorating homes (I think ‘dressing the house’ is posh way of saying it), re-organising rooms, planning, buying and cooking not say anything of buying and wrapping the odd present or two makes for a hectic couple of weeks. It’s no wonder we all want to sit down on Christmas day and doze. Although, I guess for many of you that didn’t materialise for a variety of reasons – washing up, clearing up, attending to children or elderly relatives. Having said all that – it is a fun and happy season for many and despite the busyness we end up quite relaxed. The old saying is quite true – ‘a change is as good as a rest’.

Marriage is a life long commitment!

Have a read of the view that Jesus had of marriage and divorce.

Mark 10King James Version (KJV)

10 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.

11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.