Published in the Free Lance Star William E. NowersThe Bible, not justices, should define marriageCommenting on a recent letter to the Free Lance-Star by Michael Strobl , and other uninformed opinions concerning the pending Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriages. The Supreme Court reveals an unbelievable arrogance in even considering same sex marriage.  The Bible clearly establishes marriage in Genesis. God revealed that a man will leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh.  Every civilized nation since humans walked on the earth recognized the marriage of one man and one woman.   We were founded as a Christian nation and for over 300 years it was widely accepted by American citizens. Read More

Hate speech does not come from those who tell the truth. It comes from those who hate the truth and love a lie.   Using the civil rights struggle to promote the sexual appetites of the homosexual agenda is an affront to the dignity of black people. No other group in America has had to suffer the wicked injustices as did African blacks who were forced to provide hard labor with no compensation, and their American descendants. Read More

 VCA News – New Sign Goes Up! At the end of October, 2014, VCA moved into its new office at 8659 Staples Mill Road in Richmond. It took awhile for the landlord to have a new sign made and installed. Three of the original founders stand in front of the new sign. Reverend Joe Ellison, VCA Founder Greene Hollowell, and VCA Chairman, Don Blake. The new VCA office is about 100 yards from the original office location of six years. The new space has a larger, more private conference room, a full-size kitchen, and a meeting room that will seat at least 50 people very comfortably. The new space has already been used for group meetings, and plans are to make it available for other like-minded groups and church use. Read More

         Unfortunately, these may not be evident even in a close, long term dating relationship. Life-dominating sins can cause a person to adopt two or more private life styles which might very be successfully disguised even from the most observant.          Drinking, doing drugs and a fixation on pornography all have been discovered only after marriage.          As a Christian counselor I am often asked, “What are the most difficult issues you deal with in counseling”          The most difficult issue is surprising to many who think Number One would be pornography. Pornography is the most insidious sin I deal with because it becomes so deeply controlling and those who indulge in this sin work overtime to disguise their involvement. Read More

      As noted in previous articles, Religion appearing as Reason 5 in this list of 6 Reasons Marriage Fail, does not pre-conclude it is the next to last reason marriages fail.       If there are any constant themes in Scripture, one of them is to marry someone of the same belief. This does not mean, however, that a Baptist should only marry a Baptist or a Methodist a Methodist. The culmination of this teaching is found in 2nd Corinthians 6:14 which simply says:       “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:  for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness And what communion hath light with darkness”       The Greek word yoked means literally to yoke up differently, that is, figuratively to associate discordantly.       It has been said evangelistic dating is the worst kind of evangelism and the worst kind of dating. There are better ways of winning the lost. Read More

      It was stated earlier in listing six reasons marriages fail each failing marriage has its Number One reason. Listing in-laws as the fourth reason doesn’t mean it ranks in fourth place. It could be Number One in some marriages.       I’ll launch this study with a question:  In-laws or Out-laws       The answer:  That depends on several things not the least of which is how long the couple has known each other, and do they know each other’s families       It is a sobering thought when engaged couples realize when they marry they are also marrying the entire family. Well, not exactly, but nevertheless a new relationship is entered into that encompasses more than just the couple. Read More

      As previously mentioned, this section of our discussion pertains to behavior within the realm of marriage. In pre-marital counseling I teach that engaged couples can practice all the aspects of marriage while dating – except living together and/or having a sexual relationship.       Overall we are looking at Six Reasons Marriages Fail. Thus far we have examined Role Reversal, Money and now Sex. We will conclude with In-laws, Religion and Life Dominating Sin.       Like money, sex is not the most important aspect of the marriage relationship; but it is a barometer concerning what is going on in a marriage relationship. Read More

      The mere mention of the word money evokes a variety of thoughts and emotions in many individuals.       The Bible is perhaps one of the most quoted and misquoted books ever written. For instance, it is often stated the Bible says money is the root of all evil - but not so.       Actually, First Timothy 6:10a reads:  “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”       Regardless of how money affects any person’s mind and emotions, money is one of the six reasons marriages fail.       Money can be problematical in other types of relationships, but our focus on money is how it can affect marriages. Read More

      For many years we were told the three problem areas in marriage were money, sex and in-laws.       Study, personal observation and many years counseling has caused me to add three categories to this infamous trio:  Husband/Wife Role Reversal, Religion and Life-dominating Sin.       When creating a list there must be a first item a last and those in between. Starting with Role Reversal and ending with Life-dominating Sin does not mean they rank in that order. Each marriage would have to be evaluated to determine the Number One problem area. Any one of these six might be at the top of a list. Read More

      We are the Number One source of our own problems – and this is the good news!       If God were the Number One source of my problems I would not want to contend with an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Being on a daily basis to ward off problems.       If Satan was the Number One source of my problems I would not want to contend with an un-seen adversary who “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”       Yes, other people’s poor choices vitally affect us, but even so, I would not want to contend with every one around me who is trying to control me and fit me into their mold. Read More