₦airaland Forum

Two lovers have escaped landing in jail after they went to a hotel to have fun and were unable to foot the bills for the food and drinks they took and the lodging accommodation for the night they stayed in the hotel in Lagos State, western Nigeria.
They were arrested and charged before Ebutte Metta Magistrates’ court with conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and refusing to pay their hotel bills.
The incident happened at a popular hotel located at Murtala Mohammed Way, Ebutte Metta.
The lovers, Usini Tolu, 27, and Gloria Banigo, 24, checked into the hotel whose accommodation costs N17,500 per night and promised to pay the money the following morning.
They were equally served some drinks and food before they went in for the night romp.
In the morning when the hotel’s manager, Stephen Ezeaku, went to the lovers’ room to request for the money as they had previously agreed, Tolu informed the manager that he had no money with him and as such he could not pay the bills.
Apart from that, the suspects allegedly threatened Ezeaku violently in an attempt to escape.
However, before they could escape, they were apprehended and handed over to the police who detained them at the station.
At the station, they allegedly confessed that they were lovers and had no money to pay for the accommodation in the hotel but decided to risk it.
They claimed that they were students and did not have money to pay for the one night hotel accommodation.
They were charged to court with the alleged offence under the Criminal Code.
When they were arraigned, they broke down in tears and pleaded with the complainant and court for forgiveness and spare them from going to prison.
Moved by their plea, the complainant told the court that he had forgiven them and would not want to continue with the matter.
The presiding Magistrate, Miss K. A. Ariyo subsequently struck out the matter on compassionate grounds and discharged them accordingly.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/04/08/student-lovers-escape-jail-over-hotel-bills/

The Nigerian government plans to make cash payments to poor people of about $25 per month to try to ease poverty and stimulate the economy, the vice-president said on Thursday, a plan that would cost a total of about $300 million per annum.

President Muhammadu Buhari won election in March 2015 on a promise to fight poverty and corruption, which has held most of Nigeria’s 180 million people in poverty despite its oil wealth.

“One million poor and vulnerable Nigerians would receive 5,000 naira ($25) monthly,” Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said in a statement outlining government priorities for the next 12 months.

Nigeria’s annual per capita income in 2014 was about $3,200 according to the World Bank.

The government will also employ 500,000 graduates as voluntary teachers while they seek jobs in their chosen careers, he said.

The initiatives were part of Buhari’s election campaign. The former military ruler has come under pressure in recent weeks due to fuel shortages. The economy, Africa’s largest, is also suffering from the global slump in oil prices.

Osinbajo did not say how these benefits would be funded, saying only there were part of a 6.06 trillion naira record budget for 2016 which parliament passed last month. Buhari still has to sign the bill.

The government has said it wants to borrow as much as $5 billion abroad but has not detailed how it wants to plug a budget deficit which officials have put in the range of between 2.2 trillion and 3 trillion naira.

Buhari has rejected a devaluation of the naira, which would hit poor people as Nigeria needs to import much of its food needs.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/04/08/fg-to-pay-the-poor-put-graduates-on-payroll/

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Thursday evening inaugurated three different committees saddled with the task of proper take off of the newly created councils in the state.

At the ceremony, he described human beings as the basic instrument of development, considering humans’ ability to think, conceive ideas and engage in economic production.

The Committees are Asset and Liability Sharing, Boundary Adjustment and Take-Off for Local Governments and the newly created Local Council Development Areas, Area Offices and Administrative Offices in the state.

‎Justice Kudirat Akano is to chair a seven-man committee on Asset and Liability Sharing, while Justice Akinwale Oladimeji will head Boundary Adjustment Committee, and former Executive Secretary of Ilesa East Local Government, Mr. Lanre Balogun, will head Take-Off Committee.

Aregbesola implored all Osun citizens and residents to strive more for development of the state, saying whatever asset any of the local government has should be seen as starting point for development.

‎He said the goal of all should be how to use what the state has to kick-start development and make life better for the people, instead of fighting bitter war over assets that will fuel another round of bitter feuding between communities.

Governor Aregbesola enjoined the Committee on Asset and Liability Sharing as well as the one on Boundary Adjustment to be fair and just and avoid any form of partisanship, bias and favouritism, adding that they should carry out their assignment with the fear of God and follow laid down procedures, rules and regulations to prevail.

‎He saaid modern boundaries are for the purposes of taxation, development and election, stating that a local government therefore means the geographical area within which taxes will be collected by a local authority and where that authority is politically responsible and accountable.

According to him, “Assets sharing is like an inheritance in which everyone wants the best portion for himself or herself. Where there is a will, it is easier, and contestations are often without rancour, although wills also are often contested. Where the deceased died intestate without a will anything can happen.

“It is not less so with government assets. Oyo and Osun, those who could remember, fought bitter asset sharing war at the creation of Osun in 1991, which still reverberates till today. This is unsavoury and clearly avoidable for the same people who have the same history, culture and have lived together since time immemorial.

“The greatest asset really is human beings. They are the basic instrument of development. It is humans that think, conceive of ideas, create and engage in economic production. This is why at any time, we should strive more for human development.”

The Governor stressed that his goal is the development of Osun with the revenue it’s able to generate and the councils are at the centre of such development.

He added that the era of free and unearned money is gone, noting that leadership is now a huge responsibility and no longer a reward or compensation.

He said, “We are in a new era of compulsory wealth creation. Be assured that anyone coming into any elective or appointive position in our state is coming to work, real hard work.”

Aregbesola said Osun is not alone in the financial challenge as being made up by the opposition, adding “President Muhammadu Buhari gave us a breather from our traducers when he announced that 27 states are in similar financial position to ours. It is not that we are proud of this, but to let you know why we are taking the steps we are taking now and what to expect from whoever comes into any position of authority in this state.”

He said further, “We are putting in place a system of revenue generation that works from bottom-up. This is why the local government system is very important to this administration.”

‎In his remarks on behalf of the three committees, the Chairman of Boundary Adjustment Committee, Justice Akinwale Oladimeji, said the committees would execute their assignments with high sense of nationalism and patriotism.

He said the committees would not allow themselves to be influenced in any manner while carrying out their tasks.

He stated that all members of the committees are men of honour and proven integrity and as such none will compromise their integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“We pledge and promise to perform to the best of our ability. We will do the job you gave us with the best of nationalism and patriotism.

“We assure you, Mr. Governor, that we are not going to be influenced in any form or by any extraneous or political factors.

“We are men and women of integrity and we have been known never to compromise our integrity.

‎”At the end of the exercise, Mr. Governor will see the confidence he reposed in us,” Justice Akinwale said.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/04/07/new-councils-aregbesola-inaugurates-committees/

Mr president you are a failure! Shameless leader! Do you know that nigerians are suffering?

God have mercy on your people. Rest in peace bros... God have mercy on your people. Rest in peace bros...

Rest in peace!

The area councils election was reschedule due to inadequate of ad-hoc staff. The new date is 9/04/2016.

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where is mr Garba shehu?

God have mercy on us

All their campaign promises nothing is happening,people are suffering.... - 1 naira = 1 dollar - 5,000 for unemployed youth - Free meal for school childred - petrol price 40 naira per litre

Where is national open university?

merbenko:
What makes different with that of Taraba. Mama Taraba have no case then

na so.....

myfantasies:
I look like a caricature inside ur shirt

hmmmmm

Meet a marriage adviser

Although the the church and worship are over 2000 years old, we can only trace Gospel music to the 18th century. Gospel Song Lyrics are very repetitive. Many believe this comes from the slave times when blacks were not able to read, this allowed them also to take part in the worship. The worship services also played a big role in reinforcing the slavery indoctrination, as the sermons were often taken from St. Paul which talked about: good servants, loving, obeying and trusting one's master. The hymns of the white master became the backdrop for the music of the enslaved Africans which later they used in worship meetings.

The Beginnings

The person who many consider to be the father of Gospel Music, Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993) was fittingly the son of a Baptist minister, and played with the most famous blues singers of all time-specifically, Bessie Smith (1894-1937) and Ma Rainey (1886-1939). Ironically his fist love was Blues and Ragtime. After two nevervous breakdowns in 1928, He decided to take a break from the music business and that is where he began to change his direction to religious composing. 1932 Dorsey organized one of the fist Gospel Choirs in Chicago at the Pilgrim Baptist Church. It was here that Dorsey began to write religious music, although he did abandon his style of bright or gaudy lyrics, the rhythmic style of jazz and his love of the blues flavor stayed. But not everyone was overjoyed with the new style of the gospel music, some of the old guard conservatives labeled it the devil's music and shunned it. But, he stayed true to his music and lived long enough to write over 800 songs and hear his musics ascend from the first row pews to the choir stand, where it previously had been banned. To insure this, Dorsey founded The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in 1932, an organization still in existence today.

A 1994 Score magazine article titled "The Father of Gospel Music" quoted Dorsey as saying, When I realized how hard some folks were fighting the gospel idea, I was determined to carry the banner.

Carry it he did. I borrowed five dollars and sent out 500 copies of my song, If You See My Savior, to churches throughout the country. It was three years before I got a single order. I felt like going back to the blues.

Many Famous Singers have their roots in Gospel Music

Once Gospel music was defined as religious, but gospel has moved to the mainstream and has its mark on all other types of music and popular culture. The list of singers who got their start in music from singing in the choir is way to long to even begin to write down in this small space but just to get an idea of what legends started out with the gospel song lyrics before moving on to other genres of music are Superstars in pop and soul such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston or Mary J. Blidge. Also Country stars like Tennessee-Ernie-Williams and Glen Camble and yes even the king himself Elvis Presley started with gospel music.

The Most Famous Gospel Choir

Probably the most famous Gospel choir is the Harlem Gospel Choir It was founded in 1986 and has spent the better part of the last 25 years touring the country raising money for children charities and spreading the love of gospel music to millions of people. Allen Baily was the founder and he got the idea while attending a celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. At the Cotton Club in Harlem.The Choir includes some of the best singers and musians from black churches in Harlem and the Greater New York area. The choirs main goal is to create a better understanding of the African-American culture & the inspirational music called Gospel as it relates to the Black Church. But, certainly the music is for everyone. If you see a concert in your area its always a good recommendation to attend this gospel celebration of singing and dancing!.

Todays Gospel Music

Gospel Music has branched out in so many directions over the years. Now Christian rock is the new age of music and the singers are listed weekly on the bill board gospel charts. There is a GMA (Gospel Music association) it has become a multi million dollar business as well. But no matter how the sound changes over the years, the roots will always be from heart and soul of the black American slaves that started this wonderful sound.

For by grace are we saved through faith that it is not of yourselves lest any man should boast. It not of works. Ephesians 2:8

I have been crucified with Christ and is no longer I who lives in me but Christ... Gal 2:20.

These two verses are extremely misinterpreted by the majority of the Christians in this world, and we must understand that without Christ we can do absolutely nothing. If we say we follow Christ then he will live through us. If we say that we can be good enough to enter heaven, that means we can boast in our own good works. But if we continue to sin we will enter Hell. So what is the way out of this predicament?

It seems like either way we are doomed. It's like if we try and keep the law of Moses we are doomed but if we break the law of Moses, God's laws, we will also be doomed. There is only one way out and that is to have Christ live through you.

So I read it again Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. So I live by faith in the son of God hallelujah.

Now this is what's happens to people who have come to know Jesus and that's what happened to me when I turned away from my sin. I turned to Christ and he started to live through me. It was no longer I living; the old me became a new me. I stopped doing all the things that I used to do and the old flesh stopped living through me. Some Christians will say Christ will renew your spirit but you'll still live in your flesh. This is a lie because if Christ lived through you and you are dead to yourself that means you can't live in the flesh. Because Paul said himself that if you live after the flesh you shall indeed perish but if you live after the spirit you shall inherit eternal life, hallelujah.

Thank God for all that He has accomplished today through His people in church! The world is still here today because of Jesus and His Body. Nigeria is still a beacon of life and liberty because of the almost omnipresence of the church here.

So What's Missing in the Church?

Not the stern disciplinarian that demands obedience and sacrifice, there are plenty of those still around. So what is missing? Not the businessman/pastor dual personality who puts on one hat for ministry and another hat to do "God's business", the church is full of those. And certainly not the great orator who woos the crowd with his swelling words and flamboyant style, they are everywhere!

What is missing is the heart of the Father!

There is a conspicuous absence of the Fatherhood of God working through His leadership in the church - There is an absence of those who labor in Christ until Christ is evident in the lives of every Christian so that in all of our humanity we become a people who are truly FREE!

The church is starving for a fresh revelation of their righteous position in Jesus before God, their priesthood before God, and the great commitment that the Father has for their success, happiness, peace and prosperity! We all need the strength and wisdom of the Father and the guarantee of our continued approval and blessing even when we fail...

Instead, in many cases, they receive shame and pressure to perform... Not from God, but from the church! God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, through the free gift of righteousness, see 2 Cor. 5:18-21.

The good news is that Jesus provided everything you need for your freedom when He made the great sacrifice on the cross, it's already done for all who will believe Him. There is nothing left to do except receive. When Jesus said, "It is finished", that's exactly what He meant!

You really are the church. You are a priest. You are an ambassador now, not when you get your act together, right now - You are the righteousness of God - You are the light of the world. You are that beacon of light that others are drawn to who don't know God. You don't have to try harder to be the light because Jesus said that you are already the light of the world!

Me!

Congrats!

No fuel no light, where is the money? Nigerian are suffering! Is the change a negative one? Baba buhari remember your promises. God is watching you.

1) The word "Trinity" does not appear in the Scriptures.
2) The word "Trinity" was first used by Tertullian. (155-230 AD)
3) The doctrine of the Trinity is commonly expressed as: "One God, three Persons." The doctrine is formally adopted in the Nicene Creed of 325 AD.

The doctrine of the Trinity took centuries to develop. The word "Trinity" is not found in the New Testament, nor is the doctrine explicitly taught in the Scriptures. However, many Trinitarian beliefs can also be seen in the teachings of extra-biblical writers in the end of the second century. The clearest early expression of the concept came with Tertullian, a Latin theologian who wrote in the early third century. Tertullian coined the words "Trinity" and "person" and explained that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were "one in essence (yet) not one in Person." Today, though he would be considered a heretic by modern trinitarians.

Kissing becomes a sin when you know so well in your heart, mind, body and soul that your thoughts regarding the person you practicing it with aren't so pure. Why do I say this? Now let's have a glance into the bible where we get to read the instructions of God as telling man not to harbor in their hearts lustful thoughts. The book of Matthew 5:28 outlines Gods instructions to man to abstain from any thought that leads to the committing of sin. 'But I say unto you, that whosoever looks at a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.' You don't necessarily have to get that physical with someone before you get to commit the sin of fornication with them. The more your thoughts of negativity outdo your whole being; you end up with no choice but to succumb to the desires of your flesh. To have that passionate attraction towards another in an impure manner is a definite way of committing to worldly pleasures which can be equated to sin. Kissing is not an exception as clearly seen here and its practice when leading one into stepping outside that boundary of being purely innocent, and entering that phase of becoming negative, filthy and impure, then automatically becomes a sin.

The bible says that every sin a man commits is outside his body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18. Your whole emotion centered on kissing someone becomes sinful when you manage to cross the line of taking things too far and deep. Be not consumed by thoughts that defy your being and whole outlook as a Christian. Lust is clearly a sin and the bible never failed to hammer on this point of Christian growth and development. So the question isn't really concentrated on one just kissing, but it is about what you feel in your heart and your thoughts directed towards that person with which you doing it with. You need to go deep within yourself and really ascertain whether you are doing the right thing or not being the Christian you claim to be. Ask yourself these simple questions to help you in identifying where your fault lies when you practice this act. Do you have pure thoughts when kissing someone? Do you feel the urge and need to go further with that person aside the kissing aspect? If you answer positively to these questions, then by all means know that you are committing a grave sin when and if you kiss with a lustful mindset backing it. While not all kisses in relationships are sinful, there's the need to exercise caution in any relationship you find yourself in just so you don't go against the word of God and end up defiling your being. Absolute self-control is needed here if you ask me especially if you know you are the kind who can't seem to restrain from going further after initiating a kiss. Kissing, should not lead you to the point of committing a sin. Temptation arises when you allow yourself yield to lustful desires of the body and flesh.

Who is Jesus? Who did Jesus claim to be? Who are the Apostles saying Jesus is? What are some of the religions saying who Jesus is? Who does the Bible say Jesus is? Why is it important to know who Jesus is? Why all the confusion? These will be some of the topics of today's Bible study.

Let's start with the question who did Jesus claim to be? To get an accurate answer of this question we need to start at the beginning when God first introduced Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14; And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Now let's take a look at what Jesus has to say about Himself. In John 8:58 we read;

"Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." Again we can see this in John 18:6 when Jesus said "I Am" the power of the name of God knocked everybody to the ground. "Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground."

In John 1:3 we read that Jesus is the creator of the universe, the earth and everything that was made. This verse also says all things were made through Him. The word "through" implies to me that Jesus was using the power of the Father channeling through Jesus to create everything. Look at this verse carefully and see what you think. "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." This verse could have said all things were made by Him but instead it says through Him. In John 14:10 we see Jesus saying the same thing. "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."

We need to look at the relationship between Jesus and the Father more carefully. In Luke 10:22 we read; "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

These were real churches with real issues and Jesus responded to an actual condition particular to that congregation; sometimes commendatory, sometimes critical; but adapted perfectly to the particular situation He discovered in each.

But they were not random selections. Jesus specifically addressed these seven churches because each had a condition representative of the church as a whole in all ages and continue to exist in all churches today. Their problems are our problems. The Lord therefore still speaks with a message as relevant for our churches and for each of us today as it was to those in the first century.

Jesus concludes each letter with a warning to the individual: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." May we hear and heed what Christ, through the Spirit, says to us personally concerning these matters.

EPHESUS (2:1-7)

"Insincere"

Jesus applauds the works of the Ephesians. They labored hard to serve the church, persevered in their duties with patience, didn't tolerate evil members, rejected false teachers and doctrines, and they did it gladly for His name's sake without growing weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."

Our Lord's issue with Ephesus was clearly not the quantity or the quality of their works, for He emphasizes both a zeal and steadfastness. Instead, Jesus was identifying a departure from their earlier "first love". Though this is not explained, because love for God and love for one another are the two greatest commandments, allow me to speculate what might have been happening.

As Christians, we all expect to go to heaven. Many of us, however, think what we do here isn't nearly as important as what comes after. If we feel sick or defeated, we shrug and say, "Oh, well. Heaven will be better." And of course, it will. But I'd like to ask you a question. When you get there, is God going to say to you, "Well... ?" or "Well done!"

There's much more to the Christian life here on earth than just going to church on Sundays and living a defeated life Monday through Saturday. It takes committed Christians to bring heaven's riches - wealth, health, deliverance of every kind - into earth's reality. In essence, God has 'sown' us into the devil's domain (which he stole through Adam), expecting us to 'have dominion'. We are here to take back the territory and demonstrate God's goodness on earth. However, much like the parable of the sower in Mark 4, Christians have varying degrees of effectiveness against the devil's wiles.

The good news is we can become all God wants us to be. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in His Name (John 1:12). All it takes is commitment. As sons and daughters of the Most High, we have been given the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to become lights in a dark world, dispensing help, healing and hope to those around us.Commitment is a choice. It requires us to give up something of ourselves to accomplish Kingdom objectives. It requires our time, effort and dedication until we can honestly 'believe only' without fear or doubt. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass (Ps. 37:5). Are you willing to become a more committed Christian? Jesus guaranteed it will be worth it.

Christianity, in its pure Gospel form, is in a right old mess today. We have famous, celebrity-styled, household-named so-called ministers (no names mentioned) of the 'gospel' preaching that "there is no hell, so it's technically okay to sin" and messages being taught that leave out Jesus. Sorry for my rant but " minister, my Bible is all about Jesus, from Genesis to revelation and without 'Christ' in Christianity, you have no Christianity, Christianity is Jesus Christ"

- End Time Evangelist.

Don't agree? Well "what would Jesus say?"

Jesus always stuck with the 'Word' (the Bible), He quoted from it, taught from it and spoke from it," therefore as the Bible says in that we are meant to 'imitate Christ' and behave like Christ, then we too then, should 'stick with the Word.'

Let's look at a Christianity with 'Jesus' NOT in it (+ what the Gospel ACTUALLY says)

we would have no saviour! ('For God so loved the world, He gave His only son. 'John 3:16)
We would have no one to take the sacrificial penalty for sins and we would always be guilty, meaning no forgiveness ever! we would be condemned to hell for our sins ('There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.' Romans 8:1. 'In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace, that he lavished on us.' Ephesians 1:7)
Getting into heaven would be based upon us being absolutely perfect, which is impossible. We would never see God or enter heaven ('No one can come to the Father except through Me.' John 14:6)
We could never be 'born again' and have a new start ('You must be born-again' John 2:3, 'You are a new creation in Christ Jesus' 2 Corinthians 5:17)
We would have no help in our lives ('I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13)
We would have no one to follow, to guide us, to encourage us or learn from. ( ' just as Christ suffered for you, He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.' 1 Peter 2:21)
We wouldn't be loved by our creator. ('Greater love has no one than this, tan to lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13)
We wouldn't be righteous. (God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God 2 Corinthians 5:21. 'It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30).

These are just a few of the many reasons that without 'Christ' in Christianity, there is no access to salvation and no hope of salvation, just an expectant of an eternity in hell. Jesus himself says in John 14:5: 'I am the way, the truth and the life! He, CHRIST JESUS, not us, make us holy, makes us sanctified, righteous, redeemed, cleansed, makes us whole, makes us delivered, forgives our sins, sets us free, protects us, guides us, loves us etc, etc, etc and gives us hope and eternal life!

Think about that, next time pastor 'so and so' tells you different. I don't care who he/she is - 'But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned' (Galatians 1:. Always check it out in God's Word, as HIS word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Remember Jesus in your Christianity, because without knowing Him, you will never see the Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus is Christianity, without Him you have no Christianity or can even call yourself a 'Christian!'. Imitate Him in your walk, get to KNOW HIM and the power of His resurrection! (Philippians 3:10)

The Christian view of marriage is unique. It provides purpose and meaning to a relationship that is treated with almost contempt in mainstream society. Yes, Christians believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. But that is only a start, and a basic one at that.

Ephesians 5:21-33 deals with marriage. But the entire passage is paralleled with a the relationship between Christ and the Church.

Ephesians 5:31-32 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

From these verses we begin to see that the marriage is much more than we would suspect.

It is important for any married couple, or for that matter anyone who wishes to get married, to have a deep understanding of God's purpose for marriage. Without an understanding of God's intent it would be hard for any married couple to fully grasp the nature or the depth of commitment God is looking for in a marriage.

I cannot overstate the important of this. As we progress through life and in marriage, problems and issues will crop up. For the Christian a fundamental acceptance and understanding of God's intent and purpose for marriage is essential in dealing with these issues.

There is a premise, a starting idea if you like, that a Christian marriage revolves around. If someone has the premise wrong, they will miss the why and often the how of the nature of their marriage. Marriage is meant to be so much more than the physical union of two people. It is a highly spiritual and holy relationship.

Here is the premise:

A marriage is divinely chosen by God to represent, in human terms, our relationship with God in Salvation.

Due to our fallen nature, as well as our human nature, it is impossible to understand the depth of love or commitment that God has for each of us. We read about it in Scripture, we hear about it from behind the pulpit, and we experience it one-sided. Since God will never leave us, nor forsake us, nor let us down, nor cease loving us, we cannot understand God from His perspective...or His side.

This, then, is the purpose or intent of marriage. It is a way for God to allow us to experience things from God's side of the equation. Since our mates are not perfect, they will hurt us, betray our feelings, scare us, and worry us. In such times you will come to understand God more than is otherwise humanly possible.

It is impossible to love everyone to the degree that we are supposed to love our spouse. God is capable, but we are not. We just don't have that capacity. However, to understand the depth of love, mercy, and grace that God demonstrates to us, we need to choose someone to try and love like that. That person was meant to be your spouse.

God wanted you to choose one person, just one, to love so unconditionally, so absolutely, that as you experience the joys and pain of that relationship you may begin to understand God's love for you better. Only then may we understand God's joy when there is reconciliation, His disappointment when we sin, His jealousy over our time and love, His rejoicing when there is a "marriage" of a sinner that says, "yes!" to his proposal.

This is the main reason God is so against divorce. God will not leave nor forsake us, no matter what we do, and the only way to understand that is to choose someone that you are willing to do the same for. Divorce, therefore, is a rejection also of God's commitment to us. To choose divorce is saying that you do not understand God's depth of commitment to you. It is a denial of God's promises, and His love.

In effect, marriage is a picture of salvation that cannot be experienced any other way on this earth. Only through our marriages can we gain a true measure of God's love for us. Divorce, on the other hand, makes a mockery of this picture.

Therefore, even during the worst of times, God meant for you to remain married. As God keeps His vows and promises, so He expects the same level of commitment out of you.

But in having such an understanding, you will gain insights into God that will propel your spirituality and relationship with God beyond your wildest imaginations! And obtain a relationship through marriage that is unparalleled in joy, purpose, and fulfillment.

Infidelity in Christian marriages is more common today than you might think. I'm sure you are dealing with a lot of pain and you probably can't function very well right now. You aren't alone in, as there are a lot of people hurting from Infidelity in their Christian marriages too. I hear their stories every day and I wish I knew the right words to make everything all better, but to tell you the truth, I don't.

There is no magic button to push to make the pain and heartache go away. When you're recovering from infidelity in a Christian marriage, you must go through a process so that you're able to truly heal. You must work through your pain and not bury it inside of you and pretend it's not there. You must be very honest with how you are feeling and process all your grief. Please give yourself the gift of time and take as much of this as you feel the need. If you don't process all your feelings, you won't be able to move forward. Take one feeling at a time and work all the way through it.

Learn to pray together and be sure you are praying and having quiet time on your own. As you get closer to God, He will be able to open your heart and mind so you can truly forgive your partner for having infidelity in your Christian marriage. As you forgive, you'll then free yourself from your bitterness and anger you have about the affair that is slowly destroying you.

I relied heavily on my daily devotions to help me process my husband's infidelity in our Christian marriage. I don't know what I would have done without them and I don't know where we would be today if I hadn't of used them. I strongly urge you to start doing daily devotionals so you too can become close to God and you then will be able to hear and listen to His voice. He will lead you back to peace, healing and comfort.

Doing daily devotions will bring you comfort when you cannot find it elsewhere. They can change your marriage and your life for the better. If you're in utter devastation over the infidelity in your Christian marriage, daily devotions can help you out of the darkness and you will find renewed life in God's presence. Please turn toward God and use your daily devotions to help your heart and spirit heal.

No matter what anyone says, there are rules to Christian dating. In today's modern era, there is online and offline dating. Some Christians believe that merely because they are meeting other Christians on the internet that rules can be broken. This is not true, no matter how Christians meet one another; the dating rules are the same.

In having dating rules as Christians, this is not intended to limit Christians, instead, they are guidelines in allowing Christians to pursue great things that God has in store for them. God wants his children to live their lives to their fullest potential while living a life pleasing to him. The same as a loving "earth" father, God knows what is best for his children to allow them to live a life full of joy and happiness.

God creates situations and conditions that are conducive to success. God has not created rules of dating as a ploy to keep Christians imprisoned. Rules of dating for Christians were invented to serve as guardrails in keeping them from crashing off the road to success. The rules of Christian dating were created to keep one on the path, which God intended for them while giving them the tools needed in reaching the intended goal, which is a Christian spouse.

Christians should NEVER date a non-Christian
Dating as a Christian can prove to be a positive experience as long as one adheres to
boundaries. An important scripture in the bible Second Corinthians 6:14 states "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?" This is not a bible scripture, which states that Christians are superior to non-believers, it is merely stating the principles that "believers" should follow with interacting with non-believers.

The bible states that two people can walk together as long as they agree. If one is dating someone who does not share the same worldview, the relationship will eventually prove rocky. Dating a non-believer will eventually become conflicted due to the different worldviews both share.

Christians should take people at face value

One of the most important things Christians can learn is that they are powerless in changing other people. Only God can change people. Upon entering into a relationship with the goal being to change them, will fail miserably. Christians should accept people for who they are while learning to love and appreciate them with their imperfections. In stating this fact, this does not mean that Christians should date them.

If Christians have to change anyone in order to date him or her, they are not the right person to date. This is true in relation to the first rule mentioned earlier. God does not appoint his disciples in changing people but rather to point them to God. Christians continually enter into relationships with people who are not Christians with every intention of "converting" them into Christianity. This typically fails and proves frustrating for Christians when witnessing unfair pressure on the relationship that only few might survive.

Remain vigilant and pure

Christians should not have to be reminded of the consequences of pre-marital sex. As an adult Christian, you have already heard the dos and don'ts of this topic. This part of the article is not a sex education lecture or words meant to frighten you into submission. Firstly, it is perfectly normal to be attracted to someone of the opposite sex. God does have specific guidelines for Christians to follow in dealing with these attractions.

God has established guidelines in relation to dealing with sexual urges and attractions that Christians experience. These guidelines were established in not attempting to punish Christians however, there are consequences in the decisions that one makes in relation to this topic. God fully understands the consequences of pre-marital sex, which is why Christians are warned in avoiding this trap.

When Christians engage in pre-marital sex, the essence of that person is now a part of one's self. Having pre-marital sex with anyone leads relationships to a level, which God has reserved for marriage. In the end, Christians must ask themselves if the decision to have pre-marital sex will in all essence, make them better Christians. Christians should engage into dating relationships minus pre-marital sex. This is how God intended dating relationships to be for Christians. God knows what is best for all his children but unfortunately, Christians not unlike non-believers tend to find out the hard way as compared to the way God intended.