Been there; done that!

It's always good to be able to listen to those who have already been to the place to which, for example, we plan to go on holiday.  It's always good, before embarking on a particular course of action, to listen to someone who has been through the experience.  To ignore what they say is, at least foolish, and could be close to catastrophic!

In this latest Marriage Minutes clip, Dr Sharon James tells us of the experience of one adult who was raised by a same-gender couple.  Having been there, and done that, he is surely worthy of our attention!

I'm not finished yet!

It's perhaps appropriate that this latest Marriage Minutes should be posted just a couple of days after my own 43rd wedding anniversary.  In this video clip, Dr Sharon James provides some insights into the attitude of the UK's Prime Minister with regard to the redefinition of marriage which he pushed through the Westminster Parliament.   His zeal appears to know no bounds, as he assures those who will listen to him that he wants to go even further.  In his own eyes, he's not finished yet - but I believe that, unless he repents, he is finished in the eyes of Almighty God to Whom he is, ultimately, answerable.  He may also find that, at the next General Election, he is answerable to the majority of the electorate who do not agree with his policies in this regard.  Indeed, it may well be that, for the majority of politicians who supported the hasty passage of the Bill through the Westminster Parliament, 2015 will be the year of the General Ejection!

Losing a battle doesn't lose a war!

In the latest Marriage Minutes clip, Dr Sharon James explains the way in which the Coalition for Marriage proposes to keep the pressure on Westminster politicians, and peers, with regard to the redefinition of marriage which has come about, in England and Wales, due to the enactment of the relevant legislation earlier this year.  Please take the minute and a half required to listen and watch - and do what you can to support C4M, both prayerfully and financially.

Pandora's box.

In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on earth. The chief of the gods, Zeus, ordered the god of craftsmanship, to create her, so he did—using water and earth. The gods then endowed her with many gifts: clothes, beauty, and gave her speech.

When her husband, Prometheus, stole fire from heaven, Zeus took vengeance by presenting Pandora to Epimetheus, Prometheus' brother. With her, Pandora was given a beautiful container – with instructions not to open it under any circumstance. Impelled by her curiosity (given to her by the gods), Pandora did open it, and all evil contained therein escaped and spread over the earth. She hastened to close the container, but the whole contents had escaped, except for one thing that lay at the bottom – the Spirit of Hope. Pandora, deeply saddened by what she had done, feared she would have to face Zeus' wrath, since she had failed her duty.  However, Zeus did not punish Pandora, because he knew this would happen.

The expression "Pandora's Box" (it was actually a jar!) has, therefore, come to refer to the unforeseen consequences - usually negative - of a particular course of action.

Marriage Minutes continue and, in this brief clip, Dr Sharon James shares some of the consequences of the Pandora's Box known now as the Marriage (same-sex couples) Act, 2013.  Sadly, this particular box need not have been opened at all - and many of us have been warning of the unforeseen consequences for a long time.  However, as my late paternal grandmother was often heard to say, "There's nane sae blin' as them as wilnae see" ("There are none so blind as those who, wilfully, refuse to see").  Too many Westminster politicians fell into that category.  We trust, and pray, that Holyrood will have more common-sense!

Losing a battle does not lose the war!

The Westminster Bill that changes the definition of marriage has, regretfully, been 'ramrodded' through the Parliamentary process by a coalition government that had no mandate to do so, and that deliberately ignored the voice of the vast majority of the electorate.  What those responsible may not have realised is that the God Who instituted marriage as between a man and a woman, will not ignore them!

In what may be the last of the Marriage Minutes video-clips for the time being, Dr Sharon James explains that, in the case of the Coalition for Marriage, the battle may have been lost, but the fight continues.  Of course, the situation in Scotland is different, and Scotland for Marriage will be continuing in its efforts to ensure that the Scottish Bill does not reach the Statute Book.

Male 'wives', female 'husbands'

As the situation currently stands, the language is simple.  I happen to be a man; I am married to a woman.  This means - as it has always meant - that I am a husband, and the woman to whom I am married is a wife.

However, if the attempts to redefine marriage, in both Westminster and Holyrood, were to be successful, then that simplicity would disappear.  In the latest Marriage Minutes, Dr Sharon James tries to explain - it isn't easy!

Redefinition of marriage, and civil liberties.

In this latest Marriage Minutes, Dr Sharon James explains the way in which the UK government appears to be steadfastly, and wilfully, refusing to include protections, at the level of civil law, for those who do not approve of the "marriage" of two persons of the same gender.  As one who has already - before any such legislation has reached the statute books in either Westminster or Holyrood - fallen foul of such an unfair decision, I heartily recommend the less than two minutes required to view the clip.

Austerity! What austerity?

One of the things about governments that has fascinated me for years is the fact that, regardless of how much the rest of us are encouraged to "tighten our belts", they can always find the cash - usually large amounts of it - to do what they want to do, regardless of the opinions of those who furnish them with that income, the taxpayers.  In the latest "Marriage Minutes", Dr Sharon James explains that the latest twist in the attempt to redefine marriage would result in billions of pounds sterling being spent.  That's billions of pounds sterling taken from taxpayers - the majority of whom did not want this attempt to overturn millennia of social norm.

As always, it's well worth a minute and a half of your time to watch, and listen.

Protection - what protection?

Christian Concern (http://www.christianconcern.com/) had booked the Law Society's HQ in London for a conference on marriage in May last year, but were told, just days before the event, that the conference breached "equality and diversity" policies as the Law Society supports same sex marriage. They were, therefore, banned from holding the conference there.

The conference speakers held mainstream views on marriage as between a man and a woman. They included academics, the head of a political think tank and a writer for the Telegraph newspaper.

What is so concerning is that this kind of 'censorship' is happening before any change in the law on marriage. What happened with the Law Society is an indication of what may be expected if the Bill becomes law. Individuals and organisations with a traditional view of marriage will find themselves excluded from expressing their views in public, or even private, fora.

The fact that Christian Concern were barred from that venue before any change in law, and that a number of individuals have already fallen foul of "E&D policies", suggests that proposed amendments to the Bill will not be enough to safeguard important freedoms concerning views on marriage.

Dr Sharon James says more on this latest "Marriage Minutes" video clip.

Marriage - and children.

One of the "red herrings" that has been regularly thrown up by those who support the redefinition of marriage to include same-gender partnerships is that of children.  Supporters of traditional, God-ordained, marriage point out that same-gender partners are physically, and biologically, unable to bear children.  To this, irrefutable fact, the supporters of same-gender "marriage" come out with something about heterosexual couples who are unable, or unwilling, to have children.  One recent letter even asked if fertility tests should be mandatory! 

What these people fail to realise is that the procreation of children is only one aspect of marriage - albeit a very important one.  Without it, the human race would die out!  Indeed, if God had created Adam and Steve (or Amanda and Eve), then that would have been the end!  There was, and is, a very good reason for marriage being confined to a male/female relationship!

It is also true, in spite of claims to the contrary, that any worthwhile research on the subject has shown that the children of heterosexual parents, who stay together, and who provide both a male and a female role model, have a better life.  In one study, University of Texas associate professor Mark Regnerus used a large, new data set to randomly identify some 3,000 young adults, ages 18 to 39, who grew up in eight family forms, including about 250 persons who grew up with parents who had same-sex relationships. Prof. Regnerus reported that, based on 40 outcomes in the New Family Structures Study, the children who grew up with their married father and mother had “different” - often better - outcomes than children raised in other family forms, including lesbian mothers and homosexual fathers. Thus, he concluded, the “empirical claim” that there are no significant differences between homosexual parents and heterosexual parents “must go”.

Dr Sharon James looks at the situation regarding children, in this latest Marriage Minutes video.  It's worth another minute and a half (or thereabouts!).
 

Marry in haste ...!!!

Many will be familiar with the old adage: "Marry in haste; repent at leisure!"  Time, and time again, we have seen that the same truth holds in the political sphere.  In that case, it would be worded: "Legislate in haste; repent at leisure!"

In this Marriage Minutes, Dr Sharon James explains the undue haste with which the Marriage (same-sex couples) Bill has been pushed through the House of Commons.  The Bill has now gone to the House of Lords where, according to even its supporters, the vote is "too close to call"!   Let those of us who value marriage as God ordained it, continue faithful in prayer, and in keeping up the pressure on our elected representatives.  Let us also give thanks for those Members who had the courage to vote against the Bill, and to support the positive amendments that were introduced - even although they were defeated.

"The battle is not yours, but God's" (II Chron.20:15) - but you and I have a part to play!

Strengthening marriage?

In the latest of the Marriage Minutes from the Coalition for Marriage, Dr Sharon James explains how, in spite of claims to the contrary, the introduction of same-gender 'marriage' will not strengthen an already beleaguered institution, but will actually weaken it.

As always, it's only a couple of minutes long - well worth using to inform yourself of some of the indisputable facts!



If you haven't yet signed the petition - either from C4M (for Westminster), or for S4M (for Holyrood), please do so.  Every signature counts, and the momentum continues to increase.  Politicians are, at heart, pragmatists.  If they realise what a vote-loser this proposal is, they will find a way to back down.  However, the only way in which they will realise it is if we tell them!  Please sign the petitions!

It won't affect me - will it?!

In the latest Marriage Minutes clip, Dr James explains some of the ways by which any redefinition of marriage will affect even those - the vast majority - who would never be involved in a sexual relationship with someone of the same gender.  As many have tried to point out to the governments in both Holyrood and Westminster, if the proposed legislation were to reach the Statute Books, then it would quickly be discovered, in reality, what a 'can of worms' had been opened.

Please take the couple of minutes it takes, to listen to the clip - and please feel free to share it on your own blog, website, or social forum.  The YouTube site at which you may onbtain the embed code is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbq74Kww8M0&feature=youtu.be

Please also keep the pressure up on your own elected representatives and, if you believe in the power of prayer, keep praying.  Contrary to what some of the popular media would have us believe, there is still all for which to fight.

What the public really think!

 It was, I believe, the Labour politician Harriet Harman who coined the phrase "the court of public opinion" or, if she didn't, certainly brought it to the notice of that same public.  She, of course, was comparing such a "court" with the established legal systems of the UK (plural because, of course, Scotland has its own separate system!).  However, it would be good if politicians, today, were to take some heed to what the public thinks about the issue of same-gender "marriage".

In another of the Coalition for Marriage's "Marriage Minutes", Dr Sharon James looks at public opinion on the subject - and also at how those who are pushing for marriage to be redefined, skew poll results by the content of their questioning!



Please feel free to copy any, or all, of these "Marriage Minutes" to your own blog, website, or social media site.

Equality already exists!

Yet another brief video from the Coalition for Marriage.  Dr Sharon James explains that, in the U.K., civil partnerships have all of the legal rights of married couples.  Indeed, we could add that two people in a civil partnership have greater rights than, for example, two elderly siblings who share a home,but not a bed!

This whole issue, as I have noted elsewhere, is far from finalised - in spite of the apparent attempts by some sections of the media to convince us that it is!

As with the earlier videos, this is only about two minutes long.  Do watch and listen - and feel free to share it on your own blog, or social networking site.  You can copy the embed code from YouTube!