Williamson's compelling, timely workbook on marraige, is also his passion. He wrote it to remind readers that marriage is not a fantasy and partners shouldn't be exchanged in a fashion similar to changing clothes. Instead, the marriage covenant is sacred, spiritual and made in Heaven, as on earth. It is a commitment by which two become one through the spiritual bonding of marriage. Love grows out of the reality of marital give and take and requires a maturing faith and commitment on the part of both partners to ensure, "What God has joined together let not man separate." Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 19:6.
Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee declared a "marital emergency" in 1999. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 52% divorce rate for the United States April 2009. And according to Barna Research Group, Christians and non-Christians have similar probability of divorce.
The statistics are especially shocking for Christians. Mike and Jewel Williamson, co-founders of Genesis 224, a Christ-centered ministry of premarital and marriage mentoring, designed their program to draw couples back to covenant marriage. Subscribers to The Covenant Marriage Movement, (CMM), founded by a Protestant group in 1998,
http://www.covenantmarriage.com/aboutus.php" believe the movement [is inspired by] God to provide an avenue through which His people can boldly stand alongside thousands of other couples and congregations to affirm God's design for marriage as a covenant relationship."
When Mike Williamson couldn't find resources, written with simplicity and clarity, that addressed covenant marriage, contemporary marital, and relationship issues, he penned, Building Your Marriage Upon the Rock. The workbook is designedto mentor couples who know God, as well as those who have lived apart from God and "messed up their lives." Each person must use their own work book and fill it out alone before their next mentoring session. Upon completion of each lesson, discussion between couples is encouraged.
The workbook contains eleven sections that cover how to meet with a mentoring couple, personal relationships with God, covenants, finances, relationships, becoming one, extended relationships, roles and expectations, communication, love, finances and sexuality.
Sections begin with pertinent Scripture and an overview of the subject, followed by questions with space for written answers. Queries are clear and simple, targeted to encourage discovery of a couple's personal and world views.
For example, in the section on character and personality, character is defined, illustrated, and emphasized. Supporting scripture comes from Psalms, Matthew, Acts, Corinthians, Ephesians, Thessalonians, and John's epistle. Williamson explains character as a black and white issue that becomes the foundation upon which the marriage is built. Couples are instructed to define each other's character and explain why their character qualities make them a "fit candidate for marriage." He explores if you "have what it takes" to stay committed in extreme circumstances such as chronic illness, financial crisis, physical disability, or emotional or relational discord. Multiple word choices are offered to help with description, characteristics, motivation, and personal struggles.
The book's focus is biblical. The author highlights terms of the marriage covenant, "in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, until death us do part," because these potential circumstances are often overlooked.
The workbook's theme is simple. Just as following Christ takes commitment and carries a cost, marriage also takes commitment and has a cost. The introduction explains that "happily ever after" belongs to fantasyland, while covenant marriage, introduced in this workbook, presents marriage in the light of reality.
The appendix lists additional resources, books, multimedia, and Web Sites for more information. Williamson offers statistics on engagements, wedding, and honeymoon costs, before he exposes fourteen fascinating myths about marriage and personal relationships. Myths like living together before marriage avoids divorce later. Everybody does it. Living together doesn't hurt anyone. Its okay—we're really in love.
The course is structured, but flexible and reveals the differences between fantasy, as portrayed in media, and the reality of a God-blessed marriage. I endorse Williamson's book with enthusiasm. Couples who work through this book will know what each other believes and why they believe it. They will learn how to grow and become one in the Lord. This book will help couples put Christ back into marriage and by extension, every other aspect of our national life. Book can be purchased by phone, 971-506-7071 or from the Genesis 224 website: http://www.genesis224.com/
Building Your Marriage Upon the Rock, by Mike Williamson, Publisher: Mike Williamson, 2008, 171 Pages, ISBN: 978-0-979-471513
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