Preparing for Your Marriage

by William J. McRae

Overview

More than 25 percent of our marriages end in the tragedy of divorce, and over 72 percent of all teenage marriages terminate in the courtroom. An undetermined number of young people are so disillusioned with marriage that it is no longer even a desirable option for them, and for many, marriage is really nothing more than an "armed truce." What are the reasons? Is there an answer?

William Mc Rae feels that most couples enter into marriage unprepared. Their expectations are unrealistic, their roles are undeveloped, their responsibilities are unknown, and their goals are undetermined. Because of this, every couple married by Pastor Mc Rae must be willing to participate in a premarriage study program. The material that has been developed and used over these years is essentially the content of this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310427612
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	09/09/1980
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.63(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.63(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

William Mc Rae (DMin, Dallas Theological Seminary) is president emeritus at Tyndale University College and Theological Seminary, and also engages in an extensive itinerate ministry under Mc Rae Ministries.

Read an Excerpt

Preparing for Your Marriage

4

---

By William J. McRae

Zondervan

Copyright © 1980 Zondervan
All right reserved.
ISBN: 0-310-42761-4

---

Chapter One

The Criteria for Marriage

Mike took the old economics book off his shelf. Somehow, when he poured over its pages in diligent study, he never dreamed he would put it to such good use. The razor blade whittled away at the pages until a neat, two-by-two square was carved in its center. He dropped a shiny red and gold box with its precious contents into the hole, and wrapped the mystery package in colorful birthday paper.

It was but two weeks before Christmas. More important, it was Penny's twenty-second birthday. A special evening had been planned. Mike casually but carefully set his gift on the coffee table in the Graham's living room before he left with Penny to enjoy dinner at "L'Auberge de Petit Prince."

Later that evening, in the candlelight of her living room, an unsuspecting Penny unwrapped the brightly flowered paper and was stunned to discover that Mike had given her an economics book, and an old one at that! Perhaps there was an endearing inscription inside. Lifting the cover she spied the little gold box, and then the ring. What a beautiful surprise!

This was the culmination of a romance that had quietly begun ten months earlier. Although they had known each other for the last six years, they had been little more than distant friends in the same youth group of their church. Mike was now completing his undergraduate studies in philosophy and Penny would shortly be writing her exams prior to becoming a registered nurse. Under the good hand of God, their relationship had ripened into a deep and settled commitment to each other. Yet during those months they had often wondered, "Are we ready for marriage?"

It's possible you may have asked yourselves this question a hundred times. Because you are where you are today (engaged and preparing for marriage), it is probably safe to assume you have finally answered the question in the affirmative.

For some, it may be a rather shaky, uncertain, and hesitant "Yes." After all, how can we be sure?

For others, it may be a strong and confident "Yes." But what is the basis of such certainty?

Let's ask the question one last time. There are several specific criteria you ought to consider.

(Continues...)

---

Excerpted from Preparing for Your Marriage4 by William J. McRae Copyright © 1980 by Zondervan. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Table of Contents

http://zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310427614_samptoc.pdf