It's OK to have an extra marital affair...join us

UPDATE: 27/1/10The protests and campaign to get the billboard advertising campaign stopped has worked! The company involved has responded promptly, the next step is a longer lower key campaign to get them to stop this negative approach to on line dating relationships and stick to the business of bringing people together legitimately.

It's OK to have an extra marital affair...join us - is the message being conveyed by a company advertising on billboards in the south of England and on the www.

Just to be clear on what we are talking about Wiktionary defines extra marital as: "Taking place outside marriage; adulterous" The company's tag line is "Adult dating where the grass is always greener", whilst it's billboard advert promises women "instant excitement".

Now I'm not naive I realise that adultery and affairs are increasingly commonplace in today's society, and that solicitors make money out of these problems, but the idea that a company is blatantly encouraging infidelity as it's core business sickens me. Thus far the Advertising Standards Authority have refused to act against the advertisers, as the complaints against the ad's have not been upheld. So I'm writing this to ask people to pray AND to complain to the ASA, and to your local MP.

Family problems caused by marital\relationship breakdown are a major problem in the UK which affects significant numbers of people in a wide range of ways:

• Educational problems
• Financially (Est cost £102 billion each year in the UK)
• Health

God's plan for us is for men and women to commit to one another for life and to bring up children in a stable family unit:
- Partnership: Gen 2:18 "God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion."

- Integrity: Luke 16:10 Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters.

Heb 13:4-7 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

- Stable: Mark 10:6-9

"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Numerous studies have show that people who do this and who work at making their marriage work provide the best conditions for bringing up children and individual happiness and health (see links):

• Guardian
• Telegraph
• SCES
• Mail

Not every marriage is perfect as Rob Parsons admits in his article for Marriage Matters part of Care for the Family, but every marriage is worth protecting and nurturing, so let's pray that the ASA acts to ban these adverts and that the company behind them stops it's harmful business.

A little encouragement

It's always great to hear about prayers being answered, so those of us that prayed and wrote letters about the Coroner's Justice Bill, and it's potential to harm free speech were delighted with the outcome of Parliament's decision.

A majority MP's voted to include an important clause clarifying that discussion and criticism of sexual conduct is not, in itself, tantamount to inciting hatred, despite Government MP's being "Whipped" by the government to leave the clause out.

A great example of what happens when people pray and put pen to paper in support of righteousness.

Prayer for Haiti Earthquake Victims

The news about the powerful earthquakes that have hit Haiti is unfolding to reveal it's human cost. The earthquake, the worst in the region for 200 years, has caused widespread destruction and hundreds of deaths. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and as such is ill equipped to deal with a disaster of this nature.

Please pray for all involved:

*That rescue teams, medical support and the support services to co-ordinate the rescue effort arrive as quickly as possible, and are effective in their efforts.

*That relief from the international community will arrive quickly - the right things, in the right places to aid recovery after this disaster.

The Disasters Emergency Committee is reviewing the situation at present, but will no doubt be launching an appeal to raise funds very soon should you want to give. BCF folk we will be taking up a collection for DEC in the near future. Anyone else wanting to give to DEC can do so here.