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Anyone who thinks that marriage is the magic door to happiness might want to note that half of all marriages fail today. The resulting carnage of divorce and shattered families leaves a trail of dysfunction for generations. God intended marriage to develop character, not just fulfill sensual desire. Those who opt out of their marriages miss many rewards.

When she comes down the aisle, she is the picture of perfection. He is Prince Charming in a black tuxedo. On their wedding day, few starry-eyed couples realize the searchlight that their marriage will be in revealing the character flaws they both have. Today we will discuss in more detail that happiness is not the main purpose of marriage.

Is marriage the way to happiness? There is good evidence in the Bible that marriage is designed more to develop character than to ensure a lifetime of bliss. When the rough times come - and they will - what are couples to learn from those experiences?

The central idea of the marriage vow is to commit completely and exclusively to your spouse. To violate this destroys the trust that a working marriage requires, as well as violating the commands of the God who designed marriage in the first place.

Many marriages are on shaky ground. Some see their mates like car models; trade them in when a better one comes along. The underlying issue is covetousness, wanting what you do not have. The Bible has clear directions for making marriages last, and today we will see why living a life of love, purity and honor is the only way to ensure a long and satisfying marriage.

When a young couple stands at the altar, all is love, and the wedding vows come easily. It is later that reality sets in. Inevitable conflicts arise, and the temptation to split up is great. What is the glue that can bind two people together when the romance fades? Today we will discuss the power of commitment, and why keeping our commitments can save our marriages and our families.

In the old days, it was said, "his word is as good as his bond." A handshake and a promise was all it took to seal the deal. These days, when a marriage breaks up, we have prenuptial agreements to divvy up the loot. Few take seriously the covenant they enter into when they tie the knot and exchange the rings. Today, Pastor Lutzer explains why marriage, in God's eyes, is a lifetime deal no matter what.

Commitment is a fast-fading part of modern marriage, where "irreconcilable differences" mean divorce is around the corner. While there were differences between Wanda and Gustav Lutzer, they were never irreconcilable. Their marriage lasted 76 years, when Gustav passed away at age 106. On today's broadcast, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, their fifth child, will tell of their commitment.

Even among Christians, a marriage today has 50-50 odds of succeeding. Couples often split up when the going gets tough. Wanda and Gustav Lutzer bucked the trend by celebrating 76 years of marriage. Their fifth child is Dr. Erwin Lutzer, who tells their story on today's program, listing five principles that kept his parents together through thick and thin.

What keeps a couple together for 76 years, surviving war, emigration, deprivation, and material want? Today, you will hear about some national news in Canada: the story of the parents of Dr. Erwin Lutzer, and why their marriage lasted so long. Get set for a heartwarming and challenging broadcast.

In the ongoing battle for our hearts, the bad guys seem to be winning. The media and our computers are paving the way. Every one of us is susceptible to moral sin. Since all of us have access to the internet, we are more susceptible than ever. Our entire culture is sinking into a pit of moral decay. The issue is serious and demands a radical solution.

The Biblical standard for sexual morality is very high, so high that many people think it is unattainable. The Sermon on the Mount gives us the ideal in morality: a deep, heartfelt desire to do the will of God and to renounce sin. The bottom line? None of us can keep this standard on our own. We need the kind of help Jesus provides as our Savior and Redeemer.

Addictions are devastating. They distort personalities, ruin family relationships, and put people in defense mode. People with addictions usually insist that they have no addiction. They ignore attempts to help them. Today we will look at more of the characteristics of an addict to help us understand how addiction begins, and, how its curse can be lifted.

The internet offers pornography to anyone who wants to access it. This inflames desires and leads to sex addiction. That is a good reason why the Bible tells us to guard our hearts. Today, we probe the mind of an addict to see what leads a person there, and what steps we should take to be free of an addiction fueled by the easy availability of images on our computers.

It all begins with the click of a mouse and the flame of sexual desire is fanned. Each believer has a choice to make. The Bible tells us to "touch not the unclean thing." We need to make choices that honor God, and where that mouse pointer goes is a choice we have to make every day.