I have been pressured many times in my life to head to another stage of life prematurely.  I think driving was the first .  “I bet you can’t wait until you’re able to drive, can you?”  This was the first and only pressure situation I agreed with, probably because of my immaturity.  The ones that followed – not so much.

After I left college, I was asked time and time again when I was going to get married.  Over and over for the next 10 years people asked me that question, much of that time I was doing my part for the kingdom of God.  “Good pastors have good wives,” I would hear adult men and women say.  In my head I would respond, “Yeah, a lot of bad pastors have good wives too,” and “a lot of good pastors have horrible wives as well, what’s your point?”

But my clearly negative reaction to the questions never stopped them from coming.  Who cares what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7, our culture says that pastors have to get married so they don’t burn (I think that’s in the Bible, right?), so it doesn’t matter who you marry, just do it quick!!!

Praise God for Carie!  I don’t know how many more questions or accusations of being gay I could have taken, but when I finally found the woman who was perfect for Martin Jon Holman, unbelievably the kidding and questions stopped…

for about 6 months.

(guess what the pressure is all about now?)