Jeffery L. Sheler, religion correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, has written a biography of Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren in Prophet of Purpose: The Life of Rick Warren . The most interesting revelation in the biography may well be that Warren’s “traditional” marriage was actually an “arranged” marriage of sorts:

Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the biography, however, is the section about Warren\’s marriage. By all appearance and comments from people who know the couple, Rick and y Warren have a happy and satisfying marriage. However, this was far from the truth in the beginning of the relationship.

Through interviews with Sheler, Rick and Kay Warren disclosed that they were not attracted to each other nor had feelings for each other when they agreed to be married. Instead, they believed that God had spoken to each of them saying this is the person they should marry.

Rick recalled the day when he was invited to speak at the church where Kay\’s father was a pastor. As he ascended the steps to the stage to speak he looked over and recognized Kay, who was then dating his best friend, playing the piano. He said he heard God clearly tell him that this is who he will marry. At the time he had a hard time believing that because he didn\’t love Kay and she was madly in love with his best friend. But still he kept the revelation in mind.

After his best friend broke up with Kay, Rick asked her on a date. On their second date, Rick asked Kay to marry him. At the time, Kay didn\’t love Rick but felt that God was leading her to say yes. She recalled hearing God say, “I\’ll bring the feelings.”

…On their wedding day, the two were “virtual strangers,” Sheler writes. They also had a horrible honeymoon and suffered intensely from misunderstandings and other marital problems in the beginning of their marriage. The stress from the marriage problems coupled with Rick\’s workload was so bad that he ended up in the hospital. Meanwhile, Kay said that she didn\’t believe in divorce so she felt that she was sentenced to a life of suffering.