Communication Breakdown
Our daily exposure to superficial noise via the Internet, social media, TV and radio makes it easy for us to become immune to significant communication. We become a soundbite culture and we can’t build meaningful relationships with soundbites. Jesus made a habit of getting away from the noise in his everyday life to have some meaningful communication with his Heavenly […]
Are you Guilty of these Negative Comments?
I recently read about a newly married husband and his bride who finished their inaugural dinner in their new home. His wife spent most of her day preparing what she hoped was going to be the perfect meal. His first mistake was to leave her alone to clear the table and do the dishes while he sat in front of the TV. His second […]
Dealing with Your In-laws and Outlaws
Whether you’re a newlywed or an “oldie-wed”, like me, dealing with the “in-laws” and “outlaws” can be a challenge. Your “in-laws” have profoundly shaped every aspect of your spouse’s life. Your parents, the “outlaws,” have impacted yours. When the two of you start making decisions, both of your family of origin’s views and values can clash. Add some unsolicited advice from the in-laws and/or outlaws, and a showdown begins […]
Four Negative Consequences of Poor Listening Habits
Imagine this…you and your spouse arrive home after a long day and try to make an emotional connection. Soon you hear about frustrations at work or at home, the challenges of the boss and parenting, and all the activities that need to be attended this week. Somewhere in the midst of your whirlwind conversation, you slowly lose concentration and begin to […]
I am the Problem
David Tripp says “I am my biggest marital problem.” Say what?! What he means is that all too often we’re blaming our spouses or others for the condition or marriage is in. We find ourselves saying, “If only he would do this, or I’d be happier if she would..Or if we had more __________(fill in the blank) we’d […]
For Our Single Friends
For those of you who may be single…Have you ever caught yourself thinking “I’d be much happier if I was married, so hurry up and find somebody?” Well, if so, let’s take a minute to think about what God may want you to be learning while you are single and how these lessons could prepare you for marriage. […]
Five Ways to Battle Apathy in Marriage
Can you relate to this scenario? A couple finds themselves sitting next to each other night after night, refusing to admit they have an unhappy marriage. They’re dutifully going through the motions and as they turn off the TV and head to bed, he looks at her with romantic intentions. But they vanish quickly. It’s going to take too much […]
Is Netflix Hurting Your Marriage?
With Netflix having over 200 million subscribers and growing at record rates, my hunch is that many of you can relate to this scenario. My wife Janeen and I have five children that still live at home. After getting them to bed in the evening, we’re usually emotionally and physically spent. We’d heard of friends binge […]
Do I Need Counseling?
Here’s a question I get a lot, “Is our marriage at the point where we need some counseling?” I often joke and say if you’re asking me, it probably does. But that’s a loaded question and every situation is unique. Let me see if I can offer a few thoughts that might provide some clarity. Just like the […]
Building Safe Spaces
Over the years of doing marriage intensives for couples in crisis, we’ve seen many husbands and wives who don’t feel safe. I’m not just talking about being physically safe. There are lots of ways we can feel unsafe in our marriages. So here are four safe spaces we want to work on creating in our marriages. Number one is physical safety. Your […]