A Model Marriage Is Like Model Railroading

Once a month on Friday nights I join ten to fifteen men for a guy’s night out. We gather at our friend John’s home. We are not bowling, playing poker or watching football though the later is often part of … Continue reading

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Repairing Breaches in Relationships

In a perfect world breaches in a relationship do not happen. In a perfect marriage breaches in the relationship do not happen. In a perfect home breaches in relationships do not happen. In case you have missed it, we do … Continue reading

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Twenty-five Ways to Blame a Spouse for Failure

Here is something to contemplate. Most of us have used one or more of these excuses at one time or another. But, the marriage gets into trouble when one or more of these excuses become a pattern in the relationship. … Continue reading

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Marriage Research and the Bible

John Gottman* writes about the four horsemen of the apocalypse. He is not writing about prophecy. He is borrowing apocalyptic language to speak of four forces that sweep in and bring calamity to a marriage. He names these four horsemen … Continue reading

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The Four Spiritual Flaws And A Few More

As Rush Limbaugh would say sarcasm and parody are lost on those of liberal persuasion. Perhaps this piece is a bit risky. But a bit of comic relief is good for the marriage relationship as well as other relationships. It … Continue reading

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Civility in Marriage Expresses Grace

The last several days have provided an opportunity to be reminded of one of the simple civilities that enhances the marital relationship. The cultural environment in which I grew up was not known for its gentility. Our farming community was … Continue reading

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First Year of Marriage: The Roller Coaster

Geanna came to this country when she was thirteen years old. It was her first time to get on an airliner. When she landed in London, it was the first western city she ever experienced. On the next leg of … Continue reading

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What Does It Mean When You Say “I Love You”?

Love! What a confusing word in the English language and particularly in our contemporary usage. For example, I love to play with Engine 4900 on my model railroad. I love the way my wife has decorated our home. I love … Continue reading

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Marriage the World Over

Recently I had the opportunity to minister in another church. At the first service a young man approached me to inquire as to my availability to counsel with him. I agreed and we set an appointment. His first question was … Continue reading

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Marital Counseling or Discipleship: They Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Christ-centered disciple making is not a new concept to the counseling ministry. For a number of years I have been teaching that biblical counseling is micro-disciple. A couple comes for counseling regarding some marital issue. The task is not to … Continue reading

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