Marriage can be difficult, in particular, when you have never seen a healthy marriage up close. Yet, this is the situation in which many young married couples find themselves. The couple, through no fault of their own, never had the opportunity to witness up close a healthy, godly marriage. I am referring to a marriage… Continue reading Marriage 101 (Where Do You Learn How to Be Married?)
Tag: Relationships
Do You Have Your Friend’s Back?
In the room were ministers from our city. Our host, a fellow minister, was closing out our time together. We all stood as we were about to pray. The host asked a long time minister, to pray. This minister then stood behind our host, put his hands on his shoulders and spoke these words to… Continue reading Do You Have Your Friend’s Back?
“Just Tell Them That I’m Not Home” (Lies, Lies and More Lies)
I once called someone’s home and one of the children answered. I asked to speak to her mother. I could hear the mother in the background telling this child “Tell him that I’m not home. The child followed her mother’s instructions. I wonder what happens to the character of a child when parents teach this… Continue reading “Just Tell Them That I’m Not Home” (Lies, Lies and More Lies)
Do People Think of You as a Good Listener?
There is great potential for doing much good by really listening to another’s story. I was a young minister. He called late one afternoon. He was the manager of a popular restaurant in town. He asked if he could come by my office and talk. He arrived later that afternoon. I watched through the window… Continue reading Do People Think of You as a Good Listener?
Question: Why is It So Difficult to Find Real Friends?
(I haven’t posted in a few days. I have been at Abilene Christian University’s “Summit.” While there, I heard many good speakers and also met with a number of friends.) Lately, I have been thinking about the importance of being and having a friend. A real friend. I have been thinking about this as a… Continue reading Question: Why is It So Difficult to Find Real Friends?
“We Don’t Communicate?”
Some couples have great difficulty communicating and recognize what they do. Other couples have great difficulty communicating and just don’t see this. What makes this difficult for some of us is what we bring into our marriage. One person may come from a family that is open, engaging, and nurturing. Meanwhile that person’s spouse may… Continue reading “We Don’t Communicate?”
If I Could Say What I’m Really Thinking
Yesterday, Anne Jackson’s new book, Permission to Speak Freely arrived in the mail. Last night, I read the entire book. No, I don’t normally read an entire book in one evening. However, this book was different. Perhaps it was her raw honesty that kept me engaged. Maybe, I was captivated because I felt as if… Continue reading If I Could Say What I’m Really Thinking
An Agenda for Your Life? (Guest Writer-Jordan Hubbard)
(The following is a post by my friend, Jordan Hubbard, Senior Minister at the Belton Church of Christ in Belton, Texas. Jordan is a good friend, an excellent preacher, and a good thinker. Enjoy!) The church in Philippi had issues. Something was happening in this congregation of believers that caused division and discord. The joy… Continue reading An Agenda for Your Life? (Guest Writer-Jordan Hubbard)
Putting Your Marriage Before Your Kids (Guest writer-Trey Morgan)
The following post was written by guest writer, Trey Morgan. Trey is a husband, a father of four boys, and a minister in Childress, Texas. He has a very good blog and has especially written some good posts regarding marriage and family. You can read more from Trey on his blog which you can find… Continue reading Putting Your Marriage Before Your Kids (Guest writer-Trey Morgan)
Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas
Yesterday morning I spoke with Christine, our older daughter. She and her husband, Phillip, are about to have their first baby. She has been reading a number of books on babies, child-rearing, parenting, etc. She referred to several of them in the conversation. Finally at one point, she said, “Do you know the one book… Continue reading Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas