Best of
Marriage

2005

Family Worship: In the Bible, in History & in Your Home


Donald S. Whitney - 2005
    But as Donald S. Whitney makes clear, the daily worship of God by families at home is a practice rooted in the Bible and common throughout Christian history. How can people unfamiliar with family worship lead it in their own homes? How do busy households in today's culture recover faithfulness in family worship? This practical book shows you how simple and easy it can be.

Covenant Hearts: Marriage and the Joy of Human Love


Bruce C. Hafen - 2005
    Satan is ever striving to blur and contort the truth; modern society is experiencing a shifting toward a culture of divorce. In a way that no other book has, this book provides an eternal perspective about marriage. Noting that marriage can be the most sanctifying — yet the most demanding — experience of our lives, Elder Hafen observes that marriage is "the home room of the earth school our Father created to give his children a place to learn and grow. Families are the laboratories where we test and develop our religion." See through the confusion in our society and create an environment in which human love overcomes all opposition and lasts forever.

Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples


Gary L. Thomas - 2005
    With all new material, Devotions for a Sacred Marriage explores how God can reveal himself to you through your marriage and help you grow closer to him as well as to your spouse. Fifty-two devotions encourage you to build your marriage around God’s priorities. From learning to live with a fellow sinner, to the process of two becoming one, to sharing our lives as brothers and sisters in Christ, Devotions for a Sacred Marriage challenges couples to embrace the profound and soul-stretching reality of Christian marriage.

The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord


Art Bennett - 2005
    This book offers a Catholic understanding of the four ancient temperaments that will bring you closer to God and help you discover the path to holiness that's right for you. Learn how to identify and understand the four temperaments that determine our reactions, guide our choices, color our understanding, and serve as the foundation of our moral and spiritual life.

Waiting and Dating: A Sensible Guide to a Fulfilling Love Relationship


Myles Munroe - 2005
    Myles Munroe-internationally acclaimed teacher and conference speaker with several best-selling books to his credit-offers a balanced, biblical view for every believer who wants a prosperous and fulfilling marriage relationship. He offers some of the best advice on the subject of finding the one with whom you will spend the rest of your life.In Waiting and Dating, you will learn:The importance of sharing your faith in God.The need for personal wholeness.The importance of true friendship in a relationship.The myths of finding the right person.How to discern the right mate.Much, much more!The principles in this book will guide you through a period that for some is the most confusing time of life.For anyone looking for that special someone with whom to share life, this book is essential fun, and full of hope!

Getting the Love You Want : A Guide for Couples


Harville Hendrix - 2005
    In this groundbreaking book, Dr Harville Hendrix shares with you what he has learned about the psychology of love during more than thirty years of working as a therapist and helps you transform your relationship into a lasting source of love and companionship. For this edition of his classic book, Dr Hendrix and his wife, Helen LaKelly Hunt, have added a new introduction describing the powerful influence this book has had on so many people over the years. With its step-by-step programme, GETTING THE LOVE YOU WANT will help you create a loving, supportive and revitalized partnership.

Purpose and Power of Love and Marriage


Myles Munroe - 2005
    Love is everywhere -- in songs and in books, on televisions and on movie screens. Yet, for all of our thinking and talking, how many of us truly understand love and where can we turn for genuine insight in matters of true love?

Becoming the Woman of His Dreams: Seven Qualities Every Man Longs for


Sharon Jaynes - 2005
    Sharon Jaynes, author of The Power of a Woman's Words, shares the unique, God-blessed role you can play in making your marriage the joy of both your lives.A happy marriage takes work, but the end result is worth it. Chapters that look at what you can do and who you are as a wife will encourage you to... pray life-changing prayers be his best cheerleader help ease his stress safeguard your marriageinitiate intimate friendshipYour position in your husband's life is absolutely unique. Make it powerful. Make it special. Make it something he longs for.

Sex and the Supremacy of Christ


John Piper - 2005
    If Americans could still blush, we might blush at the words, Rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love (Proverbs 5:18-19).But, of course, sin always tries to trash God's gifts. So we can't just celebrate sex for what God made it to be; we have to fight what sin turned it into. The contributors to this unique volume encourage you to do both: celebrate and struggle.This book has something for all-men and women, married and single-from contributors like John Piper, C. J. and Carolyn Mahaney, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, Carolyn McCulley, and others.

Pure Womanhood


Crystalina Evert - 2005
    Finding the right words to let her know about all of the temptations and pressures she'll be facing as she grows up can prove quite a task. What if you could give her something to read that she'd enjoy and believe?Now you can. Pure Womanhood focuses on the concerns and difficulties faced specifically by girls. From questions such as "What guy wants a pure girl?" to "It's my body; isn't it my choice?", Crystalina Evert addresses these challenges in a most engaging way: through sharing her own experiences and how she eventually turned her life around.Crystalina's story raises many questions about the challenges our young people face every day and the answers she provides will give girls plenty to think about.Whether the young women you know have yet to discover the ways of the world or if they've already made mistakes and are heading down a destructive path, Pure Womanhood gives them the reasons—and the assurance—that chastity is the right choice and that it's never too late to start over.With her powerful testimony and blunt words of wisdom, Crystalina restores a young woman's hope for love. She shows that real love is possible, regardless of the past. Get your copies of this marvellous booklet today!

Love and Respect Workbook: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs


Emerson Eggerichs - 2005
    It's the secret to marriage that every couple seeks, and yet few couples ever find. While both men and women deserve both love and respect, in the midst of conflict the driving need for a woman is love and the driving need for a man is respect. When either of these needs isn’t met, things get crazy.Based on over three decades of counseling, as well as scientific and biblical research, the Love and Respect Workbook is for anyone: those in marital crisis, the happily married, engaged couples, pastors and counselors, and small groups. This dynamic and life-changing message is impacting the world, resulting in the healing and restoration of countless relationships.In this workbook companion to the original book, you’ll discover:14 sessions that cover the entire Love & Respect bookScripture studies to guide you in times of meditation and prayerSpecific questions for both husband and wifeDesigned for use by individuals and couplesUse this workbook to refresh and renew your relationship and learn how to deal with conflict quickly, easily, and biblically.What readers are saying about the Love & Respect phenomenon:"I've been married 35 years and have not heard this taught.""This is the key that I have been missing.""You connected all the dots for me.""As a counselor, I have never been so excited about any material.""You’re on to something huge here."

Prayers and Promises for Supernatural Childbirth


Jackie Mize - 2005
    Jackie Mize--who was told it was impossible for her to have a baby and who is now the mother of four beautiful children--provides readers with a supernatural answer. Filled with powerful and intimate scriptural prayers, this little book gives readers a way to come before Father God in faith with issues from having a difficult time getting pregnant to joyfully cradling that precious gift from God in their arms. By taking an expectant mother--or a women who desperately wants to be expecting--through God's promises for her and her baby's future, Prayers and Promises for Supernatural Childbirth is a bundle of joy that delivers hope and encouragement, while chasing away doubts and fears. Specific issues covered in the scriptural prayers include: fulfillment over barrenness; the threat of miscarriage; a joyful delivery day; and dedicating one's baby to God.

The Amazing Development of Men


Alison A. Armstrong - 2005
    -Understand everything from "workaholics" to "mid-life crisis" -Become more effective in choosing suitable mates -Have more love and harmony -Respond well to the changes in men - including fathers, sons, husbands, men at work and romantic interests This presentation is fast-paced, intriguing, and immediately useful for single and married women of all ages.

The Energy Medicine Kit [With 43 Energy, Medicine Cards and 1-Inch Cut Glass Crystal and CD and DVD and 28-Page Booklet]


Donna Eden - 2005
    You begin by learning a powerful "Daily Energy Practice" that combines simple movements, pressure point massage, and breathwork to create a reservoir of "vital life force" that you can draw upon throughout the day. The Energy Medicine Kit comes complete with: A 28-page booklet that teaches you the fundamentals of energy medicine and points you to specific exercises on the DVD and CD. 43 photo-illustrated Energy Medicine Cards. A DVD that demonstrates the methods of energy medicine and teaches you 15 restorative exercises. An audio CD that guides you through 21 more techniques for specific conditions. A one-inch cut glass crystal

Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy or How Love Conquered Marriage


Stephanie Coontz - 2005
    But the same things that have made it so have also made a good marriage more fulfilling than ever before. In this enlightening and hugely entertaining book, historian and marriage expert Stephanie Coontz takes readers from the marital intrigues of ancient Babylon to the sexual torments of Victorian couples to demonstrate how recent the idea of marrying for love is-and how absurd it would have seemed to most of our ancestors. It was only 200 years ago that marriage began to be about love and emotional commitment, and since then the very things that have strengthened marriage as a personal relationship have steadily weakened it as a social institution. Marriage, A History brings intelligence, wit, and some badly needed perspective to today's marital debates and dilemmas.

A Life Well Lived: A Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes


Tommy Nelson - 2005
    The great king of Israel, Solomon, though the wisest man, was not immune to their song. But at the end of his life, Solomon, in all of his God-given wisdom, stopped to contemplate on all that competed for his attention. He wrote his conclusions in the Book of Ecclesiastes.Tommy Nelson continues his study of Solomon's writings by taking an in-depth look at Ecclesiastes. In a world such as ours, where the search for meaning and purpose propels mankind to try everything under the sun, Solomon's conclusions ring louder than ever for a people who need answers more than ever.

The Wedding Ceremony Planner: The Essential Guide to the Most Important Part of Your Wedding Day


Judith Johnson - 2005
    They want their ceremony, their way but don't know where to begin or what questions they need to ask. The Wedding Ceremony Planner is a comprehensive and user-friendly guide. It covers everything you need to know to create a beautiful ceremony text and to anticipate and address all the profound and mundane logistics with ease, grace and fun. It includes hundreds of text excerpts reflecting the many voices with which our hearts speak. There are also ten sample ceremony texts for the inclusion of children, the telling of the couple's story, the renewal of vows and a commitment ceremony. Checklists and worksheets are included to manage all the details. The Wedding Ceremony Planner is also an invaluable resource for clergy of all faiths, wedding planners and location coordinators. Sprinkled with anecdotes about lessons learned by couples creating their weddings, this book is filled with the wisdom of experience Praise for The Wedding Ceremony Planner "Weddings are sacred acts surrounded by material hoopla. The Wedding Ceremony Planner clarifies the worldly issues but keeps the spirit central. It's the balance that every couple needs."-Marianne Williamson, author, The Gift of Change "With countless samples of ceremony segments and worksheets to put them all together, The Wedding Ceremony Planner affirms what we all hope for: to communicate our love in a clear, heartfelt manner that truly reflects who we are."-Jack Canfield, co-author, Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul(r) "In this time of increasing exchange and friendship between people of many cultures ... what the world needs is an intelligent and compassionate 'how to' book on performing interfaith ceremonies. This book is an excellent example."-The Very Reverend James Parks Morton Founder and President of the Interfaith Center of New York "[This book] was [wonderful] in helping us create our wedding ceremony. Not only was it easy to follow, but it made us think of things we never would have thought of on our own ... Going through the book also brought us closer ... it is the one thing we have sat down and done 100% together."-Jennifer Buehler and Frank Yanoti Jr., Bride and Groom "Planning the wedding ceremony in itself can be a process of discovery for a couple entering marriage ... this marvelous book ... help[s] couples design a ceremony that truly and personally characterizes the meaning and uniqueness of each union."-Pril Smiley, Mohonk Mountain House "This book will aid and guide the couple in the creation of their unique wedding ceremony that appropriately states their personal beliefs. How refreshing, how important, how appropriate to help make the wedding yours."-Alexandra Stoddard, author of Choosing Happiness

Helping and Healing Our Families: Principles and Practices Inspired by the Family: A Proclamation to the World


Craig H. Hart - 2005
    Hinckley introduced and read The Family: A Proclamation to the World in the General Relief Society Meeting on September 23, 1995. In an effort to help families and Latter-day Saints live and better understand the teachings of this historic document, Deseret Book is pleased to publish the new book Helping and Healing Our Families in conjunction with the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Among the dozens of timely and invaluable chapters and essays, readers will enjoy the following: "The Covenant of Marriage" by Daniel K. Judd and Ann N. Madsen "Joys and Challenges of Marrying Later in Life" by Camille Fronk "Keeping Marriage Relationships Strong Through the Years" by Ed and Patricia P. Pinegar "Emotional and Psychologicial Infidelity" by James M. Harper "When Children Choose a Different Path" by Elaine Walton and Robert L. Millet "Mental Illness in the Family" by Elder Alexander B. Morrison

Men and Women Are From Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II's Theology of the Body


Mary Healy - 2005
    Maybe you've never heard of it until now and are asking, theology of the what? Maybe you're already familiar with the basics and are ready to incorporate this teaching on sex, love and marriage into your own life. Whatever your level of understanding, you're probably ready for some good news about sex in a culture littered with the bad news of divorce, adultery, sexually transmitted disease, heartache and loneliness. This guide is designed to help you appropriate the Pope's astonishing message: True, lasting love—that which humanity enjoyed in the beginning, before the Fall—is possible here and now. In nine straightforward lessons, Men and Women Are from Eden introduces the reader to the pope's warm, deeply biblical understanding of God's original plan for men and women, a plan that brings with it healing of mind in regard to sexuality and the body.

Socks for Christmas


Andy Andrews - 2005
    In the late 1960s, New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews thought he was having a very good Christmas… until he got socks from his Aunt Ruth--unarguably a very lousy gift. How could he know that those lousy socks would change Christmas and him forever!Socks for Christmas is great for all ages and will give your family an instant Christmas tradition. This timeless holiday book:Teaches lessons on gratitude, giving, and understanding others during the seasonInspires hearts and brings families togetherStirs nostalgia, tradition, and joy in any heart at Christmas timeSocks for Christmas is a:Safe gift for a boss, co-worker, or employeeThoughtful gift for a family member or loved oneA great option for gift exchangesWhether you read it yourself or listen to Andy on the CD (included with your purchase), Socks for Christmas is a great way to kick off the season.

Peacemaking Women: Biblical Hope for Resolving Conflict


Tara Klena Barthel - 2005
    Relationships between women can be especially enriching, but when conflict arises, they also can be especially damaging. Too many women approach conflict as if they were unbelievers-with gossip, spiteful actions, bitterness, and even hatred. In Peacemaking Women, Tara Klena Barthel and Judy Dabler offer a meaningful, lasting message to lead women out of conflict to a state of peace where they can live as representatives of Christ to one another and well as unbelievers. With advice that is firmly rooted in Scripture, the authors bring sound, practical help for women who want to know what the Bible says about conflict resolution and how to achieve peace in their relationships with God, self, and others.

The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage, and My Family


Dan Savage - 2005
     Dan Savage's mother wants him to get married. His boyfriend, Terry, says "no thanks" because he doesn't want to act like a straight person. Their six-year-old son DJ says his two dads aren't "allowed" to get married, but that he'd like to come to the reception and eat cake. Throw into the mix Dan's straight siblings, whose varied choices form a microcosm of how Americans are approaching marriage these days, and you get a rollicking family memoir that will have everyone-gay or straight, right or left, single or married-howling with laughter and rethinking their notions of marriage and all it entails. BACKCOVER: "Hilarious, heartfelt." -Seattle Post-Intelligencer "As funny as David Sedaris's essay collections, but bawdier and more thought-provoking." -Publisher's Weekly (starred review) "Most of all, a book about creating and appreciating family." -Seattle Times "I think America would be a better place if everyone on every side of the gay marriage debate would read this book." -Ira Glass, host of the public radio show This American Life "The strongest argument here, which [Savage] brilliantly plays down, is that family means everything to these people: married, not married, blended, gay, straight, whatever." -The Washington Post

Children Matter: Celebrating Their Place in the Church, Family, and Community


Scottie May - 2005
    Children Matter offers a full discussion of children's spirituality and shows how the faith community can better nurture its youngest members. Speaking from their experience with children's ministry in a range of Protestant traditions, the authors draw on the Bible, history, and psychology to lay good foundations for such ministry. Discussing the specific content and contexts of faith formation, they also offer wise and practical advice on putting together effective ministries. Rather than focusing on innovative ways to use technology, Children Matter emphasizes relationships between people and encourages the church to welcome all children as valued participants in the people of God.

Communication and Conflict Resolution: A Biblical Perspective


Stuart W. Scott - 2005
    Doing so biblically must be the mutual resolves of every husband and wife. Unless you truly desire to honor God in this aspect of your marriage, the relationship will never be what it could be. Communicating and resolving conflicts in a God-honoring way involved having a heart that is humble and wants to please God, some good listening skills, and a willingness to die to self. Conflict is a grievous thing to God. He wants His children to have no part in it. Within these pages you will find biblical ways to resolves conflict and communicate effectively.

The Woman Men Adore...and Never Want To Leave


Bob Grant - 2005
    

Love One Another


John Lewis Lund - 2005
    A four-talk set to strengthen your relationships.

The Game Plan: The Men's 30-Day Strategy for Attaining Sexual Integrity


Joe Dallas - 2005
    And, even in Christian homes, 40% of men have fallen to this foe that can destroy marriages and ruin lives.Who is this devastating adversary? Pornography. It floods our airwaves and PCs, assaulting the senses, and luring its prey to return again and again.Drawing from seventeen years of counseling practice, and using material that he's taught for more than ten years, Joe Dallas is helping readers face this enemy. Equipping those who have been caught up in pornography or other forms of sexual sin with the ability to abandon that behavior and never return.Using the acronym ROUTE-Repentance, Order, Understanding, Training, and Endurance-Dallas walks readers through the steps necessary to attain-and maintain-sexual integrity."No one understands this subject better than Joe Dallas. And nowhere is there a more biblical and user-friendly 'game plan' for Christian men committed to reclaiming moral purity. A resource no man should be without!" --Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast"Joe Dallas has written a practical handbook for men who want to get serious about their purity. The Game Plan is the tool that answers one of the most troubling problems in the church today, and it does so with compassion, clarity, and a sound biblical base."--D. James Kennedy, Ph.D."You may beat your demon the first time through The Game Plan or you may need it through a long season, but it's a worthy companion. Joe's advice is sound and his format is friendly."--Tom Minnery, Focus on the Family"I can tell you without hesitation that The Game Plan is one of the best books I've ever read on this important topic."--Robert Adrescok, Editor, New Man Magazine

For Women Only Discussion Guide: A Companion to the Bestseller about the Inner Lives of Men


Shaunti Feldhahn - 2005
    After Shaunti Feldhahn’s For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men broached the subject, women everywhere responded with an overwhelming desire to dig deeper. Now this all-new discussion guide will help you and your friends explore the complex terrain beneath a man’s confident exterior. Personal stories, fascinating case studies, and pointed questions will launch the conversations you need to open your eyes to what the man in your life—a boyfriend, brother, husband, or son—is really thinking and feeling. Men want to be understood, but they’re afraid to “freak out” the women they love by confessing what is happening inside their heads. For women who really do want to understand, this group or one-on-one discussion guide is a must for helping you apply all those “ah ha” revelations to your relationships with the men in your life! This newly expanded study guide will help you answer that question. Discussion questions, personal stories, and situational case studies will equip you to apply truths from the book to the relationships in your life. Additional content includes:    • Feedback from For Women Only readers    • Space to pen your thoughts after each chapter    • Quotes to remember    • Tips for starting your own discussion group Ideal for book clubs, small groups, or one-on-one dialogue with the man in your life, this is an invaluable resource and companion to the acclaimed book. Story Behind the BookAbout five minutes after For Women Only hit the shelves, women started talking about it in small groups, book clubs, and coffee houses—and with their men. And about five days after that, Shaunti started getting e-mails saying, “We could really use something to help us work through these subjects.” For Women Only has opened the eyes of women to things they never understood about men before. Now, the For Women Only Discussion Guide will help them talk through and apply those truths to their lives.

The Wedding of Cathy and Irving: A Cathy Collection


Cathy Guisewite - 2005
    It's the end of an era-or was it?"—USA Today  "YES."   Rarely has one word, one positive response, resonated so loudly from the world's comic pages. But when leading lady Cathy finally took the plunge—after nearly 30 interminable years!—and accepted boyfriend Irving's marriage proposal, the occasion certainly deserved notice among Cathy fans around the globe.The Wedding of Cathy and Irving captures all the fun, magic, and—yes—the nerve-racking overanalyzing that filled the Cathy strips leading up to the big decision and the big day itself. This collection features some of the couple's most memorable moments from throughout their long relationship, but the spotlight shines most on the year that included the unexpected "ring find," the proposal, the "YES," and the frenetic wedding plans that Cathy and Mom both endure and perpetuate.  The longest courtship in cartoon page history came to an end on February 5, 2005. But as The Wedding of Cathy and Irving shows, nothing is quite that simple in Cathy's world. Whether she's pondering pastor possibilities or worrying wedding dress selections to death, Cathy is unequalled in capturing the conundrums of modern women everywhere. It's all Cathy, through and through.

The Four Seasons of Marriage


Gary Chapman - 2005
    Gary Chapman, author of the perennial best seller The Five Love Languages, provides an easy-to-grasp framework to help couples understand their marriage and seven practical strategies for strengthening or improving their marriage relationship. A valuable resource for couples regardless of how long they've been married, this biblically based book is a reference tool to help couples through every season of marriage. Summary of features: Valuable insight for every couple, regardless of how long they have been married. Provides seven practical strategies to help couples understand and strengthen their marriage relationship. Includes a Marital Seasons Profile to help couples determine the season of their marriage.

Journey of the Promise


Joann Arnold - 2005
    In her search for answers, Callie discovers the journal of young Antone Bellani. As she reads the experiences of her husband s great-great-grandfather, her life takes on new meaning. Soon she sets out on an incredible journey that leads her through secret rooms and hidden caves to those who have waited hundreds of years for her to fulfill a promise made in another time. In Journey of the Promise, popular author JoAnn Arnold brings to those who enjoyed her first book, Miracles for Michael, another novel of adventure and intrigue.

Craftsmen: Skillfully Leading Your Family for Christ


John Crotts - 2005
    He not only possesses intellectual abilities to follow a blueprint or step-by-step instructions, but he is also an artist. His hands manipulate the wood into beautiful shapes. His eyes anticipate the right cuts and movements. His workmanship causes others to wonder at his skill.Such craftsmanship has an application for all men. While not every men may be able to create the products of a master cabinet maker, each man is responsible to create his life with equal skill. Every area of a Christian man's life must be molded by the wisdom of God. His words, his work, his relationships, and even the way he uses his resources must flow from a heart gripped by the character of God. Such a heartbeat for God's glory will practically result in a life skillfully lived.Craftsmen is designed to help men understand wisdom, to see Jesus Christ as the embodiment and source of wisdom, and to apply that wisdom to the god-given roles of husband and father.

Marriage Under Cover: Thriving in a Culture of Quiet Desperation


Bob Meisner - 2005
    Bob and Audrey Meisner had it all: a fruitful ministry, three beautiful children, a "picture-perfect" marriage. Their future seemed secure and their prospects bright-- until adultery threatened to bring it all crashing down. Faced with the greatest personal crisis of their lives, Bob and Audrey found hope and rescue through godly counsel an through learning the biblical principle of covering to protect their marriage and their family.

What God Has Joined Together? A Christian Case for Gay Marriage


David G. Myers - 2005
    Most Christians are pro-marriage and hold traditional family values, but should they endorse extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians? If Jesus enjoined us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and the homosexual is our neighbor, does that mean we should accept and bless gay marriages? These and other, related questions are tearing many faith-based communities apart.Across the country, states have voted, courts have debated, and churches have divided over the legitimacy of same-sex marriage. Amid the uproar one perspective is decidedly missing: that of thoughtful, pro-marriage Christians who, informed by their faith, are struggling to make sense of this issue. What God Has Joined Together? is an effort to bridge the divide between marriage-supporting and gay-supporting people of faith by showing why both sides have important things to say and showing how both sides can coexist. Drawing on scientific research as well as on the Bible, the authors explain that marriage is emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually beneficial for everyone, not just heterosexuals.They debunk myths about sexual orientation, assess claims of sexual reorientation, and explore what the Bible does and does not say about same-sex relationships. The book ends with a persuasive case for gay marriage and outlines how this can be a win-win solution for all.

Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy: Advances from Neurobiology and the Science of Intimate Relationships


Brent J. Atkinson - 2005
    Why is this?Provocative new neurological research suggests that old habits die hard for a reason—they may be woven into the fabric of brain states. We are wired for specific kinds of neural activations very early in life and these habitual responses are automatically activated in daily living, often without conscious awareness. Once they are set, these activation patterns (also known as response states) are likely to continue throughout a person’s life.For the most part, we don’t volunteer for these response states; we simply find ourselves under their influence. When any one of them is activated, we may lose the capacity to choose freely our thoughts and actions. It’s as if, at that moment, someone else is in charge. For these reasons and others, people in relationships may find it extremely difficult if not impossible to change how they respond to their partners. No matter how much partners want to change, their wired response states oppose their intentions.Part 1 of this book is a tour of the revolutionary discoveries emerging from neurobiology and the science of intimate relationships. Atkinson shows readers the implications of these discoveries for those who seek to change interpersonal habits and improve intimate relationships. These neural operating programs may also help explain why psychotherapies often fail to promote lasting change.In Part 2 readers will find a remedy for this problem. Atkinson introduces Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy for Couples (PET-C), a step-by-step approach to working with couples that facilitates relationship change by promoting increased levels of neural integration in each partner. In PET-C, partners learn to identify mood states which perpetuate outmoded thoughts, attitudes, and habits of interaction. Once identified, clients are then assisted in the process of "re-wiring" these states for more flexibility and then activating alternate states which support new avenues for thought and action.Extensive case examples and ample illustrations of therapeutic dialogue demonstrate for readers the ins and outs of implementing PET-C with their clients. This book is supplemented by a companion CD-ROM titled Developing Habits for Relationship Success. The CD-ROM has two workbooks—for clients with male partners and clients with female partners—that can be personalized with the client’s name and printed out on demand. The workbooks contain dozens of take-home exercises designed to help clients identify troublesome response states and then develop new emotional habits.The discovery and understanding of the brain’s neural operating systems is of huge importance for anyone who seeks to make sense of troubled relationships and understand why partners often persist in self-defeating interactions. Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy is essential reading for anyone working with couples and seeking a new way to approach and understand human interactions.

It's Her Wedding But I'll Cry If I Want to: A Survival Guide for the Mother of the Bride


Leslie Milk - 2005
    From deciphering the mysteries of wedding food to learning to understand florist-speak, from picking a suitable mother-of-the-bride outfit-without looking like a Red Hot Mama or, worse, your grandmother in lavender and lace-to keeping a sense of humor when some of what can go wrong does, this down-to-earth guide makes a perfect gift for every mother determined to give her daughter the wedding of her dreams.

Men's Fraternity: Quest For Authentic Manhood Viewer Guide


Robert M. Lewis - 2005
    The first of the series, this study leads men along a journey toward real biblical masculinity while fostering deep spiritual, emotional, and personal growth. This study also takes a man inside himself to consider the forces that are shaping -- or misshaping -- his personal manhood. Men's Fraternity is designed to bring Christian men together in a safe, comfortable setting where they can learn the true, biblical meaning of manhood and honestly share their challenges and concerns. (24 sessions)Designed in a fill-in-the-blank format, this workbook allows viewers to be actively involved in following each of the 24 sessions. Also includes questions for small-group discussion.

A Woman of Wisdom


Dee Brestin - 2005
    For each quality there are also vivid illustrations of biblical women who embraced or rejected God's wisdom—women who will make the proverbs come alive for you.In A Woman of Wisdom, you will receive God's life-giving counsel on such topics as:The Secret of WisdomMarriage and MotherhoodFriends and EnemiesMoney and SexBeauty and Discretion

Unfaithful: Rebuilding Trust After Infidelity


Gary Shriver - 2005
    More than ten years ago, Gary Shriver confessed to his wife, Mona, about a three-year affair, as well as a one-night stand. Though the impact of that confession was devastating, it wasn’t the end of their marriage. In their deepest despair, Gary and Mona wanted to know a real couple whose marriage had survived infidelity. They wanted desperately for someone—someone who had been in that situation—to say to them, “You can get through this and learn to trust again!” But they could find no couple willing to be that vulnerable.This is why the Shrivers have opened the pages of their lives and hearts to hurting couples everywhere. In Unfaithful: Rebuilding Trust After Infidelity Gary and Mona each share, from their own perspectives, the impact of adultery on their family, the strength they found in their faith, what it takes to endure, the importance of communication and forgiveness, and so much more. With the Shrivers’ help, couples can learn to move beyond crisis to a place where they can renew their hope, rebuild their trust, and ultimately, restore their marriages!

Loves Me, Loves Me Not: The Ethics of Unrequited Love


Laura A. Smit - 2005
    It's hard to be the object of someone's desires when you just don't feel the same way. How should Christians deal with these situations? There are hundreds of books describing how to build lasting relationships or how to lead a chaste life as a single person. There are very few books, however, describing how to deal with unrequited love. With Loves Me, Loves Me Not, Laura Smit fills this void.Smit tackles this universal human experience with intelligence, sympathy, and wit. An accessible book, Loves Me, Loves Me Not will be an invaluable tool for youth pastors; singles group leaders; college students; and students of human sexuality, marriage and family, and Christian ethics.