Pastor

Being in a relationship with a person who is controlling is not only frustrating but counterproductive. Sometimes those people are not able or willing to see or admit that their control is sabotaging the relationship. Understanding your impact on others you are in relationship with is vital for exposing and dealing with control issues.

Boundaries in a relationship can be easily misunderstood and even misused. Understanding the difference between healthy boundaries and selfishly demanding one's rights can lead to mutual love and respect in any relationship.

Many couples affirm that their spouse is their best friend. While a part of that is wonderful, are we asking our spouses to bear too much? Even more importantly, is it loving to tell our spouse everything? What does a loving relationship really require? Sometimes it's better for a man to have another man to talk with rather than overwhelm his wife with his struggles. Most women agree that they need another woman or two with whom they can share their secrets and the struggles that just are not

Meaningful relationships require vulnerability and authenticity in order to grow close. However, the question of how much vulnerability is needed is one open for debate. Authenticity must first begin in one's relationship with God before it can spill over in healthy ways in relationships with a few close and trusted friends.

People long for close, meaningful relationships. However, people are also afraid of getting close, being seen, and then being discarded. They don't feel safe at church because it historically hasn't been a grace-filled community where it's safe to struggle well with the battles of life.

People long for deeply meaningful relationships. However, they also demand a kind of safety that insures that they never experience the pain of rejection or heartbreak. There in lies the rub because the safety we demand and closeness that we crave can't occupy the same space. Relationships require risk in both areas if they're ever going to go deep.

While much literature has been written about relationships over the last 50 years, most will agree that good relationships don't just happen. They're built carefully and intentionally. That's why it's important to learn what it takes to build a healthy relationship from the start.

Pornography is one of the most common forms of betrayal in marriages today. And while it may seem to be far less damaging than a full blown affair, the devastation left in it's wake should never be minimized. Wrestling through this form of betrayal is a process that takes significant time and commitment from both spouses.

Why is adultery and infidelity hardly ever associated with the word "sin" today? Whether it's the stories we hear in small groups at church or what we see on the television or at the theater, sex for immediate pleasure has become the highest priority. The idea that God has something bigger and even more pleasurable to offer to those who are faithful isn't even an afterthought.

All couples bring baggage into a relationship. The baggage from our own personal backgrounds as well as our commitment to selfish fulfillment with our spouse often results in difficulties in sexual intimacy in the marriage. Our baggage must be unpacked in order for there to be a chance at meaningful sexual intimacy.

Sexual intimacy plays a vital role in marriage, not simply because it is pleasurable for a couple to enjoy sex in the bedroom together. God created sexual intimacy to reflect the deeper forms of emotional, relational, and spiritual intimacy that a husband and wife are intended to enjoy. It's this deeper intimacy that makes the sexual experience richer, fuller, and even more pleasurable.

Mothers often feel overwhelmed with the demands of parenting. Exhaustion through an endless stream of activities can erode a mother's heart. However, the God of the Bible calls moms to meaningfully nurture their children, even when they don't feel like it or believe they are any good at it. Facing the challenges of mothering today takes courage.

Fathers often feel overwhelmed with the demands of parenting. Checking out or retreating into areas of felt competence is where most dads hide when they don't know what to do. However, the God of the Bible calls dads to engage meaningfully with their children, even when they don't feel like it or believe they are any good at it. Facing the challenges of fathering today takes courage.

Disciplining children consistently in love is one of the major challenges of parenting. But when we're honest about our parenting, we all have been guilty at times of disciplining our children more out of anger than love. And that's just wrong. But the good news is that if we're willing to learn, God often uses those failures to teach us and our children more significant lessons about ourselves than when we do well.

How parents discipline is critical when it comes to molding the character and behaviors of their children. Many question the role of physical discipline in the whole parenting process. While some view it as outdated, others see it as essential for a critical portion of the child training years.The Bible provides a balanced perspective of discipline within the context of a loving mentoring home.

Most parents see value in disciplining their children well as part of the child training process. However, sometimes discipline becomes harsh and harmful, especially when a child is resistant or rebellious. Parents need to learn how to prevent their discipline from becoming something they never intended it to be.

Parenting is one of the more difficult, challenging, and rewarding opportunities that any person can have. Children are born into the world with the belief that the world revolves around them. Discipline is one of the more challenging portions of the child training process that requires consistency on the part of the parent to help children understand that their perspective is flawed.

In a world where enduring marriages are more of a rarity than the norm, one is left to wonder what qualities are needed in order for a marriage couple to sustain a relationship over the long haul. Some qualities are less obvious than others, and yet are critical for a healthy relationship to flourish over a lifetime.

Intimacy is a word that is frequently used of married couples who are enjoying a special level of closeness within their relationship. Intimacy within marriage is to be an exclusive deal. A couple has the opportunity to build special memories that are just between the two of them.

Honoring parents as a child seems to be fairly clear. Children are expected to obey their parents. But does that change when children grow-up and leave home? What does honor look like then? And what if you had mean or abusive parents? Does honor for an abusive parent look the same as honor for a loving parent?