Lately, I've been watching a show called Decision House on Hulu. It aired in 2007 and only had eleven episodes. The purpose of the show was to have couples who are on the brink of divorce come to work with a therapist, mediator, and other professionals to help them decide if they should stay together or go their separate ways. The show is obviously not created from a biblical, Christian world view... and at the same time, I love the fact that a secular show attempted to help couples work through their issues instead of simply telling them to divorce. In one of the last episodes I watched, … [Read more...]

Living a life of honesty is not only something for which we should all strive, but it is also essential for marriage (and all relationships, really). If we get in the habit of telling little "white" lies to people, it becomes easier to tell more lies and bigger lies. Beginning early, it is important to not fall into a pattern of lying. Maybe your girlfriend gets angry every time you hang out with a certain friend, so you lie about it so you don't have to endure yet another fight. Maybe your boyfriend gets uncomfortable with you having coffee with a childhood friend of the opposite sex, so you … [Read more...]

"Does this dress make my rear end look big?" One of the cruelest things women do to men on a regular basis is ask them "no win" questions. Ladies, we all know if we've gained weight. If our husbands say, "No, it doesn't," we say, "Are you sure you're not just saying that?" If they say, "Yes, it does," we act hurt and wonder why they didn't tell us more gently. Many a date night has been ruined by the asking and answering of a "no win" question. This is a lesson I learned early in our marriage. My father is a peacemaker. He does not like to hurt anyone's feelings, and if he thinks he has, it … [Read more...]