Bill and Pam Farrel don’t mince words when it comes to the area of sexuality in marriage. Honestly, I applaud them for it. So many of us are so shy and standoffish about the topic, but singles need to know what a good married sex life looks like and how to cultivate one in their future marriage. The Farrels don’t, by any means, get crude or too personal, but they are up front about the beauty, excitement, and necessity of good married sex. Maybe you’ll blush and maybe you won’t, but I think you’ll enjoy their chapter Waffles and Spaghetti in the Bedroom. ~smile, blush~ Waffle Sex Last time, … [Read more...]
Are You Ready to “Get Naked”? (Book Review, 12 Questions to Ask Before You Marry, Part 3)
When I picked up this book and thumbed through the chapters, I was especially intrigued by Chapter 12: “Are You Ready to ‘Get Naked’?” When I flipped to it and began reading, I had to laugh. The first sentence reads, “When Charie and I were writing this chapter, we knew it would be the first one the guys would turn to.” Well, I’m not a guy, but I confess that I did read this chapter first! Preparing for your Marital Sexual Relationship Eric and I tell the couples we work with to prepare for their wedding night. No, I don’t mean practice, but mentally and emotionally prepare to give yourself … [Read more...]
Sexual Saints (Book Review, Sacred Marriage, Part 3)
You may also be pleased to know that Thomas has a chapter solely dedicated to the sexual relationship in marriage! After all, don’t all good marriage books talk about sex? ~smile~ While a lot of books talk about practical sexual tips and offer twelve ways to spice up the bedroom, Gary dives into the Christian side of sex in marriage. Christianity and Sex? What do I mean about the “Christian side of sex”? Even though most of us know from an intellectual level that God created sex and that He doesn’t get mad when married couples have sex, it’s hard for us to imagine that God not only allows … [Read more...]
How to Know Where to Draw the Physical Line in your Relationship (Book Review, The Intimacy Cover-Up, Part 3)
Some days, I feel like I’ve been married forever – I don’t mean that in a bad way. After you’ve been married for a while, it’s easy to forget what life was like before you were someone’s husband or wife. However, when I think back to my dating days, I quickly remember the frustrations. Sweet, older people would advise me about not kissing my boyfriends. Mom would tell me how inappropriate it was to hug boys (she was right, but I hated hearing it!). My parents and grandparents generations would say, “Be careful! Guard your heart!” Whereas, my generation would say, “Don’t get caught!” or “What’s … [Read more...]
Is Your Physical Relationship Killing your Intimacy? (Book Review, The Intimacy Cover-Up, Part 2)
Sex and intimacy are the same, right? Wrong. That is the message we keep hearing, but sex is not intimacy. Sex within marriage may be a result of intimacy, but we can be intimate with a lot of people. Hillerstrom lists five levels of intimacy in his chapter The Search for Intimacy. The first few levels are fairly safe. We don’t have to expose are true selves much at those levels. But once we get to the higher levels, that is when we begin to open up and share our real selves. Intimacy and the Premature Physical Relationship Becoming sexually involved prior to marriage can feel like intimacy … [Read more...]