Marriage Partnership articles from June 2002

Marriage Partnership archives from June 2002

Conversation coordinators. (From The Editors).
June 22, 2002... When I need to discuss what's going on in my soul or in my life, I talk to my wife, Karen. When I want to talk about the latest events in the headlines, I get together with John. When I want to talk about work, I ring up Dave. I grow through...

On the brink. (Letters).
June 22, 2002... "We Both Had Affairs" [Spring 2002] arrived when I really needed to hear that the pain of infidelity will eventually go away. I have no one to talk to, so it was good to be reminded that I'm not the only one who's ever experienced this. Thank...

Personal viewpoint. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 22, 2002... Your article featuring the married personal ads, "MWM Seeks MWF," by Mark Galli, certainly hit the nail right on the head! I almost felt as though he was looking over our shoulders. My husband and I have been married 28 years, and Mark Galli's...

Worth writing about. (Letters).
June 22, 2002... Thank you for the article, "Worth Fighting For," by Al Janssen. I agree with your concept of fighting for our marriage. I fought for mine for 34 years. When my husband had an affair and moved out of the house, I learned to fight Jesus' way,...

Touching article. (Letters).
June 22, 2002... The dialogue section, in "Touch me--Not There? was great. But I think several examples throughout the article would have been helpful to avoid the trap of "there's one right way." Still, the article presented both the male and females' view on...

On a mission. (Letters).
June 22, 2002... "Beyond Happily Ever After" made me pause and re-evaluate my six-year marriage. Since we've never thought of this before, we hope to start working on a mission statement for our marriage. Thanks for the important reminder. Ajay David...

Want a good marriage? (couple minutes).(counselling)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Learn to have a good conversation. Couples in good marriages continue the premarital tasks of getting to know each other and expressing care for each other long after the wedding. If you want to master the art of entering your spouse's world,...

The work of forgiveness. (Couples Devotional).(marriage counselling)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... A man once confided in me that his wife had been unfaithful. He had forgiven her, but people at the church were treating her like an outcast, which made it harder for them to rebuild their marriage. I suggested that he share their struggle...

Build your mate's self esteem. (couple minutes).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... One of your spouse's greatest needs is to be encouraged. And knowing where your spouse struggles is key to meeting that need. To help you, answer the questions to the right for yourself and your mate, After you compare your lists, write down...

Saying "I do" --again. (couple minutes).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Reaffirming your vows is a way to celebrate the fact that you're still choosing to make marriage work and weather life's storms--together. And whether it's a public confession or a private commitment, making the choice to examine yourselves and...

For better or worse? (couple minutes).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Dealing with the realities of war, unemployment, and personal stress is difficult and costly. But rediscovering the value of marriage is priceless. In a recent study, the Gallup Organization examined marriage's popularity in America, in light...

MarriagePartnership.com surveys: which sport do you and your spouse enjoy playing together? (couple minutes).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 22, 2002... Here's what you said: Hiking: 16% Bowling: 14% Biking: 12% Working out: 11% Running: 9% Golf: 7% Basketball: 6% Swimming: 6% Tennis: 6% This question was answered by...

The good news about getting divorced. (couple minutes).(covenant marriage)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... IT MAY BE GETTING HARDER TO DO. A new type of marriage agreement is making a debut in America: the covenant marriage. In this union, divorce is limited to abuse or adultery. Without these circumstances, couples must seek counseling and wait two...

Finding the Hero in Your Husband. (Between The Covers).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... By Julianna Slattery Struggle with feeling dominated? Struggle to stop dominating? Psychologist Julianna Slattery, in her new book, Finding the Hero in Your Husband (Health Communications), reveals that most women deal with this issue of...

The no-nag way to get him healthy. (couple minutes).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... If you've been trying in vain to coerce your hubby off the couch and into his sneakers, it may be time to change your strategy. What works? Joan Tucker and researchers at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, took to the field and...

You said it! (couple minutes).
June 22, 2002... A marriage without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs--jolted by every bump in the road. Henry Ward Beecher I gravely doubt whether women were ever married by capture. I think they pretended to be; as they still do. ...

Be heart-strong. (couple minutes).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Spending time with your other half may help strengthen your heart. A new study published in the Psychosomatic Medicine journal monitored the blood pressure of 120 healthy adults for six days and found it to be significantly lower when the...

Improve your sex life. (couple minutes).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Knowing how to express love to your spouse is the starting point for a better sex life. Try asking, "What things communicate affection to you?" Add his or her answers to the following list of starters: * Gentle initiation * Increased...

Snapshot. (couple minutes).(couple mentoring)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... As counselors for couples, conference speakers, authors, and hosts of their own radio show, there's no doubt that Bill and Pam Farrel are devoted to encouraging Christians in their marriages. And while supporting others, they've certainly...

Change a flat tire. (How To).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... When warmer weather's on the way, so are you and your sweetheart. After all--summer's the season for taking a road trip. And whether it's visiting the family, or just seeing new sites, the last thing you want to see is yourselves on the side of...

Sex's mission: why God created sexual boundaries. (Soul To Soul).
June 22, 2002... There is no shortage of jokes about sex. Late-night cable is full of would-be comedians who find the subject of sex to be an easy road to quick laughs. Movies aimed at the teen audience do their part to push "humor" that dehumanizes sex. Girls...

A messy marriage. (Work It Out).(household cleaning and tidying)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Mary's Side: A little clutter never hurts Growing up with five siblings and a mother with packrat tendencies, I lived with clutter. A little bit here and there doesn't bother me. Sometimes, I get ambitious and try to straighten up the...

I'm afraid to fight. (Early Years).
June 22, 2002... Q. When my husband and I got married, my aunt pulled me aside and told me not to be afraid of fighting--that as long as we "kept things fair" it could be a step toward strengthening our relationship, and not a marital death sentence. My parents...

Witnessing to neighbors: being a good neighbor is a natural and effective way to share your faith.
June 22, 2002... Most people, when they move, picture the ideal neighborhood: friendly couples, will well-behaved children, who drop by (always at the perfect time) with a plate of cookies--or perhaps to mow your lawn. What we get, too often, falls far...

"I was too passive: and I gave in to his sordid wishes." (Back from the brink: a real-life story of a marriage in recovery).
June 22, 2002... WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND, Peter, through a mutual friend in North Carolina, I thought I'd found Mr. Wonderful and that my dreams of a perfect marriage had come true. He was cute, friendly, and a gentleman. But what I liked most was his...

When sleeping together drives you apart: solutions to marital sleep problems.
June 22, 2002... Heather threw off the covers in frustration and propelled herself out of bed. For the last forty-five minutes she has repeatedly shoved her husband, Rick, to roll him over and stop his snoring. Her efforts had met with temporary success, but as...

How men really think about sex: discover 3 key insights into the mystery of male sexuality.
June 22, 2002... Ed * sits across from me, during our counseling session, blowing the steam off coffee too hot to drink. A confident man in his late thirties, he searches hard for words that explain the unexplainable--why his marriage is ailing. Really,...

Summertime fun: you don't have to go far to get a way ~ you can find romance in your own back yard.
June 22, 2002... In the classic film, The Wizard of Oz, the lead character, Dorothy, experienced a lesson we can all learn. After wanting to run away, she discovered that there was "no place like home." True happiness was in her own back yard. One of the...

Different by design: how the bible reveals the secret of Mars & Venus.
June 22, 2002... People have been observing the differences between men and women for centuries, and some have recently taken to compiling lists of their observations. One list I came across, likely compiled by a group of first grade girls, highlights some of...

Become pen pals: a great new way for sharing those things that are hard to say.
June 22, 2002... Where e-mails of encouragement or letters of love may be staples of doe-eyed courting couples, when you think of married people expressing love, rarely does using the written word come to mind. While mailing letters or sending e-mails to...

I hate sex. (Real Sex).
June 22, 2002... Q. I've been married now for two years, and I absolutely hate sex. It seems my mind and body are totally disconnected because sometimes my body shows signs of arousal but my mind doesn't follow. I'm so much more comfortable with friendship love...

We're both the boss! (Couple Counsel).(marriage counselling)
June 22, 2002... Q. My wife and I have problems agreeing on many things. For example, even though my wife is ready to have kids, I don't want to because we disagree on child rearing and financial responsibilities. She wants to have the authority to discipline...

Celebrate the simple: we learned early on that big events weren't as important as everyday encounters. (Viewpoint).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... When Cindy and I were first married, we received a $3.95 paperback book as a gift from a wise, older man. He was a seminary professor who was well-versed in Greek and Hebrew, but his gift was an unpretentious book of stories by Arthur Gordon...

Culture shocks: Catherine Palmer reflects on how growing up on the mission field shaped her as a writer. (the page Turner's journal).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Catherine Palmer has written fiction in a variety of genres, using a great range of settings. Her three most recent books, The Happy Room, English Ivy, and A Dangerous Silence, illustrate this perfectly. The Happy Room is a contemporary novel...

An excerpt from lullaby.(Brief Article)(Excerpt)
June 22, 2002... Merrilee Hunter into the pockets of her ragged maternity cutoffs and laid the haul on the drugstore's glass counter: a provisional driver's license, one quarter, one dime, two nickels, a piece of string from the hem of the shorn, a half-empty...

Writing as ministry.(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Is writing novels a ministry or a job? Both, say most Christian authors. To many, writing is definitely a ministry. Liz Curtis Higgs sees her novels as a vital part of her overall ministry to women. "A fictional story based on biblical...

The Happy Room. (down the fiction aisle).
June 22, 2002... The Happy Room (by Catherine Palmer) will be appreciated by anyone seeking to heal difficult family relationships. Three adult siblings are reunited when one of them is hospitalized with a life-threatening illness. As Julia and Peter face the...

North of Tomorrow. (down the fiction aisle).
June 22, 2002... North of Tomorrow (by Cindy McCormick Martinusen) completes the Winter Passing series. This epic story tells of the shocking truth of a family's past and one woman's determination to uncover the secret that will bring healing. As Amanda traces...

Out of the Shadows. (down the fiction aisle).
June 22, 2002... Out of the Shadows (by Sigmund Brouwer) is now in softcover! In this blockbuster contemporary mystery, Nick Barrett is lured back to Charleston by a mysterious note to search for answers about why his mother abandoned him. Past secrets slowly...

Lullaby. (down the fiction aisle).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Lullaby (by Jane Orcutt) is a moving novena that explores the depth of a mother's love. Merrilee wants only the best for the child she cannot keep. Nora dreams of being a mother to a child of her own. When the two meet, the outcome is not at...

Looking for Cassandra Jane. (down the fiction aisle).
June 22, 2002... Looking for Cassandra Jane (by Melody Carlson) is the heart-touching story of Cass Maxwell, a girl struggling to find her identity during the turbulent sixties and seventies. Forced to make her own way from childhood, Cass's strength of spirit...

They Shall See God. (down the fiction aisle).
June 22, 2002... They Shall See God (Athol Dickson) is a page-turning story of bitter prejudice and the hope of reconciliation. After 25 years, the man Ruth and Kate helped lock away is released from prison, thrusting them into a horrible nightmare. Suddenly a...

This Present Darkness. (down the fiction aisle).
June 22, 2002... This Present Darkness (by Frank E. Peretti) is now in mass paperback! This best-selling novel is a riveting spiritual thriller that offers a fascinating glimpse into the unseen world of spiritual warfare. Ashton is just a typical small town....

An author speaks ...: Athol Dickson explains why he takes time to write "mere stories.".(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... Every now and then someone will ask why I write novels at all. Often what such a person really means is: "With so many serious things to be done in life, isn't it a little bit frivolous to spend one's time writing (or reading) mere stories?"...

Spotlight on Lyn Cote. (Heartquest romance: romance the way it's meant to be).(Brief Article)(Interview)
June 22, 2002... Lyn Cote's trademark is romantic suspense, as we see in Winter's Secret, the first book in the Northern Intrigue series. Lyn likes to write romantic suspense because that's what she's always preferred to read. "I enjoy a good mystery, and it's...

Catherine Palmer's latest romance: English Ivy. (Heartquest romance: romance the way it's meant to be).
June 22, 2002... CATHERINE PALMER'S LATEST ROMANCE: ENGLISH IVY On the eve of her 21st birthday, Ivy Bowden has much to anticipate. Engaged to be married to the man her father has chosen for her, Ivy dreams of a secure, contented future, But when she finds...

Completing Peggy Stok's abounding love series: #3 Elena's Song. (Heartquest romance: romance the way it's meant to be).
June 22, 2002... COMPLETING PEGGY STOK'S ABOUNDING LOVE SERIES: #3 ELENA'S SONG Forced to leave her husband by the man who threatens to destroy her, Elena is bound by the fears of a haunted past. After years of separation, Jesse Golden is determined to win back...

Romance fans: a newsletter just for You! (Heartquest romance: romance the way it's meant to be).(Brief Article)
June 22, 2002... If you enjoy romance, you'll want to subscribe to the new HeartQuest e-mail newsletter. Find out the story behind the stories of your favorite Christian romance authors--Catherine Palmer, Lori Copeland, Peggy Stoks, Lyn Cote, Ginny Aiken,...

Winter in the Woods. (Heartquest romance: romance the way it's meant to be).(catching up with Lyn Cote, author)(Interview)
June 22, 2002... Though Lyn Cote lives in Iowa, Wisconsin's North Woods are a frequent setting for her books. "I married into it," she says. Her husband's family has frequented a lake in Wisconsin for three generations. Lyn's memory of the winter of 1978-79,...