Marriage and Family Blog

The List – Don’t Accept Your Spouse

September 9, 2021

Note: We are currently in a series called “The List.” The list refers to a list of ways you can lose your marriage and is based on information gleaned from over 20 years of counseling records and watching marriage fail. Ok. Let’s jump right into this. One of the ways you can lose your spouse … Read more

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The List – Insist on Doing Things As Your Family Did

September 2, 2021

My wife and I had only been married for six months, and it was Christmas eve. We had finished dinner, and I was preparing to watch some Christmas specials when it happened. She asked me a question that jarred me. It came out of nowhere. I hadn’t expected it. I couldn’t even believe she was … Read more

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The List – Wait for Your Spouse to Go First

August 19, 2021

Note: We are currently in a series called “The List.” The list refers to a list of ways you can lose your marriage, and is based on information gleaned from over 20 years of counseling records and watching marriage fail. “You go first.” “No, you go first!” “Why should I be the one to go … Read more

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The List – Let Anger Have It’s Way

August 12, 2021

Note: We are currently in a series called “The List.” The list refers to a list of ways you can lose your marriage, and is based on information gleaned from over 20 years of counseling records and watching marriage fail. Anger can be caustic to marriage at best and dismantling to marriage at worst. IS … Read more

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The List – Don’t Deal With Your Past Trauma

July 1, 2021

Note: We are currently in a series called “The List.” The List refers to a list of ways you can lose your marriage and is based on information gleaned from over 20 years of counseling records. According to an article posted on unicef.org/ukraine in 2020, land mines were the leading cause of conflict-related child casualties … Read more

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The List – Put Your Kids Ahead of Your Spouse

June 23, 2021

Note: We are currently in a series called “The List.” The list refers to a list of ways you can lose your marriage, and is based on information gleaned from over 20 years of counseling records. When I have a couple in my office whose marriage is not doing well, I always ask them when … Read more

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The List – Stop Spending Time Together

June 17, 2021

Some time ago, I spent a few days thinning out over 20 years of counseling files. As I went through each individual file, it was like a trip down memory lane. With each file, I could see their faces and remember their issues. While doing this, I was struck by how many married couples I … Read more

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How to be Happy with a Less-Than-Perfect Marriage

June 10, 2021

MY MISTAKE When I served as a minister to single adults, I’m afraid I made a serious mistake. No, I didn’t have an illicit relationship with someone or misappropriate funds. And I didn’t teach some sort of religious heresy. What I did was teach single adults how to build good relationships by understanding their past […]

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Being Married is Like Playing Poker

June 3, 2021

I’M NOT A GAMBLER I’m not much of a gambler. Never have been. It’s not that I have some moral stance against gambling. I’ve just never felt the need to unnecessarily risk money I already have on the slight possibility I might win more. But, one day I found myself watching a professional poker tournament […]

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Suddenly Single – How You Can Survive the “Economic Downturn

May 27, 2021

When I was Suddenly Single, it was like a grenade had gone off. You’re disoriented, with good reason. And whether you realize it or not, you’re going through some huge, emotional upheaval. And that’s why I’m offering these tips on what to do about your finances when you’re trying to hold on. Try these for […]

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