Marriage

Five Strategies to Achieving Win-Win in Marriage

Does God Intend Mutual Sexual Satisfaction in Marriage?

Does God Intend Mutual Sexual Satisfaction in Marriage?

Men and women have differing sexual and emotional needs, which I have preached for forty years. But be assured, this does not mean that one does not have sexual needs and the other does not have emotional needs. Differing does not mean nonexistent.

What Could They Mean When She Says, “I Need Respect” and He Says, “I Need Love”?

What Could They Mean When She Says, “I Need Respect” and He Says, “I Need Love”?

Back before I began sharing across the world the Love and Respect message, based on Ephesians 5:33, we surveyed seven thousand people with the following question: "During a conflict with your spouse, do you feel unloved or disrespected?"

Five Strategies to Achieving Win-Win in Marriage

Five Strategies to Achieving Win-Win in Marriage

Truth be told, the vast majority of disagreements that arise between husband and wife are what I call disagreements in the gray areas of life. Meaning there is not a clear, black-and-white answer to who is right and who is wrong.

“I’m Right and My Spouse Is Wrong, So It’s Not My Job to Get Us Off the Crazy Cycle” - Part 3

“I’m Right and My Spouse Is Wrong, So It’s Not My Job to Get Us Off the Crazy Cycle” - Part 3

Because a husband primarily sees through the lens of respect, he knows that he seeks to be respectful and honorable as a man. And, he knows that she falls short of being respectful, at least as respectful as he is as a man.

“I’m Right and My Spouse Is Wrong, So It’s Not My Job to Get Us Off the Crazy Cycle!” - Part 2

“I’m Right and My Spouse Is Wrong, So It’s Not My Job to Get Us Off the Crazy Cycle!” - Part 2

In part 2 we will discuss pink’s “proof” that she is right, and in part 3 we will break down blue’s so-called evidence.

“I’m Right and My Spouse Is Wrong, So It’s Not My Job to Get Us Off the Crazy Cycle” - Part 3

“I’m Right and My Spouse Is Wrong, So It’s Not My Job to Get Us Off the Crazy Cycle!” - Part 2

What Does the Lack of Goodwill Look Like in a Man?

What Does the Lack of Goodwill Look Like in a Man?

I always prefer to assume goodwill in my audience. Calling someone goodwilled is not the same as calling them perfect. Clearly all of us are broken, sinful, and capable of mistakes daily. But I believe the vast majority do so with goodwill in their hearts.

Are You Hearing Yourself the Same Way Your Spouse Does?

Are You Hearing Yourself the Same Way Your Spouse Does?

Most people hate the sound of their voice when they hear themselves on a voicemail or on the radio or on some other type of recording. They can’t believe they sound as high as they do, or as whiney, or so robotic, with very little reflection in their voice. Like hearing nails scraping across a chalkboard, they absolutely cringe at the sound of their voice. That can’t be me, they think to themselves. Is my voice really that annoying?

Are You an Influencer or a Controller?

Are You an Influencer or a Controller?

There is a principle that my wife, Sarah, and I seek to live by and that we share at our Love and Respect Conferences: I cannot control the outcomes in my spouse; I can only control my actions and reactions to my spouse. In other words, I can no more control what Sarah will say and do and the attitude in which she will say and do it, than she can control what I will say and do and the attitude in which I will say and do it.

First Things First—You Can’t Fix Your Marriage If You Don’t First Fix Yourself

First Things First—You Can’t Fix Your Marriage If You Don’t First Fix Yourself

As you can imagine, I receive a great deal of emails from concerned spouses describing their marital problems. Most times these stories are describing the ways the one writing me feels the other spouse is harming their relationship. Of course, such a viewpoint is only human nature. After all, while it can be difficult for all of us to evaluate our own shortcomings and sins, our spouse’s seem to be highlighted in big, bold letters for us, don’t they?