Christian Marriage Articles

Does Your Spouse Have Your Permission? From Steve and Barbara Telzerow

Can You Make These Four Statements When Disagreeing?

Can You Make These Four Statements When Disagreeing?

No two people will agree with each other all the time. Conflict doesn’t mean the marriage is in trouble, and disagreement doesn’t mean you married the wrong person.

Four Questions to Ask Yourself When Disagreeing with Your Spouse

Four Questions to Ask Yourself When Disagreeing with Your Spouse

You’ve likely heard me talk about “when the issue is no longer the issue.” What begins as a normal difference of opinion can quickly leave both spouses feeling unloved and completely disrespected.

Does Your Spouse Have Your Permission? From Steve and Barbara Telzerow

Does Your Spouse Have Your Permission? From Steve and Barbara Telzerow

Courtship and the first few months of marriage is a unique time in a couple’s relationship. We are usually focused on our partner’s strengths and rarely aware of the weaknesses or quirks that all of us have.

What’s Really Going On with the Husband Who Doesn’t Want His Wife’s Input?

What’s Really Going On with the Husband Who Doesn’t Want His Wife’s Input?

Sadly, many a man will not include his wife in decisions because he fears her input as an attempt to control him rather than as her desire to be his helpful teammate. Not only is this man extremely insecure (which calls into question his manhood), but some would call him imprudent.

Do Different Reactions Toward Their Spouse’s Contempt Mean One Is More Justified than the Other?

Do Different Reactions Toward Their Spouse’s Contempt Mean One Is More Justified than the Other?

Over the years, I have heard from many women who feel they have more of a right to speak harshly and disrespectfully to their husband than he does to speak unlovingly toward her.

What’s Really Going On with the Husband Who Doesn’t Want His Wife’s Input?

Do Different Reactions Toward Their Spouse’s Contempt Mean One Is More Justified than the Other?

What Does It Mean When a Blue Man Is Feeling Pink?

What Does It Mean When a Blue Man Is Feeling Pink?

In my conferences on Love and Respect, I like to use the analogy that men and women are as different as pink is from blue. Women look at the world through pink sunglasses, hear through pink hearing aids, and speak through a pink megaphone; while men do it all with blue. Which basically means a man and a woman can hear the exact same sentence and interpret it in completely different ways, or even say the exact same thing but mean completely different things with their words.

Does Unconditional Respect Equal Becoming a Doormat?

Does Unconditional Respect Equal Becoming a Doormat?

One of the questions I hear the most is some variation of, “Are you telling me I have to unconditionally respect my husband’s bad behavior and become a door mat?Everyone knows respect must be earned!” Interestingly, in our culture we don’t have a problem understanding unconditional love… in fact, we see unconditional love as the right of every human being. Imagine expecting our children to “earn” our love!We would disapprove of such parenting. Most of us have no problem separating the person from their behavior when it comes to love.Love the person, hate the sin.Right?

Love and Respect in the Face of Male and Female Differences

Love and Respect in the Face of Male and Female Differences

Based on scripture’s command in Ephesians 5:33 for the husband to love his wife and for the wife to respect her husband, Sarah and I have found two challenges. One, to follow this command unconditionally means we are to love and respect each other even during our male and female differences. Two, not only are we to love each other when these male and female differences between us are highlighted, but we are to also love and respect these male and female differences themselves as part of God's beautiful design.

His Need for Sexual Intimacy in Marriage—Not Wrong, Just Different

His Need for Sexual Intimacy in Marriage—Not Wrong, Just Different

Learn how sexual intimacy in marriage can become a point of misunderstanding, and discover a healthier biblical perspective on closeness, desire, and mutual care.