Equipping Christian Men for Richer Relationships

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  • Won’t You Grow With Me?

    Won’t You Grow With Me?

    Dear Spouse,I’d like to share four thoughts with you. Thought #1 If you are inwardly peaceful, then I will enjoy a peaceful home.If, on the other hand you are angry, I will live in fear of your outbursts. If, you are a worrier, my life will be filled with anxiety. If, you are negative, our…

  • Loved Well

    Loved Well

    What if you do a review of your life and this is your conclusion.“I HAVE NEVER BEEN LOVED WELL!” That is a sad statement.And, an honest, deep, struggle-filled statement. SAD- because it carries a longing and an unmet ache. INSIGHTFUL- because now you have verbalized a driving, inner need. ADDITIONALLY- on the inside, you are…

  • Listen to Me

    Listen to Me

    Do you want to help me, learn me? If so, you must “listen.” And, I mean listen a lot and talk a little. Listening is the skill of, you getting out of my way.Talking is the skill of me, figuring something out.When I’m talking to you, I am also learning about myself. Here’s the me-talking,…

  • Dear Spouse,

    Dear Spouse,

    Dear Spouse, Can you please help feed my soul? Life is full of struggles. And, I’m tired. I’ve asked God for help and he’s a great source of comfort. But, can you also, please help feed my soul? These are the things that fill me. Nurture me. Comfort me. Celebrate with me. Be pleased with…

  • Great Marriages

    Great Marriages

    For a great marriage you need progress in three important areas. 1 . A VISION- Can you visualize your spouse being your best friend? You and your wife playing like two children with a secret. You giggle, hold hands and explore the world together. Over time she becomes the most important person on the planet.…

  • Four Drivers

    Four Drivers

    In the book, The Coaching Habit, author, Michael B. Stanier outlines four drivers. He states, there are four drivers that your brain uses to determine relationship involvement and teamwork. (I’m borrowing his four drivers to discuss marriage.) T – Tribe E – Expectations R – Rank A – Autonomy (I’m going to be using my…

  • Don’t Be A Burden

    Don’t Be A Burden

    Here is ONE, big reason a husband might not make an emotional connection to his wife. “I do not want to burden her.” This statement includes a thought and a belief for emotional survival. Where does this thought originate? Part One Growing up, Mom’s life was hard. Mom and dad fought. I saw mom grieve,…

  • It’s an Odd Thing

    It’s an Odd Thing

    It’s an odd thing! Have you noticed how two opposite people always seem to get married? You have one interested, motivated, emotional-connector. And, that person marries a disinterested, unmotivated, emotional-disconnector. It all starts fine. But several years into the relationship the emotional-connector starts to wonder, “Why is this relationship still so shallow?” It’s usually the…

  • Why is it Hard to Express Myself?

    Why is it Hard to Express Myself?

    Recently, I’ve been asking, why is it so hard to express myself? MY GROWING UP YEARS Growing up, we were not an emotional family. As children we knew to never express emotions. Emotional words were only used to call you names. And, after the name calling, family members were encouraged to laugh at you. There…

  • There can’t be a God!

    There can’t be a God!

    I have a friend. He’s a Christian, medical professional, and a senior adult. Recently, he shared a long-time inner-conflict. It goes like this. “There can’t be a God! And, there must be a God!” (Here are my two sides of that debate.) THERE CAN’T BE A GOD! God makes no sense. You can’t see or…

  • Handling major, negative life events

    Handling major, negative life events

    When major, negative, life events occur, two outcomes are possible. 1. You experience damage to your soul. Next, you shape your life from that emotional damage. Finally, you begin to demonstrate unhealthy, emotional actions and behaviors (Anger, control, defensiveness, etc.). 2. You experience emotional damage. Afterwards, you dig in deeply and do emotional-spiritual recovery work.…

  • Sex is not Love.

    Sex is not Love.

    A 38 year old husband made this comment. “I gained a new insight today. Sex is not love.” (Don’t you love it when a man has an “aha” moment.) This is both a wonderful moment of awakening and a terribly, sad moment. Wonderful. Because it opens up his thinking to a new, much larger definition…