Conflict Series: Conflict During the Three Stages of Marriage (Part 5) Conflict usually is minimal during the first stage of a marriage, which is the honeymoon period. Honeymoon literally refers to a “sweet month.” It marks the period from one stage of the moon to the next time that stage of the moon occurs. In a marriage, the honeymoon period is the period of sweetness and kindness between two spouses, a time when all things seem new and fresh and exciting—about thirty days. The Read More....

For a first week of questions you guys really did not waste any time. Of course, when we are experiencing pain, time is of the essence, right! In thinking about which direction to go in my response, I tried to think about one of the issues brought up that may affect the most people. I just spent some time with family over the Thanksgiving holiday, as I am sure many of you did, which of course is a whole other topic, right? So who is going to give me counsel on that one? But, here is a poiRead More....

Conflict Series - Part IV One of the strangest verses in the entire Bible must be Proverbs 14:4: “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.” This verse means that if you don’t have any oxen, you will obviously have a clean manger or feeding trough.  You may be happy to have a clean trough, which doesn’t require any work, but on the other hand, you are likely to be much happier if you have oxen in your stable.  StrRead More....

Starting this week we are going to start responding to your comments and questions on our most recent devotional. The most recent was Conflict Denied and if you missed it or the comments, check it out here. From Doug Hudson... Let me first say to Mardy, wow, thanks much for the kind words. Are you sure it was me you were referring to? Your Christmas gift is in the mail:)) But, I also wanted toRead More....

Conflict Denied: Conflict Series Part III Newly married couples need to expect conflict, although I am not advocating that they should look for it.  Picking a fight just for the sake of having a fight is not the goal.  At the same time, a husband or wife should never shy away from conflict in a spirit of denial—either denying oneself full expression of opinions and ideas, or denying that certain situations within the marriage need resolution, repair, or readdressing.  Those who live in dRead More....

The Austin Worth The Wait was an amazing success thanks to God and His Best for love, dating and sex. With leadership from Jon Moton, Lara Baliff, speakers, Goodie Goodloe and John Wills, this most amazing love story of how a man and woman should meet, date and when and how to enjoy intimacy was told. There were over 800 students and 400 parents. That's what I would call a room full of lives that now have heard the truth straight from God's heart on these issues. One of the strongest cRead More....

This Sunday night in Austin there will be a 1000 students and parents learning God's design and plan for love, dating, marriage and sex. That is fantastic. We have talked to so many parents on the phone these past couple of weeks who have signed up themselves and their teenage kids and most have a similar theme, "I don't want my kids to have to go through what I have gone through in this area." We are so thrilled for the opportunity to begin to shape young minds and to teach young men andRead More....

Conflict - Part 2

No marriage is without conflict. Frankly, a marriage without any conflict would be very boring. There likely would be a lack of deep or meaningful communication.

Such a marriage might as well be a butler married to a maid, each of whom is reluctant to express his or her personality, dreams, desires, goals, or spiritual giftedness.

A truly vibrant marriage is going to be marked by dRead More....

Conflict Back in the early 1980s, my wife, Teresa, and I were in Oklahoma City where I had been invited to conduct a wedding ceremony. The morning after the wedding, I went out for a jog. It was hot and humid, and by the time I finished my run, my t-shirt was soaked with sweat. I came back into our motel room, stripped off my t-shirt, and threw it in a nearby paper bag—which is obviously where I thought such a garment ought to go. My wife reacted instantly without thinkingRead More....

Worth The Wait in Tennessee As a Student Pastor I spent the first ten years giving students the best advice I knew when it came to dating. "The Bible says don’t have sex, so don’t! It mentions fleeing from sexual immorality so I guess that means don’t touch the parts of another’s body that are covered with clothes. Other than that date, kiss and enjoy those great years of junior and senior high relationships!" Then I eventually saw and had to counsel many of those Read More....