When couples come for marriage counseling they often say that communication is their main problem. There typically are deeper problems as well, but communication is a good place to start. Without safe and respectful communication, it is not even possible to work on the deeper issues. One of the largest longitudinal research studies of marriage ever conducted was begun in 1980 at the Center for Marriage and Family Studies at Denver University. Drs. Scott Stanley, Daniel Trathan, and Savanna McCain used the research findings from this 20 year longitudinal study to develop curriculum to help couples function well in their relationships. The primary finding was that the best overall predictor of how well a couple is going to do in the future is...

Proverbs 29:19 teaches us that, “A slave will not be instructed by words alone; For though he understands, there will be no response” (NIV). Is this a case of cognitive deficiency? No, the slave understands what’s being asked of him by the master. If he understands what is being asked of him, why doesn’t he obey? We have modern sayings that speak to this: “Talk is cheap.” “Actions speak louder than words.” This slave has chosen to not obey. This is a matter of the will and this slave has a rebel will and has chosen not to obey his master.

What could the master do to get the rebellious slave to obey? He could threaten him but that is no substitute for ACTIONS! The master needs to take action ...

After becoming a believer in Christ I was discipled by a man named Don Christianson. We called Don, the Silver Fox, because he had snow white hair. At the time I was 31 years old, married to Elsie, fresh out of seminary, and knew everything! Don, on the other hand, was a 60 something retired grade school principal. Don was a layman and I was a professional! Don and his wife, Inez (we called her Inie), had two married daughters. All were vibrant Christians.

One Sunday as I was exiting the Baptist church where I was the associate pastor, Don stopped me. He took an interest in me and asked if I would like to be discipled by an older man. I knew that the Bible told older men to disciple younger men (Titus 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:2) but ......

Like many of you, addiction has touched our family. Many years ago, my aunt’s brother, who was my age, began drinking heavily. A super-talented guy, he had no problem finding a job but after a few months of outstanding work, he would show up drunk and get himself fired. Upon occasion he would wind up in jail for driving drunk. His mother would always bail him out or take him in after he got fired. Because he was broke she gave him spending money which he, as you might guess, drank up. He went through numerous treatment programs but to no available but with each crisis there was mom to rescue him. Was she helping him or hurting him? Obviously she loved him, or did she?

What separates helping from enabling? As Hannah Harrison writes in...