Have you ever known someone who unnecessarily damaged what was otherwise a good relationship? Far too often men and women will unleash their anger on the people closest to them. Perhaps it is someone in the family, a friend, or someone at church. What transpires is often hurtful, damaging, and sinful. Examples: The young couple… Continue reading How to Damage a Perfectly Good Relationship
Tag: Relationships
21 Ways to Upgrade Your Relationships (Part 4)
(I am away on a vacation/study break during the month of July. The posts that appear during the month are from the archives.) Need to “upgrade” your relationships? The following suggestions might be helpful: 10. Come to grips with any anger and rage issues in your life (Colossians 3:8). Who knows how many relationships have been damaged… Continue reading 21 Ways to Upgrade Your Relationships (Part 4)
21 Ways to Upgrade Your Relationships (Part 3)
(I am away on vacation/study break during the month of July. The posts that appear during the month are from the archives.) A few suggestions for upgrading relationships:7. Get out of your recliner and get into the game. Some people live in a mental and emotional recliner. That is, they sit back and watch life happen.… Continue reading 21 Ways to Upgrade Your Relationships (Part 3)
3 Suggestions for Becoming Self-forgetful
We live in a culture in which many think it is perfectly normal to pursue whatever is in your self-interest — even if it means breaking your prior commitments. The thinking goes something like this: You may be married. You may have a good job. You may be a part of a church. However (the… Continue reading 3 Suggestions for Becoming Self-forgetful
Guest Post: Walter Petticrew
Walter Petticrew recently left a comment on this blog in which he discussed some of the important practices of his family. I thought these were very good and needed to be read by our regular readers. My wife and I have two children. Our son, and elder child had muscular dystrophy and passed away two… Continue reading Guest Post: Walter Petticrew
5 Ways to Kill Your Marriage
Some marriages die from neglect. Below are 5 ways to kill a marriage. Perhaps you can think of more. Don’t worry about being gracious. One day you and your wife are running errands. She says that she would like a Coke. You reluctantly pull up to a convenience store. You turn off the engine and… Continue reading 5 Ways to Kill Your Marriage
5 Ways to Communicate Value During Significant Moments
Last week was a busy time that included a funeral at our church on Friday and then a shower for our daughter the following day. In 24 hours, we went from grieving with our friends to a time of thankfulness and joy for our daughter and her fiance’. (They are getting married in August.) This… Continue reading 5 Ways to Communicate Value During Significant Moments
Ask Questions That Communicate Value and Worth
I love to be with people who are curious. Curious people ask questions. One of the ways we show we care about and value another is to ask good questions. Perhaps you know this feeling. You are in a small group gathering (life group, elders’ meeting, staff meeting, etc.). You finally muster up enough courage… Continue reading Ask Questions That Communicate Value and Worth
3 Ways to Communicate High Value to Another
One of the great temptations is the desire for others to think you are a very important person. In fact, such a temptation can result in much effort being spent toward self-promotion. There are many subtle and not so subtle ways to communicate a sense of self-importance. Perhaps a person is a name-dropper. She wants… Continue reading 3 Ways to Communicate High Value to Another
Are You a Lover or a Manipulator?
The truth is that some manipulate and others love. Manipulators are not loving people because love is not on their agenda. Their agenda is control. Some observations about manipulators: 1. Manipulators can be the elephants in the middle of the room who are ignored, but after a while they are not even seen. It is… Continue reading Are You a Lover or a Manipulator?