Recently, my wife, Susan and I took a little vacation to North Carolina with our close friends Jay and Beth. At the end of the week, Jay shared with me some things he noticed about the way Susan and I communicate.  He started by how we constantly interrupt each other when we talk. He didn’t pull any punches and he didn’t stop there. He also said that I talked way too much and didn’t listen enough.  Here’s more on...

A friend of mine with three teen boys once said they never get into fights.  Wow!  I can’t relate to that.  My mom and dad did a good job encouraging me and my two brothers to love one another, and we’re best friends today.  But we still had brotherly brawls and beat each other up on a few occasions when we were kids.  Now, I’m not advocating that, but sibling conflicts do occur.  So try not to get down about it. ...

I’m talking about danger zones that lead to an affair.  Unlike road hazards, they are not always clearly marked with orange cones.  And, if you are not careful, you may hear yourself saying, “How did this happen?”  Here are some ways to help you steer clear of danger.  First, do you have an “office spouse” that you confide in?  Be careful.  Personal conversations should be reserved for your real spouse.  Second,...

One of my favorite parts of wedding celebrations is the father-daughter dance.  I’ve already enjoyed dancing with my three girls on various occasions but am looking forward to sharing this special moment with each of them when they get married. If you're a dad who has a daughter, don't wait until her wedding day to dance with her.  In fact, dance with her as often as you can. Why? First, dancing with your daughter...

Did you say, “My marriage”?  Why not?  Are you satisfied with just going through the motions?  Is your marriage just mediocre?  Do you even believe a vibrant, fully alive marriage is possible?  It is. . . and should be your number one priority!  So, how can you have a vibrant marriage?  First, make a decision and be deliberate.  Make a commitment to make your marriage a top priority.  Second, understand it’s not...

Author C.S. Lewis said “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” Integrity is not just something you do in your life, it’s something you believe in your heart.  It’s your internal GPS that always points to true north…that always prompts you to speak the truth and live out the truth.  Your kids learn more from what’s caught than taught.  So if you want to teach your children about...

My wife, Susan, and I know it’s really important to be on the same team, especially when it comes to raising our kids. But it’s one of those things that’s easier said than done. I’ll confess; we haven’t always been good teammates.  But we’re always working on it. You see, even if you and your spouse have already sat down and agreed on things like where your kids will go to school, what kind of movies they can...