We’ve heard a lot about the “fiscal cliff.” But there’s an even more dangerous cliff that you may be on…the marriage cliff. Just like the fiscal cliff, we often tax our relationship by always demanding more and more from our spouse; we cut important relational programs; and, we refuse to deposit more into our relationship than we take out. As a result, we go over the marriage cliff and leave the relationship in...

Some people wouldn’t say much, but some would say degrading things about their spouse.  Sure, affairs do happen when things are going well in a marriage.  But sometimes, there have been years of neglect and loneliness…years of two people failing to give and love.  As my wife and I often say to each other, there are always two sides to every story.  And just as it may take two to pull the relationship apart, it...

Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are in the business of connecting people. Long-lost friends and classmates can be easily found, and relationships restored. But there’s a downside to social networking, too, especially when an old flame makes contact. In fact, marriages are breaking up over these “re-acquaintances.”  For some people, the temptation is just too much to handle. Your spouse should be...

After suffering poor health for decades, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in 1827 from lead poisoning. It was a slow and painful death. Bitterness in marriage is like that.  To find the antidote, we need to answer three questions.  First, what causes bitterness? Usually it’s not a single event, but several things that build up over time.  A wound here, an offense there… disappointment… betrayal. Second, what’s...

If you have, make up your mind that you will never use it again.  The “D” word is divorce.  It can come up when you’re fighting, “I’m sick of you – I want a divorce!”  Or when things aren’t perfect, “If you do that again, I’m outta here!”  Well, you need to replace a divorce mindset with a commitment mindset.  You see, if divorce is even an option, you’re more likely to consider it.  Are you thinking about getting...

The marriage rate has been on a steady decline over the past five decades.  Why this disturbing trend?  It’s because some people think that living together rather than getting married is the way to go.  The number of unmarried couples living with each other jumped from 1.6 million in 1980 to 13.6 million in 2008.  Are there consequences for co-habitation?  Well, findings from Pennsylvania State University indicate...

As a private pilot, I can tell you that bad weather and air turbulence are just a part of flying. Sometimes it can be avoided…other times, it can’t. Building an intimate marriage is kind of like flying a plane – sure, most of us would like to avoid turbulence in our marriage, but sometimes you just have to fly through it. The key to navigating through it is to learn to resolve conflict and communicate with each...