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Opposites Attract, But Spouses Repel
We tend to think of our marriage in terms of feelings. We marry our spouse because of the way we feel when we’re with him or her. Later, many people divorce their spouses because of the way they feel when they’re with him or her. Feelings are fickle. […]

“Chris” (not his real name) was stunned when his wife asked for a divorce. They had seldom fought, and he thought everything was fine. At first he was full of anger and blame, but looking back on their years together, Chris began to notice a pattern.
He noticed that his wife had certain habits that he […]

One night Betty was lying awake, worrying about family finances, when suddenly her son coughed in his sleep. Lately she had been concerned that perhaps he had asthma or allergies, so her anxiety really spiked when she heard him cough.
If Betty had been asleep, she might not have heard her son cough. […]

“I’m not going out there again and you can’t make me!” Jim’s six year-old son Tommy and he were standing in the penalty box of an indoor hockey rink in Calgary, Canada. It was the afternoon free-skate time, and several sets of parents were pulling or pushing their children around the rink, as pop music […]

Seven years into their marriage, the flame died. Susan and Jeff were still polite to each other, but their relationship seemed cold and distant. Susan remembered with nostalgia the passion of their courtship, when they could talk to each other about anything, warts and all. Looking back now, she could see how that […]

Would you like instant relief from worrying about your marriage? Here it is: it’s OK to argue. You may not enjoy arguing, but when it comes to dealing with stress in a marriage, it’s better than sidestepping issues. Today we’re going to learn how to observe our baser instincts, so that we […]

It all started over a card game that Alan’s family plays every Christmas. Alan and his brother disagreed over the rules, and each claimed that, “We’ve ALWAYS played it this way!” By the time their mother had dug out a tattered, handwritten copy of the rules, the two brothers had fallen into their […]

As we imagine our children making their marriage vows at the altar, most of us are aware that statistically, they have only a fifty-fifty chance of a lasting marriage.
Those of us who end up divorced want to believe that we will learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately, the failure rate for second marriages is […]

Amy got to the point where she dreaded picking her son up from pre-school. When Tim saw Amy coming to get him, he would run away shrieking, or throw a tantrum on the floor.

In the supermarket together, he would ignore his mother’s orders. When she tried to discipline him, he […]

Me in a Japanese Travel Insurance Ad

My wife and I

Bob and his wife Jackie (not their real names) went to a company barbeque hosted by his boss.  Bob ran into his colleague Alan, who wanted to tell him about a “deeply disturbing” letter he had read, regarding Bob.  Bob was immediately tense about this, and went to look for Jackie.  Jackie was in the nursery, preparing their […]

“Chris” (not his real name) and his wife went to a cocktail party.  It turned out that the attire for the evening was more formal than they had realized.  They were the only ones who were under-dressed, and they felt awkward and embarrassed about it all evening.  But notice how they both thought about it.  Chris’ wife lamented to […]

When “Brian” (not his real name) leaves on a business trip, his initial sentiment is relief. Life is so simple and easy when he doesn’t have to deal with his wife and kids. He only has to worry about himself and the mission at hand.
But when he walks down the street […]

One night Betty was lying awake, worrying about family finances, when suddenly her son coughed in his sleep. Lately she had been concerned that perhaps he had asthma or allergies, so her anxiety really spiked when she heard him cough.
If Betty had been asleep, she might not have heard her son cough. But, she was […]

Where in your life do you need to take a leap of faith? What is the trouble in your life? What is the ailment from which you suffer, for which you need to take a leap of faith?

Ask yourself, “What would I rather be accomplishing with my life? How would I like to be remembered? What kind of legacy would I like to leave behind after I go?” What do I want to stand for, such that I’m willing to make a commitment and follow through?

Who has wronged you? What is the first name that comes to mind when I ask you that question? Perhaps you immediately think of a friend, or someone in your family. How did you respond? I could probably guess, because I believe people often choose from only three basic responses: fight, flight, or gossip.

What can you and I take away from Joseph of Arimathea’s story that will make a difference in our lives now? We can learn much from the classic leadership dilemma that he faced: “How can I best use my influence and power in this situation?”