The world finds lust, fantasy, masturbation, and pornography not only acceptable, but something to be elevated and encouraged, because they’ve embraced the belief that if anyone is being hurt, it’s only the person looking at porn. This is a lie. A wife is part of the collateral damage that’s resulted from her husband’s addiction. There are four misconceptions that many hold … [Read more...]
How to jump-start behavior change
This is going to be a lot of work” is what might pass through your mind when someone with an ingrained, sinful behavior seeks your help to change. How would you like a new, more optimistic, thought to flit through your mind? Keep reading. This biblical strategy aids the change process and helps you see progress sooner. Don’t wait until the person is changed to … [Read more...]
“Pastor, how do I get along with my ex?”
Sadly, many couples are unable to reconcile. In some cases, one partner refuses to consider reconciliation. In other cases, it’s not wise for reconciliation to take place. In other circumstances, one spouse enters another relationship, making reconciliation impossible. And the list goes on. Yet, in many cases, particularly when children are involved, former spouses must … [Read more...]
The gray divorce crisis: how your church can help
CareLeader.org asked me a series of questions about gray divorce. Gray divorce is a trend that has recently caught the attention of the media and sociologists. During the past two decades, the divorce rate for people over the age of fifty (baby boomers) has doubled—often after long-term marriages.1 Pastors, lay leaders, and church staff might struggle with what to do in this … [Read more...]
The rise of boomer divorces
And here we thought the divorce rate was going down. After all, we’ve read that the number of divorces in recent years has been stabilizing and declining. But it’s important to take these statistics with a grain of salt. Many young people choose to cohabit rather than tie the knot. Increasingly, lower-income households opt for the cohabitation path as well. The net result: … [Read more...]