MARRIAGE PREPARATION SUGGESTIONS

1、MARRIAGE PREPARATION SUGGESTIONS:Heres a compilation of articles and best websites about marriage and thoughts about how to make it work as God intended it. These articles are mostly from these sites and a few others. They were printed on internet and so are assumed to be in the public domain and fr

2、ee to distribute (but not to sell): /marriage, /, (the discovery booklet series and section on marriage and family), /home.asp (The Smalley marriage center), www.bible.ca , http:/ww

3、/content/section/14/72/, / /NOTE: This is very much in progress and not perfectly organized or rated, but the best articles in my opinion are the ones with 3 or 4 stars. I suggest reading those first. A very few of the articles are from

4、secular sites and may contain unbiblical ideas. Whether its secular or Christian though, check what you read against the principles from the Bible.INDEX OF TOPICS/ARTICLES (shift and click to jump to any article):MARRIAGE E-MAIL LISTS WEBSITES TO READ AND BUY MARRIAGE HELPS FROM6BEST BOOKS ON MARRIA

5、GE (Bryans Opinion)6MARRIAGE COUNSELORS AND USA READERS TOP MARRIAGE BOOKS7GOOD ARTICLES FROM INTERNET (not in the book yet, but very good)9PRINCIPLES AND VERSES FROM THE BIBLE ON MARRIAGE9And They Shall Be One FleshBible verses on marriage9Myths about roles of husbands and wives, and the Bible15Myt

6、hs about Marriage conflict and the Bible:15The Husbands Duty in MarriageBible quotes17EGW ON SUBMISSION OF WIVES19Bridging the Ephesians 5 Divide-A fresh look at what this controversial marriage passage saysand doesnt say.20PRE-MARRIAGE/DATING/COURTING24HOW TO TELL IF A GUY LIKES YOU24HOW TO TELL IF

7、 A GIRL LIKES YOU24The Question That Could Save Your Marriage Before It BeginsWould I Marry Me?26*Only Settle For The Right One26*The Marriage Checklist-7 things to consider before walking down the aisle27*The Sweet Spot of Praise28Finding a Spouse-Where to Look?29WHO SHOULD YOU MARRY (from Dr. Dobs

8、on)31HOW CAN I KNOW WHO TO MARRY (good principles from the Bible)32*Whom Should I Marry?45*ARE YOU FIT TO BE TIED?-14 questions for would-be marrieds55Myths about mate selection, marrying a non-Christian and the Bible (good stats on results of marrying a non-believer)70Bible Principles for Dating72T

9、en Terrifying Truths About Marriage-Get rid of the illusions and let your marriage soar.76Top ten list of marriage facts77The Beauty and Benefits of Marriage78Marriage Myths and the Bible:79*CHOOSING YOUR FUTURE IN MARRIAGE80AN EXAMPLE OF BIBLICALLY BASED COURTING?81We Attract Who We Are, Not Who we

10、 want89Students are being fed a big lie about safe sex90*Why Wait Till Marriage? (critique of arguments for pre-marital sex)91*Cool Stuff About Love and Sex95Study: Sexy music triggers teen sex100Sex with Seniors: No Fairy Tale for Freshmen (about highschool pressures)102Love: As Seen On TVits myths

11、 and fantasy (reaction to “Friends” series)103MARRIAGE PURPOSES/EXPECTATIONS/MYTHS/NEEDS AND REALITY106*The Purpose-Driven Marriage by Rick Warren (version B)106Being in ministry doesnt exempt your marriage from difficulty by Rick Warren111*Marriage: the Foundation of a Stable Society116Report links

12、 marriage to better health-Survey finds married people healthier than singles122*Loves Time Line How to make sure your marriage gets better with age123*Great Expectations (What can you expect from marriage.and good quiz at end)127*Playing for Keeps-Stop playing these mind games and start strengtheni

13、ng your marriage.130Your marriage is better than you think132*TRUE HAPPINESS135*Most of All, Let Love Guide Your Life135*WHAT EVERY HUSBAND SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HIS WIFE136*Making Your Wife Feel Important145*Husbanding by Design-6 plans of a God-honoring man145What Kind of a Husband Would Jesus Have Ma

14、de? (Kuwaiti anecdote)147What Women Want: Listen with Your Heart150How to Make Wives Happy by Joe Crews151*The Different Needs of Men and Women154*Two Huge Reasons Marriages Fail!155*How marriage uncovers the sin in our livesand why thats a good thing.156BIBLICAL PATRIARCHAL MARRIAGE159EARLY MARRIAG

15、EBECOMING ONEPRINCIPLES OF STAYING MARRIED HAPPILY163Couples who read Bible, pray and go to church have 1-1,287 divorce rate163Saying Sorry is Key to Long marriages163Mind Games-Take our quiz to find out how well you really know your spouse!163Secrets of a Soul Mate It may be time to become what you

16、and your spousereally long for165Happily Even AfterDecade after decade these four couples are still going strong. Heres why.168Love Is a Decisionplan for a marriage of depth and warmth and excitement172A decent road map will get your marriage where you want it to go173*Five Things Every Marriage Nee

17、ds174*6 Habits of Happily Married Couples (from a Rabbi)175*Marriage Builders Six great ways to strengthen your relationship during the parenting years.178*Becoming One: A Foundational Principle for a Passionate Marriage181*Making Couple Time (1st title-Hounded by the Foxes-Nabbing the thieves that

18、steal your intimacy_.183*A Time to Laugh-Why having fun keeps the joy in our marriage.185*Joy Ride186*Exposed!How marriage uncovers the sin in our livesand why thats a good thing.189The Four Relational Germs1914 Key Words To A Happy Home!192Top 10 list of marriage mistakes:193*Love Is a Decision194*

19、Discovering Your Mates Built-In Marriage Manual194*Confessions of a Former Perfectionist-How four discoveries helped me realize my unreasonable expectations of my husband195*Marriage & Relationship Advice What makes a relationship successful?200How to Love a WomanBiblically based Advice206In Search

20、of the Good Marriage214*Joy in the Journey-The relational glue that helps us pursue oneness218*Irreconcilable DifferencesSo? Why you dont need to see things the same way.221*Secret One: Put the marriage first(BEFORE the kids)223*Why A Great Woman Is Behind Every Great Man231How one wife finally put

21、her husband in his place!233*CLEAVE TO WIFE, NOT MOTHER234*Taking Your Marriage to Extraordinary234ADVICE ON SOLVING THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF MARRIAGE236SPIRITUAL ISSUES & DISAGREEMENTS236*The Prayer God Loves to Answer236Spiritually Lacking-Our marriage was good, so we put God on the back burner. Big

22、mistake.238COMMUNICATION TOOLS-COMPLIMENTING-RESOLVING DIFFERNCES240*Lift Lines-Questions to take your marriage to higher levels240*HonorThe Fuel that Runs a Healthy Relationship!242*How to Solve Family problems the Bible way!243*The Secret of HappinessComplimentingGreat ending illustration243*Discu

23、ssions That Go Wrong-and how to handle them246*(Nagging) A Piercing Silence-What I learned when I finally got quiet enough to let God speak248When Silence Is Golden-Six times when its best not to say a word251Dealing with Guilt in Relationships254*Husband Bashing-When I joined in on a gripe-fest abo

24、ut spouses, God taught me a lesson Ill never forget.256*Poisonous Putdowns257*Are You Saying ?-Make sure you hear what your spouse really means.259PARENTING ISSUES260Secrets of a Made-to-Last Marriage -Why warm and cuddly trumps hot and heavy260DEALING WITH THE IN-LAWS262DEALING WITH TOUGH TIMES262*

25、Dont let tough times rob you of joy262*Love Being Married-5 great reasons why I doand you can, too!263DEALING WITH LIFESTYLE/PERSONALITY DIFFFERENCES265*Loaded Question-Asking it could make your marriage dynamite!266Women Are from the Classroom; Men Are from the Playground268The Secret to Contentmen

26、t270*The List That Saved My Marriage-What an inventory of my husbands shortcomings taught me272*Fire! (forgetfulness)-Yes, I nearly burned down the house. But I was more worried what my wife would do.274*My Obsession with Work276SEXUAL ISSUES277More Sex, Please-Churchgoers want more sermons on sexua

27、l issues than pastors think they do.277*How to Make Sex Good for your Bride (EXPLICIT but respectful and important)278*Dont touch me, and forget about sex! (more tips for husbands on sex)286*HOW MUCH SEX IS NORMAL? (& making decisions about sex to please your spouse increases your own desire)291*SEX

28、: When a Woman Doesnt Want it292*What Every Woman Needs to Know about Sexual Satisfaction295*Better Sex for Him298*How to Turn on a Sexually Indifferent Husband (or arouse any husband) (EXPLICIT but respectful and important)301*How to Make Love To Your Wife305*WHAT IS NOT OKAY IN BED?307*JUST DO IT

29、(great letter from a wife on choosing to give her husband enough sex as I Corinthians 7 says to do)3103 Fibs and a Truth About Sex-Help for married pastors when talking to single adults.311*Holy Sex-How it ravishes our souls. (by Philip Yancey)315*AUGUSTINES FALSE VIEW OF SEXCOMMENTS ON DA VINCI COD

30、E (by Tony Campolo)322Marriedwith Passion-Why a good sex life is worth forethought as well as foreplay.323*Sex Through The Decades-What you need to know nowand later327I Know What You Did Last Night (guys need intimacy more than sex)331*Sex after Kids?Learning to Please Each Other Sexually333*How to

31、 Have a Lousy Sex Life336Three secrets to x-ceptional sex: 3 (the guys guide to sex and cars)340SEX IS EXCITING AND BEAUTIFUL AND DANGEROUS (long)342*Oxytocin in Women: The Bridge Between Touch and Sex356*Lack of Desire357*Desperate Times-How did sex become just skin-on-skin instead of soul-to-soul?

32、360*The Best Sex (Survey) Ever! From Christianity Today367DEALING WITH MONEY371*Holy Matri-Money372Managing Money Together375REAL PEOPLES EXPERIENCESYoure not alone in your difficulties377Bryans Testimony of Finding Love in Answer to Prayer (and principles of finding your spouse)377Rick and Kay Warr

33、ens Marriage Experiencehit all 5 major difficulties in first years381The Speed of LifeBen and Candy Carson385*Jammin by Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman388When Marriage Feels Like War! (Chapman)392Husband Camps Out on Roof to Get His Bed Back395Tortoise and Hare396Hes Consumed by Workand Im Jealo

34、us397No Time Together398My Husband Has Lost Interest399Were Both the Boss!399The War of the Words400Choosing Mom Over Hubby401He Wont Touch Me401Shes too modest402And baby makes three, baby in bed interferes with sex402Body Conscious403Pelvic workout403Multiple orgasms403DIVORCESTORIES AND STATISTIC

35、S ON THE RUIN IT CAUSES404Marriage TestIs your marriage in the danger zone?404*The Walkaway Wife Syndrome (if a woman isnt nagging, maybe shes given up)407Should Parents Stay Married For the Sake of the Kids408Why Should I Be the One To Change?408*The Most Powerful Marriage Secret I Know!Counseling

36、and small groups save marriages409*What I Wish Id Known Before I Got Divorced411We Never Loved Each Other-We never even really liked each other. How would our marriage last?414The High Cost of Divorce417Why Marriages Fail419Myths about separation, divorce and the Bible:423The Bible & 8 Basic Causes

37、of Divorce425Is Divorce.Really the Answer to my marriage problems?427DEALING WITH DIVORCE427THE TOP 10 MYTHS OF DIVORCE429*STATISTICS ON RESULTS OF DIVORCE431*EFFECTS OF MICHAEL LANDONS DIVORCE ON HIS SON434SPIRITUAL RESULTS OF DIVORCE437Could You Have Loved This Much?441Myths about Children of Divo

38、rce and the Bible:444*My Loveless Marriage-Why divorce wasnt the answer to my emptiness.446IDEAS TO IMPROVE ROMANCE449Why married people should date449Strategic Romance44933 Ways to Love Your Lover451Top 15 Amazing First Date Ideas45450 Tips on Romantic Things To Keep Couples Together456Making Your

39、Marriage More Romantic457COUPLE SURFING458Presidential Love Letters-U.S. presidents have Valentines, too459LIVING MARRIAGE TO THE FULL461BEING/STAYING SINGLE AND DEALING WITH IT461So, Why Arent You Married?461THINGS TO UPDATE:466Why love succeeds or fails in HollywoodMARRIAGE E-MAIL LISTS WEBSITES T

40、O READ AND BUY MARRIAGE HELPS FROME-MAIL LISTS:The best e-mail lists for husbands and wives that Ive seen so far are:/, / and (just click subscribe.)CHRISTIAN ROMANCE/SEXY HELPS STORES:http:/www.covenantspice.c

41、om, SITES WITH GOOD ARTICLES/ (site with numerous articles on very practical topicssome topics summarize the best ideas from different books) /articles/marriage.html/marriage (many reall

42、y awesome topics and great advice for marriage. See also many topic sections on the leftsee especially “Ever After”, “Starting Out”, “making it work: romance, humor/fun” many real life situations and counsel on marriage.) /ds/family.html Excellent sitevery Bible based and good stori

43、es and statistics and practical advice for our time from the Bible. (especially read: “Building Blocks to a Strong Marriage”, “What Does God expect of a Woman/Man”, What is the Promise of Marriage”) (Lots of creative ideas to make sex more enjoyable and arousing in marriage fro

44、m a Christian perspective ;) ) BEST BOOKS ON MARRIAGE (Bryans Opinion)Here are the best books Id recommend for reading about marriage and family: “Sacred Marriage” (received ALL 5 star ratings from readers.that happens very seldom): /gp/product/0310242827/sr=8-1/qid=1145370750/re

45、f=sr_1_1/103-4527357-8200615?%5Fencoding=UTF8 “Empowered Living” (more for how to deal with marriage problemsbut very good principles and very Bible based about how to submit to God and always seek for your partners best interests). “Intended for Pleasure” Proper Ca

46、re and Feeding of a Husband Captivated by Love - Sharing and Enhancing Sexuality in Marriage by Alberta Mazat (Adventist) (recommended by Maike Stepanek) “The Five Love Languages” “His Needs, Her Needs” (available in English and Korean) 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen Covey(availabl

47、e in Korean) Finding the Love of Your Life: Ten Principles for Choosing the Right Marriage Partner The Hard Questions: 100 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Say I DoOther Marriage books/christianbibleadvicebooks/christianbiblebookmarriagesexromance.aspMARRIAGE COUNS

48、ELORS AND USA READERS TOP MARRIAGE BOOKSMarriage Partnership readers were asked which books, other than the Bible, have helped their marriages the most. Here are the top 11 vote getters. 1. HIS NEEDS, HER NEEDS (available in Korean), by Willard F. Harley, Jr. (Revell) )famous classic book on marriag

49、e.but no Christian insights.for general people and worries too much about divorce.but many good points) /gp/product/0800717880/ref=pd_sbs_b_5/104-2328273-7154342?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=2831552. INTENDED FOR PLEASURE, by Ed and Gaye Wheat (Revell) (some similar content is fre

50、e at ) 3. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES (available in Korean), by Gary Chapman (Northfield)4. LOVE FOR A LIFETIME, by James Dobson (Multnomah) 5. LOVE LIFE FOR EVERY MARRIED COUPLE, by Ed Wheat, M.D., and Gloria Okes Perkins (Zondervan)6. THE ACT OF MARRIAGE, by Tim and Beverly LaHay

51、e (Zondervan) 7. COMMUNICATION: KEY TO YOUR MARRIAGE, by H. Norman Wright (Regal) 8. LETTERS TO KAREN, LETTERS TO PHILIP, by Charlie W. Shedd (Vine) 9. MAKING LOVE LAST FOREVER, by Gary Smalley (Word) 10. THE MARRIAGE BUILDER, by Lawrence J. Crabb, Jr. (Zondervan) 11. TRAITS OF A LASTING MARRIAGE, b

52、y Jim and Sally Conway (InterVarsity)OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS Intimate Issues: Conversations Woman to Woman : 21 Questions Christian Women Ask About Sex, by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus (Waterbrook). The Hard Questions: 100 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Say I Do, by Susan Piver (Tarcher).

53、 The Sex-Starved Marriage: Boosting Your Marriage Libido, a Couples Guide, by Michelle Weiner David (Simon & Schuster). What No One Tells the Bride, by Marg Stark (Hyperion). The Good Marriage: How & Why Love Lasts, by Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee (Warner). 101 Things I Wish I Knew Whe

54、n I Got Married: Simple Lessons to Make Love Last, by Charlie and Linda Bloom (New World Library). The Rules (TM) for Marriage: Time-Tested Secrets for Making Your Marriage Work, by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider (Warner). As For Me And My House: Crafting Your Marriage To Last, by Walter Wangerin,

55、 Jr. (Thomas Nelson). The Mystery of Marriage: Meditations on the Miracle, by Mike Mason (Multnomah). Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, by Les and Leslie Parrott (Zondervan).RECOMMENDED BY EDITORS OF MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP:Every few years, a book comes out that gets people talking and changes how

56、 they think about life. These books have had that effect on the way couples approach marriage. Thats why the editors of Marriage Partnership recommend them as essential reading for every committed couple. AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, by Walter Wangerin, Jr. (Thomas Nelson). Back when Alan Alda was still thought of as the model sensitive male, a Lutheran clergyman was writing the story of his marriage examining both its joys