The Top Five Myths of Christian Dating - Stephen W Simpson, PhD

There are some myths out there that people assume to be gospel about dating. Christian culture is like any other in that we develop truisms that we accept without verifying. There are things floating around that have little or nothing to do with the Bible. Most are well intended and contain a nugget of truth. Some are flat & wrong. Dating is hard enough without sifting through all this erroneous information, so let's debunk some myths. There are plenty of them, but let's focus on what I believe are the top five myths that make dating harder for Christian men.

Myth #1: "God has one woman picked out for you to marry. You are destined to be with her, and God will guide you to her."

Good luck finding this one in the Bible. There is plenty of stuff about God's will for his people, God wanting good things for you, and God's ultimate plan. Nowhere, however, does it say that God picked out a spunky brunette whom he's waiting to spring on you at the right moment. I'm not saying that he doesn't. When it comes to God, I'm pretty careful about saying what he does or doesn't do. But I do know this; if you rely on this idea too much, your dating life will get really confusing.

7 Relationship Problems and How to Solve Them - Carol Sorgen

Here's how to resolve the most common relationship problems and get your love life back on track.

It's the rare couple that doesn't, sooner or later, run into a few bumps in the road. If you recognize ahead of time what those relationship problems can be, you'll have a much better chance of weathering the storm, experts say.

Ideally, a couple should discuss certain basic issues -- such as money, sex, and kids -- before they decide to start their life together. Of course, even when you do discuss these issues beforehand, marriage is nothing like you think it's going to be.

In spite of the fact that every marriage experiences relationship issues, successful couples have learned how to manage them and keep their love life going, says marriage and family therapist Mitch Temple, MS, author ofThe Marriage Turnaround. They gain success in marriage by hanging in there, tackling problems, and learning how to maneuver through the complex issues of everyday married life. Many do this by reading self-help books, attending seminars, browsing articles on the Web, going to counseling, observing other successful couples, or simply by trial and error.

Here are some common issues and ways to resolve them:

Relationships and Christian Teens: What You Need to Know - Kelli Mahoney

Christian teens form all kinds of relationships. From friendships to dating, these are the years that Christian teens start building ties outside of the family. While these relationships are an exciting time for Christian teens, they also come with their own issues and hazards. Suddenly the issues of sex and boundaries starts to arise, and teens find themselves having to choose sides on "hot button" topics like homosexuality and abortion. There is a lot of growing to do in all aspects of relationships, and having Biblical and Christian guidance is essential.

Friendship

Friendship is the foundation of any good relationship. Whether you are looking to make friends or keep the ones you have, friendship is important in any Christian teen's life. This is also why Christian teens need to work at keeping their friendships strong. Think of the traits that are important in any relationship like honesty and trust, and they apply to your friends. Avoiding pitfalls like gossip and lying go a long way in building friendships that last a lifetime.

Watching TV Can Ruin Your Relationship - Denny Watkins

Are you and your boyfriend a Jim and Pam, or more like a Barney and Robin? Either way, comparing your real relationship to a TV couple could lead to a lousy love life.

A new study in Mass Communication and Society surveyed 392 people who had been married for an average of 19 years. As it turns out, the more realistic you find depictions of TV romance, the less likely you are to be wholly committed to your actual marriage. Plus, you're also more likely to see marriage as a burden, and be open to the idea that there's someone better out there.

On-again, off-again relationships in TV shows—built up by sweeps weeks and season finales—impact what you think a husband or boyfriend should be. Just like you look to your own past relationships and your friends’ flings to set standards, “television basically becomes another influence on your expectations,” says study author Jeremy Osborn, Ph.D., a communications studies professor at Albion College.

And it’s not the number of shows you watch or how many hours you’ve spent watching reruns that matters, according to the study. Even a moderate acceptance that fictional relationships represent something true to life could result in a false sense of what love is.

How To Balance A Family, Your Career, And Your Stresses - Stan Popovich

 

It can be difficult for adults to have to take care of their families and manage their demanding careers. This can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. As a result, here are a few steps in how to do take care of your family and your career without getting stressed.

Try to set goals for yourself when you manage your family or career. When you go to work each day, try to set some goals for you to accomplish. For instance, let’s say your goal for today is to finish the report that your boss wants. At the end of the day, you will feel better about yourself knowing that you were able to finish that report. When you accomplish these smaller goals, you will feel happier, more confident, and less stressed.

Delegate part of your responsibilities. When taking care of the family, get your spouse to help out. If your kids are older, get them to assist you. If you are at work, only take on what you can handle. Don’t try to do everything all at once. Learn to delegate and work with other people.

If you try to do everything, you will get stressed and anxious. A person can only do so much in a given day. Do not everything. Learn to manage your responsibilities. If you feel like your doing too much, then take a break and evaluate your situation.

Try to do things in terms of their importance. Let’s say that you have to clean the living room, go to the supermarket, and wash the dishes. Go to the supermarket since this is the most important thing that needs done. Do the other two tasks later on. Determine what needs done right now and do those particular tasks in order of importance.

Managing your family and career does not have to very stressful. Learn to budget your time and manage your tasks. Eventually, you will be able to balance your career and family.

There Is A Time For Everything

 

"I'm reminded of what an older friend said to a few of us young friends of his recently. Not exactly in his own words, he said there isn't an absolute finish line for everyone in life. Our tracks are different, our lanes are different and our durations- different. The only thing we have in common is the same judge.

For example one person graduates at age 20 and struggles for the next five years to get a job. Another graduates at age 25 and gets a job immediately. One marries a virgin and spends the next decade waiting for the blessings of children. Another, probably after having series of abortions in the past, becomes a mum almost immediately after marriage. One becomes an MD at 30, another becomes MD at 52.

Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs plus many surprises and offers each one of us have different opportunities. It is up to each of us to patiently prepare and wait for that opportunity.

We learn on the way- no one knows it all or has it better. The devil always tries to tell us that lie over and over but that's just it- A LIE!. There is a reason why we all don't fall at the same time. Its so that when one is down, weak and discouraged, the other, who is strong, can encourage and uplift him.

God never promised that the road would be easy but promised never to leave or forsake us. There's no competition in life so let's learn to go easy on ourselves and trust that God is working it all for good (even if it doesn't make sense at the time). The bible assures us that there is a time for everything but most importantly that "it came to pass".

Whatever trials, challenge or downtime, this too shall pass and in due course, you'll be up and strong again to lift up those who maybe down around you" . It is well with us all, Amen! Lots of things in life are by choice and not by force. Let's try to have an amazing life people!

The Resolution for Men (Excerpts from the movie Courageous)

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

THE RESOLUTION is a bold declaration of commitments that men are making to be faithful to God as the spiritual leader of their home. As read in the movie COURAGEOUS, to mark the moment and celebrate the commitment being made to God and family.

Message

THE RESOLUTION

• I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.
• I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
• I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
• I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
• I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
• I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
• I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
• I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
• I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
• I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
• I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15