We’ve all seen it before.  We say something to our spouse and, immediately, we can see their face starting to turn red with rage. Well, if you realize you’ve offended your spouse, or have been misinterpreted, you can ask for a “do-over,” where you rephrase the statement so that it’s kinder and clearer. First, when you see your spouse bristling, stop the conversation immediately.  Second, ask for the do over with...

It’s hard to say “no” when someone asks you to help for a good cause or a good thing. But, to protect what’s most important, time with God, your spouse, your kids and grandkids, it’s good to say “no” sometimes. So to help you to know when to say “no,” here are practical questions to ask yourself.  First, “Is this something that I’m uniquely equipped to do?” You need to determine if your gifts and talents are...

I’ve been hearing that question more and more lately.  People who’ve had affairs often say that they had some unfulfilled need that slowly began to be met by someone other than their spouse—a friend, co-worker, old flame, a neighbor.  From there, it was a slippery slope to a full-blown extramarital affair and a broken marriage.  So what can you do? Well, be aware of danger signs and take action.  The best way to...

Today we remember the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. …a man of ministry, peace and vision.  He dreamed of equality between all races.  In 1963, Dr. King said, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  What’s your dream for your kids?  Is it your dream or theirs? Is it what’s best for...

Several years ago, my son came home from his game and asked me, “Were you there for the first quarter of my game, Dad? I started!” I responded “I didn’t get back into town and to the game until the second quarter...but you did great!” I then added, “But you really need to start eating better.” My son was silent. The disappointed look on his face showed me that my criticism had completely crushed the compliment I...

The secret is to help them establish core convictions in their hearts… convictions that will define the way they look at themselves and relate to others. Family expert Dr. Tim Kimmel identifies four things our kids need to form deep convictions about: family, friends, faith, and freedom. Knowing what they are committed to will help your children focus less on themselves and more on others.  So, talk to your kids...

I am so grateful for my 23 years of marriage to my wife, Susan.  She’s awesome! But I can tell you that I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my marriage. Here are 8 of them. Mistake number one…thinking that Susan was responsible for my happiness. In my early years of marriage, I felt like an important part of Susan’s “duty” as my wife was to make me happy. I was a bit more focused on me than us. Mistake number...