Marriage & Family Matters

Welcome to my blog on “marriage and family matters.” I read and appreciate your comments. I post on this blog Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Hope you will subscribe.

It’s All In The Family

It’s all in the Family! It was a great TV series and it illustrated a lot about how family works (or doesn’t work).  I just finished a week teaching about family systems–how families function.  Some of the students didn’t really … Continue reading

Posted in How Family Works, Marriage & Family Matters | 2 Comments

How Causation Goes in a Circle

How Causation Goes in a Circle Most of us were trained at some point to understand that causation goes in a linear pattern.  It’s like what happens when we play pool, and hit the cue ball so it hits the … Continue reading

Posted in How Family Works, Marriage & Family Matters | 1 Comment

What Else Does My Family Do?

What Else Does My Family Do? In the previous posting, we identified two factors that help to maintain unhealthy patterns in our families.  One was “family myths” and the other “family secrets.”  What are some of the other patterns that … Continue reading

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Are Your Family Secrets Safe?

Are Your Family Secrets Safe? All families ere dysfunctional.  Some people don’t like to hear that, but it’s true–every family has its problems.  If you believe in the reality of original sin, you know that as a consequence of sin, … Continue reading

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Can People Really Change?

Can People Really Change? Some years ago I wrote a book titled You Are What You Think.  In it, I explore how your thoughts create your emotions, and what you can do to change your negative thoughts into positive ones … Continue reading

Posted in Living Life, Marriage & Family Matters | 4 Comments

Ready For Retirement In 2014?

Ready For Retirement In 2014? The Wall Street Journal did a feature recently asking that same question.  They even had a 20 question quiz that would test one’s readiness.  I didn’t take the quiz since I’m past retirement age, but … Continue reading

Posted in Living Life, Marriage & Family Matters | 2 Comments

Break Your New Year’s Resolutions Yet?

Break Your New Year’s Resolutions Yet? What is there about New Year’s resolutions that we still make them knowing we will soon break them?  It all has to do with our over-dependence on “will-power.”  Our will-power is not very powerful!  … Continue reading

Posted in Marriage & Family Matters, not Resolutions | 1 Comment

The Hidden Gift of Giving

The Hidden Gift of Giving When I was a kid and first heard Jesus’ statement that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” I thought, “that doesn’t make sense for me.  I’d much rather receive than give.”  Over … Continue reading

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Where Did My Creativity Go?

Where did My Creativity Go? It was funny.  We both laughed as we walked to our cars.  Because I was using a cane to walk, the lady had graciously held the door at the bank open for me.  Usually, it’s … Continue reading

Posted in Marriage & Family Matters | 7 Comments

Kids Can Do Chores Happily

Kids Can Do Chores Happily About a year ago I published a story about a six-year-old girl who lived in the Peruvian Amazon and how she just spontaneously found ways to be a help to those around her. She was … Continue reading

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