Are You Avoiding Conflict or Resolving It?

July 19, 2017

“Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” William James

Never is that more true than in marriage. There is no such thing as a marriage that doesn’t have conflict. The only marriages that don’t have conflict are the ones where they aren’t trying – where either one or both of the people involved have simply given up.

Conflict is the most difficult part of marriage – it’s the part that can cause tremendous pain and hurt. But it doesn’t always need to be negative.

Conflict can actually strengthen a marriage (or any relationship for that matter), if we simply learn to follow some Biblical principles on how to fight fair. In fact, conflict is often times the very thing that catapults relationships to new heights and new depths.

Therefore, I believe the following: the goal of marriage is not to be conflict-free. The goal is to handle the conflict correctly when it occurs.

Submission & Partnership

May 26, 2017

The two seem pretty contradictory right?

Submission is a word that has caused confusion, and sometimes, disgruntlement for many engaged and married women. A newlywed myself, it was something I struggled with prior to my wedding. I struggled to understand what God was commanding of me and I was unsure that I’d be able to fulfill and obey what was asked of me properly.

Every Wedding is a Funeral – CROWNS OF GLORY Part 1

September 19, 2016

Kicked off an exciting new series at The Well yesterday, CROWNS OF GLORY: Lessons from an Orthodox Wedding Ceremony. In this series, we’ll take a look at the rites and rituals of an Orthodox wedding and see what lessons the Church is trying to teach us through them.

Lesson #1: Every wedding is actually a funeral.

That’s not a typo, nor is it a joke. It’s the truth. If you aren’t ready to die then you aren’t ready to be married.

What does that mean? Check out the video above and see for yourself.

(My brother Steve, his bride Nadia and her parents) May 2010

What Every Wedding Makes Me Realize

July 22, 2015

“Do all that is good for her. Have compassion on her and always hasten to do that which will gladden her heart.” Excerpt from Orthodox wedding ceremony

I was honored to be able to perform a wedding ceremony yesterday for two of my very close friends and it happened again. It always happens after weddings. Weddings just have a way of doing that to me.

I won’t go so far as to say I cry or anything like that, but every time I attend a wedding ceremony – especially when it’s a couple that I feel close to – I feel different afterwards. I don’t leave the same way I came. I leave with a renewed sense of appreciation at what God has given me in my wife Marianne and a rejuvenated desire to be the best husband I can be to her.

Are You Getting Ready for the Wedding?

August 29, 2012

Weddings, weddings, weddings. This summer has been full of weddings. Whether it’s actual weddings that I’ve attended or future weddings that I am helping couples prepare for, the subject of weddings has been the topic of conversation for much of this summer.

Of course everyone loves to rejoice and celebrate weddings with family and friends, but I think we’d all agree on this: it’s a lot more fun to attend a wedding than to prepare for one. Preparing is hard work – as I’m sure that all of the brides (and mothers of the brides) could attest to. There’s so much to keep track of and coordinate and stay on top of. In the end, it’s all worth it – but there’s no doubt that it isn't easy.

What about your wedding? Are you ready for it? Are you working to get ready? Did you realize that it’s coming up soon?

SPIRITUAL GROWTH | PERSONAL GROWTH | RELATIONSHIPS | ENCOURAGEMENT | STSA Church | GUEST POSTS

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