Joshua 12-19 – Is Close Enough Enough?
In Joshua chapters 12-19, you see two different standards on display… “Close enough for government work.” “A job worth doing is worth doing right.”…
December 5, 2019 · 2 min read
Joshua 11 – War Takes Time
You have to be careful when you read the Bible, or you could easily be deceived. This statement may sound blasphemous or just plain wrong, so let me…
November 28, 2019 · 2 min read
Joshua 10 – Are You Dependent or Overconfident?
I remember learning to ride a bike as a child. There were times when I had this great boost of confidence. I would think, “I really am doing it! I…
November 21, 2019 · 2 min read
Joshua 9 – Do You Shoot First and Ask Questions Later?
“Shoot first and ask questions later.” This statement calls one to make quick decisions, and worry about whether it was the “right” decision later…
November 14, 2019 · 2 min read
News Flash! Ken and Barbie Aren’t Real!
I went to a wedding recently and I was struck by how perfect the bride and groom looked. They appeared to have it all together. Young, good looking…
November 13, 2019 · 3 min read
Joshua 8 – Confidence
Confidence. It’s an attractive character trait. It’s something most people wish they had more of. The problem is, confidence is not a stand alone…
November 7, 2019 · 2 min read
When You Fight, Point the Fire Extinguisher in the Right Direction
Fred and Alice (not their real names) came into my office because they had been fighting over Fred’s failure to let Alice know when he would be home…
November 6, 2019 · 4 min read
Joshua 7 – Small Matters
Small matters. This truth struck me one day when I discovers termites in my house. They were so small, the termite inspector had to get a magnifying…
October 31, 2019 · 2 min read
Things I Would Tell My Newly Married Self
I have done a lot of premarital counseling, and I’ve found it to be both enjoyable and frustrating. Enjoyable, because you get the opportunity to…
October 29, 2019 · 3 min read
Joshua 6 – Walls
Walls. They prop up our structures. They give us protection, privacy, and a sense of security. Walls can also isolate us, impeded us, and entrap us…
October 24, 2019 · 2 min read
Joshua 5 – Little Things
“Little things are important.” “It’s the little things that mean the most.” These are sayings most of us have heard all our lives. The reason little…
October 17, 2019 · 2 min read
If You Love Them, Prove It
When the couple walked into my counseling office, it was obvious things were not good between them. Their heads were down, there were very little…
October 15, 2019 · 4 min read
Joshua 3-4 – Change and Uncertainty
Everyone struggles with change. Even those who say they like change become stressed if the changes are too quick or too drastic. In Joshua chapters…
October 10, 2019 · 2 min read
Has Your Marriage Lost the Magic?
It was late at night, and I was sick. It felt like someone had poured concrete in my head and chest. I had a sharp, hacking cough that sounded like a…
October 8, 2019 · 5 min read
Joshua 2 – Are You In?
When I was a young boy, my parents would get together with the neighbors and play cards on a Friday and Saturday night. While they were playing…
October 3, 2019 · 2 min read
Take A Stand In Your Marriage.
I was listening to a Willie Nelson CD on the way to work the other day. The CD is entitled “To All The Girls.” (I highly recommend it, if you’re a…
October 1, 2019 · 3 min read
Joshua 1 – Some Things Change and Some Things Never Do
In the last movie of the “Matrix” trilogy, there is a line that sticks in my head. There, the character of Morpheus says, “Some things never change…
September 26, 2019 · 2 min read
Night Owls, Morning Glories, and Minding the Gap
I’m a morning glory. Apart from the bed-head and stiff joints, mornings are the best part of my day. In the morning, I’m rested, my mind is clear…
September 24, 2019 · 5 min read
Deuteronomy 33-34 – A Fitting Epitaph to a Life Well Lived
Celebrities and successful people seem to just spring up out of nowhere these days. The media is full of stories about the latest star or business…
September 19, 2019 · 2 min read
What if Marriage Were Simpler?
Marriage starts off so simple. There’s you, your spouse, a place to live, a job to go to, and free time together. But as time goes on, marriage gets…
September 17, 2019 · 3 min read
Deuteronomy 32 – A Live Demonstration.
Some things just stick with you. They are indelibly inked on your mind and heart. It might be an event, a realization, a statement, a phrase or an…
September 12, 2019 · 2 min read
The Crowded Marriage.
Let’s start by stating the obvious…it’s been a little over 8 months since I have posted to Normal Marriage. I realized this when, on a trip back…
September 10, 2019 · 4 min read
Deuteronomy 31 – God Knows You Better Than You Do.
“I know you better than you know yourself.” My teens would bristle every time I said this to them. Yet, with a few exceptions, it was usually true. I…
September 5, 2019 · 2 min read
Deuteronomy 30 – The Choice Is Yours
Choice. It’s both wonderful and scary. Choice is always there and always available. From the dawn of creation until this very moment, choice has been…
August 29, 2019 · 2 min read