Recently in For Family Ministers Category

So, you've responded to the "wake-up call." You've been a detached, disengaged mate, and your wife has said you must change or she's leaving the marriage. You were so caught up in your own world; you honestly had no idea the immense impact you had on your mate. Now, you recognize your behavior has damaged your marriage, and you're hoping the damage is not irreparable. You're hoping you can still save your marriage; that your efforts will be met with a positive response by your mate.

"I took a long time to realize I'd developed some distorted perceptions about biblical submission," admits Brenda Waggoner, author of The Myth of the Submissive Christian Woman (Tyndale). Because the issue of submission is so emotionally charged and hotly debated, I interviewed Brenda, a licensed Christian counselor and prolific author, to address what the Bible says about submission in marriage. Brenda shares not only her personal experiences but also her hard-won insights.

Most women do about 11 things at the same time (including talking on the phone)--especially if they're married with children! We get good at responsibility-juggling because we have to: There's a job to manage, diapers to change, a house to clean, books to read, friends to reach out to, not to mention a husband to care for. We know how it feels to lose heart when we get burdened by too many responsibilities.

Call me naïve. I used to think that if my kids attended Sunday school, memorized enough verses, and sat up straight and tall during family devotions, we would produce in them extraordinary faith. About that time I began discipling teenagers for a living. I began to wonder why some students possessed raw courage and exceptional commitment, while others seemed to bob in shark-infested waters, waiting for the hit.

The shiny BMW motorcycle startled me as it rumbled into my parents' driveway and stopped beside my husband and me. In disbelief, I watched John,* a high-school boyfriend from more than 20 years ago, dismount and remove his helmet. After a confusion of hugs and handshakes, John insisted I not let his surprise visit disrupt the after-dinner walk with my family we were just beginning. Instead, he invited himself along.

"I keep praying that God will change my husband," the young woman told me in a recent counseling session. She was obviously in distress.