Marriage R&D

I am in the process of laying out a marriage-focused series in the new year. I am looking to you for your thoughts on the question below:

What are the biggest challenges facing marriages today?

Thanks for helping shape the series,
sd

Comments

Anonymous said…
I have a few for you. Jobs not ending when you leave for home. Being so busy with other things in your life that making time for just the two of you gets put on hold. Fogeting to "date" after your married. Taking each other for granted. Hope this is what you were looking for!
Sue
8:43 PM
Deur said…
Thanks Suzie! Keep em coming gang...
9:25 PM
BJ said…
Playstation
7:16 AM
Deur said…
brilliant! 2 or 3?
Keep em coming y'all...
7:50 AM
C-Man said…
answering questions like What are the biggest challenges facing marriages today? i dont know.
9:30 AM
Dave Deur said…
One of the biggest challenges facing marriages today is a failure to communicate...at least in a way that honors and values each other. Another challenge...the "it's all about me" mentality.
3:09 PM
Deur said…
Keep it up gang... even if you aren't sure - thoughts, feelings, ideas, experiences... Thanks everyone! I look forward to more.
10:46 PM
Kevin Stinehart said…
I think spouses not being FULLY exposed to each other is a common one I see. I think marriage has become in a lot of people's eyes an institution where you don't really HAVE to share everything with your spouse and it's more acceptable to keep secrets from your spouse. This leads to emotional seperateness, lack of a feeling of partnership and the "one" that God has brought together can slowly pull apart to become two seperate people just living together. Michelle and I have always made sure that we are fully exposed to each other in our flaws and sins and being able to be open in the fact that we both have issues and sin to deal with has brought us together in a way nothing else could have.
11:28 PM
Anonymous said…
communication and civily communicating finances. Also, how to argue (confrontation) - fighting fair. How do you ncourage one another (love languages).

Tak
6:17 AM
Wally Harrison said…
Celebrating each others uiqueness and differences, rather than trying to change them. Learning how to become "one" without losing the individual. When the Bible says two become one, I don't think it meant two halfs make one whole. That is Jerry Maguire theology (you complete me). This kind of thought is so offensive to those who are single.
12:26 PM
Deur said…
Thanks!!!!
11:57 PM
Anonymous said…
One more, andprobably the most important... learning to pray together!

Takas
9:15 AM
Ken said…
steve, here are my thoughts on the matter...


A) financial overcommitments... school loans, mortgages, car loans... throw in some separate bank account couples, a lack of communication, then trying to keep up with other people, and you've got a mess...

B) time and energy... people are working more, to earn money to take care of the financial overcommitments... then they get home from work and have more to care for... bills, housecleaning, kids... that takes a lot of time and energy...

C) spiritually disconnected... too many couples don't pray together, don't read God's Word together, and don't talk about spiritual matters together. too many don't seek God before making major decisions about jobs or spending, and live spiritually isolated lives in their own homes. of course, this is sometimes connected to the reality that he's far from God while she loves Jesus, or visa versa. even two Christians can be "unequally yoked," where one is more passionate about Christ than the other.

sex... too many couples aren't having sex regularly enough because they're uptight about their financial overcommitments, they're tired from work, and the pressure and stress created from these issues (and more) leaves little room for intimacy. (too bad, too, since married Christians should be having the best sex around since 1 - God created it, and 2 - we're to enjoy it in the context of marriage!)

hmmm... you should have a great time delivering that series!
4:07 PM
Dave Deur said…
The best advice I received, I dutifully passed on to my wife since it was really for her. Here it is:
Always say thank-you.
5:34 PM
Deur said…
Great stuff!
My friend Kathy also dropped off a great list to the office.

I am hoping to use this and get a better sense of what we are focusing on from this stuff. Thanks!
9:44 AM
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