Category Archives: Books

The Seventh Principle, Shared Meaning – An Addendum?

Is it possible that a good marriage could be defined by a negative, the absence of conflict? The arcane, the esoteric knowledge behind a successful marriage, could it really be as simple as avoiding the higher levels of the decibel range? Not at all. In the book, The Seven Principles That Make Marriage Work, GottmanContinue reading “The Seventh Principle, Shared Meaning – An Addendum?”

Reading the Seven Principles – What you’re prepared for from the Bible

In our last post regarding the seven principles we considered some of the novel concepts that a Christian reader would encounter, that is to say, novel to Scripture. For example we considered the wisdom and recognition that Gottman and Silver had in identifying certain problematic patterns that persistently creep into marriages causing them to nosediveContinue reading “Reading the Seven Principles – What you’re prepared for from the Bible”

Reading the Seven Principles – What you won’t find in the Bible…

Plenty of people get married. And of that group of people a reasonable deal of them slowly trudge their way towards a bitter breakdown in relationship culminating in the tragic event of divorce. Plenty of books have looked at why this happens. But what about the ones who not only survive but thrive within theirContinue reading “Reading the Seven Principles – What you won’t find in the Bible…”

Community, Reality to Live, Not Ideal to Create.

When you think about Christian community do you think about something that the Christian church must primarily foster or create? Is Christian community a culture that each individual must contribute to in order to achieve a certain kind of genuine and interconnected love and service? If that is the case, then certainly the Christian orContinue reading “Community, Reality to Live, Not Ideal to Create.”

The Ironic Experience of Reading Psalm 119

I am not a naturally skilled reader. I also don’t enjoy reading a whole lot. It’s taken a good deal of intentional habit-building to start developing any semblance of wholesome habitual reading in my life. Perhaps you could call this a character deficiency. At any rate, it has put me in a funny spot asContinue reading “The Ironic Experience of Reading Psalm 119”

To Have and to Have-Not.

There is a sentiment in society today that success perpetuates success. You acheive to display acheivement, which leads to more acheivement to display all the more, which leads… This is all very well and good, appropriate and understandable (we all do this to varying degrees). But it does become a little bit more difficult whenContinue reading “To Have and to Have-Not.”

Thoughts on Reading “The Bible in Australia” by Meredith Lake

First of all, this is not a review. It’s more a reflection on the experience of reading the book itself. A book-reflection then? Probably not a good idea to redefine established formats just yet. Call it what you will, I read a book and now I’m thinking about it and sharing my thoughts with you.Continue reading “Thoughts on Reading “The Bible in Australia” by Meredith Lake”

The Glorious Book You Can’t Read

Have you heard this before? “I just finished reading [insert amazing book]. I think it would be undeniably perfect for what you’re thinking about. You are under every conceivable obligation to read it!” So, after hearing these exact words and quickly opening up Amazon you one-click-buy and hoist your sails for a new and betterContinue reading “The Glorious Book You Can’t Read”