Family Matters

Revealing An Affair to Spouse of the Other Party Who

What's the best way to handle the revelation of an affair when one guilty spouse has come clean or been exposed, but the husband or wife of the other unfaithful party is still in the dark? My wife and a man from our church were involved with one another for…

4 Aug 2019 6PM 4 min

Preparing for Spouse's Release From Prison

Do you have any advice for a woman whose husband is on the verge of getting out of jail? My spouse has been serving a three-year sentence and is scheduled to come home next month. I'm eager to have him back and resume a normal relationship, but at the same…

1 Aug 2019 6PM 4 min

Parenting a Boomerang Child with Two Younger Kids

How should we parent a grown child when there are also two younger children in the home? We have three kids altogether: a boy and a girl who are still in high school, and an older son in his mid-20s. The oldest has had some tough luck recently and needs…

31 Jul 2019 6PM 4 min

Spouse Misrepresents Husband / Wife

What should I do when my spouse frequently makes inaccurate or embarrassing statements about me in the company of family or friends? I don't think it's intentional, but these comments often cast me in a bad light or seriously misrepresent my character. This has been going on for several years…

30 Jul 2019 6PM 4 min

Christians and Material Wealth: Giving Everything Away to the Poor

What did Jesus mean when He said, "Go, sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven"? I became a Christian about a year and a half ago, and for the most part I've been very happy in my new-found faith. Sure, I've…

29 Jul 2019 6PM 4 min

Boundaries in Marriage

What's the proper protocol for spouses when it comes to helping other people of the opposite sex with problems – especially problems of the marital variety? Sadly, my brother and his wife are in the process of divorcing. My sister-in-law called my husband the other night to see if he…

28 Jul 2019 11PM 3 min

"Time Outs" as a Disciplinary Measure

How effective are "time outs"? Our son is entering toddlerhood and I'm not sure what type of discipline is best for different behaviors. My friends all seem to rely on "time outs" regardless of the nature of their kids' behavior. I'm not sure this is always the best method. When…

25 Jul 2019 11PM 3 min

Dealing with Childish Irresponsibility

How should I discipline a pre-teen whose behavior is characterized by a serious lack of maturity? He's not disobedient or defiant - just irresponsible. For example, he doesn't put things away. He leaves his bike outside where it could easily be stolen, and I'm constantly tripping over his clothes, shoes,…

24 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Oral Sex As Appropriate Sexual Expression in Marriage

What's your opinion of oral sex? Is this a permissible form of sexual intimacy and expression between a husband and wife?

23 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

My Spouse Physically Abuses Our Children

My husband has never been violent with me, but it is an entirely different story where our children are concerned. He frequently lashes out at them physically, and has seriously injured them on more than one occasion. I want to protect them, but I'm terrified of how he may react…

22 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Man Uses Porn Because Wife Is Overweight

Is it reasonable for a husband to look for sexual stimulation in pornography if his wife doesn't care about her appearance and lets herself go? I'm in a miserable marriage. Since our wedding, my wife has put on a lot of weight and isn't concerned about doing anything to address…

21 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Living With a Spouse Who Has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Do you have advice for living with a spouse whose life is dominated by aggravatingly senseless little rituals? It's become obvious to me that she's suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. I'm not using this term informally or unadvisedly. She's anxious and worried all the time. She won't go to bed…

18 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

How to Talk to Kids About an Absent Dad

How do I answer my child's difficult questions about her absent father? I broke up with her dad almost eight years ago – when she was just a baby – and she has never met him. But lately she's been asking things like, "Do you still love Daddy?" and "Why…

17 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

How to Leave Work at the Office and Be There for Your Family

How do I keep my job from eating up my time and energy to the point where I have nothing left to give my family? I'm a high-level executive with a large corporation, and my struggle to balance work and family is made worse by the fact that business concerns…

16 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Helping Kids Deal With Bullies

How can I tell if my child is having trouble with a bully? Are there any tell-tale signs? And if he is, how can I help him deal with the situation?

15 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Grace, Law and Speaking the Truth in Love

How can I uphold the truth of God's Word without coming across as "judgmental"? I'm pretty vocal about my faith, and as a result, people are constantly challenging me on this point. Many Christians in today's culture seem to think that you can do anything you want and still be…

14 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Fallout of an Affair: Low Self-Esteem and Forgiveness Issues

Could my feelings of inferiority have anything to do with an inability to forgive my husband for being unfaithful with a close friend of mine? The affair happened a year ago, but we've since reconciled and our marriage is on track to become something much better than it has ever…

11 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Discerning the Signs of Alcoholism in a Loved One

What are the tell-tale signs of alcoholism? I'm worried about my husband, but I'm not sure if I have grounds for insisting that he do something about his drinking. When (rugby/soccer/football) season comes around, he and his friends sitting in front of the TV drinking beer. Not every night, of…

10 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Dads and Moody Teenage Daughters

As a father, what can I do to improve my relationship with an emotionally erratic adolescent girl? This past year has been difficult for me. I've watched my daughter make the transformation from a kind, joyful, cooperative little girl to a sullen, argumentative, hard-to-get-along-with teen. Our relationship used to be…

9 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min

Cybersex Online Affairs and Divorce

In light of the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:27-30, how does a "virtual" affair differ in any significant way from a real-life affair? If it isn't different, does my spouse's involvement with cybersex give me grounds for divorce? I recently discovered that he's been involved in an ongoing "relationship"…

8 Jul 2019 11PM 4 min