Family Matters

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…

15 Nov 2022 6AM 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,…

14 Nov 2022 6AM 3 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…

11 Nov 2022 6AM 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…

10 Nov 2022 6AM 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…

9 Nov 2022 6AM 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…

8 Nov 2022 6AM 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…

7 Nov 2022 4AM 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"…

4 Nov 2022 5AM 4 min

Changes That Occur During Puberty and Adolescence

Can you tell us what changes we should expect as our child goes through puberty and enters adolescence – and how we should deal with them? I realize that this is likely to be a challenging time in our son's life. I'm also assuming that my spouse and I will…

3 Nov 2022 5AM 4 min

Career, calling and Christian Vocation

How can I know God's "calling" for my life? For years I've been working at a difficult, uninteresting job. It has never brought me much in the way of happiness or satisfaction, but it has allowed me to provide for my family. As far as I'm concerned, that's the higher…

2 Nov 2022 5AM 4 min

Husband to Be has been Sexually Active Before Marriage

When a couple decides to get married, there should be no secrets between them that may surface in their marriage and trip them up. So, what happens if you have chosen to stay sexually pure before marriage but your partner is no longer a virgin? We’ll discuss how this can…

1 Nov 2022 5AM 4 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…

31 Oct 2022 4AM 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?

28 Oct 2022 4AM 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…

27 Oct 2022 4AM 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…

26 Oct 2022 4AM 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?

25 Oct 2022 4AM 4 min

Fallout of an affair, forgiveness and low self-esteem

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…

24 Oct 2022 4AM 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…

21 Oct 2022 3AM 4 min

Child exposed to violent and sexual movies at friend

Can a one-time viewing of a violent or sexually explicit film or TV show have negative long-term effects on children? I just learned my primary schooler saw an inappropriate movie while spending the day at a friend's house. What should I do and how can I prevent this happening in…

20 Oct 2022 3AM 4 min

Cell phone etiquette for kids

How can I encourage my teens to combine cell phone use with a proper respect for others? In the beginning I was happy to provide my son and daughter with their own phones because I wanted to make sure that we could stay in touch at all times. More recently,…

19 Oct 2022 3AM 4 min