The Simple Secret: After my father's passing, my mother lived with us for 7 years. Our children or their friends sometimes asked her about the secret of a successful marriage. The secret she shared was profoundly simple: "aim to please each other." In these aim words she truly expressed the heart of marriage, rooted in the Biblical principle of mutuality, i.e. "one anothering," putting the other first, the foundation of human community.

Did You Marry the "Right Person?" - A brief, important excerpt on the myth of compatibility and what to do about it from Tim and Kathy Keller's The Meaning of Marriage

An Honest Book, Deeply committed to Marriage and the Scriptures: Carol and I have read, used and recommended many excellent resources on marriage. Let us recommend a foundational resource. Mike Mason, The Mystery of Marriage, Multnomah Books (1996) is not a 'how to' but something more foundational: meditations on what marriage is and how God uses it in our lives to re-make us into the person God intends. Start with it when you begin dating and ask your intended partner to read it before you consider engagement. The 'how tos' will follow naturally.

Conflict Resolution: If emotions are running high in an area of conflict, how can you communicate lovingly and effectively to find resolution? A friend has given permission to share a simple process which enabled them to slow the pace, learn to listen more deeply and find solutions which each agreed expressed love to the other. More...

Great song: "Love Is Not A Fight" - Warren Barfield (MP3, For slower internet connections 'right-click' and 'save as') Chords and lyrics: page one two

Affirming Your Spouse in Public: benefits (external link)