Sometimes, the best type of communication has nothing to do with talking.

Sometimes, it is as simple as a kiss.

Below is a video by Christian band, Sixpence None The Richer, called “Kiss Me.”

Enjoy and have a great long weekend with your spouse. And, consider some kissing.

Posted: August 31st, 2007 under kissing.
Comments: none

How To Increase Female Sex Drive

Lately, we’ve been getting quite a few emails about how to increase female sex drive.

Some of these emails are from women that feel guilty that they are not as interested in sex as their husbands seem to be.

Some of these are from men that are feeling desperate to increase the frequency of sex within their marriage.

The following post on our Christian Marriage Forum is typical of these:

I notice there isn’t an option for “less than once per month”. I’m happy for those of you who enjoy intimacy with your spouse frequently. And when I think I have it bad, I re-read the “zero” posts.

What I really hate about the infrequency of intercourse in our marriage is the up-and-down emotional roller-coaster. When we have sex, I feel happy and at peace with the world and am ready to tackle anything. After a week, I still hold out hope that we won’t be waiting for another month. After two weeks, I’m starting to grumble inside. After four weeks, I’m wondering how much more of this lifestyle I can possibly stand. Then we have sex, and I feel good again and wonder why I was making such a fuss.

I really don’t understand the dichotomy in my wife’s attitude about sex. She almost always enjoys it, and when I suggest we should have it more often, she is quick to agree. But she won’t make it a priority. Grumble….

This post touches on several important things to consider relative to female sex drive:

1) The female sex drive is different than the male sex drive. It is no less powerful, but it is definitely different in how it is expressed and “fired up.”

2) Learning how to increase the female sex drive can have dramatically positive effects on the marriage relationship, in general. The frequency (or lack thereof) of sex within a Christian marriage is a good indicator of the overall status of the relationship.

When giving advice to Christian husbands on how to increase female sex drive, I start with the following advice:

1) Start with the relationship.

Your married sex life and your ability to increase female sex drive is directly related to the quality of your relationship. If either of you are carrying around resentments or anger, it is virtually impossible to create an environment in the bedroom that is conducive to truly exciting sex.

Ensure that you are contributing to the “emotional bank” of your marriage relationship BEFORE you attempt to increase your wife’s female sex drive. If you are trying to take to many “sexual withdrawals” from the relationship and not investing much “emotional deposits” the rest of the week, it will be difficult to increase your wife’s sex drive.

2) Make sure that your wife has the motivation to become sexually interested.

Consciously and subconsciously, we are all motivated (very deeply) by two major motivations…pleasure and pain.

Is your wife usually “rewarded” with intense (orgasmic) pleasure when you have sex? Or, is it more about you (the husband)?

I guarantee you that the easiest, quickest way to increase any female’s sex drive is to give her the confidence that her willingness to “rev the sexual engines” will be rewarded with an an orgasm (or multiple orgasms).

On the other hand, if her only reward for “revving the engines” is to see YOU have fun, she will have much less motivation to even get started down that road.

If she has difficulty achieving orgasm, you may want to try Sexual Satisfaction For The Christian Wife.

3)Give her a chance to “rev the engines.”

Speaking of “revving the engines,” it is important that Christian husbands know that their wife’s sex drive is very different than their own.

Males need very little “warming up” or “revving the engines.” Sexually, most men go from 1st gear to 5th in a matter of (milli) seconds. The number one way to increase female sex drive is to realize that females need this “warm up” and “revving the engines” time BEFORE their deep and intense sexual desire and arousal processes kick into gear.

This is helpful to know for two reasons:

1) You will stop fighting nature and be more conscious of the fact that you MUST do the things that will create an environment that, naturally, allows your wife to become interested in sex.

2) If both of you are aware of this fact, you can use it to your advantage. Many couples have told us that their sex lives were dramatically improved simply by knowing that females CAN become just as interested in sex (as their husband) if they just make the decision to participate in the activities (hugging, kissing, talking closely, taking a bath together) that will (almost magically) increase female sex drive and their arousal processes.

The beautiful thing is…after (most) females work through this initial stage of lesser desire, they are MORE passionate and insatiable than are their husbands!

Posted: August 30th, 2007 under increase female sex drive.
Comments: 5

I’m fairly certain that the clerk at my local Family Christian bookstore is concerned about me. I visit there several time a month and,usually, don’t make it out of the “sex section.”

A few times, I have considered telling her that I am just doing research for my Christian sex site and Christian Marriage & Sex forums, but I have decided that might creep her out even more.

Of course, our books, Sexual Skills For The Christian Husband & Sexual Satisfaction For The Christian Wife, are not sold in Family Christian bookstores, so I don’t have the option of just (accidentally) picking up one of our books and holding the jacket picture up next to my face. And, trust me, if I had that option…I WOULD do it.

Today, I thought I would let you benefit from all of that time that I have spent in the family Christian bookstore; I would give you a short list of my favorite Christian sex books. And, if you happen to be that clerk I’m talking about, now you know what I was doing!

“Old School” (But STILL very good resources):

“The Act Of Marriage” by Timothy and Beverly LaHaye.

This book was written in the seventies, but is still one of the most “technically” and “romantically” correct books on the subject.

“Intended For Pleasure” by Ed Wheat & Gayle Wheat.

This book has the potential to dramatically change your marriage and sex life. It is one of the first (and best) books to strongly advance the idea that sex within a Christian marriage was “intended” (by God) to be for pleasure-not just for procreation.

Newer, Potential Classics:

“Sheet Music” by Kevin Leman.

This book, correctly, deals with the power of sex to create intimacy within your Christian marriage.

“Intimate Issues: 21 Questions Christian Women Ask About Sex” by Linda Dillow.

This book is written for wives and answers many of them most common questions that Chrsitian wives have about sex.

“Sacred Sex” by Tim Alan Gardner.

I sometimes go on rants about how sex was not created just for procreation; sex was also created for your pleasure. But, sometimes I forget to mention the “real” primary reason for sex and sexuality…to bring you and your spouse closer…to a greater “oneness.” This book deals with this concept in a very strong way.

Newest Favorite:

“Sex God” by Rob Bell.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!

As an accidental “Christian sex expert“,I am fascinated with learning how God intended for us to express our sexuality, within His will.

This book is beautifully written and very, very smart.

Get this book!

And, the next time you are in the family Christian bookstore and notice a slightly pudgy guy spending a lot of time in the “sex” aisle, don’t think bad things about him.

Posted: August 28th, 2007 under Uncategorized, Christian Sex, family christian bookstore, christian sex books.
Comments: 1

If I were forced to summarize our coaching experience into three keys to a successful Christian marriage, they would be:

1) Go to God.

Some of you are dealing with truly REAL and difficult problems that have NO simple or easy solutions. Consequently, your first (and best) action should be to put your trust in the the ONLY place that deserves your faith: God.

In Proverbs, we are told…

3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Does your marriage relationship seem hopeless?

Follow the advice of Scripture above and 1)Trust God 2) Stop relying upon your own understanding 3)”Acknowledge God “in all thy ways.”

I confess that there are days where I am giving advice to other Christians about “going to God” and (at the exact same time) dealing with a personal problem or fear that “seems” hopeless.

Usually, it is not until AFTER I have heard myself say, “Go to God” that I realize that I have NOT been taking my own advice.

At this time, I make it a point to do something symbolic. I don’t just say a quick “thought prayer” to God. I go to my room. I get on my knees and I (out loud) speak to God about what I am dealing with. Secondly, I ask those close to me to to also ” go to God” for me.

I can’t guarantee you that any of your problems will instantly and easily disappear, but I can promise you that God is willing able and faithful to meet your needs.

2) Be willing to be vulnerable.

If you start by trusting that God is “watching your back,” it is easier to take “step two.” Step two is making yourself vulnerable.

Marriage relationships (especially) can be impossibly difficult if one (or both) partners are unwilling to be vulnerable.

REAL and truly fulfilling marriage relationships are impossible without the risk (vulnerability) of being disappointed, hurt or angered. If you are more interested in protecting yourself from the emotional pain of being disappointed, hurt or angered…then you are committed to improving the relationship…you MUST be vulnerable.

How many times are you supposed to be willing (vulnerable) to this pain and disappointment?

If you get past “seventy times seven,” then we can talk.

3) Communication.

The most important determining factor of ANY successful marriage relationship is communication.

Couples that communicate their needs, feelings and desires consistently succeed; those that do not…don’t. It really is as simple as that, in some respects.

Figuring out the “why” you don’t communicate may not be as simple. But, knowing that establishing real and honest communication is critical is a given.

Although, in my experience the number one reason that couples don’t communicate is because (surprise) they aren’t willing to 1) Trust God and 2) Make themselves vulnerable.

So, all in all, it is a logical progression:

1)Go to God

2)Make yourself vulnerable (yes…again!)

3)Start communicating your real thoughts, desires, needs, disappointments, fears. Not just the ones that are easy to express…all of them.

As you know, I always like to try to end the week on “an up note.”

And, I want to do that this week, as well.

I wrote the above post after finding a video for a great song by the band Switchfoot (a popular Christian band).

The song is called, “I dare you to move.”

The basic feeling I always get when I listen to this song is that God wants me to DO SOMETHING REAL; he wants me to MOVE TOWARD HIM…MOVE TOWARD MY STRENGTHS…MOVE TOWARD MY WIFE.

It is only when we MOVE that God is able to help us; he can’t do it while we stand frozen in our fears and disappointments regarding the past.

The video is below the following lyrics.

Enjoy. Have a great weekend. And…MOVE!

Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone’s here
Everyone’s here
Everybody’s watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next
What happens next

[Chorus]
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

[Chorus]

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before

Posted: August 24th, 2007 under Uncategorized, Christian Marriage, Christian Sex Videos, Sex and God, Christian Culture, Marriage Forum.
Comments: none

Yesterday, I found a post on a blog by a self-described “sex-radical, feminist sociologist” here.

It is, essentially, a comment piece on the Mother Jones article about Christians seeking sex advice and sex toys.

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you know that we spend the vast majority of our time attempting to help Christian married couples to improve their marriages and sex lives…not opining about what non-married, non-Christians should or should not be doing.

I find it amusing that Christian’s are constantly painted as nosy and oppressive when it comes to sexuality. And, this article starts with this assumption and then makes several others…

And therein lies the problem. While I want to rejoice that Christian couples are getting good sex advice and affirmation of their desires for pleasures of many sorts, there is no getting around the prohibitions against extramarital sex (which, in every US state aside from Massachusetts also means prohibition against sex with somebody of the same gender, though that is explicitly prohibited for good measure), or sex that involves even fantasizing about extramarital sex. This can’t be sex-positive, and yet I want to be happy that these people who are devoted to their faith are at least getting advice that allows for sexual fulfillment within the oppressive boundaries of their doctrine. Yet if, as Wypijewski suggests, that means usurping “a vocabulary of desire that owes everything to gay liberation’s unlocking of sex even as they slam the door on the notion that gays and lesbians have any right to sexuality,” if it means exploiting gains in sexual freedom that came as a result of enormous risks taken by those who are then explicitly excluded from basic civil rights by the very people doing the exploiting, this can’t be considered positive even in the most generous of interpretations…

This analysis focused on the The Marriage Bed site, a site that I consider to be one of the best resources for married Christian couples.

Basically, the writer’s point was that Christians can’t truly be “sex positive” unless we remove our adherence to all (Scriptural) boundaries sexuality.

Of course, I disagree.

I thought you might be interested in my response to these ideas…

As an author and relationship coach that works primarily with Christian married couples, I highly respect the work done through TMB.

In my own experience, I have seen the damage that “religious psychological baggage” can cause to married Christians relative to sex and sexuality.

There are thousands of married Christians that struggle with a way to reconcile their Christianity and sexuality and TMB is one of the most solid resources for these individuals.

Although I understand (and sometimes empathize with ) those that consider themselves to be outside of the “Christian mainstream” when they feel as if Christians are sticking their noses into their business (and bedrooms), I think you are pointing your criticism and (even) your analysis in the wrong direction.

If you were evaluating a Ted Haggard blog decrying homosexuality, that would be fair enough.

Instead, you are parsing one of the truly sex positive Christian sites in existence.

I fail to understand your reasoning.

You don’t want Christians telling you how to express your sexuality. But, it is okay for you to tell married Christians (of a very specific theological persuasion) how they should think about their own sex lives and sexuality?

I challenge you to find ONE post on TMB (and there are tens of thousands) in which any of the moderators or administrators opines about what someone outside of their assumed audience (married Christians) should or should not be doing sexually.

The members of TMB are attempting to reconcile their own theological predispositions with their sexuality; they are not looking to affect the sexuality of anyone else.

In this scenario, who, really, is the evangelist?

I contend that it is the person hoping to tell Christians (and TMB) what they should think and believe (i.e. “Your silly boundaries are so passe) relative to THEIR marriage, sex lives and sexuality.

That stated, I think “TMB regular’s” point is very relevant…

“‘Secular’ sex therapists like Dr. David Schnarch (The Sexual Crucible; Passionate Marriage) affirm from their clinical studies that monogamous, life-long committed relationships provide the best context for creating potential for and facilitating sexual fulfillment and sexual self-expression…”

If we agree that sex and sexual expression are positive and that we should all be “sex positive,” then it is a relevant (scientific or otherwise) issue to ask, “What circumstances/environments are the most conducive to a healthy, fulfilling and pleasure-filled experience of life-long sexuality?”

Obviously, this author does not believe that the “traditional” Christian boundaries (within marriage, with the opposite sex) provide any real value to this equation.

Most of the members of TMB would disagree. Again, this is not the 1800’s. Most married Christians today have had the opportunity to see “both sides of the fence.” MOST married Christians were single and sexually active. Many married Christians have dabbled in homosexuality. And, in their experience, they find expressing their sexuality within their marriage to be the most fulfilling (and exciting) form of expression.

And, as “TMB regular” stated, many professionals (including “secular” professionals) would agree.

Again…no one (especially on TMB) is sticking their noses into your bedroom.

But, we are not allowed to freely attempt to maximize our own sexuality (within our chosen theology)?

Lastly, your statement, “a vocabulary of desire that owes everything to gay liberation’s unlocking of sex,” is both patronizing and (frankly) naive.

The “gay liberation” movement of the past 40(?) years has “unlocked” sex?

Ten thousand years of sex and sexual expression (nothing new under the sun…sorry) and sex has only been “unlocked” within the past semi-millennium?

You may be referring to your perceptions of Christianity and sexuality. But I assure you that the reality is quite different. The longest tradition of Judeo Christian history has been very much supportive of sex and sexuality as a gift from God (Song of Solomon, anyone?).

The relatively recent (several hundred years?) of institutional and “religious” aversions to sexual expression are not based on Scripture. They are based more on the Platonic idea of the separation of spirit and body…with “things of the body” being lesser and baser.

Posted: August 23rd, 2007 under Christian Sex, Christian Sex Advice, Christian Marriage, Christians and Pornography, Christians and Porn, Christians and Pornography, Christian Sex Toys, Sex and God, Christian Culture, Marriage Forum.
Comments: 1

A local ABC affiliate did an interview with Joe Beam, one of the most well-spoken advocates of better Christian marriages and better Christian married sex.

You can find it here.

A few highlights…

“I get questions about oral sex, pornography, foreplay, everything you can imagine. People ask and I blatantly answer them. Some Christian people are amazed that my answers are what they are because its not what they’ve been taught all their lives,” Beam told CBS4’s Joy Purdy.

Beam believes he’s taking Christian sex education to the next level in terms of right, wrong and what the Bible says is allowable or not.

Statistics show that 20% of married couples have sex just 10 times a year or less, and Beam believes that is an indication there is a lot of sexual misery between couples.

The minister left his home church to fill churches nationwide with curious couples, eager to hear what Beam interprets the bible to say about sex, love and marriage.

“Now I want you to see this is in the Bible; I am not making this up,” Beam said in one of his presentations. “If a person is not sexually satisfied they become susceptible to outside temptation.”

There are no boundaries for those who attend Beam’s seminars. The audience can even secretly write questions for Beam and he in turn, answers them all.

Minister Beam covers many taboo issues in his seminars that many Christians have become accustomed to being ashamed of.

For example, said Beam at one seminar, the Bible actually says nothing about the use of vibrators and in fact, he encouraged the audience to play games with each other, with or without mechanical aids. “There’s nothing in the bible that says anything about masturbation,” he said.

Joe Beam runs a marriage and family ministry called Family Dynamics at which you can find free articles and resources for your marriage.

You can watch him interviewed on The Montel Williams show below.

My favorite quote (and the idea I find most true in our experience with troubled marriages):

Give your spouse permission to tell you the truth…it will change everything.

The three keys to love are intimacy, passion and committment…Most people don’t have deep levels of intimacy because they are afraid to tell/hear the truth.

Posted: August 22nd, 2007 under Christian Sex, News, Christian Sex Advice, Christian Marriage, Christian Romance, Sex and God, Christian Culture, Marriage Forum.
Comments: none

*Some visitors have asked me to reproduce this post on one of our “less sex related sites” so that the link could be forwarded to family and friends without fear of “burning their eyes” with the sexual content of this site. You can find a mirror of this post on our MyChristianMarriage.net site here.

The following post is, essentially, a political endorsement.

I struggled for several months about whether I should make this post.

I know that my visitors come to this blog to gather information that will help them to make their Christian marriages happier, more fulfilling and long-lasting…not to hear my political opinion.

But, I believe that the following post is relevant to Christian families and the environment within our country in which they exist.

If you couldn’t care less who I am endorsing for President in this upcoming election, you can skip today’s post. I’ll look forward to seeing you here next post. If you care (even a little), please consider the following:

Last week, my father and I were discussing politics and he made reference to Luther’s statement, “I’d rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian.”

He referenced this particular quote because, in his opinion, as Christians, we are faced with a crop of Presidential candidates that forces us to choose “the lesser of two evils.”

With the vast majority of the current candidates (Republican or Democratic), you have to “hold your nose” as you vote for them because you have to ignore one of the following:

-Their current positions on issues important to most Christians (i.e. abortion or gay marriage).
-The disconnect between their support of “family values” and their personal lives (multiple, documented affairs and divorces)
-The disconnect between their current (while running as a Presidential candidate) positions and their past positions and voting records.

In the past few months, I have discovered a candidate that will allow me, as a Christian husband and father, to vote with my nostrils fully open.

His name is Ron Paul and he is currently running as a Republican candidate for President.

Ron Paul not only declares his faith in Christ, he has an unblemished seventy-one year history of demonstrating his faith; you will not find a trail of “dirty laundry” anywhere to be found on this candidate.

An excerpt from his “Statement of Faith”…

We live in times of great uncertainty when men of faith must stand up for our values and our traditions lest they be washed away in a sea of fear and relativism. As you likely know, I am running for President of the United States, and I am asking for your support.

I have never been one who is comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena. In fact, the pandering that typically occurs in the election season I find to be distasteful. But for those who have asked, I freely confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, and that I seek His guidance in all that I do. I know, as you do, that our freedoms come not from man, but from God. My record of public service reflects my reverence for the Natural Rights with which we have been endowed by a loving Creator.

I have worked tirelessly to defend and restore those rights for all Americans, born and unborn alike. The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideal of liberty. My professional and legislative record demonstrates my strong commitment to this pro-life principle.

In 40 years of medical practice, I never once considered performing an abortion, nor did I ever find abortion necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman. In Congress, I have authored legislation that seeks to define life as beginning at conception, H.R. 1094. I am also the prime sponsor of H.R. 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn. I have also authored H.R. 1095, which prevents federal funds to be used for so-called “population control.” Many talk about being pro-life. I have taken and will continue to advocate direct action to restore protection for the unborn.

I have also acted to protect the lives of Americans by my adherence to the doctrine of “just war.” This doctrine, as articulated by Augustine, suggested that war must only be waged as a last resort— for a discernible moral and public good, with the right intentions, vetted through established legal authorities (a constitutionally required declaration of the Congress), and with a likely probability of success.

It has been and remains my firm belief that the current United Nations-mandated, no-win police action in Iraq fails to meet the high moral threshold required to wage just war. That is why I have offered moral and practical opposition to the invasion, occupation and social engineering police exercise now underway in Iraq. It is my belief, borne out by five years of abject failure and tens of thousands of lost lives, that the Iraq operation has been a dangerous diversion from the rightful and appropriate focus of our efforts to bring to justice to the jihadists that have attacked us and seek still to undermine our nation, our values, and our way of life.

Ron Paul has been married (to the same woman) for over fifty years and has raised five children and seventeen grandchildren.

Ron Paul is a Doctor of obstetrics and gynecology and has delivered more than 4,000 babies.

Because of his experience as an OBGYN, Ron Paul strongly feels that life begins at conception and is an active opponent of “Roe vs. Wade.”

Ron Paul served his country in the military. His medical training was interrupted when he was drafted during the Cuban Missile Crisis into the United States Air Force. He remained in the military during the early years of the Vietnam War. He was never sent to Vietnam, instead serving active duty (1963-1965) that took him to other countries, including South Korea, Iran, Ethiopia and Turkey. He served as a flight surgeon out of Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas from 1963 to 1965. He then served in the Air National Guard from 1965 to 1968 while completing his medical residency in Pittsburgh. He achieved rank of captain during his service in the Air Force. Consequently, he is a strong defender of our nation’s national security and the men and women in the military.

Ron Paul is the leading advocate for freedom in our nation’s capital.

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Ron Paul tirelessly works for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. He is known among his congressional colleagues and his constituents for his consistent voting record. Ron Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, he is the “one exception to the Gang of 535” on Capitol Hill.

-He has never voted to raise taxes.
-He ACTIVELY proposes the elimination of the Federal Income Tax and the IRS
-He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
-He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
-He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
-He has never taken a government-paid junket.
-He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
-He is a staunch defender of our freedoms both on and off the Internet

He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.

He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.

While serving in Congress during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ron Paul’s limited-government ideals were not popular in Washington. In 1976, he was one of only four Republican congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan for president.

You’ll notice that EVERY Republican candidate is scrambling to align themselves with Ronald Reagan (despite their disassociation with his values or policies).

But, what did Ronald Reagan say about Ron Paul?

“Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense…

…As a Former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of your armed forces, and he always puts them first…

…We need to keep him fighting for our country…

Another colleague observed…

“There are few people in public life who, through thick and thin, rain or shine, stick to their principles. Ron Paul is one of those few.”

Why would you NOT vote for Dr. Ron Paul?

In my opinion, there are two reasons that a Christian might hesitate to vote for Dr. Paul; one is based on values/principles and one is based upon “strategic/political” motives.

The first, “values/principles issue” would be Dr. Paul’s stance on the war in Iraq.

His opponents would like you to believe that his stance on the war in Iraq comes from a position of weakness (i.e. he is “soft” on defense).

This is a mis-characterization of Dr. Paul’s position.

Dr. Paul supported our forays into Afghanistan (to find Bin Laden and his crew).

He opposed (and still opposes) the war in Iraq because it is an “undeclared” war that was not initiated according to the processes detailed in the Constitution; it was an unconstitutional overstep by the Executive branch (the President).

Ron Paul has no illusions relative to the potential threats and danger of global terror (Islamic or otherwise). But, he does not believe that our current efforts in Iraq are the proper utilization of our military resources.

According to most polls, almost 70% of our nation agrees that the current war in Iraq may not have been the most effective and efficient means of ensuring our true national defense and safety.

If you are one of the 30% of citizens that truly and absolutely feel that the war in Iraq is EXACTLY how we should be utilizing our financial and military assets, there is probably NOTHING I could do to convince you to consider Dr. Paul.

The “political/strategic” reason that you might hesitate to vote for Dr. Paul is that you worry you might be “wasting your vote” by voting for Dr. Paul instead of the candidate that you feel has a “real chance to win.”

I understand this concern. But, let me allay your fears relative to this concern…

Some people have compared Dr. Paul’s current popularity (do a Google search on “Ron Paul”) to the third party candidacy of Ross Perot in 1992. Many people blamed (and still blame) Ross Perot for taking votes away from George Bush and allowing Bill Clinton to be elected.

They would tell you that voting for Ron Paul might do the same in 2008 and (by default) that your vote for Ron Paul is, essentially, a vote for the Democratic front-runner.

This is not a valid analogy.

Ron Paul is a TEN TERM Republican.

He is running as a Republican.

If you vote for him and he wins…many political analysts have stated that he is the ONLY Republican candidate that has a real chance of beating the Democratic front runners.

In our “politically divided” country, both parties have a very solid minority of base voters that approaches 50%. Consequently, the “wins” generally go to who can bring in the independent/undecided/non-base voters “in the middle.”

Once you research Ron Paul’s base of support, you will discover that it is the most diverse (left/right, Republican/Democratic, Christian/Non-Christian) of any of the other candidates.

Ron Paul has already demonstrated his ability (if nominated as the Republican candidate) to gain support from the traditional Republican/conservative base…and he has the ability to draw in huge numbers of Democrats and Independents as well. He only needs 51% in the general election to win.

If you vote for him during the primaries and he does not win the nomination, you do NO damage to the eventual Republican front-runner.

Remember: Dr. Paul is running as a Republican. Your vote during primaries WILL NOT (in any way) affect the final outcome of the general election.

At worse, your vote for Dr. Paul, during the primaries, will serve to remind the eventual winner that they need to remember our values and concerns. You will be helping to improve the platform of the eventual winner. You will still have the opportunity (in the general elections) to vote for whomever you feel is “the best candidate still standing.”

For my readers that are not of the Republican persuasion, I want you to know that I am not “assuming” that, as a Christian, you should or will be voting Republican. I am simply addressing the fact that a large majority of my readers are of this persuasion…and they are worried that a vote for Dr. Paul might be a strategic/political mistake. I am not assuming that this persuasion is the best or most “Christian.” I think such an assumption would be “unChristian” and arrogant. To you, I think you will find that you have a surprising number of reasons to consider Dr. Paul; one of his fastest growing group of voters is Democrats and Independents.

Below you will find several videos regarding Dr. Ron Paul. I hope you find them interesting and inspiring.

If you want to learn more about Ron Paul’s positions, visit Ron Paul 2008.

If you would like to learn more about other Christians that are supporting Ron Paul, visit Christians For Ron Paul.

And…

This ends our brief political advertisement…

Posted: August 20th, 2007 under Uncategorized, News, Christian Marriage, Christian Culture, Parenting, Ron Paul.
Comments: 8

I stumbled across a three-part blog posting, titled, “The Christian Perspective On Marriage.”

It is a well written and Scriptural overview of the perspectives of Marriage that can be found in the Bible.

I enjoyed it and thought you might too.

You can find it here.

Posted: August 17th, 2007 under Christian Sex, Marriage Forum.
Comments: 2

Are you sexually addicted?

According to Michael Leahy, founder of “Porn Nation,” 10% of us will become sexual addicts within the next five years and 90% of Christians struggle with sexual sin.

“Porn Nation - The Naked Truth” features Michael Leahy, author, speaker and recovering sex addict. It’s the critically acclaimed, 90 minute multimedia-based lecture and Q&A that explores the impact living in a hypersexual culture is having on today’s college student. As featured on ABC’s “20/20″ and “The View”, Michael shares the amazing story of his struggle with sexual addiction and his family’s battle to survive what Oprah Winfrey calls “America’s #1 addiction.” Featuring captivating video segments and interviews with experts and everyday people who share their personal struggles with out-of-control sexual behaviors. Students are challenged to consider the “bigger questions” about porn that nobody’s asking: “How is my exposure to porn and our hypersexual media effecting me and my relationships?” Michael concludes by providing clear action steps any student can take now to set themselves up for success in relationships? A message every student needs to hear!

One of the resources that Porn nations offers on it’s site is a Sexual Addiction Screening Test.

If you think you might be a sexual addict, you can take the test here.

Posted: August 15th, 2007 under Christian Sex, Christians and Pornography, Christians and Porn, Christians and Pornography, Christian Culture.
Comments: none

An initiative out of the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley has launched a site that deals with sex and religion…specifically where the two intersect.

I know nothing about the back round of this initiative or it’s participants.

What they say about themselves…

Stories about religion are too often framed around conflict and controversy, culture wars and holy wars. We want to tell another story – the lived experience of people’s faith.We are a team of journalists…exploring “God, Sex and Family.” That’s where choices about marriage, dating, the building of community, family and faith play out in private life.

Part of their site is what they call “The Moral Compass.” It is an interactive “roulette wheel like” graphic that will give you the theological positions of various world religions relative to various sexual practices.

I enjoyed spinning the wheel. I bet you learn something about your denomination’s theology relative to sexuality.

You can find it here.

Enjoy.

Posted: August 14th, 2007 under Christian Sex, News, Christian Marriage, Sex and God, Christian Culture.
Comments: none