Review: This book will help most Christians... but....
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 15, 2012
I pondered some of the things in this book for a while before choosing to sit down and write a review.  All in all, I'd say it's a very good book.  For the majority of Christian couples, especially young couples just starting out, it provides some excellent guidelines.  For a marriage in trouble, this will be helpful if BOTH husband and wife read it and EACH OF THEM FOCUSES ON THEMSELVES!!!!  It is always tempting to read a book and see what the OTHER person ought to do differently.  But you and only change you.  We would all do well to remember that.I am a pastor, and that may be part of my reason for four stars rather than five.  I disagree with the idea that the closer we get to God or the closer we get to Jesus, the closer we get to one another.  That works if both of you have the same view of Jesus and the same view of God.  Just look at our denominations.  There are many views of the proper way to grow close.  If the husband and wife draw near to God in ways too different from one another, they might not actually come closer!  If one were to settle into a sort of Charismatic, expressive, intercessory prayer sort of faith while the other settled into a quiet Fundamentalism sort of holiness, they might end up fighting about God in addition to other issues!  Really, though, that's my own qualm, and probably one that I only run into precisely because I am a pastor.  For the majority of people, I would have to guess that the idea of drawing near to God would draw the couple together.  If only one is drawing near to God and the other is not, that may help... or it may not.  But it's a book.  It MUST speak to statistical truisms.  For individual cases, see your clergy or a counselor!A good book.  Very solid.  I appreciate their work.  The bibliography at the end was especially helpful for anyone looking to go deeper into any particular aspects of what they talk about.  A very solid four stars.If bitterness or woundedness is an issue, I would recommend my own book as an adjunct.  Complete ForgivenessWe're Told in The Bible Forgiveness Is Important: A Five Step Way to Do It!.  I would not have expected Mindy and Eric to be able to get very deep into that subject.  But, of course, it is an issue in many relationships, Christian and otherwise.  They did an excellent job on their book, and I'd say they quite successfully accomplished what they set out to do.  Enjoy all that you might learn, and look for the new insights - and this is a very worthy read.