Reconcilable Differences: Hope and Healing for Troubled Marriages
"It will be helpful to couples who are experiencing difficulties in their marriages. It will be helpful to all couples in learning essential truths for gaining intimacy in marriage." (John E. Shaffett for The Christian Librarian 50, no. 1 (2007))"Reconcilable Differencesoffers one of the freshest contributions to evangelical social science I have read in many years. Toddy Holeman's research and integrative theory-building offers a great resource for both practitioners and researchers. Almost every week couples sit in my therapy office wondering if it is actually possible to truly reconcile without sacrificing their own integrity. This book documents the real-life stories of couples who have done just that, and Holeman describes a differentiation-based approach to reconciliation that is both theologically grounded and relationally healthy." (Steven J. Sandage, Ph.D., L.P., associate professor of marriage and family studies, Bethel Seminary, and licensed psychologist)"St. Paul writes that Christ's message of reconciliation has been entrusted to us. That makes for great sermons but challenging discipleship in daily life. This is especially challenging in marriages and other close relationships where betrayal can be so painful and potentially shattering. In this wise, practical and much-needed book, Toddy Holeman thoughtfully guides couples to envision and embody faithful ways of living as forgiving and forgiven people--even in the wake of brokenness. I hope this wonderful resource will be widely read and used!" (L. Gregory Jones, Dean of the Divinity School and Professor of Theology, Duke University, and author of Embodying Forgiveness and Everyday Matters: Intersections of Life and Faith)"Dr. Holeman has done an incredible job of using the best research on forgiveness and reconciliation in marriages and made it accessible for anyone to understand. This book is full of practical ideas on reconciling after minor or major hurts in a marriage. It is something desperately needed by any couple who has experienced hurts in their relationship. When couples face the desire to reconcile but are struggling to achieve it, this book will walk them through with examples and ideas they might never have thought of. The stories and exemplar couples bring the ideas to life. Dr. Holeman's background as a theologian, scholar and clinician makes her uniquely qualified to tackle the difficult issue of marital reconciliation from a Christian perspective. Readers will be inspired and equipped to face the areas of their marriage where they need reconciliation." (Jennifer S. Ripley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Regent University)"Virginia Todd Holeman has done a superb job of blending the theoretical and practical ideas on how couples can get over emotionally painful issues and move on to intimacy.Reconcilable Differenceswill become a standard volume in my library on helping couples heal." (Terry D. Hargrave, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling, West Texas A&M; University, author of Families and Forgiveness and Forgiving the Devil)"Dr. Toddy Holeman is the reigning authority on reconciliation. InReconcilable Differencesshe blends biblical and theological truth and psychological truth into a practical book that helps people reconcile. Commitment and transformation are the keys to reconciling differences. Commit to reading the book, and it could transform your relationship." (Everett L. Worthington Jr., author of Forgiving and Reconciling (IVP))"Toddy Holeman weaves stories of betrayal and reconciliation out of and into the story of God's good news. The result is a message that is both down-to-earth in its grappling with the hurts of human relationships and profound in its appropriation of the gospel. Here is the plain and hopeful talk we desperately need." (Joel B. Green, Dean of Academic Affairs, Asbury Theological Seminary)