Family Matters

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

Mental disorders in kid

What should I expect from a child with a mental disorder? How can I know which behaviors he's capable of controlling and which behaviors I should simply accept and make allowances for? We're facing this situation with our teenage son, and we have no idea how to handle it. Can…

18 Oct 2022 3AM 4 min

How to help a depressed spouse

How can I convince my spouse to seek help for possible depression? I have reason to believe that he's struggling in this area, but he refuses to admit that this might be true or to take my concerns seriously. I'm not sure if it's pride, fear, or something else that's…

17 Oct 2022 10AM 4 min

Homemaking and the biblical view of work

Where does homemaking fit into the Bible's teaching on work and labor? I've always been happy in my role as a stay-at-home wife and mother. Then I heard a series of messages about the role of productive labor in God's plan for mankind. Since then I've been having doubts. I…

14 Oct 2022 10AM 4 min

Special needs of a compliant child

How is a mild-tempered, cooperative child likely to be impacted by the presence of a defiant and strong-willed sibling in the home? My oldest daughter is a model child – pleasant, cheerful, and agreeable. Her brother is the exact opposite. I may contact you about him some other time; believe…

13 Oct 2022 10AM 4 min

Repeatedly straying Christian wonders if he's beyond God's forgiveness

How many times will God forgive me and take me back again? I'm a Christian, but my walk with the Lord has been an on-and-off thing for a number of years. There have been many occasions when I've walked away from the Lord only to return to Him again after…

12 Oct 2022 10AM 4 min

Sex at its best

Is marital sex really more satisfying? I'm in a difficult marriage, and one of the biggest sore spots between me and my wife is the whole issue of sex. I feel deprived. Sometimes I'm even tempted to explore the possibility of getting my needs met somewhere else. I read an…

11 Oct 2022 10AM 4 min

Struggling with same-sex attractions

Is there any way I can overcome my life-long struggle with same-sex attraction? I've tried to resist, but it seems inevitable that I will eventually act on these feelings. What should I do?

10 Oct 2022 10AM 4 min

The apostle Paul on marriage and singleness

The Bible and the Church talk about marriage being God’s design, and there is much emphasis on the sanctity of marriage being the foundation of family. There are, however, people who choose a life of singleness as they consecrate themselves to God here on earth. We’ll reveal what the Bible…

7 Oct 2022 10AM 4 min

Minimizing the impact of depression on your family

How can I prevent my struggles with depression and anxiety from having a negative impact on my wife and children? It's bad enough having to cope with these debilitating feelings, but the thought that I'm making life difficult for my family is almost too much to bear. What should I…

6 Oct 2022 9AM 4 min

Help for victim of cyber bullying

What can I do about kids texting intimidating messages to my cell phone and posting mean rumors about me on Facebook? At first I tried to ignore them, but the situation has gotten so bad that I don't want to show my face at school anymore. These people are destroying…

5 Oct 2022 9AM 4 min

A grown child attitude towards parents

Now that I'm past 18, should I still "submit" to my mom and dad? The Bible says that children should "obey" their parents (Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20), but at what point do I become fully independent of their control?

4 Oct 2022 9AM 4 min

Importance of marital sex in biblical view

Is sex really that critical to a healthy marriage? Here's why I ask. I'm having a disagreement with my spouse. He tells me that sex is a "sacrament" and "a holy mystery," and that it needs to be central to our relationship. He even uses Ephesians 5:30-32 to support these…

3 Oct 2022 9AM 4 min

How to help a depressed spouse

How can I convince my spouse to seek help for possible depression? I have reason to believe that he's struggling in this area, but he refuses to admit that this might be true or to take my concerns seriously. I'm not sure if it's pride, fear, or something else that's…

30 Sep 2022 7AM 4 min

Homemaking and the biblical view of work

Where does homemaking fit into the Bible's teaching on work and labor? I've always been happy in my role as a stay-at-home wife and mother. Then I heard a series of messages about the role of productive labor in God's plan for mankind. Since then I've been having doubts. I…

29 Sep 2022 7AM 4 min

Conflict with parents over wedding plans

How should we handle a potentially explosive disagreement with my parents over our upcoming wedding? They've expressed strong objections to our serving wine and having dancing at our reception. My husband-to-be and I are financially independent, and we'd be willing to cover the wedding expenses ourselves. But this wouldn't really…

28 Sep 2022 7AM 4 min

Children's nervous habits

Are ongoing nervous habits potentially harmful to children? My child has one, and I've done everything I can think of to put a stop to it, but so far nothing has worked. It's driving me crazy. What should I do?

27 Sep 2022 7AM 4 min