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If you have ever watched sea otters sleep, you will notice something unique about them. They sleep holding hands. It may seem strange, but there is a legitimate reason as to why they do. They sleep holding hands so that they do not drift apart. While they are sleeping, the current in the sea can cause…

In Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, Sue Johnson writes, “In 1939, women ranked love fifth as a factor in choosing a mate. By the 1990s, it topped the list for both women and men.” —Jim L. Wilson Hold Me Tight, 27 Ecclesiastes 9:9 (HCSB) Enjoy life with the wife you love all…

When Charles and Frances Hamlin celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary, they decided to see if they could recreate everything, including the $8 price. The Hamlins still had the original receipt from the Poinsett from 1947. Today, a room in the hotel costs between $250 and $300, although Hamlin said…

Jugal Kishore, 25, was going to be married to his beloved. They were about to exchange vows when he was struck by an apparent epileptic seizure. He was rushed to the hospital. The 23-year-old bride was furious that she had not been told of Kishore’s medical condition. She asked a member of her brother-in-laws…

Matt Carpenter is the star third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, who slumped at the beginning of the 2015 season. In May, he missed an entire series because of extreme exhaustion. Carpenter has a strong work ethic that includes arriving early and using his days off for batting practice. So Cardinals…

There is an interesting debate occurring in France. The French government owns all church building built before 1905. There are thousands of government-owned church buildings that are standing empty and unused. “Only 6 percent of French people attend Mass every Sunday, and rural churches are ‘falling…

In Shattered Dreams, Patrick Mead writes, “Being faithful is not a passive thing, it requires work. It is active. Instead of working to control the outcomes of your life, are you ready to take the next step of faithfulness, even if life doesn’t turn out as you’ve planned? What do you want more of, your…

Dave Earley says, “Relationships can be understood as bank accounts. Realize it or not, you have a relational account with every person within your sphere of influence. Every positive interaction makes a deposit in that account. Every negative dealing with a person makes a withdrawal in your relational…

“Who am I? And how, I wonder, will this story end?” That’s the first line of Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook, his first novel, which was made into the movie of the same name. He is an 80 year-old man reflecting on his life, which he summarizes like this: “I am a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve…

Sissy escaped. In the early morning hours the miniature Schnauzer slipped unseen from its Cedar Rapids, Iowa home. Where could she have gone? Her owner, Nancy Franck, 64, was lying in a hospital bed, stricken with cancer. The faithful dog finally showed up in the lobby of the same hospital 20 blocks…

In his book, Practicing Basic Spiritual Disciplines, Charles Stanley writes “When the Holy Spirit speaks to an obedient person’s heart, that person doesn’t even stop to consider whether he will act. He responds instantly.” -- Practicing Basic Spiritual Disciplines, 17. Deuteronomy 11:1 (NASB77) "You…

Diane Van Deren was committed. Every evening she said good night to her husband and kids and left her home to run. She ran toward the mountains of the Pike National Forest while towing a 50-pound sandbag on a sled. She ran for 10-12 hours. Diane Van Deren was training to run the Yukon Artic Ultra, a…

A recent study out of Norway shows that divorce rates there are about 50% higher among couples who shared the housework compared with those in which women did most of the chores. One clue to the reason for this comes from another study by Bosch, the high-end dishwasher company. They say that 40% of couples…

Using GPS tracking devices, miniature cameras, and specialized software, spouses can monitor one another’s activities. This type of spying is increasing even though at least five U. S. circuit courts have ruled that spousal surveillance violates the Federal Wiretap Act. Some may argue that Reagan’s doctrine:…

According to the 2013 movie “Terms and Conditions May Apply,” it would take the average American 180 hours per year to read all the “Terms and Conditions” he/she agrees to on websites and other agreements. It is no wonder that almost everyone checks the box indicating we agree with these lengthy documents…

In India, the wedding day is very important. Aamir Khan says, “We put all our energy into making a success of the wedding ceremony, rather than the lifelong commitment that follows it.” While parents are responsible for arranging most weddings in India including the choice of a spouse, they are more…

“We get the feeling they can’t stand the sight of each other.” Those words describe the relationship of long term mates. Authorities had to separate them because they were afraid they would kill one or the other. No amount of counseling could help these two. They were giant turtles. They had been mates…

Yogi Berra and his wife Carmen have been married 63 years. Sports historians recognize Berra as the greatest living Yankee baseball player and he literally has a museum full of memorabilia from his years as a Yankee player, coach, and manager. (The museum is in Upper Montclair, New Jersey) His teammates…

Anthony Hopkins spent his career as an Actor; most would agree he was a good one. The English crown knighted him Sir Anthony for his acting achievements. At age 73, Hopkins is dissatisfied with his life’s profession. Recently in Memphis, he visited a cinema complex. “They were just about to start the…

Instead of a lifetime covenant of marriage, couples in Mexico City will be able to sign a limited time contract of marriage if a legislative proposal becomes law. The contract time can be as short as two years. The state advantage is “you wouldn’t have to go through the tortuous process of divorce.”…

PURITY Most folks don’t usually think of Dolly Parton as an example of righteousness. Now 65 she has been a sex symbol in country music, television, and the movies for years. The truth is that when she was 18 years old, she met her husband to be, Carl Dean. She has been faithful to him ever since. --The…

“Bride-to-be Rachelle Friedman and her groom, Chris Chapman, give new meaning to the marriage vows pledging to love, honor and support one's partner "in sickness and in health." One year after the bride was paralyzed from a freak accident during her bachelorette party, the couple will marry.” Rachelle’s…

When a couple decides to marry, they have a very rosy view of their future together. In a recent survey of marriage-license applicants, 0% felt like they would ever get a divorce. This optimism can lead to a decision to neglect the counseling and preparation for marriage that is available. --Time, June…

Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist studies happiness. One thing he discovered is that married people are happier than those who just live together. He uses himself as an example. “My girlfriend and I had been living together for a dozen years.” Because of his discovery, he proposed marriage. How…

A new study is providing new insight to the old saying “Opposites Attract.” The study conducted by University of Michigan psychologist Robert Zajonc suggests couples grow to look more like each other over time. The study analyzed pictures of couples taken as newlyweds and the same couple 25 years later,…