Falling in Love
by Dr. Gary Chapman   

This week we're talking about the experience of "falling in love."

Most of us have bad information about this emotional experience. The bad information is that this euphoric experience will last forever if it is the real thing. We should have known better.

A casual observation should have taught us that if people remained obsessed, we would all be in serious trouble. People who are "in love" lose interest in other pursuits.

That is why we call it an "obsession". If you're in college when you fall in love, your grades will go down. Why? It's hard to concentrate on studies. You have a test on the civil war. Who cares about the civil war, when you're in love? That's why God designed the "in love" experience to be temporary. Now, he wants us to move into the stage of love that requires thought, effort, and work.

This is true love. God's love for us is not a warm feeling that God has toward us. It is rather his words and actions that reveal his desire for our well being. This is true love in marriage: Choosing what is best for your spouse. When we do this, we emulate God. 

Article written by Dr. Gary Chapman.  Based on the book, The Five Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman. Published by Moody Publishers. 

For a complete listing of Dr. Chapman's books and resources,click here.  

Respect Is a Man's Deepest Value 
by Emerson Eggerichs        

I sometimes get the question, "You say women need love and men need respect. Isn't the opposite just as true? Don't women need respect and guys need love?" My answer is, of course, women need respect and guys need love, but I'm talking about the primary drive in each sex. In one national study, four hundred men were given a choice between going through two different negative experiences. If they were forced to choose one of the following, which would they prefer to endure?   

a) to be left alone and unloved in the world

Seventy-four percent of these men said that if they were forced to choose, they would prefer being alone and unloved in a world. 

For these men, the greater negative experience for their souls to endure would be to feel inadequate and disrespected by everyone. I have had numerous men confirm this research by telling me, "I would rather live with a wife who respected me but did not love me than live with a wife who loved me but did not respect me."

These men are not saying they are indifferent to love. They know they need love, but they need to feel respected even more than to feel loved. Perhaps a good analogy is water and food. We need both to survive, but we can live longer without food than without water. For men, love is like food and respect is like water. Enough said!  

Respect is the key to motivating a husband.

Content for this article comes entirely from the book Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs. Published by Integrity Publishing.