Changing family dynamics during engagement and beyond, plus a continued conversation on stress, and focusing on your own faith walk before dating.

Featured musical artist: All Sons & Daughters

Roundtable: Cutting the Apron Strings Before Marriage

The Old Testament book of Genesis describes how you’re supposed to leave your family of origin when you get married and “cleave” to your spouse. But how do you practically work through family dynamics? What do you do with clingy or controlling parents? How do you set habits, rhythms and traditions that define your new union? Our panel of marrieds shares ways they’ve learned to maintain a good relationship with their parents and in-laws while building and prioritizing their new life and relationships.

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Culture: Stress Reduction (Part 2)

Stressors are all around us: bills to pay, work deadlines, sorting through friend and family dynamics, and news headlines galore. What effect is stress having on our brains and bodies, and how do we cope with the fallout? Licensed professional counselor Eliza Huie discusses how you can tackle stress and find peace through lifestyle, helpful practices, and active dependence on God. In part two of our discussion, she brings up the need to recognize your limitations and she walks through the acronym NEAR, a helpful primer for dealing with anxiety.

I’m Stressed: A Path from Pressure to Peace (Ask the Christian Counselor)

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Inbox: He Ended a Relationship to Sort Out His Faith

Our listener would grade his faith walk as a D-. As a result, he broke off a dating relationship, concerned that he has to figure out his faith first. Was this the right thing to do? Lisa Anderson weighs in.

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Separating feelings from fact when it comes to love, plus what to do about stress, and coming to terms when something good didn’t happen.

I’m Stressed: A Path from Pressure to Peace (Ask the Christian Counselor)

Featured musical artist: Love and the Outcome

Roundtable: How Do I Know I Love Someone?

The feelings and excitement of being “in love” are celebrated everywhere from movies to music. But is love deeper than a mere feeling? Are feelings even an indicator that you actually love someone? Our guests get honest about how they’ve struggled with discerning the difference between love as a feeling and love as a choice. They’ll also explain love in the tough times and (yikes) loving the hard to love, including our enemies.

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Culture: Stress Reduction (Part 1)

Stressors are all around us: bills to pay, work deadlines, sorting through friend and family dynamics, and news headlines galore. What effect is stress having on our brains and bodies, and how do we cope with the fallout? Licensed professional counselor Eliza Huie discusses how you can tackle stress and find peace through lifestyle, helpful practices, and active dependence on God. In part one of our conversation she addresses good vs. bad types of stress and how to recognize the repercussions of stress on our lives.

I’m Stressed: A Path from Pressure to Peace (Ask the Christian Counselor)

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Inbox: I Had Faith but It Didn’t Happen

Our listener had faith for something that was genuinely good, but he prayed and things still didn’t go as he’d hoped. How can he trust that God really cares? Counselor George Stahnke weighs in.

Link to Counseling Services

Find Tara Sun’s Story in Brio Magazine

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Ideas for getting out and making friends, plus author Jerry Jenkins on boundaries with the opposite sex, and signs you’re in an abusive relationship.

Featured musical artist: JJ Heller

Roundtable: Make New Friends

You may be asking, “Where are all the great people to hang out with?” Maybe, just maybe, they’re outside your front door? In order to find them, you may need to get creative. You may need to try something new. Visit new places. Join a new group. This week we discuss ways to step out of your comfort zone and meet quality people. Plus, if you’re single and looking for potential dates, we’ll offer thoughts on how to look without obsessing over whether every cute person could be the one.

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Culture: Boundaries With the Opposite Sex

Marriage experts talk often about creating boundaries when you’re married to guard against infidelity. But great boundaries with the opposite gender work best when you start early — when you’re dating someone, or even before. Setting up what bestselling novelist and author Jerry Jenkins calls “hedges” can be a great and practical way to do that. In our interview, he shares what hedges might look like in dating and marriage, how to set them, and how to avoid potential excuses and pitfalls when temptation strikes.

Hedges: 7 Ways to Love Your Wife and Protect Your Marriage

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Inbox: Am I in a Toxic Relationship?

The word toxic is too often tossed around to describe people we simply don’t like. But what are signs that you’re in a truly toxic or abusive relationship? Counselor Tim Sanford weighs in.

Link to Counseling Services

Article: Just Annoying or Truly Unsafe?: How to Navigate Get-Togethers With Difficult Family

Link: Help for Abusive Relationships

Article: Destructive Conflict: Recognize It. Stop It.

Link to Show: Setting Boundaries in Toxic Relationships

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