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©2004 The Marriage Transformation Newsletter
Empowering people to create happy, lasting, spiritually-based
marriages—the foundation of a prosperous, unified world
Empowering people to create happy, lasting, spiritually-based
marriages—the foundation of a prosperous, unified world
| November 2004 |
Volume 1, Issue 8 |
© 2004
Marriage Transformation LLC
Y Y Y Y Y
Featured
Item
New Booklet
Just Released!
"This should be on
every
married couple's bedside table as great
bedtime reading..."
~ Diane Sollee,
Founder and Director of smartmarriages.com
The Marriage Transformation Project is a global social and economic development project committed to marriage education and marriage skill building for people at all stages of relationships. In addition to our own independent work in developing materials, we draw on the work of marriage researchers and experts. We also derives part of our inspiration and content from the teachings of the world's religions. These include the following faiths: Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian.
Click here for
further
project information.
"One speck of chastity is greater
than a hundred thousand years of worship and a sea
of knowledge."
~Baha'i Faith, Unpublished Letter, November 2003
(An excerpt from
"Pure Gold: Encouaging Character Qualities
in Marriage")
From Susanne Alexander and Craig Farnsworth Transforming Your "X" Life! You know that little three letter word that starts S and ends with X? (Which we'll now be referring to as "X" throughout this newsletter.) It's amazing how one small word can create such challenges, both in marriages and in email inboxes! It's a sign of just how much room for transformation there is in the world when we cannot openly and effectively communicate to you about its significance and our new booklet on the topic (Click here for more details). Physical closeness in marriage is very important, and we believe it has a spiritual component. We've discovered and are writing about the vital inclusion and application of character qualities, such as gentleness, enthusiasm, confidence, and more, in the closest physical acts that husbands and wives engage in. Part of why this topic is so important, is that "X" is one of the ways that a married couple creates vital oneness between them. Incorporating character qualities into your lives as a couple and in the bedroom creates a strong and lasting foundation of intimacy between you. Some of you may already be familiar with character qualities (sometimes called virtues) and so including them in a discussion about "X" may not seem unusual to you. However, the majority of the world hasn't yet caught on to its importance. Diane Sollee of smartmarriages.com and a leader in marriage education said when she saw our new character and intimacy booklet that it needs to be on every married couple's bedside table. This is for good reason: there is much room for transformation in the "X" lives of couples. Our latest booklet offers that hope. See our book recommendation for the month as well for great guidance.
New
Booklet Just Released:
What's Character Got To Do With It? is available exclusively on our website (www.marriagetransformation.com/store.htm) for the next couple of weeks for only $3.95! Want to share this outstanding publication with the people in your life? We are offering quantity discounts, for as low as $1 per copy, and a special price when purchased with Pure Gold! Click here to learn how to get your copy today!
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Waiting for "X" Until Marriage The topic of “X” surrounds us--from television, magazines, the radio, and print ads--there's no way to escape the bombardment from the media. Few are as challenged with the onslaught as are singles who want and choose to wait to have “X” until after they are married. It takes a very strong commitment to the sanctity of the marriage bond and to the spiritual practice of chastity to wait. It also takes practicing the character qualities of self-discipline, courage, patience, and more. You may be tempted to start saying to yourself that it can't really hurt anything if you go ahead, and “everyone” else is doing it anyway. When those thoughts come, you need to counter them with an affirmation of your commitment--"I respect myself and my future spouse enough to wait." You might want to speak to someone you trust who is willing to support you when you are struggling. Some couples have shared with us the challenges they've experienced by having premarital “X.” In some cases it negatively affected the couple's ability to trust one another's faithfulness after marriage. Some ended up with diseases passed from other partners. Some couples went into the relationship with a mindset of having a secret affair, which led them to think that after marriage, it would be the same, and it wasn't. Sometimes their activities and trying to keep them a secret alienated them from others. Some found that it interfered with the ability to pray because of guilt. Others found that they regretted not being able to say to their children that they waited, and others that they regretted setting a poor example for teens in their lives. One other point that became clear to us as we were doing our latest publication about physical intimacy is that the spiritual creation of oneness through having “X” is very connected to being married. And that part of the pull towards premarital activity is wanting that oneness. But, as far as we can determine, it's not the same, and so the couple is left unsatisfied. Your commitment to wait is vitally important for the health and well-being of your future marriage!
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Shopping
Made Easy: After hours of sorting through rack after rack of clothing and battling the mall crowds, you still need the perfect gift for your spouse, friend, family member, or other special someone, right? What if you could buy a loving, yet practical gift without ever leaving your computer? Check your email inbox often for our upcoming special Holiday Bulletin for more details!
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Attention: Every time we create a new publication, we have a volunteer editorial team who works with us. We are now building the team for a book for singles all about character. The team would likely serve through December and early January. Requirements are access to Microsoft Word, high-speed Internet access, and the ability to offer frank, loving, and constructive editorial suggestions. We would love to have people of different religions, cultures, ages, and relationship experience. Being single is preferred, but we are willing to involve anyone who feels they can make a contribution. Please send an e-mail with your request to be considered for the team to susanne@marriagetransformation.com. |
Enhancing
Your Marriage: Respect Demonstrating respect is vital in maintaining
your bond and having a mutual experience. Respect begins with
valuing oneself and then valuing your spouse’s wants,
needs, and desires. Mutual respect allows you to be intimate
with one another, yet have healthy boundaries and equality. |
Theme: Developing Greater Capacity to Address Humanity's Urgent Needs
Hamilton and Ottawa, Ontario sessions
are sceduled for April and May 2005.
|
 Sacred
"X": A Spiritual Celebration
of Oneness in Marriage The author makes the important point that the primary goal of “X” in marriage is the creation of a bond of oneness between the couple. Gardner's insights and advice are excellent and are both spiritually and logically based. He stresses the importance of keeping ones thoughts and actions focused on one's spouse, not speaking against one's spouse to others, and getting assistance as needed. Throughout the book are practical examples of couples learning to reconnect in their marriages and find joy in the re-bonding. This book is very strongly Christian-based at times, to the point where it may be difficult for people of other faiths to read it; however, the spiritual points made throughout it are generally universal, and we encourage you to delve into it.
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... To check out our recommended
resources and books!
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Listserves Get the latest news about marriage and The Marriage Transformation Project as it happens! Join our announcement listserve today! MarriageTransformation-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com Did a friend forward this newsletter to you and now you want to receive your own copy each month in your email inbox? To sign up for this newsletter, go to our home page, www.marriagetransformation.com, and register in the "Newsletter Sign Up" box!
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Marriage Transformation™ Project
P.O. Box 23085
(216) 383-9943
P.O. Box 23085
www.marriagetransformation.com
Newsletter content
by Susanne Alexander and
Joyce Ashman
Newsletter Layout
and Design
by Joyce Ashman
by Susanne Alexander
Joyce Ashman
and Design
by Joyce Ashman