Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Book Review: Real Marriage

Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship & Life Together
By Mark and Grace Driscoll
Thomas Nelson, 2012
English, 272 pages


Description:

Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife, Grace, talk about sex and marriage in down-to-earth terms, hitting issues other Christian books won't.

While a wonderful wedding day is important, it's the last day of marriage that really counts. Will the last day of your marriage come prematurely through divorce? Will it be filled with regrets as you sit at the funeral of your spouse? Or, by God's grace, will the last day be a day to rejoice in the life you lived together?

Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife, Grace, want you to finish well on the last day. From the importance of date nights to answers to the most tricky "can we do that?" sex questions, they share practical help and hope with people just like them-who entered marriage a complete mess-or who are planning to be married someday and want to avoid some sticky pitfalls.

Together Pastor Mark and Grace tackle the tough issues, such as:
  • Why being your spouse's best friend changes everything and how to achieve it.
  • Pornography and sexual sin inside and outside of marriage.
  • Submission and respect - marriage's most misunderstood tenets-and what they should really look like.
  • Honoring your spouse emotionally, technologically, and financially.
  • What the Bible says about masturbation and oral sex.
  • The "Can we do that?" questions you're too embarrassed to ask your pastor.
  • How to deal with intimacy issues and create the joyful and fun sex life God intended you to have.
  • What type of man or woman are you? What type of lover are you? And what type of marriage do you have?
Review:
I have a good marriage. I have an amazing partner and friend. I did not pick this book because something was bad and it needed to be fixed or anything like that. This is a very practical book written by one of our shared favorite authors/pastors. This would be a great engagement present for a young Christian couple. It's important to understand how to love and respect each other, and the Biblical mandate behind each one.

It does get pretty graphic with the sexual talk, but what doesn't these days? I'd rather read and understand from a Biblical/Christian perspective than from another view.

The chapter that hit home most with me was "Taking out the Trash". I can become very critical and can harbor resentments really quickly. This has taught me the error in that and I'm working on being better with my husband.

I think what I like best is that they don't hold back. They're open and honest and, most importantly, Scripturally based. It's a book that should be read together. I can't imagine doing this in a small group, although there is material available for this.

I received a copy of the book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review.

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