Introduction

Greetings!  I am Dr. Barry Ham.  If you are receiving this initial “Relationships Tips Tuesdays”, it is probably for one of several reasons . . . . . . it may be that you purchased my book God Understands Divorce: A Biblical Message of Grace, sometime during the past year; or you may have signed…

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Love

Good Morning and welcome to this second installment of “Relationships Tip Tuesdays.” Since this is a month in which we celebrate “Love” with Valentine’s Day, I thought it appropriate to share some thoughts about this critical subject.  I want to share two quotes with you this morning.  The first is from the movie “Chaos Theory.” …

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What is Needed?

I would like for you to meet a couple this morning – Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina.  Up until Herbert died a couple of years ago, they held the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage at 86 years.  Herbert died at 105 while his wife was 103.  While 86 years is an…

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Winning

Last week I shared with you some of the story of Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher a couple that was married for 86 years.  Herbert died at 105 while his wife was 103.  What was striking about this couple was that they did not just endure for 86 years but they vibrantly engaged in life together,…

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Keeping the Promise

One of the headlines this past November read, “Emails from Paramour Led To FBI Inquiry of Petraeus.”   We have no doubt all heard about the resignation of the decorated general that resulted from an affair that he had with his biographer.  It seems hard to believe that an illustrious career that was decades in the…

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Delay

As I recently sat listening to a couple, I was aware of just how quickly they are headed towards divorce.  This is in part because they want all of their problems and conflicts solved immediately – if not sooner.  And because of their impatience, they were barreling towards the divorce cliff.  Yet – this doesn’t…

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Advance Warning

I remember as a young child when friends of my parents got a divorce.  It was a complete surprise.  This couple appeared to get along well, at least in public, and seemed to like each other.  Yet, without much warning, it was over.  What happened?  You may have seen similar situations unravel before you or…

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Did You Ask the Question?

I have a good friend who is a public school administrator.  Frequently this individual is confronted with a variety of situations that require additional information.  It may have something to do with a Principal needing more information from a parent or a teacher needing clarity around a student issue.  Sometimes it is even another administrator…

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What to Do?

It’s been a long and stressful day at work. You come home, looking for a little relief, support, perhaps even some affirmation.  But what you get is . . .  more stress, unmet expectations, invalidation, and down right meanness.  Today it crosses the line of your ability to tolerate and you say – “that’s it. …

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Making “I Dos” Last – Part 1

Even after all my years of counseling couples and hearing just about everything imaginable uttered in my office, I am still often taken aback by issues that present themselves for disagreement.  David and Kelly had only been married a few weeks when they were shopping in the quaint stores in Carmel, along the California coast. …

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