A Summer Reading Program
One of the greatest features of summertime is that so many things seem possible. Extra daylight, energy and free time give us a sense of hope that much can be accomplished. Houses need to be painted, garages cleaned out and vacations enjoyed. But why not commit some of your summer to sprucing up your marriage too?
For the summer months we have prepared a collection of recommended reading. A good book is like getting to consult with an expert for an extremely nominal fee. To get you pointed in a good direction we asked a few other ministry leaders at Gateway to join us in recommending favorite books in the area of marriage enrichment. Look over the list with your spouse, pick one that fits you best and start reading—preferably together. You can purchase any of these books on Amazon.com or Christianbook.com for less than half the cost of a gallon of paint. And the rewards of this summer project will last longer than paint too! Blessings and happy reading!
Pastor Bill & Melanie
Pastor Bob Recommends: "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas
Bob, Gateway’s lead pastor, recommends Sacred Marriage to those who are looking to refresh their view of the purpose of their marriage. Bob says that reading Sacred Marriage created a paradigm shift for him—changing how he viewed everything—the differences, discussions and decisions that every couple face. Thomas will help you see that marriage is not about getting what you want, but about getting what God knows you need.
Melanie Pruitt Recommends: "The Marriage Builder" by Larry Crabb
Melanie recommends The Marriage Builder to couples who are ready to work together as well as to those who feel alone in trying to better their marriage. Crabb moves beyond surface problems to expose the primary things we are looking for in life: security and significance. Melanie says it guided her to a greater understanding of how God meets those deep needs. Allowing him to do so then prepares you to better serve your spouse, leading to greater oneness and wholeness in marriage.
Pastor Bill Recommends: "Intimate Allies" by Allender and Longman
Bill recommends this book for anyone who loves to understand the theological underpinnings of a matter. He likes how it helps him look beyond day-to-day routine to the spiritual meaning of marriage. Grounded in Genesis 1-3, the foundational text on marriage, Intimate Allies will expand your vision of the potential that God built into his design for marriage. It’s a rich and inspiring book for couples who like to evaluate their marriage based on biblical truths.
Sherry Ehle Recommends: "Love and Respect" by Emerson Eggerts
Sherry, our new director of women’s ministry, recommends this book to all those who are tired of being stuck in the same communication cycle and are ready to see beyond their circumstances to the root issues. She says that it helped her understand that what she thought was respecting her husband was actually doing the opposite. Her husband learned why feeling loved was so important to her and how he could do that more effectively. It helped them change their approach and thereby break through to a new level of understanding each other.
Pastor Ken Recommends: "The Five Love Languages" by Gary
Ken, the director of our men’s ministry, recommends this book as being beneficial for all couples from the engaged to the long-time married. It will increase your emotional connection and understanding of your spouse as you become better equipped to meet his or her needs in the most meaningful way possible. It’s an easy-to-read, practical book you will enjoy.
Bonus Recommendation: "Love Talk" by Parrott and Parrott
And just for good measure, the Marriage Initiative recommends this additional work by relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott. This is a helpful book covering the basics of communication for married couples. They write in an entertaining style and there is an optional workbook available as well. Most couples would enjoy reading this together and advancing your communication skills is always worthwhile.
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