{"id":300241,"date":"2018-05-15T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-15T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/being-best-friends\/"},"modified":"2024-10-07T22:41:25","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T02:41:25","slug":"being-best-friends","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/being-best-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"Being Best Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kevin Thompson challenges couples to think of their relationship in three categories: friends, partners, and lovers. Thompson shares some fun, practical ways a couple can build their friendship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2018-05-15.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:27:58","filesize":"25.6M","filesize_raw":"26844793","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2809,2810],"tags":[4391,4389,4388,4390],"podcast_series":[7214],"cwp_profile":[8832],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-300241","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commitment","category-growing-spiritually","tag-building-into-your-marriage","tag-friendship","tag-relationships","tag-trust","podcast_series-friends-partners-and-lovers","cwp_profile-kevin-thompson","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/300241\/being-best-friends","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/300241\/being-best-friends","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Jo7MvesBoq\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/being-best-friends\/\">Being Best Friends<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/being-best-friends\/embed\/#?secret=Jo7MvesBoq\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Being Best Friends&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"Jo7MvesBoq\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Kevin Thompson challenges couples to think of their relationship in three categories: friends, partners, and lovers. Thompson shares some fun, practical ways a couple can build their friendship.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2018-05-15.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>One of the foundational building blocks of a healthy marriage or, for that matter, a healthy relationship of any kind, is trust. Pastor and author Kevin Thompson says when a husband and wife mistrust one another, their friendship begins to erode. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> As it does, now I don\u2019t have a partner that I necessarily know has my back; and then, especially for women, if trust isn\u2019t present, you think about the sexual relationship\u2014there\u2019s a great deal of vulnerability that happens there. If they don\u2019t trust you, they\u2019re going to have a very difficult time being fully present with you in that moment.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Tuesday, May 15<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. We\u2019ll spend some time today looking at how important trust is in a relationship between a husband and a wife and how you rebuild trust once it\u2019s been broken. Stay with us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us. It is always nice when you find a neighbor who has kind of the same heartbeat that you have \/ same passion that you have, and then you find out he\u2019s a pastor of a local church; and you just go, \u201cThis is a good thing.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes! It is a good thing. In this case, the neighbor is about 100-120 miles away; but it is okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> That\u2019s close!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes; it is. Kevin Thompson joins us on <em>FamilyLife Today. <\/em>Welcome to the broadcast.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Well, thanks so much for having me. It\u2019s great to be here.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Kevin is pastor of a church near Fort Smith, Arkansas\u2014a blogger. He\u2019s been married to Jenny since 2000 and has two children. He has written a book called <em>Friends, Partners &amp; Lovers. <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u00a0<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI like how you start the book. You had a question to a couple, who were a little bit more than newly-married.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> They were seasoned!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> I would say so. We had the eldest couple in our church\u2014married 70 years. They had not come to know Christ\u2014never attended a church until they started attending Community Bible in their 70s\u2014a couple of neighbors had invited them. They both came to know Christ\u2014just wonderful people \/ never had any children\u2014would come by the office and almost adopted us, on staff, as grandkids; right? We just loved them! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey came by the office one day and had a great conversation. Then one turned to the other\u2014Eugene turned to JoAnn and said, \u201cWell, did you bring the bread?\u201d JoAnn said, \u201cNo; you brought the bread.\u201d They had a little squabble right there for just a moment. It was kind of interesting for us to sit back and watch. Mrs. JoAnn was in better health, so she went home to grab the bread. We were just talking to Mr. Eugene, married 70 years. We just asked him, \u201cWhat\u2019s the key to being married 70 years?\u201d And Mr. Eugene, without missing a beat, said, \u201cTell her every day that you love her.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMrs. JoAnn came back, and brought in some pumpkin bread\u2014it was wonderful. We had the opportunity to speak with her; and we said, \u201cMrs. JoAnn, we asked Mr. Eugene, \u2018What\u2019s the key to being married 70 years?\u2019\u201d And she said, \u201cOh, without a question: \u2018Tell him every day that you love him.\u2019\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt was beautiful in that moment\u2014we thought, \u201cThis is the key to marriage.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSeveral months went by; and Mr. Eugene was in bad health\u2014he was in hospice. I went up to see him\u2014it was just me and him. I recounted the story\u2014I said, \u201cIs that really the key to being married 70 years, Mr. Eugene?\u201d He said, \u201cYep, and memorize her answers.\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Had they met when they were really young, obviously?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> They had met very young; both were in the military. They never had any kids, but loved each other deeply and dearly\u2014you could see that. Whenever he was gone, in many ways, she left, too, at that point\u2014just a beautiful couple and a beautiful value of marriage.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> This has been interesting for me, because I\u2019ve kind of followed your ministry. As I said, you\u2019re kind of in the backyard of Little Rock\u2014120 miles away. Marriage and family\u2014as a local church pastor, for whatever reason, this has been a focus for you\u2014something God\u2019s put a burden on your heart about. Tell me about that. Why is this something that you feel so passionately about?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Yes; I think it\u2019s a convergence of three issues. One, my parents were divorced. I understand the pain that they went through\u2014I watched that and the consequences that were there for them, and for me, and my sister, as well\u2014and still, the lasting influence of that. Secondly, it\u2019s just the idea that I didn\u2019t speak about marriage, at all, for the first ten years of marriage; because \u201cWhat did I know?!\u201d [Laughter] But just the value of what I had in Jenny, and my desire to have that, and be able to give that to other couples. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd then, thirdly, I started this blog and just had the discipline of writing. One day, I didn\u2019t know what to write about; so I wrote about marriage\u2014what I thought was just a basic idea that Dennis Rainey has taught everybody, so everybody would know by now. I just basically ripped him off and wrote this blog, and all of this traffic came to the blog. I realized, at that moment, that what I thought was known by everybody, a different generation needed to hear it in a different way. So it was really the convergence of those three issues that made marriage become a passion of mine. It still sticks today.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Well, I\u2019ve talked with enough pastors\u2014when there are issues in the church that pastors are having to deal with, most of the issues you deal with are not eschatological issues\u2014they are not issues about dispensationalism versus covenant theology. They\u2019re issues where the rubber is meeting the road, and that\u2019s in somebody\u2019s marriage.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Oh, there\u2019s no question. And a pastor is on the front lines. I always call myself a \u201ctriage nurse.\u201d When somebody goes through an injury, they don\u2019t know who to call; so they call the pastor. I bring them in\u2014I\u2019m not a counselor in any way\u2014but I talk to them; I diagnose them; and then try to get them to the specialist that they need.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut the joy of the pastorate is that we\u2019re there for the great days\u2014for the engagements \/ for the births\u2014for all of those things\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> \u2014but we\u2019re also there on the horrific days. So it\u2019s not surprising to me\u2014when my agent took this book to the publisher for the first time, the publisher said, \u201cJust don\u2019t give me another book by a pastor about marriage.\u201d She said, \u201cWell, I have a book by a pastor about marriage.\u201d [Laughter] It makes sense that so many pastors would think about this and write about this, because the chances are\u2014if my phone were to blow up today\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014chances are the issues that are happening are: an affair has occurred, a gambling debt has been revealed, [or] addiction is present. It all goes back to marriage. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you think about it, it makes sense\u2014it\u2019s there in the New Testament. Why did Paul write about marriage?\u2014because, if the marriage went wrong, it would affect the church that was meeting in the house. We have home groups. If I have a marriage that\u2019s bad, that small group \/ that Sunday school class is going to suffer because of it. Obviously, pastors are passionate about this; because we are on the front lines of what\u2019s going on.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Kevin, you mentioned several causes of marriages blowing up: affairs, pornography, finances, [or] unmet expectations. You think those are all kind of symptoms of a much deeper issue. Explain that to our audience.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> I do. I think the number one cause of divorce is not Facebook<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>; it\u2019s not money; it\u2019s not sex. I think the number one cause of divorce is apathy\u2014it\u2019s a lack of intention. We never drift into good things. If you lose 20 pounds\u2014and a friend says, \u201cHey, how\u2019d you lose that weight?\u201d\u2014you\u2019re not going to say: \u201cIt\u2019s the most amazing thing. I just, all of a sudden, started eating vegetables! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt just came out of nowhere!\u201d [Laughter] It doesn\u2019t happen that way! We drift into bad things. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think what happens, in marriage specifically\u2014I think you fall in love; and either you fall for the idea that: \u201cThis person\u2019s my soulmate, so it\u2019s going to be easy,\u201d or you fall for the lie this culture says: \u201cFifty percent of all marriages end in divorce, so it doesn\u2019t really matter what I do.\u201d Whatever is the root cause there, you don\u2019t put intention behind it. The love begins to dwindle\u2014the pressure of children coming along\u2014career and everything that\u2019s going on\u2014you keep on, on a daily basis, pushing it to the side, thinking that there are no real consequences for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs you guys know, there is a price to be paid whenever you push the important things aside. So I think, if I could narrow down marriage to one word, it is the word, \u201cintention.\u201d If you are intentional about it, chances are you\u2019re going to have a successful marriage.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You know, I\u2019m thinking about that word; and it\u2019s a little bit like the other side of a coin that is about commitment.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Marriage is ultimately put in place by commitment\u2014a promise. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBelievers in Jesus Christ believe\u2014and we teach, here, at <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>\u2014that it\u2019s a covenant \/ it\u2019s a \u201c\u2026\u2019til-death-do-us-part\u201d commitment. But that can be made at a point in time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe only way you make good on that covenant is by doing what you\u2019re talking about\u2014keep on investing over, and over, and over again. It\u2019s not a matter of putting $100 in as an investment, once every six months, and expecting a return. No; it\u2019s more like putting a dime in, and a quarter, and then maybe some big change at points; because there may be those circumstances that <em>demand<\/em> that you step forward and love with a tough intentionality in that marriage relationship.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Well, I\u2019m thinking of the two illustrations you talk about working out. You talk about the importance of covenant as a foundation. I\u2019ve always thought about marriage like a garden. Somebody might say: \u201cYou know? I\u2019m going to have a garden this year.\u201d And they go put up the box, and they get the soil in there. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey say, \u201cI\u2019m committed to this garden.\u201d But then they don\u2019t do the daily things that you have to do if you really are committed to a garden. At the end of the season, you don\u2019t have anything in the garden; because the squirrels have gotten it all, or the rabbits have gotten it all, or the weeds have gotten it all. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> So making the covenant\u2014that\u2019s foundational to all of this\u2014but doing the intentionality \/ the daily maintenance of your marriage\u2014that\u2019s the only way for a marriage to thrive; isn\u2019t it?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> There\u2019s no question, and it literally is a daily process. It cannot be something that we do once a year. I think you guys do a great job with <em>Weekends to Remember<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> \/ with cruises\u2014these big events that are <em>great <\/em>for couples\u2014but then they need to listen to your radio show on top of that [Laughter] to recognize this daily reminder of what\u2019s going on. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHow many couples will go through a whole year and never read a marriage book?\u2014never take time to have a serious conversation, from the 40,000-foot level, of what their marriage is all about? Instead, their conversation is about: \u201cWho\u2019s going to pick up the kids today?\u201d \u201cWhat are we going to have for dinner today?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tVery slowly, the big picture is getting pushed aside. They\u2019re doing so at a great risk.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Barbara has been struggling with some allergies recently, and so she\u2019s on a diet that has just basically restricted everything except water. [Laughter] I\u2019m just amazed where you can get allergies from today; okay?! In the midst of this, she goes, \u201cI think I want to find a way to get maple syrup into my water,\u201d\u2014her coffee; okay? She\u2019s never put maple syrup in coffee, but she started doing it. And this morning, before I left to come to work, she said, \u201cBy the way, it would really be my love language if you would call that place in New England and order me some more maple syrup.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI thought, \u201cYou know, she\u2019s letting me know that that really is important, in the midst of this dramatic diet, trying to eliminate things to find out the cause of the allergy.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think we have to be a student of our spouse, where they don\u2019t always have to tell us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> See, she spelled it out for you! Mary Ann will say things like\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> [Laughing] I\u2019m a slow learner, Bob! She just puts it in big print!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Mary Ann will say things like, \u201cOh, look, I\u2019m out of maple syrup.\u201d I go, \u201cOkay.\u201d I don\u2019t pick up from that: \u201cWhat I\u2019d really like for you to do is call that place in New England and order the maple syrup.\u201d I just think: \u201cOh, she\u2019s out of maple syrup. That\u2019s tough today.\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBarbara says, \u201cIt would really be my love language if you would call!\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> I can do that!\u2014just be a little more direct with it; you know? [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes, yes; exactly.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Your book breaks marriage into three component parts, and I found this really helpful. These three words are kind of like diagnostic words, where I can say, \u201cOkay; I\u2019m supposed to be a friend, a partner, and a love to my wife, and she\u2019s supposed to be the same with me.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI can kind of look at that and say: \u201cHow\u2019s the friendship side?\u201d \u201cHow\u2019s the partnership side?\u201d \u201cHow\u2019s the lover side doing?\u201d If all three of those are doing pretty well, the marriage is probably going to be doing well; right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Yes; I think so. <em>Friends, Partners &amp; Lovers<\/em>, to me, is a book about what marriage is about: \u201cWhat is it that you actually do?\u201d I have a book coming out in October called <em>Happily<\/em>\u2014that\u2019s <em>how <\/em>marriage is supposed to be done\u2014the attitude of the Beatitudes, basically. But <em>Friends, Partners &amp; Lovers <\/em>is what I\u2019m supposed to do, as a spouse: \u201cWhat is it that Jenny needs from me?\u201d \/ \u201cWhat is it that I need from her?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhenever I think about friendship, I get this picture of us holding hands, side by side, walking through life\u2014two peers. Whenever I\u2019m married, I always have somebody by my side. As a partnership, we have each other\u2019s backs. I\u2019m scanning the horizon, 180 degrees one way, looking for opportunities \/ looking for threats. She\u2019s scanning the horizon, 180 degrees the opposite way, looking for opportunities \/ looking for threats. In a healthy marriage, you always have somebody who has your back. And then the lover section, to me, is somebody that looks me in the eye\u2014that knows me better than I even know myself and, yet, loves me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou think about that! If you always have somebody\u2014who is by your side, always have somebody who has your back, and always have somebody who sees you completely and loves you\u2014what more do you need in a marriage relationship? I think that\u2019s it!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Now, when it comes time to apply these three principles you\u2019re talking about, what\u2019s the most important thing you would say to a husband\u2014let\u2019s speak to the husbands for a moment\u2014about being your wife\u2019s friend?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> And then speak to the wives here in a moment.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> I think friendship is the foundation\u2014I think it all begins right there. Think about a first date. I\u2019m just seeing, in that moment: \u201cDo I like this person? Can I listen to this voice forever?\u201d\u2014right?\u2014those kinds of things. To me, friendship is the foundation. Partnership becomes the walls\u2014we\u2019re distinguishing whose responsibility is what. And then, to me, the intimacy is the roof that helps us endure the things of life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhenever I think about friendship\u2014friendship, to me, is built on this concept of trust: \u201cDo I trust you or not?\u201d I think, so often, that trust is proven over time: \u201cI\u2019m going to protect your heart, maybe even more than I protect my own.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhenever I think about men\u2014I think men, specifically\u2014they run the risk of creating distrust with their wives. So, if they will build the trust \/ if their word becomes their bond\u2014if they say they\u2019re going to do the \u201cto do\u201d list, they do the \u201cto do\u201d list. If they will do that over time, it will prove them faithful\u2014the trust will be built up\u2014and I think the wives will have a great deal of friendship.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> We\u2019re talking in generalities here; but generally, men tend to be more risk-takers \/ women tend to value security and safety. In fact, I think security and safety are at the heart of most women\/most wives I know. They just want to know, \u201cAm I in a safe place?\u201d This is where a man has to recognize: \u201cHere\u2019s what\u2019s really important to my wife. She needs to feel like, \u2018I can relax, because I\u2019m safe here.\u2019\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> And I think that\u2019s what makes adultery so dangerous \/ it\u2019s what makes financial deceit so dangerous\u2014is it begins to erode away the trust. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhen trust begins to erode away, here\u2019s how these three factors play into each other: [Lack of] trust erodes the friendship away. As it does, now I don\u2019t have a partner that I necessarily know has my back. I think one of the scariest things for me is\u2014in a marriage you\u2019re supposed to have each other\u2019s back. When a marriage goes bad, the most likely person to stab you in the back is the very one who\u2019s supposed to be watching your back!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> And then, especially for women, if trust isn\u2019t present, you think about the sexual relationship\u2014there\u2019s a great deal of vulnerability that happens there. If they don\u2019t trust you, they\u2019re going to have a very difficult time being fully present with you in that moment. That\u2019s why I think friendship really is the foundation of what\u2019s going on. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> I really agree with you. I think this whole issue of security\u2014at least for men\u2014they need to major in this with their wife and maybe ask their wife: \u201cDo you feel like I\u2019m a safe person with you? If not, what are the areas of our relationship where you don\u2019t feel safe with me?\u201d and then comment on that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think what happens with men is\u2014we win the battle and win the woman. We think that romance has been achieved \/ the marriage knot has been tied, and the quest is over. The answer is: \u201cNo! The quest is just starting!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> And it is a constant pursuit after her heart.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014to create that safety; you\u2019re right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Flip this around and talk about trust from a husband\u2019s perspective. What does a wife do that causes a husband to go, \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can trust her.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Yes; I think, from a concept of friendship in general\u2014you think about how guys make friends. We make friends\u2014two guys in a boat \/ two guys in a golf cart; right? Think about a golf cart\u2014I think that as a great picture for women to think about friendship with their husband\u2014we\u2019re side by side, but we\u2019re not looking at each other\u2014we\u2019re going down the road; we\u2019re engaged in activity.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Sometimes, men get a little bit sketchy when their spouse is looking at them and conversation is happening. That\u2019s why you see a couple, out for a dinner, and they\u2019re not talking to each other. The men are a little bit uncomfortable in that moment of having eyes [looking] back at them.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think, from a friendship concept for women, one thing that they can do to assist their husband is to engage in activity. For me, my favorite thing to do for couples\u2014to help improve your marriage\u2014is simply take a walk. As you take a walk, you\u2019re not looking eye to eye \/ you\u2019re walking, side by side\u2014you\u2019re experiencing the world, and then you\u2019re engaging one another in conversation. I do think it\u2019s this weaving back and forth. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019ll never forget\u2014I took my kids to McDonald\u2019s one day \/ one night for dinner. My wife is a great cook\u2014a gourmet cook\u2014loves all of those things\u2014can\u2019t stand fast food. So anytime I get the kids\u2014they love fast food \/ I love fast food\u2014we go to McDonald\u2019s. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI see this older couple over to the side. On the table is a cup of coffee for each of them, a cookie in between them, and they\u2019re both reading the newspaper. I\u2019m watching this beautiful dance that\u2019s taking place. As they\u2019re reading their newspaper, one of them will put their paper down, and the other one will lower their paper, and they\u2019ll talk about a story: \u201cHey, did you see this? What about this?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe man was doing a crossword puzzle\u2014he put his paper down: \u201cHey, what\u2019s a six-letter word for this?\u201d And they\u2019re working on it together. Then they would go back, raise their papers back up, and engage in what was going on. I thought this was a beautiful picture of what friendship in marriage is all about. You\u2019re living your lives; you\u2019re experiencing the world; and then you\u2019re bringing the good back to each other. You\u2019re sharing that good. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tGood is not fully good until it\u2019s shared! Think about it\u2014if you have a great meal for dinner tonight, you\u2019re going to text a buddy; you\u2019re going to call your wife; you\u2019re going to call a friend: \u201cHey, there\u2019s this new restaurant.\u201d You don\u2019t just keep it for yourself. When you see a beautiful sunset, you call that out\u2014you call attention to it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019ll never forget my grandparents\u2014my grandmother was dying, and they had been married 70 years as well. My grandmother is dying\u2014she is 90. I\u2019m taking my grandfather to the hospital to see his wife for the <em>very<\/em> last time. We were driving slowly; it is in February in Arkansas. The sun is setting over Oklahoma and just silence in the car; right? Until, all of a sudden, he says, \u201cLook how beautiful that sunset is!\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI looked up and, sure enough, there was the sun setting. I thought to myself: \u201cHow did he see that? How did he have the possibility, in the midst of all his grief, to still see that?\u201d Well, it\u2019s because he had been trained, his whole life, to see the good \/ to search for it\u2014not denial of the bad\u2014but to see it \/ [the good]. He couldn\u2019t help himself; but as he saw the good, he shared the good.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhenever I think about what friendship in marriage is all about, you\u2019ve got to seek it out. This is a culture\u2014you don\u2019t have to seek out the bad in this culture\u2014it will find you! But you had better search out the good. As you search it out, then share it with one another. Specifically, if a wife is listening today, wanting a friendship with her man\u2014I think you start in action. You start in some kind of activity, where you\u2019re not looking at each other, eye to eye, in that moment. You are sharing life together and, as you\u2019re doing it, you can then have that communication.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Can I just comment on the take-a-walk suggestion?\u2014because Mary Ann will always say, \u201cLet\u2019s go for a walk,\u201d and I\u2019m going: \u201cWhere?! You mean, just like a loop around the neighborhood?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u201cWhat\u2019s the objective?!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> That\u2019s right! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, we live about a mile away from a little shopping center that\u2019s got some restaurants and some shops. It\u2019s a different deal for me, if we\u2019re walking up to the shopping center and going to do something when we get there. and then walk home\u2014I don\u2019t mind doing that; in fact, that\u2019s kind of fun. But just a walk around the neighborhood?\u2014no; I\u2019m not interested in that. To your point: there\u2019s an objective; there\u2019s a goal; there\u2019s something to conquer and achieve here; and along the way, we share life together. She doesn\u2019t mind whether we\u2019re walking around the block or walking to the shopping center, because she\u2019s getting the companionship\/the friendship that her soul craves.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> And you know, for us, it\u2019s just the simple thing of burning calories. I mean, we need more exercise\u2014we both have jobs, where we\u2019re sitting at desks, and computers, and things like that\u2014so just to get our steps in\u2014that can be the goal.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> There you go.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> But then the by-product of that is a much healthier marriage.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> I think what you\u2019re challenging our listeners to do is really important: \u201cInvest in your marriage. Be a risk-taker, and risk investing too much rather than too little.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe get married because we see good in another person. Then you get married; and you\u2019re living life close-up in front of each other, and you\u2019re going to see things that aren\u2019t so good. I love the illustration about your grandfather\u2014he chose to see the good.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> He lifted his eyes up to see what\u2019s right about the other person. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think, if there\u2019s a listener, right now, who\u2019s focused on the negative, get your eyes off of it! Start reflecting on why you married her \/ why you married him in the first place. Maybe go home and put your arm around her and say: \u201cI\u2019d marry you all over again\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kevin:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014\u201cone of the best decisions I\u2019ve ever made in all of my life.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> When we talk to couples about the issue of marital intimacy at our <em>Weekend to Remember<\/em> marriage getaways, we talk about how critical companionship is for intimacy to be all that God designed for it to be. We\u2019re better lovers when we\u2019re better friends. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s a part of the thesis, Kevin, in your book, <em>Friends, Partners &amp; Lovers<\/em>, which we\u2019ve got in our <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Resource Center. Our listeners can go online at FamilyLifeToday.com for more information about how to get a copy of your book; or if you\u2019d like to find out when a getaway is happening in a city near where you live, the information\u2019s available at FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can call if you have any questions at 1-800-FL-TODAY\u20141-800-358-6329.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, talking about the <em>Weekend to Remember<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> marriage getaway, we have sent out a number of gift certificates to getaways, here, in the last couple of weeks; because we\u2019ve had some listeners who\u2019ve gotten in touch with us and said, \u201cWe\u2019d like to be Legacy Partners.\u201d Legacy Partners are those families who come together and, on a monthly basis, provide the financial foundation for the ministry of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> to continue. You help keep this program on your local radio station, and you help the ministry of FamilyLife expand into countries all around the world. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou help us reach more people, more regularly, every time you make a donation to <em>FamilyLife Today. <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u00a0<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThose of you who have become new Legacy Partners this month, all of your donations for the next 12 months are going to be matched, dollar for dollar, up to a total of a half-million dollars because of matching-gift funds that have been made available to us, here, during the month of May. In addition, you\u2019re receiving a gift certificate for a <em>Weekend to Remember<\/em> that you can use for yourself, or you can share with a friend, a family member, [or] one of your kids. The gift certificate is our way of saying, \u201cThank you for partnering with us.\u201d We appreciate those of you who help make the ministry of <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>possible. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re praying that there will be 300 new Legacy Partners during the month of May\u2014that\u2019s six individuals or families from every state in America. We\u2019re asking if you would be one of the six from your state to become a new Legacy Partner. You can find out more when you go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Sign up online and get your gift certificate for a <em>Weekend to Remember<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOr call 1-800-FL-TODAY, and we can answer any questions you have over the phone. \u201cThanks,\u201d in advance, for being a part of the team that make <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>possible. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd we hope you can join us back tomorrow. Kevin Thompson will be here again. We\u2019re going to talk more about how husbands and wives can be better partners in marriage\u2014how we can come together and work together on things that matter to both of us. We\u2019ll talk about that tomorrow. I hope you can be with us for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you back next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas; a Cru<sup>\u00ae <\/sup>Ministry. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2018 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/300241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=300241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=300241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=300241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=300241"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=300241"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=300241"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=300241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}