{"id":304706,"date":"2017-10-02T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/enjoying-marriage-in-the-midst-of-the-grind\/"},"modified":"2017-10-02T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-02T15:00:00","slug":"enjoying-marriage-in-the-midst-of-the-grind","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/enjoying-marriage-in-the-midst-of-the-grind\/","title":{"rendered":"Enjoying Marriage in the Midst of the Grind"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ted Cunningham reflects on his fun-loving engagement and marriage to his bride of 17 years, Amy, but admits that the early years of matrimony weren&#8217;t without their challenges.<\/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\/fl2017-10-02.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:25:15","filesize":"23.11M","filesize_raw":"24236002","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2082,2810,2862],"tags":[6323,6322,6325,4213,2877,6324],"podcast_series":[8046],"cwp_profile":[9366],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-304706","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication","category-growing-spiritually","category-understanding-differences","tag-being-open","tag-fun","tag-fun-loving","tag-love","tag-marriage","tag-vulnerable","podcast_series-fun-loving-you","cwp_profile-ted-cunningham","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\/304706\/enjoying-marriage-in-the-midst-of-the-grind","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/304706\/enjoying-marriage-in-the-midst-of-the-grind","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=\"mArEFI1VbH\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/enjoying-marriage-in-the-midst-of-the-grind\/\">Enjoying Marriage in the Midst of the Grind<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/enjoying-marriage-in-the-midst-of-the-grind\/embed\/#?secret=mArEFI1VbH\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Enjoying Marriage in the Midst of the Grind&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"mArEFI1VbH\" 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":"Ted Cunningham reflects on his fun-loving engagement and marriage to his bride of 17 years, Amy, but admits that the early years of matrimony weren't without their challenges.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2017-10-02.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Pastor and author, Ted Cunningham, believes that there are a lot of little things in marriage that often cause conflict\u2014that if husbands and wives would simply handle correctly, they could be a real source of joy instead. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>We want to find every frustrating aspect of marriage and find a way to decide how to enjoy that: \u201cWe\u2019re done changing each other,\u201d We\u2019re done fixing each other,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re done blaming each other,\u201d \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be plugged into one another as a source of life. We want to plug into the <em>true<\/em> and only source of light\u2014Jesus.\u201d The best marriages on the planet\u2014where a husband and wife are both plugged into the true and only source of life and giving to one another the overflow\u2014that\u2019s the type of marriage we want. \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 Monday, October 2<sup>nd<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and I\u2019m Bob Lepine. Ted Cunningham believes that we can make our marriages more <em>fun<\/em> than they currently are. We\u2019ll talk about how to do that today. 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 on the Monday edition. You know, there have been times when Mary Ann and I have been with young couples, doing premarital work\u2014just getting them ready for what\u2019s coming up with a wedding\u2014I have often tried to stress the fact that marriage is hard \/ that marriage takes <em>work<\/em>\u2014that you\u2019re going to have to be committed. And Mary Ann, after a while of me doing this\u2014she\u2019ll stop and she\u2019ll say, \u201cYou know, it\u2019s\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Try to tell them it\u2019s good too?\u00a0 [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: \u201c<\/strong>It\u2019s a lot of fun too. [Laughter]\u00a0 We like it!\u00a0 I mean, you do have to remember that \u2018Yes, it is hard \/ it does take work\u2019; but there is some real joy that comes in being married.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>There is; and that\u2019s what we are all about, here, on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>\u2014every day, hopefully, bringing the principles of Scripture to your home to help you apply them in your marriage \/ in your family. I just want to say, here at the outset\u2014just a \u201cThank you,\u201d to a number of Legacy Partners who make this broadcast possible. \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\tI want to name a couple of them: There is Elaine, who lives in Smithville, Missouri. There is Alyssa from Van Nuys, California. There\u2019s Eloy and Natalie from Covina, California\u2014and Eric and Tonya from Colorado Springs. I want to say, \u201cThank you for making this broadcast available to literally hundreds of thousands of marriages and families, all across the country.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd I want to introduce our \u201cShow Me State\u201d partner for the broadcast today. [Laughter] Ted Cunningham joins us on the broadcast. Ted, welcome to the show. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>I\u2019ve been looking forward to this for a <em>long<\/em> time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Ted is from Branson, Missouri, folks\u2014now, if you didn\u2019t know where that was, that\u2019s 30 miles south of Ozark. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Now, they\u2019ve got it!\u00a0\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Sure! That\u2019s where I grew up\u2014a sleepy little town when I was there, Ted\u201413\/14 hundred people, both in Ozark and Branson. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Do you have a theater?\u00a0 You have your own theater there?\u00a0 \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>Ted: <\/strong>Not myself, personally, but there\u2019s\u2014we\u2019ve got a lot of them \/ a lot\u2014country music capital of the world. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Ted is a graduate of Liberty University, and he is also a graduate of <em>The <\/em>Dallas Theological Seminary. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong><em>The<\/em> Dallas Theological Seminary; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Don\u2019t you like that?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>He is married to Amy since 1996, and they have two children. He has written a book called <em>Fun Loving You<\/em>, and it\u2019s really built around a Proverb\u2014Proverbs 17:22: \u201cA joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.\u201d\u00a0 You really believe that; don\u2019t you?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>I do. And I believe the message that has found its way into the church\u2014it goes something like this [speaking with heavy voice]: \u201cGod gave you your spouse to drag you down and drain the life out of you so you can be more like Jesus.\u201d [Laughter] And I\u2019ve got to be honest with you\u2014it\u2019s what you shared at the beginning there, Bob\u2014we\u2019re giving this: \u201cMarriage is hard\u2014it\u2019s difficult \/ it\u2019s painful. \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\u201cYou need to choose\u2014whether you want a good quality of life or marriage\u2014because to have both at the same time\u2026\u201d Our young people are really avoiding marriage because of this message. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You\u2019re not writing another <em>Laugh Your Way to a Great Marriage<\/em>\u2014not that there is anything wrong with that\u2014but that\u2019s not what this book is all about. You just believe that what\u2019s taking place in the heart\u2014that a cheerful spirit is <em>really<\/em> important in having and sustaining a great marriage. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Absolutely; and it is <em>decisions<\/em> that you make. I\u2019m always honoring the seniors in our church and in our town. Branson, Missouri\u2014we minister to <em>millions<\/em> of tourists a year; and the majority of them are seniors. They came to our town\u2014I\u2019m using these words to define them\u2014duty, sacrifice, commitment, loyalty, honor. They knew how to make decisions to stay committed. <br><br>As Dr. Jeremiah says, \u201cIntegrity is sticking with your commitment after circumstances have changed,\u201d\u2014I love that!\u00a0 \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\tThe older generations learned how to stick with marriage, and they made that decision out of their character. I believe the decision to enjoy life together flows from the <em>exact<\/em> same place that the decision to stay married for life comes from\u2014and that comes from your character. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>I\u2019m guessing you\u2019re just one of those positive, upbeat kind of guys, generally. I mean, somebody who writes a book, <em>Fun Loving You,<\/em> is probably just a guy who is a half-full-glass kind of guy; and this was easy for you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Believe it or not; no. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Really? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>I probably\u2014I\u2019m a Type-A \/ hard-charging: \u201cLet\u2019s get it done\u201d; but: \u201cWe can have fun while we do this. We want to enjoy life together.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI tell the young guys in our church, all the time, who are finding their romance in porn \/ their adventure in video games\u2014I tell them: \u201cListen, guys, you don\u2019t have to choose between life and a wife. You can have both at the exact same time. Don\u2019t go with the culture that says, \u2018Marriage is going to be miserable.\u2019\u00a0 Don\u2019t even allow, maybe, the model that you grew up with\u2014before your very eyes, every single day\u2014be the decision for your marriage.\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\u00a0\u201cYou can decide the quality you are going to bring <em>into<\/em> marriage.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe love this term\u2014compatibility. It\u2019s become the new socially-acceptable term for: \u201cWe choose no longer to get along.\u201d\u00a0 When I hear someone say, \u201cWe\u2019re not compatible,\u201d what they are really saying is: \u201cWe\u2019ve <em>made<\/em> the decision to no longer get along.\u201d\u00a0 Compatibility flows from character; you know?\u00a0 <em>Enjoying<\/em> life together is a decision that we make, and I believe both husband and wife can make it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Your romance with Amy, I\u2019m afraid, is a little bit like a storybook romance that occurred at Liberty University\u2014it was love at first sight. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>It was a blind date\u2014I remember Smith Mountain Lake. I was the Junior Class President at Liberty. We go out on the lake\u2014my <em>friend<\/em> set this up. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Are you saying she was lucky to get a date with you?\u2014is that what you are\u2014[Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>She was. [Laughter]\u00a0 About halfway through dinner, I looked at my buddy, who set the blind date up; and I said, \u201cI\u2019m going to marry this woman.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Really?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted:<\/strong> He said, \u201cYou can\u2019t decide that this early!\u201d\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>Dennis:<\/strong> You said that half way through the dinner?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted:<\/strong> Half way through dinner. And how many people can say blind date with Dr. Jerry Falwell and Macel Falwell? Not a lot of people get to have their first dates\u2014[Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> That\u2019s right; that\u2019s right. So take me back to the date. You were\u2014where were you?\u2014Smith Field?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted:<\/strong> Smith Mountain Lake\u2014it\u2019s where they filmed that movie, <em>What About Bob<\/em>?\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>Ted:<\/strong> I was in charge of the cruise; so I was pretty stressed out of making sure everything goes off well. It was the cruise that Dr. Falwell happened to be on. But ringing in my head were his words that we heard\u2014I can\u2019t tell you how many times, in Chapel at Liberty. He was pro-dating\u2014I mean, big-time pro-dating \/ he was pro- marriage. He would step up and say: \u201cIf, young man, you leave this school without a wife, there\u2019s something wrong. [Laughter] Look around. Guys, this is it! You need to be dating.\u201d He said\u2014this one I loved: \u201cIf you have your eye on a young lady, who\u2019s dating someone else, but that guy doesn\u2019t have enough commitment to ask her to be his wife\u2014\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\u2014you can move in on it. [Laughter] No problem\u2014you tell him.\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Well, it was love at first sight for you?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. [Laughter] It took <em>a lot<\/em> of convincing\u2014nine months\u2014it took me to convince her.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>She didn\u2019t have that good of a time on the first date. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>No. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It was kind of a dud for her. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>She didn\u2019t, but let me tell you what I did. I took every single balloon\u2014every Mylar balloon \/ there were probably 40 or 50 of them\u2014off of that boat. I asked her roommate to put them in her room. When she came back from Chapel the next day, her room was just stuffed full of the Mylar balloons from the cruise, with a note saying: \u201cI had a great time. I\u2019d like to take you out again.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And she thought, \u201cWhy would I want to do that again?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. [Laughter]\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t fun on the first date\u2014I will tell you that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>What was it\u2014halfway through the first date\u2014that caused you to say, \u201cThis is the girl I want to marry\u201d?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes; it was watching her interact with those around her. We were at a table that probably had eight or ten folks sitting at it\u2014and just watching her conversation and interacting. I had seen her around campus; and I just knew: \u201cHey, this is it. This is it,\u201d \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\u2014so, I made the decision that night. Then, this one thing\u2014I love sharing about relationship formation\u2014that, you know, you have to involve other people in the decisions, at some point. And so\u2014[Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes; you can\u2019t just decide\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. [Laughter] So, I asked her 6\u20192\u2019\u2019 full-blooded, Norwegian father, \u201cCan I marry your daughter?\u201d\u00a0 To which, he responded, \u201cYou betcha!\u201d\u00a0 [Laughter] I said, \u201cBut only under one condition\u201d\u2014because I had\u2014I was graduating, and Amy had a year left. I said, \u201cI\u2019ll marry her before her senior year if you allow me to pay for her senior year of college.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Wow!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>To which, he responded, \u201cYou betcha!\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis and Bob: <\/strong>\u201cYou betcha!\u201d\u00a0 [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, there has to be a great story\u2014if a guy delivers 40 balloons to his, not even girlfriend, to just a young lady you\u2019re trying to impress. You had to go all-out on the proposal. How did you propose?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Okay; see, now, that\u2019s not a great story \/ that was a tough one. I was planning on proposing at Disney World, right there at the Castle\u2014\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\u2014a big family vacation after my college graduation\u2014but <em>I couldn\u2019t<\/em>, because I hadn\u2019t asked her dad yet. I\u2019m just one of these old-school guys, who just believes you\u2019ve got to have the blessing of the father. So, we bypassed a Disney proposal for an Italian dinner proposal in Fremont, Nebraska\u2014that\u2019s where it came. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>I wish I could tell you it was something really spectacular, but it was one of these\u2014you know, I was going to be an associate pastor in South Georgia. She was going to stay there for six months\u2014do all the wedding planning. We were going to get married, go back, and start life. So, it was engagement one night, gone for six months the next, and back for the wedding. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Wow! At least, you did it in Johnny Carson\u2019s hometown. [Laughter] I\u2019ll give you that\u2014right?\u2014Fremont, Nebraska. [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, you all have been married since \u201996. Ever had a dark moment in those years?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes; I would say the first seven years\u2014like most couples\u2014\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\u2014were the toughest. Those were the: \u201cI\u2019m going to blame you for all of my unhappiness. I\u2019m going to blame you for everything going wrong.\u201d\u00a0 Most young couples\u2014and we were in this same boat\u2014plugged into one another as the source of \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tlife \/ dependent on one another for happiness, and joy, and fun, and\u2014 \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>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, you couldn\u2019t have written the book, <em>Fun Loving You<\/em>, at the end of those seven years?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes; I was instructed to not write a book until, yes, you had been married, at least, ten years: \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be married, at least ten years, before you write any sort of book.\u201d Yes; so, those first seven years\u2014I remember the first time she was in bed, reading a book on how men think\u2014not a real thick book\u2014you can read it in about a night. [Laughter]\u00a0 And I remember her turning the pages\u2014it was Shaunti Feldhahn\u2019s book, <em>For Women Only<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Sure. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>And she is turning the pages, and I just remember her getting <em>mad<\/em>\u2014I mean, frustrated. She puts the book down; and she says, \u201cI\u2019ve got to ask you a question.\u201d\u00a0 And I\u2019m like, \u201cAh, this is not going to be good.\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\tWe\u2019d been married, just at seven years; and she goes, \u201cI want to know\u2014have you ever struggled with lust towards another woman?\u201d Now, let me teach all the listeners something; alright?\u00a0 You start acting as though you didn\u2019t hear the question. [Laughter]\u00a0 I said, \u201cHuh?!\u201d\u00a0 And she said, \u201cHave you ever struggled with lust toward another woman?\u201d Tactic two\u2014you act as though you didn\u2019t understand the question: [Laughter] \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d\u00a0 And then, I knew we were going there. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd the three parts of a man\u2019s heart\u2014there is that public part \/ we\u2019ll share with the stranger on the street. There is the private part \/ we\u2019ll share with family and friends. But then, there\u2019s that third part that we don\u2019t let anyone in \/ we don\u2019t want anyone to know about\u2014we try to hide from God, Himself. And I just knew that we were going to have this <em>long<\/em> conversation about the way men think and how her, at that time, 29-year-old husband, you know\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You were a graduate of a theological seminary. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes! Still keeping the secret\u2014right?\u2014of how men think. So, Shaunti and I are friends, now; but we weren\u2019t for years. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>You finally did come clean with her and say, \u201cThis is what goes on\u201d?\u00a0 \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>Dennis: <\/strong>But let\u2019s talk about, for a moment: \u201cWhy do men avoid opening up their hearts to their wives?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes; safety\u2014they don\u2019t feel safe. I have to be in a judgment-free zone before I\u2019ll share. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019ve been to men\u2019s events. I really struggle at a lot of men\u2019s events when I hear guys or speakers say things like this: \u201cLet\u2019s just admit it, guys; there are a lot of things we can\u2019t share with our wives.\u201d\u00a0 I always cringe and kind of bristle when I hear that\u2014going, \u201cHey, do we really want that message out there that there should be things that I share at a seven o\u2019clock men\u2019s prayer breakfast that I can\u2019t share with my wife?\u201d I would rather give the message that: \u201cLet\u2019s create safety in the home. Let\u2019s create an environment where I can share openly \/ my wife can share openly with me.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI remember, Dennis, that week\u2014it was like mourning a death for a week\u2014it was <em>not<\/em> good. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, the truth came out\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014that you struggled?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>That we struggle; yes. And I remember first sharing this with her, going: \u201cHow did you not know this?!\u00a0 \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\u201cHave you\u2014we went to Liberty!\u201d\u00a0 We heard\u2014I can\u2019t tell you\u2014<em>countless<\/em> talks on this; but now, it\u2019s in her marriage \/ now, it\u2019s in her marriage. She\u2019s going, \u201cI want to just figure this out.\u201d\u00a0 Boy, you want to talk about a week or two of difficult, painful conversations. I even watched her, going into stores, looking\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014at where you were looking. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>\u2014where I was looking and where every man in the place was looking\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>Ted: <\/strong>\u2014like, \u201cWhere are the eyes in this room right now?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I want you to speak to a wife, though, who\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014is thinking about asking the question, right now\u2014but what do you want her to <em>know<\/em>, besides the safety issue\u2014what do you want her to <em>know<\/em> before she asks that question?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Well, I would ask <em>yourself<\/em> this question before you ask him this question: \u201cAm I safe?\u00a0 Can I, right now, be trusted with the answer that I know I\u2019m going to get?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes; if he says, \u201cI struggle,\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>\u201cI struggle.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014\u201cHow am I going to respond to this?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>\u201cHow am I going to respond to this?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And I would agree with you; because I share a story of how, early in our marriage, I confessed to my wife I was struggling with lust. \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>Bob: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I\u2019ve shared that story, publicly. I\u2019ve had men come up to me after the message and say: \u201cI could never share that with my wife. She would fall apart. She would think she is not enough for me \/ I\u2019m not satisfied with her.\u201d\u00a0 That\u2019s the way a lot of women think. \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>Ted: <\/strong>Yes; you know one thing Gary Smalley had me do one time?\u00a0 He said: \u201cGo home and ask Amy what she would feel and what she would think if she knew you were viewing pornography or if she came in and saw you viewing pornography. I want you to get that in your head, Ted.\u201d\u00a0 I was probably early 30\u2019s, and I did. I went home and said, \u201cAmy, what would you think and feel if you caught me viewing porn?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd to her\u2014now, this is my wife\u2014this is Amy Cunningham. She said, \u201cTo me, it would be no different, feelings-wise, than you having an affair.\u201d\u00a0 She said: \u201cIt would be the exact same. It would be betrayal\u2014you couldn\u2019t be trusted.\u201d\u00a0 But going back to that conversation, seven years into our marriage\u2014it was the <em>best<\/em> thing that ever happened to our marriage. \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\tI would tell the guy that\u2019s telling that\u2014because I\u2019ve been at the conferences, where they line up, and the guy says, \u201cI could never say that,\u201d\u2014but behind him is a guy wearing an ankle bracelet, under house arrest, who may be going to jail pretty soon because he <em>didn\u2019t<\/em> deal with the lust issue. It turned into a pornography addiction, and it turned into acting out in ways that are now going to take him down a road he never planned on. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, have the conversation because the story ends well for us\u2014even within a couple of weeks\u2014because Amy said, \u201cI, Ted Cunningham, want to be your only\u2014not number one\u2014your <em>only<\/em> fantasy. I want to be the one that you\u2019re thinking.\u201d I tell people, \u201cThere is a Hebrew term for that.\u201d\u00a0 The Hebrew term is <em>Bbau-bau-chickie-bau-bau<\/em>\u2014 [Laughter]\u2014okay?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I was reviewing\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>That\u2019s from Dallas Theological Seminary. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I was reviewing my Hebrew, and I was going, \u201cI don\u2019t remember that term!\u201d\u00a0 [Laughter]\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes; but you didn\u2019t stay long in your Hebrew class. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>No; I didn\u2019t \/ I didn\u2019t. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>And I would say that part of the <em>Fun Loving You<\/em> message is: \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\u201cYou have to have the hard conversation to get to the fun in almost every single area.\u201d We put in there the \u201cFun Loving You\u201d list. We want to find every frustrating aspect of marriage and find a way to decide how to enjoy that: \u201cWe\u2019re done changing each other,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re done fixing each other,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re done blaming each other, \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be plugged into one another as a source of life. We want to plug into the <em>true<\/em> and only source of life\u2014Jesus.\u201d The best marriages on the planet\u2014where a husband and a wife are both plugged into the true and only source of life and giving one another the overflow\u2014that\u2019s the type of marriage we want. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd going back to what we opened this broadcast with is\u2014it is difficult \/ it is painful\u2014but what we need young people to see, as was shared with you, is just the joy that comes out of that. \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>Ted: <\/strong>We\u2019re not supposed to run from the trials\u2014we know that character, and perseverance, and hope all flow from that\u2014so, we\u2019re not afraid of the hard conversations. We just want couples to know that compatibility is the <em>mingling<\/em> of your differences\u2014\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\u2014and taking those frustrating and those difficult conversations and saying, \u201cWe\u2019re going to work through this,\u201d because compatibility is not something you find, or test for, or stumble into\u2014but it\u2019s something that is <em>built<\/em> over a long period of time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>See, I think the media image of how you get to \u201cFun Loving You\u201d is: \u201cIt just happens naturally,\u201d and \u201cThere need be no hard conversations, and no struggle, and no work. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: \u201c<\/strong>It just happens.\u201d And when the spark is there, it\u2019s fun; and when the spark goes away, you go find somebody else to have fun with. What you are saying is: \u201cThere is a deeper fun than just the trivial \u2018Hey, we had an enjoyable evening together.\u2019\u00a0 There is a fun that comes from oneness\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>\u2014\u201cthat\u2019s deeper than any other kind of fun there is.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes; if you think about the eHarmony and Match.com commercials\u2014I know they are <em>geared<\/em> toward singles\u2014but I always wonder about the husband, at home at night, watching television in a frustrating, painful marriage\u2014watching that commercial, and taking that message, and applying it to his life, saying: \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\u00a0\u201cWell, there\u2019s the problem\u2014we never took a test. We\u2019re not compatible\u201d\u2014\u00a0 \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>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>\u2014and \u201cI think we were like that, at one point. We enjoyed one another like that, and I would like to get back to that,\u201d\u2014but here is the disconnect\u2014\u201cIn order for me to enjoy life like that again, I will never be able to do it with her. \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<br><strong>Ted: <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m going to have to find somebody new.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, the guy who is watching that commercial and thinking that, what do you say to him?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Well, again, we are from the Ozarks. So, I\u2019m going to use my word pictures from the Ozarks: \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>Ted: \u201c<\/strong>Where the grass is greener, there is a septic leak; [Laughter] and it is nasty.\u201d So, for a good time\u2014call home \/ stay home. Let us show you how you can take this frustrating\/painful marriage, right now, and get to a place where you are enjoying life together again\u2014because I believe it\u2019s possible. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It\u2019s not a matter of trading in one model and finding another\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>No. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014one that\u2019s better, because every model is broken. That\u2019s what people don\u2019t really get. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m glad you mentioned commitment because I do think that\u2019s where it starts\u2014\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\tfirst, to Christ \/ secondly, to the Scripture\u2014because, as you\u2019ve written in your book and as I read through it, it\u2019s really about going to the blueprints of Scripture and doing your building off the same set of blueprints, as a couple. That\u2019s a winning recipe for a couple building the right kind of home. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut I think, also, one of the reasons why couples don\u2019t go the distance today is they don\u2019t anticipate these kinds of moments when there is a hard question\u2014one you can\u2019t answer or one where the truth is going to hurt. Then, the other reason they don\u2019t go the distance is because they don\u2019t <em>know<\/em> other couples, who are willing to admit a story like you just shared. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I had to talk to my wife about lust; okay?\u00a0 It was uncomfortable \/ I didn\u2019t want to go there. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And because they don\u2019t hear authentic people, they get locked up into isolation\u2014they think: \u201cI\u2019m the only\u2014I\u2019m the only person in the world that feels this way. We\u2019re the only couple that is going through this. This is all wrong!\u201d\u00a0 And they quit \/ they quit early\u2014\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<br><strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>\u2014way too early when marriage is made for people who run a marathon\u2014long distance. You\u2019ve got to hang in there, and you\u2019ve got to run through the valleys. And it\u2019s not always going to be as the title of your book says\u2014it\u2019s not always going to be <em>Fun Loving You<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ted: <\/strong>Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>There are going to be some moments\u2014Barbara and I have experienced them\u2014there are going to be some moments that are <em>tough<\/em> \/ they are just tough. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, that\u2019s why the subtitle of the book is <em>Enjoying Your Marriage in the Midst of the Grind<\/em>\u2014because there can be grind in marriage. But if you\u2019re intentional, as a couple, you don\u2019t let the little things that grind you down turn into huge irritants. Of course, we\u2019ve got copies of Ted\u2019s book in our <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Resource Center. I would encourage listeners go online to get a copy of the book and learn what Ted and Amy have done in their marriage. Again, the book is called <em>Fun Loving You<\/em>. You can order it, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com; or you can call to order\u20141-800-FL-TODAY. Again, the website\u2014\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\u2014FamillyLifeToday.com\u2014or call to order at 1-800-358-6329. That\u2019s 1-800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, our goal, here, at <em>FamilyLife<\/em> is to equip couples to effectively develop godly marriages and families. We believe godly marriages and families can change the world, one home at a time. So we want to provide practical biblical help and hope for your marriage \/ for your family. We try to do that every day, here, on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>; we try to do it on our website at FamilyLifeToday.com; the resources that we create; the events that we host\u2014all of them have that same goal in mind. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFor those of you who partner with us in this ministry, as donors to <em>FamilyLife Today, <\/em>you are enabling us to expand the reach of this ministry. You\u2019re helping us take this message to more people <em>every<\/em> day. We\u2019re grateful for that partnership. \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\tWe\u2019re grateful whenever we hear from\u2014a couple \/ from a mom or a dad\u2014people who tell us that <em>FamilyLifeToday<\/em> is making a difference in their lives. Thank you for your part in making that happen. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tToday, if you\u2019re able to help with a donation, we\u2019d love to say, \u201cThank you,\u201d by sending Dennis Rainey\u2019s brand-new book\u2014it\u2019s a book called <em>Choosing a Life That Matters<\/em>. It\u2019s all about what really matters in life. It\u2019s all about the choices we face and how we can make <em>wise<\/em> decisions that will establish a foundation for our life on which marriages and families and, really, all of life can be built. You can get a copy of Dennis\u2019s new book when you make a donation of any amount today. Go, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com to donate; or call 1-800-FL-TODAY to make a donation; or you can mail you donation to<em> FamilyLife Today<\/em> at PO Box 7111, Little Rock, AR; and our zip code is 72223. \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\tNow, tomorrow, we\u2019re going to talk about how some of the little things that bug us about each other \/ some of the little nuances that cause some irritation in marriage can actually be a source of great joy and fun in your marriage. You think that\u2019s possible? Ted Cunningham is going to be here tomorrow to explain how we make that happen. I hope that you can be here as well. \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\u2019m 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. \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> 2017 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>\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\/304706","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=304706"}],"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=304706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=304706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=304706"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=304706"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=304706"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=304706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}