To Become One: After "I Do" the Real Journey Begins

I have read plenty of marriage and relationship books, and this one was definitely different from most. I appreciated the focus on each spouse's relationship with God as the impetus for desiring to be a better mate and to serve your spouse. It was somewhat philosophical, and I prefer a practical approach to things. But it was good if you would like a different perspective.

It's about time somebody wrote a book on relationships without stuffing us full of the latest Christian Propaganda.Other books have focused on topics like why dating is not a "Christian practice" or even better how "pleasing your spouse" should be the number one goal in your marriage. But not this book...Chad Karger and Chris Seay take the bold, though disturbingly seldom taught, road that says "Christ alone" must be the center of a fruitful and fulfilling relationship. The redeeming power of Christ is vividly seen through the Word of God and their own life experiences. They have also added the interesting dynamic of comments by thier wives in various places throughout the book; and as most guys know, your wife/ girlfriend always has the "true" story. I would reccomend this book to anyone, whether you are contemplating dating or have been married for years. That is the beauty of this book, when you take the focus off "me" and put it on "CHRIST" the message comes to life, and so do relationships. It is not the a magic cure or 10 steps to the perfect relationship, rather, it is a guide to help you "struggle well" on your journey.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's an easy read and it's got a lot of substance. The presentation of relationships in light of the Sermon on the Mount is refreshing. Their understanding of scripture is as challenging and their understanding of the glory of God is inspiring. For this reason I recommend this book to those who aren't even dealing with dating issues. Pastors and teachers could benefit from studying the way the authors relate their own experiences to scripture. Far too often pastors paint weak, impotent and irrelevant pictures of God, scripture and the church's role in people's lives. This book is a stark contrast to the me-driven gospel that many of us are so used to hearing. This book is not the final word on relationships. If you are looking for such a book you are looking for the wrong thing. However, this book is different from most of the other books on this topic and will help you address some relevant and challenging issues that you may have overlooked. I can't promise that you will like this book but it will make you think.