Overcoming Fear In Uncertain Times
Anthrax. Bombings. Hijackings. In the world after September 11, feeling secure is an elusive goal. It seems that, at least of late, there is a new reason for fear almost daily. And with all the information that is available to us so quickly, if we want more scary things, we can all too easily find […]
Sorting Out Good and Bad
Have you ever had a relationship where you thought everything was going okay, and then you didn’t call home when you were going to be late and your partner treated you like you had leprosy? Or, have you thought you were doing well in golf, and then played a rotten game and felt enormous hatred […]
Skills for Bonding
Learning to bond won’t happen overnight. Making human connections takes a good dose of grace, truth and time. Here are some skills that will start you on the long road to making changes that heal. Realize the Need A careful reading of the Bible will show the value God places on connection. Paul uses the […]
Bonding
By Henry Cloud, Ph.D. Bonding is the ability to establish an emotional attachment to another person. It’s the ability to relate to another on the deepest lever. When two people have a bond with each other, they share their deepest thoughts, dreams, and feelings with each other with no fear that the other person will […]
Growth takes Time
A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. […]
Growth takes Grace and Truth
Our God is a God “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). We often hear the phrase “full of grace and truth,” but we rarely stop and realize its implications for our struggles here on earth. What are grace and truth? Why are they so important? Let’s take grace first. Grace is the unmerited favor […]
Does God or psychology provide the cure to emotional problems?
Every week I see Christians who are suffering from a whole range of emotional problems: anxiety, loneliness, grief over broken relationships, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy. Often they have been struggling with these problems for years. They are people in pain. The church is split on how to deal with these hurting people. Those on […]
Becoming Separate – Creating Healthy Boundaries
By Henry Cloud, Ph.D. In the last two “Features” we have talked about bonding. In the process of growth, bonding is the important first stage. Once bonding is established the process of separateness begins to “kick in.” Separateness is an important aspect of human identity. We are to be connected to others without losing our […]