Several years ago I purchased an album by a piano player singer-songwriter named Vienna Teng. I’m just now listening to it seriously, and it is renewing my faith in music. There is still stunning beauty out there — music that can make me feel something — new things to do with melody and arrangements. Warning:Continue reading “Warm Strangers”
Author Archives: temparbor
Reading Scripture
A lot of people come to me, as a pastor, wanting to know if there are specific books they should read to help them study the Bible. Certainly those books are out there, but I think something else has to come first. People need instruction on how to read sacred writing. When I speak of howContinue reading “Reading Scripture”
Why you should ditch pornography in your sex life – Reason 2
In my last post I explained that one reason to not use pornography in the bedroom is because communication between men and women is often so delicate and difficult that there is a lot of room for exploitation, intentional or unintentional. Once this occurs, it is in the relationship and cannot be easily reversed. ItContinue reading “Why you should ditch pornography in your sex life – Reason 2”
Why you should ditch pornography in your sex life – Reason 1
In my previous post I said the only two guidelines for sex in a marriage relationship are 1) it should not exploit or humiliate anyone; and 2) it should not involve anyone except the two partners (including vicariously through pornography). That post, as I expected, had very high readership, but no one asked me whyContinue reading “Why you should ditch pornography in your sex life – Reason 1”
Sex Advice for Premarital Couples (S is for Sex)
My middle daughter, Kyra, and I are continuing our commitment to blog all the way through the alphabet. Rather than lasting 26 days, we’re going on almost a year now, but we’re gonna get it done. I predict almost no one is going to care about how long this post is. It contains my bestContinue reading “Sex Advice for Premarital Couples (S is for Sex)”
Staying Open, Choosing Life
Today I was thinking about all the different perspectives people bring to the world. Some people are happy and optimistic. Some are always negative. Some believe if they work hard they will eventually succeed. Others believe in fate — that life is already laid out for them and there’s nothing they can do to changeContinue reading “Staying Open, Choosing Life”
Truly transformational counseling, prt. 2
Today I want to give you the last five of ten questions and issues you may end up considering in counseling that is deeply transformational. 6. Where is God in the darkest, nastiest places in your life? We know God is with us, so wherever you are, God is there too. But what is GodContinue reading “Truly transformational counseling, prt. 2”
Truly transformational counseling, prt. 1
Most counseling, if done well by the therapist, and taken seriously and applied by the client (both very big ifs), can be transformational on some level. But there is an approach that will dig WAY down, really help you uncover some amazing stuff about yourself, and help you get free to experience incredibly powerful change.Continue reading “Truly transformational counseling, prt. 1”
My Broken-Hearted Summer
[I normally try not to use a lot of scripture in my posts, because I have a lot of readers who do not relate to it. Please bear with me. This post, unlike most others, was written not primarily for my readers, but for me. Still, I really hope it speaks to someone.] This summer,Continue reading “My Broken-Hearted Summer”
Heartquake
Until the moment my first child was born, I didn’t have the capacity to love a child. I know this because of the magnitude of the heartquake I experienced when I first saw her. In that moment, everything began to shake. All of my assumptions about myself. All of my selfish worries that I couldn’tContinue reading “Heartquake”
Temp Arbor 