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As 2018 comes to a close, Biola's Center for Marriage and Relationships (CMR) has been blessed to help strengthen all kinds of relationships from marriages and friendships to families and roommates. Using successful tools like our podcast episodes, our Marriage Mentoring curriculum, and events at universities and churches around the country, our impact has continued to grow this past year. 

The CMR is completely donor-funded by generous people like you. To ensure our future impact, a couple has given a generous gift of $25,000, and they want to challenge you to match that gift by the year's end. Would you prayerfully consider making a year-end gift to the Center for Marriage and Relationships by December 31? Together, we can continue helping people build and sustain healthy, Christ-centered relationships!

Dear CMR,

One of my close friends recently got involved with a friend group that is influencing him in a bad way. My friend is a Christian, but this group has convinced him to participate in things that the Bible clearly states is wrong like having sex before marriage and getting drunk often. I’m worried about my friend, but don’t know how or if I can talk to him about my concerns. How do I have a heart-to-heart with a friend who is going down the wrong path?

Signed,

Fearful Friend

The sun was just beginning to crest the mountains and spread scattered light through the trees. The quiet morning air was beginning to fill with the chirp of birds or the whistle of wind through the tall ancient pines. I could feel the cold mountain air in my lungs as I took an extended deep breath. I looked back at my tent and took in this beautiful woman lying there, still asleep. My wife. The moment sunk into my mind. I was married and spending a weekend away camping with my wife. Incredible. 

Is there a textbook way that people are supposed to grow up? How should a young adult spread their wings as they grow? As any parent would probably attest, each of their children is different, so it would follow that they grow into adulthood differently. How should parents encourage a child to step into responsibility and adulthood? Take a look at this video for some advice from Dr. Veola Vazquez.

Dear CMR,

This is a two-part question: My friend and I got into an interesting discussion the other day about Halloween and whether Christians should engage or not. Things got heated and we ended angry with each other and frustrated at the conversation. First, can you give some advice on how we might reconcile after the blowup? Second, can you share thoughts about Halloween and how Christians should or should not engage?

Signed,

Slightly Spooked.

In a culture of relationships, what happens when you find yourself not in one? In a culture that suggests your best life is complete when that other person enters the picture, how do you live as a single person? These questions are the topic of this article by Hannah Ellenwood. She suggests seven things to focus on as you walk through life when dating or marriage is not part of the picture. Read through these points. Which one resonates with you most?

According to some sources, 60% of people today cannot go over an hour without checking their phone. That is interesting, isn't it? In our world today, so much of our life is connected to our phones or computers. Whether it emails, text messages, calendar appointments, or social media, our devices have such a strong pull for attention. In this video, Dr. Tim Muehlhoff and Dr. Chris Grace explain what is going on when we try to balance technology and our relationships.

Dear CMR,

This is a two-part question: My friend and I got into an interesting discussion the other day about Halloween and whether Christians should engage or not. Things got heated and we ended angry with each other and frustrated at the conversation. First, can you give some advice on how we might reconcile after the blowup? Second, can you share thoughts about Halloween and how Christians should or should not engage?

Signed, Slightly Spooked.