“Engagement”

How do you deal with jealousy when your partner has best friends of the opposite sex?

How do you know when you’re ready to move from dating to engagement?

If you're getting too intimate in your relationship, how do you stop?

These questions and more are addressed in today's podcast when Dr. Chris and Alisa Grace dive deep into topics of jealousy and insecurity, maturity for advancing relationships, and crossing boundaries in relationships. Their supportive insight guides couples to push aside their physical intmacy and keep God at the center of their relationship.

No ring by spring? Not to worry. In today's blog, author Debra Fileta describes how to cope when life doesn't go according to our own plans, and how we can take comfort that God's plan is perfectly lined up and 1000 times more creative than what we could plan ourselves.

Dear CMR:

What are some specific questions that my girlfriend and I should talk about to see if we should get married?

Signed, 

Ready to Get Hitched?

Dear CMR,

I have been dating my girlfriend for five years, and I’m getting ready to propose. She has taken out loans to pay for grad school, but I have a nest egg I can use to pay them off now. If we are getting married in 1.5 years, should I pay off her school loan now or wait until we are married?

Signed,

Avoiding Debt

Dear CMR,

I have been dating my girlfriend for five years, and I’m getting ready to propose. She has taken out loans to pay for grad school, but I have a nest egg I can use to pay them off now. If we are getting married in 1.5 years, should I pay off her school loan now or wait until we are married?

Signed,

Avoiding Debt

Chris and Tim got together over Zoom this week to answer listener questions on the Art of Relationships podcast. Today’s topic covers accountability partners: is it okay to be accountability partners with the person you are dating? What is the line between authenticity and oversharing?

Doesn’t it make sense to save money by living together before marriage? According to research, cohabitation actually has negative consequences on the longevity of the relationship. In this episode, we share fascinating insights on the differences between couples who are cohabitating and couples who are married.

When we find someone who is compatible with us, we most likely find that person more attractive, develop greater intimacy and connection, and establish a solid friendship. It is clear that compatibility matters – so what are the types of compatibility that are most important to determining relational health and success? In this podcast, we explore three types of core compatibility and what they mean for our relationships.