The Passion Principles: Celebrating Sexual Freedom in Marriage

by Shannon Ethridge

Overview

Move beyond the mechanics of sex to a rich and rewardingconnection!

God’s desire is for couples to enjoy vibrant sexualrelationships without inhibition, awkwardness, fear, resentment, guilt, orshame. With honesty and frankness, life coach and best-selling author ShannonEthridge opens the minds of both husbands and wives to embrace a lifestyle of passionand pleasure.

Divided into four sections, The Passion Principles helps couples celebrate the spiritual,mental, emotional, and physical dimensions of sexuality. Questions include:

• Whatwas God thinking when He created sex?
• Whydo humans think about sex so much?
• Willthere be sex in heaven?
• Howdid we get such different ideas about sex and love?
• Howcan I get past his or her sexual past?
• Howcan I help my spouse heal from the sexual abuses he or she suffered?
• Whatif my heart is telling me I married the wrong person?
• Howcan we balance mismatched sex drives?

Some chapters end with questions for personalcontemplation or for couples to use as conversation starters, and otherchapters end with prayers that foster a deeper spiritual and emotionalconnection, making this book a perfect guide to a more passionate love life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780849964473
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	01/14/2014
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Shannon Ethridge is a best-selling author, international speaker, and certified life coach with a master’s degree in counseling human relations from Liberty University. She has spoken to youth, college students, and adults since 1989, and is the author of 21 books, including the million-copy best-selling Every Woman’s Battle series.She is a frequent guest on TVand radio programs, such as The Today Show , The 700 Club , New Life Live! with Stephen Arterburn, and Life Today with James and Betty Robison. She also mentors aspiring writers and speakers through her BLAST Program (Building Leaders, Authors, Speakers and Teachers). Although grateful for the opportunities to influence this generation as a writer and speaker, Shannon remains most passionate about her role as a wife and best friend to her husband, Greg, and a mother to daughter, Erin, and son, Matthew. Learn more at www.ShannonEthridge.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Foreword Gary Thomas xiii

Introduction xvii

Passion Principle #1 Celebrate the Spiritual Side of Sex

One + One = One

1 What was God thinking when He created sex? 3

2 Why does God say we have to be married to have sex? 11

3 What if we went too far sexually before we married? 16

The Genesis of Sex

4 What does the Old Testament say about sex? 21

5 Why is the Song of Solomon even in the Bible? 28

6 Why did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute? 33

The Gospel Truth

7 What did Jesus say about sex? And how can He possibly relate to our struggles? 40

8 Why is the relationship between Jesus and His church described as a Bridegroom/bride relationship? 47

9 What is the connection between sexuality and spirituality? 53

10 Will there be sex in heaven? 60

Playing by the Rule Book

11 How can we know that what we are doing in bed is okay with God? 65

12 How does the whole submission thing work in marriage? 70

13 What if we disagree on something sexual? Who wins that argument? 75

Passion Principle #2 Celebrate the Mental Side of Sex

Sex on the Brain

14 Why do humans think about sex so much? 83

15 Why do I so rarely/often think about sex in comparison to my spouse? 87

16 What is the difference between love and lust? 92

Getting on the Same Page

17 How did we get such different ideas about sex and love? 96

18 How can we get in the mood for sex more often? 99

19 Is it really possible to be "naked and feel no shame"? 104

Rules of (Mental) Engagement

20 Is it possible to stop thinking sexual thoughts? 112

21 What is the harm in using a little pornography to warm things up? 116

22 What if I want to turn a fantasy into a reality? 123

Moving Forward Mentally

23 How can I get past his or her sexual past? 128

24 How can I get past my own sexual past? 133

Passion Principle #3 Celebrate the Emotional Side of Sex

Moving Beyond Abuse

25 Is it possible to enjoy sex when I have been sexually abused? 141

26 Should I tell my spouse about the abuse or keep it to myself? 145

27 How can I help my spouse heal from the sexual abuses he or she suffered? 150

Moving Beyond Betrayal

28 What if I find it difficult to trust my spouse? 157

29 Can marital trust be reestablished when broken? If not, is divorce an option? 163

Evolution of a Relationship

30 What if my heart is telling me that I married the wrong person? 172

31 What is the secret to staying together forever? 178

Passion Principle #4 Celebrate the Physical Side of Sex

Hygiene 101

32 How can I bring my A-game into the bedroom? 189

33 How can we enjoy the afterglow without the after-mess? 194

Eureka!

34 How can I (re)discover my spouse's sexual hot spots? 199

35 How can we balance mismatched sex drives? 206

36 Will having children negatively affect our sex life? 215

Let Freedom Ring!

37 Is the "missionary position" the only "holy" way to have sex? 222

38 What about oral or anal sex in marriage? 226

39 What about sex toys in marriage? 234

Shannon's Question to You

40 Where is your "finish line"? 239

Notes 245

About the Author 251