Just as soil needs the right pH (alkaline vs. acid environment) and the right nutrients in order to grow healthy plants – a marriage also needs the right pH and right ingredients in order to provide for a healthy and happy relationship. An acid relationship could result in disaster, whereas an over alkaline relationship could be very superficial. The key to a healthy relationship, just like plant growth, is that which provides strong growth and balance.

There is no silver bullet for developing a healthy relationship. It takes work and it takes time. You don’t grow into being a wise adult in a day’s time. And you don’t learn how to develop that long lasting marital relationship through a one-page instruction guide. That is why this manual covers 16 chapters, about 150 pages, filled with a lot of meaningful self-development homework so that you and your fiancé/spouse get to know each other intimately. You will get the tools that will last you a lifetime.

Chapter Previews

• Individuals who will use the material for self-study.
• Pastors/Counselors/Mentors who are counseling or teaching the materials.
• For either self study or being taught/mentored - it applies to individuals getting married, already married, relationship issues/conflicts between family members, and conflicts between two or more people.

"Before taking the course, we would have paid $35 for the manual. We thought we had it all together – we believed we knew each other pretty well, but we wanted to be sure we were not overlooking anything before we got married. Now that we have completed the materials, it is worth more than a $400 investment because we learned a lot, and our relationship has truly been enriched. Is it worth it? Definitely."

Objectives & reasons for using this manual | Endorsements

1. The institution of marriage is no longer popular.
   
2. Confused roles, especially in Christian marriages.
3. Pessimism about marriage and its potential.
4. New sexual morality has changed premarital standards (Stevens, 1988).(Premarital counseling is even more crucial in the 21st century.)

It is about a man and a woman coming together to form a partnership/covenant relationship to achieve their goals. The long-term objective is to live out a fulfilling life with joy and happiness. However, there are many obstacles that can prevent this from happening. Thus the goal of this manual is to help identify and understand the thoughts and feelings of each person, how they would respond to different situations, and how their expectations play out in their relationship.

• "Marriage is the only game of chance in town where both players can either win or both lose!" (Wright & Roberts, 1997). In working together, using this manual will help you minimize the risk element of marriage. It will give you a much more realistic perception of yourself, your fiancé, and your marriage.
• If your goal is to enrich your marriage, or strengthen any type of relationship, you will gain the tools to help enrich that relationship.

Objectives and reasons for using this manual