Book Review: Creating an Intimate Marriage

“There is no doubt in my mind that this book will disturb you, inspire you, give you some great ideas, and also help you realize (as if you didn’t already know this) that to bring more connection, intimacy, and spirituality to your marriage it will take a great deal of focus.” Page 11

Jim Burns’s host of HomeWord radio broadcast, uses his own marriage of 30 plus years, in his attempt to show us how to have a more intimate marriage. If you’ve longed for a more intimate marriage but struggled with the know-how, and implementation process this book is for you and your spouse. The author shows step by step the differences through Affection, Warmth and Encouragement (A.W.E.) method has made in his own marriage. If you are anything like me, when you are presented with the knowledge of what needs to happen there is often a gap in between actually implementing the changes. Not with this book, the author has Questions for me, Questions for us and a final set of questions called Heart-to-Heart HomeWork. These questions will spur even the greatest procrastinators into action. They get you asking, answering and sharing with your spouse. They also show ways of implementing the steps that need to be changed to have more A.W.E. in your marriage.

Mr. Burns has the reader concentrate on change. But wait, I know what you are thinking, “Yes, my spouse needs to change; I wish they would do this, or they need to stop doing that.” The author takes the reader and helps them realize that no change can take place unless, you, the reader is willing to make the necessary evaluations and changes first. Not our significant other. The author’s goal is to help the reader take a serious look at their own life, behavior within the marriage and than evaluate the necessary changes they can make first in the marriage. All the while using the A.W.E. method.

Jim Burns is the founder of HomeWord Radio Broadcast. He is a highly respected in youth ministry and family issues. He is the author of several books including “Addicted to God, Surviving Adolescence.” He also writes the popular “What’s Up With My Life?” column for Ignite Your Faith magazine. Jim graduated Magna Cum Laude from Azusa Pacific University, earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in Religious Education from Greenwich School of Theology.

This book is written from the self-help marriage perspective. Based on similar books that I have read on this subject I would give this book a 5 on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest. It helps the reader take self-help to the next level by actually getting both spouses involved in the process all the while having them focus on personal change. With the A.W.E. method you will find affection, warmth and encouragement returning right away to the marriage relationship.
Review by Melissa Waters