Authentic Manhood

“…manhood is more than a hormonal or an anatomical matter. Manhood is a way of thinking, being, and functioning. It is a social statement of who I am and who others think me to be. It is an issue of role. What place do I have in the community, and how am I valued in that position? Who am I in contrast to women?

“I suggest that men invest an inordinate amount of time worrying over the genuineness of their manhood. It is an aspect of self-confidence that may in fact gnaw at most of us until the day we die. What mental energy is expended on this one issue alone!” (When Men Think Private Thoughts, MacDonald, 1996, p. 9)

Becoming Attached

“…the great promise of attachment theory has been the prospect of finally answering some of the fundamental questions of human emotional life…. Perhaps its most startling and controversial claim is that insecure attachment, which shows up at twelve months, is predictive of behavior not only at three, five, seven, or fourteen years of age—which has been well established in research—but also at twenty, thirty, and seventy, as people make romantic choices, parent their own children, get into marital squabbles, and face the loneliness of old age. Equally important, attachment researchers have attempted to show how insecure patterns of attachment can change, whether in childhood, as adjustments are made in the family, or later, as the adult attempts to work through his early experiences.” (Becoming Attached, Karen, 1998, p. 7).

Relational Freedom...One Step at a Time

Let relationship experts Drs. Henry Cloud & John Townsend help you to develop healthy, godly, and satisfying relationships. Solutions at Mariners Church in Irvine, CA, offers practical tools for handling issues that are common to all relationships and to people of all ages.

Join us as we look at Relational Freedom…One Step at a Time

October 8: Step I - Guilt Free Living
Our conscience was designed to lead us toward good choices and help us treat others well. When our conscience fires off the wrong messages, we can be harsh or over reactive. What we end up with is guilt. Guilt will put you in jail, far from relational freedom. Join us and discover the healthy alternative to guilt.

October 15: Step II - Sorry is Not Enough

"I am sorry." We've all said this and we've heard these words from others. It's the right thing to say when someone has been hurt or offended. Have you thought of where "I am sorry" comes from? What motivates it, and is it for the right reason? Join us to understand the deeper message of "I am sorry", it's essential if you are going to experience true relational freedom.

October 22: Step III - Name It and Claim It

Are you familiar with "name it and claim it" theology? It goes like this, just name what you want, claim it as yours and it will appear. While this doesn't work with most things, it does work with having a better relationship. Learn how to name what's going on in your relationships and how to do the work to claim the connection you desire.

October 29: Step IV - Please Release Me!

You don't have to be in jail to have a real feeling of being trapped. We struggle to get free, but can't seem to pull it off. We may not even know where this feeling comes from yet it spills over into our relationships, keeping us from being open and free. This bad feeling comes from within and often it's about us judging ourselves too harshly. Join us to find the answers that will "release you" from that bad feeling that has been interfering with your relationships.

November 5: Step V - Pardoned by Love

Still feeling stuck in finding relational freedom? It could be due to another attitude, one that has to do with someone from your past. While often justified, these feelings may be keeping you from experiencing love and connection. In this last topic on relational freedom learn how to pardon someone from your past to be free and fully enjoy your relationships in the present.

No need to register - just show up - admission is free!