Author Archives: By Thy Words

Welcome to Part 9 of the Flourish series, which now represents 25% of the content on this blog. In today’s post, we will be further examining the chapter on intimacy within marriage, and (assuming our blood pressure levels remain at safe levels) go on to examine the chapter about infidelity in marriage. As we discussed in […]

Welcome back to Part 8 of our series on Flourish, where we examine the damaging teachings that are being exemplified in this book by Christian Light Publications. I think that it’s important to note that this book isn’t the disease. It’s a symptom of the disease. These ideas float around in the collective consciousness and affect, to […]

And now, dear readers, we come to one of the most damaging parts of this book. In some ways, oddly enough, I’ve been looking forward to this part, because it is here that my thesis shines through so clearly, and it is here that I can lay out some counterpoints to a few really flawed teachings […]

One of the problems with writing a series like this is that it’s impossible to cover every single sentence of the book, and that leaves one open to the possibility of cherry-picking. That is, choosing the parts of the book that most support my points, while ignoring other parts, which are more reasonable, or show […]

Welcome back to Part 5 of this emotionally grueling series. If you’re just joining us, we’re reviewing Flourish, a recent publication by Christian Light Publications. While I am sorry to see this kind of harmful teaching being promoted via a respected publisher, it brings a certain amount of vindication to me and my mission as well.I […]

Welcome back to Part Four of our Flourish series, in which we inspect a case study of Stockholm syndrome billing itself as the path to life and love and flourishing. 0 out of 5 stars: Would not recommend. But before we get too far, let us examine one of the more shocking revelations in this book, even […]

Welcome back to Part 3 of our series on Flourish, the heart-warming story about how a struggling woman overcame difficulties and obstacles and entered into a fruitful marriage by following the timeless truths of God’s Word. Either that, or it’s a story about a woman being broken down emotionally and mentally, bit by bit, until […]

Previously in Flourish, the Husband Formerly Known As Prince and his Fair Maiden valiantly fight for their romantic marriage in the face of pregnacy, tears, sickness, and frequent moves. (OK, well, maybe not valiantly. And kinda not both of them, but I can only do so much with the script I’ve been given.) The end […]

Welcome to a new series on the book Flourish from Christian Light Publishers. Sources tell me that the initial title was Help, I’m Married to a Goat!, but it didn’t play well with the focus groups. I spent a lot of time thinking about writing this series, and considering the pros and cons. So let’s talk about the cons […]

After a LONG hiatus, we’re ready to catch up with Paul and Rosemary again.   For those just joining us, this is the touching account of how Rosemary’s struggles and triumphs as she goes from a clearly dysfunctional church to a controlling church that pretends to be functional, with all the mental gymnastics on full […]