Before You Live Together: Will Living Together Bring Your Closer or Drive You Apart? [Paperback]

Dr. David Gudgel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 8, 2003

Will Living Together Bring You Closer - or Drive You Apart? You're about to make a decision that will take your life in a totally new direction - one that will have a lasting impact on you and someone you love. If you're wrestling with that decision, that's all to the good, because now is the time to stop and set your emotions gently aside - a time to sort through your own feelings, as well as other people's opinions about what's best for you. The basic message of Before You Live Together is candid, caring and thoughtful - one that uses true stories to illustrate different living-together situations and their outcome. It also addresses the basic questions and issues you may have asked yourself, including:  Is this the best way to find out if we're compatible?  Why do we need a piece of paper to tell us we're committed to each other?  It's so much cheaper than paying two rents, isn't it?  While this book presents biblical values in a compelling and loving way, it never lectures, but instead seeks to help you decide what is best for both of you.  Read it for yourself.  Read it with the one you love.  Read it to make the right decision at the time when it matters most.

 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DR. DAVE GUDGEL has over 20 years of experience as a pastor.  He has also served as an associate pastor of adult and youth ministries.  His years of pastoring have given him a great deal of experience in counseling couples who are considering marriage or living together.  Dave is currently serving as pastor of a church in Phoenix, Arizona.  He and his wife, Bernice, have three children.

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Regal (August 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830732527
• ISBN-13: 978-0830732524
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

DR. DAVID GUDGEL - Born and raised in California, Dr. Dave Gudgel has called Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Agoura Hills and now Phoenix "home."

Dr. Dave earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1975 at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He received a Master of Divinity degree in Practical Theology in 1980 from Talbot Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Preaching at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, in 1988. Over the past 28 years Dave has served as the Lead Pastor at two different churches in Agoura Hills, California and Phoenix, Arizona. Since 1987 Dave has taught over 150 seminars for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries.

Dave loves to play golf and to travel. He and his wife Bernice have three twenty-something children, two daughter-in-laws, and the cutest grandchild in the world.

You are invited to visit www.davidgudgel.com to contact Dave by email, ask a question, or check out other resources that may be of value to you.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful. Glad I read it., September 3, 2003

By 

BRENT D GUDGEL (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before You Live Together: Will Living Together Bring Your Closer or Drive You Apart? (Paperback)

I was given this book by a friend, and at first was a little hesitant to read it. But once I got started it was definately enjoyable. I would categorize myself as an extremely critical reader, and this book passed my test. The author does a good job of presenting evidence that is actually fact and from credible sources, not just an author's opinion.

There are good examples and stories throughout, making it an even better read. More applicable for me at least.

Anyways, I recommend it. Do yourself a favor and do some research before making a big choice like living together. And, I would say this book is some good research.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for those considering this as on option, May 19, 2011

By 

adayriddle "Abbie" (North East Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before You Live Together: Will Living Together Bring Your Closer or Drive You Apart? (Paperback)

In toady's society of "Casual sex", "trying on someone for size" (i.e. living together), and disposable marriage this book is great! I actually wanted to review this so that I could share it with people I know and teens/young adults. Today's society has set a new standard of relationships and in the process they have devalued the very sacred union of marriage and set people up for spiritual and emotional bondage caused by sexual sin. In secular research alone it is found that many people with multiple partners have varied issues with health, self-esteem, and settling for long term relationships.

At first glance at the title I was a little taken back - I guess it is because living together is so common place and socially accepted: My first thoughts were that this would end up giving people a chance to justify this decision.

However, quite the opposite is true. Without being judgmental or overly "religious" or pushy this book does a great job of dispelling the lies of the enemy that have taken over popular though on the subject. It would be a good book for Christians as well as non-Christians because it is so simply to the point.

This is not a book that crams religious or faith values down a persons throat but rather objectively shows the truth found in scripture. The author also shows secular research (or "evidence") that corroborates the scriptures.

I will be recommending this book to anyone I know that is considering the decision to live with someone.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A helpful and soul-searching resource, February 3, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before You Live Together: Will Living Together Bring Your Closer or Drive You Apart? (Paperback)

Before You Live Together by Pastor David Gudgel (Bethany Bible Church, Phoenix, Arizona) is a helpful and soul-searching resource for Christian readers seeking to examine whether it is the right time to take their relationship to the step of sharing living space. Written with reverence for love, with respect for human needs, with wry humor, and with biblical reasons to follow God's plan for a romantic relationship, Before You Live Together is a thoughtful and strongly recommended pastoral study that poses challenging and relevant questions for couples today.