Dr. Douglas Rosenau says “It takes a mature person to understand that the emotional center of the apex is not orgasm, but a surrender to feelings and each other.”  (p.37)  The great thing about being a Single’s minister is you get to read books on sex!  Before we got married, I read a couple of books on “Circling the Wagons” (our infertility doctor had several euphemisms, this is one).  That doesn’t make me an expert but shall we say I don’t mind the topic.

Churches don’t always do a good job of talking about sex.  We tell kids “DON’T DO IT” when they have all the equipment – and desire – but then when it’s time for them to marry, sometimes we don’t give them good information on how to use their equipment.  Nor do we tell them that marriage is not just about getting personal needs met but meeting the needs of the other.  This book is not just a book about sex but about taking care of your partner and giving yourself selflessly to him or her.

This book is good information for those who are getting married.  It doesn’t matter if you have been married before and you’re going into your second (or third, or…) marriage.  You need to read this book.  As the opening quote indicates, sex is more than just getting “serviced” for your physiological needs.  Sex is about intimacy between a man and a woman in a committed, life-long marriage.

A Celebration of Sex for Newlyweds is only about 120 pages, easy to read, gives tips and how-to’s, and has pictures!  But – you won’t feel like you’re reading a dirty book (I know some of you will be disappointed about that).   This book will help you achieve a lasting marriage not just through great sex (that can help) but through an ever-growing, ever-lasting intimacy.  Find it here at Amazon.

One caution – if you’re engaged, wait until a week or two before the wedding before you start reading this. ;-)

Other books?

  • A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God’s Gift of Sexual Intimacy by Dr. Douglas E. Rosenau – for those already married.  Longer with more information than the one for newlyweds.  See it at Amazon.
  • Intended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage, Third Edition by Ed Wheat, M.D.   This book is a little more technical but sets a healthy pattern for relating to one another sexually with Scripture, fulfillment, and intimacy in mind. Here is the link for Amazon.  No, I don’t get a commission.
  • The Act of Marriage by Tim LaHaye.  Kind of dated now, but this book helped to set the standard for Christian thinking about sex.  Again, here is the shameless link to Amazon.

Do you have a good book on marriage or sex you want to refer?