***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
July 24, 2017
CONTACT:
Beth Harrison, Hamilton Strategies, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com
Intimacy for Married Couples is a Gift from God
New Book ‘Are We There Yet?’ by Dr. Paul and Terrie Chappell Discusses Affection, Sex and Intimacy Between Husbands and Wives, Among Other Important Marriage Topics
LOS ANGELES—A series of four new studies in the U.S. and Switzerland discovered that affection in couples is paramount in successful relationships. The studies showed that positive feelings for couples were not only linked to sex, but also to affectionate displays, such as touch, CNN recently reported.
Intimacy between married couples is one of the topics explored in the soon-to-be-released book from Dr. Paul and Terrie Chappell titled “Are We There Yet? Marriage—a Perfect Journey for Imperfect Couples.” Married for over 36 years, the Chappells write that marriage is more like a long journey than a destination.
“Marital intimacy is a key component of the weaving together of couples who are yoked in marriage, and is the primary implication of Adam and Eve becoming ‘one flesh,’” Chappell says. “God designed this intimacy to be the celebration of oneness and unity and the ongoing consummation of love between a husband and a wife. Like everything good and holy that God creates, Satan works to exploit it by creating counterfeits—corruptions of the real thing. This is why, although sex is one of God’s great gifts of marriage, it can also be an area of confusion, misunderstanding, sin and pain.”
In Chapter 7, “Booking a Room,” the Chappells discuss with readers how sex and intimacy is a gift created by God, along with some common misuses of this gift.
“Within the context of marriage, God designed intimacy to be wonderful and satisfying,” Chappell writes. “But God also warns that if you step outside of marriage to indulge in sexual activity, the wounds will be real and lasting. Throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon highlights the dangers of being seduced by the lie that sex outside of marriage will bring nothing more than immediate pleasure. The truth is, it will bring terrible and lasting pain. Why the deep regret, shame and wounds from sexual sins? Sex is more than just a physical act; it entwines two souls as well. When this happens within marriage, it is a great gift of God. When it happens outside of marriage, it becomes a sin against your own body.
“Sexual love is like fire in that when it is built and confined in one location, it brings warmth and heat,” Chappell continues. “It is pleasurable and useful. But when it has no boundaries around it, it brings destruction and death. Without boundaries, it ravages lives and families. To protect the sacredness of marital intimacy, God has directly forbidden sexual practices that undermine what He designed for intimacy to be. These prohibitions are not meant to limit our pleasure, but to enhance it. They are boundaries for the protection of sex as the good gift it is.”
In “Are We There Yet?,” the Chappells candidly share biblical principles and personal, transparent illustrations that will equip couples to travel down the road of marriage further together. Whether newlyweds or married for decades, husbands and wives will find truth in “Are We There Yet?” to help them clarify their destination, communicate their needs, grow as a couple and even shed some luggage along the way.
With chapter titles such as “It Looked Different in the Picture,” “Paying with Foreign Currency” and “It’s a Two-Lane Highway,” “Are We There Yet?” explores topics such as expectations, needs and communication, as well as the issue of intimacy. In the chapter on intimacy, the Chappells deal with three core values—analogous to values you’d expect to see in a five-star hotel—that are central to strong marriages: purity, passion and love.
“Physical intimacy outside of marriage, as well as any sexual practices that are unholy, are hurtful to you as well as to your spouse,” Chappell writes in “Are We There Yet?” “You are joined together in a covenant of oneness, and you honor one another by treating intimacy as a pure, sacred act that can bring glory to God and deep, mutual enjoyment with one another.”
Paul and Terrie Chappell live in Lancaster, Calif., where he is senior pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church and the president of West Coast Baptist College. His biblical vision has led the church to become one of the most dynamic Baptist churches in the nation. Dr. Chappell’s preaching is heard on “Daily in the Word,” a radio broadcast heard across America, and he is the author of more than 25 additional books, including “Disciple: Daily Truths from the Gospel of Luke for Followers of Jesus,” “Take it Personally: A Practical Guide to Owning and Obeying the Great Commission,” “When a Nation Turns Its Back to God: Living as a Bible-Believing Minority in the United States of America” and “Making Home Work: Biblical Principles for Raising Children and Building Families,” among many others.
Terrie Chappell leads the ladies’ ministry at Lancaster Baptist Church and is also a conference speaker. She is the author of “It’s a Wonderful Life: Serving God Joyfully in Marriage and Ministry” and “The Choice is Yours: Life Happens, Walking with God Is a Decision.” The Chappells have four married children, who all serve in full-time Christian ministry, and nine grandchildren.
Pre-orders for “Are We There Yet?” are beginning now online at www.AreWeThereYetBook.com. Bonus items for those who pre-order before the Oct. 17 release date include: Chapter 1 in PDF format, a marriage Q&A video session with the Chappells, downloadable “Travel with Me” cards—52 questions to inspire your marriage journey; and a printed “Are We There Yet?” companion guide for the first 1,000 pre-orders.
For more information on Dr. Paul Chappell and Lancaster Baptist Church, visit paulchappell.com or www.lancasterbaptist.org, or connect via social media on Facebook, Twitter or the church’s YouTube or Vimeo.
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For information about interviewing Dr. Paul Chappell on Are We There Yet? or to request a review copy, contact Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.
