*HEARTSTRINGS* More Over, Hollywood

Red-hot monogamy – is such a thing possible? You betcha! Hollywood tabloids and other popular magazines brag about knowing the secrets to sizzling sex, but the truth is far different than the headlines would have us believe. In reality, the heat’s hottest between married couples, specifically those who are passionate about their relationship with God. So move over, Hollywood, and make room for the real thing.
In their new book, Red-Hot Monogamy: Making Your Marriage Sizzle, Bill and Pam Farrel tell the truth about fantastic married sex. They discuss the results of several studies conducted on this subject:
* Couples who attend church regularly or who pray together daily give their sex lives a five-star rating.
* Couples that are in long-term monogamous marriages enjoy greater sexual satisfaction than single peers.
* Couples surrounded by a circle of friends who are in committed marriages are also likely to enjoy long-term sexual satisfaction in their relationship.
The results make sense. When couples truly love God and each other, their attitudes and actions reflect marriage the way He designed it. And they reap the blessings He promises for living life according to His direction.
Still, every bonfire burns low without attention. Maintaining the heat requires effort. Realizing the need for fanning the flames, the Farrells (married more than 25 years) compiled page after page of fire-starters. Here are a few practical ideas.
* Participate in regular physical activity. This produces endorphins that will make you feel happier and more interested in sex. Enjoy physically active dates – a bike ride or a brisk walk, for instance.
* Remove the television from the master bedroom. Focus on each other rather than the nightly news.
* Find a romantic viewpoint from which to watch the sun set.
* Write love notes and place them in your partner’s briefcase, pocket, or dresser drawer.
* Plan a surprise overnight getaway. Ask friends to keep the kids (offer to return the favor). Cook a favorite meal. Eat by candlelight. Relax in the tub together…soft music and candlelight are a definite plus.
* Make a trail of rose petals from the door to your bedroom. Do this when the kids aren’t around or be willing to answer a few baffled expressions.
The Farrel’s list goes on and on – there’s something for everyone and for every budget. And according to the authors, the suggestions are tried and true.
“We all long for the kind of red-hot monogamy that sets off fireworks, but that kind of intimate life does not happen by accident,” say the authors. They’re right. It happens when husbands and wives make God the primary source of their affection and when they love each other selflessly.
Some folks might think sizzling married sex is impossible. Don’t be fooled! Red-hot monogamy is attainable. Unlike its counterfeits, it’s the real thing!


Red-Hot Monogamy is available at bookstores nationwide. Harvest House Publishers. ISBN # 0-7369-1608-3.
~ Grace Fox is a popular retreat and conference speaker living in British Columbia, Canada. She’s the author of 10-Minute Time Outs for Moms and 10-Minute Time Outs for Busy Women (Harvest House Publishers). Contact her through her website: www.gracefox.com