Dr. Alfred R. Jones, author of A Door of Hope for the Wounded Family, pastor, counselor and former director of Family Life Ministry
"Easy to read, practical in its application, sound in its psychological assertions, pregnant with biblical principles, and loaded with social integration. My only regret is that I am not the author."


The Gazette Newspaper, April 27, 2000
... a complimentary study guide of the Bible focusing on concerns and solutions to issues these nontraditional families may have.


Book Description
Love between two people that once seemed heavenly becomes extremely complicated when two households are joined in marriage. When a number of strangers of various stages in life suddenly come together to be a family, unexpected issues concerning discipline, finances, outside influences, and privacy surface. Roles become confusing. In The Blended Family, Edward and Sharon Douglas address the complex nature of the stepfamily. Believing that the answers to all concerns can be discovered in the Word of God, they offer biblical solutions to achieve and maintain harmonious relationships within the family. God has a perfect plan for marriage and places an awesome responsibility on parents to raise His children. The Douglases have found that applying the Word of God to marriage and loving all children as Jesus did leads to a happier and more fulfilling family life.


About the Author
Edward Douglas is a graduate of Morgan State University, and Sharon graduated from the University of Maryland. The Douglas' have lived the challenges they address in The Blended Family through their own blended family of six children. They founded The Blended Family Ministries, helping others to diligently work on their marriages and relationships with new family members. Both are active in community and church work. Sharon has worked with Big Sisters of America and currently is involved in the adoption ministry of the church the Douglas family attends. Edward participates in Project Manhood, which trains men in "discipleship, discipline and duplication," helping other men to become connected with the Church and God.


Excerpted from The Blended Family: Achieving Peace and Harmony in the Christian Home by Edward, Sharon Douglas. Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
John and Kathy were elated after their honeymoon. They could hardly wait to move into their new home with Kathy's two young children and John's two adolescent children. Kathy, thirty, lost her husband in a tragic car accident, and John, thirty eight, lost his wife to leukemia. John and Kathy met three years ago at a bereavement support group. They shared similar interests while spending time together at these sessions. Soon, they began dating, fell in love, and decided to get married. John and Kathy enjoyed their time together with the children. "We love children, kids are not a problem," they both expressed to each other on more than one occasion. As John and Kathy grew closer and their discussions centered around marriage and family, they thought it would be practical to spend more time with the children so that they could all get to know each other. Spending time together with the children so that they could all get to know each other. Spending time together as a family would make the adjustment and transition into the new family stucture easier for everyone. Although their ages were drastically different, the kids appeared to get along well together during the times they were together alone. John's kids enjoyed having a younger brother ! and sister. John and Kathy married. Their wedding was grand occasion. The children and their families were very happy for them. Three months after the marriage, Kathy confided in her closest friend: I don't care for his kids. He spends our money on his kids and questions me when I need money for my kids. His former in-laws and mine call our home and influence the kids to do things that we are uncomfortable with. The kids don't respect us because we won't give in to these ideas and suggestions of their relatives. John is so hard on Keith and Erica, and when I complain, he tells me that they have no structure or limitations and that I spoiled them. I feel he spoils his children. They get everything they ask for. The kids sense the conflict between us, and they appear to be confused and unhappy. Well, what do most kids do when there is conflict between parents, they play one against the other. My children have lost their privacy. They had their own rooms and now they have to share their rooms with stepsibilities. Needless to say, this situation creates many fights. I am so confused. Am I supposed to love his kids and should he love my children? I don't love his! kids. As a matter of fact, I don't even like them at times. Well, maybe I like them. These issues are creating conflict in our marriage. I though this relationship would work, but I don't know if it will last a year. Many couples share the same bewilderment that John and Kathy experienced in their newly created family structure. The issues in John and Kathy's family and in other blended families are significantly more complex than issues in traditional families. Our intent in this book is to discuss biblical solutions to the complex issues that a large number of blended families experience. It is our sincere hope that this book will lead couples to achieve a more peaceful and harmonious blended family.

SYNOPSIS

Love between two people that once seemed heavenly becomes extremely complicated when two households are joined in marriage. When a number of strangers of various stages in life suddenly come together to be a family, unexpected issues concerning discipline, finances, outside influences and privacy surface. Roles become confusing.

In the Blended Family, Edward and Sharon Douglas address the complex nature of the stepfamily. Believing that the answers to all concerns can be discovered in the Word of God they offer biblical solutions to achieve and maintain harmonious relationships within the family. God has a perfect Plan for marriage and places an awesome responsibility on parents to raise His children. The Douglases have found that applying the Word of God to marriage, as well as loving all children as Jesus did, leads to a happier and more fulfilling family life.

The book may be used for workshops, conferences, small study groups and bible study

FROM THE CRITICS

Scott T. Shepherd - The Gazette Newspaper

The Blended Family reads almost like a complementary study guide of the Bible focusing on particular questions and solutions to concerns that these nontraditional families may have.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING