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Originally Posted by Redman
This is the first time I have done anything like this and I'm amazed...in a good way. To update, I did visit with a local minister over the weekend and attended his evangelical service Sun. morning; I must admit it was a lot to digest as a rookie. I did purchase a NIV Bible to start to read the Gospels as suggested by UntoHim. I'd already concluded that being a better husband would be a requirement if I had any chance for success. Regardless, I believe my wife is now so confident that her "100% her way" stand is correct and with the Lord that she would accept my giving up and disolving the marriage; she knows her LC "family" is rooting her on and will support her if I just blow up. It's a very sad day to think that this group could actually consider themselves Christians.
By the way, she is a wonderful wife in many, many ways and is now actually trying harder to please me when she's not with her brothers and sisters. It actually seems she's taken on the "job" of pleasing me in return for her freedom. This may seem like a good thing until you realize I must knowingly agree to relinquish my authority in our household to the LC "family" to make it work. This gives me sleepless nights.
I'm not prepared to give up so I'll continue to search for answers/help.
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Redman, I have known many, many decent sisters in the LC whose husbands were not a part of the LC. In some regards their marriages were more peaceful than many I knew where both were members of the LC. This was partly due to the extra demands placed upon the couples in the LC, whereas a sister by herself had the liberty to attend the meetings of her choosing. Another reason was that these spouses seem to give one another more liberties, than those couples who both were active in the LC.
It also helps to complement, appreciate, and praise your wife for all her virtues and positives. The last thing you want is for her to constantly be leaving conflicts at home and running to the meeting where everyone else treats her as a spiritual "heroine."
Since your wife has "taken on the "job" of pleasing me," you should joyfully reciprocate. This is what the Bible says in I Corinthians 7.33-34, "
But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--and his interests are divided. ... But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband."
Your reading of the gospels is wonderful. Most LC brothers and sisters do not do this. Most of them are far too occupied with all the doctrines and teachings in the booklets that they are provided with each week. Because of this, they miss out on the simple excitement that comes directly from Jesus Himself. Try to "read yourself" right into the stories in the gospels. Try to picture yourself as a "typical busy resident" in the Bible lands, when Jesus just happens to visit town. Imagine how the news of what He did and said affected those around you.