Who should you date? You might be drawn to someone who is fun, good-looking, and interested in the same things you are, but even more important than what's on the surface is what someone is like inside. But how can you find that out? What should you look for?William P. Smith gives detailed, practical ways to assess both you and your friend's relationship readiness. Filling out the quiz in this booklet will give you a better idea of the areas where both of you need to grow. Read thi...

Prickly, defensive, nasty, volatile, withdrawn, miserable . . . aren't there days when you feel surrounded by difficult people? How do you cope? You can try avoiding them, gossiping about them, or giving them a piece of your mind. But wait! Don't your reactions make you hard to love too?William P. Smith explains that learning how to deal with difficult people starts with understanding that God's pursuing love is not just for them; it's for you too. You need God's love and forgivene...

The kids are hungry, dinner is late, everyone's tired and on edge, and then it happens—you lose control and blow up at them again. Is losing control with our children inevitable in our busy world? Or is there a better way?Learn from William P. Smith a better way to relate to your children than with irritation, anger, and harsh words. Drawing on his counseling and parenting experiences, he explains why you lose control with your children, and then offers strategies that will help yo...

You know you're in love – you always want to be together, and you think about each other all the time – but does that mean you're ready to get married? How do you decide if your relationship is strong enough for marriage?William P. Smith gives you a series of questions based on biblical principles that you can use to assess your relationship's strengths and weaknesses. Answering these questions about your vision, goals, and potential conflicts will help you decide together whether ...

Is a personal God really involved in our suffering? And if he is, what in the world is he up to? Why would a good God allow suffering in his world?William P. Smith addresses these and other hard questions by reflecting on what the Bible teaches about suffering. Instead of pat answers, he shares the different ways God uses suffering to bring us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with him. You can learn to see the good that God brings out of suffering and be thankful—not for t...

Your last relationship didn't work out, and you got hurt—and maybe you also hurt someone else. Now what? Perhaps you are thinking about starting over with someone new, but you're nervous and wondering if you are really ready for another relationship.William P. Smith tackles head on the issues you need to face as you think about starting a new relationship—past hurts, learning to trust someone new, and understanding your own failings and mistakes. You will be reassured that God is a...

Do you own your smartphone, or does it own you? How quickly do you pick it up in the morning? Do you check it multiple times an hour to make sure you know what's going on in the world? Do you find yourself turning to it first when you're sad, angry, or upset?If you answered yes to any of these questions, you're not alone. Why do our phones consume us?William P. Smith examines the why behind smartphone obsession and uncovers its connection to our desires for signifi...

The question was never whether or not your child would get into trouble. The real question was whether or not you would get the chance to respond. Right now you have that chance!William P. Smith explains that your child's trouble is a God-ordained opportunity for you to pursue a bigger goal than raising a child who behaves. Right now you can demonstrate what God's kindness and grace looks and feels like. By applying biblical principles as you respond, you can help your child to exp...

Everyone is afraid of something. Fear is part of the human experience of living in a broken, fallen world. We try to manage our fears, but our coping mechanisms impact our faith. We hoard and stop praying for provision. We stockpile information and forget to seek godly wisdom. Yet we continue to live anxious lives.William P. Smith explains that our faith should, instead, change our strategies for dealing with fear. He offers practical guidance on how to exchange fear for faith by l...

You don't want to make a big deal out of it. Isn't everyone else already talking about sex? Yes, they are talking, and their words are shaping your child's understanding right now. In a culture that glorifies casual sex, kids will only learn to think biblically about it when parents speak up.William P. Smith shares a practical, non-threatening model that will connect your child to God's perspective on sex and intimacy. As you initiate intentional conversations, you will create a sa...

Raising a child is a parents most important job. But theres a lot to learn and know. In Growing a Healthy Child, author Dr. William P. Smith offers a step-by-step reference guide starting at pre-pregnancy and going through eighteen years old.From a dental perspective, Smith discusses a wealth of information about a variety of topics, including how to grow a:healthy parent-child relationship; healthy TMJ system; positive sense of self-worth and self-esteem; great sm...

How you speak to your kids today will impact your relationship with them tomorrow.As a parent, your words are powerful. What you say and how you say it has the potential to either invite your children into deeper relationship with you or push them away. What's more, in a very real sense, your words represent—or misrepresent—God's words to his children— meaning they have the power to shape how your children view their hea...