There have been all sorts of relatives since the time of Cain and Abel, Joseph and his elder brothers, Laban against Jacob as well as Esau and Jacob. As things turned out, David wished his nephews, the sons of Zeruiah, one of his sisters, had not joined his army. They had a lusty craving for violence without reverence for God and immediate reality, whereas David reverenced God above anything else. You and I need God to shield us from the troubles that relatives constitute. Some are more of a curse than a blessing.

The Weight of Womanhood highlights the incomprehensible avoidable pressures put on women by societal expectations, male folks and sometimes women themselves. There is this culture of taking women for granted or taking advantage of women. Laban used his two daughters to swindle his nephew, Jacob, the Philistine Kings, and high officials used Delilah against Israelite leader, Samson who had become a pain in the ass for the Philistines’ leadership. King Saul attempted to use his daughters rather than any of his sons to kill David. Certain cultures imply that one of the worst things a woman can do is to conceive and bear a girlchild. They turn a blind eye to the murder of millions of growing girlchild in the womb on yearly basis. Moses’ older sister, Miriam resented and antagonized his wife to the extent that God was incensed to punish Miriam. King Rehoboam robbed his eldest son of his right because he preferred one of his stepmothers to the eldest son’s mother. When Samson’s mother claimed that an angel had visited her to talk about the imminent conception and birth of Samson, his father did not believe her. She had to ask God to resend His angel to attest to her claim before Samson’s father believed her. Most men take women’s gynecological and maternal exigencies for granted. Once Hannah did not conceive and bear him a child quickly, though he was supposed to love her very much, Elkanah opted for a second wife, Peninnah who made life miserable for Hannah once she bore Elkanah children while Hannah remained barren. He did not do anything to restrain Peninnah from worsening Hannah’s miseries.

Do you struggle to get along with any of your in-laws? Is nothing you do good enough? Is this person simply toxic? You may be dealing with someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. ""Regrettably Related: A Guide to Toxic In-laws"" offers a Christian perspective on this incredibly challenging situation. In this book, you will learn what you can expect from toxic in-laws, ways to cope with their abusive behavior, things to consider if you are contemplating ending the relationship and also ways to cope with a spouse who sees no problems with the situation.

Their matchmaker folks think it’d be great If Natalie and Evan would date Watch them say, “No thanks,” But plow into the banks Of the slippery slope where they skate Natalie East and Evan Lee are determined to stay single. Their parents are just as determined to get them together. Nat, still reeling from the abrupt end of a three-year relationship, needs to prove to her mother that they are both capable of enjoying successful single lives. Her conventional mother pressures her to date their new friends’ self-indulgent and status-obsessed son. The interference drives Natalie wild. Evan worked like a demon to launch his career. Now he's ready for a devilish amount of fun. While he was achieving success, his parents planned his future; they gush that Natalie is sweet, steady, and ready to settle down. Each message from his family hacks away at his joking, easy-going façade. When Nat and Evan involuntarily connect over coffee, neither is what the other expected. As their friendship grows and passions emerge, will they risk losing their independent lives? Are they prepared for a journey from lighthearted friends to steamy lovers…or more?

God authored and used several cabals in the Holy Scriptures and in every generation. He made Samuel the one-man kingmaker council to install Saul son of Kish king of their nation and also to later indicate David was Saul’s successor. He made Jeremiah the determinant of the destiny of nations in his lifetime through prophecies. Jesus operated with a three-man cabal made up of Peter, John and James. The trio had been professional and career partners before they became Jesus’ disciples just as John and James were siblings. Esther and Mordecai were cousins and they held sway as the cabal that controlled the reign of King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire. Pharaoh made Joseph one-man cabal to run his empire on his behalf just as Darius made Daniel to run his Babylonian Empire on his behalf. Pharaoh and Darius appointed Joseph and Daniel respectively on merit. Daniel’s colleagues resented his emergence to their own ruinous regret. God made Moses, Aaron and Miriam who were siblings controlling cabal over their kinsmen during the last forty years that they lived. God made Moses’ and Samuel’s words to be law to the people. It is the privileges that go with the position of cabal that provokes human envy and jealousy and the attendant disgust. The fact that it is perverted by some is not enough reason to abhor it as if it is ungodly. It is prevalent in any setting no matter the size of the constituent. It is inevitable and as such, commendable and exemplary cabals should be identified and utilized appropriately. It should be encouraged with the excesses of council members curtailed appropriately.