Safer Sex in Personal Relationships: The Role of Sexual Scripts in HIV Infection and Prevention (LEA's Series on Personal Relationships) Book

Subtitled, Handling the Difficult People in Your Life. The cover also makes the statement, "If someone is making your life difficult, take control and stop the stress.

This extraordinary book tackles the problem of "button pushers" from the side of the "pushee." Using a combination of solid Biblical principles and the accompanying psychology of relationships, the author begins by helping reader understand how button pushers are hardwired, why they act the way they do, and why they don't "own" their actions. Moving on in his practical, "what can we do about it" style, Dr. Townsend helps the reader diagnose exactly what the issue is with their specific button pusher and why what they have done so far is not working.

Helping the reader to establish a starting point for addressing the issue directly, he identifies and describes 7 resources available to assist in addressing the impact that the button pusher has on us: 1)God, 2)Our Lives, 3)Others (Sane and Safe Relationships), 4)Our Stance, 5)Our Words, 6)Our Actions, and 7)the Process itself.

This book is replete with examples, Biblical truth, and specific guidance to direct the reader in taking charge of the button pushing experience.

As he closes this exceptional book, Dr. Townsend responds to the question: "When do I give up hope on my button pusher?" His answer: "Never, as long as they are alive. Give up on the demand and the requirement that they must change. But keep hoping, and continue doing all the things that could make a difference tomorrow." ...That is the way to live in the kind of hope that God provides."

A short conclusion, "Relationships Revisited," makes this powerful point: "All the resources that you bring to bear upon the relationship's repair and change do have great power and potential, for they are given by God, Who desires that all of us return to Him and grow into His image."