Ethridge - The passion principles: celebrating sexual freedom in marriage

Praise for The Passion Principles

When the passion dies, the marriage often follows. So many will never divorce and remain miserably married. The Passion Principles is a great guide to restore the passion or to build on whatever is there. The end result for those who follow the passion principles is a full and rich marriage that starts in that sacred place known as the bedroom.

STEPHEN ARTERBURN TALK-RADIO HOST; SPEAKER; AND AUTHOR, THE EXCEPTIONAL LIFE

This is a book I will recommend to every newlywed couple with whom I work. Shannon beautifully addresses the most difficult questions about sex in a very practical and easy-to-read way. But she goes further, by continuously pointing back to its very design. This book will free you to realize how honoring God and having great sex go hand-in-hand.

JOSHUA STRAUB, PHD COAUTHOR, GOD ATTACHMENT

Shannon has provided powerful, practical tools for couples to experience a healthy sexual balance, to feel safe and sexy in the privacy of their own bedrooms. What a great gift to couples for creating many moments of passion and pleasure as God intended.

DR. CATHERINE HART WEBER COAUTHOR, SECRETS OF EVE

Wow! From the very basic basics to the cherry-on-top extras, Shannon Ethridge talks sex. This bold, honest, and frank book will empower many, who take the time to read and apply, to discover the sacred fun and freedom God has created for marriages.

ELISA MORGAN PUBLISHER, FULLFILL; SPEAKER; AUTHOR, THE BEAUTY OF BROKEN; AND MOPS INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT EMERITA

What I love about Shannon Ethridge is that she gives you the truth, based on knowledge, full of wisdom, and spoken in love. She says what everyone else is hesitant to say but needs to hear. Her passion for her topic can fire up your passion for your spouse and for Christ!

KATHY FLOYD, M. A., LPC SPEAKER AND WOMENS MINISTRY LEADER

Finally! It was like a breath of fresh air reading Shannons latest book, The Passion Principles: Celebrating Sexual Freedom in Marriage. Not only did she hit all of the hot and vital topics, but she also dove deep into Scripture and Gods amazing plan for healthy sexuality. There is great freedom as well as blessings for sex in marriage, and sadly many of us have a skewed view. Thank you, Shannon, for writing a book that is full of grace, freedom, and encouragement that lines up perfectly with Gods plan!

BRAD & KATE ALDRICH COFOUNDERS, ONEFLESHMARRIAGE.COM

As I paid for my movie ticket, I was given a pair of glasses guaranteed to transform the animated feature from 2-D to 3-D. Shannon Ethridge has given us more. She has provided us with information capable of transforming the knowledge of human sexuality into 4-dimensions... the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. The Passion Principles is capable of increasing not only your knowledge but also the joy and pleasure you experience in your marriage.

KENDRA SMILEY SPEAKER AND AUTHOR, LIVE FREE AND JOURNEY OF A STRONG-WILLED CHILD

While the church remains mostly silent about healthy sexuality, The Passion Principles is a burst of oxygen for those suffocating in the void of information. It is a treasure chest of truth awaiting those who long for intimate connection and sexual fulfillment. Compassionate, open, practical, and brilliantly insightfulthank you Shannon!

STEVE AND HOLLY HOLLADAY FOUNDERS, ULTIMATE ESCAPE

2014 Shannon Ethridge

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.

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Names and facts from stories contained in this book have been changed, but the emotional and sexual struggles portrayed are true stories as related to the author through personal interviews, letters, or e-mails. Permission has been granted for use of real names, stories, and correspondence with some individuals.

Any Internet address, phone number, or company or product information printed in this book is offered as a resource and is not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by Thomas Nelson, nor does Thomas Nelson vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Other Scripture quotations are from the Good News Translation (GNT). 1976, 1992 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. New Century Version (NCV). 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved; Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV (NIV). 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide; New King James Version (NKJV). 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved; and The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ethridge, Shannon.

The passion principles : celebrating sexual freedom in marriage / Shannon Ethridge.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-8499-6447-3 (trade paper)

ISBN 978-0-8499-6419-0 (eBook)

1. SexReligious aspectsChristianity. 2. MarriageReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BT708.E846 2013

241.664dc23

2013025862

Printed in the United States of America

14 15 16 17 18 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

To Greg

Thank you for teaching me how to make love with so much more than just my body.

Contents

by Gary Thomas

PASSION PRINCIPLE #1:
CELEBRATE THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF SEX

PASSION PRINCIPLE #2:
CELEBRATE THE MENTAL SIDE OF SEX

PASSION PRINCIPLE #3:
CELEBRATE THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF SEX

PASSION PRINCIPLE #4:
CELEBRATE THE PHYSICAL SIDE OF SEX

IT IS AN AWESOME AND HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO WATCH A BOOK evolve from start to finish. So many people invest their time, energies, and talents, and the finished product bears many fingerprints. Those that touched this project and touched my heart in the process are numerous.

First, thanks to Debbie Wickwire and the entire W Publishing Group for sharing my vision for this book. Not only are you amazing professionals, you are simply wonderful people who represent God well.

So many of my B.L.A.S.T. mentorship program graduates rolled up their sleeves and tirelessly combed through multitudes of pages, wielding red pens with great courage and skill. Maureen Brown, Andrew Clark, Kathy Floyd, Suze Hamel, Will Health, Carol Henders, Christy Kennard, Jodi Kozan, Rebecca Larson, Cindy Palin, Megan Reuwer, Charissa Steyn, and Rich Wildmanthank you for eagerly polishing these pages with me. It was a delightful collaborative effort!

Two very special men in my life made sure I was writing to both genders, not just women, at every turn. Greg and Jim, thank you for your uniquely male perspectives and the multitude of ways you contributed, edited, and encouraged me throughout the process.