marriage

Is Marriage Travis Kelce’s Secret Weapon?

Thursday’s Wall Street Journal suggests what the Bible and committed Christians have long maintained to be true: Marriage is good for men overall, including for their professional careers.

It may not have made the front pages, but buried within the Sports section is this headline:

“Travis Kelce Got Into Wedding Shape – and Embarked On a Late-Career Honeymoon.”

The subheadline goes on to note, “Months after marrying Taylor Swift, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is playing better than he has in years. It’s no coincidence.”

The Journal’s Andrew Beaton is onto something. There is a direct correlation between strong and healthy marriages and professional success and satisfaction.

Over the years, social science has found that marriage and career progress can reinforce one another—and for men, the relationship appears particularly pronounced.

One 12-year survey concluded, “Higher marital satisfaction was associated with subsequent increases in job satisfaction, while marital discord was associated with declines in job satisfaction.” Another study of over 4,500 people found that happily married spouses reported higher income, greater job satisfaction, and were more likely to be given increased responsibility.

A summary in the “Harvard Business Review” concluded, “People with extremely conscientious spouses are 50% more likely to get promoted than those with extremely unconscientious spouses. Conscientious spouses take on household tasks and create a satisfying home life, enabling employees to focus more on work; they also display pragmatic behaviors that their mates emulate, the researchers found.”

In short, happiness within a marriage can spill over into both the home and the workplace.

Studies have also found that marriage is associated with healthier behaviors, and longitudinal studies suggest that spouses can influence one another’s health habits. When one spouse makes positive changes and eats and lives in a healthier fashion, the other is much more likely to follow. For example, studies have found that married men are significantly less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs and more likely to exercise than those who are single.

The Wall Street Journal article quotes Tony Villani, the founder of XPE Sports, a firm dedicated to helping athletes improve their physicality, especially in the NFL. While Kelce was able to play at a high level last season, he was beginning to struggle. Since getting married, Kelce has worked in the offseason with Villani and his team.

“We know if you’re putting a good woman in your life and cutting out some of the nonsense, you’re probably taking care of yourself a little better,” Villani said. “Good surroundings create good outcomes.” 

A video of Taylor Swift cheering her husband on two weeks ago during the Kansas City Chiefs–Indianapolis Colts game at Arrowhead Stadium went viral after Travis Kelce scored his first touchdown of the season. Amid the celebration, Swift pointed to her wedding ring and happily exclaimed, “That’s my husband!”

A few days later on his podcast, Kelce said, “Just doing my deed as a husband.” He then added, “Proud wife, baby. Gotta make my girl proud.”

Few wives and husbands have a platform like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to so publicly champion their spouse, but many are wise to nevertheless exhibit similar love and energy however they possibly can. 

The celebrity and associated qualities of such a high-profile couple may leave some looking elsewhere, but it’s a good thing when the institution of marriage is so positively acknowledged.

Polygamist Leading Texas Libertarians Falsely Defends Practice as Biblical

Texas does everything in a big way. As such, they are a political powerhouse. 

There is a very consequential U.S. Senate race going on in the Lone Star state featuring a candidate that has some very troubling public views on all the things Focus on the Family cares deeply about.

But a lesser known, yet very influential, Texas party also has some very concerning issues surrounding it. That is the Texas Libertarian Party. A man named Andrew Amelang is the chair of that party. He is also a proud polygamist. He also holds a key leadership position in an organization called Biblical Families. He does so as a polygamist, what he calls “plural marriage.”

They clearly have a very wrong view of what biblical families are.

Mr. Amelang’s official biography at the so-called “Biblical Families” website explains,

Andrew and Cheryl have been married over 22 years; Ginny and Ann both joined the family 18 years ago. Add twelve children (ages 35 to 7) and six grandchildren (and three dogs and three cats) and it’s never, ever, boring.

Amelang has one legal wife and two live-in girlfriends. Twelve children live in this home. And he calls this biblical. His bio also states, “In addition to leading and coordinating worship at Biblical Families retreats, Andrew counsels plural families and family members, as well as those considering plural marriage.” Amelang’s organization claims to do this in obedience to Christ.

Of course, this is not true. Christ is crystal clear on his ethics of sexuality and marriage. They are firmly rooted in the divine creation telos and Matthew 19 and Mark 10 make this perfectly clear. A man leaves all others and cleaves, holds fast to his wife, becoming one flesh with her, and her with him. This beautiful mystery can only happen in faithful monogamy. It is impossible to become one flesh with several people.

This also highlights an important problem with libertarianism. Libertarianism seems attractive to some Christians and conservatives. They favor smaller government and individual freedom. 

Yet, clearly Christianity holds that government has a fundamental and God-ordained role in human civilization and public life. This is deeply rooted in a Christian theology of being human, the nature of liberty and personal responsibility. There are limits on one’s freedom and liberty because we are fallen creatures and we have a public responsibility for our behavior to our fellow citizens, particularly the youngest among us. Libertarianism rejects this essential fact of public life together. This is why libertarianism is more problematic than progressive liberalism in many ways. It seeks to remove essential personal and social boundaries that are indispensable to civil society, the things conservatism should always seek to conserve. 

This is why it is wholly reasonable that a man who flouts both the law, the natural and divine order of marriage would chair the libertarian party of one of the largest states in our nation.

Ideas have consequences and bad ideas do real damage. Libertarianism and family redefinition based on adult desires are damaging.

Photo from “Biblical Families” website.

Kevin Warsh: Fed Has ‘No Tolerance’ for High Inflation

Newly minted Chairman of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh testified before lawmakers on Tuesday, promising to bring inflation down and pledging officials have “no tolerance for persistently elevated inflation.”

Warsh succeeded Jerome Powell to head the Fed, our nation’s central bank, on May 22, 2026. The Fed is tasked with steering the economy towards maximum employment and stable prices.

Under Powell’s tenure as Fed chairman from 2018 to 2026, the U.S. experienced an inflation crisis with the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI), the measure of the average change consumers pay for goods and services, hitting a four-decade high of 9.1% annually.

“If we get policy right—and we will—the inflation surge of the last five years will be a thing of the past,” Warsh affirmed Tuesday. “Inflation’s a choice, meaning monetary policymakers need to choose lower prices.”

Warsh’s testimony comes on the same day the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported inflation fell to 3.5% in June from 3.9% in May, the largest 1-month decrease since April 2020.

The CPI decreased 0.4 percent as gasoline prices fell substantially due to a temporary ceasefire in the Iran War, after rising 0.5 percent in May.

Several items saw substantial year-over-year increases, including:

  • Energy, rising 15.7%.
  • Apparel, increasing 3.9%.
  • Shelter, increasing 3.3%.
  • Food, rising 3.0%.

“June finally brought some relief on inflation,” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, told CNBC. “The concern is that this relief will be short-lived as the war in Iran re-starts. It’s too uncertain to know how the inflation story ends.”

Ryan Young, a senior economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said June’s inflation relief is “likely temporary,” the Washington Times reports.

“The latest Iran flare-up will likely push July’s inflation numbers back up,” he said. “Uncertainty about the president’s strategy and goals in Iran makes it unlikely that energy prices will come back down to pre-war levels until at least next year.”

June’s inflation decrease is certainly welcome news for many families feeling a financial pinch today. According to new research, millions of Americans are relying on debt to buy groceries and are unable to pay their credit card balance in full or missed their minimum payment.

Additionally, a record number of Americans – 9.16 million – are in default on their student loan payments, meaning they’re more than one year behind.

All told, millions of Americans – for a variety of reasons – are struggling financially today. Yet, even if inflation falls back to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, Americans won’t see a decrease in the high prices they’re experiencing.

According to the BLS’ CPI Inflation Calculator, $100 U.S. dollars in June 2016 has the same buying power as $138.56 today. Unless families have seen at least a 38% wage increase over the last decade, they can afford less now than they could 10 years ago.

For prices to fall, the U.S. economy would have to experience a negative inflation rate, which generally only happens during recessions or depressions. This means Americans can expect high prices to stay – even if the rate of increase moderates to 2%.

For American families, financial struggles can increase the importance of intentional communication and planning. A 2017 study by Ramsey Solutions found money fights are the second leading cause of divorce, behind infidelity.

Nearly half of couples with at least $50,000 or more in consumer debt cite money as a top reason for arguments, while those who say they have a “great” marriage are almost twice as likely to frequently discuss money compared to those who say their marriage is “okay” or “in crisis.”

“Both high levels of debt and a lack of communication are major causes for the stress and anxiety surrounding household finances,” the study found.

Craig Constantinos, MA, LPCC, a counselor in Focus on the Family’s Counseling Services Department, said couples can use financial stressors as an opportunity for growth in their relationship.

“Stress and anxiety about the economy can often lead to frustration and conflict in marriages, as finances is one of the areas where different perspectives are most obvious,” Constantinos told us.

“Having a grace-filled conversation about budgets and spiritual and financial goals can lead to deeper understanding in a marriage, which can turn the challenge of financial uncertainty into an opportunity to build one’s relationship with God and their spouse.”

To learn more about how you can successfully handle finances in your life or marriage, check out our free resources below.

To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

Related articles and resources:

Counseling Consultation & Referrals

Unlock the Secrets to a Financially Secure Marriage

Being Wise With Your Money During a Crisis

Healthy Budgeting Habits for Your Marriage

When Your Money and Marriage Clash

Getting on the Same Page Financially in Marriage

Getting a Reluctant Spouse Onboard with Budgeting

Working with Your Differences

Money Talk: The ‘You’ in ‘Unity’ is Silent

The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded: A Proven Plan for Financial Peace

Inflation Rises to 3.8% Making Life More Unaffordable for Families

Photo from Getty Images.

John and Abigail Adams: The Marriage That Helped Found America

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this Independence Day weekend, it’s high time that we consider how instrumental John and Abigail Adams’ 54-year union was to the formation of our union.

In fact, that one remarkable marriage is a microcosm of the incredible good the institution exerts on culture and society in ways big and small. Good marriages aren’t just beneficial for the husband and wife but also for their families and those within their circle of influence.

“Marriage matters for the neighborhood,” observed Dr. Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. “It matters for the city. It matters for the state, the country. A lot of Americans think marriage is just a private affair. But what they don’t see is that it actually affects the common good.”

Known as the “Atlas of Independence,” John Adams was a 24-year-old lawyer when he first crossed paths with 15-year-old Abigail Smith. A friend of John’s was dating Abigail’s older sister when he first stopped by the family home. Given her youthfulness, John didn’t pay much attention – but they met again two years later and then married after a two-year courtship.

As a lawyer, John’s work took him away from his home for extended periods of time. Wanting to remain in touch prior to getting married and certainly after tying the knot, John and Abigail began what would become a legendary habit of exchanging long and heartfelt letters. That written form of communication lent itself well to the quiet and reserved temperament of Abigail Smith.

“My pen is always freer than my tongue,” she once wrote.

To understand the profound influence that the Adams’ marriage had on everyone and everything else, one needs to understand that Abigail wasn’t just John’s wife, but also his most trusted confidant and advisor throughout his life and political career. Theirs was a marriage built on trust, candor, and mutual respect and encouragement.

In fact, husbands and wives today can learn a whole lot about how to enjoy a more fulfilling and loving union by studying the marriage of John and Abigail Adams.

By exchanging over 1,100 letters over the years, John and Abigail made it clear they were each prioritizing the other. They shared details of their days, shared inside stories, and remained fiercely curious about one another. Their correspondence was also playful at times. John referred to Abigail as “Miss Adorable” and Abigail nicknamed John “My Dearest Friend.”

It’s evident from reading the letters between John and Abigail that the two felt absolute freedom to be forthright with one another. In a famous letter from 1776, Abigail vents a bit to her husband, who was in Philadelphia debating next steps in the American Revolution:

I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies; for, whilst you are proclaiming peace and good-will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives. But you must remember that arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken; and, notwithstanding all your wise laws and maxims, we have it in our power, not only to free ourselves, but to subdue our masters, and without violence, throw both your natural and legal authority at our feet.

Abigail would urge John and his fellow revolutionaries to “Remember the Ladies” when constructing America’s new government. Modern feminists often point to her admonition as evidence she was calling for something of a gender revolution. In reality, she was urging her husband and fellow delegates to treat women with the same spirit of love, kindness, and favor we all enjoy from God.

Both devout Christians, John and Abigail had six children, though one died at birth and another as a toddler. Of course, their son, John Quincy, grew up to be the sixth president of the United States.

A staunch abolitionist, Abigail urged her husband to hold fast in his anti-slavery convictions.

“It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me — to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have.”

When John began growing weary with the war and the colonists’ quest for independence, she provided much-needed encouragement. She wrote him, “These are the times in which a genius would wish to live.” Great wives offer perspective when we sometimes get too close to a situation and lose our objectivity.

Abigail also challenged her husband to remain engaged and active in his later years. “Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure,” she wrote.

Whether via letters or in-person, John and Abigail Adams modeled for their contemporaries and for generations to come the attributes of a strong marriage, which was rooted in their mutual Christian faith. As Abigail lay dying, she reportedly told John, “Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long.”

After her passing, John wrote, “I wish I could lay down beside her and die too.” He then added, “My friend, my companion, my wife of fifty-four years, in all the trials and afflictions of life, is no more. She was my all.”

John would die eight years later – July 4, 1826 – the same day as Thomas Jefferson and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Marriage and the Pursuit of Happiness

It is the greatest line Thomas Jefferson ever conceived, in the greatest document he ever penned:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, launched by the unparalleled greatness of the Declaration of Independence, it is important that we consider the unalienable rights our Creator equally endowed to all people. Jefferson listed life first, the right to be alive and to live one’s life. We also possess the right to live that life in liberty.

But what about this curious third right, “the pursuit of Happiness”?

Is “happiness” too cheap and transitory a value to be listed among “life” and “liberty” as foundational human values? The great Bob Dylan sure thought so. A reporter from Rolling Stone magazine asked him in 1991 on his fiftieth birthday if he was happy. He fell silent, stared at his hands and retorted, “You know, these are yuppie words, happiness and unhappiness” adding, “It’s not happiness or unhappiness, it’s either blessed or unblessed.”

Dylan then quoted the first line of the Psalms to the reporter, “As the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.’”

Yet, Jefferson was certainly not referring to a mere feeling of happiness, but something deeper. It is likely the Founding Father was inspired by George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights penned just three weeks earlier, which guarantees “the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

Years later, Jefferson wrote to a school master in Maine who asked for some irrefutable wisdom to pass on to his students. Citing Cicero’s Tusculan Disputations, Jefferson explained that there is no happiness without virtue. For Cicero stated, “It is certain that without virtue there can be no happiness” and as such, “a happy life is the consequence of virtue.”

For Jefferson and others in that era, this is what happiness meant. Not the pursuit of pleasure or a fleeting feeling, but the pursuit of virtue – a habit or trait that leads to goodness and human flourishing.

Few in the world today would consider marriage an important schoolhouse for learning virtue, but it certainly is. And the character-shaping nature of marriage leads to greater overall life happiness, especially when husband and wife have a serious faith. This is amply demonstrated in findings from the General Social Survey, the gold standard of sociological population research.

Wives who regularly attend church are more likely to report being “very happy” compared to their unmarried and secular peers, as demonstrated here.

The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) recently reported that “religious, married women and men aged 25 to 55 are more than twice as likely to report being ‘very happy’ in life compared to unmarried religious counterparts.”

The happiness differentials for faithful married men look like this:

A 2025 IFS report on what life factors lead to strong, stable marriages explains:

Our analysis found that wives who attended church regularly with their husbands had odds of being very happy in marriage that were 112% higher than women who attended less often or not at all. For husbands, regular shared church attendance was associated with a 212% boost in their odds of being very happy in marriage compared with their less religious or non-religious peers.

The Daily Citizen has reported on recent research demonstrating the powerful happiness premium marriage provides for men and women. Professor emeritus Sam Peltzman of the University of Chicago found, “Being married is the most important differentiator with a 30-percentage point happy-unhappy gap over the unmarried.” This remains true when controlling for important socio-economic factors like age, race, sex, educational status, income and geographical location.

And this has remained consistently true across the decades when married men and women are compared to their cohabiting and single peers.

Marriage is a profound and consistent happiness boost. In fact, Peltzman calls it a “landslide.”

The happiness landslide comes entirely from the married. Low happiness characterizes all types of non-married. No subsequent population categorization will yield so large a difference in happiness across so many people.

Peltzman adds, “Conservatives are distinctly happier than liberals,” indicating married conservatives enjoy an even higher happiness dividend.

As we consider the wonderful founding of our nation and the opportunities the United States affords to so many for a better life, it is essential we appreciate how much faith and marriage contribute to our collective pursuit of happiness.