Pure Eyes, Clean Heart

If statistics don't lie many men and women struggle with a pornography addiction. Marriage is no protection against this trap. What if the spouse discovers it? Can you become free? Instantly or through counseling only? In Pure Eyes, Clean Heart, Craig and Jen Ferguson share their personal story. Both were and are Christians, active church members. Craig developed his porn addiction from a young age and didn't stop after marrying Jen. As most secrets this one was disclosed as well. The authors alternate telling their stories of shame, anger, hopelessness, feeling unable to solve the problem and finally turning in to God to restore marriage's principles of a threefold covenant, submission, unconditional love and forgiveness. Easier said than done, and that's exactly what the main portion of the book's about. No 12-steps program, no instance 'happily ever after' cheesy story, but lots of jealousy, fear, distrust and talks. I appreciated that, because the book title and cover may suggest an overnight success. Though the couple starts preaching from the Bible at a rather early stage of the book, these 'sermons' are paralleled by the recovery process itself. You will not hear "I will never watch again" or "I'm now clean for X years". Emphasis is laid on the power of forgiveness, divine grace and love. Sin is sin, no excuses here. The Fergusons don't call for a battle against the producers. They keep it personal. The authors provide prayers, discussion questions for couples, and other helpful books and websites in the appendix.

In "Pure Eyes, Clean Heart," Jen and Craig Ferguson tell a brave story that can encourage couples in so many areas of life. Yes, they share about the shame, anger, insecurity, and hopelessness they experienced because of Craig’s addiction to pornography, but their story is about so much more.

They learned how Christ could rescue them – individually and together – out of the darkness and free them into the light. This book for both men and women is packed with resources and practical advice that are based on the Bible. Jen and Craig alternate telling their story and encouraging couples to talk and pray through their own struggles. Questions throughout are likely to prompt meaningful conversations about all sorts of subjects.

A brave retelling of a most personal story. I applaud Craig and Jen Ferguson for offering their lives up to God and saying, "use it all." Together, with God's help, they are rising above a pornography addiction. This book can be such a helpful tool for people going through similar addictions.

This is a brave look at the walk of a husband and wife through the addiction of pornography. The thing that I found most refreshing is that you don't have to be addicted to porn to read this book. You also do not have to a certain sex to read this book. Since it is written from the husband's and wife's perspective this book is God send to both men and women alike. I enjoyed this book because it covers addiction as a subject and to anything --food, sex, control, etc. The authors do a great job of tackling this subject in a very tasteful way. This was a very enjoyable read.