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The Mystery of Marriage 20th Anniversary Edition: Meditations on the Miracle Kindle Edition

by Mike Mason (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 243 ratings
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Meditate on the Spiritual Significance of Marriage

In the 20th Anniversary Edition of this Gold Medallion Award winner, Mike Mason goes on a poetic search to understand the wondrous dynamics of committed love. In highly readable, first-person style, Mason’s writing stimulates readers’ thoughts and prayers and propels couples to deeper intimacy. “A marriage is not a joining of two worlds,” says the author, “but an abandoning of two worlds in order that one new one might be formed.” Rich chapters on “Otherness,” “Vows,” “Intimacy,” “Sex,” “Submission,” and an all-new chapter on “Oneness” lift readers to view the eternal, spiritual nature of this faith-filled, “impossible,” wild—yet wonderful—frontier.

“An outstanding achievement. Rarely has a book aroused in me so much enthusiasm as has the combination of wisdom, depth, dignity, and glow that I find in these chapters.”
-J.I. Packer

“Absolutely exquisite. It reaches down deep into our innermost being, revealing, revitalizing, rewarding. A real classic.”
-Gigi Graham Tchividjian

“A drop everything book. Mason deals with the stunning paradoxes of the mystery, the problems, and the glories of marriage. I don’t need to read any other book on the subject.”
-Elisabeth Elliot

Story Behind the Book

"Over the twenty years since its publication, many couples have told me that they’ve read my book aloud to each other. This always amazes me and gives me great joy. I’m also amazed that many single people have read it. Either way, my goal is for hearts to be warmed by the mystery of divine love. I want couples to enter into deeper intimacy by thinking together about the mystery of marriage—about how their love, besides being a gift of God, reflects the very love He has for Himself in the Trinity. For God is not a bachelor, and throughout the Bible marriage is a supreme picture of the nature of God’s love and of His kingdom. I want people who read my book to feel so soaked in these wonderful, divine mysteries that it deepens their reverence for marriage and inspires them to greater love."  
-Mike Mason
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  1. Print length
    228 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Multnomah
  5. Publication date
    November 3, 2010
  6. File size
    463 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Mason is the author of The Mystery of Children, The Gospel According to Job, and Practicing the Presence of People. He and his wife, Karen, an MD in general practice, live in Bracebridge, Ontario, and have one daughter, Heather.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00486U8MW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Multnomah; 20th Anniversary ed. edition (November 3, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 3, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 463 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 228 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 243 ratings

About the author

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Mike Mason

Mike Mason

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At mikemasonbooks.com you'll see my tag line: "Purveyor of Fine Sentences." I write sentences, not books. Someone once said that a writer's job is to make good sentences and the rest will take care of itself. So I try to make every sentence true and beautiful. As the sentences accumulate and start heading in a direction, books happen. (Maybe my website should be mikemasonsentences.com?)

This is not just a philosophy of writing but of life. It's moments that count, more than the grand scheme. Live great moments and the rest will sort itself out.

My first great moment happened in 1952 when I came into the world in Peterborough, Canada. By age eleven I wanted to be a writer, and although I got many things wrong in life, one thing I got right was to hang onto the writing dream and pursue it single-mindedly. After earning an M.A. in English from the University of Manitoba, I spent my twenties doing odd jobs to support my writing, from garbage-collecting to journalism to library work.

In 1982 I married Karen, a family doctor. We spent our first year of marriage studying theology at Regent College in Vancouver, and we've lived in British Columbia ever since. We have one daughter, Heather, born in 1987, who is married to Sean and pursuing a dance career in Toronto.

In nearly three decades of writing, I've published half a dozen devotional books, three collections of short stories, and a pair of children's fantasy novels, The Blue Umbrella and The Violet Flash. Currently I blog once a week and I'm working on a novel about angels.

Turning to novel-writing at age fifty has meant a radical change. In many ways I've had to learn my craft all over again and work through many fears and insecurities. The result, however, is deeply satisfying, and now with more fiction on the way I have a renewed sense of challenge and joy in my work.

All in all I enjoy a simple life filled with family and friends, books, music, and prayer.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
243 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ginacarp
5.0 out of 5 stars A Personal Meditation on the Joy and Wonder of Marriage
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2009
Verified Purchase
I have read or reviewed dozens of books on marriage. Some are good, some not so good, but none compare to The Mystery of Marriage by Mike Mason. If you are contemplating marriage, there is not better explanation of what it is. If you are married and have lost your way, this book is not just a road map but a landmark showing the way. But it's not a how to book. This is a meditation. It's almost poetry. 10 concepts which define the unique mystery of marriage are explored from the point of view of a passionate participant. There is scripture, but it's not a book of exposition. It's a book of exploration, and in Mason's own words, there is nothing so limitless to explore as a human being, execpt for two human beings joined together. I have purchased dozens of copies of this book since my then fiance and I read it together while we were engaged. 20 years later I have still not found a better encouragement to continue the exploration of the strange and marvelous celebration that is marriage. Whether you are unmarried or you've been married 50 years, you'll find profit in contemplating anew the Mystery of Marrige.
6 people found this helpful
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Joyeux's mom
5.0 out of 5 stars A recommendation
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
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I bought this book as a recommendation from a podcast I was listening to recently. A very loved and respected author, lecturer and mentor recommended reading this book. If Elisabeth Elliot goes out of her way to make a recommendation I know it is a good book. It arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition. It is on my list to read. Enjoy.
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Sean Ridgley
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2024
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Fun date night material
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Momo2020
5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME BOOK
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2011
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I really enjoyed reading this book. It painted a very different, but yet real picture of the marital relationship and how it parallels our own personal relationship with Almight God. I wish more people had an understand of what it truly means to love someone. We would have a lower divorce rate.
This book has challenged me in my own marriage. On a daily basis it causes me to reflect on whether or not I am loving my wonderful husband or if I am protecting myself and seeking my own desires.In a culture where we are taught to only think about our personal happiness, this book is a breath of fresh air. Every married couple or someone thinking about marriage should definatley read this book.
12 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book!! Difficult words and descriptions
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2016
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Very good book! We are covering for our bible study and for the most part has been great. The only downside for this book is the overly descriptive words he uses. It seems as if he took time to look for challenging words to describe every bit of details. I'd strongly recommend this book for anyone to enhance their marriage, understanding of what God truly desires for us and how we should live our lives.
2 people found this helpful
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Huy L
5.0 out of 5 stars a deep reflection on marriage
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2023
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The author penned the draft of this book when he was 30 years old wrestling with the mystery of marriage. Decades later I read this book when I’m a newly-wed 30 year-old. I never felt so understood by someone I’ve never met before.
One person found this helpful
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ssumner
5.0 out of 5 stars best marriage book out there
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2009
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Mike Mason is such a good writer, and his thinking about marriage is beautiful and deeply theological. I love this book. Even though my husband Jim and I have ourselves recently published a book on marriage called "Just How Married Do You Want to Be?, Mason's book is still my favorite. My husband and I read this book about 13 years ago just before we were married, and it literally changed our relationship, especially physically, and drew us closer to God. We found ourselves worshiping the Lord spontaneously as we read it.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

joyful grandma
5.0 out of 5 stars Great prompt service and book was as good as
Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2014
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Great prompt service and book was as good as described
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A. Atkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on marriage ever!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2013
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This is a beautiful book. Not one of those 'how to' books on marriage, with advice, but more of a 'wow what is this?' book, exploring what it rightly calls a mystery. Full of fresh insights on the amazing gift of God which is marriage, and what it says about us and God also. I have bought 6 copies of this recently, one for me and my husband (as an update of the old edition which I had already read) and 5 to give away to newly married couples I know. I won't go to a wedding again in the near future without giving this as part of my wedding present to the couple.
One person found this helpful
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The Art of Steering
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved loved loved this book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2012
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This is the best book I have read on marriage from a Christian perspective and I recommend it to all those with whom I do pre-marriage counselling. In fact, I so enjoyed and learned from this writing by Mike Mason that I started to explore his other titles, which have turned out to be good also.

I would rarely be so positive about a book as I read many each month and few stand out above the rest but, in the case of this book, I put it forward without reservation. If you are married or contemplating marriage, then buy this one!
One person found this helpful
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B. Du-cille
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2014
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Great book - love the author's insights. Very original and inspiring.
One person found this helpful
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Ope
4.0 out of 5 stars Honest and brutally needed by couples
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2020
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Reading this book is awesome. It does not feel like anything has been sugar-coated which is a welcomed breath of fresh air. I recommend this book for anyone looking the realities of true married life.
One person found this helpful
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