Apostolic Friends Forum - In-Law Issues

Hello and Praise The Lord! My name is, I'll call my self "kat." :kittyhug
I am wondering if you would happen to know of any books as a suggestion, that would cover the subject of having to deal with imPOSSible in laws. (unsaved in laws)
A little foundation;
UNFORTUNATELY, my in laws live 3 houses down from us across the street. They are very VERY OVERLY opinionated. They can never put their opinions out there, just to put it out there or to discuss them like most people at work, church, or anywhere would do, then in the end? you agree to disagree. Their opinions are always DRENCHED in sarcasm, judgement, self righteousness, and "if you don't like it, there's the door" kind of attitude. And that's not from responding back, that's just how they are. :pullhair:banghead And this isn't JUST per say about "religion", but from every subject from A-Z. I have tried to sit there at times and just listen, hoping that the subject will fade into something else, but then there are times when I spoke up cause they can be so attacking. I was married to an abusive husband, divorced him, and so I guess I just got fed up with them, reminding me VERY MUCH of him. One time, I accidentally made the comment I was not going to vote. I wasn't crazy about either choice at the time. Now granted, politics IS a touchy subject to begin with. However, instead of just making some good points, and telling me their views on why I should? They stood up! YELLED at me, and it was like "The Hulk" lit up in their eyes. There's NO call for ANYONE to ATTACK you on your opinions. God knows I've had discussions with people who don't like mine, and I don't like theirs, but we didn't ATTACK each other! And this my friends, is not just about voting, it's about anything you don't see eye to eye with them on.
Then there's OCD mama. Like living across the street isn't enough, we do breakfast one week, dinner another, phone calls in between, unexpected little drop ins, drop bys, from having been out shopping or whatever. And mom, his sister too, says he don't spend enough time with them or love them. I know family is family, but most people I've talked to, in the church or co-workers, they're like "Sounds like mom is too possesive. I'D be glad just to get a few phone calls here and there, see my kids on my birthdays, and holidays and a little in between! If I had to see my kids all the time like that, GOOD GRIEF! They have lives of their own too! Mom needs to cut the apron strings!"
You name it, they are the most intimidating, annoying, HIGHLY judgemental, extremely overly, control obsessed, people I have ever known. They're like you're worst case scenario of unsaved in laws you'd have to deal with, having church in the equasion just gives them more ammo to be jerks. I know the Bible says to love your enemies, but the Bible also says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:34-39 But THEY'RE bringing out the swords.
I/WE have tried to be christian about our behaviours toward them, tried reducing amount of time spent with them, we've tried ALOT OF ADVICE people have had to give. Even Biblical. We've done our part in every way imaginable. We've just decided enough is enough, and that we have to cut them off, at least for now.
The Bible says to "cleave to your wife." I told my husband... "your marriage is that of one like with you and God. And God is a JEALOUS God and wants NO thing, idol, tempation, person, whatever, to come between you and Him. It is idol worship. Well, how much more should we protect OUR marriage from people who ONLY care about their own selfish desires and ways, even though they KNOW it affects us." Not to mention, before he got saved and was in a different church, a pastor THERE had warned him about his parents.
They're son in law don't like them, some of their friends they've driven away, they've driven away a family member once, now I don't like them. It's like, "take a clue."
PLEASE, any help?? I figured there SHOULD some sort of book touching on or relating to this subject, because as pentecostals what do we struggle with most? Winning souls to the Lord, dealing with unsaved family, and living for Christ in an UNGODLY world, and marriage issues. So I really HOPE there's something to help. Lol ;)