Dear Body of Christ,

I recently listened to a broadcast on focus on the family where a guest
speaker was talking about dating relationships. Tony Nelson is his name.
Tony made a statement that struck me. He said "You've seen it before. You
take a single Christian who was actively involved in bible study, regular
church attendance, or church involvement period.

Then he or she starts dating someone who isn't as concerned about those
things... and they slowly pull away. Next thing you know, they don't go to
church, never read their bible, and praying becomes a last commodity (unless
there's an illness, death, accident, loss of job, you fill in the blank).

Tony went on to say that this kind of relationship actually cripples the
couple's chances of having a happy and successful relationship down the
road. His advice was simply this "The person your with should not be pulling
you away from Christ, but rather they should be strengthening it". He told
of how his wife (before they were married) challenged him in reading his
Bible, to the point where he'd want to learn more in order to keep up.

Another point he hit on was sex before marriage. Okay this is the part where
you close your mouth from the jaw dropped expression on your face and
swallow hard. "Christian couples are ruining their chances for making it in
marriage because they're giving themselves over before its time". Wow!
"Think about it. What have you got to look forward to? You've already
exhausted everything you can out of the relationship, you get to the
honeymoon, and then, well, its business as usual".

Tony said that he and his wife waited, and it was the most awesome thing he
could ever imagine. He couldn't wait to be with his bride on his wedding
night, to kneel by the bed, pray, and then engage in something special that
God had intended for a man and woman to be patient with until the right
time. So let's say you've messed up, you've already taken that forbidden
step in your relationship. What do you do? His advice was repent number one,
but then you must allow time and distance.

"Time and distance apart, is the ultimate test for any dating relationship.
If you go a couple of days without the person, no communication whatsoever,
and its 'out of sight out of mind' than there's a good chance your not in
love. But if you can't wait to be with that person, and you long to see them
and are willing to wait for them, you're more than likely head over heels.

So is the person your with drawing you closer to Christ, or in the opposite
direction? This is not an easy message for me to share, but, if I care
enough about Christian singles (including myself), than this is something
that needs to be said and heard. For further info check out www.family.org
and listen to the recent broadcast called "Solomon on romance". Thanks for
taking the time to hear this message and God bless!

In Christ,

Sam

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