This article came across my computer recently. http://www.perseveronews.com/true-love-doesnt-wait/

"I’m sure that most of them are under the impression that the church’s view on this has been the same down all of the generations. That the church has always taught ‘True Love Waits’, even back in the days when it was written in Latin on purity rings: “Verus Amor Manet”.

But it wasn’t. They didn’t. Far from saying ‘True Love Waits’, the church fathers (the protestant ones. Catholicism is another issue.) told the young people to, ummm, marry. And the church and their fathers were supposed to make sure this happened."

I found it to be a fascinating article. Enjoy!

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Hi my name is Jana and im 16 years old. About six months ago I met this guy who started to come to my church. He became very close friends with my family, coming over several times a week and I started to care for him alot. He told us his testimony about how before he was saved he was drunk driving and the girl he was with actually died. About three months ago he went to prison to serve his sentence which is 4-6 years. I wrote him a few letters, and my dad wrote him asking if he would like to get to know me better. He said that he would like to remain friends, but he has continued to write me. I want to guard my heart, but im not exactly sure how. I know this doesnt seem like a big deal to most people, but I want to be extremely careful about guarding my heart. I guess my question is should I continue to write him as just friends?

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I am looking for suggestions in regards to things I can do to reduce how much I get hit. I am planning to get a purity ring soon and also trying to thing carefully about what I wear.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

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About two years ago my family's heater broke so we hired someone from a local heating and air service to come out and fix it. A young man came out for the call and ended up asking my mom if we were homeschooled.  This lead to a conversation about his family, how he had seven brothers and one sister, his wife was expecting, his family went to such-and-such church, etc. Mom was so excited to learn about a church with a bunch of large families and homeschoolers in the area, so we visited the church shortly after that and my dad made the decision to stay.

About a year and a half ago, the young man's mom, who I'll call Mary, asked me to teach her youngest two children the piano once a week out at their house. It was through this that I got to know their family, mainly their four youngest sons (the oldest are grown and married) and their daughter (she's 10). I always thought all the sons were at least two years younger than me and never gave much thought to a particular son I'll call Caleb, especially since he was set to graduate and go off to college far far away very soon.

Nearly a year ago, Caleb and his mom shared the news that Caleb would be attending the same university I was. Shortly after that, Caleb asked me for a tour of the campus. I was starting to become best friends with his cousin, Martha, and she planted the thought in my mind that perhaps he was interested, but I hardly dared believe it.

Fast forward to today, and it is 100% obvious that Caleb and I share a mutual interest. I have never received so many comments and jokes about it as I had yesterday, which lead me to post on this blog for your advice.

The comments from his family and friends have gotten so blatant and the teasing so obvious, the only people in the room who won't admit anything are Caleb and me! I have a horrible poker face and I fear my reactions egg them on, but Caleb has perfected the art of stonily ignoring the comments and changing the subject.

I think Caleb thinks I would be expecting an immediate courtship if he said anything, but truth be told I'm not ready to dive in to something like that and neither is he. I'm going to be going away for a yearlong mission trip next summer when I graduate, Lord willing, and he has expressed to his brother (who told his cousin, who told me) that he doesn't think I'll wait for him but that I'll just go about my business never to be seen again.

It seems that at the moment we are just enjoying getting to know each other in group settings. We attend the same Bible study. His best friend is courting my best friend (his cousin) so we have fun get-togethers that they tease is a double date, which is debatable depending on who you ask.

However, not all of our contact is in groups. This morning, Caleb asked me to meet him at 6:30am before classes and play racquetball with him. Sometimes I tutor him in math since I work as a university tutor, but I've also met him outside of university hours to just sit with him and do homework together in case he had a question.

My question is this: should I address the teasing and current situation? I want him to know that I will wait, that I don't expect anything from him he is not willing to give while he is focusing on school, and that I just enjoy getting to know him casually. But I don't know if this would be wise, since he ignores any comments in public. Should I just follow his lead? Is he being this way just because he thinks I will expect something if he admits what is obvious to everyone?

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I'm 18 years old, and a girl. Last year in February I realized that God had let me know who I would marry. It was sort of a gradual thing hat began to form the summer before, and it dawned upon my in February that God was telling me I'd marry this boy. It was just something that I know with conviction - the thing is, aside from that, I don't like him. I know that he's the sort of godly man who'll be a great husband and father someday, and we are friends, but I don't like him more than as a friend. Like I said, it's been more than a year since I realized, and for the past few months I've started having doubts about whether or not I understood God's message. On top of that, for the past few weeks I've begun to like his brother more and more (who is also a great godly man). I picture myself kissing the boy I (think) I'll someday marry and cringe, but if I picture myself kissing his brother I feel so right and happy. I know I'm young but I honestly want to just follow God's will for my life, but I don't know how to tell the difference between a message from God and myself going insane. I feel like I should ask God for a sign but I'm scared about what I'll be told. if you have any advice I'd really appreciate it.

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