Friday, December 12th, 2008 at 3:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Q: My boyfriend and I really care about each other and it's natural for us to show our affection. However, our friends have told us that we're offensive with our “pda” and that we need to tone it down. I have mixed feelings about the whole situation...any suggestions on how to respond?
A: Ah, “pda” (aka - “public display of affection”) it's one of the biggest areas of controversy surrounding couples... How much is too much...what's appropriate...what's not...and the list goes on and on.
It sounds like your friends really love you and your boyfriend, and don't want you to ruin your relationship or your Christian witness by getting caught up in pda. Remember, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” (Proverbs 27:5-6)
So, you and your boyfriend should take your friends feedback positively and seriously and tone it down. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble...so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)
If your boyfriend doesn't agree that you two need to back down, then you need to just be friends, “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
There's nothing wrong with caring, loving, and showing affection towards your boyfriend and him towards you, but you are not married (yes, even married people should refrain from pda, but that's a whole different article, for a totally different web site, lol!) and you need to show respect for each other, the Lord, your family, your friends, and others around you. Seek creative and more respectful ways to express your affection for each other. You won't regret protecting your purity, no matter how challenging it may be.
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
Talk Soon,
RUTH
* All verses are from the (NIV) translation of the Bible!
* This is an excerpt from the book InTheTimes.com Q&A by Ruth Tynes. Copyright 2008. It may not be reprinted or posted without written permission from the author. Please contact for reprint permission.
tags: pda public display of affection date dating purity boundries, tween pre-teen teen teenage teenager young adult girl magazine web site blog e-zine christian faith-based biblically-based, q&a question and answer, advice tips ideas
Christine Prankard's Favorite Christmas Memory
Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 12:20 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
"My favorite Christmas memory is when our whole family goes to church on Christmas Eve for the candle light church service."
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Christine's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Christine's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
Nichole Nordeman's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 at 1:49 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
My husband and I met when I was living in Nashville and he was in Dallas. We had some mutual friends (in Dallas) who kept insisting that we meet. Every time I would tour through Texas, they would try and find creative reasons to get us in the same room. We were uneasy...since neither of us were really comfortable with the notion of getting “set up”...but I can honestly say that once we met, it was pretty obvious to me that he was the one. We were engaged six months later and married six months after that.
My husband is an encouragement to me in the sense that he is a constant reminder to me of what my “real” life is about. He's not in the music industry and while he has a deep admiration for my gifts, he is not overly impressed with Nichole Nordeman, the “artist.” What he values most in me are the things he loved about me when we met...and I was just “Nichole” the girl....and now I am Nichole, the wife and Nichole, the mom...and those are the roles he loves and affirms the most.
>>>Let's go shopping! Nichole has recorded a ton of songs (even made a cameo in a movie)! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Nichole's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: nichole nordeman interview, celebrity behind the scenes, celebrity real life love story
Pam Walker's Favorite Christmas Memory
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
"My favorite Christmas tradition growing up was when we would all wake up Christmas morning and read the Christmas story from the Bible together. Then we would go running downstairs to open presents."
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Pam's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Pam's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
Korey Cooper's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story
Monday, December 8th, 2008 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
ITT:Your husband and Skillet Bandmate, John, truly is a partner in ministry with you, how did you
meet, how is he an encouragement to you, and what advice would you like to give InTheTimes.com girls
when it comes to finding the Godly 'man of their dreams' ?
Korey: Ever since I was young, I wanted to serve the Lord and honor Him. I didn't see the point in dating unless I was in that phase of life where I was ready to get married. I was very convicted about this and consequently, at 22 years old, John was my first boyfriend.
Most of my friends dated and thought I was weird and would never get married. I just observed how much baggage they had after their relationships. I simply trusted that God had someone special for me and at the appropriate time, we would meet and continue our lives more effectively together than we could individually.
The ultimate advice is to trust God in all things and not to look to fulfill yourself outside of Him, as all true fulfillment comes from Him.
Know that in His wisdom, He has someone for you and when the time is right He will bring you to each other. In the meantime, serve Him with single-focus and allow Him to build His character into your life, in order to prepare you to love and serve your spouse how you are meant to.
John is everything I hoped for and more, and is a provocation to me in all areas—spiritually and naturally. He continually presses me to move forward and never settle down—to get better at what I'm good at and to develop new areas of myself that I didn't believe I could. He is immensely productive and an excellent leader, husband, and father.
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Korey's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Korey's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: korey cooper interview, skillet interview, celebrity behind the scenes, celebrity real life love story
translation of the Bible!
