Love and dating: continued by Justin

Time for me to further explain my theory behind this. To sum up Johnny's points, I/we don't date because we still have to get our relationship with God down and strong. Love just doesn't exist as highschoolers, we're not old enough to handle someone else's emotions, and drama is not fun. Don't immediately start dating, but watch the person for a LONG LONG TIME. The reason behind dating is to find that future husband/wife, and purity is an absolute must.

Okay, my points now. I must reiterate about my relationship with God. I mean, come on, God is so much greater than anything on this earth. If I don't spend time with Him, but choose to spend time with some girl, that's just plain wrong. Gotta get my priorities straight. God first, girls second. It's hard enough to juggle trying to fit God into my high school schedule, but trying to juggle God and girls? I'll save that for college.

Another more personal point is that for the first two years of high school I STUNK at socializing with girls. Actually, I had a problem socializing, period. I had never realized that lunch was the best time to make friendships. What did I do? Played basketball, played computer, played Nintendo games. My associations with girls were almost nonexistent, but I was still happy and content. Really, I was so bad at hanging around girls. So then I was determined to actually be able to socialize with girls in general. Be comfortable with them for a change. If I were to jump into a relationship, I would secluding myself to just one girl when in reality I more importantly needed to get to know others better. I hope you get this, this paragraph doesn't seem too clear. I guess a way to rephrase it that if I couldn't be completely happy without the girl, then there would be no way I would be happy with her.

Before dating, I was determined to get this love thing down. What I mean is that God loves us so much, and I wanted to be able as best as I could to love everyone just as God loves us. Love shouldn't be for only one person: I wanted to learn how to love all of my friends before falling in love with a girlfriend. I think this was the hardest aspect to grasp: how to love the right way.

What better place to learn how to love than straight from the source? If you could please dig out your Bibles and turn to 1 Corinthians 13 (Gosh, I'm soundin' a whole bunch like a pastor or minister :-)). Love is…

Patient - I gotta learn how to wait for what I really want, meaning to await God's timing, not mine.
Kind - Even if a person has wronged me to the extreme, love is when I see this person in trouble and I do my best to help.
Not Jealous - If I'm attracted to this friend, but she doesn't talk to me as much as other guys, I still love without being jealous of the other guys.
Does not brag - I shouldn't go around parading or being boastful.
Not arrogant - Gotta keep open-minded, willing to listen.
Does not act unbecomingly - Whatever actions I do should never in any way make someone else look bad.
Not self seeking - I gotta look primarily for the benefit of others, and not myself. If I end up suffering so that someone else gains happiness, then that's what I should do. Selflessness.
Not provoked - Nothing should be strong enough to stop the love from pouring.
Does not take into account a wrong suffered - Ever been in an argument with your parents, and they're saying all this stuff that you did in the past, and you say all this stuff they did wrong? Love is when the argument does not bring up past instances.
Rejoices not in unrighteousness, but in the truth - Easily put, love does not enjoy the activities of sin, but relishes in what's glorifying to God.
Bears, believes, hopes, endures all things - You go through the ups and the downs. You always stay positives, always believe in the best of everyone. If somebody did the most horrible thing to you, love is there to not have your view of that person changed, you believe that it was just a fluke.

Finally (last point, I promise), you know how everyone wants their special someone to have certain particular qualities? It's one of those cheesy "top ten things to look for in that guy/girl" kind of deal. We all want our special someone to fit this list, but have you ever asked yourself if you fit the list of that special someone? Before I begin seeking that perfect girl for me, I want to first be the perfect guy for her. Only until then would I begin dating. For more info, please click here for .Justin's New Year's resolution

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What I've just presented probably goes against everything my school friends think of the matter. Steph was definitely right when she said my view was so different. God before girls? Love the right way meant for all and not just one? Become that perfect someone before seeking for your own special someone? I'd might as well speak Latin to a pig. Haha, just kidding, maybe not that extreme. Still though, they would have a hard time understanding my POV.

To Stephanie and Katherine: some people call it luck, but I think we know why you're still here. In the future, I expect you guys to have the coolest most powerful testimonials ever. I know God loves everyone, but it looks like God has taken a special liking to you two. ;-)

Wow, who would have ever thought Justin was capable of such deep and intriguing thoughts?

posted by justin at 12:22 AM