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On Anxiety: Why I Overeat
As long as I can remember I’ve had anxiety, which is why I overeat. In Junior High, my parents took me to doctor after doctor and they all agreed–I had hypoglycemia. The solution was to carry around extra snacks or protein with me to stabilize my blood sugar when it dipped. The problem was it dipped often. No matter how much food I ate I was always hungry. Day after day, I prayed to God and asked him to stop my hunger. When eating higher amounts of food didn’t work–I became even more anxious. I was afraid to eat because I didn’t want to get fat. Even as a young…
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On Dating: Hope for the Holidays
[Guest Post by Jenny LaBahn] – Is it really possible to have hope for the holidays? Because the holidays for a single person can be like pouring salt on an already opened wound. The loneliness is already prominent. The feeling of being a “misfit” at various functions already exists. The unfulfilled longing is already present. For many, this season only serves to further exacerbate the struggle that resides within. It seems to be a constant reminder that we are, in fact, still single, still alone, still waiting. (As if any of us really need a reminder). Most married people don’t seem to grasp this concept. It would seem that it…
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On Dating: Everybody's doing it
[Guest Post by Alexandrea J. Wilson] – Because I grew up in a Christian home–I knew better than to believe the lie that everybody’s doing it. I went to the True Love Waits conferences and even pledged to be faithful to God until it was my time to share that special wedding night with my husband. Even when my friends started to lose their virginity, I stood firm because I knew I made a promise to God to save sex for marriage. My confidence in my ability to execute self-control made me think that I would be able to endure any temptation–on my own. I wouldn’t need to fall at…
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Don't Be Afraid To Date
[Guest Post by Krista Back] – What makes one afraid to date? New relationships are wonderful; they are full of smiles, giggles, flirting, stomach flutters, and interesting conversations. However, even in the midst of embracing the excitement and newness of a dating relationship, in the back of my mind I also find myself apprehensive and worried. “What if this will one will turn out like every other relationships?” “What if he hurts me like the others?” “There is no way this will work.” I always end up dealing with this internal struggle between all the good and fun emotions of a new relationship, and the fear I might have my…
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On Dating: I Said No
I didn’t want to tell my story–the one where I said no and he didn’t stop. On a cold, dark day in February, 2006–it happened. A new coworker asked me to drinks after work. He seemed harmless enough, and I honestly didn’t think twice about saying yes. We drove to a nearby brewery and each ordered one drink. One drink too many. One drink for a supposedly “friendly” coworker to turn aggressive. I don’t know why I agreed to take one car. My car. After drinks he asked me to go to the beach. I reluctantly said yes because it was cold, and because I thought he said dinner would…
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On Dating: Flirting With Disaster
[Guest Post by Rayni Peavy] – This is my story of flirting with disaster. What’s the Big Deal About Flirting anyway? Before I got married I never dated a lot. But I did flirt like it was going out of style. When you’re single, a little flirting here and there probably isn’t that big a deal but I was a major flirt and I majorly led guys on. I called it “flirt without follow through”. From my teens into my very early 20s I loved getting a guy’s attention by using all the right lines, looks and gestures. Then when they asked for my number I would give it to…
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The Secret To Dating
[Monthly Columnist – Hannah Stovall] – Do you know the secret to dating? The whispering was the hardest part. Hushed treasures. Quiet gold. I’d walk down the hallway of that small-town Texas high school, watching those girls—you know, those girls—toss their perfectly highlighted curls in laughter, and I ached to be in on the joke. I’ll admit. I love a good secret. And as my sweet and honest friend said just a few days ago—as we sat on our couch on a Friday night, sipping hot chocolate and telling jokes (because we’re hilarious and awesome): “Someone didn’t fill us in on the secret.” Seven years later–that’s still the perfect description.…
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On Dating: Should Men Pursue Women First?
[Guest Post by Marc Fisher] – Recently, I heard a panel on dating & relationships that tackled many interesting questions–should men pursue women? It was extra special because my wife Renee was one of the panel speakers. I felt encouraged afterwards because it gave some real challenges to put into practice in my own life–but what stood out the most was a single question. A question asked often in Christian circles, but often merely glanced over, Should men pursue women–first? I think we miss something that can radically alter our relationships if we don’t stop to ponder this question in more depth. We need to ask why does the question…
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To Date Or Not To Date
[Monthly Columnist – Rebekah Snyder] – To Date Or Not To Date – That Is The Question “I wasn’t allowed to date until I was sixteen,” I explained. “And how did that make you feel?” No, this wasn’t a therapy session, though the question may have sounded that way. It was asked by the mother of one of my middle school students whom, I’m assuming, was trying to establish some boundaries for her daughter and wondered how they would play out in her daughter’s mind. No one had ever asked me that question before. I never asked it myself. How did I feel about the no-dating rule. I’m sure it…
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On Dating: You Complete Me
[Guest Post by Casey Tygrett] – Should a couple say the words “you complete me” to each other? And I’m not talking about Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger in the movie Jerry McGuire. Before you begin dating, start with the understanding that who you are in Christ. You are one in whom Christ dwells. You are promised life and life to the full. You are hidden with Christ in God. Once these promises and realities are deeply hooked into your heart and mind, freedom in relationships flows naturally out. Heartbreak still happens–and emotions and connections still have deep impact on followers of Jesus because we’re people built for relationship. However,…
