Marriage and AdSense ads

It really disappoints me that so many companies are out there exploiting the problems that people go through in marriage. This blog is for healing marriages-- not for distroying them.

I'm thinking about deleting it, mainly because my time is being squeezed. I hope that people do find the help that they need. One great site that I came across was www.marriageadvice.com They have a free newsletter and great articles and ideas for saving your marriage. I wish you all the best as you persue happiness in marriage.

Preparing Your Son for Marriage

I am a member of a few online discussion groups. In one of them, we started talking about Purity Formals and the percieved focus on young women. However, I had few thoughts about purity and young men. The following post is my response. It has many resources that can help young men overcome the temptations they face and remain whole for their future wives.

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There is a movement among evangelical Chrisitians and other mainline religions (ie devout Jewish and Muslim groups) that is also preaching the "true love waits" message to their young men. However many of these events take a different form ususally retreats or camp outs.

Sometimes with mothers present sometimes with fathers. Why not a whole bunch of formal events for young men?How many teenage boys truly desire to dress up in a tux and dance around... Not many...

Unfortunately, the media does not find it very sexy to talk about young men and boys who want to keep it in their pants. So you probably won't hear much about it. Unless it's a joke like this Rolling Stone article (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto...g__the_sexless)

But AIDS (and other STDs) is not a joke. Divorce is not a joke. Fatherless children is not a joke...

For parents and guardians who are encouraging their sons to stay virgins until marriage here are a few resources.

Websites:
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One of the few formal events:http://www.dakotavoice.com/200701/20070115_1.html

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Actual resources:

http://www.freedomeveryday.org/youngmen/index.html

http://www.purelifeministries.org/Speaking%20Ministry/Events/MOPs/mop.htm

http://www.worldwidegroovecorp.com/abstinence/

(There are many more good ones out there if you want to do a search on it...)

Books:

Preparing Your Son for Every Man's Battle: Honest Conversations About Sexual Integrity by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey

Every Young Man's Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real World of Sexual Temptation by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker

Tactics: Securing the Victory in Every Young Man's Battle by Fred Stoker

Not Even a Hint: Guarding Your Heart Against Lust by Joshua Harris

Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World by Joshua Harris

Breaking Free: 12 Steps to Sexual Purity for Men (not sure who the author is but it's about men freeing themselves from porn)

Audio:Winning the Battle for Sexual Purity: Straight Talk with Men about Love and Life by Christopher West

I hope you find this helpful, because I truly believe that young men come under greater attack and pressure to have sex before they are ready. They see it in their face from every direction. They come under the ridicule of being called "gay" or "odd" when they are not.

Many of the loud voices mock the idea. (ie the 40 year old Virgin and the Rolling Stone article mentioned above.) The voices supporting these young men's decisions are a faint wisper in their ears.

If you truly feel that there should be more events for young men and boys, I would encourage you to get something started in your community. You can email me if you'd like... Young people need all of the help that they can get. Especially from people who are wise, caring and understanding.

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I will be talking more about preparing young women for marriage in future posts, as well.