A guy named Mike left a comment a few days ago that made my day. You can take or leave what I've written about relationships, but if you come away from something I've written amazed by the cross of Christ, I will be a very happy man. Thanks for writing, Mike. And may God bless your preaching of the gospel in Cork.
Hi Joshua, I was having a discussion with a friend of mine last week about your book "I kissed dating goodbye". I was saved in my teenage years and began showing interest in a beautiful girl who insisted that I read your book. I was really interested in what it had to say (although some of it rubbed me the wrong way I must admit) but what impacted me the most and what has stuck with me to this day was your description of the cross.
About two thirds of the way through the book you wrote about what happened on the cross of calvary, that every sin of every person was placed upon the Anointed One, and the Father poured His wrath out on His Son. And that the Son was looked at as if He had committed the sins of horrible men and was punished for it.I had been going to church or bible studies 3x a week for about a year and half at this point and I never heard the cross explained that way before. I couldn't get it out of my head and the cross made so much more sense to me.
I want to thank you for including those pages of theology in a book about dating (or not dating, as it were). It really impacted me and has stuck with me years later.
I ended up dating that girl (not courting [sorry]) and marrying her. We moved to the city of Cork in Ireland and I am pastoring a church filled with young people. I preach penal substitutionary atonement every sunday and every wednesday and make it my aim that no one attends this church even once without hearing the heart of the gospel, the message of the cross. —Mike
9 Comments
Wow, that is great. Thanks for sharing that comment.
I love the passion for the gospel.
I second that. What an inspiration... I'm off to remember to focus always on the cross now.
Blessings in Christ,
Marshall Jones Jr.
Can I third that? :P
I read both of your books, Joshua. And the strongest message I got from your books was = think about whether my actions and thoughts are pleasing to God.
Comments like that, that make it all worth it..
All the young red blooded guys at my local church are now passing your books around and with spending time with them, its obvious that you have totally changed their views off dating etc (including staying away from the Jezebel's).
This is highly encouraging, i'm sure you loved it when you first read what Mike said.
Wow! What a beautiful testimony to share! I had read both of your books on I kissed Dating Goodbye and Boy meets Girl.
I love it. I truly understand it and is guarding it for marriage only and include the "first" kiss until I say, "I Do!".
Thank you for sharing this!
Hungry to eat His Word,
'Guerite ~ BoldLion
Wow. that is nice. I agree to what he said.
Actually, in my local church, when I have tried discussing your book to some of the young people, I heard some of them (one of them my sister) that there are some parts of the book they aren't agree with. But I think, they focused too much on "kissing dating goodbye" and failed to see on how you get back to the basic principles of the bible and how you lead your readers to look up to the cross.
This is great stuff.
Thank you for sharing this, and thank Mike for reading and being unashamed of the gospel.
Grace and peace
I just thought this was funny because just today (we have both read your book a few times over) I was telling my boyfriend about how I have caught and applied so many ideals from "I kissed dating goodbye" that have nothing to do with dating or courting, but apply to all life and all relationships.
One thing in particular--something your mother always told you "hustle while you wait"
That applies to all aspects of life. And when you are in college it is just so real and needed, I actually whisper that to myself through out the day.
Thanks for your time and passing on the wisdom. And taking the time to read this novel I just wrote, wow.
April
Leave a comment