Summer '09 Bloggin' Catchup: Chapter One

May 31st, 2009 marked the sad end of a long six weeks with SWAT. We started True Love Waits with high hopes and excitement, but I don't think we really knew what an awesome thing we were getting into. It was amazing to split into guy/girl groups and talk real on a subject that's generally awkward! Amazingly though, awkwardness only lasted the first couple Wednesdays, and any to follow was cause for the classroom to errupt with laughter. Because of the split though, I'm only able to share the good things from the girls' side of the 6 weeks. ;)

Each session had a whole-group game, and once the guys went to their classroom and the girls to their's, we had discussion, Bible study and a small group game. We made hilarious poster board collages, and afterwards compared it to the guy's posters. We talked about Biblical principles, ideal dates and boundaries, had guest speakers who answered some hard questions, and joked about unintentionally picking baby shower colors for the purity banquet. :) Each of the girls were so incredibly special! I enjoyed getting to know them individually and see them interact as a group.

Though it was fun, alot of things would break your heart. Sexual purity is such a delicate and important factor for a person's lifetime. It influences their relationships, their confidence, their marriages, their parenting, etc. Because it's so effective for destruction, of course, it's obviously a favorite for the enemy's attack. My upbringing has taught me that sexuality for marriage is the black-and-white-Biblical RIGHT lifestyle. And when I wholeheartedly choose to follow God's order (not just because it's black and white right, but to please Him), He will bless me with His best. With a conforming generation, you frusterate yourself by hoping you don't sound like a salesperson.
However...after breathing through frusteration, you find yourself swallowed in compassion. Most have been taught by peers, secular classrooms and experience. None of which tell them that in Christ, they are victorious over compromise. They aren't promised that true, pure, Christ-like love is possible in marriage when they desire and follow God's plan for their life. They aren't encouraged to know that this choice of a lifestyle doesn't matter what's already been done. It depends on what we do from here and on.

We ended the 6 weeks with a ring ceremony and banquet, and had 22 kids (with their families) make a commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage. One thing we girls talked about was the statistics of youth who make this commitment; approxminately 95% don't actually keep it. So we encouraged one another in the seriousness of the commitment made in our heart.
Now, we wholeheartedly pray for each of them and their promise; that to them, it's alot more than rings and commitment cards.