March 20th

March 20th -- Proverbs 5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%205&version=NLT)

Go read, as I am not summing it up. Actually, I'm not even sure how much I'll talk on what it's talking about (avoiding immoral women) since it's advice aimed at guys...

Yeah, so, well, I'm really not sure I have much to say on this topic... doesn't really concern me... but, any guys reading this, LISTEN TO THAT PASSAGE. In the same way, fellow women, avoid immoral men.
Now, one thing I do just want to comment on is just a side thought relating to this passage. Immoral. Definition? "Violating moral principles; not conforming to the patterns of conduct usually accepted or established as consistent with principles of personal and social ethics." Whose principles? God's. Now I just feel the need to point out something, as I often feel it needs clarification. Sometimes, people confuse naïve and innocent. If you are not naïve, you are seen as immoral, to some people. Now, naïve implies that the person is. Definition of naïve? 1 "having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous." and 2 "having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous" This suggests a lack of knowledge and/or understanding about the topic. Now, you can disagree with me if you want, but naïve and innocent are different. Naïve, as I said, is not knowing about or not understanding the topic - in this case it suggests they know nothing about sexual matters, and are prone to be taken advantage of because of that lack of understanding. Then we have innocent. Sure, often innocence and naivety go hand-in-hand, but they can be different. I mean, what if a Christian girl goes to a public school and is forced to learn (due to the school board) all the nitty-gritty details about sex? Is she suddenly immoral? NO. One can be educated on the topic, but still innocent. If she learns all about it in that class, because she has to for school, but never gets into trouble with it, or breaks God's laws in regards to it, she doesn't become suddenly immoral just for knowing it. She could very easily still be highly offended by sexual humour, become uncomfortable around it, and still "know how to blush" (as in still be able to be affected by that immorality, when it arises, instead of being immune or indifferent to it). Some people also study these topics to help others. Heard of a Christian marriage counselor? They don't have to be married, but they deal with married-couple issues, often involving sex. If they know nothing/are entirely naïve they cannot help - they need to be educated on the matter. Education doesn't have to be immoral. Sure I'm positive God's got lines as to what is okay to know and what He doesn't want us knowing (or not at that point on our life), but also remember that sex is something beautiful God created as a gift to mankind. The catch is it's for a husband and wife ONLY. So, please don't think a girl's all good, but then find out she knows stuff on the matter, and then suddenly decide because of that she's immoral and you have to avoid her. Recognize immorality is more an action, in this context. Yes, people may think many immoral thoughts, but that is between them and God. But watch for a person's actions - when that person's actions in that area are always/almost always ones that are clearly not pleasing to God, then you can decide that maybe they're immoral and you should avoid them so as not to flirt with sin by being around them.

God bless! Shalom!