How Far Is Too Far? (10/07)
Below is the transcript (edited) from the online chat held Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 8pm CDT. The chat was hosted by Pastor Leon Ehlert, religion instructor at Fox Valley Lutheran High School (FVL) in Appleton, WI. Pastor Ehlert spoke at the 2005 WELS International Youth Rally in Orlando, FL and at the 2006 WELS Youth Ministry Conference in Phoenix, AZ. He serves as a theatre advisor at FVL and also works with Gospel ministry to Hmongs living in the Appleton area.
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 8:52:55 PM)
Tonight’s host is Pastor Leon Ehlert, religion instructor at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, WI. Pastor Ehlert has done lots with and for teens, including speaking at the 2005 WELS International Youth Rally in Orlando, FL and at the 2006 WELS Youth Ministry Conference in Scottsdale, AZ. He also is involved in the Theatre Dept at Fox Valley Lutheran and assist with ministry to Hmong’s living in the Appleton area.
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:53:05 PM)
why did everyone join tonight's chat?
becca (Oct 23, 2007 8:53:22 PM)
i've never been in one of these
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:53:36 PM)
I need some help
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 8:53:51 PM)
joey, what kind of help
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 8:54:17 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:54:17 PM)
what do I do when I want to try things
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:54:30 PM)
how do i fight them off
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:54:48 PM)
good question joey
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 8:55:06 PM)
i believe you are talking about sexual things
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:55:37 PM)
yeah
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:55:43 PM)
i think "curiosity killed the cat" often applies to those situations
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 8:55:57 PM)
i agree
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 8:56:29 PM)
i think, though, that a sexual curiosity isn't wrong--in the sense that God created us as sexual beings.
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:56:35 PM)
well I dont think it is going to kill me
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:56:48 PM)
pastor is it ok to be alone with your date, or better to avoid that situation?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 8:56:59 PM)
depends where you are alone
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:56:59 PM)
does being alone make things worse
becca (Oct 23, 2007 8:57:08 PM)
i feel more comfortable when i'm with a group
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:57:14 PM)
becca, i agree
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 8:57:33 PM)
it kinda depends how well you know the person youre going out with.
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:57:35 PM)
I am ok alone
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 8:57:43 PM)
i think being in a group provides a "safety net"
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:57:49 PM)
the other person has to respect your decision right?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 8:58:14 PM)
more importantly is it respectful to God's desires
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:58:22 PM)
is it good to talk openly about sexual temptation, or better to just not say anything at all
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:58:24 PM)
?
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:58:47 PM)
you have to talk about it
joey (Oct 23, 2007 8:58:50 PM)
why would you keep it in
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:59:09 PM)
i don't know, maybe because talking about it could just make the temptation worse
confused (Oct 23, 2007 8:59:15 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 8:59:21 PM)
hi confused
confused (Oct 23, 2007 8:59:26 PM)
hi.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 8:59:54 PM)
i think alot depends on who you are talking about sexual temptation with
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:00:23 PM)
lbwm why would you think the temtation get worse you are just tlaking about the problem
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:00:50 PM)
because a solution that might come up is giving in to the temptation...
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:01:14 PM)
who would offer that as a solution?
TLW (Oct 23, 2007 9:01:18 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:01:29 PM)
hopefully neither person, but the sinful nature is pretty strong
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:01:29 PM)
I think I offer myself the solution
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:01:29 PM)
hey TLW
TLW (Oct 23, 2007 9:01:35 PM)
hello.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:04:05 PM)
back to ibwm--the sinful nature is strong, but it is also "curbable"
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:04:18 PM)
true pastor
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:04:19 PM)
You can private message eachother by clicking on the users name
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:04:30 PM)
in the right pannel
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:04:52 PM)
anybody on this chat dating someone right now??
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:04:59 PM)
I am
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:02 PM)
nope.
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:05 PM)
for how long, joey?
TLW (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:06 PM)
not at the moment, but soon?
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:14 PM)
with SO? i hope. hehe
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:33 PM)
Check out what others have asked about dating and sex on the LivingBold Q&A at http://www.livingbold.net/qa
7728 (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:34 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:39 PM)
hi 7728
7728 (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:46 PM)
hi
TLW (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:51 PM)
hello.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:05:52 PM)
i think the time to start preppeing yourself for a God-pleasing relationship is before you start dating
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:04 PM)
how do you suggest going about that, pastor?
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:10 PM)
my mom had me fill out this dating contract thing
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:21 PM)
true love waits.
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:21 PM)
any particular books or Bible references?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:28 PM)
a couple of ways1) for guys be careful with porn
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:28 PM)
a contract? like what you would not kiss someone?
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:44 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:49 PM)
yeah becca, tell us more about this contract
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:06:57 PM)
no like waiting to have sex until marrige
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:10 PM)
we all should wait for sex till marriage
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:13 PM)
just a second. i'll be back in a jiffy
7728 (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:23 PM)
yes lbwm
TLW (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:27 PM)
yes, we all should wait.
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:34 PM)
glad you all agree
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:39 PM)
yes.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:50 PM)
agreed--how to make that happen is the question
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:07:58 PM)
pastor what are your thoughts on the Joshua Harris books?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:08:04 PM)
i read one once
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:08:09 PM)
never head of it.
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:08:10 PM)
i think the first one
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:08:18 PM)
I read Kissing Dating good-bye--it was good
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:08:31 PM)
what did you like about it?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:08:50 PM)
that we need to rethink how we approach dating in the first place
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:08:56 PM)
oh
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:09:02 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:09:03 PM)
like we are looking for someone to marry?..like that.....
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:09:10 PM)
welcome back becca
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:09:30 PM)
sorry bout that. do you still want to know bout the contract?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:09:36 PM)
yeah
Michelle (Oct 23, 2007 9:09:55 PM)
does anyone group date?
7728 (Oct 23, 2007 9:10:23 PM)
I read Every Woman's Battle and Every Man's Battle. Every Woman's Battle is much better at using a scriptural approach
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:10:36 PM)
i haven't heard of those, 7728
TLW (Oct 23, 2007 9:10:43 PM)
where did you find them?
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:10:49 PM)
barnes and nobel??
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:10:50 PM)
have you pastor?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:10:55 PM)
heard of them that is
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:10:58 PM)
not those
sm (Oct 23, 2007 9:11:14 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:11:24 PM)
What do I do when lots of people at school are doing things
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:11:26 PM)
it's basically our contract with my parents and god. i told how far i'd go with someone and how i'd cope with temptations. it also had me fill out who i'll talk to when i have problems with this dating stuff.
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:11:32 PM)
and sometimes I want to try what they are doing too
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:11:45 PM)
hey sm.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:12:08 PM)
I think that accountability is a huge factor
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:12:13 PM)
i agree pastor
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:12:42 PM)
I think that if David would have talked to Nathan when he saw Bathsheba--things would have been very different
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:12:53 PM)
who do you suggest being accountable to?
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:12:55 PM)
this is true
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:13:11 PM)
especially if you don't have the greatest relationship with your parents?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:13:12 PM)
somebody you respect as a spiritual authority
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:13:26 PM)
i'll talk to my youth pastor about anything
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:13:32 PM)
you're blessed
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:13:46 PM)
i can talk to one of my teachers about almost anything.
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:14:05 PM)
my sister too
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:14:18 PM)
yeah I can talk to my older sister to
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:14:27 PM)
have you talked about this sexual accountability to any of those people?
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:14:29 PM)
but I know she gave in to temtation becuase she told me
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:14:33 PM)
I did
Michelle (Oct 23, 2007 9:14:34 PM)
even a close friend
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:14:39 PM)
i dont have an older sister...i am the older sister. and my younger brother talkes to me about alot
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:15:00 PM)
Check out articles about dating, love and marriage on LivingBold at http://www.livingbold.net/welsspace/reallife/relationships
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:15:09 PM)
giving in doesn't mean she isn't stilla valuable resource
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:15:41 PM)
yeah I still look to here
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:15:46 PM)
*her
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:15:51 PM)
becuase I know she is smart
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:16:01 PM)
better she is forgiven
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:16:16 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:16:26 PM)
hi robinsty
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:16:26 PM)
hey hey robinsty
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:16:41 PM)
you dating anyone robinsty?
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:16:51 PM)
hello
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:16:53 PM)
LBWM are you dating someone?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:17:12 PM)
yes
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:17:16 PM)
how long?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:17:31 PM)
almost a year and a half
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:17:39 PM)
awe. thats cool
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:17:45 PM)
are you serious?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:17:49 PM)
very
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:17:49 PM)
with that person
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:18:17 PM)
so how do you fight your temptation
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:18:48 PM)
we discussed the boundaries openly
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:18:57 PM)
cool
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:19:01 PM)
pastor how do you decide the boundaries
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:19:15 PM)
good question joey
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:19:17 PM)
tough question
Jen (Oct 23, 2007 9:19:42 PM)
isnt it kinda black and white tho...i mean depending on what the bible and God says....
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:19:44 PM)
that was kinda like one of the q's in my dating contract
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:19:57 PM)
going back to scripture and honestly figuring out what provokes lust in you as an individual
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:20:08 PM)
knowing yourself is quite important
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:20:18 PM)
i dont date thats what i said to myself
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:20:23 PM)
each sex has its responsibility
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:21:01 PM)
robinsty, not a bad plan, especially until you've had time to mature and really know yourself and your weaknesses well
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:21:17 PM)
oh ya
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:21:57 PM)
pastor, what's your recommendation on "exclusive" dating in hs?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:22:20 PM)
i see it all the time and wonder if it isn't really that healthy
7728 (Oct 23, 2007 9:22:37 PM)
why?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:22:59 PM)
i think it creates so much pressure to spend all the time with one individual
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:23:20 PM)
7uy
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:23:29 PM)
besides i cant get a date to nervis
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:23:47 PM)
drewings, say what?
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:24:12 PM)
nothing, my little brother is messing around
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:24:32 PM)
oh, i thought it was some chat shorthand I didn't understand...
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:24:32 PM)
Can you trust your feelings? Find out what God says here: http://www.livingbold.net/welsspace/biblestudy/feelings
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:24:56 PM)
trust me, i probably know less shorthand than you
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:25:18 PM)
drewings you chat online ever
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:25:30 PM)
to the exclusice dating issue I heard someone say familiarity breeds consent
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:25:45 PM)
could you explain further, pastor...
7728 (Oct 23, 2007 9:25:51 PM)
yes
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:25:55 PM)
yj
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:26:04 PM)
not much
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:26:14 PM)
you get so comfortable physically with one person--it becomes easier to say yes.
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:26:25 PM)
yeah I cna see that
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:26:28 PM)
me too
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:26:41 PM)
what if you klnow you want to marry someone then is it ok
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:26:55 PM)
it what ok?
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:27:22 PM)
paster is it ok to have sex when you are engaged
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:27:33 PM)
are you married?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:27:36 PM)
not yet
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:27:42 PM)
then no
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:27:52 PM)
no im only in hs
Robinsty (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:04 PM)
came up in religon
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:08 PM)
so even if you are engaged it is not ok
7728 (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:09 PM)
can a person's conscience play a role in that decision?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:21 PM)
what I meant was engaged was not married so sex would not be God-pleasing
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:25 PM)
how can you be sure that the other person will respect your wishes?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:35 PM)
becca, you should probably ask
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:47 PM)
?
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:28:58 PM)
lbwm how do you just come out and ask something like that
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:29:28 PM)
i guess i figure if you care about the person spiritually and you consider them a close friend, you should be able ask
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:29:30 PM)
I understand where people are coming from and my parents talk to be about it alot but it is hard to say no now then then they were my age
soccerplayer4 (Oct 23, 2007 9:29:46 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:29:48 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:11 PM)
welcome soccerplayer and rob
soccerplayer4 (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:17 PM)
hi
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:24 PM)
sup
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:29 PM)
sup rob
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:37 PM)
where you from
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:42 PM)
what do your parents talk to you about joey?
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:52 PM)
saying no to sex
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:30:59 PM)
being a teen is not fun
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:02 PM)
why?
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:03 PM)
sex is bad
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:04 PM)
you have to say no to everything
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:17 PM)
i agree for the most part
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:21 PM)
i disagree; sex is not bad
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:28 PM)
it's just bad outside of marriage
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:39 PM)
that is that being a teenager isn't much fu
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:40 PM)
people make mistakes
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:44 PM)
fun
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:31:53 PM)
thats what my parents taut me
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:32:02 PM)
rob why do your parents tell you that
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:32:11 PM)
thats how you become a person
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:32:14 PM)
so it is not that bad
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:32:17 PM)
It is interesting how positively god speaks of sex
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:32:19 PM)
i dont know i think they where joking
soccerplayer4 (Oct 23, 2007 9:32:36 PM)
please explain, pastor E
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:32:48 PM)
yes please do
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:33:02 PM)
Sign up for daily e-mail devotions at http://www.livingbold.net/uplink
Troy (Oct 23, 2007 9:33:09 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:33:21 PM)
a couple of places in Proverbs talks about the wife satisfying her husband
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:34:00 PM)
I did a Bible study at a youth rally let me go get the notes and I'll give exact references
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:34:21 PM)
well, for that matter, theres also the book of song of solomon, too
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:34:49 PM)
i remember reading that when i was younger and thinking it was really weird
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:35:04 PM)
it kinda seems that way
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:35:09 PM)
Proverbs 5:17,18
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:35:12 PM)
i read it but it got very confusing
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:35:24 PM)
5:18,19 sorry
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:35:34 PM)
its ok, pastor, we forgive you
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:35:45 PM)
how come out youth leader does not talk about this stuff
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:36:05 PM)
maybe fear
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:36:27 PM)
well if adults are scared how do they want us to not be
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:36:32 PM)
it is kind of an awkward subject to just bring up
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:36:33 PM)
thats not fair to us
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:36:45 PM)
i thought pastors were supposed to talk about this stuff with us. isn't it kinda their job?
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:36:54 PM)
but being a tween is awkward for years
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:37:03 PM)
isn't it kinda your parents job too, though?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:37:07 PM)
any moral support is a pastor's job
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:37:09 PM)
yeah I agree with becca
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:38:06 PM)
I teach 9th and 12th graders every day and the sex talk gets easier when I remember that I just passing on God's words
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:38:36 PM)
why dont people want to talk about
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:38:41 PM)
it is all over the tv
Cate (Oct 23, 2007 9:38:42 PM)
(This user has entered How far is too far?)
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:38:48 PM)
people talk about it in movies that I watch all the time
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:39:05 PM)
that's why we must spend more time talking about it
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:39:26 PM)
my parents talk about it with me all the time. sometimes i wish they talked about it less.
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:39:40 PM)
mine never really talked to me about it
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:39:43 PM)
almost never with me
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:40:06 PM)
We must speak about the whole issue. Not like Society says yes to sex. God says No! that's not the whole picture
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:40:39 PM)
nor is it accurate--makes it look like God just want to deprive people
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:41:28 PM)
i'm such a bad typist--glad i'm not in the English department
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:41:44 PM)
God wants sex to be the great gift He created it to be
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:41:52 PM)
true drewings
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:42:16 PM)
* NEXT CHAT: Tuesday November 27 at 8pm CST – “Why are adults so dumb?” with Pastor Ron Siemers, host of this topic at the 2007 WELS International Youth Rally in Dallas, TX.
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:42:29 PM)
is that not why He placed limits on sex--so that it would be good for us?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:43:05 PM)
exactly--like anything powerful it comes limits
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:44:16 PM)
do any of you pray with the people you date or have dated
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:44:45 PM)
not really
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:44:49 PM)
wish i did more
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:45:04 PM)
i haven't really dated one on one. people have asked me but i always say no cause i'm not sure if i am ready.
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:45:17 PM)
that's a good idea becca
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:45:24 PM)
when i dated--it just didn't really occur to me to pray with them
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:45:52 PM)
becca
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:45:55 PM)
yes?
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:45:58 PM)
you will never know inless you try
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:46:01 PM)
i thought the same thing
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:46:10 PM)
but i tested myself
joey (Oct 23, 2007 9:46:12 PM)
and I was ok
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:46:26 PM)
prayer is another interesting subject, maybe one for a different chat
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:46:57 PM)
but i've found that prayer is often quite personal, and so one on one with someone can be kind of awkward
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:47:11 PM)
at times that is
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:47:29 PM)
i never liked to pray with other people. i always pray by myself except in church.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:47:47 PM)
that's part of our culture to pray alone
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:47:53 PM)
i suppose praying with others cant really hurt anything
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:47:59 PM)
that's true drewings
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:48:09 PM)
is it bad? i mean, is it good to pray with others?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:48:21 PM)
i work with Hmong people alot and they pray together all the time and now I'm more used to it
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:48:35 PM)
it does take practice
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:48:47 PM)
and it feels really odd at first
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:49:11 PM)
yes it does...i've prayed with many different groups - some it feels like second nature, others its really strange
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:49:33 PM)
But is so powerful and it is tool that will help all out there as they struggle to remain pure
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:49:43 PM)
pastor, how did you deal with temptations when you were dating?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:49:59 PM)
sometimes well, sometimes poorly
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:50:00 PM)
yes it does because freshman year we all prayed at my table and people looked at me like wooow
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:50:33 PM)
where do you go to school rob?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:50:59 PM)
Becca I finally got better when i started to talk to my pastor openly my struggles
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:51:06 PM)
at least it feeled like it and Kettle Moraine Luth
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:51:45 PM)
pastor, it's that accountability again, isn't it
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:51:47 PM)
?
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:51:49 PM)
how do you deal with all this stuff in public school?
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:52:10 PM)
All, remember just becasue you lose a few battles doesn't mean you lose your identity as a Christian.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:52:14 PM)
yes.
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:52:50 PM)
ya how do you deal with this in public schools
drewings (Oct 23, 2007 9:53:00 PM)
isnt it really just the same?
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:53:22 PM)
at public school, there aren't spiritual leaders in your teachers and administrators
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:53:27 PM)
that's got to make it more difficult
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:53:29 PM)
Thank you all for coming out to chat with us tonight. Please visit livingbold.net for more teen information.
Pastor Ehlert (Oct 23, 2007 9:54:20 PM)
Lord's Blessings to you all
chatmaster (Oct 23, 2007 9:54:22 PM)
Please use the logout button in the right pannel
lbwm (Oct 23, 2007 9:54:26 PM)
thanks pastor!!
Rob (Oct 23, 2007 9:54:29 PM)
see ya
becca (Oct 23, 2007 9:54:41 PM)
bye