talking
I come to you with the problem of finding the right girl for a mate. There is a certain girl — she's six teen — and in the last couplq of years I’ve liked her a lot. I don’t speak much to her yet. Do you think I should talk more to her and let her really know how I feel about her? I’ve gone out with other girls, but I can’t keep from thinking about her. A. I’m certainly delighted to receive such a letter as this, from a boy who shows that he is willing to think over a thing before rushing into it. I would say, “ Yes, go ahead and talk with this g irl.” But, at the age of seventeen, you do not need to be wasting your time looking for a wife. Dating — yes! — a number of girls, just having a nice time. Dating is very important because it helps you to become acquainted with different ones. You will learn much about yourself and you will learn about others. After you have dated for several years, God may lead you to the person whom He has intended you to marry. When one marries too early, he puts himself at a great disadvan tage. You see, the kind of person who would suit you at age seven teen, eighteen, or even twenty, may not be at all the kind of person with whom you would be happy to spend the rest of your life. So you need to project a few years in your thinking. Also, an early marriage often spells the end of education, and in these days as almost never before, education is the doorway to life opportunities. How often I meet young people who regret that they married at a very early age, so you will be well advised to take your time. Use these years to find out what God wants you to do. Sharpen your skills so that you will be a t your best for whatever He wants you to do. You can then feel confident that when the time comes you will have much to offer “ the right g irl.” 4 7
it over...
with Dr. Clyde M. Narramore
Dr. Narramore, graduate o f Columbia Uni versity, New York City, is a nationally known psychologist. He is the director of INFERIORITY SQUELCHES HIS WITNESS Q. I read your column regularly and I have not seen my problem dis cussed so far. It’s this: I’m a Chris tian and my desire is to be a good witness for Christ. However, I am continually frustrated by the feel ing that I can’t reach the men on the job with me because I don’t have the education they have. I have very little beyond high school, although I manage to hold down a good job as a junior administrator. But I feel so inferior. For instance, one man has a Ph.D. and I feel like nothing in his presence. Yet this man needs the Lord and I feel I’m failing both him and God. Can you help me overcome this inferiority that holds me back from witnssing? A. You are to be commended for your desire to serve God where you work and, yes, I believe you can be helped to overcome these feel ings. Here are three factors you should consider seriously: (1) You do have something this other person needs. Think of it this way. If he were to ask you for directions to a given place and you had a clear map that would help him, you would not hesi tate to share this with this man. Well, you have the directions to heaven — “ I am the Way” Jesus told us — and this man needs to be shown the Way. Secondly, there is the time ele ment. Who can tell when this man’s soul may be required of him? “ Now is the accepted time,” the Scrip ture warns. So you have an obliga tion because of the shortness of time. Then — and this is so important to keep in mind — it does not take DECEMBER, 1970
one of America's largest psychological clinics — The Christian Counseling Center in Rosemead, California. a Ph.D. to reach a Ph.D. Testi mon ies o f lead ing C h ris tia n s abound with accounts that some humble, Christ-honoring believers were instrumental in reaching high ly educated people for Christ. In fact, there are cases on record where the one with the Ph.D. actu ally has felt inferior in the presence of one who has a solid grasp of Bible knowledge. So I would urge you to lift up your head. God does not create us in Christ so that we “ feel like noth ing.” * Then, boldly and graciously go ahead and share the message of eternal life in Christ with everyone at every opportunity. Nothing that anyone ever does for another person can compare with leading him to Christ. *For further treatment of this topic, see “Improving Your Self Confidence” by Dr. Clyde M. Narramore — paper back 60$ (Zondervan), available at your local bookstore or from The Nar ramore Christian Foundation, Rose mead, California 91770. TEENAGE BOY WANTS ADVICE ABOUT A MATE Q. I am a seventeen-year-old boy. Th e Ph .D . and the C h r is t ian This age of skepticism calls for committed CHRISTIAN SCHOLARS. This age of anxiety calls for com mitted CHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGISTS.
The Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology prepares students for careers as Christian psychologists through the integration of psychological and theo logical concepts in professional prac tice, theory and research. For current catalog, write: S. Bruce Narramore, Ph.D., Academic Vice Presi dent, ROSEMEAD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY, Dept. C T11, Rosemead, Calif. 9 1770
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