Book Bucket List
Amazing Books I can't help but recommend

     Hello to all!  I'm going to begin recommending books on Mondays.  The first book up is I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris.  

     This book was written by Joshua Harris when he was twenty-three years old.  He said he was tired of the dating game and knew there was a better way.  He hoped that his insight into the solution to the dating problem was reordering romance with a purpose.  He wanted a life of true love, purity, and peace in the season of singleness. 


     Through four parts, and sixteen chapters, Josh walks you through his realizations in the world of romance.  The book focuses heavily on stories: personal and shared by others. 


     In section one, "I kissed dating goodbye," Josh explains why he left dating, "what feel good," to go back to God's plan, "what IS good."  He also explains the seven habits of purpose-less dating:
     1.  Dating leads to intimacy, but not necessarily to commitment
     2.  Dating tends to skip the friendship stage of the relationship.
     3.  Dating often mistakes physical relationship for love.
     4.  Dating often isolates the couple from vital relationships
     5.  Dating often distracts from plans for the future
     6.  Dating can cause discontent for God's season of singleness.
     7.  Dating creates an artificial environment interaction.
   Joshua also points out in section one five changes for avoiding defective dating.

     In section two, "The Heart of the Matter," Joshua helps his readers learn the definition of true love, keep impatience away from ruining the season of singleness, how to get on God's path, and how to have redemption from the past.

     Section three, "Building a new lifestyle,"  helps the reader learn how to interact with friends by fighting off lust, infatuation and self pity.  Also, chapter eleven has some of the best advice for what to do when people ask you why you aren't dating.

     The final section, "Now What?" guides the reader on how to make the most of singleness, how to have a good view of marriage, finding qualities that matter the most in a future spouse, as well as allowing God to write a beautiful lifestyle.  This section is amazing as it lays out a basic ground plan for how to go about courtship - which is incredibly helpful.

     In I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris shows wisdom very much beyond his years.  I cannot tell you how much I have referred to this book (and the companion study guide) to defend my beliefs on courtship, and make sure I am on God's right path for this season in my life. 

     I defiantly recommend this book (which can be purchased here) as well as any other book by Joshua Harris!

     Have you read this book? Do you have a book you would like me to do a review on?  Questions or comments?  Please feel free to comment below and I will defiantly get back to you with any questions or comments you might have!

     God bless you all!

Chloe M.