| It's Saturday night and you are excited about your | | | | public event as a spectator such as a baseball game, |
| new Christian date. Congratulations! You can set the | | | | a concert, or an art exhibition. Make sure to pay |
| tone as you meet single Christians who are looking to | | | | attention to your date's interest in that the event. |
| connect with other Christians in a respectful way. | | | | Find time to talk about what you and your date are |
| The truth is that dating today is tough. Christians | | | | experiencing. Smile a lot and listen -- two more |
| want to honor God in their relationships and society | | | | attributes of being a friend. |
| often plays tug-of-war with your values. So, what | | | | If you don't want to "go solo," you can go to |
| can you do to ensure that your date time is fun and | | | | Christian activities, like a church service, a mission |
| meaningful, while taking a forward step in building a | | | | project or community picnic. These qualify as a "soft |
| good Christian dating relationship? | | | | date" which allows you to see your new friend in the |
| On your first date with a Christian single person, put | | | | light of your Christian faith. |
| away fantasies of romance for right now. Focus on | | | | If both of you like playing sports, for go bowling, play |
| starting out as a friend. Friendship is the vital part of | | | | golf, croquet, co-ed volleyball or softball, yard games, |
| a lasting relationship. Couples who have long-term | | | | among others. Team sports allow you to have fun |
| marriages call each other their best friends. So, don't | | | | with more people; individual sports give you more |
| be afraid to start off developing a friendship in dating | | | | time to talk and spend one-on-one time with your |
| Christians. | | | | Christian date. |
| A first date can be a nervous and anxious time. You | | | | Pay attention to the time and seasons of the year. |
| want your date to think well of you. You want to be | | | | You can plan unique and fun things to do together. |
| safe. You want to have fun. Know what your | | | | During a cold winter day, you may enjoy skiing, ice |
| expectations and emotional state are before you | | | | skating, tobogganing or sledding together. New |
| pick up the phone to talk. To become friends, both | | | | gardens and flowers appear in Spring. If you love |
| of you need a to keep a relaxed attitude and | | | | nature, view new gardens and marvel at the Spring |
| schedule a fun activity helps break the tension. There | | | | flowers. During summer, attend the celebrations and |
| are lots of fun things to do, but especially try to pick | | | | festivals that many cities and villages organize. In |
| an activity that gives you and your date the chance | | | | autumn, walk through forest preserves and collect or |
| to talk and learn about each other. | | | | kick leaves together. |
| If your outing has been "arranged" by a friend, you | | | | Eating out is a common date activity. Share a meal |
| may need to go with the program and participate in | | | | together, be it a carryout pizza or eating Chinese at |
| a planned activity. If you can to pick the activity, | | | | an upscale restaurant. A meal gives you the time and |
| share what you like to do, find out what your date | | | | setting to connect and converse with your date. |
| likes to do, and then compromise where possible. | | | | Remember, make friendship your first goal during a |
| That is what friends do; they respect each other's | | | | Christian date. Be patient, kind and more than |
| desires. For example, you might think of attending a | | | | anything else, be yourself. |