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GET HIGH ON LIFE

Harold Keller / L’Observateur / August 7, 1999

I very seldom listen to radio talk shows, but Wednesday morning, while driving, I did. I tuned in for the last 15 minutes of the show. The peoplebeing interviewed were representatives of an organization called “Passion for Purity,” based in Slidell. Their message was for all young people toabstain from sex until married. The solution to teen-age pregnancies,venereal disease and AIDS was simple – not education or condoms – but abstinence.

I listened as the calls came in, with the callers giving their personal opinions. One caller laughed and said the solution that was mentioned wasnot realistic in this age. Another caller, a young man, said that he wasstill sexually pure and praised the efforts of the people responsible for the “Passion for Purity” organization. He referred to a public servicebillboard that said in big, bold letters: VIRGIN – Let’s teach our children it’s not a dirty word.

The young man continued and said that society has a double-standard for premarital sex. He said that if a young girl sleeps with one guy, she’sconsidered a slut. A boy, on the other hand, is considered a hero if he hassex with many different girls.

As the show came to a close, the host of the show asked what hope was there for young girls who make a mistake? One representative for “Passion for Purity” answered, “That’s where God comes in. He forgives,forgets, and tells you to press on. In fact, you become a spiritual virgin.”After the talk show, I was reminded of a book I read by Zig Zigler titled, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World. In one part of the book, Ziglerwas relating his relationship with his son. He shared that when his sonbecame serious with the young lady who eventually became his wife, he was concerned about their relationship, so one day he had a man-to-man talk with his son.

He shared with him how important it was to have a personal relationship with God. His son assured him that he had that relationship. “That’s good,son,” Zigler said. “Then you know that premarital sex is against God’scommandment.” His son agreed. He suggested to his son that he guard hisheart and resist temptation, thereby being obedient to God and respecting his girlfriend.

Zigler told his son that if he ever broke God’s law concerning fornication and was unfaithful to Him, the chances are that when he was married it would be a little easier to break his oath to be faithful to his wife.

I never forgot that story. I pray that every young person, male and female,who reads this article will make a commitment to abstain from sex before marriage and have a passion for purity.

Harold Keller is a regular columnist for L’Observateur

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