Book Shelf

- Pre Marriage -

When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy

This book has provided the foundation for a whole new way of thinking about relationships among today’s younger generation. Rather than building a love story the way the world does (with a few Christian morals tacked on for good measure) this book introduces readers to a far superior way of building a love story…God’s way. After all, God is the One who invented the concept of romance in the first place! And God doesn’t need to imitate the world’s way of building a relationship…He has His very own perfect, amazing, beautiful way of writing a love story, and it is far more fulfilling and romantic than anything Hollywood could ever concoct. Leslie and I believe that the foundation for an amazing, lifelong love story begins even before you meet your future spouse, by allowing the Author of romance to script your love story and show you how to love like He loves. Rather than chasing after temporary relationships, this book challenges readers to give the “pen” to God and allow Him to script their love story in His own perfect time and way. In this book, we take readers through the “Four Secrets to an Amazing Love Story” – practical things that you can do now to prepare for a love story that will go the distance. From learning to love your spouse even before you meet them, to understanding the difference between mere abstinence and true purity; from practicing the skills of tenderness and selflessness that will make you a superhero spouse, to experiencing God’s best in your single years; from understanding renewed purity to making your parents your teammates – this book is loaded with inspiration, motivation, and practical insight for experiencing a God-written love story. Click here to purchase.

When Dreams Come True by Eric and Leslie Ludy

Whenever anyone says to us, “So tell us about your love story” we tell them to read When Dreams Come True. Our love story, in our humble opinion, was (and is) one of the most amazing in the history of the world. Not because of our own romantic ability – rather, because God Himself scripted the details. All of the struggles, doubts, hopes, fears, failures and triumphs of our relationship are captured in this book. During our single years and throughout our love story, Leslie and I both kept detailed journals, which we drew from when putting this book together. As a result, this story provides an intimate peak inside our hearts and minds during the process of building a God-written love story. It’s written like a novel, but the story is true. If you want a clear example of what a Heaven-built romance can look like, this is the book for you. If you have ever struggled with the idea of giving God full control of this area of your life, this book will offer you a refreshing vision of hope. Click here to purchase.

Emotional Purity by Heather Paulson

Much has been written for singles of late, thankfully, on physical and spiritual purity in relationships before marriage. Miss Paulsen`s work is the first book I have encountered, however, that focuses specifically on the need to protect our children from accepting an attitude of casual emotional intimacy in male/female friendships. This emotional intimacy that never requires commitment can cause delusions, can emotionally scar our young people`s lives, and can hinder the marriages these singles may later experience. Miss Paulsen points out that singles too frequently give portions of their hearts to friends of the opposite sex, when in truth those portions should be saved for their future spouses. This in no way means that male/female friendships cannot exist in purity, nor does the book advocate "hermitage" for singles until marriage arrives. Rather, Emotional Purity sensitizes readers biblically, experientially, and practically to the truth that one should above all else, "guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23). One note, Paulsen`s style is not always polished and her examples are not perfectly written, but her love for God and His Word is obvious, and that love clearly comes forth in her first book. Softcover

I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris

Are you fed up with the sham and charade of the dating game? Harris understands because he's been there. His honest and refreshing approach to dating challenges today's dating practices and offers practical, biblical alternatives. Discover how living a life of love, purity, and purposeful singleness can help you build godly, satisfying relationships. Click here to purchase.

Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris

If you're fed up with self-centered relationships that end in disillusionment, it's time to rethink romance. Finding the loving, committed relationships you want shouldn't mean throwing away your hopes, your integrity, or your heart. Joshua Harris makes the case, for courtship. As old-fashioned as it might sound, courtship is what modern day relationships desperately need. Think of it as romance chaperoned by wisdom, cared for by community, and directed by God's word. Filled with inspiring stories of men and women who have rediscovered courtship. Click here to purchase.

How to Evaluate A Suitor by Doug Phillips

There he is in his splendor. What a guy! He’s the man who hopes to walk off with your daughter ... hold on a moment. Maybe he isn’t the best thing since sliced bread. Maybe he is trouble with a capital “T.” Or maybe he is a great guy, but just not the great guy God intends for your little girl. How can you tell? In this fast-paced message, Doug Phillips explains that the greatest gift a dad will ever give away is his daughter. He examines the biblical qualifications for suitors and concludes that the Bible does not anticipate perfection, but minimal threshold requirements must be met. He examines the need for careful discrimination for determining if two are “equally yoked” and the doctrine of the “bride’s price.” Doug also points out biblical examples of wickedness by fathers toward suitors and urges dads to act decisively, but with charity, respect, and love. By Douglas W. Phillips. 2 Compact Discs. Approx. 1 hr. 20 mins. Click here to purchase.

Seven Bible Truths Violated by Christian Dating

For years, Dr. Davis preached a message on “Christian Dating,” but when his oldest daughter turned sixteen and he took her on her first date, he knew something was wrong. Bible-believing churches for years have warned about worldly dating because of the danger of moral impurity. 1 Thess. 4 is clear that it is possible to defraud a brother or sister, not only physically, but emotionally as well! Christian families, to be safe, must erect fences that will protect against defrauding in both areas. By Dr. S.M. Davis. Compact Disc. 73 mins. Click here to purchase.

Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy

For most of my young adult life, I had known Jesus Christ only as the One who had saved me from my sins. I had been looking to an earthly romance to fulfill the deepest desires of my heart. I had been searching for an earthly prince to rescue me, to carry me away to his castle, to love and cherish me forever – to fulfill my feminine desire for tender romance. Like so many modern young women, I gave myself to one shallow relationship after the next, only to end up lonely and heartbroken. I looked to human relationships to meet needs in my heart that only Jesus Christ was meant to fill. And then I encountered my true Prince, Jesus Christ. I looked deeply into His loving eyes and was stunned to realize that He was everything that my feminine heart had ever hoped for or desired. He was the heroic, gallant Knight I had been searching for. He was the one who had given up His very life to rescue me, to carry me away to His land to cherish me forever. He was the one with whom I could share the deepest, most beautiful, most intimate love story imaginable. That is where true romance is found – in Jesus Christ. My love story with Eric, though beautiful, is only a reflection of a far more spectacular love story…my romance with my Heavenly Prince. Until Jesus Christ becomes the Lover of our soul – the very center of our existence – we will always be looking in the wrong places to fulfill our feminine longing for tender romance. We will end up broken-hearted and disillusioned, time and time again. Christ alone can truly fulfill the desires of our heart. Authentic Beauty is a personal and practical book message about becoming a set-apart young woman in today’s perverse generation. It explores the boundless opportunities God has for the life of a young woman who makes Christ the first love of her heart and allows Him shape every aspect of her existence. Click here to purchase.

Gods Gift To Women by Eric Ludy

I’m not a guy that’s all hyped up for grunting and giving off foul odors, I’m a guy that is passionate about men being true men. And I’m convinced that true manhood, polished by the hand of God, is nothing short of an awe-inspiring gift to womanhood. Contrary to the vibe that a title like God’s Gift to Women gives off, this book is not merely about how men can more effectively relate to women. I believe that we as men can never hope to become a gift to women until we gain a complete vision of Christ-built manhood. We live in a generation of “burpin’ and scratchin’” male mediocrity. Most of our modern-day examples of manhood are self-serving, perverted, and depraved. We are taking this second-rate version of masculinity into our marriages, our families and our lives as men. I believe we need a new standard for masculinity – a standard that is not shaped by our culture, but by the very person of Jesus Christ. That standard is the core of this book’s message. If you were hoping for a book about relating to women, don’t worry; there is plenty of that subject covered in the upcoming pages. But for us to learn to effectively relate to women, we must first learn to effectively relate to the Creator of women – Jesus Christ. We must learn the world-altering secrets of Christ-built, warrior-poet manhood. If you are a guy interested in discovering amazing, culture-shaping masculinity – don’t miss this book! And if you are girl interested in motivating the guys in your life toward something better – don’t miss this book! Click here to purchase.

Courtship, Engagement and Marriage

How should a man court a woman? What role should parents play in the process? Is it possible to promise marriage upon certain conditions? If an engaged woman was deserted by her fiancé, how long need she wait before seeking another husband? Long before the modern “courtship” books of our day, the great reformer John Calvin wrote extensively on this foundational subject. His articulation and defense of biblical principles of patriarchy remain a powerful tool for pastors, fathers and students of Scripture. While the foreword to this book leaves much to be desired, the book itself is an invaluable compendium of Calvin’s thought on marital relations. Witte and Kingdon move gracefully from theological tracts and legal treatises to court records and correspondence, stopping to take note of revealing incidents from John Calvin’s own life — including his courtship. Click here to purchase.