Product Description

Purpose Driven Romance

The last thing singles want is more rules. But if you’re looking for an intentional, God-pleasing game plan for finding a future spouse, Joshua Harris delivers an appealing one. A compelling new foreword, an all-new “8 Great Courtship Conversations” section, and updated material throughout makes this five-year revision of the original Boy Meets Girl a must-have! Harris illustrates how biblical courtship—a healthy, joyous alternative to recreational dating—worked for him and his wife. Boy Meets Girl presents an inspiring, practical example for readers wanting to pursue the possibility of marriage with someone they may be serious about.

Are you ready for “romance with purpose”?

If you’re fed up with self-centered relationships that end in disillusionment, it’s time to rethink romance. Finding the loving, committed relationship you want shouldn’t mean throwing away your hopes, your integrity, or your heart.

In Boy Meets Girl, Joshua Harris —the guy who kissed dating goodbye—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 from men and women who have rediscovered courtship, Boy Meets Girl is honest, romantic, and refreshingly biblical. Keep God at the center of your relationship as you discover how to: Set a clear course for your romance Get closer without compromise Find support in a caring community Deal with past sexual sin Make the right decisions about your future

[Pull out section or starburst]:

New! Courtship Conversations

Eight ideas for great dates that will help grow and guide your relationship.

Story Behind the Book

“I wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye to challenge singles to drop the worldly approach to serial dating and reconsider the way they pursued romance in light of God’s Word. Since then, I’ve received letters asking questions like, So, what comes between friendship and marriage? and, How can you know when you are ready for marriage? Boy Meets Girl answers those questions. Now as a happily married man I can look back on my courtship with Shannon and see from personal experience that God is faithful. If you trust Him enough to wait on romance in dating, He will lovingly guide you as you pursue it in courtship…right to that wonderful moment when you kneel together at the altar.” — Joshua Harris

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63541 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-28
• Released on: 2000-09-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Amazon.com Review
Joshua Harris follows up his bestselling I Kissed Dating Goodbye with Boy Meets Girl, the story of how he met and married his wife, Shannon. Where Harris's first book encouraged readers to throw off modern ideas of romantic fixation, Boy Meets Girl goes to the next level and urges single Christian men and women to pursue courtship, and ultimately marriage, thoughtfully and prayerfully. Knowing that many readers will balk at the idea of premeditated courtship, Harris insists that dating should not be emotional recreation but rather a careful decision rooted in obedience to God. While the anecdotes used to reveal true-to-life scenarios about dating pitfalls are somewhat elementary (and geared to those in their 20s), Harris succeeds in hammering home the point that obedience to God's word, selfless love, community, purity, and satisfaction in God are the most important aspect of any relationship. The last section of the book is particularly practical, discussing forgiveness of past sexual sin, questions to ask before tying the knot, and how an understanding of our sinful nature can lead to conflict resolution. For Harris's mere twentysomething years of life experience, his maturity and devotion to God are sincere evidence that he has indeed practiced what he has preached, resulting in a passionate relationship with the love of his life. --Jill Heatherly

From Publishers Weekly
In 1997, Harris's I Kissed Dating Goodbye became a phenomenon both in the publishing world and the Christian singles scene. Dating, Harris suggested, was an ungodly and unbiblical activity that Christians should reject in favor of a more old-fashioned, marriage-driven courtship. In this follow-up book, Harris guides Christians who are eager to say "I do" through the maze of finding a mate. His practical tips are set against the autobiographical backdrop of his own successful courtship with Shannon, now his wife of two years. Harris's words of wisdom aren't terribly innovative; they are the bread and butter of Christian relationship books claiming that good communication, sexual abstinence, friendship and fellowship are at least as important as romance. But lack of originality is the least of this book's problems. Harris's self-conscious attempts to be cute quickly grow tiresome (the Courtship Cop who "pulls over" a couple thinking about marriage too early in their relationship is only the most glaring example). Also, many readers who would otherwise find Harris's message compelling may be put off by the strict "God-given" gender roles he lauds in chapter 6: a man should initiate everything in a relationship, while "ladies" are supposed to "make room for him to lead." This slim sequel will no doubt delight Harris's thousands of devoted fans, but its banalities won't win any new devotees. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Joshua Harris lives outside Washing-ton , D.C. , in Gaithersburg , Maryland , where he is senior pastor at Covenant Life Church . He speaks nationally and has led the New Attitude conferences for college students for six years. Joshua’s bestselling books include I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl, Not Even a Hint, and Stop Dating the Church. He and his wife, Shannon, have two children, Emma Grace and Joshua Quinn.

Customer Reviews

Excellent
Great book! Provides a solid alternative to the world's system, and a far better one at that, since it puts Christ first.

This book is more for those in their early 20's, whereas Harris' first book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" is more for teenagers.

Courageous
My thoughts where changed after reading IKDG and am wholy convinced that it was God who used this book to do what the bible teaches in Romans 12:2. Needless to say I have had alot of bad relationships that have left alot of scars. I can now say my focus is on Gods plan for my life, a message clearly stated in this book on dating. There are things God wants to do first. He wants you to see His plan first. He may have a Million dollar plan for your life!
Although I have not read this book, yet, I commend Joshua for the efforts he is making to turn the hearts of those God has chosen through Josh's ministry.
My message to anyone who reads these books is to ask God to reveal those things you need to see and teach you based on Josh's courageous ground breaking attempts to turn this big ship around.
Read Josh's books with a open mind in lieu of one that is set upon a tradition.
I challange this same mindset to search what your heart will say so that you to can reach out and touch the hearts of the hurting.

An attempt to defend hypocrisy.
If anyone has read the title "I kiss dating goodbye," then you are aware of Joshua Harris' ungodly and unbiblical stance against Christian relationships, and may know of the damage it has done to members of the church in modern times. Young Christians have been leaving the church in droves after discovering it is "sick and ungodly" to have coffee with friends, go on dates, or pine after someone unless God "magically" steps in.

"Boy meets Girl" is a hypocrits' attempt to defend the relationship that he entered into soon after penning his original blasphemous piece of filth. For those who don't follow modern theology or have no notion of biblical applications, this would be as if Al Gore wrote "Why I trash the world, a polluter's attempt to foul the atmosphere." after "Inconvenient Truth." It really is that much of a turn-around. Unfortunately for him, this brazen attempt by Harris to cover his tracks merely points to how scandalous, misguided and damaging his first attempt at perverting the Bible was.