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 PrintableVersion Silver Ring ThingSexual Abstinence Study BibleNo surprises pleaseIT'S ALWAYS ON MY MIND SILVER RING THING While the puberty of my own children is for the moment safely in the distance, I am still haunted by the approaching challenges those times will bring for them and for me. Well aware that the significant difficulties I faced as a young person have only increased, I have to confess to a fair bit of fearfulness. This in my thoughts, I have been turning my attention to a couple of books - It's Always on My Mind by J. John, and Silver Ring Thing, Sexual Abstinence Bible. Both of these books seek to help Christian people along the road of sexual purity in these difficult days, but they are quite different. J. John's book is an updated reprint of Fact or Fancy, first published in 1988. Although it hardly lives up to its sub-title - 'All you need to know about sex, love, and relationships', I found it a readable, Bible-based approach to the topic. There are no big surprises, just sound sensible advice about a problem that has always existed and never gets any easier! John handles the topic with sensitivity and realism, and has written a book which could be helpful to a broad range of single people, from the mature-minded teenager to the single adult of any age. The second book is quite a unique type. The bulk of it is a New Testament, interwoven with study material. The rest introduces us to the 'silver ring thing' (an abstinence programme - see August issue of EN) and provides Bible studies, reading plans and helps, and practical advice about maintaining sexual purity and general Christian living. This book is specifically aimed at new Christians and there is material about beginning to follow Jesus and basic Christian beliefs. Presumably these are study Bibles given to those who have attended the SRT presentations and made a commitment there. It is obviously seeking to be a dynamic resource for these new young believers, and contains web resources and email contacts as well. Not having been to an SRT presentation myself, I did find the format confusing. But having said that, it is a book I would have loved as a teenager. Not having the benefit of a Christian home and, being a bookish sort, I would have valued this help very much. A teenager who was not motivated with some real enthusiasm for their Christian faith would probably not bother too much with it at all. It would certainly be a very useful resource for those working with young people, who can put in the study time the book requires and work through the material with their groups. As I reflect on my own children and how to help them navigate these rough waters ahead, I see both of these books as potentially helpful. Over all, both offer good reasons for abstaining from sex before marriage. But as we know 'reason' and 'sex' are often hard to combine! So it is vital both books make the connection to purity for Christ's sake. Ultimately a dynamic faith is what will help my children in this and every other challenge life brings. Alicia Felce,
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