I'm pleased to announce that Of Knights and Fair Maidens is now back in print, offering fresh, relevant insight on dating, courtship and marriage.
The new, beautifully illustrated, hardcover edition will make an excellent keepsake for Christian families. There are a limited number available, so go here to order right away, or read on to learn more about finding relief from the pain of today's dating culture.| Joshua Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye: "Jeff and Danielle prove that God's plan for relationships is not out-of-date or old-fashioned--it's for the adventurous, courageous and most importantly, romantic Christian single who wants God's best in relationships and marriage." |  |
"America, how's that 'relationship
thing' working for you?"
Judging by the media chatter, you'd think that the sexual revolution has forever disproved traditional values. Try suggesting that it's not good for teens to have sex, that couples should not live together before marriage, or that homosexuality is wrong. The eye-rolling and mocking snickers answer clearly: "You just don't get it."
I'm reminded of a phrase that a friend of mine often pulls out in reply to boastful know-it-alls: "How's that working for you?" Invariably, this question unmasks their bravado as empty rhetoric.
So, I've started to ask: "America, how's that 'relationship thing' working for you?" Here's what I'm finding:
-The Washington Post reported in 2005 that half of all teens ages 15 to 19 have engaged in oral sex,
-The 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that 20-30% of teens reported being psychologically victimized and 10% of teens reported being victims of physical violence in dating relationships,
-The Center for Young Women's Health says that 2/3 of sexually transmitted diseases occur among those under the age of 25, and
-Psychologist Kathryn H. Leugers reported that breakups in teenage relationships cause serious psychological harm to young people.
These figures give a staggering response to my question. And they have sobering consequences: a May 2006 issue of the American Sociological Review reported that early relationship experiences affect the rest of a person's life. So, what does the future look like for America's teens? The picture is bleak.
Thirteen years ago my wife, Danielle, and I wrote Of Knights and Fair Maidens to help singles break through the uncertainty of the dating culture. It contained three simple, biblical principles of true romance that we had learned and applied during our relationship.
Using the word "biblical" in reference to "romance" may not sound like a recipe for success, but this little self-published volume became somewhat of an underground sensation and went through 11 printings.
Think Again!
Knights begins with a love-swept story of a fair maiden gazing longingly over the plain as her knight in shining armor approaches. And then something utterly unexpected happens, setting off a painful chain of events that practically anyone who has struggled in relationships can identify with.
We don't leave the reader in pain, though. Danielle and I offer simple, sound answers to the difficult real-life questions that guys and girls are asking about relationships.
Along the way, single readers get a biblical, balanced antidote to both the heartbreak of popular dating culture and the frantic legalism that often characterizes Christian literature on the subject.
Why Read Knights?
There's certainly no lack of books on relationships. Some state that Christians should avoid dating, others that they should date more. Some offer programmatic step-by-step principles to biblical courtship, while others propose reviving the ancient practice of betrothal.
Knights uniquely suggests that the key to integrity in relationships is not found in specific ancient courtship practices but in clear Scriptural principles: accountability, character, and preparation.
In other words, Knights does not simply address formulaic relationship patterns but instead speaks to the real matters of the heart that are involved in biblical romance.
Here's a special offer for Get Ready to Lead subscribers. The first 250 customers will receive:
-Two copies of the new hardcover Of Knights and Fair Maidens, one for your own family and one for a friend
-A free audio download of Danielle and I sharing the story of our romance with a live audience
The regular price of this package is $35.00 plus $7.50 s/h. Your price is $20.00 plus $7.50 s/h - which is a 35% discount and a savings of $15.00.
"Take me directly to the order page"
Why We Almost Didn't Write Knights
Purity before marriage is vitally important, but these books left the impression that Christianity was about saying "no" to the wrong things, whereas we thought it should be about saying "yes" to the right things-at the right time, in the right way.
Because of this conviction as a young married couple, we couldn't resist the opportunity to share our courtship story at a homeschool family camp. The tape of that talk took on a life of its own and was even transcribed into a booklet that sold like hotcakes.
Ultimately, we chose to add lists of practical ideas and conversation starters, including:
-How and why parents should be involved in your relationships
-How a guy can get to know a girl's dad
-Vital subjects for singles to talk about with their intended spouse
-How to spend time together in ways and settings that deepen relationship and build character-rather than cause temptation
We even added, as an appendix, an article by Josh Harris that had originally sparked our interest in courtship. Little did we know that Josh would ultimately expand that article into I Kissed Dating Goodbye, one of the best-selling Christian books of that decade.
"What Would You Change?"
Danielle and I are often asked: "When you wrote this book, you had only been married for two years. Have your views changed now that you've been married 15 years?"
It may sound surprising, but the views we wrote about in Knights have actually strengthened and solidified every year since. The last thirteen years have confirmed that integrity in relationships before marriage is essential to lifelong romance.
Emotional, spiritual, and sexual integrity have always been difficult, but these essential areas of integrity are becoming even harder to protect today with the modern onslaught of internet pornography, confused gender roles, and a cultural distortion of God's design for sex.
Knights may be an even more valuable resource for young people growing up in today's culture than it was for those who were growing up in the 90's.
If we are to call out and equip the next generation of leaders, we must guide them through the tricky, potentially-devastating waters of dating, courtship, and marriage. Let Of Knights and Fair Maidens help you along the way.
Order page
For the next generation,
Dr. Jeff Myers
P.S. Take advantage of our introductory special for the new Of Knights and Fair Maidens by getting two copies plus an audio download of our romance story for $20.00 plus $7.50 s/h--a savings of $15. Go to the Introductory Special Order Page here.
