I really think anyone of "dating age" should read this book, as it not only deals with the romantic aspects of Christian life, but really the most important thing in life, total devotion to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


A Solid, Balanced Approach   December 9, 2001
 62 out of 64 found this review helpful

Subtitled "The Ultimate Approach To Guy/Girl Relationships," WHEN GOD WRITES YOUR LOVE STORY has some big expectations to fill. Remarkably, Eric and Leslie Ludy's work actually stands up well to them.

What the Ludy's have laid out is really more of a philosophy on living that, when applied correctly, encompasses your approach to dating and relationships. WHEN GOD WRITES YOUR LOVE STORY is not about rules. As chapter four nicely explains, rules don't ultimately save you from temptation and making wrong choices. Only a full love-relationship with God can do that, and it is that exact thing that the Ludy's set as the foundation for their approach. Sounds basic and obvious, but when you see how many people are stuck in the cycle of bad relationships based upon sensual passion, physical attraction, or legalistic rulemaking it becomes clear that this approach is anything but basic. In fact, it's quite radical.

WHEN GOD WRITES YOUR LOVE STORY, then, is about giving God the "pen," of your life -- your entire life, not just your love life. The Ludy's do a fantastic job of describing why this matters, how it makes a difference, and what a life married to this choice will look like. Their writing is God-centered yet practical and very balanced. I'll say that again, because it's important -- their approach is extremely balanced, and that's what I admire most about it. The only complaint I have is that some of the dialogue in the book is a bit goofy (they use exclamation points a lot!), but because the substance of the book was so solid I was able to look past that.

If you are looking for a book that will help you not only make right dating choices but transform you entire lifestyle so that you end up in a truly happy, fulfilling and lasting marriage then WHEN GOD WRITES YOUR LOVE STORY is for you. Is it the "ultimate" approach? If not then it's sure close. It is one of the three best books on the subject that I have read (the others being BOY MEETS GIRL and BOUNDARIES IN DATING). Read all three if you can. I give it FIVE STARS.


And you think you know what loves all about...   July 26, 2001
 24 out of 25 found this review helpful

For teens and young adults today, it just may seem that maintaining godly purity while dating is truly a God-sized task. If youyre a young person who wants to honor God in your life, this book could open your mind and heart to the ysweeter songy of Godys plan for your love life.

Co-authorsy Eric and Leslie Ludy, trading off chapters throughout the book, recount their frustrations with dating while striving to maintain basic standards of purity such as maintaining their virginity and dating only fellow believers. But following rules failed to protect them from emotional turmoil of various relationships despite that they invested heavily in the other person, sometimes even compromising some of their purity to yhold ontoy the guy or girl they were seeing. Independently and long before they knew each other God lead both Eric and Leslie to relinquishing the pen of their personal love stories to Him.

Leslie recounts her struggle with this decision. She asked herself why a sensible, enlightened, ywith ity young adult like herself would entrust someone as yold (and most likely outdated) as God with this precious area of life. Similarly, Eric shares his own misgivings, yIf there is one thing in all of life that we feel sure God has no clue about, itys romance.y

The revelation that came to Eric was, yMy lack of trust came directly back to the fact that I didnyt truly know Him.y Likewise, Leslie admits, yWhile the Christian world indicated that I was following Godys way by keeping the rules as best as possible, deep down I knew I was really the one in control of this area of my life. I had been the one calling the shots, not God!y

When they allowed themselves to truly get to know the Lord, they discovered that Godys ideas about romance and sex were not only not old fashioned but He, quite literally, wrote the book of love! Godys desire is to write a ysweeter songy for each of us if we just relinquish our love life to Him. Godys sweeter song is like nothing this world can touch.

Recounting their own experiences as Christian singles, as a courting couple and finally, as young marrieds, Eric and Leslie offer relevant Scriptures and quotes from renowned Christian thinkers to make their points. While the book primarily addresses single Christians, it may speak to long-married folks as it did to me. I was challenged in a number of areas that I found I could adapt easily to my own situation (as 46-years old and 22 years married).

Some great topics addressed in the book: On faithfulness - I was totally blessed by Leslieys explanation about how God showed her, through Proverbs 31:12, that His idea of being faithful to her spouse was not something that began after they met but before. This powerful idea touches on why we should be guarded about our relationships with the opposite sex until weyre ready for a lifelong commitment and sure weyve found Mr. or Miss Right.

On the apparent scarcity of honorable guys or girls who are worth waiting for - Most men today treat girls like sex objects while many girls will willingly forfeit their virtue to the first guy who cozies up to them. Take heart, claims the book. God is raising up yrealy men and yvirtuousy women who are devoted to Him and well worth the wait.

About having yidealy standards for a mate y Ever had someone tell you your standards were unrealistic? Prompted by a friend to list her standards for a spouse, Leslie responded, ySomeone who treats me like a princess, is sensitive, tender, gentle, brave, full of integrity, servant-hearted and honorable to name a few.y Her friend challenged her to consider that yIt was God who put them (the standards) in your heartybecause He wants you to look for a man with the character of Jesus Christ.y A warning follows y Often we get anxious and compromise and settle for less than what God has for us.

Partnering with Godly advisors to counsel you about opposite gender relationships - Youyll be amazed and blessed when you read the role Leslieys dad played when Eric was courting her.

On when the sweeter song is solo (singleness) y yA relationship is not meant to make us into a whole personyonly Jesus Christ can make us a whole person.y An entire chapter is devoted to being single, offering many views about the blessings of this time, even if it lasts a lifetime. Itys also a time to learn some life skills that will be needed if and when God leads you into a marital relationship.

Near the end of the book is a chapter subtitled, yA glimmer of hope in a world of lost virginity.y Although frank about the severity of sexual sin and its devastating effects on people, it offers the hope and healing thatys only possible with Jesus.

Overall, this book is a real find with lots of wonderful and tender lessons that will sit with you a long while after youyve finished reading. Itys an easy read, just 219 pages, comes in paperback and includes a complimentary CD of songs by the Ludyys entitled yFaithfully y songs about a love worth waiting for.y

I recommend it not only for teens and young adults who are in the middle of the dating scene but also youth leaders and parents of teens and young adults.


What about Elmer Fudd?   April 15, 2004
 22 out of 37 found this review helpful

I could not relate to this book at all. One thing I noticed is that whenever they referred to anybody, to make a point, they always stressed how handsome, or pretty, or smart the person was. All their friends they used as examples in the book were these nice, attractive people with exciting lives. It was like they had to make sure that you understood that these above average people have trouble finding perfect love too. It's not just the lowly, unwanted people that we might think this book was referring to. So, they place themselves in this upper class and made it clear so you did not think they were the lowly. Besides, only these people will have perfect love stories. They used people who were not young and pretty or attractive as negative examples. They made it clear that they did not want these types of people in their pretty little lives. These people would not have a perfect love store. The woman, Leslie Ludy, excepted the fact that she should wait on God for a husband but did not want to except that fact that she may have to wait until she was older, 32 to be exact, or that she may end up with a below average guy. She referred to him as being Elmer Fudd. But what about Elmer Fudd? Doesn't he deserve a perfect love story too? I suppose it would be OK if he found a Mrs. Fudd just like himself but he is not allowed to touch a Leslie Ludy. She even complained that her husband's last name meant nerd in Japanese. That bothered her. They told a touching story about a man who met a woman through the mail. He didn't know what Harlyss Maynell looked like until the day he met her in person. He was led to believe that she was an undesirable, unattractive, older woman. It turned out to be a test. A beautiful woman, who was the real Harlyss, instructed this undesirable woman to wear a rose, which would identify her. Why was this woman chosen? Because she was undesirable. She was someone you obviously would not be attracted to or she would never have been chosen to wear the rose. That was a huge insult. What about her love story? Doesn't she deserve one? Leslie also mentioned that she invited her parents to help her in choosing a husband. Once again, she pointed out that being below average is not accepted when it comes to love. She was afraid that her parents would bring home Alfred Fluffinguffers. I guess Alfred does not deserve a true love story. When her perfect husband gets old and undesirable and his handsome camouflage deteriorates, exposing his true nature, maybe she'll wish she had Elmer or Alfred. Sorry Eric and Leslie Nerd, I mean Luddy, your book definitely was not written for the Elmer Fudds, the woman with the rose and the Alfred Fluffinguffers of the world. I've been single and pure for 36 years. I don't need this book to help me. Where are you, woman with the rose?


Unrealistic and horrible!   February 8, 2004
 19 out of 36 found this review helpful

The Ludy's have a nice story, but how realistic is it for the rest of the world? I really can't take preaching on my life, love life, and purity from a girl who was homeschooled and then married right out of highschool! Their experience is too unique and does not apply to anyone I know. I just graduated from college and am not married yet, so obviously, I'm too old for their outrageous, unreal advice to apply to my life. They do not have the life experiences most of their target audience does, so how are they qualified to talk about how to live life? There are better books out there by people who actually are qualified to talk about purity, love, and life.