Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man: My Response

My last two weeks have been full of household appliance repairs, a car in need of repairs, ministry strains, etc, etc. On top of that, I've experienced disappointment in my writing career. But that's a story for another blog...

So this past Sunday, after a quick nap, I did what any fed-up-with-real-life woman would do.

I went to the movies.

And not any old movie. A comedy. I chose to see "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man", based on the book by comedian-turned-actor-turned-radio host-turned-bestselling author Steve Harvey.

Let me first say, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I enjoyed the humor, the fresh take on relationships, and the all-star cast of upperly-mobile African American folks.

So today, I thought I'd take a look at the movie -- what I'd take away and what I'd leave.

Take Aways

First of all, the movie was terribly funny. Despite the profanity (I've gotten pretty sensitive to profanity in my older age), I found myself laughing-out-loud quite a bit. The cast played off one another with quick wit.

And I applaud screenwriters Keith Merryman and David A. Newman for taking a nonfiction book and translating it into a lighthearted drama. Very creative indeed.

Also, I like much of Steve's message to women. He obviously wants to empower us ladies in our relationships with men, in a culture where we have often been misused and abused. His underlying message: we should be respected, loved and cherished by our men.

Steve encourages women to set the stage for that kind of treatment in the earliest stages of our relationships. And when we don't receive it, he tells us to slide into our walking shoes.

An example of Steve's message that speaks volumes: "Boys shack. MEN build homes." Now that alone could preach!

Leave It There's

I know Steve Harvey doesn't claim to be a preacher, but my mind immediately sized his message up with the Word.

Now let me just say that if the book and movie had come from a biblical perspective, it wouldn't have sold a quarter of the books or tickets it did. So I get that.

However, let's talk a little about the "90-day rule."

(Plot-spoiler: the 90-day rule instructs a woman to wait at least 90-days before she becomes intimate with a man she's dating. Steve calls this "giving up the cookies.")

I appreciate setting a standard for a woman giving up "the cookies." In this day of one-night-stands and revolving doors, somebody has to start setting some standards.

But what about encouraging folks to wait until marriage? How has celibacy become such an archaic concept today?

I'm finding that even in the church, people often believe every single thing the Bible says -- except that sex should be reserved for marriage. What's that about? I'm not saying people don't make mistakes. But there's a generation of people today that have chosen to completely toss any reference about pre-marital sex out of the Bible. And I just don't get it.

Either the Bible is totally true or it's all a farce.

My Version of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man

• First of all I'd entitle it Act Like a Lady, Think Like Jesus, the God-Man (I know, I know. I'd sell about two tickets!)
• My underlying message -- Be the woman God wants you to be so you're ready for the man He has for you
• Also, trust Him to bring that man in His time, not yours
• And absolutely, as archaic as it might sound -- Save "the cookies" until marriage, not just 90-Days!

There's so much more that can be said, but I think you get the point. Be God's Girl. Search His Word for your dating rule book. You'll be blessed for sure.

Love ya,

Carla

Have you tried things your way with dating in the past? Has God's way been proven better? I'd love some feedback!