Valentine's Day Part #3: Even More Questions

Check out Part 1 and Part 2!
Before going in some questions, here's a couple videos!

Now for some questions!
What's a good age to start dating?
A good age to start dating is when you were born. You know, you have to know the date of your birth, the date of your first words, when you first walked, and the first day you were potty trained by yourself.

As long you're mature enough and your parents think so, too, then I have no big opinion about it. I say your parents because you need a third opinion besides yourself. And they also can cause havoc on you.

Is there a certain age that kissing would be allowed? 
I kiss my mommy all the time. Probably when I was born I was kissed by my mommy. ^_^

My personal conviction is that one shouldn't kiss until the marriage altar. But you have your own convictions and I won't judge people for those. Just don't be dumb and get pregnant or something.

Is it smarter to date or court? 
I answer that in this post.

Why do so many "children" these days have boyfriends?
Because they want to?

Too much Disney channel or Disney movies, in my opinion. Grow up, kiddos.

No one necessarily should have a girlfriend or a boyfriend just cause they want to, right? 
Oh, absolutely. Some people are too selfish to be in any kind of relationship. They see another person as territory to be conquered or a toy to be trifled with.

Are you able to explain what emotional love is and why emotional love alone is not enough to be real love?
Emotional love doesn't last. It's all feeling and no action. And also selfish, sometimes.

Love is what is left after all the passion is gone. Some people confuse love with the passion, and passion is important, but it's not what all love is. It's the commitment beneath the passion that what makes love love. A commitment to that person, and that person only.

Emotions, however, is important. But it shouldn't be the only thing one relies to.

What are the components of real or mature love?
The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 13 that true love, or in the majestic vernacular of the King James, Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.

I don't think anyone can show that unconditional love without divine empowerment. But that is what true love is.

How many years should a person date before thinking about marriage?
I would say two to three years max, unless either one don't have the necessities (not done with school, doesn't have a job, doesn't have a house, etc.). Basically, don't be dumb and marry a guy if he can't support you. In this case, waiting longer might be better. Many marriage failures center around money or the lack thereof.

But if he does have the means, then the decision to commit needs to come quickly from him.

Is there a certain age difference that should be put in stone for two people dating?
I've seen very huge age differences that have worked out. Though if there is a big age difference, it needs to be worked out between both of them, that a couple won't fight over things.

I've found that girls are usually a couple of years more mature than guys are, as a general rule.

What are key ingredients to making any relationship work?
Communication is key. A relationship is only a relationship if each person is honest with each other. You can't love without communicating.

What are things that people should talk about before they get married?
People getting married should talk about their fundamental beliefs. Also, they should set in stone to never, ever even talk of divorce. As I said in a previous post, don't marry someone who you can find an easy way out.

Money is also one thing that needs to be talked about. So many times that couples focus on the romance that they forget the practical.

Thanks to Isabella Ustick for all the remaining questions!

Valentine's Day Part #2: Thesis on Courtship and Dating and More Questions

Check out Part 1!
(Short) Thesis on Courtship and Dating
What is the difference between courtship and dating? Such a mystery many youth pastors, young Christian couples, Bible college students, and Sunday School teens try to solve.

According to a recent poll, over 60% of people do not know if they count their going out as dating. Obviously, there needs to be clarification in this issue.

I'm not arrogant enough to tell you I know the actual difference. But there is always the dictionary to turn to.

For myself, I usually define dating a hangout with romantic overtones before an engagement and/or without the aim of a future marriage. For courtship, it's planned after an engagement with a structured aim for a future marriage. Courtship often has the implicit approval of the girl's parents.

While not a universally recognized definition, it works for me. I've had very few dates (can count them on one hand), but no "courts" yet. Or are they still called dates?

The point is, set a personal conviction. Define boundaries. Commit to purity of body, soul, and spirit.

Whether you date or court, do all to the glory of God.

Now for questions!
Favorite love story movie/chick flick thing?
I don't watch these kinds of movies (DUH, cause I'm a guy). But if I had to pick one, Pride and Prejudice. I haven't even read the book, yet. It has contra dancing and British aristocratic mannerisms.

Eh, which love story in a Disney movie then?
Disney movies are classic. But they all had the same storyline. Frozen was really good, but not as a love story of a guy and a girl. That felt like it was just tacked on, and the focus was on the sisters'.... sisterhood. Probably the best one to me is either Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty.

Why do most humans, me being the 99th Doctor I have two, not have two hearts?
At least you're not Inspector Spacetime who has no heart at all!

The Time Vortex energies was used by Rassilon to create Time Lords out of Gallifreyans. Not all Gallifreyans are Time Lords, as some offworlder may suspect. Normal Gallifreyans have only one heart. Time Lords, a class above Gallifreyans, have two.

Rassilon seeded the universe with Gallifreyan genetics so that everyone would look Gallifreyan. Apparently, that's why we all look Time Lord. Humans just lack the exposure to the Time Vortex. This also explains why River Song's exposure to the Time Vortex as a baby made her a Time Lady.

If you think I'm wrong, check out the TARDIS wikia.

Why does society think love is...what it shows in movies?
Art imitates life. Life imitates art. Movies imitate society. Society imitates movies. It never ends. It's like the chicken and egg. We know that God created the chickens first on the fifth day. But that doesn't stop people why they keep crossing the road or putting them in buckets and calling them Kentucky Fried.

We know that society has existed long before movies. But society has existed along side storytelling found in movies in the form of fairy tales. Did you know that Disney Princesses are actually from earlier princess stories? No way! The first-kiss,-love-in-first-sight type of love is very ancient, but only pervades modern society through movies.

Plato said that he cares not for who writes the laws, as long he writes the music. A Rothschild said that he also cares not who writes the laws, as long he controls the money supply.

Well, it turns out that movies have big music and big money associated with them. What this has to do with love, I have no idea.

There are different kinds of love.... how many words (Greek/Hebrew) for love are used in the Bible?
The Hebrew has two words for love: ahab and (c)hesed. Ahab is the closest to the everyday English meaning and use of the word love. (C)hesed is used for when a higher position loves a one of lower, particularly God loving us.

There is agape, philos, and eros for the Greek. Agape is God's pure love for us, and what each Christian should show to the brethren. Philos is the love of a friend to another, also used in Christian interaction. Eros can be translated as love or evil, often talking about the materialistic, pleasure, physical love.

There's another word for love in Greek called storge, but is not present in the Bible, denoting parental love.

Why can't I love and marry myself and my awesomeness?
You can always clone an opposite gendered person of yourself. Have you looked at this option? Might have some ethical, biological, and technological ramifications to consider, however.

I for one would not marry myself. That is wrong on so many levels. Even with my many, many multi-personalities, I would not be able to do it.

Why can't we marry an ant? Divorce would be easy. Squish it.
Have you ever heard of the saying that fish are friends, not food? Well, ants are not fishes.

Also, have you heard of "I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine? And he shall be my squishy.". Well, squishing denotes affection. But it is also gruesome and possibly murderous.

I will be politically correct and will not comment on how wrong it is to marry insects. People in Japan may be tickled pink. Someone there married a video game.

Okay... Why am I still living here on this dimension?

Do not marry someone just because you have an easy way out. Just saying.

Many thanks to Jonathan David Bloom, Adam De Kroon, and many others who contributed questions, etc.

Check out Part 1!

Valentine's Day Part #1: Questions and Pick Up Lines

Check out Part 2!
Let's do questions first.
Who is your current crush? Who was your first crush?
I like the orange soda, too. I don't have a Crush soda though. Just some apple cider. I wonder why the makers of Candy Crush haven't sued them yet?

Crushes make us young. I am frankly attracted to someone at the moment. She has blondish, brownish, long hair-ish. From College Plus? No names, lest I embarrass her. Cause she probably doesn't have a clue that I do. Maybe. ;)

I kept this answer intentionally vague. :P

My first crush's name was Millicent Rose in kindergarten. She's also the first girl I've taken a picture with. I have no idea where the picture is.

Why am I single?
There are countless alternate universes where you are NOT single. So have consolation in the fact that one of you in another alternate universe has a perfect girlfriend that loves you and cherishes you and marries you, happily ever after.

Unfortunately, travel between universes are not allowable by our current technology and/or laws of physics.

Why do we love?
We love because God has first loved us. And also, chocolate. Also, chemical interactions in our brains. Also, peer pressure. Also, the butterflies in our stomach and meeting someone's eyes. And knowing you will never going to be with that person.

Favorite love song(s)?
Right now, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, but also "My Girl" by the Temptations, and "Fur Elise" by Bach. Also, I call them sentimental songs, not love songs. Oh, and "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know"! :D

Courting or dating?
I subscribe to this thing called "courtation". Okay, I'm kidding. I will have my thesis on it post as separate, so check that out. I kinda define that dating is before engagement, and courting is after engagement.

Qualities in girls you like?
I only like girls who are virtuous, godly, good, beautiful, and single. Oh, and she must have cookies for me.

Who is my favorite historical couple?
I ship Adam and Eve, Valentine and Asterius' daughter, Doctor and River Song, Jesus Christ and His Bride (though technically a future thing). Bonnie and Clyde; and Marie and Pierre Curie did not make the list, unfortunately.

My favorite is probably Prince Albert and Queen Victoria of England. They are a model every family, royal or otherwise, should aspire to.

How did the heart morph from a fist-shaped organ to the cute little shape we see everywhere today?
The first instances of the use of the so-called geometric heart shape was during the Middle Ages in the use of decoration (Think of the decorated medieval books and Bibles with pictures). But it was not identified as a heart and a symbol of love until around the 13th century, where it was depicted as a pine cone shape in the hands of a knight giving it to his damsel in distress. It appears in various paintings from then on. The current form was finalized around the 14th or so century, and the hearts on playing card games came around the 15th.

In my opinion, the heart-shape is actually more accurate, but exaggerated, than it is given credit for. A normal heart has four chambers, and a somewhat pointed bottom. Also, Cupid cannot hit anyone with his heart arrows without the point. So it does have a practical purpose.

But yes, it went from a fist, to a pine cone, to a the pointed cardiod shape today.Neat, huh?

Which is better to give your Valentine, roses or chocolates?
Chocolate roses. Sprinkled with bacon. A whole bouquet. I don't care if you have money to afford this, steal, plunder, beg, save, invest, so you can have enough. Always, always go over the top on Valentine's Day for your love. Your Valentine will always have a fond memory of you. I promise.

Now for some pickup lines!
Christian pickups:
I've been reading the book of Numbers, and I realized I don't have yours.
Are you my babe in Christ?
Hi, my name is Will. God's Will.
Is your name Grace? Cause you are amazing.
Can I have your name and number for my prayer list?
Is that a mirror in your Bible? Cause you are reflecting the image of Christ.
Is it a sin to steal my heart?
Before this night, I never believed in predestination.
Is this pew taken?
I've picked out our chaperones.
You're a Proverbs 31 kind of woman.
Is your name Faith? Because you are the substance of things hoped for!

Doctor Who pickups:
Will you be my companion?
My heart for you is bigger on the inside.
Babe, you make both of my hearts skip a beat.
We have all of time and space to get acquainted.
Come along, Pond!
You're my fixed point in time.
You must be a weeping angel, because I can't take my eyes off you.

Bonus pickups:
Hey, do you have my hairbrush? Because you are a real peach. (Veggie Tales)

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any eye rolling, face slapping, indiscriminate laughter, cold shoulders, heart breaking or otherwise from the use of the above pickup lines. Use them at your own peril. I will, however, take credit for any engagements and marriages resulting from such use. And invite me to the wedding. Please. Or even have me officiate the wedding! :D

Thanks to Rikki Meek, Hannah Musick, Joshua Loomis, Drew Sproule, Skip Graham, Faith Burnside, Sarah Iddings, Garret Johnson, and everyone else who submitted a line or question or suggestion, or I did otherwise steal from you.

Check out Part 2!

Virtue Makes You Beautiful

The Quest for the Perfect Girl(?)

Since the blog is entitled "God, Girls, and Game Design", but it still didn't have anything about girls in it, I decided to create this first post about them! Enjoy!

Does a "Perfect Girl" Actually Exist?

It really boils down to the definition of "perfect" one uses. If one means "perfect" to denote someone who is sinless, flawless, and all-around amazing, no such girl exists. However, if "perfect" means someone who is right for a guy, someone whom God has picked to be his "soulmate", then that girl may actually exist. "Perfect" can also mean "mature, complete". Truly mature girls are rare, even though some girls think they are mature. But I've seen enough to know they aren't an endangered species.

The Bible tells of a "virtuous woman", whose price is "above rubies". Rubies are rarer and more expensive than diamonds. This, I believe, is the definition of a "perfect girl".

My Very General List

The Lord has led me to list the qualities of the girl I would hope to marry someday. My wish list, if you will.

1. She must be saved.

I can't marry a heathen! This really is, while not the most important part, the most primary part. God says I can't yoke myself with an unbeliever.

2. She must be spiritual.

This is not the same as being saved. Saved girls can also be not spiritual. She should at least know her Bible well enough. This is even more paramount than the first, but it is impossible to achieve this without the first.

3. She must be smart.

I'm doomed. As long she is not stubborn. I can work with that.

4. She must be beautiful.

Of course. Why not? *wink* In reality, the beauty of a girl is, as often cliched, "inside". As long that "inside" beauty shines outward. She should have at least enough sense to take care of herself. And she should be naturally beautiful without makeup. I hate it when girls think that their makeup actually makes them more pretty. It DOESN'T!

5. She must be modest.

This is more important than you think. At least something should be covering her knees at all times. And maybe I should demand Victorian elegance?

6. She must be a bit shy.

Really extroverted girls are okay, but to me, they are not date-able or marriageable. Especially if she talks to random guys. So simply, a girl who doesn't flirt.

7. She must be faithful.

Girls are fickle, according to my experience.

That list only applies to me. It appeals to my taste and values. If you have a different conviction, then follow that conviction. This list is for me, not you. If you are a girl interested in me, then you must at least have the first one got down. If you don't know how to get saved, click here. Then talk to me. And then actually work on acquiring the other things on the list.

The Quest So Far?

Hmmm... The quest is actually going on well, thank you. I've weeded out the girls that don't fit the list and looking into girls that have at least some of the qualities presented here. I've tested some girls that have stood out as the most likely candidates.

One day, I will find her. I do not know who she is yet. But I know God has someone planned for me. *wink*

In Christ,

The Gentleman X