The problem is, whenever I’m around him, all I can think about is when I get to go home. I keep telling myself it’ll get better once I get to know him, but whenever I think about seeing him again I feel like crying. I wish we could just hang out as friends, but I’m afraid I’ve been leading him on, and it’s too late to go back. How can I save myself from an uncomfortable relationship without hurting his feelings?

Perplexed
From our e-mail bag

Dear Perplexed:
I don’t know what you’ve done to “lead him on,” so I’m a little in the dark. But he may not ask you to anything except his school dance. You don’t know yet that he wants a relationship; he may simply want to take a friend to the dance.

If, however, he continues to ask you out after the dance, you need to tell him that you’re not ready for a relationship. Yes, it’ll be hard. You’ll both be uncomfortable. But if you wait, it’ll only become more uncomfortable for the both of you.

Remember, it’s your choice to date. Don’t ever go out with someone simply because you feel you should. If you’d rather be home with family or hanging out with a few friends, that’s certainly your prerogative!

Dear Susie: (Because this letter has so many questions inside it, I’m choosing to answer each paragraph inside the letter, instead of addressing a separate letter. —Susie)
I’ve read in Brio that no one will go to heaven who doesn’t have a personal relationship with Christ. Yeah, you’re right: Good morals and deeds won’t get you to heaven and neither will just going to church. You have to have a personal relationship with Christ. But what is that exactly?

A relationship is a deep connection between two people. You need to be introduced to someone before you can have a relationship with him. Therefore, to have a relationship with Christ means you need to be introduced to Him, get to know Him and become connected with Him. We do that by confessing our sins, accepting His forgiveness, placing our trust in Him and living in obedience to Him.

Anyone can read the Bible and pray! In fact, Bible- reading and praying can just become a habit. The Bible says that Christians are known by their fruit, but a lot of non-Christians have good fruit. A Christian has confessed her sins and asked Jesus to come into her life? C’mon! Anyone can say a magical little prayer, but just reciting a prayer won’t save you!

You’re right! You don’t have to be a Christian to read the Bible, just as you don’t have to be an astronaut to read about space. But once you’ve made a decision in your heart to accept Christ, you want to read the Bible because (1) you realize it’s a love letter from God to you, (2) it shows you how to grow spiritually stronger and (3) your life is incomplete without it. Hopefully, you’ll make Bible-reading a good habit and an integral part of your relationship with Christ.

You say that Jesus is the only way. But, of course, as a Christian you think your religion is the only right one. Don’t you think Christians are a bit proud thinking they’re the only people who are right?

When I say “Jesus in the only way to God,” I’m simply repeating what Christ said. This isn’t something Susie made up. It’s truth from God’s Word: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). How much clearer can He make it? No one means no one. Not Susie Shellenberger, not the Brio staff and not you — unless you (and we) have a personal relationship with Him.

By the way, what’s wrong with Buddhism in addition to Christianity?

“Fear the LORD your God, serve him only. . . . Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you” (Deuteronomy 6:13-14).

Buddha was a man, not a god. He taught that desire for material possessions cause suffering and even Jesus said we’d be empty inside if we tried to fill the void with material possessions rather than with Him. You can meditate on Buddha and learn to relax. God wants us to be relaxed and not worry. What’s wrong with using Buddhism as a tool along with trusting God to relax?

Why meditate on someone who is dead? When you worship God, you worship a living King! It makes sense to ask a living being for peace instead of trying to find it from a dead guy.

God loves you! And He desires to have an active, growing relationship with you. But according to Deuteronomy 6:15, He is a jealous God and demands all your worship be directed to Him. Is this unfair? No. He sent His one and only Son to pay the price for your sins. He paid our death penalty. We want to thank Him by giving Him 100 percent of our lives and our worship.