February 2012
57 posts
8 tags
Helping friends when bad things happen
emjang asked: Hi Unka Glen! I’m a new follower, and I asked this question to a fellow Christian recently, and she referred me to your blog. One of my non-religious friends is very open to the idea of Christianity, but he can’t seem to grasp the idea of God letting bad things happen. I’m afraid I can’t explain it to him well enough. Could you please explain this idea to...
January 2012
50 posts
7 tags
Finding romance while it lasts...
lifesshort-takepictures asked: I’m a Senior in High School and the man of God I’m talking about dating is in college. We really like each other, but feel like it’s unfair to the both of us if we start to get serious about our relationship, if I am unsure of where I’m going to college next year, or if I’m even going to be moving away. We don’t even know if...
Lee Younger Reblog: Being Married In College!
Really interesting post from Lee Younger, answering a question about being married in college:
emilyruthwest asked:
Hey Lee! I was told to pick your brain about something… what are your thoughts about college students being married? Let’s say around senior year/just out of undergrad school. I want your full, honest opinion. On two students who are in love, live for Christ, and have briefly...
8 tags
Repressing love versus expressing love
Anonymous asked: Much is said about guys and girls saving their virginity for marriage, but what about all other kinds of things that are given up before then? Kissing, saying “I love you”, etc… How much should we save for the one we know is to be our spouse? Is it just as bad to give away your heart countless times, as it is to give away sex while unmarried? Any guidance would...
8 tags
Nakedness and art and lust
Anonymous asked: I love God. I have struggled with lust almost my whole life. I bring this up because I am an art student and there is an entire class on studying the human figure. Nude. The models are sitting there in class. It is more annoying than anything else, but how can I deal with seeing the nude figure all the time? Is there a way to please God and stay pure in this situation while also...
7 tags
Knowing when to leave it alone
oceansofgrace asked: Hi Unka Glen- If you’ve seen the recent “Why I Love Jesus but Hate Religion” video, what do you think of it/all the controversy over it?
Unka Glen answered: I have seen it, and for those of you who haven’t, you can see it here.
Here’s the thing, if you see someone has put their heart and soul into a poem, or song, or painting, and you think...
8 tags
Use me, exploit me, steal my ideas...
onelasttoday asked: Unka Glen, you’re posts always come right when I need to see them. Thank you! Also, I hope you don’t mind, but, while my 18-30 group is in transition from our leader we had, Ive been using your blog as a way to bring a well reasoned voice to us. :)
Unka Glen answered: I don’t mind at all, that’s what I’m here for! This reminds me to remind all of you (the...
7 tags
Your fairy-tale comes true... guaranteed
ambra-occhi asked: Ok, I want to go on totally chill dates, so I’m not a mis-communicating awkward mess for my future husband. In the past when I’ve gone on dates, the guys seemed innocent, but then had more than chilling and communicating in mind. How do I practice dates/communicating for my totally rad future man, while avoiding the horny toads and accidentally leading guys on,...
8 tags
“The measure of a Christian is not in the things of the world which we give up,...”
– Unka Glen (unkaglen.tumblr.com)
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Cutting, Depression, Eating Disorders... sounds...
mercyshipdude asked: Hey Unka Glen, Congrats on launching the Bridge! I’m really looking forward to gleaning lots of good wisdom and advice from you guys. Lately, I find myself entrenched in a Tumblr sub-culture of depression/cutting/thin-living/Eating Disorder blogs. I admit that I wasn’t really prepared for this. I don’t have a lot of experience with depression, but my heart bleeds for these...
7 tags
Porn and pre-marital preparation
Anonymous asked: Hi Uncle Glen. I’d really love your advice on this. I am currently in the process of being engaged. I say process because he is seeking the blessing of my parents first, and we are also going through pre-marital counseling through our church before we move forward. However, my soon-to-be fiancee has a struggle with porn. We pray about it and we work together about it, but...
7 tags
Old fashioned romance and dating...
bamfirebam asked: I am 18 now and my mom told me that I should start dating (as if i could actually get a girlfriend *sarcasm*). But I told her that I didn’t want to because I didn’t feel I was ready. She responded that you need to start dating to gain maturity and relationship know-how. Am I wrong in thinking that I should only peruse girls with the idea of getting married when I...
7 tags
Porn and Romantic Comedies
Anonymous asked: What are your thoughts on watching romantic comedies? I’ve heard it being compared to porn for girls. Thank you :)
Unka Glen answered: You know what’s like porn? Porn. You know what’s not like porn? Everything else. Yes, there is sort of an alternate definition of porn, where you might say anything that makes you crave something is porn. Cooking shows are food...
7 tags
A MAJOR Announcement!
You know it can be really be tough, when you have a friend who’s dealing with a serious struggle, and you just don’t know what to say. Go too far with that one way and they’ll never speak to you again, go too far another way, and they’ll ask you why you didn’t say more and save them the grief.
Maybe you even follow a blog like this one so you can get a feel for how...
“If you want to figure out the kind of Christian I am, it’s not my mess-ups you...”
– Jed Brewer (via jedbrewer)
8 tags
Giving God your love life... and jewelry
Anonymous asked: I’m struggling with letting go and letting God. For instance, I can’t seem to let God handle my love life. I currently love a guy (with godly intentions), and I’m scared that if I give this area to God, He won’t give me the guy I love as my husband. I’ve tried SO hard to let God handle it, but I’m still holding on.
Unka Glen answered: Your...
9 tags
Feeling pain every day...
lorris asked: Unka Glen, I need some help. I’m 19 and I have fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, so I’m in pain every day. Some days it’s disabling, other days it’s just annoying. I recently had a flare, so now I’m having trouble with simple daily living tasks, like tying shoes or doing buttons or just getting out of bed. I know God has a plan and He’s...
7 tags
Basic Training: Play For Time
Christians often struggle to be a good witness to friends who seem to be slipping off the path into more dangerous territory. In order to deal with those situations, you need to use some basic ministry skills. And it’s surprisingly hard to find good material on those skills, so let’s take some of the methods we use in our urban and prison ministry, and figure out how to apply them to...
9 tags
Feeling too sinful for God
Anonymous asked: Hi Uncle Glen, how do you get over feeling like a really sinful person? Sometimes when I pray and when I feel discouraged, I feel as if God is not answering me because of the sin in my life. I feel as though I can never be good enough for His grace, because I keep failing in so many areas, and this sometimes just reinforces the feeling that I am an awful person. :’( Thank you so...
7 tags
When your Christian friends don't act very...
One of the toughest things we deal with in our Christian faith is when our Christian friends, the people we fellowship with, end up taking a major left turn in their lifestyle. Here’s an example sent in recently:
I have a friend that has been one of my closest for years and we’re into a lot of the same things. But recently, she’s been changing. Popularity and “fun”...
4 tags
Blog recommendations!
dilona asked: Unka! My husband just joined tumblr, and is looking for good tumblrerers (it’s a word!) to follow. He’s not a Christian, but he wants to be, and he’d really like to follow some godly men. And I just have no idea. I recommended you and Jed Brewer and one more guy, but my list after that is empty. My own tumblr is mostly following young christian girls, and...
8 tags
Falsely accused and leaving the country
Anonymous asked: Dear Unka Glen, my boss wants to pin a robbery on me. My office friends are not speaking to me anymore. I am thinking if this is the sign that I should resign and then move to the country God wants me to move to. But then again, what if it is a test of my faith/perseverance and He wants me to stay? One of my best friends even reminded me that it is my cross and that no matter...
8 tags
“It’s what you hide from God that breaks His heart. It’s not the cutting...”
– Unka Glen (unkaglen.tumblr.com)
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Dating the wrong guy, and dealing with the...
Anonymous asked: I have a friend that I really, really care about. She loves Jesus and her faith really inspires me. She recently somewhat-got-back-together with an ex boyfriend who really is not good for her. I mean, by earthly standards, he’s great. He’s handsome and intelligent and he makes her happy, but spiritually, they are pretty opposite. I want to confront her about this,...
Jed Brewer reblog: What’s So Great About Sex? (A...
jedbrewer:
Quick Intro: Sex is beautiful – an incredible gift God gave us for the expression of intimate, passionate love within marriage.
Sex outside of marriage isn’t God’s plan. And Christian culture makes really, really sure you’re aware of that. In fact, that concept gets so much focus that, sometimes, people can start to wonder what was good about sex to begin with.
This series is a...
8 tags
Breakups: winners and losers...
baylibop asked: So my first boyfriend recently broke up with me. I have been going through a roller coaster of emotions. Before we started going out we were best friends and then after he broke up with me he said he wanted to go back to that. At first I was like no, I was hurt. But I knew I was being a meany, so I at least added him back on facebook. But now he’s texting me and talking to...
Matt King reblog: Chasing Shame
Matt King:
God has separated your sin from you as far as the east from the west (Ps 103:12). If you go north long enough, you will eventually go south, but you can go east forever without going west. Maybe that’s why the command of peace is to “be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). God has taken your sin so far from you, that in order to get close enough to feel guilt or shame, you have...
7 tags
Knowing it all!
clothedinwhite asked: Dear Unka Glen: What do you do when you get a question on your message board that you don’t know the answer to?
Unka Glen answered: Oh, I’ve got all the answers. I’ve forgotten a lot of ‘em, but ya know, deep down I know ‘em. LOL, actually, it’s an interesting question. Given that I’m not a biblical scholar, on some of the Bible...
8 tags
How do I start witnessing?
wildflowerbouquet asked: My dad isn’t a Christian. We were talking today and he started saying how he believes in many paths to God and a lot of buddhist/new age stuff. Now, I know a bit more theology/philosophy than they average person, but he’s my dad and it’s hard. How can I show him that Christ is the only way? For the first time I’m really devastated that my dad...
7 tags
Inadequate and unknowing... and a bit about a...
ferguson19274 asked: So lately I’ve been struggling a lot with A) feelings of inadequacy and B) knowing and trusting God (His favor, His love, all that jazz). The feelings of inadequacy seem to come from every angle to the point where it’s just ridiculous and I know it’s the enemy picking at me but he’s just so darn convincing. As for the not knowing God, I know the verses and I have them taped...
7 tags
“God says: ‘Behold, I make all things new!’ You feel the weight of...”
– Unka Glen (unkaglen.tumblr.com)
7 tags
Dear Satan,
I’m amazed. I mean, give credit where credit is due. You can really influence us, getting us to answer to the way you turn around a single word. And it seems like your current word of choice is: purity. The clear Biblical concept of purity is that NOTHING in nature is pure, and we must subject ourselves to a purification process. We submit to the refiner’s fire that yields pure gold.
But...
7 tags
Keeping emotional boundaries
thecatsound asked: Hey, Unka Glen. I would like to start setting emotional boundaries with the guys in my life… but honestly every aspect of emotional boundaries confuses me. Could you maybe help clear that up? Thank you :)
Unka Glen answered: This is a great question, and it shows why you all are the coolest and smartest and awesomest. With all the focus on the physical side of...
6 tags
The right way to leave your family's church
Anonymous asked: I’ve been attending the same church as long as I can remember. I went off to college this year, but I live close enough so I can come home every weekend and attend services with my family. I’m very involved in my church, especially musically. I have been playing instruments and singing in groups and solos in some form since I could hold myself up on the platform. For...
8 tags
“Lord, in a sea of uncertainty, we’ve turned to the advice of amateurs, and...”
– Unka Glen (unkaglen.tumblr.com)
8 tags
Pursuing and crushing. Hey trolls, look over...
Anonymous asked: I’ve had crushes for as long as I can remember. It got really bad in high school to the point where I was practically obsessed. Now, I’m in college and leading a small group. I know I should learn to love Him first, but I can’t seem to stop myself from crushing on someone. I was told that guys should be the ones pursuing the girls, who are patiently waiting in...
7 tags
Believing in the whole Bible, Genesis to Maps.
Anonymous asked: Hi Unka Glen! So I have this friend I’ve been trying to reach out to. He doesn’t believe the Bible can be completely true because it is man-made, and thus contains a lot of mistakes. He struggles a lot in believing everything it says since it’s been through so much translating and transcribing, and as result he uses bits and pieces in order to “supplement...
9 tags
God's plan for you. And your resulting freakout.
kyrapendley asked: Hey unkaglen! So I hope this isn’t an odd question to ask, but when you were called to ministry, did it ever freak you out at all that you knew God had plans for you? Like, I know that God has called me and I know that alot of my inhibitions are the enemy trying to prevent me from ministry, but I have moments where I’m just like, “God, what the heck? How is...
7 tags
The basis for everything...
mightbeyou asked: Hi :) There’s been a question bugging me for some time now, it seems so simple but in some ways it is the basis for everything. Why does God love us? I know in my head and my heart that he does, but why?
Unka Glen answered: Heck, I can’t think of a single good reason. I mean, we sure don’t deserve it, that part is obvious. I suppose it’s kinda logical...
7 tags
A woman's struggle with masturbation
Anonymous asked: i’m in this crazy cycle where i pleasure myself by reading pornographic material and masturbating. i battle within for about 5 minutes, and then it’s like a go into a trance, and have no idea what i’m doing, and when i realize what i’m doing, the urgency in turning to God is almost comical. i feel like i’m really struggling. I’m trying so hard...
7 tags
When things go too far sexually, how do you get it...
Anonymous asked: I’m currently in a relationship with my boyfriend. Both of his parents are pastors. He and his parents inspired me to strengthen my relationship with Christ. Unfortunately we give into the temptation of our flesh and things get as close as they can without actually having intercourse. I can see where his relationship is going and I don’t like it. Our relationship is...
8 tags
Basic information for gentlemen interested in...
jehalelel asked: Hey Unka Glen! Loved your post on “Advanced man-getting. Use only for good, not evil.” and I was wondering if you could give the other perspective? For a gentleman interested in a lady?
Sure thing. You’ve come to the right place.
1. Be courageous. I meet a lot of young Christians who do a lot of hand-wringing, and wander around in a fog of...
7 tags
Is it right to skip meetings that don't feel...
thepastorskid asked: Hey Unka. I gotta question. So I go to a Christian school. Every year, we have a prayer group at school. It meets once a week at lunch time. And for YEARS I’ve tried to make myself go. But for some reason, I just never feel…good about it. It’s hard to explain. Being a pastor’s kid I’m pretty strong in my faith, so all the kids in the group try to get...
8 tags
Advanced man-getting. Use only for good, not evil.
Anonymous asked: I have a HUGE crush on this guy, we both go to the same college, and he’s studying to go into South American missions, which I find very hot, and I just want to marry him and move to Brazil and have his babies. So, how can I tell if he has feelings for me? And if he doesn’t, how can I… get him to have feelings for me? Help me Unka Glen!
Unka Glen...
8 tags
Heresy Schmeresy.
Anonymous asked: Hello Unka Glen, I just discovered your tumblr and I am already a big fan of how you explain what you explain. It makes sense when so many around me fail so miserably at explaining. Recently I’ve been struggling with my faith as a Christian as to what is considered unmistakably a sin or what was just seen a societal/cultural ill at the time the Bible was written. Like does...
7 tags
Iffy preaching from well-known preachers
Anonymous asked: What’s up, my favorite Cyber Uncle? I’m hoping you can help me with this one, I read something that a famous mega-church pastor supposedly said. I thought it sounded kind iffy, would you mind reading it, and giving me your reactions?
“Your problem is not low self-esteem. It is sin and guilt. You don’t need to feel better. You need to be forgiven. Jesus alone...
Ten things about Yours Truly
klejuanc26 asked: Tag, you’re it! Here are the rules: Each tagged person must post ten things about themselves. You have to choose and tag ten people. Go to their blogs and tell them you tagged them. No tag backs
Unka Glen answered: Generally I’d prefer this blog to be about YOU, but you do deserve to know what kind of dude is writing all this, so here goes:
I’m a Christian. God...
