Friends are supposed to prevent each other from making bad decisions.
On Tuesday, Lipscomb students were informed how to keep their friends from dating dumb.
Michael Johnson (pictured to the right), the co-founder and and dean of dating of Future Marriage University, spoke to Lipscomb students during Tuesday’s Gathering. His foundation centers on how to date the right way.
John Conger, who is the chair of department of family and consumer sciences, hopes that Lipscomb students will take Johnson’s message to heart.
“I hope the take away will be that students and faculty will become more aware of the importance of relationship choices, not only for themselves, but also that friends don’t let friends date dumb,” Conger said.
Johnson gave students a unique view into the world of dating by sharing ways to not date dumb, such as not dating because everyone is or just because they can.
“A lot of people are making many fatal errors in relationships, and these cause untold suffering to individuals,” Conger said. “If there are children involved, these problems perpetuate into coming generations.”
This chapel also signaled the start of what is being called Relationships Week. Students are going to be challenged to start taking a serious look at how their relationships are functioning.
“It is a three day conference focusing on relationship choices and processes in today’s culture,” Conger said. “It’s time we had some serious conversations about this, and what better place and time than in college, when many will make these relationship choices.”
Lipscomb students can get involved by attending various events throughout campus. Guys will be able to hear the second half of Johnson’s speech in a breakout chapel on Thursday, while Kimberly “Brownie” Vaughn will speak to the women.
To Conger, relationships are a key component to living a happy and successful life.
“Research indicates that, regardless of career choice, wealth accumulation or other life experiences, relationship choices surface as the greatest source of pleasure and pain in one’s life,” Conger said. “We hope to raise the awareness of important issues in relationship formation and the seriousness of it.”
Photo credit: Erin Turner