Let's be real.

There's a big world out there, and there are going to some tough issues that you have to figure out for yourself. Here are some of the issues CareNet wants to help you find hope in:

Sexuality

Sex, by design, is a wonderful and beautiful thing. But like most good things, context is everything! Take a gallon of wet paint, for example. Brush it on your walls and it makes the room look great, but pour it on the carpet and you've got yourself a very big mess. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), teen pregnancies, feelings of guilt, feelings of being used - these are all common results of sex, out of context.

But how can we avoid these consequences? It all starts with making a stand for sexual purity (i.e., abstinence).

Each of us has to make a decision on whether or not we'll wait to have sex until marriage. For some of us if we've been sexually active in the past‚ that means making a new commitment to purity.

Your Sex Life

Do you put your trust in a flimsy bit of latex? Sex can be unsafe, even with a condom...

Did you know that 50% of young women become pregnant within the first six months of sexual activity?

Did you know a condom can break or slip off during sex, even when it is put on correctly? It's thin and flimsy. It can have tiny holes or weak spots. Once it has leaked, you may not have a second chance. A little bit of latex can let you down.

Did you know some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), like herpes and HPV (which causes genital warts), can be passed on by contacting skin in areas not covered by a condom? There are over 25 STDs passed on to millions of people each year.

Did you know someone you are having sex with may not even know he/she has a disease? Many diseases with serious long-term consequences have no easily recognizable symptoms.

How can you protect yourself? The best way is to not have sex until marriage. Is it easy to say no? Not always. Here are some tips:

Make the decision before your date not to have sex.

• Don't drink or use drugs on a date
• Know how and when to leave a situation
• Carry money or a phone to call someone for help
• Make eye contact before refusing
• Group date
• Tell your date your standards

So you're no longer a virgin.  

Secondary virginity is all about second chances. You have one right now. Make a commitment today that you will not have sex again until your wedding night. Stand by your new decision without wavering. Call us, we want to help you stand firm.

You have the power to say no now so you can say yes later. Yes to meeting your goals, no to STD's or non-marital pregnancy. Sex. It's your choice. Your body. Your future. You can choose to have sex. Or choose not to. Not everyone is doing it.