Sex Has a Price Tag: Discussions About Sexuality, Spirituality and Self Respect [Paperback]

Pam Stenzel (Author), Cyrstal Kirgiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2003

'If I only had known what could happen, I would have made a different choice!!!' A decade in a crisis pregnancy center, counseling both Christian and non-Christian teens...speaking to millions of students through the years...counseling and answering the letters of thousands of teens...Pam Stenzel has heard this statement over and over and over again. From kids like you. Sex Has a Price Tag rejoices that, indeed, sex is glorious. Sex is God-given. But sex outside of God's boundary is behavior that has far-reaching consequences. Outside a monogamous marriage it has a price tag of incalculable costs. Here are real testimonies, encouragement, and advice about: abstinence vs consequences Biblical definitions and examples physical diseases and emotional disaster examination of urges taboo subjects including masturbation advice on where to go for help avoiding sexual activity and awkward situations dealing with friends, parents...and your self-respect Sex Has a Price Tag is brutally frank but totally sympathetic, written to girls and guys. Here are searing personal testimonies, medical stats, and practical solutions; encouragement in the form of Biblical examples, support and networking options, innovative alternatives to dating situations, and creating journaling. There are sources and links for seeking help. Sex Has a Price Tag is life-affirming, and is a life-saver.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pam Stenzel is an internationally respected expert on sex, love, and relationships. With an M.A. in counseling psychology, she possesses an in-depth understanding of the perils that young people face as they make adult choices. Pam is an in-demand communicator who has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs, including the Hannity and Colmes Show, the Sean Hannity show, The Dr. Laura Show, The 700 Club, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. The founder of Enlighten Communications, Inc., she is the award-winning creator of a number of videos on the subjects of sex, abstinence, and relational issues for teens. Her books include the recent Sex Has a Price Tag. Pam travels nationally and internationally, speaking to over 500,000 teens annually. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan/Youth Specialties (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310249716
• ISBN-13: 978-0310249719
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Social Issues > Dating & Intimacy > Nonfiction
  • #8 in Books > Teens > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity
  • #27 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > General

More About the Author

Pam Stenzel is an internationally respected expert on sex, love, and relationships. With an M.A. in counseling psychology, she possesses an in-depth understanding of the perils that young people face as they make adult choices. Pam is an in-demand communicator who has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs, including the Hannity and Colmes Show, the Sean Hannity show, The Dr. Laura Show, The 700 Club, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. The founder of Enlighten Communications, Inc., she is the award-winning creator of a number of videos on the subjects of sex, abstinence, and relational issues for teens. Her books include the recent Nobody Told Me and Who's in Your Social Network. Pam travels nationally and internationally, speaking to over 500,000 teens annually. She lives in Minneapolis, MN.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Cost, August 9, 2003

By 

herrkraft - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex Has a Price Tag: Discussions About Sexuality, Spirituality and Self Respect (Paperback)

In the course of my ministry to teenagers, I have read many books on sexual abstinence, God's design for sex, and the terrible consequences of sex outside of marriage. Some are great and others not. Some are candid while others seem afraid to approach the subject head on. Sex Has a Price Tag is a well-written and honest look at the biggest battle teenagers face.

Today's students grow up in world where more absolutes are not an accepted reality by many people. As such, any discussions about sexual morality that are based only upon the standard set by the Bible are automatically dismissed by a vast number of people, leaving them to buy into the "if it feels good to me it's ok" lie. In this book students will be confronted with the unambiguous, unequivocal standards of sexual purity found in the Bible, but at the same time the author seeks to reach out to an audience who wants to ignore those truths. The costs of sexual activity before marriage and the reasons it should be avoided are broken into three categories: 1) your beliefs (what you choose to accept about God's design), 2) the wise counsel of others (what other students who did not choose abstinence say), and 3) medical facts (statistical evidence about STD's, teen pregnancy, and the "safe sex" deception. Simply telling students to abstain because of the medical reasons and advice from other people is only telling them half of the story. We shouldn't be surprised the personal experiences of others and medical evidence support the same perspective found in the Bible. An open look at the empirical evidence leaves you at the same standard set by the moral absolute. By combining what they won't refute (medical facts and the relative opinions of others) with what they want to discount (God's Word), the author successfully invites students into the discussion and gives them the opportunity to find the real power to overcome these struggles: God's power.

You or your teenager may have no desire to know or serve God. This book won't make you a Christian. But Christians and non-Christians alike will benefit from the practical and understandable discussions and illustrations in this book. In the final sections you'll find some great common sense advice and some relevant truths from Scripture to help in this battle. Please, let this book help you count the cost of sex before marriage so that you can make a wise decision and not pay a terrible price.

There is a glaring editorial error at the very beginning of the book. In the introduction, two-and-a-half paragraphs from page seven are repeated on page eight. Don't worry...the rest of the book is fine...go ahead and finish it.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I give this 100 stars from a parent's viewpoint., September 29, 2003

By 

M. Bussio "MB" (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex Has a Price Tag: Discussions About Sexuality, Spirituality and Self Respect (Paperback)

Simply outstanding in format and layout. Your teen will read this. It's packed with straightforward, no-nonsense information. Even with its small size it is worth it weight in gold. This book could save your teen's life &/or their fertility. (The editorial error mentioned above is not in my copy.) If you or your teen get a chance to hear Pam Stenzel speak, don't miss it! She has web site if you want to learn more about her.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teens & Sex, April 3, 2007

By 

RoRo2u "rorap" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sex Has a Price Tag: Discussions About Sexuality, Spirituality and Self Respect (Paperback)

I read the book first before handing it over to my 13-year old son. I found it to be insightful and helpful. It explains the ramifications of what even one casual sexual encounter can cause; pregnancy, STD's, Lifetime financial committments to children created outside of marriage and the financial burden this creates all through your life.

While there were parts that made me cringe, and caused hesitency in handing the book to my son, I thought it best he read it NOW before he enters into the sexually charged society we live in today. This book provides great examples of the ramifications of the decision to have sex outside of marriage, while giving great examples on why not to and many examples of why waiting for marriage is not only the right thing, but the SMART thing - even if is isn't the easy thing to do.

I do believe there should have been an age appropriate mention somwhere on the title page. So before you hand it over to your children, read it first and then decide if it is appropriate for YOUR child.