In general, girls seem more interested in relationships than guys. Guys, in general, seem to be more concerned with competition than girls. And did I mention emotions? Why is it that girls usually seem more willing to let theirs show than guys?

This all makes for situations that are fascinating and often funny at the same time. We're both human, but we sure do act, think and respond differently. If we are willing to laugh at ourselves, there is some great humor based on these distinctions.

But seriously, what about these differences? Should we ignore them? Or minimize them so we can all act the same? Are they right, wrong or just different?

Depending on where we turn for answers, we find people who think that the unisex look—where the sexes are not distinguishable by hair or clothing—is the way society should go. Others suggest that people should be free to live as whichever gender they wish, irrespective of how they were born. A few years ago some social activists mistakenly suggested that the concept of gender differences was just a myth—that boys and girls were simply trained from birth to act differently.

As vertical thinkers—people who strive to think on things from God's perspective (Colossians 3:2)—we want to know what God says about these things. We aren't looking primarily to other people to determine how to think and act. And contrary to much of society today, wherein everyone wants to give and believe his or her own opinion, we aren't trying to form our own opinions apart from God. So let's see what God tells us about gender.

At creation, God made human beings both male and female (Genesis 1:27), and He said that this distinction was "very good" (verse 31). So why would anyone want to erase differences in gender or pretend they don't exist?

Through the pages of the Bible we also find that God created different roles for the sexes and that He intended for us to respect our sexual identity. One way we can respect our gender is in how we dress. In Deuteronomy 22:5 God says, "A woman shall not wear a man's apparel, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whoever does such things is abhorrent to the LORD your God" (New Revised Standard Version).

Surprising to some, the length of our hair also shows respect for our gender and respect to our Creator. You'll read more about this inside. In this issue we hope you'll gain a deeper respect for the differences in the sexes and that you'll live accordingly. Vive la différence! VT