As the Deer... So I Long

Great post by nakedpastor over at his blog today, which I have also (officially) added to my blogroll. I've been reading his blog ever since his dustup with Slice, but never put it in the sidebar. Anyway, go read.

Big Mac's Birthday and Self Control

Great post by Matt B over at CRN.Info, one that is definitely worth reading. There is a lot of talk about self control in the church today, but most of it focuses on sex and alcohol. Self control can be applied to so much more, which is what Matt explores in this article.

Ingrid on Porn Addiction

In her latest post at Slice of Laodicea, Ingrid takes on pornography addiction, which is, without doubt, one of the biggest issues facing society today. It is an addiction that knows no bounds; it is not selective, it has no respect for boundaries of race, sex, class, religion, or any other category. And it is devastating.

Ingrid's answer? People who are addicted to porn can't *possibly* be Christians. Apparently she missed the parts of the Bible that deal with the fact that even the righteous stumble, but what sets them apart is that they get back up. Apparently she missed the apostle Paul talking about the thorn in his side that the Lord refused to take from him.

It's late, I'm tired, and there's so much more I could say about this, but I can't put it into words just now. I will say this; Ingrid and others in the discernment crowd have taken ministries like XXXChurch.com to task for what they do. These people are facing the porn problem head on, offering support, encouragement, and hope to those who are addicted to porn and even helping former porn stars leave the industry and start new lives. These men recognize that we cannot simply ignore the problem and hope it will go away. We cannot simply shun those who struggle with these issues.

If you struggle with an addiction to pornography, know that there is help for you. XXXChurch.com is a great place to start. Go to the Wall of Prayer and start there; you will find people who are at the same place you are, and those who have been there before. They will help you. They also offer a program that will track the Internet sites you visit and email a list of questionable sites to an accountability partner you designate. If you want to go as far as a content filter, BSafe Online offers a great one, which can also be purchased as part of a total security suite.

Let me leave you with this; we serve a God who is faithful and just to forgive us if we ask Him. If you need help, start with the One who created you, and knows you from your inmost being.

Verse of the Day

This is more likely to become Verse of However Often I Get Around to Posting It, but that notwithstanding...

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." ~Psalm 37:23 (NLT)