Playing with Fire – The Danger of Pornography

Pornography falls short of true desire and instead dooms the participate.  It causes one to enter a realm of darkness where desire, pleasure and happiness are darkened to unfilled lust and sin.  Pornography satisfies the mind, body and affections only for a moment while it kills the stimulus for God-given desire and pleasure.  It eats away at the soul causing one to become satisfied with must lesser things than what God has promised to all those that come to Him.  Soon after the participation, it causes one to weep at the thought of doing such again.  But not long, just like a dog returning to its vomit, the heart quickly forgets the danger and once again runs to destruction.  It is like knowing the danger of the great chasm below us but at every moment walking not only on the edge but over a thin thread over the deepest portion.  Pornography strives to kill the affections causing one to feel nothing but burning lust for the fanciful and unrealistic.  It singes at the conscience as one purposefully moves themselves rapidly over the flame with every glance.  One need not linger over photographs or other pornographic stimuli for it to lodge itself in the mind and begin the destruction process.  If it gains access to our mind and heart it lodges itself until we are consumed for hours, months, and years; yes, even a lifetime.  The images over which one lingered wedge into the mind an arise often to entice again.  Even the strongest person cannot stand under the weight of such.  The only remedy is to run with all thy might to Christ for superior satisfaction and joy.

Filed under: Cultural Issues, Sin, Temptation

Dr. Mohler on Social Networking

Dr. Albert Mohler has some excellent points of advice for safeguarding the social networking experience:

1. Never allow social networking to replace or rival personal contact and communication. God made us to be social creatures that crave community. We cannot permit ourselves to substitute social networking for the harder work of building and maintaining personal relationships that are face to face.

2. Set clear parameters for the time devoted to social networking. These services can be seductive and time consuming. Social networking (and the Internet in general) can become obsessive and destructive of other relationships and higher priorities for the Christian.

3. Never write or post anything on a social networking site that you would not want the world to see, or anything that would compromise your Christian witness. There are plenty of young people (perhaps older persons now, too) who are ruining future job prospects and opportunities by social networking misbehavior. The cost to Christian witness is often far greater.

4. Never allow children and teenagers to have independent social networking access (or Internet access, for that matter). Parents should monitor, manage, supervise, and control the Internet access of their children and teens. Watch what your child posts and what their friends post.

Filed under: Albert Mohler, Cultural Issues

Warren praises Obama for Inviting Homosexual Bishop

OneNewsNow.com, a division of the American Family News Network has reported:Rick Warren is applauding Barack

Obama’s decision to invite homosexual Episcopal bishop V. Gene Robinson to pray at an inauguration event next week in Washington, DC.

Christianity Today quotes a statement from Warren, who says “President-elect Obama has again demonstrated his genuine commitment to bringing all Americans of goodwill together in search of common ground. I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen.” Warren’s comment came in the wake of a controversy over Obama’s decision to invite Warren to give the invocation prayer at the swearing-in ceremony at next Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration.

Robinson, who became the Episcopal Church’s first openly homosexual bishop back in 2003, joined other homosexual activists and their supporters in condemning Obama for inviting Warren, saying “it was like a slap in the face.”

Warren has received heavy criticism for openly supporting California’s Proposition 8 last November, a voter intiative that amended the Golden State’s constitution to define marriage as only between one man and one woman.

Obama eventually gave into the pressure over Warren and has invited Robinson to give a prayer at another inaugural event next week.

Robinson has said he will not use the Bible when praying, and states “I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer.”

Filed under: Cultural Issues

Obama Selects Gay Bishop to Pray at Inaugural Kickoff Event

The Boston Herald reports,

After angering gay rights supporters with the choice of evangelist Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama has chosen the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal church to pray at the kickoff event for the inaugural festivities this Sunday.

Bishop V. Gene Robinson, who advised Obama on gay rights issues during the campaign, is set to deliver the invocation at an event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial two days before the swearing-in ceremony, aides to Obama said Monday.

The decision comes in the wake of a controversy over Obama’s selection of Warren, the pastor of a California mega-church and an opponent of gay marriage. Many gay rights activists and other liberal interest groups were infuriated by the prominent role Obama has given to Warren, who last year supported California’s successful Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage.  Robinson has also become a well known figure around the world in the debate over gay rights. His consecration as a bishop six years ago set in motion a widening rift in the Anglican church.

When Warren was invited to pray at the Jan. 20 inauguration, Robinson called the decision a “slap in the face.” On Monday, though, Robinson lauded what he called Obama’s commitment to inclusiveness.

Filed under: Cultural Issues, Politics

The Disappointments of Facebook

I joined Facebook several months ago in the hope of connecting with friends that no longer live close by. That goal has been achieved. Facebook has allowed me to contact many friends I haven’t spoken with since High School. It has allowed me to interact with their lives through pictures and messages that otherwise I would never have done. Facebook is a brilliant tool for communication and the cultivation of friendships; especially across great distances. I enjoy many features of the site and only hope I will be a positive influence for the gospel in this small area of the Internet.

However, connecting with certain people through Facebook has also been a bit disappointing and discouraging. People that I attended High School with are no longer living the Christ centered life that I witnessed several years ago. It has been disappointing to me to see several people involved in things that simply dishonor the name of Christ and destroy a testimony that took years to build. I have seen pictures of people doing and participating in things that I would never have dreamed they would be involved in. Sadly, I see people wasting their lives on aimless pursuits and worldly pleasures that bring no lasting satisfaction and joy.

Filed under: Cultural Issues