Volume 14 / Issue 55 / 2017
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EDITORIAL
To Start a Relationship with Jesus Christ Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish; but have eternal life.” John 3:16b Confess and leave your sin behind. Stop sinning. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 To continue growing in your relationship with Christ, fellowship with other believers, read the Bible and pray!
(L-R) Johnson, Patrick, Evelyn, and Kim
MOMS EDITORIAL STAFF Editor, MOMS Evelyn Damian Distribution Johnson Li Cover & Layout Patrick Tan Editorial Consultant Kimberly Snider
Thank you for your financial help! • • • • •
Kasibu Christian Felloswhip A/G Friends from Market-Market Daisy Callanta Fiel John Meria Teresa Yu-A/G Olongapo
May the Lord bless you! We need a little help from our friends...
More and more people are reading MOMS online. To reach more Filipinas, we want to advertise MOMS on Facebook. To do that, we need your prayers and financial help. To help support this project, send cash or check made payable to: Asia Pacific Media Ministries FAO MOMS. To make a direct deposit, use our BPI, C/A #2431-0042-27. All contributions are used entirely for the outreach of this publication. Thank you! Published quarterly by Asia Pacific Media Ministries. Unit 2608 Raffles Corporate Center, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City, Philippines. Telephone: 914-9767. E-mail: moms@apmedia.org. Reproduction of photos and articles is prohibited without permission. 2
MOMS MAGAZINE
From My Heart Dear Readers,
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hat does Christmas look like to you this year? Is it a season of plenty or are you experiencing tough times in your life? Whatever it may be, Christmas is a great reminder that we are not alone because Christ was born and He is mindful of us in good or bad times, and it is when we are experiencing darkness in our lives, that we see His light shining through, showing us a path for breakthroughs, giving us reason to rejoice for the season. I hope you will enjoy the articles in this issue. We have true stories of people who have seen the Light in their dark moments and we have included an article on how to create an advent wreath and how to start an advent tradition. Merry Christmas to all of you! Evelyn Damian, Editor
Table of Contents Editorial
From My Heart 3 Chika-Chika
Singing a New Song 4 Wise Choices
Leave the Past Behind 6 Make A Difference
Light Shining in the Darkness 8 Figuratively Speaking
Christmas Traditions for Your Family 12 Answers to Your Questions
Internet as Babysitter 14 3
CHIKA-CHIKA
Singing a NEW Song A life story from a former recording artist and radio personality— Maru Cepeda Javier by APMM Staff
“G
od loved me so much,” Maru Cepeda Javier told me, “that He healed me before I became a Christian. I hadn’t even surrendered my heart to God but He was already working in my life.” Maru Cepeda Javier is beloved by many of us for her music and radio shows produced in the Philippines in the 70’s and 80’s. She was a member of Papuri Singers, and host and producer for the award winning program Filipinana, and Inday Masaligan. Maru, her husband Art and her son, immigrated to the States in 1992. Now, she and Art have returned to the Philippines to live permanently.
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Although officially retired, Maru radiates energy and joy. Maru grew up in a loving, but non-religious family, in Bacolod, Negros. Church going was mostly limited to Holy Week or Christmas. When she graduated from high school she was diagnosed with a toxic goiter. She took medicine to curb the goiter, but the side effects were terrible; she lost weight, her eyesight deteriorated, and her eyes began to protrude. Finally, Maru told her father that she preferred to have surgery than take the medication. On the day that she was preparing for surgery, her father had a fatal heart attack. So of course, the surgery was cancelled. Two weeks later, Maru was in mourning, and was worried about her health and the canceled surgery. Her half sister invited her to church
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and promised to pray for her there. Maru, dressed in black, attended a sing-a-long at her sister’s church. Hoping to learn some new songs, Maru brought her tape recorder and her guitar along. The first song that was sung was one that began “Nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God…” Maru liked the song so much she recorded it. “I didn’t know how to pray yet, but I just said to God, ‘If nothing is impossible with you, take away my goiter please.’” After the sing-a-long, Maru went home Maru as host of Inday Masaligan to her sister’s place. The next morning, she played her new song over and over. She kept repeating “Nothing is impossible with you I know, I know, I know you are God.” For three days Maru prayed, and then she said she heard a voice. “God said, ‘You have no more goiter. You have no more goiter. You have no more goiter.’ He said it three times.” From that time on, she never had any more symptoms. That was the night she became born-again. Maru said she had a total change in her thinking, her attitude, and her lifestyle after conversion. She began to ask herself how she was going to serve God. She said, “It started with singing. God is so amazing! He spoke to me first through a song because He knows I love to sing. So I started singing for Him and the next steps were the radio programs.” “I have served Jesus for 46 years. There are times I get tired, especially when fellow Christians disappoint me. Sometimes God speaks to me and says, ‘Well, you see it differently from them.’ So I say, ‘Lord, you can see what is in me, you can see in that person, too, I put everything in your hands, so you change the person. Or you can change me so we can both focus on Jesus.’ Whatever I do in the end I have to honor God. If God is honored I know I am doing it the right way.” I asked Maru, what were her plans for the next season of her life. She said, “My ultimate goal in life is to be like Jesus. He is the center of everything I do.” Listen to songs from Maru’s album Nagmamahal at www.apmedia.ph/moms.
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WISE CHOICES
Leave the Past Behind… by Rosanna Ruano
Have you ever wished you could start your life over again and become the person you dream you could be?
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come from a poor family. I finished a secretarial course at Philippine Women’s University in Manila and then I worked at Philippine Airlines. Later, I decided to work abroad. Somehow as I pursued my career, I lost sight of everything I had wanted to become. This world offers many things that are good and other things that are evil. Our choices can either lead us to the right or wrong way. I chose the wrong way.
Rosanna Ruano
“I indulged in all kinds of vices, and sinful relationships. Nasa early 20’s ako at that time but I had no regard for the future. I practiced bad habits until I almost died. Dun ko naisip lahat-lahat ng ginawa ko and I felt so ashamed. Realization slowly sunk in. I was living in the muddiest of mud, an open hell, total darkness… This was not the life I dreamed about. I used to be the apple of my father’s eyes, the inspiration of my siblings, and I had hoped to help them. I asked myself, how did I get this way? After a long, thorough self-evaluation, iba na ‘yung naging perspective ko. Nag-abroad ako at tinupad ko ‘yung dream ko na matulungan ang mga kapatid ko na makapag-aral sa abot ng kakayanan ko at nakapagtapos naman sila. I was happy but still there was a longing in my heart that I couldn’t figure out kung ano. Marami pa’ng nangyari sa akin na mas malala pa sa una. I was into drugs na rin. I came to the point where I was sick and tired of what was happening to me. I decided na umuwi sa amin sa Olongapo City. ‘Yung parents ko at mga kapatid, except dun sa isa, were already Christians. They shared the Gospel with me pero hindi naman nila ako pinipilit. Dumating ‘yung time na may hinahanap na ako. One Sunday, nagpaluto ang nanay ko ng baon nila sa church. Paghatid ko ng food, papaakyat pa lang ako sa church, naririnig ko na ‘yung kanta, “God will make a way…” The song hit me like a two-edged sword. I knew that very moment that amazing things were bound to happen to me and I started going to church. However, after 4 years pa, bago ako nagseryoso kay Lord. I realized na ang haba na pala ng ibinigay ni Lord na chance sa akin. Lahat pala ng 6
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season sa life ko, nandoon Siya. Grabe ang hunger ko sa Word of God. ‘Yun pala ang longing sa puso ko. After that, things started to fall into place. Noong time na ‘yun, hindi na ako gumagamit ng drugs, pero tuloy pa rin ako sa pagsisigarilyo at pag-inom. Hindi madali mag-alis ng bisyo. Ang cigarettes ko, 3 packs a day, tapos ang drinking habit ko, dapat sa gabi, meron at meron. So hindi ganoon kadali. Nag-pray talaga ako. Sinabi ko mag-i-stop ako in 10 days. So my plan was to smoke 10 cigarettes sa 10th day, 9 cigarettes sa 9th day hanggang umabot ako sa 4 days and 4 cigarettes. Nung ika-3rd na, hindi na ako nagsmoke. Pakiramdam ko ang kapal-kapal na ng dila ko, amoy pa lang ng sigarilyo, nahihilo na ako. Hindi na rin ako uminom dun sa 10 days na ‘yun. Although I stopped smoking and drinking, the vices had taken their toll on my body. In time, I got sick. After ng two years na gamutan, sabi ng doctor magpa-general check up ako. Nag-pray ako, sabi ko, ‘Lord, Ikaw na ang bahala. Kapag nagkasakit ulit ako, hindi ko na maipagpapatuloy lahat ng work I had been doing at church dahil gastos din at pabalik-balik sa doktor.’ Noong lumabas ‘yung results ng general check up ko, negative lahat! Miracle ‘yun kasi sa dami ng bisyo at gamot na na-take ko, expected ko na magkakaroon ‘yun ng mga side effects. Tuloy-tuloy na ako sa pag-help sa church. Eventually, I went to Berean School of Ministry in Roxas City and pioneered a church in Mambusao, Capiz. I am currently working on the pastoral staff at Destiny City Church and as the Dorm Dean of Berean Students. I have total freedom, peace na walang kapantay, so much happiness at kahit may problema, smile lang, because I know the God who chose me is the same God who will sustain me and make me to be the kind of person I dreamed about being.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The story of Medy Mortell as told to Evelyn Damian
Medy Mortell is presently undergoing a new challenge as she anticipates chemotherapy. But, Medy faces each day with confident faith, because she has seen God do so many things in her life. Here is the story of how she came to know the Lord, and how God lets His light shine into her heart during her darkest moments.
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fter graduating from college, Medy was hired as a bookkeeper at SCR Marketing and Advertising Corporation. She was fun, honest, and hard-working. Eventually, Medy was promoted to her current position as a manager. When Medy was new at the company, her boss hosted a weekly Bible study during work hours. Medy attended. She was curious and asked a lot of questions. She was amazed that the Pastor always used the Bible to answer her questions. Deep inside her heart, she believed what the Bible said, but Medy was also passionate about her own religion, “In my mind, they were introducing another religion and salvation (from the fires of hell) seemed too easy. Ang kailangan ko 8
lang gawin is to pray the sinner’s prayer and then I’ll go to heaven na, parang unbelievable!” Even though she had doubts about the new things she was learning, Medy continued to attend the Bible study, “Dumating ‘yung time na tinanong ko ‘yung pastor, ‘Is it okay, Pastor, if I will accept your formula of salvation but I’ll still go to my church?’ Sabi niya, ‘Okay.’ So basta kilala ko na si Jesus pero ‘yung relationship, wala. I accepted Christ for practical reasons, not out of conviction." “It took 7 years before I fully committed my life to Christ. By that time, I was married and had a daughter, Marean Shella. Gilbert, my husband, was always on provincial assignments. Hindi pa siya Christian noon. Kapag umuuwi siya, doon kami nagpupunta sa old traditional church." “When the Pastor who was teaching the Bible studies went abroad, bumalik ako sa dati kong religion pero hindi na ako comfortable. Sabi ko, bakit ganito, iba-iba ang sinasabi kaysa sa Bible. So I prayed, ‘Lord, I don’t want to go back to that old faith. Sana may church na walking
Medy with her family during a holiday.
distance sa amin kasi maliit pa si Marean Shella, mahirap kapag malayo.’ Tapos pagdaan ko dun sa street na malapit sa amin, nakita ko may naglalagay ng signage ng church, “Bible Study, Sunday Services and Midweek.” Naginquire ako about their church at nag-start na ako doon mag-attend ng services. That was the first time I experienced that the Lord really answers prayers. The pastor there really helped me practice my faith. “Kung minsan, niyayaya ko si Gilbert sa church pero ayaw niya. Whenever he was home, our pastor would visit him pero tinatakasan niya so continuous pa rin ako sa prayer for him to join me at church. Tapos, na-overdose siya ng steroid dahil nagkasakit siya ng psoriasis. ‘Yung mother-in-law ko, dinala siya kung saan-saang faith healer. Ayaw naman ni Gilbert na hindi ako kasama so wala akong magawa. May faith healer na nag-opera daw sa kanya pero wala namang nangyari; merong kahit ginaw na ginaw na si Gilbert, ipinalubog pa siya sa sapa so lalo siyang lumala at na-infection. Iba-ibang faith healers hanggang one time, kailangan daw siyang i-confine. So noong 2 days na si Gilbert dun sa faith healer, sabi ko sa kanya, “Ako,
“Kung minsan, niyayaya ko si Gilbert sa church pero ayaw niya. Whenever he was home, our pastor would visit him pero tinatakasan niya so continuous pa rin ako sa prayer for him to join me at church.
Continued on next page.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Continued from previous page
uuwi na at hindi na kita dadalawin kasi magaaway lang kami ni Mommy. Ngayon, kung nandiyan ang pananampalataya mo, iiwan kita. Basta ako, uuwi na ako. Kung kailan mo gusto umuwi, umuwi ka.” Sabi ni Gilbert, “Sasama na ako sa ‘yo.” ‘Yung mommy nya ang daming biniling langis, kung anu-anong mga dahon, may mga twigs na panglaga, etc. Pagdating sa bahay, itinapon ko lahat ‘yun. May nagsumbong sa Mommy ni Gilbert and a misunderstanding arose between me and my in-laws. Walang dumalaw sa kanila kay Gilbert after that. Sobrang na-infect ang psoriasis ni Gilbert dahil sa mga ipinahid at ginawa sa kanya ng mga faith healer. A doctor friend we consulted treated Gilbert’s skin condition. Kinailangang three times a day siya pinapaliguan. ‘Yung mga men sa church ang tumulong mag-alaga kay Gilbert. Pumupunta sila sa bahay at sila ang nagpapaligo sa kanya. Umaga’t hapon naman na pinupuntahan siya ng aming pastor at ipinapag-pray.
ko, “Lord, hindi ko po alam ang ibig sabihin nung driver…pero ako, bilang anak mo, Ikaw ang Creator. I offer Gilbert’s whole body to you. Kung pagagalingin mo siya, do it now, Lord. Kung hindi naman, kunin Mo na po siya. Hirap na hirap po akong makita siya araw-gabi na ganoon. After ng prayer na ‘yun, nagkaroon na ako ng peace of mind. Nawala na ‘yung worries ko. Dati sa office, ayokong naririnig ang phone kasi isa dun ang kasambahay ko at naririndi ako sa sinasabi niya. Thankfully, naka-recover si Gilbert. ‘Nung maka-recover na si Gilbert, sumama siya sa church at nag-respond sa altar call. Sabi niya, iba daw pala talaga ang nakay-Lord ka. Before pa na-overdose si Gilbert ng steroids, we had been praying for another child. When Gilbert got well, I got pregnant. I was worried kasi baka may side effect sa baby ’yung mga naging medication ni Gilbert, but I gave birth to a healthy baby naman, si Sarah Lei.
Photo by Alvin Abad
Recently, nagka-problema ako sa kidney at tinanggal na ‘yung left kidney ko. Actually, in 2015, may nakita ng bukol sa left kidney One time na kinumusta si Gilbert ng ko sa ultrasound, pero noong nagpa-CT scan driver ng boss namin, sinabihan niya ako, ako, no evidence daw ng bukol kaya tumigil “Ibalik mo na sa Lord ‘yan!” Nawalan ako na ako sa pagpapa-check-up. Two years latng peace of mind, kapag kasi ganun ang er, nagkaroon ako ng chronic UTI and then sinabi, ibig sabihin, wala nang pag-asa. Pagsa CT Scan, lumabas ulit ‘yung bukol sa left kidney ko and nodules sa lungs. Kasalanan uwi, nagmuni-muni ako tapos nag-pray. Sabi ko rin na hindi ako nag-seek ng second opinion noon kaya ngayEvelyn interviews Medy. on ang dami kong pinagdadaanan. Merong ultrasound, CT-Scan, PEP-Scan. Ang hirap pero I still see God in my situation. Siya talaga ang nakakaalam ng lahat. Ang doctors kasi limitado lang ang kaya nilang gawin. Six months na akong ganito, nagda-dialysis twice a week. Soon mag-i-start na rin ang chemo
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gagawin, kapag hindi, ako na ang gagawa. I’m learning to be patient.
Medy with husband Gilbert
treatment ko. Nakakapagod din. One time, bumigay ako, umiyak. I remember na after that, nabasa ko ‘yung Philippians 1:29, “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” Sa situation ko ngayon, marami kaming natututunan ni Gilbert, pati sa pagpra-pray, tinuturuan kami ni Lord. Nadi-discover namin how the Lord talks to us, how He wants us to pray. Kapag nagbabasa ka ng Bible, maraming inire-reveal sa’yo si Lord through His Word. Ako talaga, I hate waiting. Nakikita ko idine-develop ni Lord sa akin ang patience at perseverance. Alam mo na, kapag manager ka ng company, gusto mo kung may ipinapagawa ka, agad-agad
“Tinuturuan din ako ni Lord maging thankful. Sa situation ko ngayon, it is so hard to thank God. Wala akong gana kumain, wala akong panglasa, pero itinuro ng Lord kung paano ko Siya pasasalamatan. I was reminded that God gave me 5 senses- ‘yung sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. How did God bless me with my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my nose, my hands before I got sick? Sabi ko, ‘Lord, thank You for the eyes You have given me, kasi You brought me to so many places to see some of Your creations, for being able to observe other cultures, their habits, their way of living, etc. Lord, thank You for the sense of touch. I can feel the hugs of my loved ones. Thank You, Lord, sa mga kamay ko, nakakamayan ko at nahahawakan ‘yung mga kumakamay at humahawak din sa akin, nararamdaman ko ‘yung touch ng asawa at mga anak ko, mga clients ko. Lord, wala po akong sense of taste ngayon, walang appetite but I will look back on how You gave me the kind of appetite for everything that I enjoyed eating in the past. Bago nawala ‘yung appetite ko, na-enjoy ko na ‘yung mga ‘yun. Tapos, sense of hearing, narinig ko ang Salita Mo kaya nabuo ang pananampalataya ko sa Iyo. Kung wala ‘yun, mahirap ang sign language. ‘Yung sense of smell, naalala ko, gustong-gusto ko noong bata pa ako ‘yung simoy ng hangin sa probinsiya. “Sa mga dark moments tulad noong nagkasakit si Gilbert at sa pagkakasakit ko, ang Word of God ang nagsisilbing ilaw ko. Nararamdaman ko na sa lahat ng mga trials ko sa life, hindi ako nag-iisa. Kasama ko si Lord.” 11
WISE CHOICES
Christmas Traditions for Your Family by Kim Snider
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any parents think the Christmas season has become too commercial. All of us hope each child will be happy at Christmas, but we parents should help children understand the real meaning of Christmas. One fun way to do this is to make and use an Advent wreath. An Advent wreath is made from 4 candles, placed in a ring of wire covered by greenery. The light of the candles represents the light of Christ, coming into the world at Christmas. The word “Advent” means “coming.” The Advent wreath reminds us of Christ coming as a baby to Bethlehem, Christ’s presence daily in our hearts, and Christ’s coming at the end of time. The advent season begins 4 Sundays before Dec. 25. Make Advent Wreath Make or buy a wire ring about the size of a dinner plate. Weave greenery into the ring. Find 3 purple, 1 rose, and 1 white candle. Place the colored candles into the frame and put the white one in the middle.Use candleholders so that the greenery cannot catch fire. Use Advent Wreath 1. On the 1st Sunday of Advent: light one purple candle. This is called the “Hope Candle.” Read Isaiah 61:12 and talk to your family about the hope Jesus brings to the world. 12
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, [Jesus] for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. (Isaiah 61:1-2 NLT) 2. On the 2nd Sunday of Advent: light the first candle and another purple one. This 2nd candle is called the “Preparation Candle.” Read Isaiah 11:2-5 and talk to your family about what Jesus’ character is like. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. (Isaiah 11:2-5 NLT) 3. On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, light the first two purple candles and the rose pink candle. This is the “Joy Candle.” Read Zephaniah 3:17. Pray with your family that Christ will be at home in their hearts, and that His presence will be in your home. Explain that some day, Christ will return and reign over the whole world.
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For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT) 4. On the 4th Sunday of Advent, light all of the candles except for the white one. The last purple candle is called the “Love Candle.” Let each family member describe what Jesus means to them personally. Read the scripture Luke 2:8-13. That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly
in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 8 -12 NLT) Advent comes to an end on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, light the white candle. This candle is called the “Christ Candle.” Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. He is the light that comes into a dark and dying world. Those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow. Read the Scripture John 3:16. Invite all your family members to pray and ask Jesus to forgive them and be their Savior. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NLT) Advent may end when Christmas begins, but we should live every day in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.
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Just Asking with Peter Banzon
Q: A:
The world has changed so much. When I talk to my teenagers about moral standards based on the Bible, they tell me life is different now. Are the Bible’s moral standards still relevant today?
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ne of the things you need to tell your teenagers is that moral standards based on the Bible are God’s moral standards. Because they are God’s standards, they are relevant for all time. Times may have changed but God is still God.
God gave His laws for our benefit, not His. When we obey them, we live good productive lives. But those who disregard them experience many hurtful and tragic consequences. The Ten Commandments are the basis of civilized society. The tenth commandment says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17) How many crimes, thefts, conflicts, and wars have occurred because of failure to obey this moral standard? How many marriages and relationships have ended because of coveting what you do not have? The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor...” Disregarding God’s standards of sexual immorality has resulted in teenage pregnancy, rape, sexually transmitted diseases and the spread of HIV. If your teenagers disregard God’s moral standards found in the Bible, they do so to their own harm. Biblical moral standards are relevant for this present generation and every generation until the end of time. 14
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