8 minute read
Porn for my Pastor? Cont. on
Porn for my Pastor? Cont. from Page 3
show that promiscuity with “anonymous” porn fantasy figures outside of marriage is widely permissible and acceptable.
Advertisement
(1) 47% of families in the United States reported that pornography is a problem in their home.
(2) Pornography increases the marital infidelity rate (cheating on your spouse) by more than 300%
(3) 56% of American divorces involve one party having an “obsessive interest” in pornographic websites.
DO CHRISTIANS & PASTORS WATCH PORNOGRAPHY AT ABOUT THE SAME RATE AS THE SECULAR POPULATION? Do church pastors, ministers, and preachers, as well as their strict church-attending Christians, all watch pornography at about the same frequency as the rest of the secular U. S. population?
Surprising to most, the answer is that BOTH devout Christians and pastors combined . . . all seek and watch pornography at about the same frequency (and addiction level) as the rest of the U. S. secular population.
As Christian surveys show: “Not only has pornography invaded the churches, but statistics clearly show that: Christians engage in viewing pornography at almost the samerates as the rest of the secular population.”
According to one mainstream nondenominational Christian website: “One of the most difficult parts of the Christian life is the fact that becoming a disciple of Christ does not make us immune to life’s trials and tribulations, such as the death of a child, cancer, mental illness, financial hardships, work stress, marital problems, or various carnal addictions such as pornography.”
Chuckles Continued from Page 2
to pour a wine glass full of wine. He began to leave but not before holding out his hand, into which I put a dollar tip.
In what seemed like merely a few seconds later he returned. "Are Madame and the Gentlemen ready to order?"
I ordered Fillet of Harrow in Strumpet Sauce, or something similar. I don't remember what SWMBO ordered as I was too busy fishing in my pocket for a dollar tip to lay in our waiter's hand as he was getting impatient.
Our waiter then advised us that he was not, unlike the other waiters on staff, Hispanic, but was Persian (which is known today as Iranian). He then proceeded to outline all of the current problems in Iran, Iraq, the formation of Kurdistan, and that he was a refugee from Iran because he had been involved in politics, and on and on. Meanwhile, our plates were getting cold. I slipped him a two dollar tip and began to eat.
As we left the restaurant and walked back to our room a young man asked me if I wanted a shoe shine. Of all the great temptations of the world: Lust for Power. Worship of wealth. And The Temptations of the Flesh – the 3rd vice, ostensibly, seems the mightiest of all.
Not all mortals seek Lust for Power. Not everyone necessitates Great Wealth as a requirement for their happiness. Yet all mortals are of the flesh, and carnal lust is an inseparable biological power.
“Lust for Carnal Pleasure” is among the highest standards imposed by the Christian Bible. It is the ostensible “ultimate challenge” to mortal beings, as the gauntlet is thrown down in Biblical Scripture:
“But I say unto you, That whoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)
“DO NOT LET PORN STATISTICS OVERWHELM YOU!” SERMONS NOW CONFRONT PORN & OFFER INTERVENTION. To the great credit of U. S. pastors and Christian churches around the nation, they have not succumbed to any fear, embarrassment, shame, or the stigma that silences weaker souls into submissive silence regarding pornography.
According to worldwide publication Mission Frontiers, covering over 160 countries:
at which time I laid a dollar tip in his outstretched paw.
The next morning we took the hotel bus to the terminal, enjoying the free ride, giving the driver two dollars as a tip for loading 2.5 pieces of luggage.
I bade SWMBO farewell, gave her a hug, a wee farewell kiss, and gave her a dollar tip. I think by now it was force of habit.
I returned to hotel and checked out. Upon checking out I examined my bill. There were five phone calls I had made, collect, to my businesses. The hotel had charged me $0.75 "access charge" for each call. Steam began to come out of my ears. Nonetheless, being the suave and sophisticated world traveler that I am I signed for the bill, and laid a dollar tip in the outstretched paw of the cashier.
The valet brought me my car, naturally I put a dollar in his paw as he bade me "tu tiene muy bien dia". (Have a nice day).
I had a large bag of sunflower seeds that I had intended on eating while driving home to San Diego. They had been stolen. I was upset at having to pay $18 for valet parking and then being ripped off for a lousy bag of sunflower seeds. But, as there was no one to give a dollar tip to, I simply came home. I thought I had shaken off the effects of life in the big city but then the mailman came. You guessed it. As he was leaving I laid a dollar tip in his hand. He looked at me kinda funny but I couldn't help but notice that he didn't give the dollar back.
Five weeks to go before I get Mary back. Think I'll send a limousine to LA to pick her up. It's probably cheaper.
•••• The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us.
I'm responsible for what I say, not what you understand. Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it the most never use it.
My tolerance for idiots is extremely low these days. I used to have some immunity built up, but obviously there's a new strain out there.
It's not my age that bothers me; it's the side effects.
As I watch this generation try to rewrite our history, one thing I'm sure of: it will be misspelled and have no punctuation.
“These pornography statistics can be overwhelming. The fact that pornography has such a tight grip on our society does not mean the Church is helpless to fight against it. Instead, Christian leaders must stand up and lead their churches through the battle.” (https://www.missionfrontiers.org-- pornography-and-thechurch.)
The Barna Christian study (previously cited) revealed that 93% of pastors see porn as an increasing problem in the church, but only 7% have any specific tailored plan to openly deal with it.
However, by bringing the taboo problem out from the shadows and openly confronting the issue in wideopen sermons from the pulpit, church-goers will have a greater understanding of any “hidden, shameful pain” and, instead, will not just pay “lip service” but “internalize” and “live” the Scriptural credo: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are made possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
It bears repeating: Statistically, most Christians have initially (denied) their regular viewing of porn, even to their closest friends and/or pastors. The stigma and shame which often goes along with it can conquer and silence even the heartiest of souls.
“A POWERFUL WEAPON AGAINST PORNOGRAPHY.” One powerful method which has already helped hundreds of thousands of Christians is “The Conquer Series,” a powerful, Bible-based 10week cinematic study that was created specifically to help Christians break free from pornography addiction, along with the power of prayer.
If Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Smoking Cessation Programmes, Anger Management, and Mental Health Therapy, can all be used with great success, so also has such Christian progammes as “The Conquer Series” been successful.
Pastors, ministers, and preachers may wish to seek more information to see if this programme is right for you and your church. (SoulRefiner.com)
Me, sobbing: "I'm not coming back here anymore ... I'm not going to let you hurt me again.” My trainer: "It was just one sit-up."
As I've gotten older, people think I've become lazy. The truth is I'm just being more energy efficient. I haven't gotten anything done today. I've been in the produce department trying to open this stupid plastic bag.
If you find yourself feeling useless, remember it took 20 years, trillions of dollars, and four U.S. presidents to replace the Taliban with the Taliban.
Turns out that being a "senior" is mostly just googling how to do stuff.
I want to be 18 again and ruin my life differently; I have new ideas.
God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the world. Then he made the earth round...and laughed and laughed and laughed.
I'm on two diets. I wasn't getting enough food on one.
I put my scale in the bathroom corner and that's where the little liar will stay until it apologizes.
My mind is like an internet browser. At least 19 open tabs, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no clue where the music is coming from.
Hard to believe I once had a phone attached to a wall, and when it rang, I picked it up without knowing who was calling. Apparently, RSVP-ing to a wedding invitation "Maybe next time" isn't the correct response.
PASTORS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE “STORMS OF LIFE.” THEY ALSO NEED LOVE, UNDERSTANDING & PRAYERS. If one is to subscribe to Biblical Scripture, then one must accept what is found in Romans 3:23 “For we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Reality Check: Pastors and men of the cloth are also human. They are not immune to stress, anger, marital
