It’s Time
January 20, 2010 by Pastor Allen
Filed under Archived Blog
As a part of any new beginning, one of our priorities is to kick bad habits and destructive behaviors. Be it smoking, eating or the like, we all generally have something we want to gain victory over. It is no secret that the rage of online pornography has gripped our society with a death grip. It is destroying marriages, future marriages, and the innocence of our young people.
Listen to these statistics:
- 43% of all internet users view pornographic material
- “sex” and “porn” are among the top 5 search terms for kids under 18
- only 3% of adult web sites require age verification
- 61% of parents check browser history, but only 32% use parental control software. Chances are your kid can delete browser history. (SafeEyes)
- Over 1/2 of divorces mention online pornography as a cause. (SafeEyes)
These were numbers I pulled from two credible sources in less than 5 minutes. In the last few weeks I have heard of former UN officials being busted in sex stings, a University of Florida staff member being charged for child pornography, and even a PA sheriff accessing pornography from his work computer. Sure, these are all people far away from us, and you’re family is probably different…No, not at all! It’s present in our families, our church, and our community.
Over the last several months I have been promoting an internet filtering software called SafeEyes. It is an annual subscription that offers a variety of filters and protections for your family’s internet usage. If you download it from the company’s site it is just $49.95 per year and is permitted for up to 3 computers. If you use the following coupon code (“tweet10”) you can receive 20% off. This is certainly worth purity of your family.
This program will allow you to:
- Filter unwanted material from your computer and searches
- Monitor the activity and usage of those in your household
- Block certain users from certain programs
- Establish usage restrictions and time limits
- And, much more
It’s not to late to get your family on the right track. Let’s take this issue seriously. It is affecting our families, our church, and our community.
If you would like more information, feel free to contact me.
How Hungry Are You?
December 15, 2009 by Pastor Allen
Filed under Archived Blog
Let us not forget…the sleepless nights, deafening cries, and constant diaper changes. What would parenting be without these?!
Though it is fairly early in 2010 and in my parenting role, I am already feeling a great stirring in my heart and life. At a time when the newness of a year and the freshness of life is so tangible, I guess I anticipated more changes in my life and the lives of God’s people. Maybe it’s just me and my heightened sense of the brevity of life at the moment, but I wonder when will we, as God’s people, begin to take our walk with Him seriously.
Granted, Addison has only been with us for a few weeks, but we’ve already made some profound observations about babies:
- They cry when they’re hungry, dirty, or neither of the two.
- Milk is important!!!
- Sleep is a priority!!!
- They make a mess, both of themselves and our hearts!
As eager parents, Julie and I have unsuccessfully tried to interrupt sleep in order to get Addison to eat. (Note the word “unsuccessfully”) Despite our desire to feed her for growth, Addison feels her sleep is more important than her milk, which is opposite of our desires. However, when the pain of her personal hunger has exceeded her need for sleep, she successfully feeds her growth.
Personal hunger is the greatest catalyst for spirituality. Despite the numerous attempts of those who desire your personal spiritual growth, nothing fuels your spiritual growth like your hunger for God. I can want it for you. I can attempt to awaken you for it. But it is obtained when you awaken hungry for it yourself.
Jesus has said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matt. 5:6)
Response
How hungry are you? Is your hunger great enough to wake you from your sleep to pursue spiritual growth?
I Thought I Had Learned That Already
December 8, 2009 by Pastor Allen
Filed under Archived Blog
Aloha,
allen
Thoughts
While I was in college I had a very real encounter with the power of stereotypes and stigmas. After picking up the paper and reading of a mother whose baby had been bitten by a rat during the night, I was infuriated. Without knowing the individual’s financial struggles or physical and socio-economic restrictions, I foolishly categorized her in the worst of parental categories and decency of life.
It wasn’t until I was assigned Jonathan Kazol’s book Amazing Grace, that I began to understand the dynamics of life that I had been sheltered from. People really do go hungry. They really do want to work and will work, but can’t find jobs. These were realities I had not fully considered when it came to the newspaper article.
That was 10 years ago. Recently, I have encountered someone that has challenged my thinking again. Let’s just say that their punctuality wasn’t the greatest and the integrity to their word, as far as timeliness, has been broken on several occasions. In my mind I had written them off from any future dealings.
However, as they completed their project, information surfaced that made me feel like an inconsiderate idiot. The horror of their physical and verbal abuse began to surface. The nights they had spent on the run for their own safety. The fear they had that they would be found. I melted. I had written an entire list of preconceived ideas without ever pausing to consider the external issues the individual was facing.
In Matthew 7 Jesus instructs us to be careful about establishing judgments about someone else. The Amplified version translates it like this:
DO NOT judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. (Matt. 7:1-2)
It was a lesson I have heard, preached, and learned (so I thought). But it was one that I had forgotten to practice. Even though you may have learned it too, don’t forget to practice it today.
Application
Have you ever learned a lesson that you forgot to practice?
When have you past a critical judgment on someone without knowing their entire situation?
Is there someone in your life that perhaps you need to get to know more so that you can better understand their story?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. How foolish I have been to pass judgment on someone that I knew nothing about. I thought I had learned my lesson before, but You have shown me just how far I have to go. Please continue to refine me through these valuable lessons. Along the way, I ask for Your grace and mercy so that others are not hurt by my foolishness.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.