We live in the days of mass advertising, entertainment, and the internet. Sexual images and information saturate every form of media. While it’s good to shield kids where we can, we can’t nurture some “Little House on the Prairie”-type fantasy that they won’t be exposed to them.
We’ve been handed a problem and we’ve been unknowingly contributing to it. For far too long the church has been precluded from the cultural narratives of sexuality. Our near-fatal mistake has been that our only message on the topic is, “No! Don’t be led by evil desires.” As pornography, casual sex, and the introduction of media began to shape culture, we were shaped by fear and lack of understanding. Now we are facing the consequences of our fear-based response.
You’re sitting in a new small group circle when you look across and see an attractive woman. You notice her hair, her posture, her demeanor and then suddenly there’s the pull. No one else takes your attention, but you feel from deep within this drawing. There’s a stirring inside. You quickly look away. What is going on? Are you having an experience of same sex attraction? Could it be that you are really a lesbian after all?
Out of the 7+ billion people in the world, picking 1 to spend the rest of your life with can feel like a really daunting decision to make. I totally get how confusing it can be trying to navigate through dating and relationships in search of finding that one person you want to spend the rest of your life with. So how do you know when you’ve found someone worth holding on to?
Pornography is a serial killer! It violates your soul, destroys your relationships, and derails your future. Many people who are stuck in porn (and other secret sin) don’t realize the painful effect that it has on their family and children. In 1 Corinthians 7:14, the Bible says that one believing parent sanctifies the home. This truth can work the other way around and a parent can open the door to demonic activity for their whole family.
Great dating ideas don't always turn out to be the best in real life. Although we'd all like our dates to be straight out of the movies, real life sometimes makes them awkward and more like comedies. In an attempt to help you feel better about your life and ease some of the pressure of going on perfect dates - our team wanted to share with you some of our "best" experiences in dating. Enjoy!
Most people believe that trafficking only affects children. I get it. We picture young, impressionable kids easily coerced or kidnapped by adults. But what do you think happens when someone turns 18? Are those young people not targeted? Do traffickers kick them out on their 18th birthday? I heard one survivor leader say, “trafficking children grow up to be trafficked adults.”
I’m well aware that counseling — specifically marriage counseling — often gets seen as a last resort. We think about marriage counseling when there are major issues like abuse, addictions, abandonment, or infidelity. But what if I told you we needed to start considering counseling 10 steps before those things ever happen?
Let’s be honest, the normal date routine of dinner and a movie can get pretty stale. And whether you’re married with a couple of kids under your belt or college students on your third month of dating... dreaming up ideas to spice it up can be difficult. We get it. So, get out your notebooks and start jotting down these creative, inexpensive ideas to upgrade your date night!
Most of us don’t want to continue living with unhealthy and detrimental bad habits. We want to change, but are we focused on the wrong things? Do we really have a plan to able to continue the change we’re looking for?