I read every word. Thanks for saying what you said. There are not many in our culture that still see the evil and acknowledge the good. Were it not for our Redeemer, we should have blown our own brains out long ago. May God cause his face to shine upon you and give you peace.
Thank you for your words. I find myself at another crossroad in my own life and consider the effect of my words and actions on those around me. Images and what they mean to me continues to be a power that pulls me into sin. My own imperfections cause me at times to question my own ability to make any difference in those around me. Tomorrow I will be saying goodbye to friends and co-workers that I have been with for 4 years. Many of which I hired and trained myself. Now years later they have grown and either gone on to something more or are still there. I always tried to be a good influence in their lives in a place that was truly filled with the negative things in life.
Once I announced I was leaving many of the younger ones actually made references to me as a father figure for them. One actually said that no one would be around to look out for them. It actually almost makes me cry now thinking of them. I truly love those around me.
I can attest without doubt to the destructive power that images can have. Long and short term. The Lord has blessed me with a loving and gentle heart. People are at ease around me, and they welcome me. Even in circles where I do not partake of what is going on. I find myself unable to condemn anyone, even when I condemn what they do. I am known to be pretty nieve but in truth I just relate to people as I see what their heart is capable of.
The images of sex and violence that are scene can be haunting. Deep down we know how vile they are. And they really are. They are literaly like a disease.
I have lost track a bit but its late so I will conclude this.
Thank you for your words because they reminded me that people are affected by truth and love. I have made a difference, and I appriciate being reminded of that. Especially because there is still so much more to be done.
So shouldn't we endeavor all the more to be the Word? The box on the side of the road shouldn't be how any of our children learn about the things we are afraid to talk about. We need to give them healthy images. Practical knowledge. Not keep them in a shelter, hidden from the world and telling them not to look or touch, but rather telling them the truth about sex and sexuality. What it is and isn't. What to expect and appropriate actions. How to be safe? How not to hurt themselves or others? Ways of dealing with lust and avoiding the addiction of the eyes of lust just like ANY other addiction; through knowledge and moderation.
What they don't know, they can be exploited by. A child that knows about drugs can turn them down. A child that doesn't is still curious. Susceptible.
If we answer their questions with Truth. If we tell them the things they need to know in order to make an informed decision. If we remain mindful that we are ALWAYS setting an example. Then we have dissipated the power of the taboo and found the antidote for the addiction.
As for Westley Allen Dodd, let us hope that the children would have a choice as to whether they would see him or not. That they could choose whether to confront him about his deeds or never have to think about him again. I'd like to think that if there is an afterlife, that we would still be able to learn there. But if it was one of my children that he hurt, he would have been to that place long before the judge passed sentence.
Touch not the unclean thing. Yet, it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean, but what comes out of him. No contradiction. Complexity. You and I know this. Of course the plan you outline is the right way. But where does the world lie? In whose lap? And what is it that prowls up and down its paths, looking for whom it may devour? Little boys ride their bicycles and are snatched away by monsters. What lesson would have prevented this? We look to God to protect us, and sometimes he does. But we are not the authors of election.
Sometimes it's just too late. Or God does not choose in his will to intervene. There are factors other than education at work. Perhaps you remember a story about Eve?
Regarding Dodd and his victims, all good things must be true, of Heaven. Whatever is right, will be the case. But here, on earth, where justice is imperfect and repentance always only a theory, it is hard to reconcile forgiveness with our sense of what is balanced. To me, there is a part of Dodd's soul that will always be scarlet. Your theory about education doesn't help me, here. I have a Bible that tells me to forgive. The best I can do is believe that God forgives. My demand for justice must be more highly tuned, than his.
6 comments:
I read every word. Thanks for saying what you said. There are not many in our culture that still see the evil and acknowledge the good. Were it not for our Redeemer, we should have blown our own brains out long ago. May God cause his face to shine upon you and give you peace.
Thank you.
J
Thank you for your words. I find myself at another crossroad in my own life and consider the effect of my words and actions on those around me. Images and what they mean to me continues to be a power that pulls me into sin. My own imperfections cause me at times to question my own ability to make any difference in those around me. Tomorrow I will be saying goodbye to friends and co-workers that I have been with for 4 years. Many of which I hired and trained myself. Now years later they have grown and either gone on to something more or are still there. I always tried to be a good influence in their lives in a place that was truly filled with the negative things in life.
Once I announced I was leaving many of the younger ones actually made references to me as a father figure for them. One actually said that no one would be around to look out for them. It actually almost makes me cry now thinking of them. I truly love those around me.
I can attest without doubt to the destructive power that images can have. Long and short term. The Lord has blessed me with a loving and gentle heart. People are at ease around me, and they welcome me. Even in circles where I do not partake of what is going on. I find myself unable to condemn anyone, even when I condemn what they do. I am known to be pretty nieve but in truth I just relate to people as I see what their heart is capable of.
The images of sex and violence that are scene can be haunting. Deep down we know how vile they are. And they really are. They are literaly like a disease.
I have lost track a bit but its late so I will conclude this.
Thank you for your words because they reminded me that people are affected by truth and love. I have made a difference, and I appriciate being reminded of that. Especially because there is still so much more to be done.
God Bless you my friend.
-andy
Thank you. I wrote a long reply, but the computer lost it. What dark forces so conspire againt me?
J
So shouldn't we endeavor all the more to be the Word? The box on the side of the road shouldn't be how any of our children learn about the things we are afraid to talk about. We need to give them healthy images. Practical knowledge. Not keep them in a shelter, hidden from the world and telling them not to look or touch, but rather telling them the truth about sex and sexuality. What it is and isn't. What to expect and appropriate actions. How to be safe? How not to hurt themselves or others? Ways of dealing with lust and avoiding the addiction of the eyes of lust just like ANY other addiction; through knowledge and moderation.
What they don't know, they can be exploited by. A child that knows about drugs can turn them down. A child that doesn't is still curious. Susceptible.
If we answer their questions with Truth. If we tell them the things they need to know in order to make an informed decision. If we remain mindful that we are ALWAYS setting an example. Then we have dissipated the power of the taboo and found the antidote for the addiction.
As for Westley Allen Dodd, let us hope that the children would have a choice as to whether they would see him or not. That they could choose whether to confront him about his deeds or never have to think about him again. I'd like to think that if there is an afterlife, that we would still be able to learn there. But if it was one of my children that he hurt, he would have been to that place long before the judge passed sentence.
JT
Touch not the unclean thing. Yet, it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean, but what comes out of him. No contradiction. Complexity. You and I know this. Of course the plan you outline is the right way. But where does the world lie? In whose lap? And what is it that prowls up and down its paths, looking for whom it may devour? Little boys ride their bicycles and are snatched away by monsters. What lesson would have prevented this? We look to God to protect us, and sometimes he does. But we are not the authors of election.
Sometimes it's just too late. Or God does not choose in his will to intervene. There are factors other than education at work. Perhaps you remember a story about Eve?
Regarding Dodd and his victims, all good things must be true, of Heaven. Whatever is right, will be the case. But here, on earth, where justice is imperfect and repentance always only a theory, it is hard to reconcile forgiveness with our sense of what is balanced. To me, there is a part of Dodd's soul that will always be scarlet. Your theory about education doesn't help me, here. I have a Bible that tells me to forgive. The best I can do is believe that God forgives. My demand for justice must be more highly tuned, than his.
Or maybe I'm being ironic.
J
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