Journal 8/18

Many think I have a sexual problem but yet every man tells me that it is only by the grace of God that they are not sitting where I am. Many things make up my fall. Though I do not seek to excuse my actions I only desire to explain them and help others from suffering my consequences. 1) Now walking in the Lord and being apart from Christ ruins and losses the soul to the lying pleasures of this world. We were meant to seek pleasures and if not found in Christ it will be found and rest in the world- but the latter leads to destruction. 2) if not abiding in Christ then your home does not abide in Him either and a man who is not happy in his home will not be faithful to it either in time, attention, or with his partner. lastly, this prepares his way to destruction and since he is the figurehead of the family- they will fall with him and he brings difficulty to them as well. But there is hope for this man because God is a faithful God and those who repent will be forgiven and will find help in this time of great need. Help to be courageous to endure what consequences that come, help to restore, in Christ, what was lost, and redemption and a new heart to live by. God has a hold of a truly repentant man even though those close to him doubt. The fruit of repentance will be seen over time and much Glory will be given to God for his mighty work that He has done thorugh this wretched sinner.

The worst affect of my sin:

The greatest affect of my sin and the horrible condition that it causes is the disgust that it has bred in the broken image of the gospel which it has communicated to the public. I have tainted a poor view of Christianity this is the greatest offense and perpetration that I have allowed and caused- the gospel to be disgraced. This causes a deep hate for my sin. Though my wife, sweet and precious to me and gift from God, fades in comparison to the preciousness of the gospel. My gravest sin is the denial of the gospel and the spreading of false teaching with my actions. But the gates of hell will not prevail and no man can destroy the gospel. God, after I have been humbled, will honor himself in me once again.

July 31, 2010

There is much danger in not repenting. The fury of God is against those who have committed offense against his Holy way. No earthly punishment is greater than the fierce fury of the Almighty God. Man may seem dangerous but God is greater still. But for the man who repents, he becomes a friend of the Most High. His mercy and grace will deliver you safe. With man it might not be so. Man seems to want more from the one who repents. Man wants to hurt, punish, and make he who repents feel the pain. But all that God desires is a broken and contrite heart and when one repents God forgives, and makes righteous through the work that Christ did on the cross. O sinner do not give weight to the impressions or opinions of men but plead to the father and experience the gift of repentance. O man do you rock? Do you cast that first stone upon the sin of others. Are not we all sinners in need of grace. Be broken and contrite and God the Most High will save you and sanctify you!

Google your name. When you do you may see your social networking, organizations you are involved with, or the company with which you are employed. However, when some of you Google your name you may find something else- something you may wish would never be published for the world to see- your sin.

It is quite humiliating when you know that if your friends, family, or strangers can Google your name and find posts and pages of your sin which you have committed. People thrive upon the fall of man; its juicy, it lends itself to gossip, it encourages others to be more prideful because as least they are not as bad as this guy. In this there is a temptation to get defensive, become angry or hostile towards others opinions as they leave comments about how horrible the act that you have committed on these posts or pages that expose your sinfulness. But I would encourage that there is much rejoicing in being able to have your sin exposed to the world. This is what I mean:

Rejoice because there is freedom. Everyone is a sinner. There is a freeing effect when you no longer have to work towards concealing your sin from others. When others know your sin you no longer have to put on a front but can begin to be transparent and real with those around you. Transparency is a gift and many never accept it. When sin is exposed it puts you in a position to do two things justify it yourself and to clean it up yourself or it causes you to reach out to God for forgiveness and restoration. Its the beginning point of being able to grasp the gospel. Without a good understanding of your sinfulness you will not be able to desire or understand your need for redemption. I no longer have to hide my sin, I no longer have to pretend I am someone I am not. I am a sinner and when sin is committed it is gross and ugly and bad. That’s freedom when the truth is revealed and it doesn’t stop there. In the freedom of having sin exposed to the world you are also in a position to show the world the tangible, physical working of the Grace of God in your life. When you are unfaithful to your wife and everyone knows it and over the course of time they see you still walking hand and hand with your wife or sitting together, it cause them to inquire as to why. Exposed sin also has the potential to expose the image of the Gospel. A sin redeemed and restored. This renders much hope and rejoicing.  Though there is much more to be said I will leave this brief thought here and say it is a blessing in many ways when your sin can be “Googled”.

Here is the article from USA Today:

Judge rules National Day of Prayer unconstitutional

Top Stories   |  Updated 16h 14m ago

A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional Thursday, saying the day amounts to a call for religious action.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote that the government can no more enact laws supporting a day of prayer than it can encourage citizens to fast during Ramadan, attend a synagogue or practice magic.

“In fact, it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual’s decision whether and when to pray,” Crabb wrote.

Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Madison-based group of atheists and agnostics, filed a lawsuit against the federal government in 2008 arguing the day violated the separation of church and state.

President Barack Obama’s administration has countered that the statute simply acknowledges the role of religion in the United States. Obama issued a proclamation last year but did not hold public events with religious leaders as former President George W. Bush had done.

Crabb wrote that her ruling shouldn’t be considered a bar to any prayer days until all appeals are exhausted. U.S. Justice Department attorneys who represented the federal government in the case were reviewing the ruling Thursday afternoon, agency spokesman Charles Miller said. He declined further comment.

Obama spokesman Matt Lehrich said in an e-mail to The Associated Press the president still plans to issue a proclamation for the next prayer day.

“As he did last year, President Obama intends to recognize a National Day of Prayer,” Lehrich said.

The American Center for Law and Justice, which represented 31 members of Congress who joined the federal government as defendants, called Crabb’s ruling flawed and promised to appeal.

“It is unfortunate that this court failed to understand that a day set aside for prayer for the country represents a time-honored tradition that embraces the First Amendment, not violates it,” ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow said in a statement.

The Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based group of Christian lawyers, issued a statement saying Crabb’s ruling undermines American tradition dating back to the nation’s birth.

Freedom From Religion Foundation attorney Richard Bolton didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

Crabb wrote that her ruling was not a judgment on the value of prayer. She noted government involvement in prayer may be constitutional if the conduct serves a “significant secular purpose” and doesn’t amount to a call for religious action. But the National Day of Prayer crosses that line, she wrote.

“It goes beyond mere ‘acknowledgment’ of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context,” she wrote. “In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.”

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Check out this blog about answering the call of Manhood- Here.