By Ben from Founder and Perfecter
Link: http://founderandperfecter.wordpress.com/
I don’t claim to know a lot about everything, and I am certainly not the most righteous person to walk this earth, but I believe that I have some wise words about pornography. I wish I could explain how important this is. We should all be able to agree that pornography is a sin. It is a gross sin that is one that is particularly honed in towards you feeling guilt.
If you are often tempted to tell lies, I doubt you will feel nearly as guilty as if you are often tempted to look at porn. That is not to say that lies are less sinful, but it is to hopefully fully state the feeling of being hooked on porn. Porn generates a debilitating amount of guilt that you feel after viewing it, and all for good reason. Porn is a disgusting sin. I agreed with this assessment totally. My problem though, was that all anyone could ever tell me about is how bad it is, how much I needed to stop, and how much I needed an accountability partner.
I agreed and agreed and agreed, but I sinned and sinned and sinned.
I sinned, all the while fully knowing that it is wrong. I sinned, wishing that I knew how to actually fight the sin, but I still sinned. Some people may say that it was just a simple choice that I needed to make. That may have been the case, but I found it impossible to make the right one. I was completely unequipped to fight the sin. All I knew to do to fight the sin was to try to manipulate my mood, but if I saw something that whet my pornographic appetite, all hope was lost.
I could not feel qualified to do any good work, and I felt totally enslaved. But all the while, no one told me how to actually fight sin.
Does it seem like you could be writing this? You don’t have to be talking about pornography, but on some level, whatever the most tempting sin in your life is, I would venture to guess that you can relate to this feeling.
I have found the key to fighting sin, or perhaps more accurately, God has shown it to me. Now pay very close attention. It is really so straight foreword that it is easy to discredit it, or say, “oh yeah I already know that.” Don’t do that.
There is only one thing that can actually fight sin. There are thousands of things you can do to restrain sin, but they are never there when you need them and they are torturous. There is only one thing that you can do to actually fight your sin.
You must preach to yourself the gospel.
It seems too obvious, but it turned out my ideas about the gospel had everything to do with seven year-olds getting saved and nothing to do with my sin problem today. Let me demonstrate what I mean for a second. I’ll put it in practical terms. All alone, in front of the internet screen. Idea pops into your head. Google search terms start racing and mental pictures start forming. You lock your door. Then it hits you, “I really shouldn’t do this.”
Right now, you need to preach yourself the gospel. You need to have the gospel so committed to memory that whenever you need to proclaim it, you have it ready. Until then, you may want to keep this explanation handy.
Say something like this,
“The gospel, is the news that God, aware of my sin problem, became a man in the form of Jesus Christ. Having made commandments, God is furious with me that I would venture to break them. He is furious that I could take such joy in watching women be defiled [and every other sin imaginable]. And so Jesus Christ the God-man lived a perfect life. He was entirely righteous and there was no trace of sin in him. Fulfilling the prophesies he was betrayed by one of his own and willingly, nay purposefully went to the sinner’s cross, only after sweating blood in the garden from praying so fervently in anticipation of God turning his face from him. He was beaten, crushed, and nailed. The crowds blasphemed in front of him, mocking his royal claims by placing a crown of thorns on his head. His disciples abandoned him. God poured the cup of wrath on Jesus and he drank every drop, and looked away in disgust of the sin that his Son has borne. Jesus died. Now all who believe in him and repent will be justified and have all of their sins forgiven. But we wont have to worship a dead man, because Jesus rose from the dead. He has defeated the power of sin. All who believe he has made slaves to righteousness and has given freedom to the captive. This is the gospel.”
Then you close the lid on your computer, and you realize something. Jesus, the Son of God has acted. You are suddenly loving Christ. You are suddenly treasuring Christ more than pornography. You suddenly don’t feel like you have to punish yourself into fighting it or trick yourself into taking your mind off of it. The love of Jesus has, by grace, taught you to love him back, and has wiped your record clean. Sin has lost its power and you are free.
That is how you fight pornography. That is how you fight sin.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Nudge
Yep. A nudge. Verb: to push against gently, especially to gain attention or give a signal.
Noun: a gentle push.
Do you ever get "nudges" or that queasiness in your stomach when you know you should/shouldn't do what ever you are not doing or what you are doing? Well, I get them all the time. Sometimes I call it my over-active conscience. And I got a nudge about 2 weeks ago, and I just did something about it today...
One of my favorite old "grandmas" at my church hasn't been around for the last several weeks. She always gave me the biggest hugs and was always smiling and joking around. She has a lot of spunk. ;)
Well when I noticed that she hadn't been there for a while, I got a nudge that said," hey you should give her a call tomorrow." Yeah well that didn't happen. Didn't happen for 2 weeks.
I called her today. And now I know why I got that nudge. She's always been a very straight forward person, no beating around the bush with her. So I said,"Hey Betty! This is Katy from church! How are you doing?" "Oh, Hi. Well... Not really... I just lost my son." (that was Betty) and me: "Oh." *my mind," Oh you idiot. You should have called her 2 weeks ago. You idiot." *
Me again,"Oh. Are you ok?" Betty: "Not really. My other son took me to Colorado to be with his wife for a week and help her with all the paperwork. And I've been trying not to cry. And making my bed..."
Yeah that was me the idiot. The conversation lasted for about 5 minutes. I got off the phone and just started sobbing.
So why do we ignore those promptings, those gentle nudges, to do what we know is the right thing to do? Is it because we are too prideful? Because we don't want to look "uncool" in front of our friends (which is pride)? We're too busy (yet we have time to waste 3 hours of our day on the computer)?
There's a girl in my Spanish class at school, a girl that I would probably never talk to, and ya know what? I think that I'm going to one of these days.
Here's the lyrics to a song that goes along with this:
Hero by Superchick
[Verse:]No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
Cause you want to belong do you go along?
Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It's not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
Any kindness from you might have saved his life
[Tag:]Heroes are made when you make a choice
[Chorus:]You could be a hero
Heroes do what's right
You could be a hero
You might save a life
You could be a hero, You could join the fight
For what's right for what's right for what's right
[Verse:]No one talks to her, she feels so alone
She's in too much pain to survive on her own
The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife
She writes on her arm, wants to give up her life
Each day she goes on is a day that she is brave,
Fighting the lie that giving up is the way,
Each moment of courage her own life she saves
When she throws the pills out a hero is made
[Tag]
[Chorus]
[Verse:]No one talks to him about how he lives
He thinks that the choices he makes are just his
Doesn't know he's a leader with the way he behaves
And others will follow the choices he's made
He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide
His brother who wants to be him is just nine
He can do what he wants because it's his right
The choices he makes change a nine year old's life
[Chorus]
[Rap]Little Mikey D. was the one in class who everyday got brutually harassed
This went on for years until he decided that never again would he shed another tear
So he walked through the door, grabbed a four four out of his father's dressing drawer
And said I can't take life no more
And like that life can be lost
But this ain't even about that
All of us just sat back and watched it happen
Thinkin' it's not my responsibility to solve a problem that isn't about me
This is our problem
This is just one of the daily scenarios which we choose to close our eyes
Instead of doing the right thing
If we make a choice and be the voice for those who won't speak up for themselves
How many lives would be saved, changed, rearranged
Now it's our time to pick a sideSo don't keep walkin' by
Not wantin' to intervene
Cause you wanna exist and never be saved
So let's wake up and change the world
Our time is now
[Chorus]
I'm gonna start responding to those nudges now, before it's too late. I encourage all of you to do the same.
Noun: a gentle push.
Do you ever get "nudges" or that queasiness in your stomach when you know you should/shouldn't do what ever you are not doing or what you are doing? Well, I get them all the time. Sometimes I call it my over-active conscience. And I got a nudge about 2 weeks ago, and I just did something about it today...
One of my favorite old "grandmas" at my church hasn't been around for the last several weeks. She always gave me the biggest hugs and was always smiling and joking around. She has a lot of spunk. ;)
Well when I noticed that she hadn't been there for a while, I got a nudge that said," hey you should give her a call tomorrow." Yeah well that didn't happen. Didn't happen for 2 weeks.
I called her today. And now I know why I got that nudge. She's always been a very straight forward person, no beating around the bush with her. So I said,"Hey Betty! This is Katy from church! How are you doing?" "Oh, Hi. Well... Not really... I just lost my son." (that was Betty) and me: "Oh." *my mind," Oh you idiot. You should have called her 2 weeks ago. You idiot." *
Me again,"Oh. Are you ok?" Betty: "Not really. My other son took me to Colorado to be with his wife for a week and help her with all the paperwork. And I've been trying not to cry. And making my bed..."
Yeah that was me the idiot. The conversation lasted for about 5 minutes. I got off the phone and just started sobbing.
So why do we ignore those promptings, those gentle nudges, to do what we know is the right thing to do? Is it because we are too prideful? Because we don't want to look "uncool" in front of our friends (which is pride)? We're too busy (yet we have time to waste 3 hours of our day on the computer)?
There's a girl in my Spanish class at school, a girl that I would probably never talk to, and ya know what? I think that I'm going to one of these days.
Here's the lyrics to a song that goes along with this:
Hero by Superchick
[Verse:]No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
Cause you want to belong do you go along?
Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It's not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
Any kindness from you might have saved his life
[Tag:]Heroes are made when you make a choice
[Chorus:]You could be a hero
Heroes do what's right
You could be a hero
You might save a life
You could be a hero, You could join the fight
For what's right for what's right for what's right
[Verse:]No one talks to her, she feels so alone
She's in too much pain to survive on her own
The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife
She writes on her arm, wants to give up her life
Each day she goes on is a day that she is brave,
Fighting the lie that giving up is the way,
Each moment of courage her own life she saves
When she throws the pills out a hero is made
[Tag]
[Chorus]
[Verse:]No one talks to him about how he lives
He thinks that the choices he makes are just his
Doesn't know he's a leader with the way he behaves
And others will follow the choices he's made
He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide
His brother who wants to be him is just nine
He can do what he wants because it's his right
The choices he makes change a nine year old's life
[Chorus]
[Rap]Little Mikey D. was the one in class who everyday got brutually harassed
This went on for years until he decided that never again would he shed another tear
So he walked through the door, grabbed a four four out of his father's dressing drawer
And said I can't take life no more
And like that life can be lost
But this ain't even about that
All of us just sat back and watched it happen
Thinkin' it's not my responsibility to solve a problem that isn't about me
This is our problem
This is just one of the daily scenarios which we choose to close our eyes
Instead of doing the right thing
If we make a choice and be the voice for those who won't speak up for themselves
How many lives would be saved, changed, rearranged
Now it's our time to pick a sideSo don't keep walkin' by
Not wantin' to intervene
Cause you wanna exist and never be saved
So let's wake up and change the world
Our time is now
[Chorus]
I'm gonna start responding to those nudges now, before it's too late. I encourage all of you to do the same.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Chinese Food??
Yes, weird title, but hopefully a good message...
So me and my Aunt had Chinese take-out last night. I love Chinese food. The only problem is, although my tastebuds do, my stomach area doesn't really enjoy all the deep-fried nastyness that I am sure is hidden deep within my orange chicken. My motto that I made up last night is: "Chinese food is yummy, but it makes my tummy feel crummy!" (Weird I know)
I started thinking, isn't this the same with sin? I mean, I love Chinese but my body doesn't. Yet I still eat it anyways. Don't we do this with sin? We love to do something, even though our conscience is telling us not to, and after it's all done, we suffer the consequences.
Do you have something like Chinese food in your life? Something that has tempted you and you have fallen prey? It might look soo yummy on the outside, but once you start eating and digging in, you realize that might not have been your best choice ever. Everybody has different Chinese foods in their lives. For you, it might be lying, but for the girl who sits across from you it might be smoking in the girls' bathroom. Though lying might seem smaller on the sin scale than smoking secretly, it's really not. No sin is greater or smaller than the other.
I ate the leftovers for lunch, but I didn't get sick. I think that this happens with our spiritual lives too. We do something wrong, and we feel bad, but then we do it again and it just doesn't effect us the same way it did the first time, or the 88th time. We become so used to the feeling of guilt or depression, that we just don't realize what's happening inside us. The more we do something and just ignore our conscience (which is the Holy Spirit), the more it just eats us from the inside out. When we start ignoring what our conscience is telling us, we start denying what is going on (DENIAL!) and alot of the time we become bitter, rude, and angry. When we ignore, other people usually get the brunt of our spiritual battle that is going on inside us. So besides just hurting ourselves we are hurting our friends and families and even people we don't know.
So just think about the "Chinese take-out" and it's consequences before you dig in.
So me and my Aunt had Chinese take-out last night. I love Chinese food. The only problem is, although my tastebuds do, my stomach area doesn't really enjoy all the deep-fried nastyness that I am sure is hidden deep within my orange chicken. My motto that I made up last night is: "Chinese food is yummy, but it makes my tummy feel crummy!" (Weird I know)
I started thinking, isn't this the same with sin? I mean, I love Chinese but my body doesn't. Yet I still eat it anyways. Don't we do this with sin? We love to do something, even though our conscience is telling us not to, and after it's all done, we suffer the consequences.
Do you have something like Chinese food in your life? Something that has tempted you and you have fallen prey? It might look soo yummy on the outside, but once you start eating and digging in, you realize that might not have been your best choice ever. Everybody has different Chinese foods in their lives. For you, it might be lying, but for the girl who sits across from you it might be smoking in the girls' bathroom. Though lying might seem smaller on the sin scale than smoking secretly, it's really not. No sin is greater or smaller than the other.
I ate the leftovers for lunch, but I didn't get sick. I think that this happens with our spiritual lives too. We do something wrong, and we feel bad, but then we do it again and it just doesn't effect us the same way it did the first time, or the 88th time. We become so used to the feeling of guilt or depression, that we just don't realize what's happening inside us. The more we do something and just ignore our conscience (which is the Holy Spirit), the more it just eats us from the inside out. When we start ignoring what our conscience is telling us, we start denying what is going on (DENIAL!) and alot of the time we become bitter, rude, and angry. When we ignore, other people usually get the brunt of our spiritual battle that is going on inside us. So besides just hurting ourselves we are hurting our friends and families and even people we don't know.
So just think about the "Chinese take-out" and it's consequences before you dig in.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Heroes in our Lives, a testimony
My name is Daniel and this is my story.
What do you think when you hear the word hero? Do think Superman or Batman? What makes a person a hero? Is it super powers, cool gadgets, or is it the costume? Well to explain what I think makes a person a hero let me tell you a little bit of my life. Before I was born the doctor told my mom that she should have an abortion; in other words kill me. The doctors said I would be born abnormal and have all types of problems, but my mom told the doctor no and I was born completely normal. My mom is a hero because she basically saved my life.
Later on in life, around the time I was about five or six years old, I asked Christ to come into my life and He did. God is actually more then a hero because He created me and He saved me from my sins. As I got older I started being a better Christian and started serving others. But as time went on I started feeling depressed because I felt like I was a slave; it seemed as if I was always stuck doing everything for everyone else. Then one-day between the ages ten and thirteen I tried to kill myself. I took a knife out and was going to plunge it into my heart but my dad walked into the kitchen and told me suicide was not the answer. We talked for a while and after the talk I realized my dad was right -my life is not my own. I am bought with a price and that price is the cost of Christ dying on the cross. I am made in God’s image and I am also one of his adopted sons. My dad is a hero because he saved my life and helped me through my depression.
After a little while I met people who cut themselves, do drugs and tons other things that are just so horrible to hear about and I realized I wanted to help these people; I wanted to be a hero. I didn’t realize it at the time but I was already a hero having fought with depression and having defeated it day after day. So I helped these people and some changed and others didn’t but I know that God is taking care of them. One day a friend of mine asked me for a clean slate. How many of you want a clean slate? I do and guess what! I got it and so can you! Just ask God to forgive you and He will. Ask Him for strength and He will give it to you so that you can forgive yourself. My challenge for you is to stop doing what you’re doing that is wrong; stop cutting yourself, stop doing drugs, and stop doing whatever else I forgot to mention. Ask for forgiveness and then forgive yourself. I know it’s hard. I have struggled with it many times but it’s the greatest thing to be free from sin and to really know that in your heart that you are forgiven. If you’re still struggling write down your sins on a piece of paper and burn it. If you ever need some one to talk to you can always talk to me. I’m here to help you not to hurt you but remember God has always been there for you and He is there for you now and always will be there for you so turn to Him first because He never fails. While others sadly can fail you God won’t ever fail you for He is God almighty the One True God. Last thing I have to say is I believe each of you are a hero in one way or another and if you don’t think that you are then go out there be a hero and help your friends or other people you know who are hurting inside.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
This was written by Daniel N. but it also goes for me, Katy. I am here to help you in any way, whether it be someone for you to talk to or to just pray for you. You can email me at teensagainstdrugs@gmail.com
I really do want to help!! Please do not be afraid to email me.
Thank you Daniel for letting me post this! :)
What do you think when you hear the word hero? Do think Superman or Batman? What makes a person a hero? Is it super powers, cool gadgets, or is it the costume? Well to explain what I think makes a person a hero let me tell you a little bit of my life. Before I was born the doctor told my mom that she should have an abortion; in other words kill me. The doctors said I would be born abnormal and have all types of problems, but my mom told the doctor no and I was born completely normal. My mom is a hero because she basically saved my life.
Later on in life, around the time I was about five or six years old, I asked Christ to come into my life and He did. God is actually more then a hero because He created me and He saved me from my sins. As I got older I started being a better Christian and started serving others. But as time went on I started feeling depressed because I felt like I was a slave; it seemed as if I was always stuck doing everything for everyone else. Then one-day between the ages ten and thirteen I tried to kill myself. I took a knife out and was going to plunge it into my heart but my dad walked into the kitchen and told me suicide was not the answer. We talked for a while and after the talk I realized my dad was right -my life is not my own. I am bought with a price and that price is the cost of Christ dying on the cross. I am made in God’s image and I am also one of his adopted sons. My dad is a hero because he saved my life and helped me through my depression.
After a little while I met people who cut themselves, do drugs and tons other things that are just so horrible to hear about and I realized I wanted to help these people; I wanted to be a hero. I didn’t realize it at the time but I was already a hero having fought with depression and having defeated it day after day. So I helped these people and some changed and others didn’t but I know that God is taking care of them. One day a friend of mine asked me for a clean slate. How many of you want a clean slate? I do and guess what! I got it and so can you! Just ask God to forgive you and He will. Ask Him for strength and He will give it to you so that you can forgive yourself. My challenge for you is to stop doing what you’re doing that is wrong; stop cutting yourself, stop doing drugs, and stop doing whatever else I forgot to mention. Ask for forgiveness and then forgive yourself. I know it’s hard. I have struggled with it many times but it’s the greatest thing to be free from sin and to really know that in your heart that you are forgiven. If you’re still struggling write down your sins on a piece of paper and burn it. If you ever need some one to talk to you can always talk to me. I’m here to help you not to hurt you but remember God has always been there for you and He is there for you now and always will be there for you so turn to Him first because He never fails. While others sadly can fail you God won’t ever fail you for He is God almighty the One True God. Last thing I have to say is I believe each of you are a hero in one way or another and if you don’t think that you are then go out there be a hero and help your friends or other people you know who are hurting inside.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
This was written by Daniel N. but it also goes for me, Katy. I am here to help you in any way, whether it be someone for you to talk to or to just pray for you. You can email me at teensagainstdrugs@gmail.com
I really do want to help!! Please do not be afraid to email me.
Thank you Daniel for letting me post this! :)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Strawberry Quick (Death)
Hey all. This is a really important one. Please pass this around to your friends and your parents and your family. Any one you come in contact with.
New drug in Schools... Please pass this on even if you do not have kids in school. Parents should know about this killer drug. This is a new drug known as 'strawberry quick '. There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that we all need to be aware of. There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks (the candy that sizzles and 'pops' in your mouth). It also smells like strawberry and it is being handed out to kids in school yards. They are calling it strawberry meth or strawberry quick. Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off to the hospital in dire condition. It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange. Please instruct your children not to accept candy from strangers and even not to accept candy that looks like this from a friend (who may have been given it and believed it is candy) and to take any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc. immediately.Pass this on to as many people as you can (even if they don't have kids) so that we can raise awareness and hopefully prevent any tragedies from occurring. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271215,00.html
Ok, this is really serious. Do what it says: Don't except candy from anybody. It could be fatal.
Thanks for reading... Pass this on. It's not fake.
New drug in Schools... Please pass this on even if you do not have kids in school. Parents should know about this killer drug. This is a new drug known as 'strawberry quick '. There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that we all need to be aware of. There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks (the candy that sizzles and 'pops' in your mouth). It also smells like strawberry and it is being handed out to kids in school yards. They are calling it strawberry meth or strawberry quick. Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off to the hospital in dire condition. It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange. Please instruct your children not to accept candy from strangers and even not to accept candy that looks like this from a friend (who may have been given it and believed it is candy) and to take any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc. immediately.Pass this on to as many people as you can (even if they don't have kids) so that we can raise awareness and hopefully prevent any tragedies from occurring. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271215,00.html
Ok, this is really serious. Do what it says: Don't except candy from anybody. It could be fatal.
Thanks for reading... Pass this on. It's not fake.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
He's the only reason I'm alive. A testimony to God's grace.
All my life my parents have taken me and my sisters to church. I am the middle child of three girls (my older sister is 17, I’m 15, and my little sister is 3). I am a Christian, and so are my parents and older sister (my little sister is not yet at the age of understanding how to accept Christ). When people look at me, they see a normal girl. I look like, dress, act just the way my friends do. My life has been a fairly normal life. I was in public school from first through seventh grade, and I have been homeschooled since. I had some friend issues in middle school. Some of my friends were great, but most of the people I hung out with did drugs. I didn’t know this at the time (although it should have been obvious). I never considered doing drugs, and I knew that I never wanted to. I had always promised my parents never to even consider getting into any of the drugs, cutting, alcohol, smoking, and all of the other dangerous addictions out there. I never thought that I would consider suicide.
Earlier this year (2008), my older sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had her first surgery to remove the tumor just two days after her birthday. When I first found out that she had cancer, there was one constant question running through my mind “what if she dies?”. I soon started wondering how I could live without my best friend. This is when I broke my promises to my parents. I seriously considered suicide. I knew that downing a handful of random pills could do finish me off. I knew that other people in my family took medications. It wouldn’t be hard for me to get a bunch. I remember the day that I came dangerously close to doing it. I was all alone (it was hard for me to be around people a whole lot; in case they brought up my sister’s cancer), and I was thinking. I kept thinking that her life was over, and there is no way mine can go on any more. I don’t know how God convinced me not to go through with it. I am so glad He did. My sister no longer has cancer. I am still struggling today knowing that there is a possibility of her finding another tumor. There is that chance for everyone, but I am no longer suicidal. I have great friends and family to talk to, and most importantly, I have a great relationship with God. He is my rock. He is the reason for why I am alive. He has given me life twice now, and I am so grateful that he has! Even though there have been people here for me to talk to, I know that God is truly the only reason for my being alive today. I owe him my life more than I could ever express.
A real testimony written by anonymous.
Earlier this year (2008), my older sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had her first surgery to remove the tumor just two days after her birthday. When I first found out that she had cancer, there was one constant question running through my mind “what if she dies?”. I soon started wondering how I could live without my best friend. This is when I broke my promises to my parents. I seriously considered suicide. I knew that downing a handful of random pills could do finish me off. I knew that other people in my family took medications. It wouldn’t be hard for me to get a bunch. I remember the day that I came dangerously close to doing it. I was all alone (it was hard for me to be around people a whole lot; in case they brought up my sister’s cancer), and I was thinking. I kept thinking that her life was over, and there is no way mine can go on any more. I don’t know how God convinced me not to go through with it. I am so glad He did. My sister no longer has cancer. I am still struggling today knowing that there is a possibility of her finding another tumor. There is that chance for everyone, but I am no longer suicidal. I have great friends and family to talk to, and most importantly, I have a great relationship with God. He is my rock. He is the reason for why I am alive. He has given me life twice now, and I am so grateful that he has! Even though there have been people here for me to talk to, I know that God is truly the only reason for my being alive today. I owe him my life more than I could ever express.
A real testimony written by anonymous.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Everlasting Scars
My whole life (13 years) I’ve grown up in a big, loving Christian home. When I say big, I mean I have quadruplet brother and sisters: one boy and three girls. Two of them are autistic. For those of you who don’t know what that is, autism is a developmental disorder of children, characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment. Let’s just say my house is never quiet. Well I always knew my parents loved me, but as I got to age 11 or so, I began to question that love. I mean, a lot of times I couldn’t do stuff “normal” kids my age got to do because we couldn’t take the quads. At first, I blamed the quads, but then I thought, “Maybe its me, maybe I’m not good enough.” Age 12 I started cutting. It made me feel like I had the power to do something, like cutting was my punishment every time I didn’t live up to my parents high expectations, or did something wrong. And because it was in winter I had an excuse to wear long sleeves all the time. Just recently, though, I had started going to a youth group. One day it was really hot in the room and, forgetting for a moment all the cuts that covered my arms, I pulled up my sleeves. The girl next to me that I had befriended, Ashlee, saw before I remembered to pull my sleeves down. After youth group, she pulled me aside and said, “I know, Candice, I saw the cuts on your arms.” At first it took me a second to digest what she was saying. Then I burst into tears. She gave me a hug and said, “God loves you.” Then she made me promise I would stop. I agreed. Unfortunately, just because she said God loved me, didn’t mean I really believed that. It was the hope that someone loved me. About a week, maybe two, later, I went to a Rebelution conference with my youth group. I thought the whole DO HARD THINGS idea was pretty cool. Then Alex and Brett’s Dad got up on the stage. As he talked, it finally dawned on me: GOD REALLY DOES LOVE ME!!! A God that controls the ENTIRE universe loves me! Right then and there, I accepted Christ as my personal Savior. I can’t express what a wonderful feeling I had. Tears streaming down my face, I stood up to Mr. Harris’ call to anyone who had just accepted Christ so that they could receive a free book. But to tell you the truth there was only one thought going through my mind: God loves me. And I’ll always have the scars that mark my arms, but every time I see them, my heart is filled with the joy, knowing that God gave his precious, perfect Son to DIE for us, just so that we could have eternal life. Whether you know it yet or not, God loves you just the way you are.
A real testimony written by Candice in North Carolina.
A real testimony written by Candice in North Carolina.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Back to School.. and Peers.
Hey, guys, it's Katy again!!
So school is beginning here soon, and for some of you it may have already started. And of course as you all know, so have the cliques and the parties. But what would happen if you didn't join the teeny-bopper cliques?? And said "no" to that party that you know will get you in trouble, in more ways than one??
This is what this whole blog is about. Saying no to the peer pressure at school about alcohol, smoking and drugs.
It's hard, but in the end it's all worth it. It's worth not being cool to keep your virginity. It's worth not being cool to keep from getting drunk. If you say "yes" once, it's hard to say "no " the second time.
Ok, that's all fine and good, but how do you say no? Well first of all, you have to decide that you don't. Of course. Second, you have to believe that what you are thinking about doing is most likely not in your best interest. And third, you have to have the guts to tell those really cool guys or those really hot girls no, and you'd better have a good reason.
What are good reasons? Ok, reason number 1: Alcohol is addicting, kills your liver, it permanently injures your brain.. the list goes on why you shouldn't drink. Reason number 2: Smoking. No good. It kills your lungs, your brain, your heart, digestive system, bladder, and legs. Not to mention it stains your teeth and your taste buds just don't work quite right. And the ever present anyways, bad breath. Give that list of reasons and they'll stop dead in their tracks. Reason number 4: The fact that there will probably be no adult presence at this party. When there is no adult presence that's usually when the non-reversible happens.
So now you have some pretty good reasons, but the temptation is still there. How do you remove temptation? Well, the only way I know is to turn to God. Alot of you may not agree or even believe that there is a God, but I'm telling you that the only way that you are going to be able to say "no" is by falling on your knees before God and asking Him to give you strength and wisdom to overcome. Ask Him to remove any desire to taste "the forbidden". When you think about it, is this the way that you want to remember your Jr High/ High School years? Going through the years as a drunk kid, who only survives on lying and going behind your parents back? I for one do not. I know that there are lots of you out there. We all just need the courage to tell others.
So to end it I will leave you with a question, How do you want to remember your High School years?
Just some thoughts, Katy Flanigan.
So school is beginning here soon, and for some of you it may have already started. And of course as you all know, so have the cliques and the parties. But what would happen if you didn't join the teeny-bopper cliques?? And said "no" to that party that you know will get you in trouble, in more ways than one??
This is what this whole blog is about. Saying no to the peer pressure at school about alcohol, smoking and drugs.
It's hard, but in the end it's all worth it. It's worth not being cool to keep your virginity. It's worth not being cool to keep from getting drunk. If you say "yes" once, it's hard to say "no " the second time.
Ok, that's all fine and good, but how do you say no? Well first of all, you have to decide that you don't. Of course. Second, you have to believe that what you are thinking about doing is most likely not in your best interest. And third, you have to have the guts to tell those really cool guys or those really hot girls no, and you'd better have a good reason.
What are good reasons? Ok, reason number 1: Alcohol is addicting, kills your liver, it permanently injures your brain.. the list goes on why you shouldn't drink. Reason number 2: Smoking. No good. It kills your lungs, your brain, your heart, digestive system, bladder, and legs. Not to mention it stains your teeth and your taste buds just don't work quite right. And the ever present anyways, bad breath. Give that list of reasons and they'll stop dead in their tracks. Reason number 4: The fact that there will probably be no adult presence at this party. When there is no adult presence that's usually when the non-reversible happens.
So now you have some pretty good reasons, but the temptation is still there. How do you remove temptation? Well, the only way I know is to turn to God. Alot of you may not agree or even believe that there is a God, but I'm telling you that the only way that you are going to be able to say "no" is by falling on your knees before God and asking Him to give you strength and wisdom to overcome. Ask Him to remove any desire to taste "the forbidden". When you think about it, is this the way that you want to remember your Jr High/ High School years? Going through the years as a drunk kid, who only survives on lying and going behind your parents back? I for one do not. I know that there are lots of you out there. We all just need the courage to tell others.
So to end it I will leave you with a question, How do you want to remember your High School years?
Just some thoughts, Katy Flanigan.
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Beginning
Hello fellow teenagers!!
My name is Katy Flanigan. I am 14 and just a normal kid like all of you.
This is the beginning of what I feel God has called me to do for now, and that is to spread the truth that drugs/cutting yourself/ eating disorders etc. are not the only answers. Life's trials are only for a short while, but the effects of drugs and such last much, much longer.
As this blog continues to grow, I am hoping for a testimony area where real teens and adults can share what drugs/cutting/eating disorders have done to themselves and their friends and families, and also how they got out of their addictions. My prayer for this blog is that you, the readers, will find your hope in God and that it might shed some light on the truth about drugs. I also would like to have an area that is strictly an information part. It will have the drug, the symptoms, and the effects.
I hope that this will be a helpful site, and if you want to contact the group the email is : teensagainstdrugs@gmail.com
Thank you for reading!!
Katy Flanigan and the gang at TAD
My name is Katy Flanigan. I am 14 and just a normal kid like all of you.
This is the beginning of what I feel God has called me to do for now, and that is to spread the truth that drugs/cutting yourself/ eating disorders etc. are not the only answers. Life's trials are only for a short while, but the effects of drugs and such last much, much longer.
As this blog continues to grow, I am hoping for a testimony area where real teens and adults can share what drugs/cutting/eating disorders have done to themselves and their friends and families, and also how they got out of their addictions. My prayer for this blog is that you, the readers, will find your hope in God and that it might shed some light on the truth about drugs. I also would like to have an area that is strictly an information part. It will have the drug, the symptoms, and the effects.
I hope that this will be a helpful site, and if you want to contact the group the email is : teensagainstdrugs@gmail.com
Thank you for reading!!
Katy Flanigan and the gang at TAD
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)