Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Sexual Temptation

The following advice was given to a brother struggling with sexual sin: "Like most men you will struggle with sexual temptation all your life. But let's be honest, most of our failures are deliberate. When you provide yourself with privacy and opportunity (dating alone, late nights with a computer, hotel rooms, isolation, locked doors, etc.) you will inevitably fail. Our penchant for 'alone-time' is planned failure sexually. Stop putting yourself in situations where you know you could fail because this is only allowing yourself to fail knowing that you will apologize to God later. This is pathetic discipleship. I admitted to myself years ago that I was a sexual wretch. I come by it naturally. So instead of trying to be pure I decided to be wise. My success or failure is seldom dependent on my self-control but on my living in open community where I don't allow myself the privacy to fail. Yes we need to work on self-control but even more effective I have found is confession of sin, communal living, pre-sin accountability (telling brothers where and when I will be in known danger), and orchestrating my environment to minimize privacy. This would include where and when you go on dates, with whom you live, placement of computers, and who knows your schedule. If you can't be a good man you better be a wise man."

Friday, December 7, 2007

Dangerous

I found the sky, to be as high as I could go
But I'll take my time, I'll make my way slow
See the climb is important, for a dangerous soul
Dangerous should be, a place we can grow

I wrote you a letter, with a story to tell
The Pony Express left its mane on your mail
He galloped so boldly, the dirt rustled through
I apologize for your dirty hands
At least my heart got to you

My claws are dug in deep to this addiction
After all's said and done I've no conviction
The point that I've made is I've sinned for decades
And I certainly hope you'll dismiss
My sins

For the thrill of your journey, may be left in our minds
Though the greatest thrill of all, was we all got their blind
Should we come to abandon all that we believe
The burdens of your hands will speak waves into the sea