DAY 8...Ashamed to Talk About Poison?
"Be ashamed in your sin, NOT in your repentance." - St. John the GoldenMouthed (Chrysostom)
This quote was mentioned on Day 2. It deserves more than just a quick mention. It deserves a day dedicated to it.
I've posted a facebook status about pornography everyday for a week. Awwwwkward. No not really. Pornography is a huge issue and perhaps we're all just too ashamed or afraid to talk about it. It's been studied and its a big issue. Everyone who has any access to technology is impacted by pornography. The MAJORITY of men under 35 view porn regularly. Just saying pornography can bring on uncomfortable feelings.
Years ago while helping plan a panel discussion on pornography, I was having a discussion with one of the speakers, Dr. Philip Mamalakis who could see how uncomfortable I was getting with each mention of the word "pornography." He asked me, "Are you ashamed to talk about poison?" I answered, "Of course not." Dr. Mamalakis replied, "That's what pornography is, it's poison and should be discussed as such."
This quote was mentioned on Day 2. It deserves more than just a quick mention. It deserves a day dedicated to it.
I've posted a facebook status about pornography everyday for a week. Awwwwkward. No not really. Pornography is a huge issue and perhaps we're all just too ashamed or afraid to talk about it. It's been studied and its a big issue. Everyone who has any access to technology is impacted by pornography. The MAJORITY of men under 35 view porn regularly. Just saying pornography can bring on uncomfortable feelings.
Years ago while helping plan a panel discussion on pornography, I was having a discussion with one of the speakers, Dr. Philip Mamalakis who could see how uncomfortable I was getting with each mention of the word "pornography." He asked me, "Are you ashamed to talk about poison?" I answered, "Of course not." Dr. Mamalakis replied, "That's what pornography is, it's poison and should be discussed as such."
As the Sicilian in the Princess Bride finds out, poison will kill you. And contrary to the Man in Black's approach, there is no becoming immune to pornography. The most you can become, is numb to pornography which actually leads to a desire for worse things. It also has been linked to a numbness and broken intimacy with your spouse or future spouse.
What are we ashamed of? What should we be ashamed of? We should be ashamed of willingly filling our bodies, minds, and hearts with poison. We should not be ashamed of finding the antidote. A great deal of that antidote is talking about the problem and not sweeping it under the rug.
What are we ashamed of? What should we be ashamed of? We should be ashamed of willingly filling our bodies, minds, and hearts with poison. We should not be ashamed of finding the antidote. A great deal of that antidote is talking about the problem and not sweeping it under the rug.
Today's Instructions:
A. Pray for the day, for friends, for family, for enemies. Thanksgiving, Requests, Praise.
B. In the Fortify Program, Update the battle tracker. Go to Week 2. Watch "Science Catching Up With the Truth," and answer the "quick question."
C. Go to the daily readings and read today's Scripture.
D. Journal the following: 1. What are some symptoms of someone being poisoned. 2. What immediate steps would you take if you discovered that someone had just been poisoned? 3. How can you apply that response to being poisoned by porn?
Today's Tips: When the urges come get up. Stretch. Breathe. Get away from your computer and put down your phone. Then count to 500 seconds. Without doing the math find out how many minutes it will take you to count to 500 seconds.
God give you strength. See you tomorrow.
Don't ever come back to this page to start over. This is the launching pad. You've already begun, even if you fall.
If you want to review this page, please do, but do not come back here to start over.