My friends know that I am extremely passionate about my faith, family and beliefs; some consider me over zealous. In fact Paslm 69:10 describes me to a ‘T’ “Because zeal for your house has consumed me, I am scorned by those who scorn you”. I initially joined Facebook because of an invitation from the National Right to Life, to stand up and defend the lives of the unborn. Knowing that I can annoy people, I try to temper my zeal so that I am not so obnoxious. Some people simply don’t want to hear what I have to say; I have probably been ‘unfriended’ more times than anyone else in the history of Facebook!
God bless all of you patient individuals who have stuck with me in spite of my outspoken rants, whether you agree with me or not. Your opinions matter, and I am grateful for those spirited conversations. Better to be passionate and zealous, than lukewarm, as we are warned in Revelation 3:15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.”
Whoa! That is a bold warning! So Jesus would rather have you fervent, than apathetic. Unfortunately apathy is rampant, and it seems most Americans are more concerned about the chances of their baseball team winning the World Series, or their college team winning, than about the problems in the world. It drives me crazy that so many people just don’t seem to care about their faith, or all that matters is getting promoted or advancing a career. But I have to realize that everyone’s spiritual journey is their own. My friend, Debra Kessinger and I inspire and support each other; she is even more passionate than I am! Yesterday she told me in prayer that Jesus spoke to her and said “this (apathy) was My heaviest burden on the cross during My Passion. ” Seeing the apathy in the world literally breaks my heart, so it brought me comfort knowing that I am sharing in Christ’s suffering. Whenever I am discouraged or feel I’m wasting my time, Debra and other friends are there to offer me hope and encouragement.
Today is the feast day of John the Baptist, who was beheaded because he spoke the truth. Herodias was married to King Herod’s brother, Philip, and John the Baptist brazenly proclaimed “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife”. (Mark 6:17) Furious, Herodias found her opportunity to silence this bold prophet when her daughter danced for the King. Delighted, he granted the girl “whatever you wish”; she in turn asked her mom “What shall I ask for?” And Herodias promptly replied “the head of John the Baptist”. An executioner quickly brought back John the Baptist’s “head on a platter“.
Many times I have been told that I should be silent, that an issue is none of my business. I have been called more names than I can count. I would certainly never tell someone what to do, but I will always stand up for the truth. Our country is so divided and polarized on so many different issues, from homosexual lifestyles, to abortion, to the economy, to whether women should be ordained priests, to caring for the poor. There seem to be two sides to every issue. Beware of ‘false prophets’, those politicians, actors and commentators who claim to know the truth. Only one will lead you into truth, and that is Jesus, who is “the truth, the light and the way”. The Holy Spirit promised in John 16:13 that he would “lead you into all truth”. If you want the truth, increase your prayer time, study, find confirmation in scripture and most important, be guided by the Church, which is the “pillar and foundation of truth” (1st Timoothy 3:15).
So take a moment and pull yourself away from your computer or television screen; forget about the “Dawgs” or “Gators” for a few minutes. Does it matter that Jesus died on the cross for you, and you alone? What upsets you the most about the problems in this world? Some are outraged by our politicians’ propensity to go to unceasing war. Whichever side you are on, do your research, especially into the problems in the Middle East. Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Libya have all harbored or been governed by Muslim terrorists such as Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Hamas, Al Jihad, ISIS and the plethora of such groups. Invading and trying to subdue any country in this hotbed of Muslim unrest seems to be futile.
Whether your passion is to help the poor and hungry, or education, capital punishment or defending your faith, take time to learn all you can, pray and do what you can to make a difference. One horrific problem here in Georgia and all over the world is sexual slavery of mostly women and children; tens of thousands of women and children are trapped in this degrading and perverted captivity.
The women are tricked into the promise of passage to America for exorbitant fees, sometimes more than $25,000.00. The ‘generous’ smugglers offer to loan them the money, and then when they get here, they are forced to work in ‘massage parlors’ until their debt is paid. The slavers take away the captives’ passports and identification, and then are charge them outrageous fees for ‘room and board’, so their debt is never repaid. Often threats are made against the slaves’ children or other family back home, coercing them into obedience. The women are often deliberately sleep deprived, and moved around often, to make them more ‘cooperative’.
And the plight of children is even worse. Many children that are abused or just mixed up that run away from home gravitate to the big cities. Here in Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and most large cities, pimps hang out at bus stations ready to ‘help’ these children and young teens into prostitution. The group StandUp for Kids works hard to reach these kids that slip through the cracks; most won’t go to the police, because the police are obligated to place them in the foster care program, which often is just as bad, with widespread abuse. It is estimated that around 14,000 children and teens are living in the streets of Atlanta, prey to pimps and perverted adults.
So how in the world in a predominately Christian nation can this type of forced slavery exist? If American men didn’t create the need, this kind of market couldn’t exist. I have heard estimates that as many as one of every three girls, and one of every seven boys, has been molested, quite often by a family member. Several years ago the Atlanta Journal and Constitution had a report about the large number of teachers in the local school systems that are serial child molesters. Instead of being prosecuted, they are shifted from district to district.
I have learned more than I ever wanted to about child sexual abuse, and one important fact is that rarely does someone molest children, unless they were molested first (from the book Out of the Shadows, by Patrick J. Carnes). If you have been molested, please, please, please get counseling. As one brave soul told me “trying to live life normally is like trying to play ball with one arm tied behind your back”. Being abused really scrambles your brains, causing pain, negative self-image, shame, guilt, addictions, post traumatic stress and gender confusion. Quite often those who have been molested will be sexually active at a young age, with different partners.
If you regularly look at pornography, please, please get professional counseling and join support groups for sexual addiction. There is a support group for addicts right at my local church (message me for info). Go to confession weekly and pray. When someone is addicted to pornography, the brain is rewired, and it will take more and more perverted and exotic images to get the same rush. Do you think it is a coincidence that virtually all rapists are sexual addicts? Am I saying that just because you look at pornography you will turn into a child molester or rapist? Of course not! I am saying you are playing with an explosive molotav cocktail. (See the article below This is Your Brain on Porn). I have read that sexual addiction is far worse and harder to break free from than cocaine.
So my challenge to men is to stand up and condemn ‘lusting in the heart’, pornography. If you are Muslim, stand up and condemn the beheading of journalist James Foley, the oppression of women, and the torture, imprisonment and death of those Muslims in the Middle East who convert to Christianity. If you encounter someone who is pregnant, but not married, give her a baby shower, take her to the Beacon of Hope or other center for unwed moms, and connect her with Catholic Charities or St. Vincent de Paul. If you meet someone suffering from depression, be a friend and listen to them, encourage them to get counseling, and most of all, pray, pray, pray!!!
If your faith is last on the list or priorities, remember the First Commandment is to give God first place in our lives. If you are a kindred spirit and passionate like me, God bless you. If you are apathetic, get up and do something!
Related Articles:
Modern Day Slavery in America
http://www.alternet.org/story/146932/modern_day_slavery_in_america_–_over_300,000_u.s._children_fall_prey_to_sex_trafficking
StandUp for Kids
http://www.standupforkids.org/
Effects of Sexual Assault
https://www.rainn.org/get-information/effects-of-sexual-assault
This is Your Brain on Porn
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/29332-this-is-your-brain-on-porn