why is porn so intriguing

it's been a long time since i have posted but i thought i would start back up.  i don't know, maybe it's more for me than it is for anybody.  i'm sure most of these posts aren't viewed by, what i like to call, people :-).  either way it's something i feel like i need to do for me and want to get consistent again.  

i was moved today after watching a video on shelleylubben.com of porn stars who have died.  it's about a 7 minute video and most of the porn stars died from a suicide overdose, gun shot wound, jumping off a building, or during a scene in one of their movies.  i sat moved by it and felt completely heart broken while watching.  

i started to think to myself why is porn so intriguing ?  why have i struggled with it?  why do most guys, if not all guys, want to watch it so bad (this includes christians, ministers, and regular ol joe?  i have my own perceptions and answers, but it seems more complicated than just saying, "guys are just guys and we like naked woman".   although "guys are just guys and like naked woman" why is porn soooo compelling?  there is obviously a need that is being met in the heart of the viewer that keeps him (or her) coming back.  let's not forget the spiritual side of this issue too.  i am sure that the enemy isn't just sitting by idely concerning porn. clearly "he" is not as statistics show that 50% of ministers are addicted to it.  as many ministries have tried to spring up addressing porn, (freedombeginshere.org, xxxchurch.com, shelleylubben.com, jcgirls.com, hookersforjesus.com) the church still hasn't taken this epidemic head on.  and until it does it will still be the most devastating thing hitting the church other than apathy.    

i know i haven't reached a level of strength that keeps me "holy" all the time, and i know that i am only human.  i know that i am "a guy" and i know that if i don't keep myself accountable to my friends that i can and will fail, and have failed.  

one thing i know for sure is that God loves peoeple, God loves those who are addicted to porn, God loves those who chose to stay where they are at, and God loves the people on the video screen.  and until we let the love of God compel us to reach out to those who are addicted, again the church will have lost an huge spiritual battle.  thank God there are ministries like freedombeginshere.org that hits this issue head on.  it's far to late to not bring this up now.

if anything people are struggling and can't stop.  more importantly those who face addiction do not want to be addicted and, for most, don't know how to be free.  

i will talk through this and see if we, if I, can't uncover the answer to the question, "why is porn so intriguing".  i am no expert on addiction other than being a guy trying to find these answers. one thing is for sure i will do my best to help others fight through this highly hidden issue the only way i know how, with mercy and grace!  thank God for his love and his mercy.  

peace

sex trafficking stats, eye opening to say the least

Sex Trafficking
Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE) is a San Francisco based organization that provides information about and resources for victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation and violence, and individuals involved in the sex trade and those thinking of or having left prostitution.

The Protection Project was created by Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) to establish an international framework for the elimination of trafficking in persons, especially women and children. The web site contains information about trafficking throughout the world, featuring country reports with statistics and maps of trafficking routes, as well as profiles of survivors. There is also a referral system that includes listings of trained service providers and resources for helping U.S. victims of trafficking.

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women is a non-governmental organization that promotes women's human rights. It works internationally to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms. Their website offers research and documentation of international sexual exploitation as well as links to international and national organizations offering support to trafficked women.

Captive Daughters is an organization based in California that is dedicated to brining national and international attention to the wide spread problem of sex trafficking of children.

Polaris Project is a Washington, DC based non-Profit organization that is focused on combating trafficking through local, national and international grassroots efforts.
The U.S. Department of Justice Trafficking Hotline1-888-428-7581Donna Hughes, chair of the women's studies program at the University of Rhode Island,has written a number of papers dealing with issues of trafficking. They are available for download from her website: http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/pubvio.htm

Vital Voices is an international organization dedicated to helping women participate in the process of building democracy and preventing sex trafficking and other human rights violations all over the world.

Articles and Reports
The US Department of State's "Tafficking in Persons Report, June 2005""A New Commodity in Kosovo" - new finding in report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reveal sex trafficking in Kosovo."Boys Will Be Boys" - International peaceworkers create demand for prostitution in war torn countries (from the BBC). The International Organization for Migration (IOM) published a report entitled Shattered Dreams: Report on Trafficking in Persons in Azerbaijan (Adobe PDF format).

im convicted, guilty as charged...

if i could imagine what God would say to me in the midst of a mistake or a sin i am committing it wouldn't be pleasant, after all He is God, Judger of all, the final word "if you will". after reading scripture you can easily see that God is a Holy God and doesn't tolerate sin, ever! in fact the old testament if full of God judging sin and most of the time it doesn't look to good...take noah for example...to preserve the human race God literally flooded the earth to purge the wrong so that good could continue.... (side note) the earth was warned for over 100 years about the coming flood, so even God in His judgement was giving people a way out ahead of time, an ark...BUT when it comes to my mistakes, i feel sometimes shameful, guilty, even ill at times because of where i've aloud myself to be. and when i look at God's holiness, how in the world will i ever live up to it...i can't! and according to the bible my sin has to be judged, i am convicted of my sin, guilty as charged...i am and never will be worthy to be close to God, after all my sin is always going to prevent me to come...God and sin will never mix and, well, there are no exceptions to this rule...so what do i do, do i just sulk in my self depreciation and worthlessness...sorry to say, sometimes i do, i have to be honest...BUT i am reminded of some truths that Jesus reveals in scripture...of all those things and with all that said there is one remaining factor that stands in the way of my guilt, shame, mistakes, SIN...it is the only thing that protects me from the wrath i deserve from my mistakes. not only does it protect me, it presents me innocent, shows me clean, no sin, perfection...it's the blood of jesus, the sacrifice jesus made at the cross...

revelations 1:5 says 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--
colossians 1:13-1413 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

i am released from my sin because of jesus...i am not guilty anymore...jesus took my guilt, my sin, my judgement and nailed it to the cross when he died...but he didn't just die, he ROSE again securing my friendship with God, and now God lives in me, so when i sin God sees himself. when God sees me he is reminded of what he did through Jesus...therefore God only sees what he has made me to be, free from sin, free from guilt and shame, and free to be his child!

here is a song that i found yesterday...it's a great song and encouraging...it's by aaron keyes , go to his myspace and listen too "your not guilty anymore" ...great song for prayer and reflection of who we are...listen to God says "you're not guilty anymore"!!!

thx God, you love me so very much and you made a way for me, you are my Father...i love you for what you have done for me...

got an interesting email from worship net

Jeff merry with Worship Net Arizona sends emails out weekly, he sent this one a few weeks again and it was a great reminder of who we are...simple short email with a great devotional in it...here it is with some "wes" injunctions...

with the economy the way it is it's hard not to think of where you are in your finances...have you thought about your credit score lately? and yes i hate that stupid commercial, you know the one "im thinking of a #"...hate it!!! with that said what do you think your credit score is? not your financial one, but your spiritual credit score. if you were to rate yourself regarding your relationship with Jesus today on a scale of 0-850, where would you score? got it? now check this out...

we have received the righteousness (made right) of God through faith
Rom. 3:22we have been raised with Christ and seated in the heavenlies.
Eph. 2:5-7we have received the indwelling presence of God.
1 Cor. 3:17; 6:19we belong to Christ.
Rom. 7:4we are a new creation.
2 Cor. 5:17

today as a believer, your spiritual economy and or credit score is determined by what Jesus did for you and not what you do for Him. so your score is 850!!! today and everyday! the good news is that we no longer need to try to increase our credit score with Jesus, it's already 850. that frees us up to be His ambassadors. his representatives in every relationship, circumstance, and event we face every day. (John 20:21) we have been sent by Jesus just as Jesus was sent by God to help, reach, and be a light to this world...2009 isn't a year to stay where we are...2009 is a year of new perspectives as old as the bible, you've all ready got it, so help people, reach people!!! jesus is the reason for the...EVERTHING :)

quote of the day is:
being a christian isn't thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less...moto for 2009? what do you say?

some interesting quotes, check em out

weird music but some great quotes...either way i am, in my heart, getting consumed with reaching people with the love of God...all those that are around us who don't know how amazing God is, those who have never heard...

God you have my heart...

here am i (send me); great song!!!

a foundational scripture i have lived by is found in isaiah 6:8... Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am. Send Me!" - Isaiah 6:8, this scripture is the bomb diggety scripture of who i am and want to be...with that said, i am always looking for songs that can inspire this concept isaiah was seeing when he said this...songs that provoke a consecration to the will of God concerning reaching people...anyways

here is the song... it's by matt papa "here am i (send me)" ... this song is great!!! check it out

peace