tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post2330160805165481870..comments2023-05-26T07:41:53.109-05:00Comments on Afterthoughts On A Whirlwind Journey: My Fight Against PornographyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post-36954039019975228912007-12-01T15:11:00.000-06:002007-12-01T15:11:00.000-06:00Glad I could be of some help, Brandon, though I'll...Glad I could be of some help, Brandon, though I'll admit it was God that showed me that the men I was viewing were lost, and that He weeped for them. Though Rik and I disagree on <I>a lot</I> of issues, I will agree that you need men in your life that you can share these struggles with. Everyman, gay or straight, needs that kind of accountability partner. Peace.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15232291579882899350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6319921527453210584.post-77769312247925559732007-11-22T14:47:00.000-06:002007-11-22T14:47:00.000-06:00Brandon,This was a very thoughtful post and it is ...Brandon,<BR/><BR/>This was a very thoughtful post and it is good to get things out into the light. <BR/><BR/>But in this case, your use of the word “addiction” is just another word for “habitual sin.” You’re better off calling it for it truly is rather than using psychobabble terminology. Only when we call it “sin” can we truly recognize our need for the cross.<BR/><BR/>There are also a few things you need to really honestly understand and confess:<BR/><BR/>First, when it comes to sin we tend to lie to ourselves. As you admitted, you pushed God into the back of your mind. This is the suppression of the truth and knowledge about God. In doing so we are often self-deceived in our heart.<BR/><BR/>“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)<BR/><BR/>So, we tend to not tell ourselves the truth when we face our sin and afterwards make it less than it truly is.<BR/><BR/>Second, whenever we sin at that moment we love the sin more than we love God. Our affections are more for the sin than for the Lord who bought us and died for our sin.<BR/><BR/>Third, therefore we cannot say that we hate that thing which we are loving in our sin. We may hate sin sometimes but we must also confess and acknowledge to ourselves that sometimes we love it.<BR/><BR/>Notice how I say “we” here. I am talking about US - you and me.<BR/><BR/>But there is another “we” that I want you to understand. WE cannot fight this battle alone, WE need brothers who can stand for us and WE need a pastor who can shepherd us. <BR/><BR/>If you haven’t got a brother you can call, who you confess your sin to on a weekly basis, who checks up on you once in a while to see how you are doing, who you have given free access to EVERYTHING in your life so that you ae living transparently. Then you are fighting this on your own and you will not succeed. <BR/><BR/>You have said that your pastor ignores you and won’t help you. I have offered you help to find a pastor who will be a true shepherd. I have offered to help you from a distance as much as I can. But you haven’t taken me up on my offer.<BR/><BR/>My guess is that you don’t trust me, you’re afraid of me and so you remain only an anonymous person who goes by the name “Brandon.”<BR/><BR/>I don’t want to “push” you.... but if you’re not seeking help from me. You need help from someone. <BR/><BR/>Last night I talked to my bro Dave on the phone. It was great! There is so much freedom in our friendship that I can say anything to him and he loves me for who I am. I spent most of Monday with my bro Phil. We talked about everything under the sun. There are a lot more people like these guys in the church - I am sure of it. You need to find them.<BR/><BR/>We can find great strength in such brothers who can help us learn to stand strong on our own with the Lord.<BR/><BR/>Brandon, I continue to pray for you and hope that your will find the comrades in the fight against sin that you need.<BR/><BR/>Love ya bro!<BR/><BR/>RikErikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01618960202550806181noreply@blogger.com