Unite for Purity

I received a comment on my recent post and began to reply in the form of a comment but as you can see below, it turned into something longer than what could go in a comment form. This is in response to Nicks' comment as well as extra thoughts. :

I understand your point but the main objective of my post was not so much the topic of girls getting 4 weeks off (I agree they should have a way to graduate) as much the fact that instead of worrying about how to help pregnant girls, parents should be trying to teach purity.

I am in no way condemning pregnant girls as that I commend their courage for their decision to raise their child. I was attempting to show that instead of trying to fix things by assisting the mothers(while it is good), our society should be focused on trying to stop the high amount (and apparent approval of) fornication among teen-aged kids.

I realize that some parents are against this behavior and I applaud them for their efforts, but society as a whole seems to show that this type of conduct is acceptable and this needs to be changed. Parents and students who believe in purity should unite in order to change this society.
As teenagers, we should no longer consume the high amount of sexual perversion in the form of movies, TV, music and even advertisements ( I recently saw sex used to sell red bull and pizza). If this generation were to stand against the current marketing schemes, advertisers, producers and record labels would be forced to change their current practices. As for our friends who do not choose purity, we should tell them about their sin and share the Gospel.

As parents, you should support your child and continue to teach the importance of purity and Christ. I realize that I am not a parent but I think that parents should stand with their children that choose purity. As for the children that choose not to follow purity, parents should stand strong and attempt to monitor their child's activity. I realize this is easier said than done but if parents stand strong it could help.

I do not have the answers or do I claim to have them but I know something has to be changed in this society. I apologize if I offended anyone by anything I said. I was attempting to make a point

God bless,
Anthony

PS. Be sure to Check out the girls over at Purity: Fully Clothed. They have made purity their mission.

You want what??

I found this article about Denver High Schools being asked to institute a four week maternity leave for students that were new mothers because the current policy is they must return to school the day after they are released from the hospital. While I understand the point trying to be made, we are talking about teenage girls here. The entire group in question would range from ages 14 to 18 and they all are unmarried. According to the Denver Post, "Denver has one of the highest teen-pregnancy rates in the state. Of every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 17, 54.5 will become pregnant in the city, compared with 24.3 throughout Colorado, according to state health statistics.". So instead of finding a way to stop the fornication, school officials rather just find a way to make things easier for the mothers.

I am glad that these girls choose to keep their babies and didn't get an abortion but shouldn't the parents be finding a way to stop this problem at the root. This all goes back to sex and how schools are preaching that it is ok to have sex whenever. The parents of Denver should be worried about changing those statistics rather than just dealing with them. Whats next, childcare in the schools?

Pray for this country and it's youth.

God bless,
Anthony

You're so vain......

.....you probably think your testimonies about you, YOU'RE SO VAIN.

Although I started this blog on a fairly funny note, your testimony and who it focuses upon is a very serious subject. I listened to the testimony of pastor Paul Washer (you can find it on way of the master radio) and instead of him focusing on how horrible he was for the majority of it and just barley mentioning Christ and His saving grace like most testimonies these days are he instead spoke briefly on his sin and spent most of his time on Christ and the Gospel.

Whats your testimony like? I was greatly convicted by this because every time I have shared my testimony it was always about me, me, me and all my sin. everyone knows that we are sinners. Next time you are asked to share your testimony, bring the glory to Jesus Christ and the cross rather than glorifying your past sins.

God bless,
Anthony

Hollywood: America's Idol

Like any other person in the world, I always look at the magazine covers on the racks at the grocery store. This got me to wondering why our society is so obsessed with celebrity. Do we really care how Brittney screwed up this time or what is going on with the latest celebrity couple? We have to know whats going on to make our lives seem less horrible and instead of dealing with our problems we deal with Hollywood's'. If you didn't know, the way that American society views Hollywood is extreme idolatry, Rather than studying Gods' word we would prefer to rush out and find out if Lindsey Lohan is still sober. I recently posted a clip from Mark Driscoll about idolatry and its worth another listen.

What do you put first, Christ of the newest 'it' girl? Lets tell Hollywood to shape up and we need to focus on our lives and walk with Jesus.

God bless,
Anthony

PURITY: Fully Clothed!: A poem

This is a really sweet poem I read on a site dedicated to purity..... its written by two teen girls who are on a mission to change their generation for Christ. click the link to check it out

God bless,
Anthony
PS more blogs on the way tomorrow

PURITY: Fully Clothed!: A poem

So last night I was watching Lord of the Rings and a line in the movie wouldn't stop going through my head and I ended up writing a poem. This poem has nothing to do with purity, at least not to me, but I felt I needed to share it.



Don't go were I can't follow,
Please don't leave me here alone.
All I want is to hear you again
To feel your touch
And to see you for the first time.
I need you here to guide me through my darkness.
To help me through my confusion.

I need you
The reasons are clear as black is white.
Will you still accept my ruined soul?

Don't go were I can't follow.
I don't want to be lonely anymore.
My eyes are blind,
To what you have in store.
I know I try to walk away from you
Which hammers your limbs once again.
Unfortunately nothing will take away the pain I've caused.

Don't go were I can't follow.
Please don't leave me behind.
I'm here begging for your forgiveness
Even though I don't deserve it.


So after I wrote this I read it over to see if it has anything to do with purity and I figured out it does. The first thing I realized is that many people when reading this would automatically think I was talking about a guy. Which this poem is not about a guy, it is about God. From this I noticed that many people in this generation, mainly girls turn everything into something about a guy. But this is the opposite of what God wants us to do. God doesn't want us to be like this, he wants our number one priority to be him. To me learning this is a big key to staying pure, because we have to get our minds off the world's perspective of love and keep our minds on God's path.

The "Christianity" of Hollywood

Here are some comments I have posted on the Christian post and the comments of others responding to me: here is the article


here are the comments: check back because I will post futher responses in the comments of this post:

amendoza
I think this made Christianity worse in peoples eyes. Underwood and Washington have lives that somewhat follow the faith (I am not judging their Christianity) but the other two: Montag, who openly sleeps with her boyfriend, gets trashed at clubs and Madden who, is having a baby with his girlfriend which is fornication (not repentent might I add). I like how the article comes from the highly thological US weekly. This is annoying
Anthony

mcfbc
I am excited to read that Montag and Madden are seeking God. I am also thankful that they are in God's hands and not in the hands of so many moralists that post here. I am praying that wherever they are in their relationship with God He will honor their searching and draw them closer to Him. I will also pray that we as Christians will be less condemning and more excited when we read about people seeking truth.

amendoza
mcfbc, the post doesnt say they are seeking, it says they found God. I can understand if the two came out saying 'the lifestyle I am living has been wrong and I repent and put my faith in Christ' instead they just claim they believe and read the bible. Remember James 2:19(paraphrase) You believe in God, good. Even the demons believe and trembile. and according to scripture (matthew 3 I believe) when Satan tempts Christ HE USES SCRIPTURE which means he must have read it.just because I read a book about plants doesnt make me a tree so just because they read the Bible it doesn't make them a Christian!
God bless,
Anthony

mcfbc
God has us all in different places. I am thankful that He has revealed the truth of the gospel to you and me. I agree reading the Bible doesn't make one a Christian. However, I am hopeful that through their reading God will reveal his grace to them. We have all been at places where we have been ignorant of God's ways, both as believer and non-believers. Yet God showed much mercy to each of us. Instead of condemning them for their ignorance, we need to be praying that God's grace woud be revealed in their lives.

amendoza
I hope you do not misunderstand me, I in no way am condeming them but what frustraights me is that US weekly has published this and it makes it out to be ok to do all the forementioned things they are doing. thats what bothers me not the fact that they say they are reading the bible.
God bless,
Anthony

prv3116
1st...I here reading the bible but what about the "Word' in motion? Where is the salvation and if we are believers it is our reasonable service to show God in all we do. I pray that their faith increases. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God.James 1:22 (King James Version)But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.2nd... When we state that we as believers read the bible but live contrary to the bible are we really believers or "carnal Christians". Carnality is an emnity against GodRomans 8:7 (kjv)Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.James 1:22-25 (New International Version)22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

ndmaster
Listen up guys! Stop bible quoting because you are essentially being argumentative and counterproductive to the will of the Holy Spirit. Given the influence that hollywood has on the lives of millions of people, we need to SUPPORT any indications that the Holy Spirit of God is growing in it's presence even in Hollywood (the last place on earth that you might think that this kind of miracle could happen). Encourage those who would be first to blaze the path for Christ in Hollywood - let them know that they have our prayers and support! All of sinned and fall short...and are a work in progress...let's be careful not to cast any stones on our imperfect brothers and sisters in Christ, but encourage them all the more as we see the day approaching...

faithcomesbyhearing
We shouldn't be bashing others for reading the Word, when nearly 65% of all Bible readers have never read the entire New Testament. Thank God for His Word. It has the power to change the hearts and lives of many. Some of these Hollywood stars are role models for others, and might spur others to begin to read or listen to His Word. Since most of us say we don't have time to read the Bible, then there are other solutions, like downloading a free Audio Bible. I got mine at FaithComesByHearing.com or you can find it on iTunes.

eirene43
It's so easy to judge another person. It's also destructive when you don't know everything but God does. I'm really encouraged to hear that despite just talking about their faiths in an article here and there, some of them are doing something. I haven't heard all of The Bible Experience with Denzel Washington but from what I've heard of it, I really think it's an awesome project. That's another great audiobible besides the ones that come from Faith Comes By Hearing. The Bible Experience uses the TNIV.

amendoza
faithcomesbyhearing, "Some of these Hollywood stars are role models for others, and might spur others to begin to read or listen to His Word" I understand that but if they are looking at the Bible as a way to be cool like the Hollywood stars and not reading it because it is the 100% true and innerrant word of God the scripture can be taken and twisted and thats not good. Someone reading a Bibile isnt always a good thing, sometimes they use it to build an attack on Christianity or twist it into a totaly different and wrong idea (ie Brian McClaren and other emergents that have twisted scripture beyond all recognisability). Agian I am not saying that these people are wrong for reading the Bible I am however, angered at the US weekly article because it makes it look like if you read your Bible your ok. FALSE!!! if you don't repent and put your faith in Christ you can read the Bible all you want and your still going to hell (and contrary to Doug Pagitt hell is a verry real place)
God bless,
Anthony

Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments on this topic
God bless,
Anthony

Great night!!

So tonight was the harvest party and it went off without a hitch!! It was fabulous. Everything went well and I have faith that the drama touched some people and that they will read the Gospels we gave them at the end. One of my co-workers came with her kids so they got to hear the gospel too.
All I have to say is Praise God

Goodnight and God bless,
Anthony

P.S. real post to come tomorrow!!!

Pretty sweet night

So today some of the evangelism team and I went to one of the casinos in town where a Worth the Wait event was being hosted. We went not for the event but to preach the gospel after because WTW can't preach due to the fact they receive federal grants for abstinence teaching (we figured we would complete what they were doing). At first when we got there we were unable to preach because they ushered all the kids inside the event. A gentleman politely said something like ' we like what you are doing but right now the event is going on and there are always people from Planned Parenthood coming to these events to try and tie us to a faith based group then we would lose our funding but once they leave the room at 9 when our event is over they are all yours.' He was a very nice guy but anyways so Joey and i went walking around trying to evangelize in other parts of the casino while two of the girls were in the event. They ended up landing an interview with one of the organizers and all of the rappers they had there. They left the event early to find us and to get ready with questions for the interview and met us by the arcade. While they were writing questions and figuring out how they were going to record it a group of kids (roughly 12 to 16ish) walked by and Joey gave them a million dollar bill. They made some remark about it not being real and just kept walking. I saw this but decided that they were worth another crack because Joey never got to tell them that there was a gospel message on the back. As I went after them i found the bill ripped in half on the floor. picked it up and pulled out a fresh one. I caught up to the group of about 5 or 6 and after a little persistence got 2 to actually hold a conversation with me. their names were Lexi and Ivan. at first Lexi was very self righteous and said that she was catholic and all she had to do was ask for forgiveness while Ivan was just trying to be funny. eventually I got them calm enough to hear the law and they both fell silent very quickly IT WAS AWESOME! They both realized that they were headed for hell and didn't want to go there. I old them the gospel and Lexi seemed to be taking in every word almost like she was taking notes on what she had to do to be saved. Ivan seemed to be thinking about it as well but he didn't seem as convicted by it. (I think its because he said he was a bad person right of while Lexi was proclaiming her own goodness) I gave them one of our evangelism fliers with the church name on it and such and I hope to see them soon. EVERYONE PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO CONVICT THEM AND THAT THEY WILL BE SAVED.

Back to the WTW event. So Joey and I went upstairs waiting for the event to end and a lady came up to us and asked us what our Christian beliefs were and come to find out she is the coordinator for Nevada worth the wait and she said that once she herd that we were out here trying to preach the gospel that she had to ask us if we were interested in becoming speakers for worth the wait by going to schools and preaching abstinence while getting paid for it. This lady was very nice and was a christian she said that at first she didn't know how she was going to bring glory to God if she was unable to say his name or the name of Jesus but she soon said that she felt that God was telling her that her job was to do this and He would put people in the kids way that would preach the gospel.

As for the interview you will have to listen to the show we will have it on then sometime in the near future it was some very thought provoking conversation

all in all it was a decent night I preached the gospel to 2 kids who may get saved, I got an offer to become a pubic speaker and make $$ and I got an interview with 2 rappers and a coordinator for another abstinence organization.

goodnight all and don't forget to pray for Lexi and Ivan,
Anthony

Is this really what we want to tell kids??

So I was listening to the radio on my way to college and a commercial came on for a new show debuting today. It started off with different teens talking about how they didn't think this girl would come back to the school and then a girls voice said "you slept with my boyfriend, your done here." My thought was wow not another dumb teen drama that approves of fornication same old crap. well folks it gets better! so the same stuff continues for about 15 more seconds then the announcer comes on and says 'this is the show you will be talking about tomorrow and you're no one if your not talked about' and the show is called Gossip Girl. So not only do we have another show that says go have all the sex you can before marriage but now this one tells teens that if you are not the topic of a rumor you are not cool so go out there and Gossip and make sure you become the center of gossip. Since when did we decide its a good idea to have all these teens (primarily girls) wanting to be the focus of a rumor..... things like this make me nervous about having a family of my own in this generation. I am still a few years out from that.... how much worse can it get YIKES!

God Bless,
Anthony