Moving Day

[liketowrite]

I am posting this under Urban Legends because I cannot determine the truthfulness of the story we got from the movers as the moved our pastor. Their story went like this:

We were moving another pastor last week and there was a group of church members helping carry boxes out of the house when suddenly the bottom of a heavy-laiden box gave way spilling the pastor's collection of pornography on the ground. The minister dropped down to his knees and was frantically gathering the stuff up when a member commented, "it appears that's the longest you've spent on your knees in quite some time!"

[AndrewM]

Sure sounds like an urban legend to me. Legends are best when they teach a quick lessonor two in the smallest economy of words. The story pushes quite a few buttons for the "faithless pastors will burn longer" crowd.

[Naomi]

Urban Legend or not, it is a very good story. The visual picture is quite vivid. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

[Joe_in_RP]

What if we updated it an said a virus got into a church members computer and emailed to everyone on his/her address book things they thought were private. Makes you stop and think, doesn't it?

[cricket]

Joe, is there something you'd like to share??

I'm going to say something in all honesty: it takes one to know one.

There were things in my e-mail messages that I wouldn't have wanted anyone in my church to know about. Fortunately, my husband found out about them and decided it best to share with my pastor, the elders and a few other members. I have since learned a really important lesson on obedience and faithfulness. I have also given my heart back to God.

Now, I say it takes one to know one because this sort of statement, "Makes you stop and think, doesn't it?" lends itself to questionable thoughts.

There are things I've heard others tell me that they were thinking others were thinking. They are things that sound absurd until one has been in their shoes.

So, Joe, have I been in your shoes?

[Gail]

And there are no secrets to God anyway...

[Joe_in_RP]

Pornography is a major problem in christian men according to many christian leaders.

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I am so surprised how many Adventist men have told me they struggle with this.

My field is computer support for small business. I often discover pornography in the workplace. I report it to the owner. In industry and public service people are regularly fired for such things. People think what they do in private will never become public.

I am telling you as a computer programmer such viruses are not only possible but highly probable.

[Nicodema]

Praise God He has given us a way out, amen?

We don't have to win those struggles. We don't have to get the victory over it ourselves, because Jesus Christ has already done it for us, and He offers His victory to us if we will but come to Him, repent, and confess our need. Doesn't matter if it's for the first time or the millionth time -- it is at the foot of the cross that we find the ONLY power over sin -- HIS, not ours (we don't have any) -- and the only real life there is, the eternal life that is in His Son.

I have good news for those Adventist men today: Jesus Christ is powerful enough to deliver you from the sins you love, crave and cherish. Even if you aren't ready to quit them. Even if you still love and crave them when you come to Him. You don't HAVE to wait until you have gritted your teeth and rationalized yourself into pretending to hate your sins before calling on His name and receiving His potent salvation. It can be yours today. All you have to do is own up. Just confess that you're helpless. Powerless. Weak. You can't overcome it. You like it. You want it. You know you're a wretch for feeling that way but that's how you are. Just own up. And tell it all to Him. And give Him permission to set you free. He will set you free with a COMPLETE deliverance, not a partial one. He doesn't just sit there insisting you get over it and quit sinning and THEN He will help you ... NO WAY!!! He doesn't sit there insisting you pretend you actually hate those sinful things you crave ... NO WAY, that would be lying and our God is a God of honesty and truth. He just wants you to own up and give up -- give up on yourself -- and come to Him. He'll do the fixing. He'll do the saving. He'll set you free. He'll even give you the desire to be set free at all if you don't have it. He does it all. It is His work from start to finish. All glory and honor and praise to Him, none to us!!!