A Clean Skin admits: "I smoked drugs"
Admitting that to the police was probably not the best thing to do...
I was reminded this morning of the first time I was arrested for dealing drugs, some ‘trivial’ events stood out in my mind. It wasn’t so much the police, the handcuffs, the being locked in the paddy wagon. But the actions of a ‘clean skin’ - a person who had never used drugs but was present and essentially dobbed himself in.
Let me back up a bit. This morning I had a ministry session...
Rachael Denhollander Vitim or Victor
Rachael Denhollander
Victim or Victor?
Today, I read an excerpt from former gymnast Rachael Denhollander’s victim impact statement. It was moving and powerful to say the least. Having spent much time with survivors of sexual abuse her words reveal so much to both those struggling, those abusing and those in charge of making sure others are protected.
It is so incredibly sad that so many precious young lives had to be tainted so deeply before this case came to light. It always grips me when I see people who have been wounded by the people who were meant to love them.
The life-changing and dramatic impact that sexual abuse has on a person is hard to imagine, describe or come to terms with.
As an aside I want to encourage any reading this who are still struggling - help exists and healing is possible. Not denial, not endless groups and therapy - but real and lasting transformation where the guilt, shame and pain are gone. Where the reactions are manageable or even non existent. Where loving and being loved and vulnerable come easy.
In Rachel’s statement you will recognise a level of healing and restoration which is great - in my opinion only possible with Jesus Christ. While she was a victim, she is operating with valour and in many peoples eyes, is a victor!
I love the line she walks in forgiveness of her perpetrator, sharing the Gospel with him, though revealing the need for his earthly punishment. The woman has opened herself and her family up to incredible pressure and attack for the sake of others - true valour and selflessness.
Interestingly, when I have witnessed people in ministry get true resolve of their pain - the first response to the perpetrator is that of compassion. It is incredible - not a forced decide to forgive, release or ‘forget’ - but true compassion and love for them. When Jesus transforms, the natural reaction is to love.
If you are a survivor that struggles continually, continue cautiously - it contains triggering information (especially in the link to the full excerpt of her statement).
Conclusion: Jesus heals
PRAYER: May we all seek for God to heal us with The Truth (Jesus), so that His love would flow freely through us.
Click READ MORE to see the statement
Dear Homosexual Friend
Dear Homosexual Friend: It’s futile.
Why marriage re-definition won’t work.…
Nobody likes to be rejected, bullied or excluded. We all want be loved, accepted and included. It’s part of being human - we desire these things and feel good when they happen.
Growing up we should learn it in our family and we experience the effects (good and bad) in groups in kindy, the playground and school. We are normally told it is the right thing to do: include people in games and activities, share with people - accept and love them.
Read on to find out why it won’t work...
Homosexual Faith in Marriage
Homosexual Faith in Marriage
The real reason homosexuals want marriage re-defined…and how we can relate.
The current debate has settled down to the ‘re-definition of marriage’, a definition that includes any two men and two women. If you talk to people who want this change they will be very careful to try to point out that ‘love is love’, ‘it doesn’t affect anyone’ and ‘it is about equal rights’.
But this doesn’t make sense - a huge number of people will be affected (even if you ignore the links to sex education, transgenderism, freedom of speech and religious rights), what is labelled love isn’t always love and homosexual rights have been instituted for years. Homosexuals have all the rights of a married couple in Australia.
The only thing missing is a piece of paper that says ‘Certificate of Marriage’.
A question comes to mind - what good is this piece of paper to them? Marriage is an institution that has always been opposed to homosexual inclusivity - so why would they want to be part of it?
Do they believe deeply in marriage and hold it as sacred?
I recall an article doing the rounds a while ago where a lesbian woman had married a homosexual man to try to bring light to the ‘inequality of marriage’. But to me this stunt simply shows the disdain they have for this institution. They had no ‘love’ for each other, no commitment for life to the other, and had no plans to ‘exclude all others’ from their relationship or beds.
Is it a sign of a triumph? This could be true for a number of people in this camp, but I think it goes far deeper. As a small skirmish as part of a larger war, this battle is only of contextual importance - in a few years this will just be a small stepping stone to the complete desecration of the public notion of marriage.
But personally for the individual - the homosexual barracking for this change - what does it mean to them? Not all of them are the militant, arrogant, violent people we see swearing, spitting and threatening. But they are people deeply wounded and hurting - struggling through a painful life and at times seen as the enemy when all they want or need is a friend or unconditional love.
Click to read more about how we can relate.