As my 20s came to an end, I was overcome by stark terror and soul-crushing despair. During the latter half of my young adult years, I dealt with a crippling personal issue, family conflict, being a social outcast at church, financial woes, and disastrous trials in the workplace (when I was blessed to have a job at all-suffice it to say that America is not the "Land of Opportunity" anymore). On the eve of my 30th birthday, I felt like a complete and utter failure.
Despite what my society at large says, life doesn't end at 30. In fact, Christ Himself didn't even START His earthly ministry until He was 30. My favorite historical figure from the Bible, Joseph, was 30 when he came Prime Minister of Egypt, and David, Israel's greatest King (excluding Jesus), didn't even become the ruler of God's chosen people until he was 30. My life, in fact, has already started to turn around for the better. My personal struggle is being resolved, my relationships with my family are being restored, I am in a church that loves and cares for me, my finances have improved significantly, and I now work at two great places where my bosses and coworkers treat me extremely well. So when my birthday finally came, I received kindness from my friends, relatives, fellow church members, and the people whom I work with.
Their kindness is a reminder from Christ that He still wants to use me for His glory. If I have failed at my own personal bucket list (and it's not because I'm being chastised for making a donkey out of myself), then it means that Christ has even better plans for me than I do for myself and doesn't want me to settle.
At any rate, I do have one success. Even though my youth has passed, my Virginity "Streak" has survived. I will still be able to look my future wife in the eye (whoever she is) and tell her that she is my first. I need to stay vigilant, though. My culture has become more sex-obsessed than ever, and now the women are just as aggressive as the men. I still receive "attention" from beautiful young women and I would be lying if I said it wasn't tempting. I know that if a 22-year-old supermodel cornered me in a hotel room and came on to me, she would probably turn me out and make me look stupid to the people I am trying to reach for Christ. I also need to watch out for the "Potiphar's wives" out there; the gorgeous mature women who have years of experience when it comes to turning men out and making them look stupid. So I must continue to set and enforce boundaries and, if necessary, run from these women if the temptation becomes too great. At the same time, I must remember that the most powerful temptation does not come from them, or Satan and his demons, but my own heart. So I must also follow Christ to continue my transformation into a godly man of love, honor, justice, and integrity. If I do, then both myself and my future wife will lead others to Christ with our marriage. Enjoying "Romantic World Peace" and "The Sexual Force Unleashed" will be fun rewards for us, too...
Genesis 41:46 "Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt." (NIV)
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Bane! What You Should Avoid Becoming In Your Quest For Sexual Purity!
One of my favorite movie villains is Bane from "Dark Knight Rises."
In the film, he is reimagined as a terrorist leader dedicated to
punishing the decadent city of Gotham for its sins. In doing so, he
targets its protector, Batman, breaks his back, and drags him to a
foreign prison, where he intends to make him watch the destruction of
his beloved city before he permits him to die.
Bane, played by Tom Hardy in "Dark Knight Rises", was an absolutely terrifying, psychopathic zealot. Make sure that, in your quest for purity, you do not become his spiritual equivalent. Photo (which is used for fair use/commentary only) from Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub at Collider: http://collider.com/tom-hardy-the-dark-knight-rises-interview/
What's very interesting about Christopher Nolan's versions of Bane and Batman is that they are cut from the same cloth. In fact, in Nolan's "Batman" trilogy, they both share common training under Ra's Al Ghul in the League of Shadows. But there is one key difference: Batman understands that the act does not always justify the means, which is why he forsakes the League of Shadows to become Gotham's hero. Bane does not, and becomes a monster that's so ferocious that Ra's Al Ghul himself decides to excommunicate him. So whereas Batman wants to fight Gotham's corruption by fighting crime and cooperating with the police to save the city's citizens, Bane simply wants to blow it into a million pieces. Each character's methods shows what they are really motivated by: selfless devotion to the Greater Good (Batman) or a self-righteous desire to elevate oneself by condemning others (Bane).
I am bringing this up because I have met many church members who say that they are good Christians but are simply "Banes" in disguise. Instead of being sexually pure to lead others to Christ, they do it to make themselves feel superior to others. So when they run into people who have struggled with sexual sin in the past (or who were pure before but have since fallen into temptation), they either ostracize them socially or throw them out of the church entirely. I'm not talking about Christians who simply administer church discipline or who cast out people who refuse to admit wrongdoing and justify sinful behavior. I'm talking about church members who refuse to forgive and restore others who have admitted wrongdoing and are willing to do whatever it takes to make amends.
Let me make myself very clear: doing the right thing for the wrong reason is the wrong thing. If you do this, you turn into the Pharisees, who were basically "The League of Shadows" of the Jewish faith when Christ was alive. In doing this, you can become what Paul was before he was saved: Saul of Tarsus, the "Bane" of the Pharisees who ruthlessly had Christians imprisoned and killed before he was converted on the road to Damascus. Don't become a spiritual "Bane" in your quest for purity. Stay pure to honor God, not yourself!
Matthew 23: 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (NIV)
Bane, played by Tom Hardy in "Dark Knight Rises", was an absolutely terrifying, psychopathic zealot. Make sure that, in your quest for purity, you do not become his spiritual equivalent. Photo (which is used for fair use/commentary only) from Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub at Collider: http://collider.com/tom-hardy-the-dark-knight-rises-interview/
What's very interesting about Christopher Nolan's versions of Bane and Batman is that they are cut from the same cloth. In fact, in Nolan's "Batman" trilogy, they both share common training under Ra's Al Ghul in the League of Shadows. But there is one key difference: Batman understands that the act does not always justify the means, which is why he forsakes the League of Shadows to become Gotham's hero. Bane does not, and becomes a monster that's so ferocious that Ra's Al Ghul himself decides to excommunicate him. So whereas Batman wants to fight Gotham's corruption by fighting crime and cooperating with the police to save the city's citizens, Bane simply wants to blow it into a million pieces. Each character's methods shows what they are really motivated by: selfless devotion to the Greater Good (Batman) or a self-righteous desire to elevate oneself by condemning others (Bane).
I am bringing this up because I have met many church members who say that they are good Christians but are simply "Banes" in disguise. Instead of being sexually pure to lead others to Christ, they do it to make themselves feel superior to others. So when they run into people who have struggled with sexual sin in the past (or who were pure before but have since fallen into temptation), they either ostracize them socially or throw them out of the church entirely. I'm not talking about Christians who simply administer church discipline or who cast out people who refuse to admit wrongdoing and justify sinful behavior. I'm talking about church members who refuse to forgive and restore others who have admitted wrongdoing and are willing to do whatever it takes to make amends.
Let me make myself very clear: doing the right thing for the wrong reason is the wrong thing. If you do this, you turn into the Pharisees, who were basically "The League of Shadows" of the Jewish faith when Christ was alive. In doing this, you can become what Paul was before he was saved: Saul of Tarsus, the "Bane" of the Pharisees who ruthlessly had Christians imprisoned and killed before he was converted on the road to Damascus. Don't become a spiritual "Bane" in your quest for purity. Stay pure to honor God, not yourself!
Matthew 23: 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (NIV)
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Resurrection! How To Experience A Living Marriage With A Spouse With "A Past"
Happy Belated Easter, Everyone!
I am ecstatic because not only did I get to spend Easter with my family, but a close friend of mine welcomed me back into their life even though I didn't deserve it. Long story short, we had a falling out a couple of years ago that was 100% my fault. I honestly thought that they would never speak to me again. However, on Easter, I went before them, acknowledged that I was wrong, and asked them to forgive me (I was even prepared to beg if necessary). My friend, being the amazing saint that they are, forgave me immediately. We spent the rest of the morning catching up and our friendship was even better than it was before.
A few days after that, I got an amazing insight from God in regards to marriage: forgiveness and repentance are essential for truly experiencing holy matrimony.
My goal is to, through my example, lead as many people to stay virgins before marriage as possible. I believe that is the strongest way to spread the gospel on a planet that is increasingly dominated by the Lewd World Order. That being said, many of us who have kept our V-cards may be called to marry spouses who have "made mistakes" (i.e. thrown their V-cards through a plate-glass window). While I still believe that my future spouse (whoever she is) will also be a virgin when we are married, I am prepared for the worst case scenario in which I am not her first. Or second. Or third...
(Those of you who live in a Western country such as the United States will understand)
I know exactly what I will do if that is the case: I will forgive my future spouse.
Now I want to make it clear that you should NOT marry someone who is unrepentantly immoral. If you encounter a girl who justifies "playing the harlot" by saying "It's the 21st century" or a guy whose superhero alter ego is "Uber-Perv" because they believe "Boys will be boys", RUN!!! That person will not only expect you to do all the nasty things that their exes did to fulfill their "needs", but they will also look elsewhere for fulfillment (i.e. cheat) when you cease to be new and shiny. And obviously, do not marry someone who has a venereal disease.
That being said, the Holy Spirit can truly change hearts. There are people who have a sordid past who, through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, realize that they are wrong, repent, and turn their backs on forbidden desires FOR GOOD. These are the people who I call "resurrected virgins." They demonstrate their repentance through dedicating their lives to chastity, seeking God with all of their heart and loving Him through loving others. In return, God often blesses them by healing and restoring their sexuality (and, in the cases of those men and women who went completely bat guano carnally, He raises it from the dead). If God leads one of these reborn knights and maidens of chastity to you for holy matrimony, forgive them for what they did to harm your future marriage. Make sure that your forgiveness is genuine by letting it go and RELEASING IT TO GOD (i.e. don't secretly resent/be disgusted by your future spouse to make yourself feel superior). If you TRULY forgive them, God will bless both of you by allowing you to experience "The Sexual Force Unleashed" and "Romantic World Peace" within marriage.
If you are the one entering the marriage with baggage, repent. You don't need to give your future spouse a play-by-play analysis of your past indiscretions (nor is it advisable if you want the marriage to last very long). Just acknowledge that you haven't been pure in the past, repent and ask for forgiveness. Oh, and remember, if you consented, you're guilty. Don't give a fake apology in which all you basically do is throw your exes/friends with benefits/one night stands under the bus to absolve yourself from guilt. Repentance only works if you take FULL responsibility for your actions.
Through Christ's death and resurrection, we can all receive forgiveness, and be resurrected with Him as new creations. If we extend this forgiveness to our future spouses for their past sexual indiscretions, our future marriage with them, through the power of Christ, will also be resurrected.
Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (NIV)
I am ecstatic because not only did I get to spend Easter with my family, but a close friend of mine welcomed me back into their life even though I didn't deserve it. Long story short, we had a falling out a couple of years ago that was 100% my fault. I honestly thought that they would never speak to me again. However, on Easter, I went before them, acknowledged that I was wrong, and asked them to forgive me (I was even prepared to beg if necessary). My friend, being the amazing saint that they are, forgave me immediately. We spent the rest of the morning catching up and our friendship was even better than it was before.
A few days after that, I got an amazing insight from God in regards to marriage: forgiveness and repentance are essential for truly experiencing holy matrimony.
My goal is to, through my example, lead as many people to stay virgins before marriage as possible. I believe that is the strongest way to spread the gospel on a planet that is increasingly dominated by the Lewd World Order. That being said, many of us who have kept our V-cards may be called to marry spouses who have "made mistakes" (i.e. thrown their V-cards through a plate-glass window). While I still believe that my future spouse (whoever she is) will also be a virgin when we are married, I am prepared for the worst case scenario in which I am not her first. Or second. Or third...
(Those of you who live in a Western country such as the United States will understand)
I know exactly what I will do if that is the case: I will forgive my future spouse.
Now I want to make it clear that you should NOT marry someone who is unrepentantly immoral. If you encounter a girl who justifies "playing the harlot" by saying "It's the 21st century" or a guy whose superhero alter ego is "Uber-Perv" because they believe "Boys will be boys", RUN!!! That person will not only expect you to do all the nasty things that their exes did to fulfill their "needs", but they will also look elsewhere for fulfillment (i.e. cheat) when you cease to be new and shiny. And obviously, do not marry someone who has a venereal disease.
That being said, the Holy Spirit can truly change hearts. There are people who have a sordid past who, through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, realize that they are wrong, repent, and turn their backs on forbidden desires FOR GOOD. These are the people who I call "resurrected virgins." They demonstrate their repentance through dedicating their lives to chastity, seeking God with all of their heart and loving Him through loving others. In return, God often blesses them by healing and restoring their sexuality (and, in the cases of those men and women who went completely bat guano carnally, He raises it from the dead). If God leads one of these reborn knights and maidens of chastity to you for holy matrimony, forgive them for what they did to harm your future marriage. Make sure that your forgiveness is genuine by letting it go and RELEASING IT TO GOD (i.e. don't secretly resent/be disgusted by your future spouse to make yourself feel superior). If you TRULY forgive them, God will bless both of you by allowing you to experience "The Sexual Force Unleashed" and "Romantic World Peace" within marriage.
If you are the one entering the marriage with baggage, repent. You don't need to give your future spouse a play-by-play analysis of your past indiscretions (nor is it advisable if you want the marriage to last very long). Just acknowledge that you haven't been pure in the past, repent and ask for forgiveness. Oh, and remember, if you consented, you're guilty. Don't give a fake apology in which all you basically do is throw your exes/friends with benefits/one night stands under the bus to absolve yourself from guilt. Repentance only works if you take FULL responsibility for your actions.
Through Christ's death and resurrection, we can all receive forgiveness, and be resurrected with Him as new creations. If we extend this forgiveness to our future spouses for their past sexual indiscretions, our future marriage with them, through the power of Christ, will also be resurrected.
Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (NIV)
Sunday, March 29, 2015
The Undertaker's Streak: How The Dead Man Convinced Me To Wait Until Marriage
In my opinion, The Undertaker is the greatest pro wrestler of all time. He is the only wrestler who has managed to remain WWE's scariest heel since his debut with the company in 1990. I never thought that anyone would be able to pick up his mantle as "The Phenom."
Then Bray Wyatt burst onto the scene. Bray Wyatt is a demonic, backwoods psychopath who terrifies the living daylights out of me. As I watched him wrestle and listened to his lunatic rants, I realized that finally, a wrestler had come along who could carry the torch that The Undertaker lit. When I saw a commercial promoting their upcoming clash at Wrestlemania, it gave me goosebumps.
Then I remembered that The Undertaker had already had "The Streak" ended by Brock Lesnar last year.
Losing your virginity before marriage is as dumb as having The Undertaker lose to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Image from Jim Ross at Fox Sports (Link to: http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/wrestlemania-30-recap-brock-lesnar-ends-undertaker-winning-streak-21-matches-daniel-bryan-wwe-champ-040614)
The Undertaker's "Streak" was his undefeated Wrestlemania record. No matter what happened during the rest of the year, he always managed to win at WWE's biggest PPV. That came to an end when, to everybody's shock, Brock Lesnar defeated him at Wrestlemania 30 in 2014. The same Brock Lesnar who only wrestled in four matches during that entire year.
Brock Lesnar may be an impressive and talented athlete, but, unlike Bray Wyatt, he really hasn't dedicated his life to the WWE. He simply hasn't done (and, due to his battle with diverticulitis, probably can't do) enough to deserve to end "The Streak." If The Undertaker had given this honor to Bray Wyatt, he would have ended his WWE legacy with a bang and made Wyatt "The Phenom" of the next generation. Unfortunately, because the Deadman's "Streak" was squandered on someone who didn't deserve it, a victory over him at Wrestlemania doesn't mean anything anymore. Should Bray Wyatt defeat "The Phenom", it won't be a big deal, because Brock Lesnar already beat him to it.
Like allowing a wrestler to end "The Streak", giving your virginity to someone is a once-in-a-lifetime gift. Sadly, many young Christians allow their chastity "Streak" be ended by someone who doesn't deserve it. They give themselves to their bff's totally ripped older brother when they are in high school or to the smoking hot babe down the hall when they are a college freshman. Some Christians allow it to end as early as middle school, throwing away their "Streak" before they can even comprehend how valuable it is. However it happens, when these Christians finally meet their spouse and give their bodies to them, it doesn't really mean anything because their "Streak" has already been ended by someone else. That's one reason why I am preserving mine. If my future wife found out that I threw away my virginity on some 22-year-old model who I'd only dated a few times, I doubt she would be eager for the opportunity to become my silver medal (or "Intercontinental champion" in WWE terms).
Even though I will always respect what The Undertaker has done, the "Brock Lesnar blemish" will always be on his pro wrestling career. Likewise, if you lose your virginity before marriage, that blemish will always be on your romantic career. Granted, you can still have a wonderful marriage and lead others to Christ if you repent and give your past over to God. However, your marriage will never be as great as it could have been.
Don't let a romantic "Brock Lesnar" convince you to let them end your chastity "Streak" with the dating equivalents of freak athleticism and an incredible physique: looks, money, power, and social status. Even though those things might impress you now, if God doesn't intend for that person to share the romantic "WWE" of a Christ-centered marriage with you, you will just be wasting your time on someone who isn't willing or able to take it to the next level. Save your "Streak" for the one who shares your dedication to Christ: your future spouse. And put them over by allowing them to end it on the "Wrestlemania" of romance: the wedding night.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (NIV)
Then Bray Wyatt burst onto the scene. Bray Wyatt is a demonic, backwoods psychopath who terrifies the living daylights out of me. As I watched him wrestle and listened to his lunatic rants, I realized that finally, a wrestler had come along who could carry the torch that The Undertaker lit. When I saw a commercial promoting their upcoming clash at Wrestlemania, it gave me goosebumps.
Then I remembered that The Undertaker had already had "The Streak" ended by Brock Lesnar last year.
Losing your virginity before marriage is as dumb as having The Undertaker lose to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Image from Jim Ross at Fox Sports (Link to: http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/wrestlemania-30-recap-brock-lesnar-ends-undertaker-winning-streak-21-matches-daniel-bryan-wwe-champ-040614)
The Undertaker's "Streak" was his undefeated Wrestlemania record. No matter what happened during the rest of the year, he always managed to win at WWE's biggest PPV. That came to an end when, to everybody's shock, Brock Lesnar defeated him at Wrestlemania 30 in 2014. The same Brock Lesnar who only wrestled in four matches during that entire year.
Brock Lesnar may be an impressive and talented athlete, but, unlike Bray Wyatt, he really hasn't dedicated his life to the WWE. He simply hasn't done (and, due to his battle with diverticulitis, probably can't do) enough to deserve to end "The Streak." If The Undertaker had given this honor to Bray Wyatt, he would have ended his WWE legacy with a bang and made Wyatt "The Phenom" of the next generation. Unfortunately, because the Deadman's "Streak" was squandered on someone who didn't deserve it, a victory over him at Wrestlemania doesn't mean anything anymore. Should Bray Wyatt defeat "The Phenom", it won't be a big deal, because Brock Lesnar already beat him to it.
Like allowing a wrestler to end "The Streak", giving your virginity to someone is a once-in-a-lifetime gift. Sadly, many young Christians allow their chastity "Streak" be ended by someone who doesn't deserve it. They give themselves to their bff's totally ripped older brother when they are in high school or to the smoking hot babe down the hall when they are a college freshman. Some Christians allow it to end as early as middle school, throwing away their "Streak" before they can even comprehend how valuable it is. However it happens, when these Christians finally meet their spouse and give their bodies to them, it doesn't really mean anything because their "Streak" has already been ended by someone else. That's one reason why I am preserving mine. If my future wife found out that I threw away my virginity on some 22-year-old model who I'd only dated a few times, I doubt she would be eager for the opportunity to become my silver medal (or "Intercontinental champion" in WWE terms).
Even though I will always respect what The Undertaker has done, the "Brock Lesnar blemish" will always be on his pro wrestling career. Likewise, if you lose your virginity before marriage, that blemish will always be on your romantic career. Granted, you can still have a wonderful marriage and lead others to Christ if you repent and give your past over to God. However, your marriage will never be as great as it could have been.
Don't let a romantic "Brock Lesnar" convince you to let them end your chastity "Streak" with the dating equivalents of freak athleticism and an incredible physique: looks, money, power, and social status. Even though those things might impress you now, if God doesn't intend for that person to share the romantic "WWE" of a Christ-centered marriage with you, you will just be wasting your time on someone who isn't willing or able to take it to the next level. Save your "Streak" for the one who shares your dedication to Christ: your future spouse. And put them over by allowing them to end it on the "Wrestlemania" of romance: the wedding night.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (NIV)
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Leaving "Gotham": Why I Am Giving Up My Favorite TV Show
At first, I absolutely loved "Gotham." This Batman prequel, which focuses on a young Detective Jim Gordon's quest to find the man who killed Bruce Wayne's parents, had great acting, excellent plot twists and turns, and a dark and gritty style which echoed the Christopher Nolan trilogy, which was an absolute masterpiece. In particular, Ben McKenzie, who portrays the future Commissioner, does an excellent job of showing Gordon's desire to honor his promise to Bruce to find out who killed his parents, and while he's at it, take down corruption at the city's highest levels. Gordon admirably perseveres spite of the fact that everyone, including his own police department, is against him.
I will also admit that the burgeoning childhood romance between Bruce Wayne (played by David Mazouz) and Selina Kyle (played by Camren Bicondova) was adorable, in addition to a clever way of foreshadowing the relationship they will have as Batman and Catwoman.
That is why I am very sad to say that I will never watch this show again.
1) Regarding sexual morality, "Gotham" is as indecisive as Barbara Kean, Gordon's ex. On the show, Barbara (played by Erin Richards) can't seem to make up her mind between Gordon and her obsessive ex-girlfriend, Renee Montoya. Likewise, "Gotham" can't seem to take a clear stance regarding same-sex relationships. There is a lot of TV-14 lesbian action on the show. That being said, the villains are the ones who engage in it, which makes me suspect that at least some of the production staff have not sold out to the LWO (Lewd World Order).
As a firm believer in TRADITIONAL marriage who wants to lead others to Christ through a life of sexual purity, this ambiguity made me wonder whether or not this was the kind of show I should be watching.
2) Along those lines, there is a really creepy scene in Episode 17 where a drunk Barbara makes a pass at a 14-YEAR-OLD Selina Kyle. Fortunately, Selina (called "Cat" on the show) brushes Barbara off by stepping out of reach and giving her a "What the heck are you doing?" look. That being said, it still freaked me out.
That, combined with Harvey Bullock (played by Donal Logue) leering at yearbook photos of high school girls in Episode 14, is a strong sign that "Gotham" is going in a really perverse direction that I want nothing to do with.
3) I finally had enough when I saw Fish Mooney (played by Jada Pinkett Smith) gouge out her own eye in Episode 17. I am a guy in his late twenties and it's not easy to make me nauseous. That being said, after Fish Mooney did that, I wanted to hurl. This was simply the most graphic example of gratuitous violence on the show, including two other instances where the camera lingers into the empty sockets of characters who've had their eyes ripped out.
Suffice it to say that "Gotham" has crossed the line from "dark, and gritty" to "gross."
I grew up watching reruns of Adam West's "Batman" late at night when I was a kid. After school, I remember rushing to the TV with my brother to watch "Batman: The Animated Series." I loved the Tim Burton Batman films and was blown away by Christopher Nolan's epic trilogy, where Gotham City's "Dark Knight" was reimagined as the ultimate counter-terrorism agent.
That being said, Jesus is more important to me than any superhero, and I no longer want to watch anything with content which will poison the wonderful brain which He gave me. Not even if it features "The Caped Crusader." For that reason, I have decided to leave "Gotham" behind for good.
I will also admit that the burgeoning childhood romance between Bruce Wayne (played by David Mazouz) and Selina Kyle (played by Camren Bicondova) was adorable, in addition to a clever way of foreshadowing the relationship they will have as Batman and Catwoman.
That is why I am very sad to say that I will never watch this show again.
1) Regarding sexual morality, "Gotham" is as indecisive as Barbara Kean, Gordon's ex. On the show, Barbara (played by Erin Richards) can't seem to make up her mind between Gordon and her obsessive ex-girlfriend, Renee Montoya. Likewise, "Gotham" can't seem to take a clear stance regarding same-sex relationships. There is a lot of TV-14 lesbian action on the show. That being said, the villains are the ones who engage in it, which makes me suspect that at least some of the production staff have not sold out to the LWO (Lewd World Order).
As a firm believer in TRADITIONAL marriage who wants to lead others to Christ through a life of sexual purity, this ambiguity made me wonder whether or not this was the kind of show I should be watching.
2) Along those lines, there is a really creepy scene in Episode 17 where a drunk Barbara makes a pass at a 14-YEAR-OLD Selina Kyle. Fortunately, Selina (called "Cat" on the show) brushes Barbara off by stepping out of reach and giving her a "What the heck are you doing?" look. That being said, it still freaked me out.
That, combined with Harvey Bullock (played by Donal Logue) leering at yearbook photos of high school girls in Episode 14, is a strong sign that "Gotham" is going in a really perverse direction that I want nothing to do with.
3) I finally had enough when I saw Fish Mooney (played by Jada Pinkett Smith) gouge out her own eye in Episode 17. I am a guy in his late twenties and it's not easy to make me nauseous. That being said, after Fish Mooney did that, I wanted to hurl. This was simply the most graphic example of gratuitous violence on the show, including two other instances where the camera lingers into the empty sockets of characters who've had their eyes ripped out.
Suffice it to say that "Gotham" has crossed the line from "dark, and gritty" to "gross."
I grew up watching reruns of Adam West's "Batman" late at night when I was a kid. After school, I remember rushing to the TV with my brother to watch "Batman: The Animated Series." I loved the Tim Burton Batman films and was blown away by Christopher Nolan's epic trilogy, where Gotham City's "Dark Knight" was reimagined as the ultimate counter-terrorism agent.
That being said, Jesus is more important to me than any superhero, and I no longer want to watch anything with content which will poison the wonderful brain which He gave me. Not even if it features "The Caped Crusader." For that reason, I have decided to leave "Gotham" behind for good.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Slaying The Giant: How To Win The Battle For Purity Even When Injured
Two days ago, Rafael Dos Anjos defeated Anthony Pettis to become the UFC's first Brazilian lightweight champion in spite of being a heavy underdog. However, here's the real kicker: he fought injured.
During a post-fight interview on Fox Sports 1 with Ariel Helwani, Dos Anjos admitted that he tore his MCL during training. In other words, he really messed up his knee. An injury like that would force most competitive Mixed Martial Artists to pull out of a match. During his interview, Dos Anjos admitted that he considered pulling out of his own fight, but prayed to God first. God told him to fight anyway, and that he would be fine. So in spite of being unable to grapple or wrestle for three weeks before his fight, this "Brazilian David" chose to battle the Goliath known as Anthony "Showtime" Pettis. Not only did he win, but he completely dominated Pettis for the entire fight, ironically, with his grappling.
Many of us who join for the battle for sexual purity are, like Dos Anjos, fighting injured. Our injuries may be mental (i.e. porn or "romance novels"), physical (previous illicit encounters with the opposite or same gender), emotional (getting dumped by a boyfriend who didn't want to wait until marriage for sex or ditched by a girlfriend who found a guy with more money), or spiritual (dealing with church members who won't forgive you for your past or encourage you to pursue a godly future, or even worse, encountering demonic activity). These wounds may tempt us to give up on purity entirely. However, the good news is that purity is still possible, no matter what we have done and no matter what has happened to us in our past.
The same Jesus Christ who gave victory to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 185 is the same Jesus who will, if we believe in Him, give us victory in the "octagon" of sexual purity!
This does not mean that we should take foolish risks. Just like Dos Anjos had to stop grappling for a while to keep his injury from getting worse before UFC 185, we must limit our training when it comes to romance to keep our injuries from getting worse. For example, we may not be able to have a romantic relationship for at least six months because we are still recovering from past traumas or self-inflicted wounds. And just like some athletes have to get surgery and physical therapy to recover from injuries, we may need to counseling and other professional services to help us deal with the injuries we sustain as sexual purity "athletic competitors."
Nonetheless, we should never give up in our quest for the undisputed championship titles of "The Sexual Force Unleashed" and "Romantic World Peace" within a godly marriage. For, as Dos Anjos shouted from the top of the cage after his victory, "Through Jesus, you can do all things!"
1 Samuel 17:45, "David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (NIV)
During a post-fight interview on Fox Sports 1 with Ariel Helwani, Dos Anjos admitted that he tore his MCL during training. In other words, he really messed up his knee. An injury like that would force most competitive Mixed Martial Artists to pull out of a match. During his interview, Dos Anjos admitted that he considered pulling out of his own fight, but prayed to God first. God told him to fight anyway, and that he would be fine. So in spite of being unable to grapple or wrestle for three weeks before his fight, this "Brazilian David" chose to battle the Goliath known as Anthony "Showtime" Pettis. Not only did he win, but he completely dominated Pettis for the entire fight, ironically, with his grappling.
Many of us who join for the battle for sexual purity are, like Dos Anjos, fighting injured. Our injuries may be mental (i.e. porn or "romance novels"), physical (previous illicit encounters with the opposite or same gender), emotional (getting dumped by a boyfriend who didn't want to wait until marriage for sex or ditched by a girlfriend who found a guy with more money), or spiritual (dealing with church members who won't forgive you for your past or encourage you to pursue a godly future, or even worse, encountering demonic activity). These wounds may tempt us to give up on purity entirely. However, the good news is that purity is still possible, no matter what we have done and no matter what has happened to us in our past.
The same Jesus Christ who gave victory to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 185 is the same Jesus who will, if we believe in Him, give us victory in the "octagon" of sexual purity!
This does not mean that we should take foolish risks. Just like Dos Anjos had to stop grappling for a while to keep his injury from getting worse before UFC 185, we must limit our training when it comes to romance to keep our injuries from getting worse. For example, we may not be able to have a romantic relationship for at least six months because we are still recovering from past traumas or self-inflicted wounds. And just like some athletes have to get surgery and physical therapy to recover from injuries, we may need to counseling and other professional services to help us deal with the injuries we sustain as sexual purity "athletic competitors."
Nonetheless, we should never give up in our quest for the undisputed championship titles of "The Sexual Force Unleashed" and "Romantic World Peace" within a godly marriage. For, as Dos Anjos shouted from the top of the cage after his victory, "Through Jesus, you can do all things!"
1 Samuel 17:45, "David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (NIV)
Friday, March 6, 2015
Why So Serious? The Reason Why I Decided To Stay A Virgin Before Marriage
Heath Ledger's version of Batman's archenemy, the Joker, is perhaps the scariest movie villain I have ever seen. Every time I hear the line "Why so serious?" I get chills down my spine. The reason why the Joker was so terrifying in "The Dark Knight" was that he was absolutely evil. He murdered innocent people, slaughtered law enforcement officials, and even blew up a hospital just for kicks.
The reason why I chose to stop my quest to lose my virginity before marriage and decided to stay pure for my future wife is for the same reason: sexual immorality is ABSOLUTELY EVIL. Allowing sexual immorality to reign in your life is as destructive as letting the Joker run amok in Gotham.
As I have mentioned before, I almost lost my virginity when I was in college. The only reason why I didn't was because my female friend knew I was waiting until marriage, went on a guilt trip, and backed off. A few years after she spared my virginity, I saw the damage that "The Joker" of sexual immorality did to my peers after they went nuts in college (or high school).
Three of my peers got divorced in their TWENTIES. One of them got knocked up and went through the mayhem of juggling school, work, and being a single mom. Another one of them rushed into a shotgun wedding after they knocked up their booty call and is constantly fighting with their spouse. Another one of my peers got a sexually transmitted disease from one of their so-called "friends-with-benefits" and gave it to at least one other person. At least three of my peers moved in with "boyfriends" who just used them for sex, so they basically became live-in prostitutes. Two of my peers got so burned out by promiscuity with the opposite gender that they decided to pursue self-destructive relationships with the same gender. These testimonies of terror are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people I know who were demolished by "The Joker" of sexual immorality.
We have two choices: get rid of sexual immorality completely, or let it run amok in our lives. I have made my decision based on the hell of people who've learned the hard way that forbidden sexual desires, like Batman's archenemy, are no joke. What will your decision be?
The reason why I chose to stop my quest to lose my virginity before marriage and decided to stay pure for my future wife is for the same reason: sexual immorality is ABSOLUTELY EVIL. Allowing sexual immorality to reign in your life is as destructive as letting the Joker run amok in Gotham.
As I have mentioned before, I almost lost my virginity when I was in college. The only reason why I didn't was because my female friend knew I was waiting until marriage, went on a guilt trip, and backed off. A few years after she spared my virginity, I saw the damage that "The Joker" of sexual immorality did to my peers after they went nuts in college (or high school).
Three of my peers got divorced in their TWENTIES. One of them got knocked up and went through the mayhem of juggling school, work, and being a single mom. Another one of them rushed into a shotgun wedding after they knocked up their booty call and is constantly fighting with their spouse. Another one of my peers got a sexually transmitted disease from one of their so-called "friends-with-benefits" and gave it to at least one other person. At least three of my peers moved in with "boyfriends" who just used them for sex, so they basically became live-in prostitutes. Two of my peers got so burned out by promiscuity with the opposite gender that they decided to pursue self-destructive relationships with the same gender. These testimonies of terror are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people I know who were demolished by "The Joker" of sexual immorality.
We have two choices: get rid of sexual immorality completely, or let it run amok in our lives. I have made my decision based on the hell of people who've learned the hard way that forbidden sexual desires, like Batman's archenemy, are no joke. What will your decision be?
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