September 2011 Entries
Daily, we are flooded with worrisome information. A reason to worry seems to be lurking around every corner. Life often feels out of control. If we focus on circumstances and all that could go wrong, well, worry is a natural response. Without God, we should worry! Life would feel very random and our thoughts would easily take us to worried places. But even with God in our lives, most of us have to intentionally cultivate a worry-free life.
Next week, my new book, Letting Go of Worry, releases. Worry is a mental habit that if left unchecked, can lead to feelings of panic. Panic can be frightening because of the intense physical and psychological symptoms associated with it. During a panic attack, you may feel as if you will die or lose total control. However, panic will not lead to a heart attack, suffocation, fainting, falling, or you going crazy.
Remember when churches had a big push on purity pledges. Some conducted elaborate ceremonies with teens taking vows to remain pure until marriage. Teens purchased purity rings as a symbol of celibacy. Even Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers wore one. Purity is a needed message, but we need to examine how effective this campaign has been. Unfortunately, the data isn’t hopeful.
This week, I read an article in the September/October issue of Relevant Magazine that deeply concerned me. It dealt with the topic of sexual activity among Christians. Despite all the efforts of purity campaigns, the news isn’t good. The article began with these statistics from a recent Gallup poll...