Stacey tells her story of growing up in Africa, becoming a minister’s wife, and finding out her husband had a secret struggle with sexual addiction. Hear how God brought them through and restored their relationship.
Greg’s Story (Video)
Addiction Parallels in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – VIDEO
One of the gifts of recovery I have noticed is being able to recognize recovery-related themes in movies. When I first watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy I was still in my addiction and was blind to the relationship between the One Ring and that of an Addiction. However, having recently watched the trilogy, various aspects of the movie, in my opinion, directly relate to an addict’s fight against an addiction.
This 38 minute video consists of scenes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy as filmed by Peter Jackson and originally written in the 1950s by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien’s 1937 children’s fantasy novel The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work. The book consists of three volumes, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
J. R. R. Tolkien once described The Lord of the Rings as “a fundamentally religious and Catholic work” he wrote to his friend, the English Jesuit Father Robert Murray, “unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.“(The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, 142). There are many theological themes underlying the narrative, the battle of good versus evil, the triumph of humility over pride, the activity of grace, Death and Immortality, Resurrection, Salvation, Repentance, Self-Sacrifice, Free Will, Humility, Justice, Fellowship, Authority and Healing. In it the great virtues of Mercy and Pity (shown by Bilbo and Frodo towards Gollum) win the day and the message from the Lord’s Prayer “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” was very much on Tolkien’s mind as Frodo struggled against the power of the One Ring (Letters, 181 and 191). I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I enjoyed editing it. As always, take what you like and leave the rest! (from http://tolkiengateway.net)
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Sin For My Entertainment, Oh Really?
by pureHOPE
by Ali Burckhartt
For most of my life, I’ve been a naïve consumer, only concerned with how entertaining, useful, or satisfying a product or source of entertainment was to me. In my mind, the celebrities I listened to and viewed on television, movies, radio, etc. were inanimate objects, existing only for my entertainment. For example, the main character of The Big Bang Theory is Sheldon Cooper the genius, not Jim Parsons the actor. However deeply wrong this may be, these people were stuck in my brain as such.
In the past year, I have acknowledged that it is nearly impossible (if not impossible), to strive for a life of purity if I am constantly exposing myself to media that either subtly suggests or directly refers to things not edifying or building up my relationship with God (Luke 11:34, Psalm 101:3-4). I combed through my media outlets and collection of music and movies, deleting and cutting out obvious guilty parties. Easy offenders, like vulgarity, violence, and references to sexual impurity were obvious “goners”. I made some exceptions though for my favorite shows, and continued listening to some songs because “I just listen to the beat, not the words”.
However, spiritual conviction has changed my heart and outlook on this issue.
Just as I had always had a very selfish perspective in my consumerism, I had a very self-centered attitude about filtering my media exposure. I had only been concerned with helping myself and my immediate circle avoid stumbling into sin by cutting the “most negative” media from my life. I had never felt convicted to avoid a certain source or artist simply out of concern for the celebrity’s salvation or relationship with God.
As Eric Vaughn of PC4M explains through his spoken word, Oh Really? (below), many celebrities earn fame and fortune through depicting or promoting reckless behavior and beliefs. Our culture glorifies sexual impurity and sinful indulgence in worldly pleasures. It is simple supply and demand. If society demands it, these celebrities will continue their current actions and lifestyles to maintain celebrity status. By consuming some celebrity’s products and buying their songs or viewing their movies/televisions shows, I am contributing to the demand, thus encouraging their lifestyle.
One might think, if I am striving for purity in myself, the blame of a sin doesn’t rest on my shoulders because I’m not the one actually committing it, right? Actually, our Father tells us not to lead others to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:13, Romans 13:14). In fact, Jesus says it is worse to be the one “through whom [temptation] come[s]!” (Luke 17:1-4). By contributing to the demand for raunchy sit-coms and explicit music (among other things), I am a part of tempting celebrities, marketers, and producers to continue to produce them.
Excluding these things from my life is not to be done in condemnation. As God declares, I am called to love these celebrities just as I love the friends and family members I know personally (1 Corinthians 16:14) I am choosing not to support specific products or decisions with the prayer they will grow in the Lord.
By purchasing products or watching shows that display sinful thoughts or actions, I am paying for entertainment at the celebrity’s expense, and supporting their ultimate downfall (Proverbs 24:17). Next time you’re buying a product or engaging in the media, join me in stopping first to ask,
“Am I receiving entertainment at the expense of sin from another human being made in the image of God, or am I encouraging them to pursue Christ?”
Ali is a 2013 pureJUSTICE intern and Senior at Oklahoma State.
Pastor of Florida Megachurch Resigns Over ‘Moral Failure’
Another pastor falls to this problem of sexual purity! This issue has no boundaries and those that think they are immune are in denial of the problem. What is much worse is the church’s stance on “moral failures” by their pastors. Bob should have been in the safest place possible to admit his problem without fear of condemnation or losing his position, instead he has to “resign” from his duties because he is disqualified from leading the church. It is no wonder these pastors hide their sexual purity issues until it blows up in everyone’s face. Perhaps if he had a safe place to go for this issue (and the Church SHOULD be the safest place) he could have done something about this years ago. If anything, he should have stepped to the side, received the help he needed, and when healthy enough, come back to his position. It almost seems like he was “thrown out on the street” by the church that should be there to support him. Take what you like and leave the rest.
Sarah Pulliam Bailey
(RNS) Florida megachurch pastor Bob Coy has resigned from his 20,000-member Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale congregation over a “moral failing.”
A statement on the church’s website reported the news: ”On April 3, 2014, Bob Coy resigned as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, effective immediately, after confessing to a moral failing in his life which disqualifies him from continuing his leadership role at the church he has led since its founding in 1985.”
A call to Coy on Sunday (April 6) was not returned. But it appears extramarital affairs may have been one reason.
Coy’s church is listed by Outreach magazine as the 14th largest church in the U.S., and one of the fastest growing. The church’s assets are around $135 million, according to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. It is the second-largest megachurch in Florida, according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
Active Word, a media ministry that distributed Coy’s Bible teachings on radio, television and digital media outlets, has also been suspended, according to a statement from the church’s board. His programs were included on Trinity Broadcasting Network, a network that hosts several televangelists.
“We have confirmed that Coy has admitted to at least two affairs in the past year alone and has had a long standing ‘problem with pornography,’” wrote blogger Michael Newnham. Newnham also wrote that Coy was taken off the board membership page for the Calvary Chapel Association, a ministry started by the late pastor Chuck Smith.
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale spokesman Mike Miller said Monday the church was not commenting beyond its statement.
“We’re not going to speculate on the blogs right now,” he said.
The church has 10 campuses around Florida and has hosted numerous evangelical speakers, including evangelist Billy Graham, author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada and actor Kirk Cameron.