Saturday, July 28, 2007

Thoughts on Temptation

A few nights ago I watched about five minutes of "To Catch a Predator." It was stunning to witness the very moment when a man's life came tumbling down. Everything he had built for his career, his family, and his own freedom was destroyed. To see something like that happen is a sobering thing. One man was in his sixties. A whole lifetime...rubble. I think the way the program sensationalizes this issue probably throws bait to men who have never even been tempted in this way. The producers should be ashamed of that. I won't be watching it again, but it did give me a lot to think about.

I had spent that very morning reading about King David's moral failure with Bathsheba, the conception of their child, the murder of her husband, and the death of their firstborn. (See 2 Samuel 11-12.) David had been a man after God's own heart. He was the Lord's anointed. How did that happen? It terrifies me that a person can fall from such heights. It terrifies me that the flesh I am bound to until God calls me home is capable of anything - absolutely anything - given the right circumstances. Praise God that His grace can restore and redeem us, but I would rather not have to go there. Been there, done that in the teenage years. I do not want to suffer like that again. Ever. I would rather God take me home.

One of the major wake up calls I had regarding my lack of a consistent quiet time earlier this summer came when I was driving home from aerobics. I was listening to someone like Chuck Swindoll on the radio and whoever it was said that the Holy Spirit is faithful to warn us that we are walking into destruction if we are not quenching Him. I already knew it, but I needed to hear it again LOUD AND CLEAR. I realized that my lack of consistent time with the Father was causing me to compromise in what I watched, listened to, read, said, and thought about. The Spirit was being quenched and was therefore not full in me. I had started becoming numb to His conviction in certain areas. I had made myself vulnerable to my flesh and to the tempter of my flesh. At that point, I basically threw myself at God's feet in repentance and said, "Hide me, Lord. Fill me, Lord."

Ladies, many us are believers. Many of us love the Lord with all our hearts and can't imagine disobeying Him so blatantly that we destroy everything He has given us. Many of us are surrounded by the eyes of people who do not know Jesus and we are trying to show them that our faith is authentic. Many of us serve in our churches, are perhaps even married to ministers, and have the respect of other godly women. But we are not immune to temptation. We are not above or beyond walking into destruction. The fact that many of us do not realize this or forget this makes us prime targets.

It is incredibly easy to crack open a door to temptation. We know the enemy of our souls is not going to keep it cracked. He will blow it open with such force that we won't know what hit us. So my plea to us is this - let's take great care to guard ourselves from inviting temptation. I believe it will come at times for the purpose of testing, but we do not have to welcome it through our actions. Here are some ways we can take action:

1) Let's do things that foster the filling of the Holy Spirit so that we will be able to sense His warnings. (Having a daily quiet time, regularly confessing sins of thought, word, and deed, Bible study, accountability, etc.)

2) Let's avoid opening doors to temptation and demonic activity. If God has said NO to something, it is for our protection. If we are reading, watching, or listening to se*ually explicit material, we are inviting pain into our lives.

3) Let's tell someone when we're being tempted. The moment we speak it out, a measure of its power is broken over us. Thank You, Jesus. This also gives us the benefit of having someone to pray for us and hold us accountable.

About a month ago I read something that God had specifically and loudly told me not to read. I foolishly underestimated the effect it would have on me. Because I opened that door, I spent two weeks suffering the mental bombardment of memories of everything I had ever done. When Jesus told the woman at the well everything she had ever done, it gave her life, hope, and freedom. (See John 4.) But this was not Jesus speaking to me. It was the voice of the accuser. It brought condemnation, guilt, powerlessness, and captivity. I feared that the changes God had made in my life over the past seven years were not real. False. I am a new creation! (See 2 Cor. 5:17.) What do you think he would have accomplished by convincing me that I wasn't really different? Scary.

The point is, if I had known what I would be inviting into my life when I disobeyed God, I would have never done it. When David first gazed on Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop, he didn't get to consult a list of consequences he would suffer. He didn't know it would end in murder and the death of his child. If he had known, he wouldn't have done it either. Here's something we can count on - sin will stay around longer and do a lot more damage than we ever planned for. Therefore, let's do whatever it takes to guard ourselves, and therefore our families, from this destruction. It is more than worth it!

I could write a book about this, but thankfully my mom already did. It's called When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. I think it holds an incredible message for anyone who has fallen, who has a loved one who has fallen, or who wants to guard herself from falling. That pretty much covers everyone.

Here's a little bit of what the Word says about this topic:

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you...Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:15-18,21).

"Flee from se*ual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins se*ually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

AND HERE'S SOME GREAT NEWS:

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

"For this reason [Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2:17-18).

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:11-13).

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13).

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Preach it sister! I totally agree with your entire post! I also think Satan has a field day with sleep deprived moms! I think we have a tougher road without a full nights sleep sometimes. I LOVE your honesty. I have been there, done that and hope to not repeat. One thing that helps me with a QT is to make a rule that I can't check my morning email until I have spent some time with God. It makes all the difference in the world and then I can just "hang out" with God throughout the day. You have encouraged me to publish my prayer post, I was waiting for the right time. Thanks!

ocean mommy said...

Oh Amanda,

Thank you for this post! Why is it that we make to time to blog, to talk on the phone, work out..... but then wonder why we can't find time for Bible Study!!

Thanks for being transparent and sharing your heart with us.

Amy T said...

Wow! That post was right on! Thanks for that reminder. We can all use it at one time or another. Thanks for being real and honest and making a point.

Anonymous said...

Amanda, thank you for this wisdom.

I get lazy in my life and ever so subtly, begin to think that I am immune to certain sins.

Truth-be-told, only by the GRACE OF GOD have I not had an affair or commited murder.

Anonymous said...

Amanda,
HUGE post, that truth is not taught near enough by the Church. I randomly checked you out through Bigmama's link to you, she quotes you often so I thought I'd check it out, and I am glad I did. Great Word!!!

Bigmama's P

anita from kansas said...

I am leading that "Godly" study ... It is NOT easy examining oneself and honestly recognizing our vulnerabilities. Your transparency is refreshing and challenging. My prayers are that you be protected from the sinister sneak attacks. Bless you bunches!!!

boomama said...

I need this word today - and every day, for that matter. Thanks, sweet friend.

Michelle said...

I have been severely convicted of my lack of quiet times as of late and as of two weeks ago, I feel as if I have met with the Lord in such a way that I have never before. So sad to think we could miss out on that because we let things get in the way. When I was absent from being "quenched" on a daily basis, my life, thoughts, attitude and everything else reflected it. It is such a simple lesson that I have spoken to the girls SO MANY TIMES, yet I find myself struggling with the same. I hate our flesh and I am ready to be removed from it! Thanks for this reminder...it was excellently written.

Big Mama said...

Wow. So much truth in this post. I've been at the pool all afternoon and when I came in, P told me I needed to come read this. (It seems he got a little bored and started perusing the mommy blogs).

Anyway, he told me he even left you a comment because it was so powerful. And he was right. Very powerful.

connorcolesmom said...

Amanda.
You are so on the money. God had been convicting me for years to be careful of what I watched, read, and listened to. Now that I am feeding the Spirit I no longer desire to do things that might grieve Him!!
I love how God can convict us and warn us of a path not to follow (of course it ends up being our choice which direction to take)

I also love that you quoted John 14:15-18, 21. God revealed a Word to me last night during my quiet time about a Bible study He wants me to lead. This scripture was one of the ones He showed me (I posted about it this morning on my blog)!!
God keeps encouraging and confirming me even though my fleshly side wants to resist.

Thank you I needed that!
Love,
Kim

Tina said...

Such truth. NOTHING rocks me to the core then when I hear yet another TV news announcement of a person in leadership compromised. If Jesus does not work for those who claim Him, how will the world ever accept Him?
I agree with you deeply. We, at the core, need to eat consistantly at the Father's table and not at the dessert buffet only. Balance. Sensitive spirits and willingness to OBEY.

God, may we be willing to be held by you so that you can keep our feet from falling!!!

Bless you Amanda...

Richardsons of HV said...

Ummm...I guess that means not going to see Knocked Up, huh? It is amazing how easily things we watch can filtrate our life! Ugh! I remember having some neighbors say, "Oh, you have to watch 40 Year Old Virgin...so funny". I couldn't even watch 5 minutes of it. I should have had the same feeling (totally offended) for Knocked Up but as you allow a little...it becomes less and less offensive. That is how all temptation happens. It CREEPS in. It isn't so obvious.
thank you, sister for the reminder! All of us need to be on our guard!

Anonymous said...

AMEN, Amanda! I, too, constantly struggle with finding quiet time. I love this post....very timely for me....I need to re-read it frequently.

Thanks for the great post.

Love,
Sarah, TN

Unknown said...

Thanks Amanda, that was a great, timely word!

Jackie said...

thanks for this post. i needed to hear this right now. you have a powerful way with words and I appreciate your honesty, transparency, and willingness to "preach" to us!! You are GREAT... have a good weekend.

Asher's mommy said...

Seriously, thank you. I've said it before, and it truly bears repeating: your blog is a blessing and a ministry. You're right on, and I so needed to read this.

Shamefully, I haven't yet done today's "David: 90 Days...," so obviously I better get off of here.

Touched and grateful, Kyler

debra parker said...

Thanks for writing this. I wish some days that I could sit over coffee and talk with every woman out there and say these very things.

Our family has been through some tough stuff. God has been so good and is so full of grace. This is so real.

Guard yourselves...yes...guard.

Right after this crazy time in our life we were back in Houston. I was at the believing God taping. God placed me there because he knew my heart needed him more than ever.

I don't know if this makes much sense...I am just full of a love for an amazing God.

MelanieJoy said...

Amen & amen!!!
Someone mentioned the movie "Knocked Up". I was so proud of my sister and brother-in-law because (they are in their early twenties) 5 min. into the movie they walked out!
Thanks Amanda for this post- how true it is.

Anonymous said...

I am not a real "blogger" so I rearly comment but I had to today. I love what you wrote. Do you know the Bible verse in Luke (I think) about if your heart has no dark corners in it then it will be as if a flood light is shining on you. Satan wants us to have dark corners to eliminate the threat of max. effectivesness. It also says in the same verse that our eye is the lamp for the body. A good eye lets sunshine in but a bad eye plunges you into darkness. I think a bad eye is an eye that looks at things the wrong way. The Bible always presents good as good and bad as bad. The world calls bad good and good bad. The world causes us to use a bad eye. Also, God tells us to pray, "lead us not into temptation" but temptation is right where the enemy wants us to live. God told the Israelites to remove idols from their towns b/c it would lead their hearts away from Him. Idols couldn't even talk but He warned that their hearts would go astray if they weren't removed. We, the body of Christ, need to realize that if idols that can't move, talk or walk can lead hearts away from the living God then other things can as well. Our God hunger is affected when we stuff ourselves with wood, hay, stubble and straw. When the Israelites were ready to get serious about God they cleaned house. They removed all the high places. They turned their eyes away from worthless things and turned to the One who is worthy. Let's fix our eyes on Him. Let's set our face like flint. Let's know that the hour is closer now than when we first believed and that there is work to be done. Work for you to do! A generation is waiting for you to set them on fire..do it well girl, do it well.
Much love and admiration,
Kara Akins

MamaCass said...

What a great word!! Thank you for the encouragement and reminder that there is NO compromising in the eyes of our Lord.

Anonymous said...

Amanda,

The sheer number of comments you have had to this post is a testimony to the clear Word you brought and the timeliness of it!!

Thank you for your willingness to really be open and honest -- transparent, really -- and challenging us all to remain shrewd and smart!!

Thanks, friend!

Blessings,
Dori

Danana Banana said...

Thanks for the good word. It's really is THE most important thing - but somehow it becomes the thing that I skip over or push aside for what seems more important in the moment. You know, stuff like watching TV or folding my laundry. How silly and shortsighted of me.

Thanks for sharing your stuggles and your victories! It's nice to feel not quite as alone in this.

Anonymous said...

Well, I think we might be havin' us a little bloggy revival right here!

Seriously, great post. A lot to think about!

Rach said...

I'm a "lurker" on your blog and have often been encouraged by your posts, but this one has taken the cake. Thank you for your honesty and transparency - you've encouraged me to examine my habits and the effect they have on my response to temptation.

Rachael, TX

AbbyLane said...

you are one wise woman and we are blessed because of it :)

Anonymous said...

I've been a lurker for a while but I just wanted to let you know that this post really inspired me. It's amazing how the Lord will show you the way you should be heading if you will just take the time to sit and listen to Him. I had fallen away from resting in Him and I was blaming it on being busy raising my two young boys. What I didn't realize was that I was missing out on so much joy because I was not being filled with the Spirit. My day to day activities were unfullfilling and burdonsome until a couple of weeks ago when I felt moved to start doing bible studies again. I can't believe the change that has taken shape in my life and in my family's life. Your post was a wonderful calling for me to be mindful of what I'm watching on t.v. and what I'm listening to when I'm in the car. Sin can creep in when you don't even know it! Thank you so much for such a truthful and honest post!
Sarah

Anonymous said...

This was the EXACT word I needed to hear today - thank you for being my wakeup call!!!

Speaking Thru Me Ministries said...

speak it out, my sister, speak it out!!! Oh that was good!! thank you

Anonymous said...

We recently went through a huge job loss which caused our whole entire finanicial basis to change DRASTICALLY! I pulled away from God because I felt abandoned, guilt and anger.

Since then I have gone from actively teaching Bible studies and being very active at church, to being withdrawn and nonactive in any real area of church.

I started listening to more and more secular music, and watching stuff I would have never before.

My head is a mess! Thankfully God has been trying to bring me back to where I should be, and I go back but the craziness in my head is very seductive. I read your post last night at about 4 a.m. and went back to bed with it ringing in my ears. Thank you for the wake up call! I am going to heed it, I know it will be hard, but after I have this area rebuilt it will be stronger!

Thank you again for writing a vivid picture that God used to catch me off guard with!
Jen

Marc and Charity said...

Thank you so much for this post. I've been doing "90 Days" too and have been terrified of failure...living overseas I feel very lonely sometimes...and with 2 young children at my feet, even more so.

I am fighting the thoughts of "I'm not really changed, it's all a joke, you're a joke, how can you do what you do here, etc." The accuser is coming at me hard and fast right now.

So, thank you for this reminder.

Holly Mathis Interiors said...

this is so good amanda..i love that you can talk about "Mrs Beckham" in one post but then quickly get back to what is real in the next post.

I really began looking at this tension when doing the DANIEL study...those images of your mom on Rodeo Drive pretty much sum it up the world we live in..it is tough and we have to be intentional and vigilant huh.. and ACCOUNTABLE..this post kept me accountable to some things. I wish we could share more specifically on some of these things..i know we have to be careful to not become legalistic and have to work it out in our personal relationships with Christ but wouldnt it be cool to have some kind of bloggy uber chic mom accountability thing on this topic..i love what the one poster said about moms and their lack of sleep and how that plays in to this...

keep it up girl..you are such a blessing!

Toknowhim said...

Amanda,

You do not have to post this comment if you don't want to.. it may be a bit long.

I just wanted you to know that I know exactly what you are talking about. I guess one of my idols from a very young age has been the media (TV/MOVIES/HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP). I used the Media world as an escape from reality. Even when I would play with my Barbies... I would be acting out a movie/soap opera scene with them.

God has had me on a journey to kind of give up the TV/Movie thing.. It has been a slow journey, and that could be more because of my timing.. For me at least, the media has consumed to much of my time and thoughts.

God has not only shown me how the Media has been my idol, but how it also has had a very negative effect on my mind. You see for all these years I filled my mind up with all of these programs/movies.. Sadly to say, many of the things I watched were not of the Spirit at all. I was numb to it for a very long time, until I turned my heart back to God, and then it was like a light was turned on in my head. I can't believe some of the stuff I thought was harmless, and good entertainment.

I had an experience several months ago when I watched maybe 10 minutes of a popular TV drama. In that 10 minutes, the main story line revealed something that was definitely a sin. I turned it off feeling kind of bad, but did not think anything else about it... That same night I went to bed and dreamed about the very subject that the TV show was dealing with. In my dream were images I wanted to forget.

I think what I have realized is that not only was Media (at least for me, many people don't have a problem with it) a time consumer, it was also the gateway for a lot of images and sin to enter my mind. Just because I don't watch as much TV anymore, doesn't mean that those images (many very bad)from 30 years ago, still are not in my mind somewhere. They may surface anytime.

You are so right... we need to sow to the Spirit, and become aware of any possible traps Satan may have for us. My flesh is so weak sometimes, it doesn't take much.

Thanks for a great post!!! Blessings to you!!

PS. Your baby is getting big. His haircut makes him look older :)

Darla said...

Absolute Truth from God heart to your mouth...

I know exactly what you are talking about, and it only takes the smallest submission to the world to open the door for the accuser, and he prowls like a lion waiting to devour us...scary stuff straight from the Bible...

hope from the Bible...God is our strong tower, our refuge, our strength...we can not out sin HIS love or forgiveness...
Thank you for such an encouraging post! Princess to Princess

Alana said...

Amanda, I have been feeling very convicted lately about my lack of quiet time and that I need to have more of the Holy Spirit in me to conquer all of the things I'm struggling with. Thank you for saying this and for saying it so well. God bless!

jen said...

I'm saving these thoughts for deeper refelction with my Lord tomorrow morning, but I just wanted to say I'm humbled. Just the beginnings of applying this to my life.... man. I think you are looking at me sometimes when you type. LOL! Good good stuff sister.

Deborah said...

Hi Amanda...

I've commented a couple of times, but I had to say thank you & give praise to our Father for both the encouragement and challenge in this post.

In a holy fear kind of way, Proverbs 29:1 has always been a source of Godly terror for me, because I can be SO stubborn.

I have been saved since age 4 and have been teaching kids and ladies (school, church & church) for over 8 years now officially (and since junior high, in some ways) and I have ALWAYS battled over having God & I time on an everyday basis.

Not in a rude way, but I am encouraged to know that you (and obviously other lovely believers of which I've read on here) struggle with it as well and I thank God & you for doing, as you say, (poor grammar aside) bringing it out into the open and defusing the power of "keeping it to oneself".

Not only sins related to se*, but ANY sin can ruin our testimony and take us away from effectiveness for God...and I just don't want that to happen! Praise His Name, He doesn't either, and He equips us with ALL that we need for life & Godliness, but way too often, I'm guilty of leaving my armor on my desk or in my bed or wherever else I left my Bible and acting as though I can float by on past victories.

Thank you, dear online friend, for being an open vessel for our God to use! I will pray for your trip this week...I, actually, am in Arkansas, myself, visiting my cousins...it is the furthest South I've ever been, it is the second time I've been here...and I *love, love, love* it! :)

I'm going to go spend some time with God before I head to sleep and out on our adventure of the morrow.

Good night!
~Deborah
http://xanga.com/FidelicharisHouse

Raven said...

hi amanda.. i have been a reader of your blog for a couple of months now but have never posted a comment.. but i just could not read this and not post! you really do speak an amazing truth.. and it's like you are speaking after my own heart this past week because i too found something that i knew i shouldn't read from my past life and yet i still did. thank you for helping me to put it in check! it really is easy to fall prey to thoughts of being completely unworthy to the Lord where He couldn't possibly want us. what lies! praise jesus for His unfailing mercy and grace! and thank you for all of your wonderful posts that speak of Him!

Susan said...

The night time is always my weakest time. Satan knows just when/how to hit us. He personalizes it. He's methodical. He makes his way look so much better in the dark of the night. Especially for the sleep-deprived mom. I have been that sleep-deprived mom. Repeatedly. And, although I knew better, I would find myself being wooed by Satan and totally forgetting about my God, my savior, the lover of my soul! I really did need this right now, Amanda. Thanks for opening your heart and sharing with us.

Oh, and have an awesome trip!

Blessings...

Annette said...

What a great post! Several years ago, I had been convicted about some of the books I had been reading and the thoughts they were putting inside my mind. I began to change the types of books I read and what a difference it has made. As the old saying goes, garbage in; garbage out! I struggle enough with my own thoughts without deliberately exposing them to outside sources! Thanks for encouraging me with your words...

jennyhope said...

David Jeremiah had THE BEST sermon on this last night "Slaying the Giant of Temptation"
One thing he said that was a common denominator between most people who fell in the area of sexual sin was a spirit of pride and haughtiness. He went through 1 Cor 10 as well.

Shelly said...

Uhm....let's get a amen for #2 on the list.

And this is time #3 that God has spoken such a similar word to me regarding this topic. I've been ministered by it, though I know it came from your own personal testimony here recently.

Thank you girlfriend. And have fun at camp!

Lauren said...

I have a dear sister in Christ who had a major moral failing several months ago. It hurt her family and her marriage so deeply, and no one could understand what in the world possessed her to do it. Of course, there were a lot of factors that affected the situation, but one of them was most certainly the fact that we sometimes leave ourselves open to temptation, and even Godly people do the most atrocious things. She didn't even understand it, herself, but after starting some serious counseling and reading When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, she had a better grasp on the reasons behind her behavior. She still has to deal with the consequences, though. Thank you for not sugar-coating this issue.

pinkmommy said...

This is such a great post. I can tell what a difference a morning quiet time has on my day. I liked the bargain shopper lady's rule for herself. I do something similiar...if I don't do my quiet time in the morning I can't watch any tv in the evening until it is done. This has become a double blessing to tie my time with God to my tv time, because when time with Him comes before tv time I tend to be more careful about what I watch. If I just got bathed in the Spirit and confessed all my sins I don't want to get dirty again for goodness sake!

I know you are at camp and won't see this this week, but this really touched me and I had to write my 2 cents down. I will think of you this weekend while you are driving through Hog Country!

Anonymous said...

For me sin kinda has a way of sneaking its way into my life. I do believe that the more I am in the word and seeking God he points out that sin in my life. Thank you for your post and the encouragement to be more in his word.

Mrs. H said...

Great post - thank you for the reminder - it's time for me to step up my guard.

Michelle said...

What a wonderful post! At a time inmy life when things are going "good" it's a wonderful reminder for me who is fresh out of a pit- to not for one second think I'm "safe". 2 thumbs up!

Susie said...

Thank you for posting this. Simply wonderful!

LauraG said...

I've been on vacation so am just now catching up with your latest blog entries. The other comments pretty much say it all, so I won't go into why this post and your blog are such a blessing to me. Just know that God really uses you. Thank you!

God's girl said...

Thanks for your post and just being real! All of this is so true. Accountability is a big need too. That is what God has been speaking to me so much lately. Thanks for sharing your heart!
Blessings,
Angela

B said...

I totally agree with your scripture quotes and your interpretation of them. What I do not agree with is this:

"I think the way the program sensationalizes this issue probably throws bait to men who have never even been tempted in this way. The producers should be ashamed of that."

I work in the field of child abuse, I am an investigator of these crimes, and they are crimes and unfortunately this show only shows a teensy teensy tiny portion of the amount of this that goes on. Not just on the internet, but in real life. Teenage girls and younger girls are frequently taken advantage of by much older men who PREFER young women and girls. They are pedofiles. I am not sure what the EXACT stat is, but by the time a pedofile is caught they have had many many prior victims (I have 75 in my head, but not sure that is accurate), the point is, the producers are not at fault and these men have most definetly been tempted in this way before, no matter how many times they proclaim it's their "first time." In most of these cases, a sweep of their computer will show SO much more. Sorry for the soap box, but I think you have a rose colored view of internet and other child predators.

Amanda said...

Brandy,
It may have seemed like I was being sympathetic toward the predators, but that wasn't what I was trying to convey. I believe it was very unnecessary for the producers to let us in on some of the online chats. I thought they were using the vulgarity to be sensational when they really didn't need to go there. I majored in journalism and I was looking at it from that viewpoint. They could have made their point very clear without some of the conversations they revealed. I imagine that some of the filth they broadcast may have enticed people who had never done it before to start chatting online with teenagers. Wouldn't that be ironic since they are trying to stop predators? I wasn't trying to say that the producers should be ashamed for setting these men up to be arrested. I had no idea that by the time predators are caught they have already had so many victims. What a horrible truth.

Allison said...

Amanda, you are so elequent and inspiring in your words. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Your words make me strive to be a better christian.

Thanks again.

azt

B said...

I see, that is much clearer. That may be the case, in some people. I think it's supposed to be educational for the parents of young girls and for the wives of men who may be involved in this behavior. Many people are simply not aware and it's sad and many times, but not all, it could have been prevented with a little more supervision on these girls' parents part. Anyway, I see your intended point, thanks for clarifying!

Anonymous said...

Hey Amanda!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! What a Blessing you are! I sooo get what you were talking about! I have had so many people that have passed through my life that never had anyone to hold them accountable. They keep everything inside in an attempt to uphold this sparkling testimony that in the end is beneficial to no one. I love how you family is so transparent you can reach so many more people by being real and sharing you heart. One of the next books I want to read is “When godly people do ungodly things” I’m going to borrow it from my mother in-law, between the two of us I believe we have all of your mom’s books
This post was refreshing.
Thanks,
Suzi