Safety in the Suburbs?

Rockin’ the Suburbs

The original idea behind the suburbs was to create a place to escape the undesirable elements that live in the cities. In other words, people in the ghetto would not acquire the means to move out to the suburbs... thus making the bucolic and homogeneous communities safe from the crime and debauchery that would seem to be indigenous to the... erm, riff-raff.

This thinking has been debunked, however, by a number of disturbing trends... such as sex, drugs, and your diverse manifestations of immorality.

And the wide reach of the internet has made it so much easier for perverts and predators to reach into your home and to cause harm to your precious children... like the 12-year-old who was abducted and sold into prostitution on Craigslist and other web sites.

Sex... drugs... prostitution?

Not in my neighborhood!

After all, my kids go to church every Sunday.

Consider this, however... that going to church won’t make your kids Christians any more than going to McDonald's makes them hamburgers. And, if you are not exercising wise stewardship over them, then...

So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.

Matthew 25:28-29 [AMP]

Wait a minute, are you saying someone is going to take my kids away?

That’s right!

Who?

The devil!

The Bible tells us:

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

John 10:10 [AMP]

Whoa... wait a minute, you mean I moved my kids to a safe neighborhood... away from crime, away from poverty... and the devil can STILL get them?

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it roams through waterless places in search [of a place] of rest (release, refreshment, ease); and finding none it says, I will go back to my house from which I came. And when it arrives, it finds [the place] swept and put in order and furnished and decorated. And it goes and brings other spirits, seven [of them], more evil than itself, and they enter in, settle down, and dwell there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Luke 11:24-26 [AMP]

In Luke 11:24-26, Jesus explains that a person set free from demonic possession is only temporarily free. The way to permanent freedom is to have something occupying that space where the demon previously lived... something bigger and stronger than that demon... bigger and stronger than the seven others he brought with him. And who is bigger and stronger than satan himself?

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

1^st John 4:4 [AMP]

So just moving your kids to a safe neighborhood doesn’t cut the mustard. They are better off in the deepest darkest ghetto with Christ in their hearts and the baptism of the Holy Spirit than to be in the most exclusive gated community with nothing protecting them from the enemy.

Cases in point:

The Lost Children of Little Rock

While more than a decade has gone by since the original PBS Frontline broadcast, the message still rings true:

Teens left to their own devices... even in affluent suburban climes... got involved in all kinds of immoral behavior.

This came to light, as reported by the PBS Frontline team, when an outbreak of syphilis derailed the “fun times” and reality hit the parents in the face like one of Soupy Sales’ custard creme pies.

Kids need more than $1,000,000 homes in gated communities.

They need Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

They need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

To put kids in such nice surroundings and spend so much time away from home, working to pay for everything, is just a disaster waiting to happen!

It happened in Little Rock... and in many other places around the world.

Sex Is The New Goodnight Kiss

Journalist Sharlene Azam did a book and video report on how Canadian teenagers in nice neighborhoods are selling themselves into prostitution to have the money to buy the latest fashions.

This was (and likely still is) a huge phenomenon in the affluent areas of Asia such as Japan and Singapore... but now we have old guys in North America buying sex from teens for a pair of designer shoes or whatever.

And, as the economy continues to drag... people are going to all kinds of lengths to satisfy their materialistic lusts...

In teens, those lusts are fed by the media and peer pressure.

Overall, society is materialistic... you aren’t anything, the world tells you, unless you wear clothes by this designer or jewelry by that jeweler, or shoes with those logos on them... etc. And in these days of recession and bailouts, what other option do your kids have to feel good about themselves?

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1^st John 5:3-5 [NIV]

If your teen knows who he or she is in Christ, then they can have self-esteem in knowing that their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, and not in knowing that some designer’s logo is written on their backside.

Murder in the Nation’s Capitol

For decades, gang wars over drug turf and etcetera was a huge problem in the District. A year ago, the DC police had to literally impose martial law over the Trinidad section of the District because homicides were becoming a daily occurrence.

One mother wanted to raise her child away from all of that, so she and her Ex moved to the nicest suburban area that money could buy. She also hovered over him both physically and electronically. Still, while her 14-year-old honor student was riding his bike not very far from their home, he was beaten to death by schoolmates who had organized into gangs.

Unfortunately, the local police are busy swimming up the Egyptian river called “de-nial” to accept that gang activity exists there. The sad story appeared in the June 2^nd edition of the Washington Post.
If you have left the violent suburbs for the more safe exurbs... don’t worry... trouble will find you.

Why?

Because evil is not a matter of geography, it is the spiritual nature of fallen man. And when we realize that we need to put something into the souls of the youth, we won’t have to worry so much about the zip codes of the youth.

God’s Prescription for Protection

Pray Psalm 91 over your children every day... and have them put that scripture in their hearts. That is your protection.

Then, when the enemy wants you to worry about them... try sending this to your child as a text message (right after you send it to the Throne of Almighty God as a faith-filled prayer)...

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121 [NIV]

Safe in the Suburbs?

You and your family can be safe anywhere... but your safety is not in man made fortifications or structures... but in the Living God.

That clinches it—help’s coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out. See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we’re making garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame— and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall.

Psalm 20:6-8 [The Message]

Some trust in horses and chariots. Some trust in Smith and Wesson. But your family will be safe when you put your trust and confidence in the Creator of heaven and earth.

No Christ, No Peace. Know Christ, Know Peace.

If you have never asked Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life... or of your family... say this simple prayer right this moment:

Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have put my trust in things that are untrustworthy. I have spent my life worrying over things that I can not control, when I now know that I can put my faith and trust on You, because You have the power to control all things. So Jesus, please take control of my life. Fill me with your Spirit... in love, and in power... so that I may make the right choices in my life, and in the lives of those whom I love. Thank you, Lord, for saving me.

Safe in the Suburbs?

Rockin’ the Suburbs

The original idea behind the suburbs was to create a place to escape the undesirable elements that live in the cities. In other words, people in the ghetto would not acquire the means to move out to the suburbs... thus making the bucolic and homogeneous communities safe from the crime and debauchery that would seem to be indigenous to the... erm, riff-raff.

This thinking has been debunked, however, by a number of disturbing trends... such as sex, drugs, and your diverse manifestations of immorality.

Sex... drugs... prostitution?

Not in my neighborhood!

After all, my kids go to church every Sunday.

Consider this, however... that going to church won’t make your kids Christians any more than going to McDonald's makes them hamburgers. And, if you are not exercising wise stewardship over them, then...

So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.

Matthew 25:28-29 [AMP]

Wait a minute, are you saying someone is going to take my kids away?

That’s right!

Who?

The devil! The Bible tells us:

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

John 10:10 [AMP]

Whoa... wait a minute, you mean I moved my kids to a safe neighborhood... away from crime, away from poverty... and the devil can STILL get them?

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it roams through waterless places in search [of a place] of rest (release, refreshment, ease); and finding none it says, I will go back to my house from which I came. And when it arrives, it finds [the place] swept and put in order and furnished and decorated. And it goes and brings other spirits, seven [of them], more evil than itself, and they enter in, settle down, and dwell there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Luke 11:24-26 [AMP]

In Luke 11:24-26, Jesus explains that a person set free from demonic possession is only temporarily free. The way to permanent freedom is to have something occupying that space where the demon previously lived... something bigger and stronger than that demon... bigger and stronger than the seven others he brought with him. And who is bigger and stronger than satan himself?

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

1^st John 4:4 [AMP]

So just moving your kids to a safe neighborhood doesn’t cut the mustard. They are better off in the deepest darkest ghetto with Christ in their hearts and the baptism of the Holy Spirit than to be in the most exclusive gated community with nothing protecting them from the enemy.

Cases in point:

The Lost Children of Little Rock

While more than a decade has gone by since the original PBS Frontline broadcast, the message still rings true. Teens left to their own devices... even in affluent suburban climes... got involved in all kinds of immoral behavior that came to light when an outbreak of syphilis derailed the “fun times” and reality hit the parents in the face like one of Soupy Sales’ custard creme pies.

Kids need more than $1,000,000 homes in gated communities. They need Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. To put kids in such nice surroundings and spend so much time away from home, working to pay for everything, is just a disaster waiting to happen!

Oral Sex Is The New Goodnight Kiss

Journalist Sharlene Azam did a book and video report on how Canadian teenagers in nice neighborhoods are selling themselves into prostitution to have the money to buy the latest fashions. This was (and may still be) a huge phenomenon in the affluent areas of Asia such as Japan and Singapore... but now we have old guys in North America buying sex from teens for a pair of designer shoes or whatever.

This society is materialistic... you aren’t anything, the world tells you, unless you wear clothes by this designer or jewelry by that jeweler, or shoes with those logos on them... etc. And in these days of recession and bailouts, what other option do your kids have to feel good about themselves?

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1^st John 5:3-5 [NIV]

If your teen knows who he or she is in Christ, then they can have self-esteem in knowing that their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, and not in knowing that some designer’s logo is written on their backside.

Murder in the Nation’s Capitol

For decades, gang wars over drug turf and etcetera was a huge problem in the District. In fact, last summer the DC police had to literally impose martial law over the Trinidad section of the District because homicides were becoming a daily occurrence.

One mother wanted to raise her child away from all of that, so she and her Ex moved to the nicest suburban area that money could buy. She also hovered over him both physically and electronically. Still, while her 14-year-old honor student was riding his bike not very far from their home, he was beaten to death by schoolmates who had organized into gangs.

Unfortunately, the local police are busy swimming up the Egyptian river called “de-nial” to accept that gang activity exists there. The sad story appeared in the June 2^nd edition of the Washington Post.

If you have left the violent suburbs for the more safe exurbs... don’t worry... trouble will find you.

Why?

Because evil is not a matter of geography, it is the spiritual nature of fallen man. And when we realize that we need to put something into the souls of the youth, we won’t have to worry so much about the zip codes of the youth.

Pray Psalm 91 over your children every day... and have them put that scripture in their hearts. That is your protection. And when the enemy wants you to worry about them... try sending this to your child as a text message (right after you send it to the Throne of Almighty God as a faith-filled prayer)...

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121 [NIV]

Safe in the Suburbs?

You and your family can be safe anywhere... but your safety is not in man made fortifications or structures... but in the Living God.

That clinches it—help’s coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out. See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we’re making garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame— and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall.

Psalm 20:6-8 [The Message]

Some trust in horses and chariots. Some trust in Smith and Wesson. But your family will be safe when you put your trust and confidence in the Creator of heaven and earth.

No Christ, No Peace. Know Christ, Know Peace.

If you have never asked Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life... or of your family... say this simple prayer right this moment:

Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have put my trust in things that are untrustworthy. I have spent my life worrying over things that I can not control, when I now know that I can put my faith and trust on You, because You have the power to control all things. So Jesus, please take control of my life. Fill me with your Spirit... in love, and in power... so that I may make the right choices in my life, and in the lives of those whom I love. Thank you, Lord, for saving me.

Amen!

Flee Immorality

There are many in the congregations today that gather in the name of Jesus and claim His precious name, yet they live in sexual immorality. They have casual sex and go their separate ways; some commit adultery, and some who are single live together outside of holy, God ordained wedlock; they have children and rear them in immorality assuring the cycle to continue; many go to church and bow to pray thinking they are being heard by God; they even act as if they are righteous. They raise up for themselves preachers to tickle their ears while they conjure up a “Jesus” in their minds that suits their fancy. Well---this is your wake up call people!! God loves you but he hates the sin you are in. Jesus died to cleanse and deliver you from sin, not to cover you in His blood while you willfully continue to wallow in it.

The Apostle Paul writes,

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

(1^st Corinthians 6:9-11 NASU)

If you indeed did come to know the Lord Jesus you were cleansed of your sin and set apart for holiness. Do not let your heart or the teachings of false doctrines deceive you into thinking that you can continue in your sin and still inherit the kingdom of God.

To inherit hell and its woes will be a tremendous curse. Everyone should be anxious that they not be deceived, that while they set their hope on eternal life they do not sink down to everlasting death instead!

“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.”

(1^st Corinthians 6:18 NASU)

As we read the words of the Apostle Paul one can feel that there is force and emphasis in the command to “flee immorality;” a solemn command of God; as fully and clearly expressed as any that thundered from Mount Sinai. No ONE, man or woman, in or out of the church, should disregard it as if they are exempt of penalty or punishment, for none can violate it without being exposed to the wrath of Almighty God.

One should detest, abhor and RUN AWAY from sex outside the union of holy matrimony (fornication KJV) as from trouble or danger; they should not stay to REASON about it; to debate the matter; or even to CONTEND with the inborn inclinations of the flesh, or attempt to test the strength of their moral excellence or righteousness. There are some sins or solicitations to sin, which can be resisted; some about which one can reason without danger of becoming impure or corrupt. But sexual immorality is a sin where one is SAFE only when they flee; one is free from pollution only when they refuse to entertain a thought of it; secure when they seek a victory by flight, and a conquest by retreat. Let the one who desires to be a child of God turn away from it without reflection on it and he/she is safe. Let them think, and reason on the subject and they flirt with death.

“The very passage of an impure thought through the mind leaves pollution behind it.”

Even a debate on the matter often leaves pollution; a description most definitely ruins; and even the presentation of motives AGAINST it may often fix the mind with dangerous inclination toward the sin. The Apostle Paul prescribed no way of avoiding the pollution of fornication but to flee; there is no one safe who will not follow his direction.

Though sin of every kind has a tendency to destroy life, yet none are so liable or subject to death as those to which the Apostle refers; they strike immediately at the foundation of the physical and spiritual make up of a person. By the just judgment of God, all these irregular and sinful connections are joined and united with death. Prostitutes, whoremongers, homosexuals nor unclean persons of any description, should they remain in their sin, live out the fullness of their days.

How many people would be saved from poverty, want, curses, tears, sexually transmitted and other diseases, death and hell, if these two words, FLEE IMMORALITY, could be made “to blaze before them like the writing before the astonished eyes of Belshazzar (Daniel 5), and could they terrify them from even the MOMENTARY contemplation of the crime.”

James C Sanford

20% of Teenaged Girls have Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The M in MTV used to stand for music. Now, it stands for message, and a very important message needs to get into as many ears as possible.

Many news organizations in addition to MTV have reported the latest findings that a quarter of all girls in their teens have an STD.

YIKES!

I guess that we forgot all of a sudden that there is such a thing as cause and effect? Perhaps more teens will get turned on to the information presented by groups like Battlecry and especially the sex-related topics at The Powerhouse.