Rise Up, Mighty Warrior
From FBH team member Rick Dimmitt:September 16, 2008
Gideon was a coward hiding from the Midianites while threshing wheat when he first encountered God. You can read his story in Judges 6-8. Not only was Gideon a coward, but he was also weak in his faith, had low self-esteem, and no confidence. Yet when God entered the picture, He called Gideon a mighty man of valor.
Why? Because God saw Gideon through His eyes. He saw the possibilities in Gideon and declared them to be truth. And Gideon went on to defeat the Midianites because what God sees is what matters and what He declares is what's true.
He saw Saul, the Christian hater and declared him to be the Christian leader, Paul. He saw the wishy washy Simon and declared him to be Peter, the Rock.
No matter how you see yourself and no matter how others look at you, too. The only thing that really matters is who God says you are and what He knows you can do.
And how does God see you? If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, He sees you and declares you to be His son or His daughter. And since God is king, that makes you a Prince or Princess! You are royalty! Therefore, you have the potential and the declaration to be a mighty man or woman of valor in the Kingdom of God!
Don't let anyone tell you and don't you dare tell yourself that you are anyone less. Because what God declares to be true is the truth indeed.
So, rise up mighty warrior. You are chosen and declared and in-dwelt by the Spirit of the Most Holy God! You are who He says you are!
Men At The Cross – Houston, Omaha, Dallas
Three more Men At The Cross events are in the history books and we returned with an even greater resolve to help men and get free from the chains of pornography and sexual sin. Every man we talked to either struggled with the problem or was bearing the burden of another who struggles or is addicted. And many took that brave step be accountable and live free with an FBH Accountability Pack or Personal Toolkit.We Have a Winner
Make sure to check out www.freedombeginshere.org/winners/ to see if you won one of the iPods from signing up at Men at the Cross in Houston, Omaha & Dallas. Look for more opportunities to win at future MATC gatherings.Life Imitating Art?
Recently, David Duchovny, who played the UFO believing, conspiracy-minded Fox Mulder on the “X-Files” TV and movie franchise, voluntarily admitted himself into rehab for sex addiction after years of denying he had a problem. In a sad turn of irony, it was no secret that Duchovny’s character Fox Mulder had a pornography issue. And Duchovny’s latest TV adventure is about a sex-crazed writer working in the entertainment industry. The show’s title – “Californication.”
"The concept of sexual addiction is a controversial one and that's because it is difficult to define," said Dr. Steve Eichel, an addiction specialist who works in Delaware. "There is no question the character played by Duchovny is sexually compulsive. It has destroyed his marriage and the show shows some of the ramifications of the character's sexual behavior upon his daughter, which is actually quite realistic," noted Eichel.” ¹
What about the story of Pastor Michael Guglielmucci, who faked having a terminal form of leukemia while preaching to his congregations in Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia? In a bizarre twist, Guglielmucci spent two years playing to packed houses on the Christian rock scene, sending an anthem of faith and healing called “Healer” to the top of the charts.
But last week the Melbourne-based pastor came clean about the terminal cancer he did not actually have. His father Danny issued a public apology to the congregation this week. "Mike thought he could escape the pain by creating a diversion from his addiction to adult pornography, so he created the cancer scenario," he said. In the statement, Michael Guglielmucci said he had been addicted to adult pornography for 16 years, apologized to those he had misled, and promised restitution. ²
Whether it’s a Hollywood star (or starlet) or a dynamic church leader, the truth really is out there. More and more Pornography and Sexual Sin are playing a mainstream role in our lives. It IS affecting your family, your church, your community. It really is about us!
¹ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/29/AR2008082902754.html
² http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/25/2345377.htm
Personal Stories
The power of a someone’s testimony of freedom builds hope for our own journey. We find ourselves saying, “Yes! I can have freedom from sexual sin, too.”However, an honest soul knows that addictive habits and behaviors rarely just disappear overnight. It is a moment by moment battle, that cries out for accountability and grace every step of the way. Being honest about the battle is often the greatest step taken out of chains that bind.
Such is Greg’s testimony, recently submitted at www.freedombeginshere.org/?page=stories.
There are certain things I always find tempting but ironically dumb... That little button that says "Are you 18?" It does no good when that is all that walls an innocent child off from a whole lot of trouble....
As a boy I listened to the Dobson tapes on puberty, as he said "pooberty", and thought they listed temptations of masturbation/porn/adultery, etc., etc... Some of it means nothing to somebody who doesn't have a clue. It was like understanding having cancer when you were never sick a day in your life. I loved life as a kid, it was more untainted fun than I will ever have alive on this earth, but it ended. I ended up finding little bits of things I didn't understand, but it was exciting, and ADDICTING! At first finding slightly dirty things and not getting caught was the fun... Then I grew older and the looking became the addicting fun.... I didn't realize that I was weaving myself a trap that would put me six feet under. When I finally realized what I had gotten into, I had lost my parents trust twice, learned how to cover my tracks TOO WELL, and was caught up. I would walk around all day with happy thoughts of freedom that ended up in shameful nights staring at my ceiling after another couple hours of binging that seemed like five minutes. God was just about the only peace I found... I have heard many stats and that porn will ruin a marriage. I have been single all my life, though I am only in my twenties, and as painful as it can be, I want this addiction to be fought off before it can ruin the trust of my future wife, so I never have to see the heart wrenching look in another one's eyes when they find my hidden wants and needs on cyberspace.. It is a difficult world with the web, and even more difficult when you can go almost unscathed by your loved ones' eyes.
I will fight this battle for you all that read this as well as the honor and purity of the woman I hope to meet some day. God is my strength, now I just have to ask for it that split second before I dive in again.... Will I ever escape this fully? Who knows, but I will not let it define me!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless!
Do you have a story to tell? Don’t be shy. Your story could be key to someone else’s first step towards freedom. We have set up a specific place at www.freedombeginshere.org for your stories. Be sure to check out www.freedombeginshere.org/?page=stories to read the testimonies of others and share your own story.
As a boy I listened to the Dobson tapes on puberty, as he said "pooberty", and thought they listed temptations of masturbation/porn/adultery, etc., etc... Some of it means nothing to somebody who doesn't have a clue. It was like understanding having cancer when you were never sick a day in your life. I loved life as a kid, it was more untainted fun than I will ever have alive on this earth, but it ended. I ended up finding little bits of things I didn't understand, but it was exciting, and ADDICTING! At first finding slightly dirty things and not getting caught was the fun... Then I grew older and the looking became the addicting fun.... I didn't realize that I was weaving myself a trap that would put me six feet under. When I finally realized what I had gotten into, I had lost my parents trust twice, learned how to cover my tracks TOO WELL, and was caught up. I would walk around all day with happy thoughts of freedom that ended up in shameful nights staring at my ceiling after another couple hours of binging that seemed like five minutes. God was just about the only peace I found... I have heard many stats and that porn will ruin a marriage. I have been single all my life, though I am only in my twenties, and as painful as it can be, I want this addiction to be fought off before it can ruin the trust of my future wife, so I never have to see the heart wrenching look in another one's eyes when they find my hidden wants and needs on cyberspace.. It is a difficult world with the web, and even more difficult when you can go almost unscathed by your loved ones' eyes.
I will fight this battle for you all that read this as well as the honor and purity of the woman I hope to meet some day. God is my strength, now I just have to ask for it that split second before I dive in again.... Will I ever escape this fully? Who knows, but I will not let it define me!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless!
Rush of Fools
The new Rush of Fools CD Wonder of the World hits the streets TODAY and the boys will be touring with Big Daddy Weave this fall. Pray for them, because they will be sharing the FBH message during their concerts. What an awesome opportunity to spread the movement to a completely different audience. Thanks to Wes, Kevin, Jacob, Jamie and JD! Check out RushOfFools.com
Get Help. Get Equipped. Get Involved.
Your next steps? You may or may not be addicted or struggling with pornography, but you probably know someone who is. Visit www.freedombeginshere.org and order a Personal ToolKit, Accountability Pack, and/or Church ToolKit to begin to make a difference today. It’s your move.It is our hope and prayer that this e-newsletter will encourage you and those you know to make a difference.
Our Mission
Freedom Begins Here™ was created in response to countless emails and phone calls from pastors and individuals looking for resources to really help with the problem of pornography and sexual addiction. Not just another book to read or a twelve-step program. Not a band-aid to cover the wound or a pill to mask the pain. We need to begin to shine the light of truth on the darkness by honestly talking about the problem, admitting our weaknesses and failings, and walk together in ruthless accountability.