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Additional Tools

  • A 2016 study on Canadian adolescents showed that 45.3% admitted to problems with erectile dysfunction. Lucia Sullivan

  • “Pornography use is the #1 reason men in church seek counseling.” Josh McDowell

  • Pornography addicts are 300% more likely to cheat on their partner. Dr. Patrick Fagan

  • Only 7% of pastors report their church has a ministry program for those struggling with porn. Barna Group

  • 30% of porn users said their work performance had suffered due to excessive porn use. University of Sydney

  • 25-30% of Christian woman struggle with sexual dependency issues. Pure Desire Ministries

  • 58% of men said they viewed pornography once a week or more. The Journal of Sex Research

  • 47% of porn users spend between 30 minutes to 3 hours a day watching pornography. University of Sydney

  • Men are 543% more likely to look at porn than females. General Social Survey

  • “We (the church) are simply speaking to the symptoms rather than pulling back and addressing the heart issue at the root of sexual brokenness.”  Mo Isom

  • 43% of senior pastors and youth pastors say they have struggled with pornography in the past. Barna Group

  • On average, first exposure to pornography among men was 12 years of age. The Journal of Sex Research

  • 57% of teens have sought out porn at least monthly. Barna Group

  • 71% of teens have done something to hide what they do online from their parents. Tru Research

  • “We are wounded in relationships, but we heal only in the context of relationships.” – Dr. Ted Roberts

  • 57% of pastors have a current or past struggle with pornography. Josh McDowell

  • Global Porn Revenue: $97 Billion per Year. U.S. Porn Revenue $13 Billion per Year.  Josh McDowell

  • “Every Christian leader must be equipped to wade into these difficult and painful waters with the compassion and truth of Jesus.” Dr. Juli Slattery

  • “Everyone is sexually broken”  Juli Slattery

  • 1 in 5 youth pastors and 1 in 7 senior pastors use porn on a regular basis and are currently struggling. That’s more than 50,000 U.S. church leaders. Barna Group

  • “It seems so obvious: If we invent a machine, The first thing we are going to do after making a profit is use it to watch porn” Damon Brown

  • “70% of Christian men, struggling with sexual bondage, come from homes where rules override relationship.” Josh McDowell

  • 88% of porn users said they would be willing to seek professional help, but only if it was offered online. University of Sydney

  • 1 out of 3 women are addicted to pornography and 70% of all men between ages 17-35. A study of over 3000 discovered that 60-70% of men, 50-58% of pastors, and 20-30% of women in evangelical churches are sexually addicted. [1]

  • 56% of divorces involve the internet use of a partner as a driving factor. Covenant Eyes

  • 40 million adults regularly visit porn sites. Josh McDowell

  • “It’s clear from Scripture that godly men who are walking with God, do not live in habitual, unrepentant sin.” Ken Larkin

  • “If you don’t understand what set up the crash in the first place, you are destined to repeat it” – Dr. Ted Roberts

  • “Most men living in habitual sin are more afraid of being exposed and what people think, than having the fear of God to prevent them from doing this behavior.” Ken Larkin

  • “ Our culture doesn’t just preach sexual immorality, it readily and effectively models it.” Dr. Juli Slattery

  • “Any porn use is associated with declines in religious commitment and behavior and an increase in religious doubts.”  Dr. Samuel Perry

  • 20% of porn users said they prefer the excitement of viewing porn to being sexually intimate with a partner. University of Sydney

  • 91% of men and 60% of women had accessed pornography in the last 30 days. The Journal of Sex Research

  • Those who are happily married are 61% less likely to look at porn. General Social Survey

  • 43% started viewing porn between the ages of 11-13. University of Sydney

  • 68% of Christian men struggle with unwanted sexual behavior. Pure Desire Ministries

  • “Marriage doesn’t change you, It just reveals more of what it finds.”  Rodney Wright

  • 75% of pastors said they DO NOT make themselves accountable to anyone for their internet use. Leadership Journal

Additional Information

Armor Bearer

Yes, I will help Bear the Armor of Restored Warriors.  I will make the following commitment:

$50.00 per month for 12 months

$25.00 per month for 12 months

Any Amount per month for 12 months

Brothers, I need your help!

The time has come for me to share with you, my heart.  In March of 2020, God reveled to me the Ministry of Restored Warriors.  He showed me how that men’s lives, much like yourself would be changed and set free from their sexual struggles.  He showed me the battlefield and how many men are laying there wounded and hopeless.  The countless lives, marriages & families that would be restored.  I did not realize the changes that God would continue to make in my life.  When Restored Warriors launched in September 2020, I was able to dedicate around 16 hours a day to this Ministry.  I was able to survive on a savings that I had to offset my living expenses.  Then, when the savings had diminished, I had to return to my tailoring work, leaving me to only have around 4-6 hours a day to focus on Restored Warriors.  I saw the ministry start to suffer because of this, but I knew that God would supply.  Today, God has laid on my heart to bring this need before you.  I need men to be the Armor Bearers for Restored Warriors.  These are the guys who will be lifting the financial burden on Restored Warriors.  The ministry of Restored Warriors is in no way close to stopping.  It is simply a need that will allow the ministry to grow.

What will this mean? More dedicated time for:

  •        open calendar time for personal 1 on 1 ministry.
  •        time to reach out to you & others in their daily battle.
  •        Time to see the ministry increase in the number of men’s lives & families it reaches.
  •        time to increase the number of groups being lead.
  •        time to plan and organize groups & events.
  •        time to work with guest speakers & to build the ministry outreach.
  •        time for advance preparation of the materials.
  •        time for study in the addiction/recovery processes and ministry.
  •        Less likely to burn out!

You know I do not take this ministry lightly.  I know and have seen the way men’s lives have been and are being changed daily by this ministry.  You & I know the abilities this ministry has, to be able to reach more with a broader spectrum.  But I need your help to do it!  I need you to stand with me on the battlefield for Purity in the Church.

I need you to be an Armor Bearer for Restored Warriors.  I need a 12 month commitment of 30 men who will partner for $50 per month.  This will cover my personal living expenses.  Until June 2021, I had never taken any salary or any money of any kind from Restored Warriors.  However, now I have cut myself down to a bare bone living, to be able to invest into the lives of men like yourself.  A sacrifice that I feel will have a much larger gain than any financial matter can ever give.  You might say, I cannot do $50, but I could do $25.  Anything that you can do will help.  How much value do you put on your healing and restoration of your family?  What about those who we are not reaching yet?  The time to act is now!

Lordy I hate asking for money.  However, the time has come for me to share with you the need & my heart to serve.  This is my heart guys.  Will you help me stand on the battlefield of purity for others like yourself?  If you want to talk to me about this or anything else, please feel free to reach out!

Thank you for anything you can do…

Daniel

As always, all donations are tax deductible.

 

Betrayal & Beyond

The Betrayal & Beyond program reveals the truth and nature of sexual addiction, and how women are wounded by the addict’s behaviors. For women who have suffered betrayal, their healing comes from understanding the role of trauma, establishing healthy boundaries, exploring the depth of forgiveness, and learning to live in restoration.

The Betrayal & Beyond program reinforces the daily commitment to health through several foundational tools:

  • Creating an attitude of gratitude through thankfulness
  • Identifying personal/prophetic promises, reinforced through God’s Word
  • The Commitment to Change identifies challenges or needed change and accountability for change
  • The FASTER Scale raises awareness of the behaviors that lead to relapse
  • The Group Check-In provides weekly self-reflection while moving toward health
Brain Health

Originally from: The Freedom Fight

Porn Changes Your Brain

brain and stemJust trying harder to stop a porn habit doesn’t work. The physical structure of the porn user’s brain is changed by prolonged porn use, and if they don’t address the brain-altering impact of porn it is nearly impossible to change their behavior.

Porn Creates Unhealthy Neural Pathways

When a person climaxes, whether by using porn or having sex, their brains give us the highest reward it can. The brain makes note of it to remind them to do that again. When they are initially triggered to use porn, their brain increases the craving to move them in the direction to use again. The brain uses dopamine to activate craving and desire. Dopamine is released not only at the fulfillment of pleasure but also in anticipation of pleasure.

The brain gives a hit of dopamine to move people down that familiar path because of the rewards and pleasure at the end. Everything in them says, “I must have it.” It consumes their thoughts. All they want is to be alone with porn. The more they travel this pathway in the brain, the stronger it gets, and the more difficult it is to stop the urge to travel it. 

Elevated dopamine levels in the brain because of regular porn use impair the ability of the brakes to stop. This is why it is difficult for a habitual porn user to stop watching porn even when he or she wants to. This phenomenon is true for any addiction. This is why so many addicts feel helpless. This doesn’t excuse a person’s porn use, but it does help explain how an otherwise godly person who genuinely wants to quit often can’t without help.
beakers

Dopamine and Porn Addiction

Dopamine is the main pleasure chemical the brain releases when a person experiences something enjoyable. Sex is the highest natural reward of dopamine the brain gives. Drugs like cocaine release unnatural amounts of dopamine into the body. So does meth. So does pornography. Dopamine ensures that the brain will remember and later crave the activities that led to the high. Chasing dopamine can be so consuming that people risk it all: their job, marriage, ministry, and integrity.

honeycombPorn is like candy: it brings a quick high, but it can’t sustain you and it rots the soul. When we consider the unlimited access and the dopamine burst of porn, it’s no wonder people get hooked on it. It’s not just about the porn, it’s about the craving for the high.

The American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) asserts that addiction is fundamentally a brain disease, explaining that the disease is in the brain’s reward system. Addiction occurs when the brain’s reward system is hijacked. The hijacking causes people to crave pleasure from sources that are ultimately harmful–drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc.

What ASAM calls disease, the Bible calls being in bondage to sin and “carrying out the desires of the mind” (Ephesians 2:3). The cravings of the addicted brain take over. Understanding the biology of the brain helps those caught in addiction renew their mind more effectively.

Your Brain Develops a Tolerance to Porn

When a person continues indulging a porn habit, his or her brain can start to build a certain tolerance. Many issues can occur when the brain builds up a tolerance to porn:

  • Porn artificially raises the baseline level of dopamine
  • They need more dopamine to get the high
  • Without the high they may find themselves depressed, unmotivated and antisocial
  • They may become bored and disengaged with things they used to enjoy
  • They may need more porn, or more variety, to get the same high
  • They might seek out new and different images or risky behavior

When someone chases a dopamine high, they find themselves watching things they never thought they’d watch and doing things they never thought they’d do.

The Erosion of Willpower

eyeHypofrontality is the phenomenon of a person’s prefrontal cortex (PFC) –their brakes – not operating effectively. It is the erosion of their willpower. Prolonged porn use saturates the PFC with dopamine. One of the results of elevated levels of dopamine is that the PFC doesn’t absorb dopamine effectively. The PFC also gets less blood flow and therefore less oxygen. When the PFC absorbs less dopamine and gets less oxygen, it operates less effectively. The brakes are weakened.

Hypofrontality helps explain how someone can continue to make bad decisions even in the face of great personal cost. They have lost the ability to restrain themself. Stopping porn use and unwanted sexual behavior can address the problem of hypofrontality. When elevated dopamine levels return to normal, the brain can heal and start absorbing dopamine effectively again. When this happens, impulse control and moral reasoning begin to function at a normal level. Healing takes time. This is why detox is so important. It helps people heal their brains by repairing their brakes.

DeltaFosB and Addiction

Another result of an addicted brain is the accumulation of the molecule DeltaFosB. Researcher Eric Nestler has shown how this protein molecule accumulates and persists in the reward pathways of the brain in response to chronic stimulation due to an addiction. When pornography is consumed regularly it produces large amounts of dopamine, which results in Delta FosB and in turn leads to the addiction-related changes in the brain that cause craving and bingeing.

After six to eight weeks of abstinence from an addictive substance there is often a breakthrough for patients in their recovery. It is suspected that the decline of the presence of Delta FosB is key to the improvement that many recovering addicts often see once they get to the 8-week mark of their abstinence from their addictive substance.

Resetting the Brain

fruit treeIt’s a challenging situation. When a person’s willpower has been eroded by excessive porn use but they need to stop porn to get their willpower back to normal… it’s a catch 22. This is why a 95% commitment to detox won’t work. There must be 100% commitment to detox when your brakes are in such a weak condition. Going on lock down and having accountability is essential for someone to escape the snare of pornography.

The addicted brain is the second of the six roots of a porn addiction. The mind must be renewed. One important step in this process is strengthening impulse control. This is done in two ways:

  1. First, a person must stop porn use and the unwanted sexual behaviors so dopamine levels return to normal and the prefrontal cortex can operate effectively.
  2. Second, they must increase oxygen to the prefrontal cortex.

During detox, the brain will crave relief while willpower is weak. This is why the Freedom Fight created the BRACE tool for you to use every time you face a temptation or trigger. Deep breathing also gets more oxygen to the PFC and helps you build a new pathway when triggered.

Beginning to Heal

Detox begins when the addict stops sexually acting out. They abstain from masturbation, porn, hooking up, or any other unwanted sexual behavior. Many sex addiction therapists encourage their clients to make a goal of going ninety days without a relapse for their initial detox. That may seem impossible, but taking it one day at a time is key.

couple hugging

Detoxing allows the chemical levels in the brain to return to normal and reset. Detox will likely result in certain withdrawal symptoms. Initially, the person may become depressed because they are used to the high from the chemicals. They may experience the classic symptoms of detox and withdrawal: boredom, lack of interest and motivation, and the desire to isolate. The first few weeks are typically the most challenging.

During detox, a porn addicted brain will crave dopamine. It will be important during this time to engage in activities that naturally raise the level of dopamine like exercise, good sleeping and eating habits, spiritual disciplines (Bible reading, prayer, etc.), and enjoying friends. This can help diminish the craving for a dopamine hit. Self-care is an essential element of recovery, especially during the initial detox.

Fasting

Fasting can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Fasting is simply a period of time that you give up food (or something else you depend on) so you can turn your focus toward God. There are multiple ways to participate in the fast. You might choose to do the Daniel Fast—which is basically no meats, no sweets, and no treats— or you may decide to fast all entertainment—Netflix, social media, YouTube, and news outlets. Whatever your fast looks like, remember, it’s not about what you’re giving up but what you’re going to gain.

Here are some options to help find a type of fast that works for you:

Daniel Fast

Avoid meats, sweets, and treats—usually for 21 days. Instead eat fruits, vegetables, rice, and beans. Avoid dairy, bread, meats, and alcohol. See FAQs below for more details about the Daniel Fast.

Partial Fast

A partial fast is usually from sun up to sun down—drinking juice and water and eating a light dinner at night.

Full Fast

Drink liquids only for a set period of days (please consult your physician before beginning a full fast).

3-Day Fast / 7-Day Fast

You may not be able to fast for 21 days. Choose a 3-day or 7-day fast. This can be a partial fast, full fast, or Daniel Fast.

Additional Fasting Options

Food isn’t the only option when it comes to fasting, especially for those with specific health conditions. We all have little things in our life that take up our time, like TV or streaming platforms, phone apps, digital devices, video games, books, or even music. Whatever it might be, setting distractions aside for a time can create more space for connection with God.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Daniel Fast? 

If you’re wondering, “Where did the Daniel Fast originate?” That’s a great question. The Daniel Fast was first observed by the prophet Daniel in the Bible. On one occasion, Daniel was greatly concerned for his people and sought the Lord’s wisdom during a time of prayer and fasting.

Daniel 10:2-3 says, “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips.” The meaning of “choice food” is not clear; however, most commentaries conclude that Daniel avoided bread and sweets. The Message translation sums up Daniel’s eating habits during that time: “I ate only plain and simple food.”

The idea behind the Daniel Fast is not to replicate Daniel’s menu but to imitate his spiritual hunger. Daniel’s passion for the Lord caused him to seek spiritual food rather than physical food, which should be the desire for anyone doing the Daniel Fast.

What do I eat on the Daniel Fast?

Foods You May Eat

  • Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley, Whole Grain Breads, Grits
  • Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas, Soybeans
  • ALL Fruits: i.e. Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon
  • ALL Vegetables: i.e. Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger Root, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini, Herbs, Spices, Olives (Olive Oil), veggie burgers are an option if you not allergic to soy.
  • Nuts & Seeds
  • Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% Natural Fruit Juices, 100% Natural Vegetable Juices, Protein Drinks, Decaffeinated Beverages in moderation
  • Sweeteners: Honey, Stevia & other Natural Sweeteners

Foods To Avoid

  • Meat
  • All Dairy Products
  • White Rice
  • Fried Foods
  • Caffeine
  • Carbonated Beverages
  • Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives, Refined Sugar, or Sugar Substitutes
  • White Flour and All Products Using It
  • Margarine, Butter, Shortening, and High Fat Products
  • Desserts, Candy, etc.

How can I be successful in my time of fasting?

Fasting sounds easier in concept than it proves to be in practice. It can be surprising how on-edge we feel when we miss a meal. Here are some simple pieces of advice.

Plan what you’ll do instead of eating. Fasting isn’t merely an act of self-deprivation, but a spiritual discipline for seeking more of God’s fullness. This means we should have a plan for what positive pursuit to undertake in the time we normally eat. We spend a good portion of our day with food in front of us. One significant part of fasting is the time it creates for prayer and meditation on God’s Word.

Before diving headlong into a fast, craft a simple plan. Connect your fast to a specific purpose, or something you are believing God for. Identify what that is and design a focus to replace the time you would have spent eating. Without a purpose and plan, it’s not fasting; it’s just going hungry.

So as you plan your fast, consider how it will affect others. If you have regular lunches with colleagues or dinners with family or roommates, assess how your abstaining will affect them. Consider letting them know ahead of time instead of springing it on them in the moment.

Do I have to fast from food?

Fasting from food is not for everyone, especially those with certain health conditions. But fasting is not limited to abstaining from food. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “Fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose.”

If it is not wise for you to go without food, consider fasting from television, computers, media, or some other regular enjoyment that would bend your heart toward greater enjoyment of Jesus.

Where is fasting mentioned in the Bible?

Scripture References for Fasting: Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18:9-14

Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word: 1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, 20, Joel 2:12, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30, Acts 13:2

Corporate Fasting: 1 Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37

 

Originally Posted at: https://www.christfellowship.church/how-do-i-fast

Josh McDowell Daily Devotionals
Family Devotional
Youth Devotional
Positive Confessions

A Fellow Brother of Restored Warriors has written this and he wanted to share it with everyone, So I’m posting it for you to read!

I’m Challenging YOU to Read This DAILY for the Next 30 days… Read It OUT LOUD!!
Let’s see what God does in YOUR Life!!

“I am who my Father says I am. He is who He says He is. I am loved. I am accepted. I am in the beloved. My Father is for me and not against me, He is with me and He is in me. He is working miracles on my behalf. I am in His divine rhythm, timing and perfect will. I have His divine favor. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world. I have all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him. I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. I have my Fathers vision for my life. I have the mind of Christ. I am convicted by Holy Spirit and I walk in all obedience. 

I have wisdom, knowledge and all understanding. I have good fruits. I am successful in all things. I am a great husband and a great father. I am a great friend and a great worker. I am a great leader. I am a great learner. I am Spirit led, Spirit filled and Spirit empowered. I am providing for my family by the grace and strength of God. I am joyful in all things.

I am full of faith. I am thriving as a Kingdom leader with tremendous influence and success. I am an anointed King and Priest in the earth. I am a world changer. I am chosen, equipped, commissioned, anointed and appointed by the King. I am healthy, healed and whole. I am saved and set free from the bondage of sin. I am made right with God, right with my wife and right with all my relationships. I am a great servant and a great son. I am great Steward of my time and possessions. 

I am disciplined in my Spirit, soul and body. I have purpose and impact. I am creative, blessed and in tune in hearing my Fathers voice. I am humbled and therefore will be exalted. I am rich beyond measure. I am strong, fast, smart and wise. I Am a Mighty Warrior. I am full of courage. I have what it takes. And This is my best year yet.”

AMEN!!!
Thank you Brother!!!

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PLEASE Post Your Comments and Praise Reports of What You Have Seen God Do in Your Life while Reading This!!

Restored Warriors App
Restored Warriors App
The Parable of the Dragon

I want to share with you a parable.  It’s about a prince and a dragon.  I use the word “dragon” very purposefully.  First, it is a biblical description of our spiritual adversary, but it’s also a way of helping us understand how we find ourselves in such a mess, and how to get out of it.

There was once a great and noble king whose land was terrorized by a crafty dragon. Like a massive bird of prey, the scaly beast delighted in ravaging villages with his fiery breath. Hapless victims ran from their burning homes, only to be snatched into the dragon’s jaws or talons. Those devoured instantly were deemed more fortunate than those carried back to the dragon’s lair to be devoured at his leisure. The king led his sons and knights in many valiant battles against the serpent. Riding alone in the forest, one of the king’s sons heard his name purred low and soft. In the shadows of the ferns and trees, curled among the boulders, lay the dragon.

The creature’s heavy-lidded eyes fastened on the prince, and the reptilian mouth stretched into a friendly smile. “Don’t be alarmed,” said the dragon, as gray wisps of smoke rose lazily from his nostrils. “I am not what your father thinks.” “What are you, then?” asked the prince, warily drawing his sword as he pulled in the reins to keep his fearful horse from bolting. “I am pleasure,” said the dragon. “Ride on my back and you will experience more than you ever imagined. Come now. I have no harmful intentions. I seek a friend, someone to share flights with me. Have you never dreamed of flying? Never longed to soar in the clouds?”

Visions of soaring high above the forested hills drew the prince hesitantly from his horse. The dragon unfurled one great webbed wing to serve as a ramp to his ridged back. Between the spiny projections, the prince found a secure seat. Then the creature snapped his powerful wings twice and launched them into the sky. The prince’s apprehension melted into awe and exhilaration. From then on, he met the dragon often, but secretly, for how could he tell his father, brothers or the knights that he had befriended the enemy?

The prince felt separate from them all. Their concerns were no longer his concerns. Even when he wasn’t with the dragon, he spent less time with those he loved and more time alone. Over time, the skin on the prince’s legs became calloused from gripping the ridged back of the dragon, and his hands grew rough and hardened. He began wearing gloves to hide the malady. After many nights of riding, he discovered scales growing on the backs of his hands as well. With dread he realized his fate were he to continue, and so he resolved to return no more to the dragon. But, after a fortnight, he again sought out the dragon, having been tortured with desire.

And so it transpired many times over. No matter what his determination, the prince eventually found himself pulled back, as if by the cords of an invisible web. Silently, patiently, the dragon always waited. One cold, moonless night their excursion became a foray against a sleeping village. Torching the thatched roofs with fiery blasts from his nostrils, the dragon roared with delight when the terrified victims fled from their burning homes. Swooping in, the serpent belched again and flames engulfed a cluster of screaming villagers. The prince closed his eyes tightly in an attempt to shut out the carnage. In the predawn hours, when the prince crept back from his dragon trysts, the road outside his father’s castle usually remained empty. But not tonight.

Terrified refugees streamed into the protective walls of the castle. The prince attempted to slip through the crowd to close himself in his chambers, but some of the survivors stared and pointed toward him. “He was there,” one woman cried out, “I saw him on the back of the dragon.” Others nodded their heads in angry agreement. Horrified, the prince saw that his father, the king, was in the courtyard holding a bleeding child in his arms. The king’s face mirrored the agony of his people as his eyes found the prince’s. The son fled, hoping to escape into the night, but the guards apprehended him as if he were a common thief. They brought him to the great hall where his father sat solemnly on the throne.

The people on every side railed against the prince. “Banish him!” he heard one of his own brothers angrily cry out. “Burn him alive!” other voices shouted. As the king rose from his throne, bloodstains from the wounded shone darkly on his royal robes. The crowd fell silent in expectation of his decree. The prince, who could not bear to look into his father’s face, stared at the flagstones of the floor. “Take off your gloves and your tunic,” the king commanded. The prince obeyed slowly, dreading to have his metamorphosis uncovered before the kingdom. Was his shame not already great enough? He had hoped for a quick death without further humiliation.

Sounds of revulsion rippled through the crowd at the sight of the prince’s thick, scaled skin and the ridge growing along his spine. The king strode toward his son, and the prince steeled himself, fully expecting a back-handed blow, even though he had never been struck so by his father. Instead, his father embraced him and wept as he held him tightly. In shocked disbelief, the prince buried his face against his father’s shoulder.

“Do you wish to be freed from the dragon, my son?” The prince answered in despair, “I wished it many times, but there is no hope for me.” “Not alone,” said the king. “You cannot win against the serpent alone.” “Father,” sobbed the prince, “I am no longer your son. I am half beast.” But his father replied, “My blood runs in your veins. My nobility has always been stamped deep within your soul.” With his face still hidden tearfully in his father’s embrace, the prince heard the king instruct the crowd,

“The dragon is crafty. Some fall victim to his wiles and some to his violence. There will be mercy for all who wish to be freed. Who else among you has ridden the dragon?” The prince lifted his head to see someone emerge from the crowd. To his amazement, he recognized an older brother, one who had been lauded throughout the kingdom for his onslaughts against the dragon in battle and for his many good deeds. Others came, some weeping, others hanging their heads in shame. The king embraced them all. “This is our most powerful weapon against the dragon,” he announced. “Truth. No more hidden flights. Alone we cannot resist him.”

Three Circles
Three Circles
References

Below is a list references to partnerships we have developed:

[1] Josh McDowell Ministries  http://www.joshmcdowell.com

[2] Joe Dallas, http://JoeDallas.com (657) 333-0807

[3] Dr. Ted Roberts, https://puredesire.org  (503) 489-0230  info@puredesire.org 886 NW Corporate Dr, Troutdale, OR

[4] Barna Group in the U.S. in 2014 (Barna Group, 2014 Pornography Survey and Statistics, https://www.provenmen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Survey-eBook-no-linksLinked.pdf

[5] Porn Stats 2018”, Covenant Eyes, Accessed December 11, 2019, https://www.covenanteyes.com/pornstats/

[6] Nick Bilton, “Parenting in the Age of Online Pornography”, The New York Times, January 7, 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/08/style/parenting-in-the-age-ofonline-porn.html

[7] Covenant Eyes, Pew Research Center’s 2018 findings of Mobile porn:” (“Porn Stats 2018”, Covenant Eyes, Accessed December 11, 2019, https://www.covenanteyes.com/pornstats/

[8] David Kinnaman & Roxanne Stone, “The Porn Phenomenon – The Impact of Pornography in the Digital Age”, Barna Group, April 4, 2016, http://barna resources.myshopify.com/products/pornphenomenon

[9] Luke Gilkerson, “Pocket Porn: Nearly a Third of Teens Carry Portable X-Rated Theaters, Covenant Eyes, April 15, 2014, http://www.covenanteyes.com/2014/04/15/porn-pocket/

[10] Samuel L. Perry & George M. Hayward, “Seeing is (Not) Believing: How Viewing Pornography Shapes the Religious Lives of Young Americans”, Social Forces/Oxford Academic, June 2017, https://academic.oup.com/sf/article/95/4/1757/2877697

[11] Set Free Summit by, Mary Ann Layden, PhD, Psychotherapist, Director of Education, Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, Director of Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program.

[12] Stephen Black, 1330 N Classen Blvd Ste G80, Oklahoma City, OK 73106-6856, 405.236.4673, http://www.stephenblack.org

[13] First Stone Ministries, 1330 N Classen Blvd Ste G80, Oklahoma City, OK 73106-6856, 405.236.4673, http://www.firststone.org

[14]  “Generation XXX: Pornography Acceptance and Use Among Emerging Adults” http://jar.sagepub.com/content/23/1/6. short.

[15] Pure Life Ministries: http://www.purelifeministries.org

[16] Blazing Grace, http://www.blazinggrace.org/pornstatistics.htm

[17]  Barna Group,  http://www.barna.com/porn-2-0-the-sexting-crisis

[18]  Barna Group, http://www.barna.com/research/porn-in-the-digital-age-newresearch-reveals-10-trends

[19]  Bill Perkins, When Good Men are Tempted, p. 88, Bill Perkins

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