Wait, what? Something is not right about that title. Yet there is a common theme among all four categories: addiction. Each has a different enticing pull. Some start you out slow and through the course of gradual increases a person gets dependent. Others release a chemical in your brain that causes an instant desire to recreate the initial feeling, only to be severely disappointed when it misses the mark. 
    I was told about a drug in which the first time it is taken, it essentially makes a certain area of your brain burst with excitement, literally. That area affected is destroyed completely after the first dose, giving the user the false expectation of that same high for the second, never to experience it again. I rarely (actually have never) come across a person who exclaims "I'm so glad I lost my virginity to that person before marriage". And one of the sneakiest ones of all is alcohol, that can in many cases be completely fine, harming nothing. But all it takes is a bad day and bottle of your drink of choice to develop a dependency. 
    But what about this Jesus character. How does one become addicted to a person. Well that is quite simple if you survey middle school girls about Justin Beiber or One Direction... people addictions are quite real. There was even a pop song that talked about it: "I'm adic, I'm addicted to you". Oh how different we would look if we were so consumed with Christ that the world debated our sanity. The Apostle Paul was one of the most famous addicts of all time. He was what modern people would call a prude; until he overdosed on Jesus on the road to Demascus, never to be himself again. He was so strung out he changed his name from Saul to Paul. Then he changed the world, leading the worldwide revolution of love with a group of about 11 or 12 other addicts.
    Their lifestyle changed. Their actions changed. Their pursuits changed. People all around them couldn't help but to take a hit of the most potent, life changing addiction ever to grace this earth: Jesus. If the American government was overthrown and made religion illegal, could you be accused of this addiction? Would they try to send you to C.A.(Christians Anonymous)? I would be a straight felon... Ready to start the rebellion... with some God raps in my melon... Just kidding... or am I bidding?

Those emails and post that tell you to "repost if you believe" bother me... so keep this to yourself lol

    On Monday I voice my frustration with the rapid decline of moral standards for television. I was surprised to see the response. With my education in marketing, I have a tendancy to do market research. This means I watch to see what demographic of people (geographically) and how many view my blog. An average post of mine gets around 125 people view it and maybe one or two comments. On Monday more than 500 people saw it in 22 states and five countries. The thoughts must have struck a chord with some people.
    Tuesday was equally impressive with 120 visitors. Then Wednesday I didn't look and it (down to 24) and went back to my normal routine. Wait... what? I just got done speaking of the change that is need and followed it with... normal? I am ashamed. After reading the last post, how many episode of TV did you watch? How many hours of video games did you play? How many good books were read, or minutes in reflection and prayer? My answers hurt my soul, I would imagine many of yours did too.
    After reading the book The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, I became fascinated with epidemics. I don't mean the disease kind, but the "everyone has, does, or knows 'x' idea seemingly within a matter of hours. But 500 people does not change the thoughts and minds of a nation. With the Lenten season coming up (starts next week) I propose a challenge. If you haven't read my last post, do that first. The challenge is this: Let's shut off the tv, video games, useless internet times, and apps on the phone, and read or write a letter to a friend. It is a "wasted time" fast. But there is one more part to the challenge. Let people know about it. Write your experience on here of the results of this break. We are not alone in our thoughts of desiring change. SHARE, COMMENT, TALK so we know how "un"alone we really are.
    Could something as simple as sharing a blog, commenting, and reading help a country? Probably not. But it will most definitely help you. No more going back to routine after getting passionate about things that are wrong. It's time to change. Below are videos that hurt to watch. Excuse the expletives used in the first, but it makes a point.

I do not own the rights to these videos

    In the last few years I have heard many talk about "how bad our
country is getting". But I have seen enough good to avoid jumping on that bandwagon, until now. There was once a day when having a Super Bowl party for the youth group was a great time of fellowship and fun. That day is long since past. I realized last night while watching the game that I missed the last two Super Bowls due to snowboarding outings. I think that time off from the pinnacle
of advertising has allowed me to avoid the "easing into" the acceptance of blatant seductive sexual immorality on TV.

    Sex is rampant. One commercial after the other came on the screen making me uncomfortable. The only thing
missing from the halftime show was a pole, but don't worry, they incorporated that into one of the commercials. I am angry, sad, upset, but determined. One of the groups I associate with talks about a media battle. We are losing this
battle. I don't really watch TV much anymore anyway, but the Super Bowl may have just put me over the edge of no more. 
    I have always been intrigued by the passage in James 1:27 that says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and TO KEEP ONESELF FROM BEING POLLUTED BY THE WORLD" (emphasis added). Most people focus on the first two parts of looking after orphans and widows, but I believe we have neglected the very important third call of pure and faultless  religion.

It is time to put down the remote, the game controller, and
ungodly internet sites, and time to pick up good books, prayer, fasting,
solitude reflection, and most of all Scripture.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who
sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the
one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let
us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
-Galatians 6:7-10