MESSAGE
FROM THE PASTOR
July
2005 Pastor
Jeff Stanfill
The
weekly Pastor's Perspective published by Focus on the Family passed along an interesting
news item. Perhaps you have heard the reports in the press and media of the failure
of abstinence pledge programs such as True Love Waits and others. The Journal
of Adolescent Health reports that teens who pledge abstinence are more likely
to engage in riskier sex. The pledge attempt was deemed a failure. But
the U.S. Heritage Foundation was not so sure of the reports conclusions and examined
the data itself. Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation called the original
widely broadcast report "the worst piece of junk science I've seen in 20
years." Why
did he say this? Not only did the data indicate that teens who pledged are less
likely to be sexually active but the study ONLY examined 21 out of 14,000 adolescents!
This has not been reported by the news media! This
month as we celebrate our freedoms as citizens of the United States, we are reminded
that our freedoms must be managed and maintained responsibly. Freedom of the press
- like all our freedoms - is a wonderful gift from God. But like all gifts if
abused or used improperly we can use them to do much harm. The
freedom you and I have in Jesus Christ is a wonderful gift from God. He has delivered
us from sin, bondage, the power of the devil, and God's own wrath. Yet we must
live in that freedom responsibly. How
can we?
- Avoid
the appearance of evil or stay away from sinful activities.
- Be
guarded with my thoughts, words, and deeds.
- Continually
practice the presence of God.
So
responsibly enjoy being free in Christ! And if you
ever read another report of the failure of God's ways
- be skeptical!
Pastor
Jeff
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