After 400 Hours of Porn – A Woman Quits for God
Posted on March 17, 2015 in Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
Many people share a similar story. Childhood can lead, eventually, to consuming porn in order to fill a void, and perhaps to feel something. But eventually, the feelings are gone and the desensitization of porn is complete. Ovienrioba is correct in stating that at some point you stop seeing people and you begin to see nothing more than sex objects for your own pleasure. It’s no secret that the porn and sex-trafficking industries are also intricately linked. After all, if a person on a video is just a sex object, why can’t a person I “rent” also be a sex object?
No one wakes up one day with the goal of watching more than 400 hours of porn and becoming addicted to the harmful images. Yet Ovienrioba was that person. At her lowest she was so addicted that she couldn’t go a day without porn and watched multiple times a day. The idea of watching porn for 8 hours a day for 10 weeks is…horrible. But here is someone who has lived this reality.
I have no doubt it was hard for Ovienrioba to share this story as it’s intensely personal. But her willingness to be candid and open up about her experience can help others. The fact is, she’s not alone. More and more women are reporting addictions to porn and seeking help. The historically male problem is now a cultural problem that must be addressed.
What helped Ovienrioba to quit was starting a relationship with Jesus Christ. When she learned that Jesus wanted to have a relationship with her she gave her life to Jesus and walked away from porn for good. Ovienrioba now guards herself and what she sees and hears carefully. So careful is she that she avoids certain music that is sexually suggestive, won’t read sexually suggestive books or watch shows with sexual material. Her measures might sound extreme to some, but they keep her from falling back into the trap of porn addiction.
Maybe they aren’t that extreme after all.
Watch Ovienrioba’s video confession below. If the video doesn’t appear automatically, please refresh your browser. Continue reading…
This Picture Proves Why We Need the 20 Week Abortion Ban
Posted on March 16, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
As a resident of West Virginia, I am proud that our state legislature not only passed the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” I am proud that they passed it, then overrode the governor’s veto to make it state law.
Why is this an important bill?
The picture in this post is of a baby boy named David that died by miscarriage at 7 weeks old. What is immediately obvious by looking at the picture is that the unborn child is…a living human being! It is easy to identify arms, legs, the head, and the eyes beginning to form. The fact that this child, before he died through miscarriage, had a heartbeat makes it clear that it is a living child.
A recent article commenting on this story shares the words of the mother in the wake of her loss:
“I had a miscarriage on Palm Sunday last year. We think he was a boy and named him David Raphael. My only prayer when the doctor told me at 11 weeks that my baby had died a month earlier (at 7 weeks gestation), was that I would have something to bury. The doctor said he would either be too small to find or that his fragile body would be crushed in the miscarriage process and there wouldn’t be anything left. On Palm Sunday afternoon he came out. The entire sac was in tact and there he was still floating in the amniotic water. I took a picture so I wouldn’t forget that moment and how God answered my prayer. I think it would be an amazing photo to show people contemplating abortion. Even though he was only 7 weeks when he died, you can see his little arms and legs forming. My 4 year old was looking through my phone when I wasn’t looking one day and found the picture. He came up to me with it and asked me whose baby it was. Even a child can tell that at 7 weeks, the fetus is a little person.” Continue reading…
Have You Been Fooled By One of These Pro-Abortion Myths?
Posted on March 13, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
Writing at Live Action News and LifeNews.com, pro-life activist and lawyer Kristi Burton Brown discusses “10 Pro-Abortion Myths That Need to be Completely Debunked.” What’s curious to me is that several of these myths have been offered as “convictions” by people claiming to be pro-life. One has to wonder if the constant media hounding of pro-life people has created compromises that pro-life people are willing to accept. I certainly hope not. What other explanation could there for a person claiming to be pro-life that finds an exception (read: loop hole) where killing an unborn child is acceptable? How can that be justified?
More to the point, if killing an unborn child can be justified in certain circumstances, can’t killing any person be justified? (This example does not include death incurred as the result of just war.) If killing a person can be justified in a few circumstances can’t those few circumstances eventually be expanded to include others? You see where this is going? The bottom line is that if killing the unborn can be justified in any way, it will (and must) lead to the killing to others.
Some of the “myths” Burton-Brown discuses are: (To read the entire list with commentary, click here)
1. MYTH: Abortion is safe.
2. MYTH: Abortion doesn’t kill a person.
You can read what Burton-Brown has to say about this in the article. But, I find it most interesting that this excuse is used to oppose 20 week abortion bans. Thankfully, the 20 week abortion ban, also known as the Pain Capable Unborn CHILD Protection Act, was recently made legal in West Virginia through the efforts of pro-life lawmakers after the “pro-life” governor vetoed it. See #4 in this list for why this is ridiculous. But let’s also not forget the times in human history when living human beings were called and considered “sub-human,” “unhuman,” or otherwise:
- “In the eyes of the law…the slave is not a person.”
- “An Indian is not a person within the meaning of the Constitution.”
- [People purged by the Soviet government were called] “unpersons who had never existed.”
- “The Reichsgericht itself refused to recognize Jews…as ‘persons’ in the legal sense.”
- “The statutory word ‘person’ did not in these circumstances include women.”
3. MYTH: “Pro-abortion” and “pro-choice” are different.
4. MYTH: It’s okay if you are opposed to abortion, but don’t enforce that on anyone else!
5. MYTH: Guys don’t have a say on abortion.
6. MYTH: Birth control doesn’t cause abortion or hurt women.
7. MYTH: Abortion is a basic right..
8. MYTH: If you’re a feminist, you need to support abortion.
Let me see if I understand this. You’re a feminist and believe women need to be valued, so you support killing unborn girls!? Yep, makes perfect sense. Oh, and you support “women’s choice” by reducing it to one choice: abortion.
9. MYTH: Abortion is a simple, easy procedure.
10. MYTH: First trimester abortions are better than late-term ones.
Once Again Evidence Shows That Living Together Before Marriage Doesn’t Work
Posted on March 10, 2015 in Marriage by Nathan Cherry
One of two scenarios have become popular in our culture:
Scenario #1: Boy and girl meet, start dating, get serious, decide to move in together (more often than not due to one person’s hope that it will propel the relationship toward marriage).
Scenario #2: Boy and girl meet, get serious, start dating, date for a couple years, get engaged, THEN decide to move in together (for any number of reasons including, to save money while planning a wedding, or because “we are basically married anyway”).
The problem that many people just cannot seem to figure out with these scenarios is that they are doing more harm than good to the relationship.
Marriage is a commitment. Marriage says “I am committed to being with you through thick and thin, good or bad, easy or hard, I will be by your side.” (That is what the vows are supposed to mean, and each person is supposed to convey this message and make this commitment). When two people get married it is supposed to be for life regardless of circumstances; a vow and covenant made with each other, God, and before a number of witnesses. Marriage is serious.
Moving in together before marriage does not carry the same commitment. This poses a problem as many people expect their girlfriend or boyfriend to ACT like they are married, but without the vows and commitment that comes with marriage. When those expectations do not materialize it often strains the relationship and causes breakups, custody battles, and broken lives. In other words, people want to play house without making it official. By doing so they unwittingly set themselves up for failure. Continue reading…
Update: WV Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto – Passes First Abortion Ban in the State!
Posted on March 9, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
Despite being vetoed last year, and then again this year, the West Virginia legislature has successfully overrode Gov. Tomblin’s veto to pass the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This means West Virginia now has it’s first abortion limiting law on the books. West Virginia was previously one of just nine states with not a single abortion limiting law in place. That meant a woman could get an abortion for any reason up to the moment of birth. Considering the fact that a vast majority of West Virginians are pro-life – that was simply not acceptable.
We were all disappointed when our “pro-life” governor vetoed this bill last year; a decision that told us all we need to know about where Tomblin stands on the issue of life. After a second veto this year, no one in West Virginia will ever wonder about Tomblin’s position or whether he will defend life – he won’t.
National Right to Life made the following comment concerning the legislature’s override:
“In a 27-5 vote, the West Virginia state Senate today joined with the state House of Delegates in voting to override Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s veto of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HB 2568), legislation that protects unborn children from abortion at the point that they are able to feel pain. Tomblin’s veto came after the state House of Delegates and the state Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill in February. The legislature’s successful override of Gov. Tomblin’s veto means that the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act will go into effect in 90 days.”
Another article wrote: Continue reading…
Gov. Tomblin Vetoes 20 Week Abortion Bill Again! But Then This Happens…
Posted on March 6, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
Gov. Tomblin – claiming to be pro-life – once again vetoed a bill that would make abortion after 20 weeks illegal. Currently, West Virginia is one of just 9 states that has no abortion limiting laws. In other words, a woman can get an abortion anytime up to the moment of birth for any reason in West Virginia. Ironically, most West Virginians are pro-life. But, we have elected leaders like Gov. Tomblin that claims to be pro-life but then vetoes pro-life bills. But, this story may have a happy ending after all.
A recent article reports that the West Virginia House of Delegates has overwhelmingly voted to override the Governor’s veto:
“The West Virginia state House overwhelmingly overrode a veto issued by West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin of a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy on unborn babies who studies show can feel intense pain. Tomblin, who claims to be pro-life, has twice vetoed the pro-life legislation to protect unborn babies. The House voted 77-16 (7 not voting) to override the veto of HB 2568 and the state Senate is expected to follow suit.”
I applaud our delegates for doing what is right by protecting the most innocent and defenseless West Virginians. It’s a shame that our governor doesn’t have the moral fortitude to do the same, but I hope (and pray) the State Senate will follow the House example and override Tomblin’s veto.
Where does this leave Tomblin? Well, I heartily agree with pro-life leaders that expressed their disappointment with Tomblin’s veto: Continue reading…
VICTORY!? Abortion Bill Overwhelmingly Supported By West Virginia Legislature – Will Governor Veto?
Posted on March 2, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
Once again, West Virginia lawmakers have listened to the voice of West Virginians, and the pulse of Americans nationwide, by overwhelmingly supporting – and passing, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This is a common sense measure intended to protect unborn children capable of feeling pain from being tortured via abortion.
A recent article states:
“By a vote of 29-5, the West Virginia state Senate today gave final approval to HB 2568, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – a bill that protects unborn children from violent abortions after the point at which they are capable of feeling pain. The state House of Delegates passed the bill 88-12 on February 11, which included the support of two-thirds of the House Democrats.”
It’s no secret that West Virginians are pro-life and want to see life defended. That fact makes it surprising that we are one of just 9 states that has no abortion laws on the books. In other words, a woman can abort her unborn child for any reason up to the moment of birth in West Virginia with no questions asked. That is an injustice that cannot continue.
When this bill was passed last year, our “pro-life” governor, Earl Ray Tomblin, vetoed it saying his legal team didn’t believe it was constitutional. Apparently the governor’s legal team is unaware that such laws exist in nearly a dozen other states and several have already withstood judicial challenge.
See the chart below to find out which states have 20 week abortion bans.
It could be that perhaps Gov. Tomblin vetoed the bill in order to satisfy his allies, you know, the people that support his campaigns and political career (read: give him money). I can think of no logical, good reason to veto this bill other than caving to political pressure.
Del. David Perry (D) was the one that reintroduced the bill and has already said that he believes there is enough votes to override a governor’s veto. I sincerely hope he is right. I also hope that West Virginian’s will let their voices be heard. We need to tell the governor to sign this bill and make sure he knows how much we – his constituents – support it.
You can contact the governor by clicking here. You can contact members of the West Virginia Legislature by clicking here.
It’s time for the laws of West Virginia to reflect the will and wishes of the people. We are a pro-life state by an overwhelming majority – as evidenced by the number of Democrats that supported HB 2568 last year and this year. Life is not a partisan issue, it’s a civil rights, justice, biblical, moral issue. We cannot, as a nation or a state, hope to be blessed if we refuse to protect the most innocent and defenseless among us.
Matt Chandler Tackles Abortion With Tough Love and Strong Words
Posted on February 26, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
I’ll confess to being a cautious critic against modern pastors. The implosion of the modern church is largely in part due to a failure on the part of our pastors. A failure to preach and teach boldly from the Bible without being concerned whether the message is popular or “tickles the ears.”
One of my greatest grievances against many pastors is their refusal to properly, biblically, clearly address the moral issues facing people today. One of the most critical is that of abortion.
The average pastor won’t even say the word abortion from the pulpit this year. Any sermon where addressing abortion from a biblical perspective would be appropriate will be glossed over with subtle hints and flowery phrases. But you will not hear hardly a single sermon from an American pulpit during which the pastor declares “abortion is murder.”
This sad reality is compounded when pastors say things like “if you’ve terminated a pregnancy, I don’t want you to feel bad.” Or the equally cringe-worthy excuse for not even broaching the subject: “we focus on the Gospel.” Apparently there’s a whole group of pastors that don’t even know that abortion (murder) is in fact a Gospel issue. Perhaps that’s because abortion advocates have done such a good job of painting the issue as a men vs. women or Republican vs. Democrat issue. The truth is that this is not a political or gender issue, this is a biblical moral issue with deep roots in the Gospel. You cannot support destroying the image of God in another human being and call yourself a Christian. Yep, it’s really that simple. That’s how abortion is tied to the Gospel.
Thankfully, not every pastor is afraid of biblical moral issues. Matt Chandler, one of the most well-known pastors in America boldly addresses the issue from the pulpit annually. What makes his sermons on abortion so powerful is that he doesn’t mince words in calling abortion murder, but he never fails to remind people that Jesus redeems murderers through His grace. See, the Gospel is intimately tied to abortion. Continue reading…
Weak Preaching. Rampant Sin. Problems Facing the 21st Century Church Are Serious.
Posted on February 25, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
One of the reasons I believe the church is falling apart and the lives of Christian husbands, wives, children and families are deteriorating out of control is this: there is no conviction in our sermons.
At one time there was boldness born of conviction in the sermons delivered from church pulpits that called people to repentance and brought about Holy Spirit conviction in people. Today we have so many touchy-feely, feel-good sermons being delivered that conviction is lost. Too many pastors want to be hip, befriend everyone, or keep the peace. Too few pastors want to teach and preach the Gospel centered message of repentance and holy living.
What’s the result?
I can see two diverse outcomes from this lack of Gospel-centered, bold, convicting preaching. The first is the “us against them legalist” that makes sure everyone in the church knows that if you stray from the church defined “straight and narrow” you are wrong, and sinful. This church is easy to spot as its small, generally characterized as dying, refuses to embrace anything remotely cultural in an effort to reach people, and tends to rail against specific sins while ignoring others.
The “us against them legalist” has elevated man’s traditions to a place of reverence and refuses to consider that they are part of the problem. Worse than that, they’ve decided that their interpretation of Scripture is right and refuses to even dialogue about any other positions. What makes this problematic is that their positions on issues such as alcohol, holidays, church structure, and ministries such as Sunday School have almost no basis in Scripture and do more harm by driving away people seeking Jesus. But don’t tell them that or you’ll find yourself standing before the deacons – the people that run the church – accounting for your errant ways. Continue reading…
The Dones: The Demographic the Church Ignored, Forgot, then Lost
Posted on February 24, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
Scores of pastors in “hip” churches with trendy gimmicks and attractions can’t figure out why people seem to come, linger for a while, then leave. Yes, many of these churches are large – some have hundreds or even thousands of people each week – but they are an ever-revolving role of people that never seem to stick. Why?
Other pastors are having the same problem. The difference is that they oversee small, traditional churches that have “faithfully” held the ranks against any kind of change in their churches. Though younger generations disappeared, they comforted themselves with the knowledge that they were being “faithful” to their calling.
Two different churches with the same problem: people – both young and old – are leaving and not coming back.
This is not a traditional vs. modern church problem. This is a church problem; a Christian culture problem that transcends shallow differences like music and décor. Anyone that can’t see the reality that many people are simply walking away from the church needs to pull their head from the sand. The first thing we need to do is understand this group, then we can figure out why they are leaving.
Writing at Patheos, Mark Sandlin calls this particular group the “Dones.” Exactly what does that mean? Well, unlike the “nones,” or the ‘Spiritual But Not Religious,” groups, The Dones are easily identified and understood. They are that group of formerly active and committed people in churches that have decided to walk away. Simply put, they are done with church.
The Dones are not composed of one generation. They are not merely the young that don’t like traditional churches, and they aren’t the older that don’t approve of modern church methods. They are a multi-generational group that were, at one time, core members of churches serving faithfully on a regular basis in every aspect of church life. And now, they are done. Continue reading…