I would like to begin by apologizing for my long absence from this blog.  Due to various reasons, I have not been able to give it the attention that I originally intended.  While I will not discontinue it, I cannot promise a multitude of entries in the near future.  Please excuse the blog's sparsity!

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The First Amendment of the United States Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Not long ago, I was criticized for speaking out against public obscenity.  I was told that this is a "free country" with "freedom of speech" and that I should live my life my way, and let the rest of the world do as it pleases.  This individual said that I should not tell other people what to do.  Excuse me?  When "the rest of the world" chooses to act in ways that harm my children, I will most certainly not sit back and be quiet about it! 

The First Amendment was included in our Constitution so that Americans would be guaranteed the right to speak out against governmental abuses of power.  It was not written to protect public pornography!

Unfortunately, many misguided people in this country like to justify lewd material with the First Amendment.  Most of us have been conditioned, since childhood, to accept obscenity on some level.  It is all over the media, it is pushed on kids in schools, it is readily available in libraries.  Add to that, the propaganda that our own Constitution should be used to protect such lewdness.  Let's not forget all of the times that our own courts have ruled in favor of this ridiculous notion!

Guess what? " Freedom of speech" does not belong only to those who harm our children.  We can voice our opinions, too!  Let's not roll over and let the enemy destroy the purity that is within our young!  Leave a comment on the card at your local grocery store, if you see an offensive magazine cover out in the open.  Write a letter to the main office of a department store, if you see vulgarity for sale.  Speak up, if you visit a restaurant that shows something on a television screen that you feel is too racy for your kids.  Write or call your local legislator.  Write letters to editors of newspapers.  Complain, complain, complain until "the world" is sick of hearing it!

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.   -Luke 23:34

All of us are sinners.  There is not a human being alive, who has not committed ungodly acts.  We will continue to do so until death.  Our Lord is gracious and forgives us!  He loves each of us unconditionally, and died for the sins of all mankind.  As He forgives us for our transgressions against Him, we are required to forgive those who hurt us.

Satan is crafty.  He tells people that "freedom of speech" means that it is perfectly acceptable to violate the sanctity of childhood innocence.  He whispers to unwitting souls, that opposition to his devices proves an individual to be overprotective, prudish, uptight, (insert your favorite insult here).  He convinces shop owners that if they do not accept his ways, then they will not thrive financially!  He slithers his way into their minds and makes it easy for them to believe that they do not need to follow God's laws all of the time (or, in some cases, ever). These people are vulnerable to the enemy's wiles as we all are, when we do not allow Jesus to guide us!

When people willfully and openly display obscene material in places visited by young children, they commit an atrocity.  As parents, it is our God-given responsibility to protect the children from it.  As we confront those responsible for this threat to our little ones, we must remember not to allow our hearts to become hardened against them!  God commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

Let us pray that those responsible for public vulgarity, become awakened to the harm that they are causing.  Let us also pray that those of them who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, do so today!

In an ideal society,  children would grow up with their innocence intact.  No one would ever try to steal it away from them.  They would not see or read what is not meant for the eyes and ears of God's little ones.  Their world would involve Jesus, family, play, education...

Sadly, this ideal is a far cry from our reality!  Many children have had their innocence and dignity pilfered from them.  For example, it is not uncommon for our youth to be exposed to harm while standing in line at grocery stores.  Things like unchaste magazine and book covers give children the wrong idea about what is right, and what is not.  When young ones view inappropriate pictures and read vulgar words, their God-given innocence is worn away.  They are given the idea that immodesty is not only acceptable, but desirable.  As they grow, these convictions can become further embedded in their hearts and minds.  Behavior that does not honor God often follows.  These vulnerable children are growing up in danger of losing the capacity to be whole, God fearing adults!  Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  -Proverbs 22:6

What can we do about this assault on our children's soul's?  Writing letters to companies that indulge in the harm of our youth, is one option.  They should know that we believe that leaving such instruments of spiritual destruction out in plain sight is wrong!  Businesses that allow immodest programming to be shown on public television screens should change what they show. 

Writing or calling a local legislator to voice an opinion is another way to share your views.

Parents have been given the honor of raising God's children into adulthood.  We must see to it that our charges are not exposed to filth that could keep them from fully embracing Him!