Slow Fade

It starts with a peek...

It starts with a drink...

It starts with a word...

It starts out slow, but, by the time you realize anything you have lost everything.

I attended the 16th Annual Men's Conference at my church on Friday and Saturday and it was phenomenal. 8500 men in our sanctuary, a sanctuary built with 7700 seats. Needless to say, there were a lot of folks standing. Anyhow, the conference was based on three topics:  Triple Play-Sex, Money and Pride -and how to conquer those subjects and become leaders of our homes. On Friday night, our pastor spoke about sex and how this world is becoming more and more corrupt through it. He preached on Proverbs 5. If you have a few minutes, take a read, it's good. Better yet, I'll post it:

Proverbs 5 NLT

 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
      listen carefully to my wise counsel.
 2 Then you will show discernment,
      and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
 3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
      and her mouth is smoother than oil.
 4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
      as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
 5 Her feet go down to death;
      her steps lead straight to the grave.
 6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.
      She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.

 7 So now, my sons, listen to me.
      Never stray from what I am about to say:
 8 Stay away from her!
      Don’t go near the door of her house!
 9 If you do, you will lose your honor
      and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
 10 Strangers will consume your wealth,
      and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
 11 In the end you will groan in anguish
      when disease consumes your body.
 12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
      If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
 13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers?
      Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
 14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
      and now I must face public disgrace.”

 15 Drink water from your own well—
      share your love only with your wife.[b]
 16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
      having sex with just anyone?[c]
 17 You should reserve it for yourselves.
      Never share it with strangers.

 18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
      Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
 19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
      Let her breasts satisfy you always.
      May you always be captivated by her love.
 20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
      or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?

 21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,
      examining every path he takes.
 22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
      they are ropes that catch and hold him.
 23 He will die for lack of self-control;
      he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

Very good stuff. But, right before he preached, a couple of the guys from our church sang a song about how our addictions start out slow and end with a thud. The name of the song is Slow Fade, by Casting Crowns and it spoke so deep to my heart, that I wept...uncontrollably. I knew what the song was talking about. My internet porn addiction could carry over to my kids and therein lies the thud. You see, what starts out as a satisfaction for you, whether you know it or not, can and most likely will, carry over to your kids. I'm not sure about any of you, but my heart would break having to explain myself and my actions to my kids, or worse yet, catch them in the act themselves. Giving that lifestyle up is difficult. VERY difficult. Just remember, when God sees you doing that, He doesn't get angry....He weeps. He wants to help, all you have to do is ask. Ask Him, ask a friend, ask me, just ask someone. Here are the words and a video for the song. Listen particularly to the end, when the little one sings.

No one crumbles in a day.
DADDIES NEVER CRUMBLE IN A DAY........

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Ymh-w0bm4[/youtube]


Slow Fade

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see



END OF LINE


JR