Gary Chester- Helping men to win

SHE HASN'T CAUGHT ME IN PORN

 

garychester.org 1/22/09

 

My wife has never caught me on porn websites.  That's because I don't go there and have a filter to insure I don't.

 

I've never viewed porn on the net except for one incident when a spammer tricked me once by putting something about Walmart in the subject box.  To demonstrate just how powerful porn is, I still occasionally see that image, along with the recollection of my instant preliminary stage of pre-arousal (how's that for a newly made-up term?) when I viewed it although it's been nine months ago since I was duped.

 

The experience showed me I have to be on guard in order not to be re-addicted to porn as I once was early-on in my walk with Christ (1 Peter 5:8-10).  This high-octane poison to one's sexual wellness perhaps is even more addictive than crack cocaine or meth.

 

I recommend a filter for your computer.  Need suggestions for a filter?  gary@menwhowin.com.

THE DEVIL TRYING TO KICK MY BUTT

garychester. org  1/15/09        

The devil's temptations in lust aimed at me have been so strong at times that it's been as if I've literally being down in the floor wrestling with him.  During one extended period of time, his assaults came in waves a half dozen times daily.

Even as someone who's indwelled by God's Holy Spirit, I have mentally yielded at times to the temptations.  The devil has enticed me to indulge in remembrances of delightful but extraordinarily destructive images from past years of promiscuity.  With such a bank of memories, I don't really need outside porn from the internet to experience a time of mental sinning.  I have enough porn archived in my hard drive (brain) which can be retrieved if I so choose.  (But oh the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:28 and Paul in 1 Cor 6:13-20).

Whenever I caved, guilt and shame followed.  Then came confession (Psalms 51:1-6), and the wonderful provision to restore fellowship with God (1 John 1:9).  This is the modus operandi of all whole-hearted lovers of God when we unfortunately have allowed ourselves to be conned by the enemy and have yielded to our own destructive desires.  (Read my 1/15/09 newsletter Satan Barks Orders from nearby Field)

Back when I was taking such a beating from temptation, God all this time was working in my heart to get me to recognize my need for an accountability friend, a confidant or two.  Through these few deep-spirited friends, he would bring - and still is bringing - increased power, liberation and freedom (James 5:16) which I had previously never experienced.

Now years later, I'm still being tempted but am much stronger to resist the devil's bait. I do this paradoxically through both my own weakness and through God's empowerment (2 Cor 1:18) via confession and support of tight buds whose confidentiality I trust.

TO THE UNSAVED:  If you've never received the gift of new life through the Holy Spirit, this blog most likely sounds like craziness and foolishness to you (I Cor 1:19).  But if you're a wholehearted lover of God, you also have experienced intense battles in some kind of temptation (i.e. pride, anger, drugs, booze, materialism, shopping, etc). I'd like to know about them.  If I use your story in a newsletter or blog, your identity will remain anonymous.  gary@menwhowin.com.

www.menwhowin.com - for my eight minute radio shows about victory over anger and porn.

The Devil Trying to Kick my Butt

 

 

garychester. org  1/08/09       

 

The devil's temptations aimed at me in lust have been so strong at times that it's been as if I've literally being down in the floor wrestling with him.  For a period of time, his assaults came in waves a half dozen times every day.  He unfortunately managed to kick my butt too many times.

 

(Sorry, but I don't have time to finish this blog.  I'll do so by 1/15/09)

 

TO THE UNSAVED:  As I write this, I realize that if you've never received the gift of new life through the Holy Spirit, this blog most likely sounds like foolishness (I Cor 18-20) to you.  But if you're a wholehearted lover of God, you also have experienced intense battles in some kind of temptation (i.e. pride, anger, drugs, booze, materialism, shopping, etc). I'd like to know your story.  If I use your story in a newsletter or blog, your identity will remain anonymous.  gary@menwhowin.com

RESCUED FROM SIX YEARS OF UPHEAVAL

 

garychester.org  1/02/09

Divorce, business failure, financial ruin, and separation from my kids -- they turned my life on its’ ear over a period of six years in the 1980s.

 

The divorce and business failure left me with a few clothes, an old Nova, and some odds and ends of furniture that my former wife had discarded.  My life was in turmoil.  I ended up living in nine places over five years.  I was so broke that I was forced to live with my Mother for two of those the tumultuous years in order to make ends meet -- a move not very uplifting for a grown man's ego.

 

During the turbulence, God connected me with, and corrected me by, the advice of a wise Godly counselor.  He helped me to process my roller coaster of emotions (remember feelings usually lie to you).

 

But the life raft that came to my rescue the most, were the scriptures I had memorized a few years prior to my personal upheaval.  I staked my life on the truth of them.  

 

I even recorded some instructive and encouraging verses in order to listen to them whenever I was in my Nova.  (I'd be happy to burn an audio CD copy for you personally.  gary@menwhowin.com)

 

During this period, I experienced some random thoughts of suicide.  But I knew this wasn't an option.  My Dad had taken his life, and the impact on the loved ones around him was devastating.  Besides, upon entrance to heaven, how would I explain to God that I couldn't trust Him?  So, I personally persevered,  (Romans 5:2-5).

 

Within six years God restored me.  As a new and different person by then, I was given a firmer emotional footing than ever before (1 Peter 5:6).

 

Had I not saturated my soul with God's sure and true Word, I doubt if I'd be able to write such a good report as this blog gives.  So, my exhortation to you is to start getting hooked on the book.  You'll never regret doing so.  (Read my 1/02/09 newsletter, Before your Train Wreck Occurs)