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10 Life & Sex Lessons Mom Never Told Me: #2- More to Life than Sex & Filters

This is Day 2 from the #UnashamedList Series. Written especially for youth and young adults navigating issues like sexual integrity, porn addiction, identity .. Series intro here.

Who doesn’t want to be loved? Who never wanted to be desired? I’ve been married 15 years and still want to be wanted by my husband.

In Middle/High School crushing and flirting can consume much free time (even long after).

Is he looking at me..?  What did she say..?

You can be so self conscious. I got picked on for my hair, being new (we moved a lot), not having the right shoes–people can make fun of anything. I didn’t wear tanks until I was almost done with High School. Continue reading “10 Life & Sex Lessons Mom Never Told Me: #2- More to Life than Sex & Filters”

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10 Life & Sex Lessons Mom Never Told Me: #1- Porn is Crazy Addictive

This is Day 1 from the #UnashamedList Series. For the intro/what’s Jas getting into now?, start here.

Porn is crazy addictive. Yes, some may feel revulsion, but others glimpse a few seconds and get hooked. I know.

I’m not the only one. A Porn Kills Love/ Fight the New Drug Movement is happening in the US.


So how did porn meet me?

Continue reading “10 Life & Sex Lessons Mom Never Told Me: #1- Porn is Crazy Addictive”

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Is Hell bigger than Love?

The gospel can be cut so many ways. “Good news” for a woman begging is different than for a rich Westerner, or trafficked boy. But concepts like unconditional love and freedom keep me busy.

I’ve heard many Christians stress about people needing to “convert” or “be saved” to avoid hell. Was it similar thinking that sparked the convert-or-die theology of the Crusades?

Continue reading “Is Hell bigger than Love?”

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The Last Wall: How Our Hearts are the Last Border to Break

Our lives have been marked by boundaries: the boundary of the womb, the boundary of the crib, the boundary of the skies…  and we push these walls, kicking against the dark in the uterus, climbing out of cribs, dreaming of flight and touching the heavens.

It seems like all boundaries–from the glass ceilings to the Berlin Walls, were meant to be destroyed…

Breaking Berlin Wall.jpg

But some of the greatest walls rest in our Hearts.

Continue reading “The Last Wall: How Our Hearts are the Last Border to Break”

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Jesus: Homeless Refugee ‘Moocher’, Not Welcome in Today’s Church?

You know the story of the guest pastor who visited a church in shabby attire, unshaven and maybe even unshowered? Churchgoers sidestepped him and certainly didn’t seat him at the front, so imagine their surprise/shame when he got up to give the sermon.

It’s a good example of the authenticity of our Love, and while Love shouldn’t be swayed by sight, any flesh and blood wrapped in labels like “Refugee” -“Homeless” -“Foreigner” -“Moocher” -“Homosexual” -“Annoying Friend,” will test our hearts.

Do we love because we want to, or because we ‘must?’ If the latter, is that really love?

Continue reading “Jesus: Homeless Refugee ‘Moocher’, Not Welcome in Today’s Church?”

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Open Letter to those Identifying as “Christian” in America

Dear “Christian,”

Whether you’re a Christian or a Christian from the “synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 3:9), don’t worry: there’s love here. Sorry to be blunt but with so many “Christians” holding bibles and speaking/doing hate, people need clarity. Luckily Love is the litmus test (1 Cor 13) and “a tree is known by its fruit” (Luke 6:44).

If your fruits are primarily outward like church attendance, wearing crosses, even big Bible knowledge, look out! It’s possible to be crazy about God, the Bible, and still miss His Heart–I’ve been there. Christians can even make God an idol (been there, Ouch).

Continue reading “Open Letter to those Identifying as “Christian” in America”

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Open Letter to Anyone who ever Viewed, Considered, or Had Sexual Relations with Kids [#Hope, #BreakFree]

You may be a fellow parent at school, or faithful church goer. Maybe a pastor, doctor, teacher, neighbor, police officer, business mogul, bus driver, politician, janitor… You may be friend or family, male or female, greying or young, any race, (anti)religion, sexual orientation, political party affiliation,..

I’m not here to curse or condemn you. This is an honest letter from the heart.

Continue reading “Open Letter to Anyone who ever Viewed, Considered, or Had Sexual Relations with Kids [#Hope, #BreakFree]”

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When Divine Kids get a Planet to Themselves – The Ultimate House Party

It’s maybe every kids dream: a house to themselves. When kids reach a certain age and maturity level, parents will inevitably leave them home alone, maybe even over night.

Many 80’s movies show what can happen when parents go away for the weekend, and we expect sex, drugs and rock and roll–fun and foolishness. We’d never imagine oppression/abuse/hatred, but if we look at the world and consider God gave us the “keys” back in Eden, we see that’s exactly what we got…

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Beastie Boys-Fight for your Right to Party!

Continue reading “When Divine Kids get a Planet to Themselves – The Ultimate House Party”

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God’s Love is Deeper than our Worst…

Visit any church and listen to people sing about God’s Love–but do they know how deep it goes? Can they understand it or would they recognize it?

spilled milkLove is easy when given to one who spills milk, but how about someone who spills blood? And not accidentally but purposefully?

The hard truth is God’s Love goes that deep… for the mass murderer, the child rapist, the filmer of any kind of torture….

We may think we’re decent people, innocent of such crimes, but don’t forget: your thought life is also part of the equation. Jesus said being angry with someone was like murder, and looking lustfully at someone was like having an affair  (Matthew 5:21-30).

Truly no one gets into heaven on merit, but we’re all invited:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16, bible)

So considering all the hate and evil in the world, not just in deed but in thought- Jesus was on the craziest Love mission ever… Continue reading “God’s Love is Deeper than our Worst…”

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What I Didn’t Say to my Son this Morning…Confessions of a Perfectionist Tongue

It’s a school holiday week here, and my husband let me sleep in (8am, woo hoo!). It was a rough night with our little one, and I came downstairs groggy. I had already been pondering the day from the bed–Will the kids listen? Will I lose my temper? (People, don’t set yourself up for failure…think positive, think of all the blessings..a home, bed, covers, and the kids are all safe together with me, put all the troubles squarely at God’s Feet. Deep breath. Ok, Let’s Go!)
My 6yr. old was sitting sweetly on the carpet watching a programme. I was about to greet him when I noticed his hair: loaded with way too much hair gel–again, smelling strongly and looked dusty. I was about to say: ‘hey, don’t you remember? Use just a bit of that stuff, ok?’

Continue reading “What I Didn’t Say to my Son this Morning…Confessions of a Perfectionist Tongue”

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Rejection, Anger, Empathy, Love: What they did to you, they did to Me [Part 2]

Day 11 of the “Wild Kids, Wild God-Looking into God’s Heart” series. This post is Part 2 of the same titled article. You can read Part 1 here.

For my husband’s 40th Birthday we decided to go out for dinner. As you can imagine, going anywhere with four children is a challenge an adventure. Restaurants should be large enough for the little ones to get rowdy without really disturbing others. And play corners are critical: we don’t make calls about reservations, we call about play corner set-ups.

All the kids were excited to go and we hoped for the best. Continue reading “Rejection, Anger, Empathy, Love: What they did to you, they did to Me [Part 2]”

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Rejection, Anger, Empathy, Love: What they did to you, they did to Me [Part 1]

When my first son was small and still perfecting his toilet training technique, I took him and his newborn sister to the local shopping plaza (daring, yes). All was well until he let me know he needed to “go.” In this country it’s not common to enter a place and use the toilet. There’s a lot of resistance and most shops affirm that the bathrooms are for “employees only.” You may even get a dirty look if you walk into a restaurant and use the bathroom while not dining there. Continue reading “Rejection, Anger, Empathy, Love: What they did to you, they did to Me [Part 1]”

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God’s Sense of Smell: Poop Stinks…

Day 8 of the “Wild Kids, Wild God – 31 Days looking at God’s Heart” Series.

Smell is maybe the most underrated of our 5 senses. It’ not flashy like *sight* or grabby like *touch*, but stick my nose under a box of Lucky Charms and I’ll immediately be transported to a daycare room in 1983.
That’s one Powerful Sense. Continue reading “God’s Sense of Smell: Poop Stinks…”

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Love’s Performance on the Test Drive

Day 7 of the “Wild Kids, Wild God – 31 Days looking at God’s Heart” Series.

It’s easy to love the loveable. Your best friend, your faithful pooch, your funny co-worker. But how about the un-lovely? That lady with the bad attitude at the check-out? The nextdoor neighbor always in your stuff? The friend who stabbed you in the back? You may think you don’t need to love them–they’re not family (though even sometimes we can have terrible family spats…). But if you only love those who love you back, what more do you do than anyone else?

Continue reading “Love’s Performance on the Test Drive”

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God’s Most Beautiful Drawing: A Note on Hope when Our Best is Rejected

This is Day 6 of the “Wild Kids, Wild God – 31 Days looking at God’s Heart“ Series.

My son was working hard…the tip of his tongue even poked from his mouth. With all his might he was trying to make this drawing extra special. The finished product was astonishing, truly the most beautiful drawing he made to date.

Continue reading “God’s Most Beautiful Drawing: A Note on Hope when Our Best is Rejected”