Respect

I have to a confession and God has already dealt with me about it. There are times when my respect for other people's feelings and women has been very low. When I struggled with pornography, it was degrading to women and I still remember the punishment that was poured out on me by my mother but I know it was in love and too make me understand that it is not just the act of looking at it that is bad but what it represents as a whole. An industry to make money off of people who are willing to basically commit adultery on film. I have looked at some girls in ways that I should never have and I have hung out with girls just because I thought they were good looking. Yeah maybe in some ways you would call me shallow and in most cases I would deserve it. Problem is most guys are like this and most are unwilling to admit it. I am not saying I am better than them but I think if guys would recognize a problem and address it, then we could begin to scale back the issue in our world. Women are precious gifts from God and they should be treated as such. Just because you are married does not mean that you wife immediately becomes an object because God says its okay to engage in a physical manner with her. God still has standards on fun but it is not because he wants to be mean, it is because there is a sacred aspect to the act and God wants to keep it holy but also make it enjoyable. Men, just because you do not do anything with a woman before marriage does not make you guilt free. Looking and SPEAKING about women in a derogatory manner is just as bad as the real thing because it is going through your head and you are telling others what your thoughts are. For goodness sake, have some manners and address a girl using ma'am, pull her chair out for her, open the car door, open the restaurant/building door. Talk to her like a human being and not just as someone who you "deserve" to be with. In actuality we all deserve to be alone but because of the compassion of God, we have been given companionship to build each other up and be rooted in love. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Another thing I am guilty of is not fulfilling promises, especially to girls. Men, if you tell a girl you will do something or will not do anything to harm her spiritually or physically, then you better follow through. Trust is one of the toughest things that humans can do for one another and when you lay out empty promises then you are just hurting yourself and the person you were committed to. First, you lose your integrity and trust because nobody can believe the things you say and they will think you are classless because you just do not know how to back the things you say you will do. Secondly, the other party gets hurt because typically your promise was something that would build strength and foundation in the relationship and now you have completely ruined it. Lastly, the other person either finds out that this is the way you are and accepts it, thus lowering their standards or they have to lose someone they possibly love because they have to stand up for their themselves and say they are not going to go through the same old stuff again. Unfortunately the case falls in the first category in which the standards are lowered and then another promise is made and it falls through, thus creating an endless cycle of "victory", defeat, and pain. "It is better not to vow than to make a vow an not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, ' my vow was a mistake.' Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God." Ecclesiastes 5:5-7. Can I take back all the pain that I have caused myself and others? No, can I ask forgiveness? Yes! I will make the necessary steps to make changes and get better but in the meantime I can only do my best to be respectful and gain the trust of others by taking care of all my business.

I hope you all had a great day and that you enjoy reading this. God is doing some amazing things in my final weeks here in Georgia and I am very excited about it. Please keep praying for me.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson