Zombie Attack: Sex Selective Abortion

There is much in the news about human trafficking nowadays and there are many groups actively fighting it around the world. My wife and I support Not For Sale Campaign as we believe that this is a worthwhile endeavor ( http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/ ).  Of course human trafficking is nothing more than a politically correct name for slavery.  Of those trafficked the vast majority are females and they are forced into the sex trade, often as young as nine years of age. These are the facts most often cited but it turns out that there is an element that traffics women to sell them as forced brides. Why would there be a market for brides?  As it turns out there is a growing trend that was first revealed in China but has spread across the world and has recently been exposed here in the USA: sex selective abortion.

In a nutshell sex selective abortion is just what it sounds like, choosing to abort a child simply because it is not the correct sex.  As it turns out the incorrect sex is female.  National Geographic made a film called China's Lost Girls that first brought this situation to my attention.  They were looking at girls being adopted overseas but ended up finding other situations including killing baby girls so that the family could try for a male child. This has caused a serious gender imbalance and they discovered that girls and young women were being kidnapped and forced to marry against their will.  It was very well done and I recommend watching it.  As of today (May 31st, 2012) it is still available for instant viewing on Netflix.

Now it turns out that a group called Live Action (http://liveaction.org/) has gone undercover in NYC and Austin, TX and found that Planned Parenthood is open to providing advice and abortion services for those who seek a sex selective abortion here in the USA.  They have placed the video, called 'Gendercide: Sex-Selection in America', on their website.  If they hadn't had the video evidence I don't know that I could believe that this is going on here in the US.  A Planned Parenthood spokesperson told a reporter at the Huffington Post, "This spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Federation of America also told The Huffington Post that the organization condemns seeking abortions on the basis of gender, but its policy is to provide “high quality, confidential, nonjudgmental care to all who come into” its health centers. That means that no Planned Parenthood clinic will deny a woman an abortion based on her reasons for wanting one, except in those states that explicitly prohibit sex-selective abortions (Arizona, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Illinois)." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/planned-parenthood-video_n_1552672.html)

As a father of two wonderful girls I cannot imagine deciding to terminate one of them just so I could try for a boy and I fear for their future if this trend continues and the gender imbalance that exists in China finds it's way here.  Whether you are Pro-Life or Pro-Choice I believe you should find this trend disturbing. I know I do.

So what does this have to do with fighting the inner zombie?  Well, if terminating a pregnancy just because you don't like the gender of the child isn't giving into the zombie inside I don't know what is.

***On a personal note***

For me personally I don't think anyone has the right to choose to terminate the life of an unborn child. God tells the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." and the Psalmist tells us in Psalms 139:13 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."  To me it is clear that God doesn't create anyone by accident and that He has a plan for them.  It is the height of presumption for us to think we know better than He who should be born and who shouldn't.

Joyful Noise - A Movie Review (of sorts)

So every Thursday night my wife and I host a movie and game night for our youth group.  This past Thursday we thought it might be good to watch the movie "Joyful Noise".  We hadn't seen it but it looked like a good, uplifting film that would also be funny.  Needless to say we were shocked to find that while it did have some of those elements it was mostly an expose on faults that exist in the church here in America.

It was interesting to look at the many different ways that the battle with our inner zombie was portrayed.  Now granted, this was all done indirectly and I'm fairly certain it was accidental but it was fascinating.  The first thing we see is that there is a great deal of tension between the two main female characters and the pastor.  Throughout the movie there is a power struggle between those three parties.  Eventually it comes down to the pastor vs the two women with the pastor being manipulated by the rich lady into doing what they want by first threatening to withhold her tithes and offering and when that doesn't work she threatens to start her own church.  The desire to be in control is a strong  lever that our inner zombie uses to move us into a place where it can at least influence us if not take over outright.

Then there were two choir members who liked each other but didn't have the courage to say anything to the other.  When they finally do they end up fornicating (having sex without being married).  I know from personal experience that our sex drive is, perhaps, the most powerful weapon in the zombie arsenal.  It can be all but impossible to resist if we don't actively turn to Christ in the moment of temptation.

There was quite a bit of foul language in the movie which wasn't that unusual and the fact that half of the "Christians" used it without giving it a thought and the rest ended up using after looking down on the ones who did was a classic illustration of how Christians are perceived as nothing but hypocrites.  We all fall victim to hypocrisy, it isn't just a Christian failing but at times that seems to be the message of the movie, that Christians are the only ones known for this.

 Does the movie shed light on real issues of the heart?  Yes.  Does it portray the characters as flawed people who are trying to do what they think is right? Yes.  What it doesn't do is offer any actual instruction on the proper way to go about that nor does it show any of the characters as anything other than superficial people who act like they are better than those who don't go to church and that's a shame because there are many who are sincere in their faith and, while they stumble from time to time, really do try to walk with Christ to the best of their ability and who aren't the shallow, self-righteous control freaks we are made out to be in this movie.

Having said all of that, if you're looking for a movie that can jump start discussions concerning theology and the church in America and where we fall short then this just might be a movie you'll want to watch.  Why, because it does a good job at exposing many of the areas that the church in America needs to address (read 'repent of') in order to truly be effective at winning people to Christ.

Zombies Feeding Zombies

I read a short article today entitled, "Teaching Modesty in an Immodest World" (http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v4/n4/modesty).  It was a short article but I thought it was good.  However, it focused entirely on teaching girls and said nothing about guys.  That got me thinking about feeding zombies.  Weird you say?  Not really.

The reason it brought up feeding time for zombies is that a girls inner zombie may drive her to bare skin in order to play to her vanity or to fulfill her need to be viewed as beautiful but in doing so her bared skin feeds the inner zombie of a guy.

Of course girls aren't immune to sexual temptation so the guy may dress immodestly to catch the eye of a girl.  Granted, the dress code is radically different for guys but they still can use a lack of proper clothing to entice a female and while the zombie inside the guy may be playing to his vanity in some way it is ultimately driving him to sin sexually with thereby damaging both of them.

Zombies feeding zombies.  See, not weird, perfectly rational.

Did God Really Say...?

Did God really say...?  It has to be the oldest assault on the human race ever.  Right in the Garden of Eden we see it being asked by the serpent as he places a seed of doubt in the mind of Eve and by extension, Adam.  At first glance asking this seemingly innocuous question seems to be looking for clarification of what God actually said but in reality it calls into question God's authority and his truthfulness and the question has not stopped ringing in the ears of humanity from that time until today.

This question is echoed in Peter's warning that in the last day scoffers would come pose essentially the same question regarding Christ's return (2 Peter 3:3-4).  It is also echoed in the mind of every believer who has ever struggled with doubts about their faith.  The inner zombie is very adept at using this question to try to trip us up. In the end though we must remember that Satan is a liar and that God is truth and in Him there is no lie nor any darkness.

Did God really say...why yes, yes He did.

Current Events: Zombies in Broad Daylight

In the past couple of days I have seen the number of zombies showing their faces in broad daylight increase exponentially.  Since NC became the  30th state to approve an amendment to their state constitution banning same sex marriages the number of zombie attacks has risen by an order of magnitude.  I'm not just speaking about the homosexuals and their supporters either, it's also been rising within those of us who call ourselves Christians.  As Christians we need to not let our zombie loose under the pretense of defending the Word of God.  Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't stand for what God has decreed as truth in His Word.  Quite the contrary, we need to speak the truth, but in love.  Simply lashing out in retaliation isn't doing that.

Ephesians 4:17-32 talks about how we, as children of light, are to put off our old selves (our inner zombie) and put on our new selves.  It reminds us that we were once sinners and that someone brought us the truth and  instructed us in its ways.  It tells us that we are not to act as the unbelievers do, nor are we to act in anger, but are to love and forgive even as we have been forgiven by our Father in heaven.

It is not easy to disengage from our anger. I should know I struggle with it daily.  It is also one of the emotions most used to give our inner zombie a voice, but according to scripture that is exactly what God expects us not to do.  The first part of the same chapter talks about becoming mature in Christ so that we will not be lead astray or worse yet, cause others to be lead astray from the truth of God's Word.  Throughout the entire chapter though is the theme of love.  God's love for us and that we are to love others the same way, to the best of our ability.

I have deliberately tried to keep this brief and refrain from 'preaching from my soapbox', so to speak.  It is not my attempt to convince anyone that same-sex marriage is a sin, though the Word of God clearly states that it is.  Why?  Because I cannot change anyone or their opinions through any form of discourse.  No amount of scripture quoting will convince someone who is disinclined to believe that the Bible is anything more than an outdated book that it contains the very words of the one, true God and that they should live their lives according to its precepts. Only the Holy Spirit can change a persons heart and mind and it is His job alone.  Mine is merely to present the truth and then lead by example by living my own life by that very same truth, to the best of my ability.  

Having said all that, a good friend of mine posted a link to a very well written and thoughtful article on the subject of NC's marriage amendment.  It is a good reminder why we as Christians should continue to stand by God's Word.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jennifer-mcgee-porter/marriage-amendment-exposition/10151589921000627

MvF: Random Attacks or Precision Munitions?

Earlier today I tweeted a Myth vs Fact (MvF) that went like this, "Myth: Zombies attack anything that moves. Fact: Zombies choose their targets with care and then use precision munitions."  I'd like to talk about that a bit more because last night I had a proper nightmare for the first time since I was 8 years old.

When I was little I suffered from nightmares all the time.  Hardly a night would go by when I wouldn't have one.  Of course back then my dreams were full of vampires and werewolves and other such monsters.  Even awake I was afraid that the figures in my nightmares might suddenly become real and come after me.  I was scared at the prospect of sleeping and if I had a nightmare I would find myself getting up in the night and making my way to my parents bedroom.  Needless to say this got old for them really quick and soon I wasn't allowed to sleep with them anymore but that didn't stop me from sleeping on their floor just inside or just outside the door to their room.  Something about their physical presence made me feel safer and I could get some sleep.  Within a year of accepting Jesus the nightmares had stopped.  I had learned that, as 1 Timothy 1:7 so eloquently puts it, "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline."  This isn't to say that I never had a bad dream again, just not the full-blown nightmares I used to have.

Fast forward 30 years and I am a father myself and have dealt with my children having bad dreams so I can understand a bit of what my parents went through but I can honestly say that I understood what they were going through.  Now, my kids have never actually said they had nightmares, just bad dreams so I'll have to take them at their word and the few times I did ask them to go back to their beds they did while when I was little I would stand there and cry and go sleep outside my parents door.  For the last 30 years I have not had a nightmare.....until last night.

As I said before, when I was a kid my nightmares were inhabited by monsters of myth and legend.  Last night it was populated by demons and pedophiles intent on destroying my children.  I cannot even describe what I felt in my dream when I asked my youngest if the bad person had "touched" her and she answered yes.  Just writing about it now makes me want to weep with sorrow and anger at even the thought of that happening, just like I did last night when I was startled awake by this nightmare.

I believe that our enemy will use whatever tactics he can to separate us from our Father and fear is one of his strongest weapons.  Sometimes he uses it as a hammer and beats down our defenses until we live in a constant state of fear, much like I did as a kid.  When that doesn't work then he switches tactics.  Our inner zombie, ever seeking our destruction, knows us as well as anyone and is more than willing to help the prince of this world try to bring us back where it can have control over us.  So it switches to precision munitions.  I.e. it hits us where it hurts the most.  In my case it's the fear of not being able to protect my daughters from those who would prey upon them and steal their innocence.

When I awoke I immediately began praying and reciting 1 Tim 1:7 and within a few minutes had recovered sufficiently to attempt going back to sleep.  Even so, I continued to wake throughout the night for fear that maybe it hadn't been a dream.  Man, am I tired but in the light of day I see that my God has kept my children safe and I trust that He will continue to do so.

Ruminations on a battle hard fought but won.

Yesterday (Saturday) I went to Lewiston to shoot the "Out of Darkness" video with the help of Gerry LePage of Salvation's House and Russ Thorgerson of Living Waters Productions.  During the shoot I had to pretend to be watching porn on a computer and even though it was just a blank monitor that wasn't even hooked up to anything I was so ashamed to be seen sitting there because of what I was "doing".  I found it odd that even though I wasn't watching anything at all I still felt as though I had been caught doing something I shouldn't have been.  A part of me felt like Gerry and Russ had actually caught me in the act even though it's been years since I've engaged in that behavior.  What was worse was coming home and finding that I was actually tempted to do the very thing I had been pretending to do earlier in the day and had felt ashamed of.  To say my zombie was working overtime doesn't even begin to cover it.

Fortunately I was able to resist the urge through prayer and going to bed a bit early.  Addictions are funny things, we can seem to be completely free of them and think they are no longer a point of temptation for us and then BAM, from out of nowhere they strike and try to move back into your life and take over.  The kicker is that if you give in they come back seven times stronger than before. How do I know?  Easy, I have gone down that road myself a few times.

I believe this phenomena of addictions returning with a vengence may have partly been what Jesus was referring to in Luke 11:24-26 when he said, "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the dessert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.'  Si it returns and finds that its former home is swept and clean.  Then the spirit finds seven more spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there.  And so that person is worse off than before."  Of course if a person is not a Christian this could be what literally happens to them but as I understand it someone who has the Holy Spirit living inside of them cannot be possessed.  We can however, be strongly influenced and if those spirits are pressuring us from without and our zombie from within it would be impossible to resist on our own.

Jesus, thank you for giving me the strength and presence of mind last night to resist the temptation that was laid before me.  Lord I desire what the psalmist also desired and that is to simply to know you.  Amen.

Myth vs Fact. What's that all about?

Those of you who follow @fighthezombie on Twitter will probably have seen several posts that have given a myth and a fact about zombies.  I thought I'd take a quick moment to explain what that is all about.

Basically the 'Myth' portion of each post is a reference to how pop culture tells us zombies are.  For instance zombies are seen as slow, dumb, hungry for brains, etc.  They are part of the 20th century zombie mythos and are part of the modern zombie craze.  These are the zombies of the silver screen and video games and most folks will understand what the myth part is talking about.

The 'Fact' portion might be a bit more confusing.  When I'm talking about the fact portion I'm referring to the inner zombie residing inside every Christian.  Some times it's referred to as the "flesh" or the "old man" but whatever you want to call it it is the sinful state that Christ saved us from.  We fight it everyday whether we realize it or not and THAT zombie is very different from the zombie that Hollywood and Silicon Valley has shown us over the year.  Where the zombies of Hollywood are dumb as posts the inner zombie is cunning.  Where the zombies of Silicon Valley are persistent and come in hoards the inner zombie is primarily a lone hunter who has near infinite patience. Where zombies in pop culture tell us that zombies hunger for brains the inner zombie wants to control its host's brain.  This is not at all what we imagine when someone mentions the word 'zombie' to the average person in Western society.

You see, before Christ we are all slaves to sin.  We can't help it, we were literally born that way.  Once we have accepted Christ we then have a new master, Jesus but we discover in Romans that we also have a choice.  We can choose to serve one master (sin) or the other (Christ) but we cannot serve both.  The sad part is that many of us try.  I know I have and the results have been that I end up being the slave of sin rather than Christ.  It's not usually a quick process, reverting to listening to our inner zombie.  No the real zombie is patient and will try to get you to compromise on little things before moving on to bigger things.  It, in conjunction with Satan, will try to get you to doubt God's word.  "Did God really say that or did He mean something else?" is a common theme.  The zombie inside is subtle (usually) and is in this fight to win.  We must never let our guard down or underestimate the influence it can exert over us.

In future posts I plan to take each Myth vs Fact and expound upon them.  I think this will help shed light on the true zombie's nature.  Since information is crucial in any war, knowing how our enemy within thinks and acts should prove invaluable.  After all, as G.I. Joe taught a whole generation, "Knowing is half the battle!"

Out of Darkness

About 2 months ago I began writing what I thought would be a spoken word piece that my band would use to open our shows.  Once I finished writing it and rewriting it and rewriting it again (which is a big step for me, rewriting that it) I contacted someone about making the backing track for it.  Now, when I contacted him and asked him if he could and what such a project would cost I assumed that I would have plenty of time to talk to the band and see if this was something we would want to commission.  He got back to me very promptly with the information I had asked for and I thought that would be it until the band gave the final go ahead.  God had something else in mind.  Within a couple of days of informing the band of what I had found out (we were going to wait until our next meeting before making a decision) there was a sample track for me to listen to.  No one was more surprised than I was!  At first I was a bit upset as I hadn't cleared any work to begin on the project but when I went back over my communications I also noticed that I hadn't said to wait either, so I prayed.  When I informed the band of what was happening it was decided that we would move ahead with it even though the timing wasn't the greatest for the band.  In about a week we had a finished product and it is a great sounding track with a powerful message of hope through Jesus Christ.  Here is the final transcript:

"I remember those days, not so long ago, when I walked in darkness. Oblivious to even the existence of light, I hungered for things unwholesome. Like a zombie I shambled around blindly, living to hurt as I was hurting. Like Jacob Marley I felt the chains of sins committed weighing heavily upon me and feared that I would wear them for eternity. I longed for redemption but found only pain.  
Then, one day, I encountered someone who didn't run and would not be driven away. He was clothed in armor of pure light. He told me I was created by God to be his child and joint heir with his Son.  He spoke of my disobedience as though it was not a death sentence but merely an indiscretion, easily forgiven and forgotten. He told me that in the depths of my sin God had sent his son Jesus, to bear the penalty for my rebellion, and that I could be free of the chains that weighed me down.
I fell to my knees and cried out for deliverance and was granted salvation.  The rags I once wore were replaced with the robes of Christ’s righteousness, shining brilliantly for all to see.  Everywhere the light touched showed the decay and depths of depravity from which I had been rescued.  The man told me I was to put on the armor of God, pick up the sword of the Spirit and go forth to do battle. Not against flesh and blood but against the powers of darkness that had once held my soul captive.  As silence fell I could hear my former self in the distance, whispering its desire to drag me back into the darkness. "
For various reasons we have chosen not to use it, at least for now.  So I got the bands blessing to use it for this work, getting the word out about fighting the inner zombie.  No sooner had that been settled than God brought someone along to help me turn it into a video.  While we are in the very early stages of putting this together I am very excited about working with Living Water Productions out of Lewiston, Maine on this and will post a link as soon as it is finished.

We are calling this project Out of Darkness.  I wrote this as an example of my own struggle with my inner zombie.  So often we feel alone or isolated and think no one else deals with the things we deal with.  My hope is that through this blog and projects like Out of Darkness that people will come to realize that they aren't alone, that there are others who are dealing with the exact same things they are and that there is hope. Christ is that hope, he has made a way for us to experience victory over our inner zombies.  It isn't a quick fix and it will take effort on our part, like all relationships do, but if we will believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the grave then we WILL be saved.  And if we make it our mission to simply seek God we will grow closer to Him and that is instrumental in helping us fight the zombie inside!

http://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/27.html