BE IN THE KNOW….. SAFE SEX AND THE FACTS
At age 16 John had sex with Andrea. Just one time. He enjoyed the experience but felt guilty and decided the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy were just too great. He did not have sex again until nine years later when he married Cindy, who was a virgin. Three months after their wedding Cindy began having painful symptoms. Unknowingly John, who had never had any symptoms of disease, had brought two STDs into his marriage. But John and Cindy were lucky; they both responded to treatment and are healthy today. Many others, however, are not so fortunate. Today STDs are at unprecedented and epidemic proportions. Thirty years of the sexual revolution is paying an ugly dividend, and those most at risk are teenagers. This is true partially because teenagers are more sexually active than ever before, but also because teenage girls are more susceptible to STDs than males or adult females.
While a few STDs can be transmitted apart from sex acts, all are transmissible by the exchange of bodily fluids during intimate sexual contact. I want to discuss the severity of the problem as well as what must be done if we are to save a majority of the next generation from the shame, infertility, and sometimes death, that may result from STDs.
If you are not aware of some of the following statistics, then prepare to fasten your seat belt because what I have to report is not pretty. The information I am about to share is from data gathered by the Medical Institute for Sexual Health in Austin, Texas.(1) All of these statistics are readily available from reputable medical and scientific journals.
Today, there are approximately 25 STDs. A few can be fatal. Some are relatively harmless, but all are humiliating. Many women are living in fear of what their future may hold as a result of STD infection. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans between the ages of 15 and 55 are currently infected with one or more viral STDs, and 12 million Americans are newly infected each year. That’s nearly 5% of the entire population of the U.S.! Of these new infections, 63% involve people less than 25 years old.
This epidemic is a recent phenomenon. Some young people have parents who may have had multiple sexual partners with relative impunity and conclude that they too are safe from disease. However, most of these diseases were not around 20 to 30 years ago. Prior to 1960, there were only two prevalent sexually transmitted diseases: syphilis and gonorrhea. Both were easily treatable with antibiotics.
In the sixties and seventies this relatively stable situation began to change. For example, in 1976, chlamydia first appeared in increasing numbers in the U.S. Chlamydia, particularly dangerous to women, is now the most common bacterial STD in the country. In 1981, human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), the virus which causes AIDS, was identified. By early 1993, between 1 and 2 million Americans were infected with HIV or AIDS, over 12 million were infected worldwide, and over 160,000 had died in the U.S. alone. Then herpes was added to the mix. This STD now infects 30 million people.
In 1985, human papilloma virus (HPV) began a dramatic increase. This virus can result in venereal warts and will often lead to deadly cancers.
By 1990, penicillin-resistant strains of gonorrhea were present in all fifty states, and by 1992 syphilis was at a 40-year high. As of 1993, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is almost always caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia, was affecting 1 million new women each year. This includes 16,000 to 20,000 teenagers. This infection can result in pelvic pain and infertility and is the leading cause of hospitalization for women between the ages of 15 and 55, apart from pregnancy.
Pelvic inflammatory disease can result in scarred fallopian tubes which block passage of a fertilized egg. The fertilized egg, therefore, cannot pass on to the uterus, and the growing embryo will cause the tube to rupture. From 1960 to 1990 there was a 400% increase in tubal pregnancies, most of which were caused by STDs. Making matters even worse is the fact that 80% of those infected with an STD don’t know it and will unwittingly infect their next sexual partner.
Article was written by Raymond G. Bohlin
”The kind of bwoy Sean is!
A man has no right to put his hand on a woman no matter what the circumstance is. Last summer, Sean on several occasions tortured a woman he claimed he loves. He physically abused her in his car on constant spring road. It was the good grace of god he didn’t kill her and she made it out of his car alive. He begged and pleaded for her to not to break up with him. He also tried dropping a ceramic plant holder on her head and instead broke her hand. What kind of sick man is this!!! I’m sure he has a mother, sister and even a daughter. What if the tables were turned how would he feel. I get to understand that, these are the type of men women are protecting. Why give a man so much power and control over you and he’s not GOD. Wise up young ladies. It is not okay for a man to beat on you like a butcher pounding on meat to tenderize it. Any man that does this is heartless and should pay for it. Recently he kidnapped the girl for couple hours saying he needs to talk. There’s nothing to talk about about rather than you have beaten on this woman on several occasions and then threatening her if she leaves you your going to kill her then yourself. How about you do the world a favor and just kill yourself and leave her let her try to construct her life that you destroyed. I think the problem with you then would be solved. Sean A your a sick individual who needs psychiatric help. Please go seek it before you go to court and face the judge on these assault charges.
* People please give this person some kind words of encouragement this morning*
WAIT DEH LIKKLE BIT!CALL HIM DI SUPPLIER YES!
SUH A CHOO JOHN JOHN LIP SING JAY Z SONG EVERYBADDIE DID WAA DASH IT PAN HIM???? JOHN JOHN U DID WAA BE RAPPA MI LUB?? DIS WAS WHEN U DID FULL A CONFIDENCE BOUT DI CHIP TEET?_________________…. DIS A BEFORE DI CROSS TATOO INA U FARRID AN BARE TINGS…. GYAADU NUH GOOD AGEN!
GOODMORNING!
A few months ago my son Liam developed Eczema on his face and on his knee. For those of you who like me, never knew about this skin condition it’s basically very dry skin that is extremely itchy and flaky and can cause severe scars, not pretty. Anyway, he never had it before so it was quite a shock to see, I decided I needed to make an appointment with a dermatologist as I didn’t even know that what he had was Eczema. I asked a lady I know who is a professional nurse to take a look at it and she said it was definitely Eczema because she had it as well. Naturally I was worried when she said this, Liam is such a handsome little boy, okay one biased mummy’s opinion and to get something like that on his face would have been traumatic.
I decided to pray about it and trusted God for healing. A few days later it just cleared up, completely gone without any form of medication whatsoever! How awesome is that? They say you can only treat the symptoms of Eczema but there is no cure. I beg to differ, there is a cure His name is Jesus Christ the Healer Divine. The word of God says “He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed”. Jesus purchased our healing for us on the cross of Calvary. Jesus died so that we could “live”, He said that He came to give us life and life abdundantly, He wasn’t just talking about life after death, He meant abundant life starting right here and now and all the way through to eternal life with Him.
Recently Liam had a severe cold, his chest became congested and he started this noisy wheezing, it was so bad that we both couldn’t sleep from the noise. I laid hands on him and prayed in the Holy Spirit in tongues – I could feel an incredible heat on my hands and both Liam and I were shaking, Liam thought it was me shaking him but I knew it was the Holy Spirit flowing through both of us, and the wheezing stopped within a few minutes right there and then and he was able to sleep peacefully. The next day his chest was all cleared up and there was no wheezing! Liam tried his best to cough so he could stay off school but God had healed him so beautifully he was back in school the next day!
Why do some people experience healing and not others? I honestly don’t know, in the words of one of my favourite authors & preacher Kathryn Kuhlman “I can only give to others what I have personally experienced myself”. There is still so much I am learning about God and it’s not going to happen overnight, because it’s a relationship. Relationships involve building trust and experiencing each other, and that’s what God wants to do with each of us. He treats us as unique individuals, what builds your faith may not necessarily build mine, what inspires you may not inspire me. God knows this because He knows us intimately, so He handles each of us differently. He knows every thought you think, you will not believe the way He speaks to me, for example today I was feeling “unappreciated” at work (understatement of the century!) . God specifically spoke these words to me, Colossians 3:23 ”And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”. In other words He was saying to me keep doing your best even if it’s not noticed and not appreciated, do it like you are doing it for me and leave the rest for me to handle. This is called Rhema and is the most common way that God speaks to us. A Rhema is a verse or portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or need for direction. Here’s an example from the Bible of how God uses Rhema to speak to us – God reminded Peter of His Word: “Then remembered I the word [rhema] of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 11:16).
The words of Jesus are significant on this point. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word [rhema] that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus also stated, “The words [rhema] that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
I know a lot of you have also experienced God speaking to you in this way, I also know a lot of people will think I’m Looney Tunes. I would have thought the same thing a few years ago, but now I know different so hey it doesn’t bug me. I stumbled upon an internet site the other day called Jesus Freak Hideout, I had to laugh – but this Jesus Freak is not hiding, no she will shout God’s goodness from the rooftops to anyone who will hear
Jesus is truly amazing, as a mother my heart fills with gratitude for what He’s done for my child, so it’s no wonder why I am crazy in love with Him! Everyday with Jesus is an adventure as I learn more about Him and He reveals more of Himself to me. It doesn’t mean life is always rosy, because we live in a fallen world with broken people so there’s bound to be difficult times. It just means there is a whole other dimension to life that we as believers are learning more about, that we have a Father in Heaven whose love is inconceivable, who is interested in every aspect of our lives and wants to guide and direct us – although I think God has his hands full with me. I’m an extremely impatient person, passionate & strong willed, but everyday I’m learning to be who God wants me to be, because I know His plan for my life is going to be exceedingly, abundantly above all I could ask or think.
In June this year I received a letter from my company – a notice of retrenchment. To add insult to injury I was told I had to stay on until December because there was nobody else qualified to do my job and I had to train someone to take over from me. I prayed about it and asked God to show me what to do. His words to me were to just be still and know He is God and that’s exactly what I did. He gave me the strength to get through the uncertainty for 6 weeks before the final decision was made and God was true to His word. I received a letter from the company stating that the decision for retrenchment was reversed. I don’t think this has ever happened in the history of the company, usually when a notice of retrenchment is issued it’s a done deal and it is never reversed. Hmmm…but they don’t know My Jesus! Turns out I also got a “pat on the back” for very good performance and next year they are looking at developing my position to grow into a Management role. How’s that for a complete turn around?
I had an outstanding debt that I couldn’t afford to pay in full – so I prayed and asked God to make a way where there seemed to be no way – the debt has now been reduced substantially to what I can afford to pay – the guy who gave me the reduction on the debt I owed said to me, “Well, I feel like Santa Claus”, I thought hmmm…well you don’t know my Jesus
My desire is for others to come to know the treasure we have in Jesus Christ. God has shown me that He wants me to have a ministry in writing (I wanted to be a rock star but I ain’t got the face, wanna be a rock star but I ain’t got what it takes -LOL). I want to use the gifts He has given me for His Glory! I want the promises Jesus gives us in the Bible to become a reality in other people’s lives too, I want to see lives changed and healed in the name of Jesus. What He has done for me and for others, He is able to do for you. This is one of the beautiful promises of Jesus from the book of Isaiah:
“Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has annointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”.
John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” What does being born again mean? When I heard this phrase years ago, I thought people were smoking something, I wish I had taken the time back then to learn what this meant. The natural man cannot know God because He is a spiritual being. So unless your human spirit is regenerated and becomes joined to God’s spirit we cannot know or experience God. When you say the sinners prayer for Salvation and invite Jesus into your life and your heart – you become “born again” and you are “Saved” and reunited with God. God’s spirit becomes joined to your human spirit and you are then able to have a relationship with God. It’s a bit like airwaves, they are all around us even though we can’t see them, unless you switch on your radio and tune into the frequency, you won’t hear the music! So whatever you may be going through right now, be encouraged. Call on the name of Jesus and I can assure you, He will answer you. Jesus is an ever present help in times of trouble and has proved Himself to me in more ways than one, I hope my testimony and those of others will help you to realise this truth.
Hosea 4:6a
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because they have rejected knowledge. What knowledge is God talking about here? The knowledge that His word is Truth. Truth is not some ideology, Truth is a person, Truth is Jesus Christ. God is a reality, the knowlege that He exists and that He is far greater and beyond anything our natural minds could even conceive. The world is in a state of needless suffering and spiritual blindness, we need to get the Truth of the Gospel out there – we need to get our testimonies out there – we need to be “The Light on the Hill” that Jesus spoke about. This is where we as believers come into the picture, if we don’t tell them how will they know of His love, His mercy, His power and His grace? Are you up for the challenge? I know I am.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matt. 6:26
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