Power of Purity | Helping Men to Honor God with their Sexual Gift

In this episode Tony shares the story of his recent heart attack. On a Monday morning Tony began to feel a tightness and uncomfortable feeling in his chest, which then escalated to his throat and jaw.  He eventually drove himself to the hospital, and as the day unfolded, it was confirmed that he had a heart attack.  This led to a heart catheterization and the placement of a stent in Tony's heart. Because of this situation Tony was not able to publish an episode of The Power of Purity Podcast for the past two weeks, and in today's episode he shares his story along with 3 key observations that have emerged in his thoughts as a result of this incident. (1) Every day we have is a gift from God, and we should not take our days for granted. (2) What should be the prioritites of our life? (3) There is "LOVE"! 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 13 For you created my inmost being;     you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;     your works are wonderful,     I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you     when I was made in the secret place,     when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;     all the days ordained for me were written in your book     before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!     How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them,     they would outnumber the grains of sand—     when I awake, I am still with you.  Psalm 139:13-18   20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:20-21 The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7

In this episode Tony shares 4 important observations from the resurrection of Christ that inspire great hope in our hearts. No matter what's going on in our lives or situations, we do not have to be afraid, because of the resurrection. We can both see and experience God's fingerprints and work in our own hearts and lives, and then, based upon what the Lord has allowed us to "see", we can then "go and tell" others. Sometimes we're afraid because of the difficult situations or circumsances of our lives, but God always makes his joy available to us, and this is really good news, because it's so much better to have joy in the midst of our fears instead of just having our fears by themselves. And we can rest assured that the Lord will reveal himself to us, because the very first person he chose to reveal himself to, after the resurrection, was Mary Magdalene, who had been possessed by seven demons. What happened on that day, the most significant day of human history, reveals a template of how God still works in the hearts and lives of his followers. Be blessed, in Jesus' Name, as you listen to these "4 Easter Observations"!

In this episode, which was recorded during Holy Week, Tony shares some reflections from Matthew chapter 21 concerning Palm Sunday. This was the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and as he did the people shouted exclamations of praise, adoration, and joy! "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Among other key thoughts, Tony focuses on one intriguing observation from the passage, which is the prophetic quote that was written by the prophet Zechariah 500 years before the actual triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  Zechariah 9:9 Based upon this scripture, Tony reflects on the unusal way in which the animal that Jesus rode into Jerusalem is mentioned in the passage: (1) A donkey (2) A colt (3) A foal Why did Zechariah seem to go above and beyond the call of duty to provide such intricate detail concerning, of all things, the donkey that Jesus would ride over 500 years later?  The Jews of the day were waiting for the Messiah, their Savior and Deliverer, and that's exactly who Jesus was, but the way the Lord comes into our lives and situations isn't always the way we were expecting! 

Jesus was fully God, and fully human, both at the same time. Jesus, as a human being, lived in this broken and fallen world. And in his humanity, Jesus experienced temptation just like us. Because of this, we have a Savior who understands us. When Jesus was in the wilderness he fasted for 40 days. At the end of the fast he was hungry, and the devil came to him to tempt hm. The devil tempted his to "turn these stones into bread". Or said another way, the essence of the temtptation was for Jesus to take care of the legitimate needs of his physical body in his own way. As if the devil was saying, "You're hungry Jesus, so do what you need to do to take care of yourself!" And in much the same way, the enemy often comes to us and tempts us to take care of the legitimate needs of our own physical body in our own way. In this sense, the urge for a man to satisfy his legitimate sexual needs through the use of pronography is a similar temptation to "turn these stones into bread". Jesus set the example for us. Jesus was a man, and Jesus was tempted, but Jesus also resisted those temptations. The bible then tells us that we can also resist the temptations that come to us, because God will not allow us to be tempted beyond that which we can bear. You have the Lord in your heart and life if you're a Christ beleiver, and you can overcome temptations just like Jesus did!

Just like a coin has 2 sides - heads and tails - there are 2 different components that are virutally inseperable, which are sex and relationship. Or, said another, sex is intended to occur within the context of relaitonship, and this leads to a very important and undeniable reality, which implicates the importance of healthy relaitonship. Or, said another way, the healthier and more funcitonal the relationship is , the healthier and more funcitonal the sex will be that occurs within the context of that relationship. But there's another very important and undenial reality, which is the truth that relationship can be very challenging and difficult. What often happens in the context of relationship is what Tony is calling in this episode, the "X". The "X" is not good. The "X" is hard. The "X" is a disagrement, a difficulty, a tension, a fight, an argument, or a misunderstanding. And the reality is that every couple is going to experience, not just one "X" in their relationship, but many different "X's" over time. And therefore a very important question emerges, which is implicates the title of today's episode: What do we do with the "X's" when they show up in our relationship? In this episode Tony advocates that there are only 5 options on how to deal with the "X", and he shares those 5 options. Of the 5 options, there's one that's the recommended and outstanding option that can and will lead to the possibly of traversing the "X" in a healhty and productive way. Learn to deal with your "X's" in a better way, and that will lead to a healthier and more functional relationship, which will in turn create the environment that makes healthier and more functional sex possible! 

In this weeks short episode Tony reflects on a very interesting scripture found in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. He's very sad and he's struggling because he knows what's about to happen. He leaves most of the disciples at a particular place in garden, and then takes Peter, James, and John with him a little further into the garden. As the following scene then unfolds, he asks these three disciples, three different times, to "watch" and to "pray" so they would not fall into temptation. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41  It's of significane to notice that Jesus connects two important spiritual disciplines here directly to the problem of temptation: to watch and pray. Or said another way, because of the temptations that are lurking around us, that can and will entice us, we must "watch and pray", and it's these spritual disciplines that can then empower us to resist these temptations. The word "watch" that Jesus uses here is defined as: to give strict attention to, be cautious, active, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake you. Through the words of Jesus a powerful Kingdom formula therefore emerges: If we "watch and pray" we'lll be better equipped to resist temptation!      

This is Episode 400 of The Power of Purity Podcast! The Blood Arrow! If you were an Indian and you went hunting, you'd probably take more than one arrow in your quiver.  In fact, you'd probably want a whole quiver full of arrows, so you'd have plenty of shots ready if you needed them. In much the same way, people need many different "arrows" in their metaphorical quiver that they can draw upon in their struggle/battle agaisnt temptations.  We need to have a battle plan in place, before the temptation arises, so that when the moment of truth arrives we have some resources, concepts, and strategies we can immediately employ in the face of that partiuclar temptation.  These strategies are the "arrows" in our quiver, and in this episode Tony presents the concept of a new arrow to fight this battle: The Blood Arrow! The blood of Jesus is very powerful! The blood of Jesus brings us the forgiveness of our sins, makes us a child of God when we beleive in Jesus, gives us a relationship with living God, and even gives us the gift of eternal life. So, the strategy here is to call upon the blood of Christ in response to temptation.  Take out the "blood arrow" and unleash its power in the face of temptation! In this episode Tony shares 9 powerful scripture verses about the blood of Jesus, and 3 powerful songs about the blood of Jesus. The next time you're confronted with temptation, quote at least 3 verses about the blood, and sing a chorus about the blood, and you will be empowered to overcome... by the blood arrow! Nothing But The Blood of Jesus  There's Power in the Blood There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood - sung by Joni Eareckson Tada

In this episode Tony shares the SECOND greatest gift you could ever give to God, which is the submission of your will to his will. When God decided to create human beings, he did most amazing and remarkable thing when he decided to give us free will. God did not make us robots. He did not program us so we would have to love him and obey him. Instead, he gave us free will so we would have the choice, and we could then choose to love him and obey him or we could choose not to. In this way, when we do choose to love God and obey him, and when we do choose to surrender and submit our will to him, it's among the greatest gifts we could ever give him. This was the original temptation in the Garden of Eden, when the serpant essentially tempted Eve to exercise her will independently of God. "Why should God have the right to tell you what you can and cannot do?  If you eat this fruit, you can be like God!  You can decide for yourself what's right and wrong!" And a good example of this from the bible is the example of Jonah, because when God told Jonah what he wanted Jonah to do, Jonah decided he did not want to submit his will to the will of God, and Jonah went in the completely opposite direction! And another good example fo this from the bible is Mary, the mother of Jesus, because when the angel Gabriel announced God's plan to her, she immediately surrendered and submitted her will to the will of God, and thank goodness she did! The SECOND greatest gift you can ever give God is the submission and surrender of your will to his will, and at the end of this episode Tony extends an invitation to you concerning the FIRST and greatest gift you could ever give to God!

In this episode Tony shares a concept / idea / strategy that has helped him tremendously in his personal life... in his walk with God... in his purity walk... in his mental and emotional equilibrium for at least the past year. The Power of Music! God made us, and gave us a heart. And God made music, and music, in a mystical way, is a powerful language of the human heart. There's music in heaven, and there will be music for eternity. It's almost as if we wouldn't know how to be human if we didn't have music. From the earliest days of humanity, humans intuitivly discovered the importance of rhythm and beat, even if it was as simple as  beating on a drum. There is rhythm, and melody, and cadance, and beat. And this is the importance of worship, because the music can quite literally transcend our thoughts and reasoning to transport us into the very presence of God. In this episode Tony shares how music can powerfully and profoundly effect our brain chemistry to release the feel good chemicals - dopamine, oxytocin, seratonin, and endorphins - that can help us regulate our emotional state, and our choices, in healthier ways. Tony shares how he's been experiencing music (and dance) in a new, and deeper, and healthier way that's contriubted significantly to his metal, emotional, sexual, and spritual self-regulation. It's a powerful and significant concept / idea / strategy that can and will help you in so many different dimensions of your life. Superstition - Stevie Wonder Mustang Sally - Wilsn Pickett I Wish - Stevie Wonder Let's Stay Together -  Al Green I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers Chain Breaker - Zach Williams Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave Redeemer - Nicole Mullen Shattered - Blanca The Power of Music!

In this episode Tony shares 2 important metaphors. The first one concerns the game of chess. When you're playing chess, the objective is to get your opponent in "checkmate". This means he doesn't have any moves left. In this metaphor Tony compares our relationship with God to the game of chess. In one sense God is attmepting to get us in "checkmate", which means we surrender completely to his will, plan, and Lordship for our life. God's was is better than my way. And in an interesting turn of events, it can often be the sexual area of a man's life that God uses to finally get that man in "checkmate". It's when we become desperate enough as a result of our struggle with sexual brokenness, compulsion, and addcition, that we often come to the place where we're finally ready and willing to do the work we need to do that will allow God to work in a deeper and more powerful way in our heart and life than ever before.  CHECKMATE! The second metaphor is taken from the wonderful movie, The Wizard of Oz! When the farmhouse crashes down, and Dorothy opens the door and steps over the threshold, the movie changes from black and white to color, and she delivers the most significant line of the entire movie: "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!" In this sense there's a kind of "before and after" in each one of our lives. The metaphorical "Kansas" (in black and white) represents the old way we used to live our life, and the metpahorical "Oz" (in color) represents the new way of life God has intended for us. It's the way of God and the way of his kingdom. We're in a new and different place we might not really understand, but we're finally positioned to experience the life, healing, restoration, and redemption of God in our heart, life, and sexuality like we've never experienced before!

Are you serious about being a man of purity? Are you serious about expressing and experiencing your sexual gift in a way that's consistent with what God says about sexuality? Are you serious about really working on this area of your life? If you are, these things are not going to happen on accident. It's only going to happen if you can identify some strategic issues that will truly make a difference in your relationship with yourself, and then do the work that's necessary to apply those things to your life and situation. In this episode Tony shares 4 important skills of purity that will be very strategic for the average guy to practice as he seeks to experience his sexual gift in a healthier way. (1) Self-awareness You need to be in touch with yourself. You need to be award of what's going on with yourself emotionally so you're aware of those moments when you might be getting more vulnerable to temptation and acting out. If you don't know what's going on with you it sets you up for repeated failure. (2) Interrupting yourself When you feel yourself beginning to escalate in the old cycle of failure, you absolutely need to be able to interrupt yourself in order to break free of that old cycle and create the possibility of choosing something different and healthier. (3) Choosing a healtheir alternative If you can catch yourself as the old cycle begins to unfold, it creates the possibility for you to exercise your “no” muscle, and for you to make a healthier choice, such as calling a friend, going to the gym to work out, mowing the grass, listening to some music, or writing a psalm to the Lord to tell him how your feeling at that moment and what you're struggling with. (4) Practice We must then choose to practice this new and healthier cycle over and over again. Practice being aware of myself, interrupting myself, and choosing something healthier, and as we practice these 4 important skills of purity we will help you to stay on track!

God did the most amazing and mysterious thing. He created us with free will; the ability to choose; the ability to say "yes" to something if we want to say "yes", and the ability to say "no" to something if we want to say "no". God could have made robots, but God wanted something way more authentic, and real, and sincere than that. He wanted a creature that had the ability to disobey him, but that would freely to choose to obey him. Wow! In this episode Tony reminds us that we have the ability to choose. Over and over again, probably severeal times a day, you're going to have the ability to "choose", and the choices you make will both determine and reveal the person you truly are. Being a healthier person has something to do with getting the power of choice back, and then exercising your will in obedience to God! 14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:14-15  11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearingof the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purifyfor himself a people that are his very own,eager to do what is good.  Titus 2:11-13  6 Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,7  and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused.  Genesis 39:6-8

This world is very broken. Every person is very broken, and this is why we need a Savior. This world has a way of beating people up. There's hurt, pain, confusion, depression, difficulty and hardship in every person's life. It just looks different for each of us at different times of our lives. There's an ebb and a flow. When the going gets a little bit tough (or a lot tough), and it seems like things are really hard, we may sometimes be tempted to struggle with questions about God's love. Does God really love me? Does God really care? If God really loved me, why is he allowing this difficult situation in my life? Why doesn't God do something about this? In this episode Tony explores the question of God's love. How can we really know for sure that God loves us, even when we're going through something really difficult in our life? How do I know that God really loves me, even if I'm struggling with a weakness, or even if I've been acting out in a sinful way. What's the ultimate proof of God's love? There is an ultimate proof, and if you understand this one thing you'll always have the sure confidence of God's love for you, regardless of what's happening in your life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

Our connection to God in the process of change, healing, and recovery is of supreme importance. It's hard enough to overcome sexual compulsion, sexual addiction, or addiction to pornography with the Lord, let alone without the Lord. Even secular recovery programs such as Alcoholics Annoymous affrim the importance of your relationship to a "higher power" to the process of recovery, and at least 6 of the 12 steps directly mention this reality. Step 2: accept that a higher power, in whatever form, will restore your sanity Step 3: make a decision to turn your will and life over to a higher power Step 5: admit to a higher power, another human, and yourself the nature of your wrongdoings Step 6: accept that a higher power will remove your character defects Step 7: humbly request the higher power remove your shortcomings Step 11: use prayer and meditation to connect with the higher power If we're serious about being better men, we must have a relationship thing going on with God, and not just a religion thing. Tony asks a critiically important question at the end of this episode, and the way you answer the question has profound implications for your life! 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:4-5 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  II Corinthians 5:17 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  I John 5:12 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20    

Tony recorded this episode on New Years Day, 2024! He focuses on one particular passage which is Luke 8:22-25, and observes how God often chooses to bring his people through a "storm" rather than around the "storm". In Psalm 23 it says that God is with us through the valley of the shadow of death. In the Old Testament God brought his people through the Red Sea when Pharoah was coming to destroy them. Jesus himself had to go through the cross in order to get to the resurrection. And in Luke 8 the disciples had to go through the storm in order to get to the other side of the lake where Jesus had told them to go. No matter what's going on in your life at this time, you can rest asured in faith, that God is with you, and God is going to get you through the situation you might be currently concerned about or struggling with. Even if you're stuggling with your sexual gift in any way at this time of your life, God can get you through. He can get you through sexual addiction to the other side. He can get you through sexual compulsion to the other side. He can get you through porn addiction to the other side. God sees you, he is not indifferent, he cares, and he can get you through! HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

Good News of Great Joy Tony recorded this episode on Christmas morning and shares a significant observation from the story of the birth of Jesus in Luke chapter 2. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:8-12 We learn from the story that this “good news of great joy” is for “all the people”, and this means that what happened on that holy night was for me and for you! On the night Jesus was born, an angel appeared to the shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem and proclaimed a message to them that reveals the very reason that our lives can be changed even today, over 2,000 years later. If you're struggling in your heart, life, or situation, there is hope! Even if you're struggling to manage and experience your sexual gift in a healthier way, there is hope! The proclamations of both the angel on the night Jesus was born, and by the old man Simeon in the temple 8 days later, and the implications therein, contain the very truth and power that can change our hearts and lives, even today. Take heart! Have courage! Don't give up! There is “good news of great joy for all the people”!      

This episode was recorded on December 19th, 2023... in the shadow of Christmas which was just 6 days away. It's so easy to get lost in the helter-skelter and business that comes along with this time of the year - buying Christmas gifts, parties, get togethers, traveling, family obligations, etc. Rush... rush... rush... busy... busy... busy! Sigh! In this episode Tony encourages us to remember the "true reason for the season", and shares 3 important observations from Luke 2, which is the story about the birth of Jesus. It's interesting to note the progresson of 3 intersting vignetes that appear one after the other in this passage. The first one concerns something that was proclaimed by the angel who appeared to the sheperds that night. The second one concerns something that was proclaimed by the old man, Simeon, who had a special connection to the Holy Spirit. The third one concerns something that was proclaimed by the old woman, Anna, who had been a widow for 84 years, and was over 100 years old. SAVIOR! SALAVATION! REDEMPTION! A very significant "theme" emerges around these unusal events that occurred when this special litte boy was born in the manger in Bethlehem, and the proclamation of this "theme" reveals the very reason of his birth. SAVIOR! SALAVATION! REDEMPTION!  

In this episode Tony explores the mystery of the Incarnation - the mysterious reality that God became a man, and made his dwelling among us. God became one of us, and the little baby in the manger - Jesus - was incomprehensibly 100% God and 100% human at the very same time. But this profound mystery isn't just theology for us to believe in our head. It's reality that makes all the difference in our hearts and lives. It's the reality that God is with us that creates the possiblity that our lives can be truly different. It's the reality that God is with us that creates the possibility that a man who's struggling with an addiction to pornography can truly change into a new and different man. What do you think the chances of true and lasting change would be if God wasn't with us? When we're confused... God is with us! When we're struggling... God is with us! When we're depressed... God is with us! When we're discouraged... God is with us! When we feel weak... God is with us! And when we're strugglng with pornography, or any kind of compulsive sexual behavior... God is with us! In this episode Tony shares 3 very powerful scriptures that affirm the reality that... God is with us! “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).  Matthew 1:23 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  John 1:1,14 5 The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:5-7

What can God stop? God is God, and God is all powerful, and God is almighty, and nothing is too hard for God. God can do anything God wants to do, and God can stop anything God wants to stop. In this episode Tony shares 15 amazing things that God stopped in the bible, along with the corresponding verse for each of these 15 things. (1) God stopped sickness. (2) God stopped the storm. (3) God stopped the armies of pharaoh. (4) God stopped paralysis. (5) God stopped leprosy. (6) God stopped lameness. (7) Gid stopped infertility. (8) God stopped hungry lions. (9) God stopped 135,00 Midianites. (10) God stopped the firey furnace. (11) God stopped demons. (12) God stopped deafness. (13) God stopped Goliath. (14) God stopped blindness. (15) God stoppeed death itself. Is there something going on in your life right now that you would like God to "STOP"? In this episode Tony affirms that God can "STOP" anything God wants to "STOP", but also shares one very important reality that we absolutley need to understand and accept.

The truth is incredibly important. You're in a spiritual battle that's raging over your life, and the greatest weapon the enemy has to use against you is the power of the "lie". If the enemy tells you a lie, and you beleive the lie, it's as if the lie becomes your truth, because you're beliving it's true, even though it's a lie. In this way the lie can hold power and authority over your life and soul. For example, in the early days of Tony's struggle, he believe the lie, "I cannot resist temptation." And because that lie was holding a place of authority in Tony's life, it was very hard for Tony to resist tempation, because Tony was believing that he could not resist temptation.  Jesus said in John 8:32 - "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." It's absolutly imperative that we identify the lies that are coming against us and that we replace those lies with the truth of God. In this epsiose Tony shares 12 statements of "truth" that will be central to your walk of purity. If you don't beleive these 12 things you will struggle in your walk of purity. If you replace the lies with these 12 statements of "truth", your walk of purity will be strengthened. Be blessed this day, in Jesus' Name!  

A listener of The Power of Purity Podcast sent the following note: I recently listened to episodes 162 and 163 with Frank Johnson and am now going through all 300 plus episodes myself. I am tired of that powerless feeling when those BAM moments hit and want to get to a place where I am controlling sex and not the other way around. I just want to say how much of a blessing your show has been to me. I really relate to you and the guests you've had on the podcast. Please continue to keep up this work. Looking forward to hearing from you! Can you relate? Have you ever been living your life, minding your own business, and then out of no where... BAM... you get blindsided with a sudden and unexpected temptation or trigger? It happens to all of us. The "BAM" is the moment you get hit with an unexpected temptation, and how we handle those "BAM" moments will determine our ability to be the man of purity God is calling us to be. In this two part series, Important BAM Prinicples, Tony shares 3 different ideas that are incredibly important toward navigating the BAM with great success! WARNING - there is a "BAM" coming to you in the very near future, and this series will help you be prepared for your next "BAM"! 

A listener of The Power of Purity Podcast sent the following note: I recently listened to episodes 162 and 163 with Frank Johnson and am now going through all 300 plus episodes myself. I am tired of that powerless feeling when those BAM moments hit and want to get to a place where I am controlling sex and not the other way around. I just want to say how much of a blessing your show has been to me. I really relate to you and the guests you've had on the podcast. Please continue to keep up this work. Looking forward to hearing from you! Can you relate? Have you ever been living your life, minding your own business, and then out of no where... BAM... you get blindsided with a sudden and unexpected temptation or trigger? It happens to all of us. The "BAM" is the moment you get hit with an unexpected temptation, and how we handle those "BAM" moments will determine our ability to be the man of purity God is calling us to be. In this two part series, Important BAM Prinicples, Tony shares 3 different ideas that are incredibly important toward navigating the BAM with great success! WARNING - there is a "BAM" coming to you in the very near future, and this series will help you be prepared for your next "BAM"! 

Muscle memory is so important is so many areas of life and especally in sports. Dancing. Bowling. Golf. Ping Pong. Tennis. Swimming. To become really good at the game you're trying to master, you often need to develop "muscle memory" so you can repeat the proper motion over and over again. The movement needs to become embedded in your body. It needs to become instinct and intuition. You need to be able to do what you need to do, over and over again, without even thinking about it, because if you have to think about it, you're already a step behind where you need to be. And in much the same way, if we're ever going to be the men of purity that God is calling us to be, we need to develop the "muscle memory" necessary for sexual purity. In this series Tony shares some important principles that will help you discover how to develop this "muscle memory". If you practice over and over again, just like your dance steps. and just like your golf swing, the "muscle memory" of your sexual purity will become embedded to the place where you no longer have to even think about it, because you're just doing it without even realizing you're doing it. Be encouraged. Don't dive up. Keep practicing, and you'll develop the "muscle memory" of purity!

Muscle memory is so important is so many areas of life and especally in sports. Dancing. Bowling. Golf. Ping Pong. Tennis. Swimming. To become really good at the game you're trying to master, you often need to develop "muscle memory" so you can repeat the proper motion over and over again. The movement needs to become embedded in your body. It needs to become instinct and intuition. You need to be able to do what you need to do, over and over again, without even thinking about it, because if you have to think about it, you're already a step behind where you need to be. And in much the same way, if we're ever going to be the men of purity that God is calling us to be, we need to develop the "muscle memory" necessary for sexual purity. In this series Tony shares some important principles that will help you discover how to develop this "muscle memory". If you practice over and over again, just like your dance steps. and just like your golf swing, the "muscle memory" of your sexual purity will become embedded to the place where you no longer have to even think about it, because you're just doing it without even realizing you're doing it. Be encouraged. Don't dive up. Keep practicing, and you'll develop the "muscle memory" of purity!

Do you remember the movie, Castaway? In the movie Tom Hanks plays a character named Chuck Noland, who works for Fed Ex.   As the story unfolds, he's involved in a plane crash and he's the sole survior. He washes ashore on a deserted island and remains stranded there for over 4 years. His only "companion" is a volleyball he names "Wilson", who he talks to on a regular basis. He tries several times to escape the island but it's an exercise in futility because of the power of the crashing "waves" that are constatnly coming against him. Eventually he devises a plan in his attempt to overcome the waves, and he's finally successful. In much the same way, this story becomes a metaphor for many men who are trapped on the island of sexual compulsion and addiction. It feels like we're trapped. It feels like we're in a bondage that we can never escape. It feels like the constant waves that are coming against us are insurmountable and impossible to overcome. In this series Tony reflects on this metaphor and shares 11 of the "waves" crashing against men that make it seem like they can never get free from the "island" they've been trapped on. But even more importantly, Tony shares God's remdey for each one of these waves, and reveals that in the end, just like Chuck Noland, we can escape the island we've been trapped on for years. Have you been a Castaway? May you be encouraged and inspired by this series toward the true freedom and rescue God has intended for you!

Do you remember the movie, Castaway? In the movie Tom Hanks plays a character named Chuck Noland, who works for Fed Ex.   As the story unfolds, he's involved in a plane crash and he's the sole survior. He washes ashore on a deserted island and remains stranded there for over 4 years. His only "companion" is a volleyball he names "Wilson", who he talks to on a regular basis. He tries several times to escape the island but it's an exercise in futility because of the power of the crashing "waves" that are constatnly coming against him. Eventually he devises a plan in his attempt to overcome the waves, and he's finally successful. In much the same way, this story becomes a metaphor for many men who are trapped on the island of sexual compulsion and addiction. It feels like we're trapped. It feels like we're in a bondage that we can never escape. It feels like the constant waves that are coming against us are insurmountable and impossible to overcome. In this series Tony reflects on this metaphor and shares 11 of the "waves" crashing against men that make it seem like they can never get free from the "island" they've been trapped on. But even more importantly, Tony shares God's remdey for each one of these waves, and reveals that in the end, just like Chuck Noland, we can escape the island we've been trapped on for years. Have you been a Castaway? May you be encouraged and inspired by this series toward the true freedom and rescue God has intended for you!

Do you remember the movie, Castaway? In the movie Tom Hanks plays a character named Chuck Noland, who works for Fed Ex.   As the story unfolds, he's involved in a plane crash and he's the sole survior. He washes ashore on a deserted island and remains stranded there for over 4 years. His only "companion" is a volleyball he names "Wilson", who he talks to on a regular basis. He tries several times to escape the island but it's an exercise in futility because of the power of the crashing "waves" that are constatnly coming against him. Eventually he devises a plan in his attempt to overcome the waves, and he's finally successful. In much the same way, this story becomes a metaphor for many men who are trapped on the island of sexual compulsion and addiction. It feels like we're trapped. It feels like we're in a bondage that we can never escape. It feels like the constant waves that are coming against us are insurmountable and impossible to overcome. In this series Tony reflects on this metaphor and shares 11 of the "waves" crashing against men that make it seem like they can never get free from the "island" they've been trapped on. But even more importantly, Tony shares God's remdey for each one of these waves, and reveals that in the end, just like Chuck Noland, we can escape the island we've been trapped on for years. Have you been a Castaway? May you be encouraged and inspired by this series toward the true freedom and rescue God has intended for you!

In this series of episodes Tony talks about why God invented sex. God is brilliant. God is a genius. The wisdom and power of God are incomprehensible. At some point in the flow of eternity God decides he's going to create the universe, and humanity. And just think for a moment about how God could have created humanity if he wanted to. If God wanted the human race he could have just created 8 billion people all at once, just like he created Adam and Eve. But for some reason God comes up with this brilliant idea and he decides he's going to create the human race through the procreation of the human race. So God creates Adam and Eve, and God creates sex. He designs the male body with the right parts, and the right hormones, and the right nerves, and wires it all together with the male brain to create a sexual creature. And he creates the femlae body witht he right parts, and the right hormones, and the right nerves, and wires it all together with the female brain to create a sexual creature. And the male has the ability to become aroused and to become erect, and the female has the ability to become aroused and to lubricate. And the female has the ability to ovulate and to become pregnant. And the whole thing is absolutely amazing, and fascinatiing, and mysterious, and wonderful, and delicious. In this series Tony reveals the 3 primary reasons that God invented sex. As we gain a proper understanding of what sex is, and why God invented sex, it brings clarity to our hearts and minds and creates the frame of reference that allows us to both express and experinece our sexual gift in a way that's consistence with the very reasons God has given us this wonderful gift!

In this series of episodes Tony talks about why God invented sex. God is brilliant. God is a genius. The wisdom and power of God are incomprehensible. At some point in the flow of eternity God decides he's going to create the universe, and humanity. And just think for a moment about how God could have created humanity if he wanted to. If God wanted the human race he could have just created 8 billion people all at once, just like he created Adam and Eve. But for some reason God comes up with this brilliant idea and he decides he's going to create the human race through the procreation of the human race. So God creates Adam and Eve, and God creates sex. He designs the male body with the right parts, and the right hormones, and the right nerves, and wires it all together with the male brain to create a sexual creature. And he creates the femlae body witht he right parts, and the right hormones, and the right nerves, and wires it all together with the female brain to create a sexual creature. And the male has the ability to become aroused and to become erect, and the female has the ability to become aroused and to lubricate. And the female has the ability to ovulate and to become pregnant. And the whole thing is absolutely amazing, and fascinatiing, and mysterious, and wonderful, and delicious. In this series Tony reveals the 3 primary reasons that God invented sex. As we gain a proper understanding of what sex is, and why God invented sex, it brings clarity to our hearts and minds and creates the frame of reference that allows us to both express and experinece our sexual gift in a way that's consistence with the very reasons God has given us this wonderful gift!

In this series of episodes Tony talks about why God invented sex. God is brilliant. God is a genius. The wisdom and power of God are incomprehensible. At some point in the flow of eternity God decides he's going to create the universe, and humanity. And just think for a moment about how God could have created humanity if he wanted to. If God wanted the human race he could have just created 8 billion people all at once, just like he created Adam and Eve. But for some reason God comes up with this brilliant idea and he decides he's going to create the human race through the procreation of the human race. So God creates Adam and Eve, and God creates sex. He designs the male body with the right parts, and the right hormones, and the right nerves, and wires it all together with the male brain to create a sexual creature. And he creates the femlae body witht he right parts, and the right hormones, and the right nerves, and wires it all together with the female brain to create a sexual creature. And the male has the ability to become aroused and to become erect, and the female has the ability to become aroused and to lubricate. And the female has the ability to ovulate and to become pregnant. And the whole thing is absolutely amazing, and fascinatiing, and mysterious, and wonderful, and delicious. In this series Tony reveals the 3 primary reasons that God invented sex. As we gain a proper understanding of what sex is, and why God invented sex, it brings clarity to our hearts and minds and creates the frame of reference that allows us to both express and experinece our sexual gift in a way that's consistence with the very reasons God has given us this wonderful gift!

God is pretty smart. In fact, God is a genius! Sex was his idea. He invented sex. God must be brilliant! He's the one who concieved of it, and created it, and made it as wonderful, and mysterious, and delicious as it is. Since God is the one who invented sex, God has an opinion about sex. He has a heart, mind, will, design, and plan for human sexuality. There are ways to experience sex that are consistant with God's plan for sex, and ways that are inconsistant with his plan. What many of us have done (including the host of this podcast) is that we've taken the gift God created for us and we've turned it into something God never intended for it to be. Some people abuse alcohol to the point where it becomes destructive. Some people abuse food to the point where it becomes destructive. Some people abuse gambling to the point where it becomes destructive. And in much the same way, some people abuse the gift of sex to the point where it becomes destructive. In this episode Tony talks about "lasciviousness", and what it means to "reel in" the unhealthy, dysfunctional, and harmful ways we've become accustomed to experiencing sex to a place that's healthier and more consistent with God's heart, mind, will, design, and plan for sex in our lives.

The bible says that God's people are "peculiar people". We are called to be very different from people who do now know, love, or serve God. Out of all the nations of the earth, God chose Israel to be his people. They were to be very different from the nations around them. God's people are to think different. God's people are to have different priorities. God's people think very differently about money, marraige, values, and virtually every area of life. And this "peculiar" difference should certainly have profound implications for the way God's people express and experience their sexual gift. People without God can have sex however they want to have sex, but God's people can't to that. People without God can commit fornication, or adultry, but God's poeple can't do that. People without God can participate in orgies or beastiality, but God's people can't do that. If you belong to call, you are his "treasured posession", he has "called you out", he has "set you apart", and you are part of his "peculiar people". In this series Tony explores the implications of being the "peculiar people" of God, and the implications of that reality upon our sexual gift. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and puriify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  Titus 2:14

The bible says that God's people are "peculiar people". We are called to be very different from people who do now know, love, or serve God. Out of all the nations of the earth, God chose Israel to be his people. They were to be very different from the nations around them. God's people are to think different. God's people are to have different priorities. God's people think very differently about money, marraige, values, and virtually every area of life. And this "peculiar" difference should certainly have profound implications for the way God's people express and experience their sexual gift. People without God can have sex however they want to have sex, but God's people can't to that. People without God can commit fornication, or adultry, but God's poeple can't do that. People without God can participate in orgies or beastiality, but God's people can't do that. If you belong to call, you are his "treasured posession", he has "called you out", he has "set you apart", and you are part of his "peculiar people". In this series Tony explores the implications of being the "peculiar people" of God, and the implications of that reality upon our sexual gift. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and puriify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  Titus 2:14

In this episode Tony shares several very impotant things: (1) He gives a shout out to his old friend, Larry, who just went to heaven.  God bless Larry!  God bless his life!  Larry loves the Lord and served the Lord his whole life, and now Larry is in the presence to of the Lord! To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  II Corinthians 5:8 (2)  He shares a beautiful worship song, I Love You Lord, sung by Jared Reynolds. (3) He shares very openly about a "fear" he has that he might not have the strength he needs to continue to honor God as a single man with the expression of his sexual gift. (4) He explores the profound teaching of the bible that explains how our love of God is what empowers our obedience to God. 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”  Luke 10:25-28 If you love me, keep my commands.  John 14:15 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.  John 14:21 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching."  John 14:23 (5) He shares an important exhortation for us, as the sons of God, to love God so we will be empowered to obey God! Be blessed as you listen to this episode, The Power of Loving God!

Have you ever felt like you were standing on the ledge of a building about 50 stories tall? Have you ever felt like you're about to fall off the ledge? Have you ever felt like you might jump? Sometimes life feels overwhelming. Sometimes we get flooded. Sometimes we're overwhelmed. Sometimes our emotions charge in to seize us and make us feel horrible feelings we don't want to feel. Sometimes we don't know what to do. What do we do when we don't know what to do? In this episode Tony shares a recent story from his life when he became lost to himself, and got so upset he was almost beside himself. How do we reel ourselves back in when we've become lost to ourself? How do we get our legs back under us when we feel like we've been chopped down? In this episode Tony talks about what it means to “talk yourself off the ledge” when life seems overwhelming and unmanageable. It's at these times that we can be in great danger of acting our in our sexual compulsion and sexual addiction. It's at these times we can be tempted to self-medicate, to anesthetize, and to escape by using our sexual gift in an unhealthy way. You no longer have to be the man you used to be, because you can learn to “talk yourself off the ledge”. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

In this episode of the podcast Tony shares 4 words that he never thought he'd ever say in his entire life: I'm a divorced man. Tony and Sheri were married on September 17th, 1983, and they were divorced on July 20th, 2023. That means they were married for 39 years, 10 months, and 3 days, or said another way, they were married for just 59 days short of 40 years. On the day Tony recorded this episode of the podcast he had been a divorced man for 12 days. In this heartfelt episode Tony shares several important reflections from the very difficult journey through the most painful and traumatic days of his entire life. In addition he reflects upon the hope of the gospel, and the reality that in the economy of God's Kingdom, life comes out of death. What do we do when life beats us up? What do we do when profoundly diffiuclt things happen in our lives that we cannot change?   “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  John 12:24   5 Those who cry as they plant their crops    will sing with joy when they gather them in. 6 Those who go out weeping    as they carry seeds to plant will come back singing with joy.    They will bring the new crop back with them.  Psalm 126:5-6   Song by Clint Black - When I Said I Do

Tony was recently invited to speak on Sunday morning at Trinity Community Church, and in this series he shares the message he presented on that day entitled, "Run to God". We live in a deeply broken world, and sometimes life has a way of beating us up. What do you do when you don't understand what's going on in your life? What do you do when you're overwhelmed with your situation? What do you do when you feel like the waters are up to your neck? What do you do when it seems like God isn't showing up to help you? In this message Tony shares a little bit of what his journey has looked like over the past two years, which has been the most difficult time of his entire life, and what it means to hold on to God, and to "Run to God", no matter what. 1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. 3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.  My eyes fail, looking for my God. 4 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head;  many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.  Psalm 69:1-4   28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Tony was recently invited to speak on Sunday morning at Trinity Community Church, and in this series he shares the message he presented on that day entitled, "Run to God". We live in a deeply broken world, and sometimes life has a way of beating us up. What do you do when you don't understand what's going on in your life? What do you do when you're overwhelmed with your situation? What do you do when you feel like the waters are up to your neck? What do you do when it seems like God isn't showing up to help you? In this message Tony shares a little bit of what his journey has looked like over the past two years, which has been the most difficult time of his entire life, and what it means to hold on to God, and to "Run to God", no matter what. 1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. 3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.  My eyes fail, looking for my God. 4 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head;  many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.  Psalm 69:1-4   28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

In this eipisde Tony shares 5 important purity obervations from 1 Peter 1:13-16. In this passage the Apostle Peter shares 5 strategies that bridge the gap from your mind on the inside to holiness in your life on the outside. (1) Prepare your mind for action. (2) Self-control. (3) Set your hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ which will be revealed when he returns. (4) Be obedient children of God who no longer conform to the evil desires you obeyed when you lived in ignorance. (5) Be holy at your Father in heaven is holy. God would not tell you to do something that was impossible for you to do. If God tells you to be holy, it must be possible for you to be holy. Holiness is within your reach. You can make quality decisions. You can exercise your "no" muscle. You can be a man of purity! Listen to this episode and be encouraged by these 5 Strategies of Puritythe Apostle Peter has given us. 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  I Peter 1:13-16

Have you ever been in the place where you know you should not sexully do the thing your're about to do, but for some reason you're simply powerless to resist against it, and you go ahead and do the thing even though you know you shouldn't to the thing? You go ahead and take the "risk" even though you know you should not be taking the "risk". What's going on with that? How and when did we learn to take such great risks with our sexual self? Where were the seeds of such risk taking planted in our hearts and lives? Imagine walking up to the very edge of the Grand Canyon, and literally standing on the very edge, and hanging your toes over! Dude, you're way too close to the edge! Are you crazy! Do you realize that you're flirting with great danger if you alllow yourself to go up to the very edge over and over again. You might get away with it one time. You might get awasty with it two times. You might get away with it seventeen times in a row, but if you keep going up to the very edge, you might just fall off! In this episode Tony helps us to understand how and why we learned to take such big "risks" in our sexual behavior, and what we can do to pull ourselves back from the edge. The power of taking risks can be broken in you life, through the power and the blood of Christ!

Tony has been leading a men's purity group for over the past 20 years. In group he recently shared a teaching with the men entitled, "Take It To God". To illustrate the ideas shared in this teaching Tony created the diagram that appears as the image attached to this episode. The image is color coded, and illustrates the 3 primary strategies available to us as we seek to process the hurt, pain, and trauma in our lives. (1) Self-Medication (2) Denial (3) Face it In this series Tony shares how counterprodcutive options one and two are, and how we must learn to face our pain, and then how to take our pain to God is we're going to be healthier and more functional people. Many men, if not most men, have used sex, porn, and their orgasm as a way to self-medicate the pain in their heart and life, and Tony helps us understand why we can no longer do this. There is a way that seem right, that leads to death. And there's a way that seems difficult, that leads to life. In this series we discover how the way of God, and the way of God's Kingdom is to journey through our pain rather than trying to avoid it, escape it, or anesthetize it. Welcome to episode 366!

Tony has been leading a men's purity group for over the past 20 years. In group he recently shared a teaching with the men entitled, "Take It To God". To illustrate the ideas shared in this teaching Tony created the diagram that appears as the image attached to this episode. The image is color coded, and illustrates the 3 primary strategies available to us as we seek to process the hurt, pain, and trauma in our lives. (1) Self-Medication (2) Denial (3) Face it In this series Tony shares how counterprodcutive options one and two are, and how we must learn to face our pain, and then how to take our pain to God is we're going to be healthier and more functional people. Many men, if not most men, have used sex, porn, and their orgasm as a way to self-medicate the pain in their heart and life, and Tony helps us understand why we can no longer do this. There is a way that seem right, that leads to death. And there's a way that seems difficult, that leads to life. In this series we discover how the way of God, and the way of God's Kingdom is to journey through our pain rather than trying to avoid it, escape it, or anesthetize it. Welcome to episode 365!

In this episode Tony focuses on a beatiful and very hopeful verse in the bible. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  I Corinthians 10:13 Tony shares seven very important observations from this verse that affirm that you can process and manage the temptations that come to you in a healthy and godly way. (1) You will be tempted. (2) These temptations are common to every man. (3) Sometimes it feels like these temptations are "seizing" you. (4) You  can always handle the temptations that come to you because of God's faithfulness. (5) It's not "if" you're tempted, but 'when". (6) There will always be a way of escape. (7) God doesn't always remove the temptation, but he gives you the ability to stand up under the temptation. Be encouraged brother! God has given you everything you need to manage the temptations that come to you in a godly way!

Hey guys! Tony here! When I was 13 years old I dislocated my right shoulder, and the injury has literly followed me through life for the past 52 years. It was finally time to do something about it (as in bone on bone and unbearable pain) and this past Friday (4 days ago) I had a complete shoulder replacement surgery. Since I began the podcast over 7 years ago I've never missed publishing an episode, and I don't want to start now. (Please note - I did take a sabbatical from the podcast for a period of time when my wife left me.) To be honest I'm not feeling very good right now as I'm recooperating from this shoulder surgery, but I at least wanted to share a brief episode with you this week. This is probably the shortest episode of the podcast ever published, but I do pray it will be a blessing and encouragement to you!        

When we look at porn, she's always so beautiful. Right? We're captivated, and enraptured by the form of her naked body. It makes us want so bad what we're seeing with our natural eyes. We think that this is what we need to feel happy and fulflled. But if we could see her in another way, with our spritual eyes, she might look more like the image posted to represent this episode of the podcast. She's a metaphorical corpse. She's rotten, and decaying. As it says in Galatians 6:8, when we sow to please our flesh it leads to "corruption", which happens when a dead body begins to decay. In this episode Tony shares an amazing list that a man he knows created. It's a list of 43 hidden prices the man was paying in exhchange for his indulgence in pornography. When we're acting out with porn in sexual compulsion, our natural eyes see something we think is beautiful, but behind the scenes in the spiritual realm there is decay, destruction, and corruption. Do not be decieved! 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:7-9    

Since he's moving soon (because of his wife's divorce) Tony has been getting rid of all kinds of stuff in the effort to downsize for the move. Therefore when his sister and nephew invited him to go to the local flea market he was determined to try to not buy any more "stuff". However, when he left the flea market 3 hours later he was the proud owner of 3 items he had puchased. Tony bought each one of these 3 items because each one is a metaphor of a significant spritual reality that he wants to be reminded of on a regular basis. (1) A yoke. (2) A bit. (3) A compass. In this episode Tony shares what each of these items mean to him, and why he will be placing them in his new home when he moves in the near future Matthew 11:28-30 Psalm 32:9 Daniel 4:34 John 15:1-2;5

If you're going to be the man of God, and the man of purity that God is calling you to be you have to get in the battle and stay in the battle. You're going to have to fight temptations to make quality decisions. You're going to have to exercise your "NO" muscle. I wish I could tell you that when you have a success, and you properly navigate your way through and around a temptation, that this success will carry you for the next 90 days, and you won't even be tempted again for at least the next 90 days. But it doesn't work that way, because chances are pretty good you're goint to be tempted again, and then again, and then again, and so forth and so on. So, one success is awesome. One success is wonderful. Congratulations on your one success. But one success is not enough. You need to have that one success, and then the next success, and then the next success, and so forth and so on. Or, said another way, we need the "accumulation of successes", and the more successes we accumulate, the more momentum we get in God, and the successes then become easier and easier to achieve. In this episode Tony discusses the intricacies and nuances of "the accumulation of successes".

In this episode Tony talks about how the battle for purity becomes easier over time. We become stronger. We learn to exercise our "no muscle". We accumulate more and more successes. We learn that we can resist temptation. Temptation is not bigger than you. You're bigger than temptation, and God always makes a way to escape. You can grow in godliness. You can grow in righteousness. You're not doomed to forever hang on by the skin of your teeth and white knuckles. In the old days it seemed like temptation was this powerful beast that would come in and cease you. It was bigger than you and it was hard to resist. But now that you're growing in God and getting some tools and stategies the beast is becoming a fly, and you can shoo away a fly when it trys to bother you. God's grace and healing are powerful. You are a man of God, and you're designed for high levels of success in God's Kingdom. The beast is becoming a fly!

Salmon are amazing. Every year they turn around to swim upstream agaisnt very powerful currents that are resisting them. They return to the place they were born so they can spawn, a new generation of salmon are born. Their survial is based upon their ability to swim against the vicious currents. In much the same way, our metaphorical survival to be the men of God that we're called to be will be predicated upon our ability to swim against the persistant, and powerful, and vicious currents of temptation that are resisting against us. In this episode Tony identities the confluecne of 3 different powerful forces that work together to create the complulsion in us that makes us want to act out in sin.  (1) The power of habit, or the old "groove" of sin we've allowed to be established in us. (2) Brain science, or the way we've trained our brains to crave the feel good chemicals that compel us to act out. (3) The law of sin, or the natural proclivity we have as fallen and sinful people to delight in doing the very things we know we shouldn't do. Any one of these forces would be difficult to resist in and of itself, and when you put all three of them togther they can become a very vicious current that makes it hard for us to swim upstream. In this episode you'll understand how the "confluence of compulsion" works against our sexual purity, and what we can do in return to swim agains these currents to have success and victory in God!

The bible says in Proverbs 25:28 that a man who has no self-control is like a city with no walls. That's not a good thing! In the days of the bible is was very important to have a wall around your city because the wall is what protected you from the bad guys. If you didn't have a wall around your city you would be subject to attack at any time and you couldn't protect yourself effetively. In much the same way, if we're ever going to be the man God is calling us to be, and if we're ever going to be the man of purity that God is calling us to be, we're going to need the ability to protect ourselves in many different ways. You need the ability to catch yourself at the moment of temptation. You need to mentor yourself. You need to tell yourself the truth. You need to put a choke chain on yourself. You need to recognize and renounce the lie. You need to not let yourself get away with bad behavior. You need to hold yourself accountable to yourself. You need to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. You need to work on you. You need to make quality decisions. You need to make quality choices. You need to self-regulate. You need to talk yourself off the ledge. You need to soothe yourselff. You need to interrupt yourself when you beging the old cycle. You need to hold on to yourself. You need to have a solid relationship with you. You need to get your legs under you. You need to not become lost to yourself. You need the ability to take care of yourself, and the abllity to mentor yourself, and to watch yourself, and to reel yourself back in if you start become lost to yourself. And why do you need to do these things? Because a man with no self-control is like a city with no walls! Like a city that is broken down and without walls [leaving it unprotected] Is a man who has no self-control over his spirit [and sets himself up for trouble].  Proverbs 25:28 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Galatians 6:22-25 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  II Corinthians 10:5 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.  Titus 2:11-12 YOU CONTROL YOU!    

In this new series talks about the importance of "brain management". Sometimes it's hard enough to fight the battle when the enemy is on the outside of me, but what do I do when the enemy seems like he's on the inside of me, because sometimes it feels like the enemy is me! My own thoughts and my own emotions sometimes gang up on me and conspire against me in a very powerful way, and it's at these times I need a self-awarness to fight agaisnt my very own thoughts and emotions in the attempt to manage what's going on between my ears on the inside of me. Brain management! In this series Tony identifies and shares common "lies" that often hold power over men in their struggle with sexual purity. Examples: "I can't resist temptation." (That's a lie because you can resist temptation.) "My sexual sin is my wife's fault."  (That's a lie because you're responsbile for your own choices and actions.) "Lots of men look at porn so it's no big deal if I look at porn."  (That's a lie because what other people do does not give you the right to do the same thing.) It's incredibly important that we have the ability to identify the lies, because if we beleive a lie, it becomes our truth, because we're believing it's true, even thought it's a lie, and the lie therefore assuems a positon of power and authority in our life, and we then begin to act and make decisions based upon the lie. To be the men of purity God is calling us to be we need "brain management". We need the abiltiy to take rebel and mutiny thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. We need to renew our minds so we can approve the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. We need to gird out loins with the truth and figth the lies with the sword of the Spirit. Welcome to "Brain Management", and be BLESSED in Jesus' Name!