I have a good Christian friend who fell into sexual sin this past weekend.  I'm very depressed about it.  His behavior was wrong and unacceptable.  He has admitted his sinful behavior and is seeking guidance and healing and restitution for the person that he victimized.  He will have to register as a sex offender and face how the public will now treat him.  Nevertheless, I will stand by him and help him restore a right relationship with Jesus.   

His behavior serves as a reminder to all of us, especially me, that hiding problems, attractions, and addictions does nothing but end you up in serious trouble.  Continual ignoring of these issues could result in an eternity away from God's presence.  

One of my favorite songs regarding this is by Phil Keaggy:

IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME

I heard the news today 
That another soldier tumbled, 
A fragile warrior slipped and fell from grace. 
The vultures swooped to tear his heart 
And pin him to the ground, 
And from the shadows someone took his place. 

Today we talk amongst ourselves, 
We never bought his words. 
We say we've seen the madness in his eyes. 
Tomorrow he's forgotten as 
We've scrubbed him from our hearts, 
And as he bleeds we slowly turn our eyes. 

But it could've been me, 
I could've been the one to lose my grip and fall. 
It could've been me, 
The one who's always standing tall. 
For unless you hold me tightly, Lord, 
And I can hold on too, 
Then tomorrow in the news 
It could be me, it could be me. 

And in our hearts we fear the ones 
Whose lives are like our own, 
Whose shadows dance like 
Demons in our minds. 
We think to push them far away, 
We exercise our souls, 
We make them play the tune for all mankind. 

Today we talk amongst ourselves, 
We never bought their words. 
We say we've seen the madness in their eyes. 
Tomorrow they're forgotten as 
We've scrubbed them from our hearts, 
And as they bleed we slowly turn our eyes. 

But it could've been me, 
I could've been the one to lose my grip and fall. 
It could've been me, 
The one who's always standing tall. 
For unless you hold me tightly, Lord, 
And I can hold on too, 
Then tomorrow in the news 
It could be me, it could be me. 

But I believe there is a place 
Where we can run and hide, 
When we know that we can't stand 
For one more day, 
And I believe You're waiting, Lord, 
To hold me very close 
For You know without Your love I'd lose my way. 

But it could've been me, 
I could've been the one to lose my grip and fall. 
It could've been me, 
The one who's always standing tall. 
For unless you hold me tightly, Lord, 
And I can hold on too, 
Then tomorrow in the news 
It could be me, it could be me.

You can hear this song here

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

Will she walk slowly
Or will she come at all
I can't believe that I was watching
Can't believe I made the call
I can't get a handle on my thoughts now
Guess I've already made my mind
He's a soldier in my battle
I'm the king with too much time

Will she wear that black dress
Will she wear that black dress
As holy as the night
As holy as I want to feel
I want to feel all right

What if she is angry
I know that we're both scared
Do I look her in the eye or do I even dare to care
I'm drowning in desire
I''ve been good for so long
I know I've got no right now
But no one can tell me that I'm wrong

Will she wear that black dress
Will she wear that black dress
As holy as the night
As holy as I want to feel
I want to feel all right

Maybe I'll be good
I could be gone when she gets here
I've still got a chance to make this one all right
My temptation's on the stairway
My temptation's at the door
My temptation is before me
She is standing before me in that black dress


This song is about King David's temptation with Bathsheba.  Click  here to see the Normals performing this song live on YouTube.  

Maker of the Universe 
Phil Keaggy

The Maker of the universe, 
As Man for man was made a curse. 
The claims of Law which He had made, 
Unto the uttermost He paid. 

His holy fingers made the bough, 
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow. 
The nails that pierced His hands were mined 
In secret places He designed. 

He made the forest whence there sprung 
The tree on which His body hung. 
He died upon a cross of wood, 
Yet made the hill on which it stood. 

The sky that darkened o'er His head, 
By Him above the earth was spread. 
The sun that hid from Him it's face 
By His decree was poised in space. 

The spear which spilled His precious blood 
Was tempered in the fires of God. 
The grave in which His form was laid 
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made. 

The throne on which He now appears 
Was His for everlasting years. 
But a new glory crowns His brow 
And every knee to Him shall bow.