| | UNDYING LOVE:
MY NAME IS JOSHUA
REMARKABLE STORY OF
A FORMER PORN STAR
This poured out of me after listening to Michael Knowles' stirring interview of Joshua Boome (GO). So appropriate for this Sunday: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3:16)
HIS NAME IS JOSHUA.
His mother got pregnant at age 16. His father abandoned them. In his early teens, with a foot in the modeling industry, Joshua was recruited for the porn industry. The recruiter probed his history to determine the degree of his brokenness, as a basis of evaluating if he would be a "good", long-standing employee. If he could be victimized and manipulated. Exhibiting all the wounds of rejection from his father, Joshua was a perfect candidate.
God wants to heal and transform.
Over 6 years and a thousand movies later, his fictive name was one of the most well-known in the industry. He speaks of the deep, splintered disconnect between physical expression meant for intimacy, and its utter absence. The empty hole. The hell. Driven by $100 billion a year industry. More than all sports, Netflix, Prime combined! Constituting one-third of all internet bandwidth!
God wants to heal and transform.
He speaks of objectification and monetization of human people. Real people. With real emotions. Backgrounds. Dignified by God for an intimacy with Him. Called by name. Which is why the first thing they change is the name. Completely disregarded.
God wants to heal and transform.
Whether you are a believer or not, we are body and spirit. Woven of the very fabric of Him Who is love. Who is truth. Our core identity. Destined for relationship with Him. Our Father. Who calls us by name. Accordingly, truth is not something we can break, only be broken against. Through the duration of his career, 30 friends close to him died.
God wants to heal and transform.
One day, reaching depths of despair, he decides to end it all. Thinking of his mom, he has one check yet to be cashed. He brings it to the bank, slides it over, and turns to walk away. He hears the cashier call him by name, "Joshua, are you all right?" He had not heard his personal name uttered in years. Joshua. A trickle of Living Water broke through. Reconnecting him to his deepest identity. Joshua.
God wants to heal and transform.
Joshua's mom calls him back home. Telling him, again, that he is better than this. He leaves it all behind. Everything in his apartment to the person he sublets it to. He returns. He gets involved in fitness, strikes up a relationship with a young woman and, sick of living the lie, tells her everything.
God wants to heal and transform.
She tells him what God has been telling all of us from the beginning of time. He loves us. He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, who is poured out for us personally. On the cross. Into this very moment. That we may be free from our sin. Healed. Transformed. Revived. Strengthened. If we call upon His name. If we repent. Step outside the shadows and darkness of our sin and shame. And into His light.
Joshua mean's "God saves." Six years later, the woman who gave testimony to Joshua is now his wife. They have three beautiful children. Her name is Hope. They are now about an incredibly powerful, transformational ministry. (GO)
God wants to heal and transform. All of us. By name.
All the more. Right now.
LORD JESUS CHRIST, awaken us all the more to Your Holy Presence, and flood us to overflow!
Greg & Stephanie Schlueter
Image Trinity | Mass Impact
Greg@MassImpact.us | (814) 449-8808
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| | | LIVE IT THIS WEEK: UNDYING LOVE
May 29 - June 4, 2023
A simple guide to help your family grow in holiness.
FUN QUESTION:
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GOSPEL | John 3:16-18
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
QUESTIONS:
1) What struck you in this reading? Challenged you? Inspired you? What questions did it raise?
2) If you were on trial for being a believer of Jesus Christ -- not just in ritual moments such as Mass, but everyday life -- based upon your chosen activities last week, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Live IT.
YOU IMAGE THE TRINITY: LIVE IT
Going around, pray over each person to more fully know and live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Encourage him/her.
DAILY QUESTIONS:.
Everyone go around and share...
1) Something you’re grateful for?
2) A recent victory?
3) A current challenge?
4) An affirmation of someone?
5) Something meaningful happening?
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"The future of humanity passes by way of the family."
~ Pope St. John Paul II
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