Sadness, abuse and John Langworthy

I am sitting here after a long week last week in Clinton Mississippi where I watched three victims finally get the one thing that they have been longing to hear for over 20 years....."GUILTY" for molesting them when they were young boys.  No, John Langworthy did not receive any prison time as a result of his plea bargain (for many reasons) and yes, he does have to register as a sexual offender and receive a felony conviction.  Was this justice enough?  Some will say yes, some will say  no.  There have been much crazier sentences for these types of offenses going both ways...so it is all a matter of opinion.  I believe that ultimately there will be more to come for Mr.  Langworthy and so I rest in that at this time.

My sadness comes from many parts regarding this entire 30 years of molestation that this man has committed.  First and foremost, his victims.  Whether they have remained in silence and torture for the last 30 years with no where to turn, whether they have been outspoken and no one has listened, or whether they have received justice...they are all victims of this man, sexually, emotionally and spiritually.
My heart breaks for what they had to endure as children and for the people in authority who listened to what he did to them and then re-victimized them once again by failing to protect them legally.

My sadness is for the parents of these victims, who felt helpless, shame and did not know that they had a voice.  Authorities telling them, or even pressuring/threatening them to not report these crimes...and they were unaware of their rights and voice.   My sadness comes from all that they had to endure, and still endure to this day.

My sadness goes out to the current members of Prestonwood Baptist Church.  They have no idea what took place 20+ years ago, and are still not being told the truth.  I am saddened by an executive staff and the choices that they made at the time that John was on staff, and the choices that they are currently choosing to make by remaining silent in light of legal testimony showing otherwise.  They had a LEGAL responsibility to report these crimes, especially when the offender admits these crimes against children to them and they STILL do not report to the police.   I am sad for them that when even ONE victim comes forth in Mississippi after John's stay at Prestonwood, they will have to live with the fact that had they done the right thing...there would be no more victims.  They are culpable for any victims that come out of Mississippi after 1989.  I am sad that their choices most likely have resulted in a large amount of victims.  I am sad they are not being honest with their congregation.    I ultimately pray for healing for this church when this all comes to a head, and it will.   Members of this congregation (at least those not involved in the John Langworthy case in the late 80's) had no idea and will still suffer consequences based on this staff's choices.  I hope that through this, healing will begin in multiple levels at Prestonwood Baptist Church.

I pray for the congregation at Morrison Heights Baptist Church.  I am saddened still by how this was handled, but ultimately it proved to be God's mercy and timing.  I am sad that there is still a large community at this church who are more concerned about the welfare of Mr. Langworthy than his victims.  They have created an environment which is very volatile for victims to speak out.  They will be scared to death, especially since he is still out in the community and they see the outpouring of support for him.  This community has made it almost impossible for any of his victims to feel safe.  The school and the school administration of Clinton High School is also culpable for that too.  Sadness for the victims still in Clinton and Jackson  Mississippi who are not free to receive the help they need.  I hope and pray that Morrison Heights will step up and create a safe environment and focus now on the potential victims of John Langworthy and not slide this under the rug as Prestonwood has done for 25 years now.

I am sad that there are so many people whose lives have been affected by this ONE MAN....from many, many victims and their families, to church staff members and the integrity and character of a church, to political leaders in Mississippi whose careers could be affected because of him, to judges and attorneys, and to many other parties and entities that we do not even know about.  I am sad that his children have to endure what they will now endure and pray constantly for healing for them through this.  Mostly I am sad that a man, who presented himself a follower of Christ, has caused SO MUCH HARM to the church body and to non-believers.  He has yet again, allowed Satan to use his efforts to kill, steal, and destroy lives.  Lives of victims, lives of believers, lives of non believers who will now again look at a church with disdain, contempt and refusal to believe in Christ.  That is what overwhelmingly breaks my heart.  I am righteously angry at John Langworthy for all he has destroyed and for the hundreds of lives he has impacted.  There are some who say that he is the reason that they found Christ.  My first response to that is that God can use ANYONE to lead you to Christ, even a donkey.  John Langworthy did a fantastic job of leading double life...he was VERY good at it and manipulated and controlled a lot of people, and I suspect he still does.  But JESUS CHRIST is the complete opposite of John Langworthy.  He will never harm a child, He will never condemn you or spiritually manipulate you, and He will never shame you!   He is TRUTH,  He is LOVE, and He is COMPASSION and He will always be there for you, with no ulterior motive.   So, despite all of your harm, Mr. Langworthy,  JESUS WILL PREVAIL !  Despite Prestonwood's lack of character and legal responsibility, JESUS WILL PREVAIL, and despite Morrison Heights lack of a safe environment for victims, JESUS WILL PREVAIL!

"Doing His Thing"

Today I am full of joy!  I am not sure why?  I am homeschooling, dealing with a 2 year old who has decided to do the exact opposite of any instruction or anything I say, and a puppy who is very very full of energy!  I feel like I am fighting twenty different battles a day....and yet I feel joyful??   There is a very big difference between happy and joyful.  There are many, many times during the day that I am not happy.  I am frustrated, I am mad (usually directed at a  puppy!) and I am exhausted....but yet there is joy!  Joy comes from a much deeper place than our emotions and our feelings.  Joy comes from a constant knowledge that God is in control, He does not give us more than we can  handle, and He ALWAYS provides a way out.  Where do you see the joy in your day?  Are you sometimes overwhelmed by "stuff" that is in your life?  If you do not see joy, WHY?  Explore that today.  Where is my joy? Where is it coming from?  

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  It means the Holy Spirit is able to work through you, to you, and with you to provide exactly what you need, when you need it.  He also uses the fruits of the Spirit to work in others lives.  I have seen many people going through horrendous circumstances, and yet people walk away from THEM experiencing love and understanding and Christ.  How?  Because they have JOY that is flowing out of them, despite their circumstances, despite their feelings, despite their "lot".....they have chosen to let the Holy Spirit "do His thing!", (as one girl put it).  She said she was just a container and the Holy Spirit used her to "do His thing".   (She also was 13).   Sometimes in our life and age, we forget that.  We put so many boundaries around it and laws around it and legalism around it...that we forget to just let the Holy Spirit "do His thing" and enjoy being chosen to participate!  

Look for examples today of Joy. Joy in others, and joy in yourself!  Give us examples so we can all enjoy seeing the Holy Spirit "do His thing": !!

Parting ways

As my dear sweet friend is leaving to minister abroad....I am left with several different things:
The first, thank God for things like Facebook, FaceTime and Magic Jack, because I can still be a part of her life on a daily basis!  Even though it is never the same as  TRUE face time, it is as close as we can get at this moment!

Second, I am thankful that God is calling them on this journey and they are faithful to the calling.  How many of us have a calling that has been on our life and for whatever reason we have justified NOT doing it.  Our reasons may be money, time, fear, lack of resources, etc....but overall, we are failing in what God has prepared and maybe even chosen us to do, before we were even born.   I want to be at the end of my life, whenever that may be....and know that above all, I was faithful to hear my Father and to obey, no matter what the circumstances or choices I made.  I want to hear "Good and faithful Servant" and know that I fulfilled my calling.  I want to be happy in that calling!   That does not mean we have to be miserable!  I am confident  I DO know what my calling is and have seen harvest and reaping from it in so many ways!  Do you?  Where are you in your life?  Are you at the beginning of it?  Just finding out all of your opportunities?  Are you at middle, regretting some past decisions and looking for opportunities to change?  Are you nearing the end and cherishing memories, tasks, relationships and joy!  I hope that you are all in these different stages loving on each other and loving God and following His call for your life!

Third, I am thankful that despite our geological barrier, we have a Heavenly Father connection that is faster than the speed of light!  I can connect, pray and minister to her and her family a gazillion miles away, and know that God is there, instantly, to comfort and provide peace!  No one else has that!  No one!   Only through our heavenly Father can you have that!  How awesome is that!!

"Parting ways is such sweet sorrow"...I never understood that until this journey with my friend.  I am so happy for her journey, and so selfishly sad along the way.  Sad for me that is. It gives me new perspective on the friendships I currently have,  on my prioritizing of those friendships, and how I need to be purposeful in my time with them.  We never know how much time we have....at 16, at 28, at 45, or at 60.......and we need to make EVERY single moment count.

I love my friend and I am happy that I am walking through this journey and God is working on my heart!
Where is He working on your heart?

My friend  Amy Travis (red shirt)

New Year....mingling seasons!

2013~~  What will this look like for you?  For me, we have pre-menopause, puberty, potty training and puppy...the year of the P's!  It makes me laugh that in my little life, I have such a variety of things happening.  We think that we go from season to season, and those seasons are fairly consistent.  Nope!  Just when you think you have completed one season and are entering into another...God laughs and says, Oh but wait...my seasons mingle!   I will keep a little tiny bit of the old, add some new, and then, just for fun....throw in a curve ball.....just to keep you on your toes!  It's like having summer...and in  Texas, we know that can be hot, exhausting and long...but occassionally God will throw in a hint of fall, even for a day...that helps you know that there is hope, there is a change coming, and we can make it through what we are currently enduring.  What season are you in?  What glimpse of change has  God thrown in to your life to give you hope, faith, excitement or endurance?  
As we enter into 2013, God has shown us a glimpse of this season.  For me it will be prioritizing.  This will include time, events, relationships, and commitments.  With the 4 P's in place at my house, focus has to change, some relationships will stay the same, some will change.  Focus on my family and children are changing as they are entering into a new season of their own lives...and quality time with my husband will look differently.  I am very excited about this season....my children are entering into my favorite time....teenage-ish years.  Been waiting for this time!  I know that sounds crazy, but I love these years!  They are very fun and enjoyable for me, even with the clashing of voices, hormones raging and opinions being expressed.
I pray for guidance this year...I pray for wisdom and knowledge as I travel this journey with my family.  I pray for clear ears to hear the Father and only do what He directs me to do.  Pray with me as we travel this journey together this year.  Let's lift each other up, help each other balance our "seasons" out, and encourage each other as they walk through these seasons.  Share with me what is on your heart!  I want this blog to be interactive, and encouraging!
Love you guys!   "with everything...turn, turn, turn."