Passion and Purity

A new doorway for 2012

As a rule I usually don’t’ have a theme for each year. The only exception to this was in 2009 when I focused on speaking the truth in love. I expected 2012 to be no different until last week. I was leaving work where I support and resource church planting throughout the US, when God gave me a clear focus for the year.

I was thinking about the message that I most needed to communicate to the young men and woman we minister to in Downtown Orlando. What was revealed to me was that they needed to know that a woman can be both outrageously passionate about her pursuits in life and remarkably pure in her pursuit of them.  “Passion and Purity.”

This flies in the face of our Downtown culture where young men perceive woman as tools to fuel their own passions  leading not only to a flawed view of woman but also life scarring problems of porn and sex addiction.  Meanwhile the young women play into this role which leads to sexual abuse, eating disorders and overall low self-esteem among other things.

So how do I reflect Godly passion and purity in this environment? Well honestly I’m still trying to work out what this next year will look like. But I have done some things up to this point that have provided me with a good foundation for my focus in this new year. First I try to take pride in the way I look. The girls have remarked that I always look “cute.” At the same time I’m always modest in my dress. I hope this reflects to them that you can be fashionable without compromising values. I’ve also had several meaningful conversations with the girls and guys. I’ve tried to be encouraging and a source of Godly advice. Additionally I try to appreciate them through meals, homemade gifts, etc. at least once a week.

My goal in this year would be to build on this foundation and the relationships I already have in Downtown Orlando. Do you have any ideas for how I can communicate the idea of passion and purity in a very secular culture? Anything suggestions you have to offer would be greatly appreciated.