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Did you know that every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted?
Or did you know that:
Or were you aware that from 2009-2013, Child Protective Services agencies substantiated, or found strong evidence to indicate that, 63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse? (Note: A majority of child victims are 12-17. Of victims of sexual assault and rape under the age of 18: 34% are under age 12, and 66% are age 12-17.)
These statistics do not tell the whole story about sexual violence, because there are other forms of sexual violence and, unfortunately, many cases of sexual violence are unreported because victims:
“Sexual violence is sexual activity when consent is not obtained or freely given.”
Sexual violence is an all-encompassing, non-legal term that refers to rape, sex trafficking, sexual assault, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, incest, intimate partner sexual violence, and other forms of nonconsensual or forced sexual activity. (Note: Here in the USA, the legal definition of crimes vary from state to state.)
Sexual violence is a serious problem that profoundly impacts the health and wellbeing of those who are victims. And the impacts can be lifelong, especially if left unaddressed.
Yes!!! If you need help or know someone who does, consider these resources.
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Read the brochure Breaking the Silence: You Can Stop the Violence. This can be a healthy step to getting the help you need.
First, be alert. “… Anyone can experience or perpetrate sexual violence. The perpetrator of sexual violence is usually someone the survivor knows, such as a friend, current or former intimate partner, coworker, neighbor, or family member. …”
Second, set aside myths and other common beliefs about sexual violence that are not true. These undermine efforts to prevent sexual violence, become an obstacle to taking appropriate actions when sexual violence does occur, and ultimately make it difficult for victims of sexual violence to receive the help and justice they so deserve.
Space in this blog does not permit an exhaustive review of these myths and false beliefs. To raise awareness about the facts about sexual violence, begin by reading the brochure Breaking the Silence: You Can Stop the Violence.
In the meantime, let me just call out some of the falsehoods that are common.
These are among the myths and common beliefs that are not true, which are obstacles to dealing lovingly and justly with victims of sexual violence.
Finally, if you suspect someone you know is being abused, the Women’s Ministries Department of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists offers this counsel on how you can help.
Be alert!!! Don’t be a passive bystander. Do what you can to help stop sexual violence.
“Breaking the Silence: You Can Stop the Violence”
CDC, Injury Center, Violence Prevention, Intimate Partner Violence
CDC, Injury Center, Violence Prevention, Sexual Violence
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
Visit the TFT Online Resource Center for more information about sexual abuse and exploitation.
Copyright © 2023 Training for Transformation, Inc. All rights reserved.
Is your life a collection of random experiences, or a purposeful journey?
I have found that living with purpose—guided by a vision—is one important aspect of personal wellbeing.
Let’s take a moment to explore this further.
In this context, the dictionary defines vision as: an ideal or a goal toward which one aspires.
Your vision is an overarching goal for your life—a statement of what the ideal future looks like for you (i.e., your best self in terms of who you are, how you live, and what you do).
Does having a vision mean there will be no problems or challenges or obstacles or setbacks or failures in your life? Certainly not!
But having a vision allows you to keep moving forward to what you want your life to look like at its best, even as you face the unexpected and the undesirable.
Your vision will provide focus, purpose, and direction for your life as you work towards realizing your ideal future.
Here are some key questions to consider as you answer this question: What is my vision?
Once you answer these questions, you should be able to write your vision. Your vision should include four elements:
Now, let me invite you to write your vision in one integrated paragraph.
Once written, place this paragraph where you can easily see it and review it daily so that it becomes like a compass that guides your journey through life.
Visit our website at www.TrainingForTransformation.com for more information.
Copyright © 2022 Training for Transformation, Inc. All rights reserved.
The dictionary defines joy variously as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone that provides a source of happiness; a person or thing that causes happiness.
How do I get that? How do I keep that? How do I experience joy in a life that, while it includes blessings, also includes unwanted, unexpected, and undesirable issues, problems, pain, trauma, as well as trouble and tribulation all around?
The Good and the Bad
There is no question but that I have many blessings in my life. At the same time, I have experienced and still experience some drawbacks, trouble, hurts/harms, grief, and loss, including child sexual abuse; an absent father (Dad was out of our home before I was 11-years old); loss of one kidney due to cancer; a tumor in my brain; loss of vision in one eye resulting from radiotherapy to prevent further increase/expansion of my brain tumor …
So, how do I deal with that? And, how do I find joy in the midst of ALL the realities of my life—the good and the bad?
Temporary Happiness
Earlier in my life, I sought happiness through lots of stuff that was only temporary. I smoked, I drank, I was sexually promiscuous with many women, and for a time I pretty much did whatever I felt like doing.
But the happiness always evaporated. Yes, it was fun and cool and pleasurable at the time. But eventually, it left me unfulfilled and, sometimes, dealing with unintended consequences—often too high a price to pay for what was only temporary.
What brings you happiness? When you’re “hit in the gut” with the circumstances of your life, what or who is it that enables you to keep on going? To what or to whom do you turn to be happy?
A Sustaining Joy
Fortunately, I’ve found a way to experience a kind of happiness that is lasting and transcends the everyday realities of my life—joy.
What is the source of my joy in the midst of my good AND my bad?
Allow me to share some selected passages from the Bible to answer that question.
My Bottom Line
There is so much more I could share with you about joy. But in the interest of time and space, let me end with this summary of how believing and living by these biblical truths in my life has and continues to bring me joy, both in the “good” and the “bad” of my life.
What About You?
Are you looking for joy? Do you need joy in your life?
I invite you to believe in Jesus Christ and anchor your joy in Him.
Will that remove all issues, problems, pain, suffering, sorrow, trouble, or tribulation from your life?
No, not at all. The Bible doesn’t promise that to us in this life. (See, for example, John 16:33.)
But to those who are followers of Jesus Christ, the Bible does promise that God will walk with us through life and will never forsake us (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5).
And the Bible also promises those who believe and follow Jesus Christ that God will also work all things for good (Romans 8:28), ultimately including the inheritance of a new Heaven and Earth at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 21:1-8; Revelation 22:10-20).
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Copyright © 2023 Training for Transformation, Inc. All rights reserved.