A Rant……or three
OK, I know it’s the middle of the morning, but I have a couple things I wanted to get off my chest. (And I wanted to post my last three sermons so I don’t have to think about that any more.) 
Rant #1
Why is it that for some reason it is acceptable to bare lots of flesh if you are going swimming, or to the beach? Now, I like swimming as much as anyone, and I love to go to the beach. (Though I usually can’t go because people don’t wear enough clothes.) But I honestly do not understand why we excuse immodesty just because we are swimming. (And I am guilty of this myself at times.) I know that some Christian girls wear bikinis. I’d like to ask these girls if they would walk down the street in their underwear. Or maybe you’d like to get groceries with next to nothing on? No, I would hope you would never do such a thing because of the temptation it would cause for men around you, and the temptation for yourself. So why is it different when you are in the pool? Honestly, I do not have a reason for this inconsistency. And guys tend to do the same thing. They wear less than modest swim suits they would not wear in the grocery store, and they also seem to think it’s ok to oogle (
) a girl at the beach but not in the store. Come one people! Less be consistent in our modesty standards!
Rant #2
Anna and I went to see the movie “Amazing Grace” on Monday afternoon. Very good film, though it had some bad language. But it was an inspiring story of William Wilberforce, who waged a campaign against slavery in the English parliament during the 1700s. He was truly a great man, blessed of God for ending the “abomination” of the slave trade in England.
It has made me think of another abomination in this nation. That is the sickening practice of killing children in the womb, also known as abortion. This is a disgusting and evil business that is big money here in the U.S., just like slavery was in England. I don’t want to cause pain for someone out there who has had an abortion. If that is you then you have my deepest sympathy. But we must never forget that abortion involves ripping the limbs off helpless babies, and sucking their brains out, and any number of various other ways that doctors contrive to terminate that “blob of tissue.” AHHHHH!!!! That makes me SICK and ANGRY at the same time!!!! 
OH may God raise up a man, or group of men, to stand against this evil of our time. To speak up for the helpless that cannot speak for themselves. May Father bring us a man determined enough to not be swayed by repeated defeat, but to stand up each time and fight some more. I cannot think of a greater cause in the political arena than to fight for the life of unborn children.
If owning a person, as a possession, is a great sin…..then killing an innocent baby is ten times worse.
Rant #3
It seems like I had a third rant, but now I can’t remember what it was. I will say that I have some interesting things to share about consuming alcoholic beverages. (And I’m talking about just drinking them, not getting drunk.)
Here are the last three sermons I have preached. They are on prayer. Specifically what Jesus said on the subject of prayer. It was a good study.
Speaking of study, I need to get to this weeks sermon. If you think about it, pray for me. Preparing a message is not easy or quick (at least not for me) and it is a great responsibility. I need the Lord’s help and guidance every time. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope you have a day full of God’s blessings. 
About The Author
Preacher Dad
Jarod has been a pastor, construction worker, restaurant manager, ministry administrator, children's story teller, author....in no particular order. At heart he is passionate about the Truth, and has been called to proclaim that Truth from an early age. He is committed to his wife and eight children, and seeks to have a lasting impact upon the future by discipling his family. He blogs at PreacherDad.com on parenting, preparing, and cultural impact.
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Liked the rants…. haven’t read the sermons yet but from what you were telling me the other day I’m sure they were good. The message we heard on Sunday talked about drinking…. Did Dad send it to you? Let me know and I can make sure you get it. Good stuff….. Anyway, have a great day…. both of you. (Jarod and Anna that is…. Jarod isn’t Schizophrenic)
Good Afternoon, Jarod! Re: Rant #2 – about 2 weeks ago my boss at job #1 (of 3) had a 4-D sonogram done. You could see very distinct facial family features from this “blob.” Technology is proving what God has already said – He formed us and knew us in the womb. Maybe YOU are the William Wilberforce for the abortion issue. Whadya think? Love & blessings to you and Anna, Momma D
Rants? Preach it brother! Thanks for speaking up – reminding us to stand for righteousness, and to consider how we might need to change our ways.
Amen! Preach it brother! I’ve had the same thoughts, especially now that I live down by the beach and have a pool next door. With a husband, brothers-in-law, and father in law I’ve already decided I must enforce this modesty issue with anyone who visits. Thanks for taking a stand!
Great post…when you rant you really rant! Last year we went to Johnson Beach in P’cola Florida. The group we went with has similar standards of modesty to ours. Everyone thought us girls were crazy because we had on long swim suits with shorts and were covered modestly…and all the guy’s had on shirts. If more people would do it…I dare say the world would be a different place.
What an inspiration the movie was. My brothers and I saw it Monday evening. If I could I would take on abortion…but it is not something I could do by myself. So for now I pray mightily for those fighting the battle already.
Thanks for these reminders and tell Anna I said hello!
Well, I would say that a reason that swimming suits are different then clothes are yes, because of where and why they’re worn. Kinda like another country’s modesty is very different from ours… The water is another coulture in America. I dunno…maybe. 🙂 haha, it sounds stupid I guess. All I know is that what I wear to swim in is not something that I would wear anywhere else. I don’t think it’s immodest though because I’m swimming. It’s like a whole other scale of modest. I do agree though that no matter what, a bikini is not ever modest….. I think that modesty is different to each individual (between them and God), but I think that there’s a certain point where you’re immodest no matter what you think. BUUUTTT…now I’M going on a rant 🙂 haha.
I’ll stop.
Nice to have an update. Maybe I can go see Amazing Grace someday, that’d be fun.
Talk to ya later bro
LOVE,
Laura
ps – I did a little bit of study on drinking last week…..
I agree with your rant #2. After watching the movie, I met the guy in the row behind me and we talked for a while at the movie and how it related to abortion. It was very interesting to see how closely related these to issues are. It was a great conversation. I’m glad there is someone else out there who thought the same thing.
Keep up the great work Jarod!!
#1 – That is quite the dilemma. There are ways to go to the beach and wear “modest” beach attire that would still be considered immodest in every other setting.
I feel like we run into the quandary of people who are considered to have more appealing bodies by our society’s standard of comeliness. Those people will have a hard time ever fitting into the category of “modest” because their very being causes some to stumble.
An example would be an overweight man and a toned and physically fit man going to the beach wearing swimming trunks and flip flops. Both are dressed in exactly the same thing, but because one is considered more appealing than the other, his choice of clothing (or lack thereof) is considered immodest.
I don’t think our answer is beachgoing in sackcloth, but rather, a growing in holiness. Specifically growing more Christ-like in our self-control and modeling 1 tim 5:1-2 in how we relate to one another.
it says:
“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”
A brother would not lust after his sister nor his mother. This argument can be attacked, but i feel like we would do best to use our best judgment when going to the beach and EXAMINING OUR MOTIVES for everything that we do. Are we dressing to draw attention to ourselves, or are we doing so to the glory of God?
abortion is horrible.
I think social drinking is ok, but i don’t feel comfortable getting social beers because i feel like i’d be leaning in the direction of causing people to stumble.
just prayed for you and your wife.
providential blessing, jrod.
j
i meant to type “providential blessings” and, i meant to say:
I feel like we run into A quandary WHEN WE CONSIDER THE CASE OF people who are considered to have more appealing bodies by our society’s standard of comeliness.
🙂
Rant #1 Spoken like a true….. well, MAN really. Way to go Jarod, I’m right with ya.