Remember SHAMED? They need help!

I've been working off and on with the director of this film, Jessica Mockett, for more than a year now, and I am psyched to see it swinging back into motion in such a huge way! SHAMED, now titled The Heart of the Matter: Finding Light in the Darkness of Pornography Addiction is a beautiful project geared toward educating the Christian community about porn addiction--something that's pretty hard to do. A lot of Christians just don't like to talk about it, right? But we can't keep pretending it's not a problem, even inside the Christian culture! 

For any of you who have seen clips, you know ... what she's done so far is amazing. It's obvious that Jessica is a true professional, that she is taking this seriously, and that she is extremely talented at what she does! Every time I've shared pieces of the film, I've seen tears fall, jaws drop, and souls stirred. When the entire movie is done (if she can get enough funding to finish it), it's going to be phenomenal.   

Here's your chance to give more than just a 'thumbs up.' Join the crusade! Give a lot or a little. Or at the very least, share the message! Anything you can do will help the cause.

Here's a note from Jessica:

While funding this project has been a challenge, we press forward because we know that the film will be significant in changing how Christians view the issues. I ask for your help once again so that this movie can be available to countless viewers: that hearts will be touched, that Christians will see more clearly how to recover from the scars of pornography, that it will draw them closer to God.

Here are a few quick updates on the progress of the project:

1)     We have brought in a new producing partner, Nathan Lee, a multi Emmy award-winning producer/director who understands intimately the issues our film addresses.

2)     For 18 months we pursued the project under the title Shamed. After much thought, we gave the film a new title that speaks more clearly to hope and healing. The film will now be known as The Heart of the Matter – finding light in the darkness of pornography addiction.

3)     We have a grant offer of $15K that will expire in early October if we cannot find the matching funds.

In order to receive our grant in time, we have gone back online to try to raise the needed $15K there.

Our latest Kickstarter fundraiser is shorter than anything we’ve done before: Only 18 days!

I am asking that you click on this link and visit our Kickstarter page. Watch our latest pitch video and trailer. Read about the project there. I hope that you catch our vision and join our effort.

We ask that you donate again or for the first time.

We ask that you share the link to Kickstarter on your personal or organizational social media platforms.

We ask that you email 5-10 people and encourage them to consider donating to the project.

If you have connections to like-minded organizations or churches please inform them about this project and ask them if they will support the efforts by donating or sharing with their networks/congregations.

Our campaign ends October 5^th at midnight EST. If you are interested – don’t hold off in participating. The more momentum we have in the beginning of the campaign the better chance we have of succeeding!

The Brass Serpent

As I was reading through some old magazines today, I came across an article on pornography addiction, and I read this beautiful exerpt:

The children of Israel did not have to focus on the serpents or the pain of their venomous bites or their fear of death in order to be healed. They simply had to look to the source of healing: their Savior, Jesus Christ. 

from "Overcoming Addiction through the Atonement," Benjamin R. Erwin, LDS Family Services, Ensign, September 2012

I've added this one--and a few others--to my growing list under my Talks & Articles tab. Feel free to swing by and take a look. :)

This is the whole point ...

I will spend the rest of my life dedicated to this cause. I can't help it. There's a fire in my blood to push forward, to find the women, to tear the blinders from people's eyes, to battle the plague. I won't be beaten. I will fight. And I know you are with me.

Laboring elsewhere in the vineyard

Photo Credit

I've been MIA ... but not really.

I love this work. Fighting pornography is one of my passions. In fact, lately I've become mildly addicted to it. Ironic, eh?

Below is a list of some of my latest projects. Come join the fun!!!

• Just updated the Hope & Healing Blog. Have you seen it? From now on, I'll probably be working more on maintaining that blog than my own. So if you want to see what I'm working on, swing by and see us, okay?
• Created a page for the H&H Forum on facebook. Be bold! Come "Like" us, and/or share the link with your friends. You never know who might need it. Here's the message I put up for all my hundreds of friends to see: 

"Are you suffering as the result of pornography addiction, betrayal trauma, adultery, or sexual abuse? Chances are, someone you know is suffering in silence, and you might not even realize it. Life with a sex addict (or as a sex addict) can be a lonely road, but it doesn't have to be. Women, when brought together in faith, have an unbelievable power to help each other heal. And there is a protected forum online where more than 400 anonymous women are brought together for just this purpose. Joining together doesn't fix the addiction, but so many women who visit are surprised to learn: I am NOT alone.

Even if this isn't for you, please stop by and 'like' the page. You never know who will see it ... and need it.http://www.hopeandhealinglds.com/" (See? You don't have to implicate you or your husband, you know. At least on my wall, people came out of the woodwork all over the place to support the forum just because it is such a great cause.)

• I've been drumming up some publicity for Jacy's women's conference in Utah on October 19, The Togetherness Project. Have you heard about it? It's going to be amazing!
• Fight the New Drug came to my city, and I went to see them. I also helped host their guest speaker, Todd Blaquiere, and while he was here, we hatched an idea to have him come back to VA for a tour during White Ribbon Against Pornography Week (WRAP) this fall! (we've got possibly 5 organizations on board so far)
• As it turns out, Fight the New Drug has a local chapter that just started a few months ago that is just an hour away from me! How cool is that?! I went to a meeting last week and it was sooooo awesome to be in a room full of "fighters" -- both male and female! ROCK ON!
• Remember SHAMED, the documentary? Big things are about to happen with that project ... and soon! Word on the street is that the name will be changing shortly as the current title carries a bit of a stigma. BIG fundraiser coming up in September! Contact me if you're interested in helping out!

So ... if you don't see me around a lot ... just know ... I love you guys! I AM around. I'm just behind the scenes. Mwahahahahaaaaa ... And I am thinking about you TONS and fighting the battle on other fronts at the moment. Reinforcements are always welcome. ;)

Keynote Speaker & "Fighter": Todd Blaquiere

A few weeks ago, Todd Blaquiere from Fight The New Drug (FTND) was here in Virginia, and I had the pleasure of helping host him. One of his functions within FTND is to tour schools around the country and share his presentation that talks about the science behind porn addiction. I had the opportunity to see the show, and it was amazing! The kids in attendance had a blast. Todd is a talented individual, very entertaining, and knows how to engage his audience. The material he uses includes music, audio-visual clips, a slideshow, and a somewhat stand-up comedy feel. I was so impressed that I'm working with four other organizations to bring Todd back in October as part of a tour for White Ribbon Against Pornography Week. If you can find a venue, I highly recommend him! All he requires is that the school/organization provides plane tickets and housing during his stay. 

So … Who is this guy, anyway? Under “Meet the Team” on the FTND website, here’s Todd’s description: “Even though he’s got mad baller skills, is obsessed with sports and could dunk when he was only 17, Todd chose NOT to join the NBA and instead works here at FTND … Despite being in a punk band, being featured in countless productions, living in Spain, producing a TV show, and currently finishing his MBA, Todd claims that his greatest accomplishment is marrying his beautiful wife with whom he has two kids and one more on the way.”

Todd is definitely a character, but he isn’t just putting on a good show for “Fight.” He believes in the cause, and with good reason. The scientific evidence he presents his very compelling. Todd is among the fighters who have written blurbs for the FTND site titled “Why I Fight,” and he shares his story with students as part of the show. Here's an excerpt:  

“Growing up in Southern California, I spent a lot of summer days at the beach. Bonfires, surfing, football in the sand ... One particular day I caved to some friends’ request to body surf (this is also known as fake surfing, or extreme boredom). Anyway, we were wading in the water, playing a little splashy-splashy with the chicas, when I decided that I needed a little more excitement. So I ventured out further from the shore. The waves were a little bigger; the ocean floor was a little further from the touch of my toes. Nice. Now the fun was really going start. A wave began to swell and I was stoked. This was promising. I turned around, poised to catch the wave, when over my shoulder I noticed that this thing was growing fast. Before I could bail the monster wave picked me up and crushed me. I’ve been thrown off waves before, I’ve taken a board to the head a few times, but this was new. The force of the breaker slammed me against the ocean floor. Completely disoriented, I spun head over heels in the surf. The ocean owned me, I was out of control … You know, on TV this is the part where the gorgeous blonde grabs my arm and pulls me back to shore ... Well, no lifeguard for me. I kicked, swam, and fought. Every time I came up for air I would get a glimpse of the shore. It seemed miles away. I honestly didn’t know if I’d have the strength to make it. Before you get too frightened for me, I’m safe. I didn’t die. After what seemed like an eternity, I dragged my exhausted body onto the shore. If I had the energy I would have warned everyone on the coast. There are people that, because they didn’t know the danger, are caught in a rip current 24/7. They feel like they are out of control. They feel like they can’t get free. They feel helpless. And for a little excitement, they are now trapped. You know what though, pornography isn’t the ocean. It may be vast because there is so much of it. It may be powerful because of its addictive nature. It may even be alluring. But I’m a fighter and I’m taking the sucker down. I am going to do what I couldn’t do that day; I am going to warn everyone that I can ... And though I may become tired, I’ll take a breath and I’ll start again. Because I am a fighter.” (For the full story, click here.)

I married Jack!

from www.mywedding.com

Yes, it's true. As you are reading this, chances are I am lying in the sun on a tropical island with the man of my dreams. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Believe me, I am the one pinching myself! 

A hundred times ... a thousand times, I have tried to start a post about our engagement, about the wedding ... something. But I never know quite how to put it all into words. So ... many of you have been through this journey right alongside me. You know what I've been through. You know what it means for me to have gotten to this point. What do you want to know? Tell me what you want to hear me blog about. Ask me your questions about my state of mind, my expectations for the future, etc. I'll answer them.

There are a few things I know for sure: 

I adore him with all my heart. We are a perfect match. And ... Life together is going to be an adventure!

Love to you all! See you when I get back from my honeymoon! Ahhhhhhhh!

A view of the D.C. temple on our wedding day.

For the Lonely Mothers in the Summertime

Hey, ladies. Great article for mommas (like me) who are struggling right now because they have to be far, far away from their babies! Enjoy...

"For the Lonely Mothers in the Summertime" 

By Melody Bergman

As summer approaches, my heart sinks because my children will be leaving. Since my divorce, I am legally bound to turn them over to their father. Now my summers are filled with time. And I am trying to savor the gift in spite of its aftertaste. 



See more at: http://powerofmoms.com/?s=lonely+mothers+in+the+summertime#sthash.oxgp9dAJ.dpuf

And while I have your ear, you might check out the website where it's published, too: Power of Moms. Awesome site with allllll sorts of resources! Love it!