It's stating the obvious to say that sex is a bit of an issue in our modern society. We live in a sex crazed and confused age. Sexual freedom is aggressively promoted, yet, sexual harassment is quickly denounced. Why is sex such an issue and why to us? For the same reason as it's important to God and part of his healing of all things. Our core identity, our vulnerability, and our deepest desires are all connected to our sexuality. There's no other aspect of our created dignity that involves our minds, bodies, and souls to such a deep degree. So, what does God have to say to our sex-crazed situation? Well, as we saw last week, "thankfulness" is central to Eph 5:1-21. As God addresses the darkness in the world and exposes the various sins related to sexuality, thankfulness is a core antidote. We'll consider this more on Sunday morning. As you prepare your hearts for worship, please take time to meditate and reflect on Eph 5:1-21 and the quotes below. Meditations Every man who has ever knocked on the door of a brothel was looking for God. G.K. Chesterton Romance novels and romantic movies function as pornography for women. They address a woman's desire for intimacy and appreciation in a realm of fantasy which is disconnected from real relationship and avoids vulnerability. As with classic pornography, this feeds dissatisfaction, encourages escapism, and is a perversion of reality. Dr R Winter We use a most unfortunate idiom when we say of a lustful man prowling the streets, that he "wants a woman." Strictly speaking, a woman is just what he does not want. He wants a pleasure for which a woman happens to be the necessary piece of apparatus. CS Lewis In this life there is no true and solid satisfaction, all our pleasures are mere vanity, our afflictions are infinite, and finally death which threatens us at every moment. Our infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, by God himself. Pascal, (1623-62) "Terror accomplishes no real obedience. Suspense brings forth no fruit unto holiness. No gloomy uncertainty as to God's favour can subdue one lust, or correct our crookedness of will. But the free pardon of the cross uproots sin, and withers all its branches. Only the certainty of love, forgiving love, can do this." Horatius Bonar, God's Way of Holiness