:[cut it out]:

When I was growing up there was a show hosted by Dave Coulier (You may know him as uncle Joey in "Full House). The show was called "Out Of Control" and it was cheesy. At one point during each episode, Dave would get very close to the camera and say "Cut it out!" while making hand gestures for each word.

Obviously there are things in our lives we can, or rather should, do without. Relationships, attitudes, habits that keep us God. And we think, how can I get through it? How can I stop it? And I hear Dave Coulier loud and clear: CUT IT OUT!

Of course this will take a level of practicality that we are not used to. We tend to make things TOO spiritual. And it will take a level of discipline we are not used to. We expect others, especially God, to do everything. But we have a responsibility. We have a part in or relationship with God.

First off... Don't just stop a bad habit, replace it with a good one. (It takes 40 days of repetition to form a new habit.) If you try to stop doing something and you are left with a void, the chances are that you return to doing bad is great. So instead of going on line and looking at porn everyday after school-- join an after school tutoring program. Don't get me wrong, I know it's hard to stop doing something and the root of the problem must still be dealt with. But STOP doing it first. Then deal with the reasons WHY.

Secondly... Be accountable to someone, preferably someone who is Godly and trustworthy. If we only recognized the power behind accountability-- confiding your struggles with someone who will commit to hold you to your word of changing. If you are continually tempted with lying, tell someone such a youth pastor or mentor, and they in turn will on a weekly or daily basis ask you specifically if you have told the truth. The idea that some where in the near future, your confident will approach you usually is a deterrent to doing bad. And if you do fall into temptation, your accountability partner will help you get back on track.

Thirdly... Whenever possible, change your environment. Seems hard? Not really. If you a re abusing the internet at home, only use it at the library. Trouble with cursing? Check the music you are feeding off of and the "friends" you are hanging around. If they influence your speech, time to move on.

Does it seem drastic? Yes. But why should we shun doing the drastic for God? I mean, we just finished talking about "Running Hard After God." Let's be drastic. Let's go to the extreme with God. Cut out what does not belong. Let's do a clean up of our lives.