I always travel with someone when I speak, and it has rarely been a tough sell to convince my daughter to be that someone. She's traveled with me as long as she can remember and we've had a blast. 

I am often asked why I never travel alone and part of my response has to do with companionship, prayer support, and of course fun. But it also has to do with accountability.

Plastered across newspapers and TV screens during our trip was the news that another Christian leader had admitted to an affair. Though I cannot pretend to know the story, it was one more reminder to me that the world is watching us and that they have every right to. It is also a reminder that I must take every step necessary to "guard my heart."

On the flight home Sunday night, TV screens were on each seatback. Exhausted after speaking, I watched two football games, cheering for two losing teams. Beside me, a man watched every salacious show he could get his eyes on, including something on Star Television which I tried not to notice. It contained ample nudity and I kept telling myself, "eyes front!" This culture is so saturated with sex we can't even escape it on a flight over Saskatchewan!

Ephesians 5 tells us that if we are Christ-followers, we need to live like Him. "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you as is proper among saints.” The word immorality is from the Greek pornea from which we get pornography. According to Family Safe Media, porn is a $57 billion dollar per year industry worldwide, exceeding that of pro football, baseball, and basketball. There are 4.2 million porn websites (12% of ALL sites!), 35% of all downloads on the Internet are pornographic. Though the problem is not exclusively male, 93% of the guys I talk to struggle with it (3% more have a medical problem, and 4% are pathological liars!)

But looking for satisfaction in pornography is like drinking salt water to quench our thirst. In fact, one of the best ways to bring joy to life is to do what's right. Are you allowing yourself to look at what is not yours? Jesus said when we lust after a woman, we've committed adultery with her in our hearts. Of course I am not immune to this. I'm a guy. But a number of things have helped me. 1. Deep thankfulness for all God has done for me, which overflows into a desire to please Him. 2. A love for my wife and the knowledge that porn kills relationships. 3. The desire to watch my children do what is right. 4. Accountability. 5. A very practical step: I downloaded a program for free that will send record of any questionable sites I've visited to a friend of mine. You can download it now, too. 

It is my desire to live a pure life before God and others. Believe me, I so often fall short. But I want my daughter Rachael to know that she's traveling with a dad who loves her in the purest sense of the word, who adores her mother and is committed to walking with Jesus all the way Home. I want my sons to see that is in hungering and thirsting after righteousness that we will truly be filled. May God bless you as you walk in obedience to Him.

I welcome your feedback. [You can read reader responses here.]

Your fellow struggler, Phil