Where were you in Mexico, and why wasn't I invited!?
I mean, sure I'm not a business leader, but I DO live in Mexico, so that means I have 50% of the qualifications right there :P

And in Mexico, it's a definite "hate Halloween" as far as Christians are concerned, because it's actually called "Día de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead) where all the families go to the graveyards and bring their deceased loved ones their favorite meals. (Not sure how the dead eat food, but whatever.)

They also make altars to dead people as well... pretty sure there's something in the Bible about making altars, hrm... I'm all about being with the people in their events, and I can't honestly say I -hate- "Dia de los Muertos"... but I'd definitely rather spend it any other way possible.

It's not prying :P

I really hope I don't come off as sounding racist or something like that, but in the 7 years that I've lived here, I've seen that alcohol is rarely drank to accompany a meal. For whatever reason, the culture here is to drink until you're drunk. There's no happy medium like many people have found in the United States regarding alcohol, and for that reason I believe that it's necessary to abstain from alcohol, because not abstaining for many would be taken as a sign that it's OK to get drunk.

I'm not sure that I'm explaining the situation well, but I'd compare it to what Paul says in Romans 14:15 "Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died."
If I drink around my friends where alcoholism is rampant, I could very easily cause them to stumble in their walk, both spiritually and physically.

Michael, I love reading what you write, because you think differently than I do. (And you also seem to have a lot of comments following anything you say, which is always fun haha.)

I'd like to point out though, that as far as I'm concerned, the biggest danger of pornography or lust or whatever is not wanting something that you don't have. The BIGGEST danger is a ruined relationship (with God, your spouse, your family, your friends.) Yes, Jesus equates lust in your heart to actually committing adultery, (that's talking about the situation of your heart, not some arbitrary rule that He decided to make.) And in the Old Testament, what did God compare adultery with? The Israelites as they abandoned Him and sought after other gods. (Lower case 'g' on purpose there.) And many times, this spiritual adultery started with physical adultery.

I would say that the spiritual/emotional consequences of lust or pornography are the same as the consequences of actually committing adultery, even though the physical consequences are not.

(Also, regarding the dressing immodestly, I'm assuming you're taking it out of one of the Epistles? Well, they're letters, so they were written to specific churches with specific problems.) HOWEVER, we should still be cautious of what we wear because, like it or not, it reflects on us as a person (even if it's wrong.) So if a girl dresses provocatively, she will draw the wrong type of attention from the wrong type of people.

I guess my point is that pornography may seem like nothing, "just admiring the human body." But it's not, it does affect relationships in a negative way, which is why we're warned against it.

(Not taking away or adding the alcohol argument; I currently believe that if it's taken in moderation, it's fine. However, I won't, because of the culture I'm in [Mexico])

Thank you for reminding me of that!
I'm going to be sharing my testimony with a small group tonight, and I keep forgetting that it's cool to not have a crazy, "I killed a person while on cocaine" testimony.
I'll remember to be honest, and be proud about how God has guarded me throughout the years :)