From the Restoring Wholeness Course, "Understanding and Ministering to the Relationally and Sexually Broken Person within the Church"
Have your family or friends complained about the amount of time you spend online?
Are you less involved with your spouse or friends because of your involvement with the Internet?
Have you lied to your spouse or family members about your Internet usage?
Do you feel estrangement in your relationship with God because of your involvement with the Internet (pornography, gambling, etc.)?
Do you avoid social engagements or try to leave such engagements early in order to spend more time on the Internet?
Do you hide your Internet involvement from your spouse or family members?
Do you, your spouse, or family members stay up late, after everyone has gone to bed, so you can log onto the Internet privately?
Have you, your spouse or a family member experienced an increase in moodiness, anger and harsh blaming?
Have you, your spouse or family member tried to stop your involvement with the Internet, but have been unable to do so?
Many people find that overcoming these temptations is virtually impossible on their own. Developing a relationship with another person who can hold them accountable is the most effective way to obtain help.
We suggest that it is important that those dealing with sexual addiction, especially internet pornography get specialised support. We have found a very good programme through the internet that could help greatly. It is called "Covenant Eyes" (see next page for details). It is one amoung many help programmes that are available.
The Covenant Eyes Program
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
Purpose #1:
The Covenant Eyes Program was established to change people's lives. We,
at Covenant Eyes, have a strong desire to make available to everyone the
ability to foster self-control, self-discipline, and personal accountability
when using the Internet. Job 31:1 states, "I have made a covenant
with my eyes." It is our stated purpose to provide a tool enabling
Internet users to maintain that covenant, regardless of whether their
temptation is to pornography, gambling, or simply time spent on the Internet.
Our goal is to honor God, our families, and our relationships in the way
that we use the Internet by establishing accountability with others. Covenant
Eyes IS THE TOOL THAT ACCOMPLISHES THIS GOAL.
Purpose # 2:
The second purpose of The Covenant Eyes Program is to provide funding
for existing ministries.
Purpose #3:
The third purpose of The Covenant Eyes Program is to support the very
sincere and wonderful families who are employed with Covenant Eyes. They
are a critical part of the success of the Covenant Eyes Program.
When people of all ages are on the Internet, there is very little accountability in regards to knowing where, when and how long they have been on the Internet. While filters can
provide some help, they can also block acceptable web sites, creating frustration. Filters can also be turned off or bypassed, rendering them ineffective. The Covenant Eyes Program removes the secrecy and privacy of using the Internet. Covenant Eyes promotes self-control and personal discipline, and the individual is held accountable in their Internet use.
Many find that overcoming sin and temptation is virtually impossible on their own. Developing a relationship with another person is the best way of obtaining help. When you sign up for The Covenant Eyes Program, you are asked to provide the names of two "Accountability Partners" (only one is required, but we recommend two).
An "Accountability Partner" is simply a person with whom you have an accountable relationship. Ask a friend, spouse, pastor, or counselor to be your Partner. Then, on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis, they will receive an accountability log which will be a record of all of the sites you visited, including the web addresses and amount of time you were on the Internet. This log is e-mailed to your Accountability Partner.
The Covenant Eyes Program is maintained on computers at the corporate headquarters in Corunna, MI. Therefore, the history of sites visited by the member can not be erased (though they can be viewed confidentially over the Internet by the user).
DANGER SIGNS OF INTERNET ADDICTIONS:
E-Mail: lmcclurg@covenanteyes.com lmcclurg@covenanteyes.com
Web: http://www.cvnt.net/?promocode=crosswalk
Covenant Eyes, 321 N. Shiawassee, Ste. B, Corunna, MI 48817, USA
Endorsed by: Focus on the Family and Promise Keepers Men of Integrity