A Prophet Like Moses

A Prophet Like Moses

            In Deuteronomy 18:15-22 we read these words, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ 

“And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good.   I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.   And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.  But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’  And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”

Now while the bulk of this seems to be talking about how to know who is a true prophet and who is a false prophet  it comes in the context of God promising the children of Israel a prophet like Moses, as He says, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst,”  We can learn a few things about this future prophet.  First he would come from among them, and be as one of their brothers.  I’m sure the people must have thought this would be from the lineage of Moses.  He will be both similar and greater than Moses, for God says, “and I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”  Much like Moses, only this seems to be in a broader sense.  God goes on by saying, “And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.”  That statement places this prophet far above that of Moses.  Now we must go back to one point I have skipped over and it must be addressed now.  This prophet shall come because of the people’s fear of the Lord, as God says, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’”  God is therefore going to send one with whom He will place His words in their mouth in answer to their fear.

So how was this accomplished?  Are we still looking for a prophet like Moses?  I put to you that this prophet has already come, yes and more than a prophet.  Let’s look at the life of Moses first of all.  He was one of the Hebrew children descended from Jacob that had settled in Goshen over 400 years before due to a famine.  This is the story of Joseph.  Yet time has passed and the new Pharaoh fears these strange people and tries to kill off the males to keep the population down.  Moses and his brother Aaron were spared this fate by divine measures.  Moses went on to be raised by the Pharaoh’s daughter as her son.  Moses’ story begins with Exodus chapter 2.  Although he was rescued by the Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as her own (even giving him the name Moses) it was Moses’ sister Miriam who went to Pharaoh’s daughter and suggested one of the Hebrew woman to tend for the baby for her.  Miriam of course brought Moses’ true mother.  So Moses learned of his true lineage, that he belonged to the people of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  At the same time he was being trained to be Prince of Egypt.  When he became a man he went out and looked upon his people and saw an Egyptian beating one of the children of Israel.  Moses went down and killed the Egyptian.  The following day he say two Hebrews quarreling and he tried to make peace between them. On man replied, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”  So Moses fled to Midian. 

Now the reason I bring this up is that often we have our own ideas about how things are supposed to work out.  Moses felt that he was chosen by God to release the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt.  Yet he acted on his own and was wrong.  When we say that God would give us a prophet like Moses it includes this as well.  The difference is it wasn’t the prophet who got it wrong, but the people who were awaiting for the prophet.  They were expecting some Zealot who would rise up and lead them in a war against the people who held them in bondage.  They were wrong.  The prophet came, but because he wasn’t what they were looking for they missed him, and this was due in large part of the religious leaders of the day.  By this time they had so many preconceived ideas they were blind to the truth and taught the people falsely.  So this is the first point, which this prophet would come, and would for the most part be rejected.  It took many years before he returned to Egypt, this time at the Lord’s command.  Moses was very reluctant to return.  I suppose most of us who have experienced failure are not in a hurry to fail again.  Such was the case with Moses.  But the prophet did not fail his mission.  His rejection was foretold and his death was necessary.  This prophet did not remain dead, but rose to life and shall return one day.  When He does He shall come on His own terms, as King of kings and Lord of lords.  With the armies of Heaven following Him He shall defeat all the enemies of His people.

Moses came and worked many miracles.  Ten plagues were levied against Egypt before the Pharaoh let the children of Israel go.  Then after he let them go he chased after them with the Egyptian army, both foot soldiers and chariots.  They had the people of Israel boxed in at the Red Sea (that is the Sea of Reeds) and Israel complained to Moses, who complained about the people.  God told Moses raise his rod over the waters and the waters parted left and right, piling up on heaps and Israel crossed on dry ground.  As they completed this task the Egyptians decided to pursue them through the dry space in the sea.  As they did God brought the waters crashing back down on them, killing both horse and rider, wiping out the entire army of Egypt in one fell swoop.

So it is with those of us who believe.  We have seen the powerful works of God setting us free from slavery to sin, and in that moment when we despair of being overtaken of sin, those of us who have our eyes fixed on this prophet like Moses, find He makes a way where there is no way.  Not only that, but He destroys our enemies that try to pursue us.  Yet we still haven’t made it, and at times this causes us to complain, to despair, to question God.

Are we any different than those children of Israel in the wilderness?  They complained because the Egyptian army was coming at them and the Red Sea cut off their escape.  When God made a way of escape and wiped out the Egyptian army they sang.  Then they complained that they didn’t have water or food or real meat, then water again.  Always it was something.  Because of that when they finally got to the Jordan River they weren’t ready to enter the land God promised them.  Of twelve spies only two said, “Yeah, the people are big, but with God on our side...no problem.”  They went with a majority vote, which displeased God.  Of that generation only two people, those two faithful scouts, were allowed to enter the Promised Land.  Even Moses and Aaron were not permitted to enter.  So you see, the prophet to come must be greater than Moses.

So who was this prophet?  I’m sure you have guessed by now, that it is Jesus, or Yeshua.  He is not only a prophet, but the promised Messiah.  You see, that is really what God was promising Moses and the people of Israel.  Yeshua is not only the Messiah, but Emmanuel, which being translated means God with us.  Is Yeshua God?  Can it be?  Jesus stated plainly, “Before Abraham was I AM.”  Now that may not mean a whole lot to some of you but let’s go back to Moses.  When God wanted to send Moses back to Egypt to set Israel free Moses asked God this question, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3:13) to which God replies in the following verse, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”  God identified Himself to Israel through Moses as I AM, and Jesus identified Himself to the religious Jews as I AM.  Make no mistake.  God in the flesh is the Hebrew Messiah, and the Savior of the world.  He truly was a prophet like Moses, and yet He was infinitely so much more.

Fed Up

I don't know about you, but I'm fed up with the way the American society is being herded along like a bunch of sheep, blissfully headed towards their own doom.  Don't get me wrong.  I like sheep and I like the idea of the Good Shepherd seeking out those who are lost.  What gets me is all the propaganda that is nothing but a bold face lie.

A few years ago I wrote an article as a freelance writer, to the National Geographic magazine opposing their blatant belief in Evolution.  Now while I agree that things evolve within a relatively small scope, never changing into something else, but merely trying to become a better self, I totally disagree with the Theory of Evolution.  It has scientific errors, as well as "belief" differences.  The Theory of Evolution needs something to start with, whether it's gases, dust,  or a combination of the two.  So if this theory is to explain the origins of the universe, how is that possible if there were no gases or dust particles to work from?  Answer.  It isn't possible.

One scientist referred to the impossibility of evolution by referring to the three laws of energy.  He said, "The possibility of evolution occurring were similar to a tornado going through a junk yard and assembling a 747."  Evolutionists will look at that statement and say, "Yes, but there is still a possibility.  The problem is they haven't thought through their science.  So for your edification, here are the 3 laws of Thermodynamics, or Energy:
1) You cannot win (that is, you cannot get something for nothing, because matter and energy are conserved.
2) You cannot break even (you cannot return to the same energy state, because there is always an increase in disorder; entropy always increases)
3)  You cannot get out of the game (because absolute zero is unattainable)

(author C.P. Snow)

Let's take another look at that as it may or may not apply to Evolution;
The First Law of Thermodynamics tells us that you have to start with something.  Evolutionists have claimed gas clouds, space dust, etc. yet they would need to have an origin.  So, simply speaking, if Evolution is correct it does not explain the origin of things, only what happened after.  And many of their theories about even that are fairy tales.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics tells us that everything is moving away from the point of origin in an ever increasing disorder.  Remember the man who talked about a tornado assembling a 747?  He started with 2 things, a junk yard and a tornado, which resulted in an airplane.  Notice he emphasizes that you can't get something from nothing.  Following his reason, that same energy, the tornado, will rip apart the 747.  That's not evolution but destruction.  Just ask anyone who lives in Tornado Alley.
The Third Law of Thermodynamics says, "you cannot get out of the game."  In order to stop entropy, that is the increasing disorder, you would have to bring everything down to absolute zero in temperature.  So everything is destined to fall apart, not change into something new to exist.  The very act of changing would cause some kinetic (heat) energy keeping you from reaching absolute zero since it is creating heat.

Now let's look at things from a Biblical perspective:
While energy cannot be created or destroy, when God spoke, in Genesis chapter 1, His Word, part of Him, was able to be the kind of energy that could create.  The scientific definition of energy is E=M times C(squared).  That's Energy equals Matter times the Speed of Light squared.  Interesting thing about mathematic formulas.  You can solve any part of the equation, by a little shifting, which requires some more math.  So we get M=E divided by C(squared) or Matter equals Energy times The Speed of Light squared.  We didn't create something out of nothing, but took the energy available, the spoken Word of God, and compromised it by slowing it down or changing its composition to create a different kind of Energy...Matter.  God would have held that creation energy together forever if it hadn't been for one thing.  The sin of man.  So it was now out of His hands, moving irrationally or disorderly towards its own destruction.  The one glimmer of hope we have is that when God became a man and died on the cross for our sin we can have the glorious future of one day being brought back into His hand, living eternally without sin.  It won't happen on this earth, but we are called to let God work through us and let Him remake us into the image of His Son.

A lot of people have argued this with me.  I really don't mean to argue.  I am just tired of seeing people accept things because some magazine or TV show or movie tells us we should believe.  I want you to challenge what you have been taught and see if God's Word doesn't come out on top every time.  That may mean slight disagreements with your particular religion, but that's okay.  God hasn't called us to be church members, but part of His family.

The first law, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Source: Boundless. “The Three Laws of Thermodynamics.” Boundless Chemistry. Boundless, 27 Jun. 2015. Retrieved 01 Jul. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/thermodynamics-17/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-123/the-three-laws-of-thermodynamics-496-3601/

The first law, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Source: Boundless. “The Three Laws of Thermodynamics.” Boundless Chemistry. Boundless, 27 Jun. 2015. Retrieved 01 Jul. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/thermodynamics-17/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-123/the-three-laws-of-thermodynamics-496-3601/

I've just read about that Baptist church that is keeping Beau Biden from having a proper funeral.  This is despicable.  People, I urge you to study the Bible and follow what it has to say and not how others have twisted it for their own agendas.  Jesus said we were to fight evil with good, not become evil ourselves.  While there is plenty of Scripture that tells us that homosexuality is a sin, the very same source tells us to love these people anyway.  Years ago I ran across a man on the internet whose anti-pro choice stance was so strong he advocated violence against abortion doctors.  How will that help matters?  Love them. Forgive them at least in your hearts and let them see the love of Jesus for them in you.  If you are a Christian, then this is something you would want to do, if only to please  our Lord.

The problem is everything is so twisted.  People don't know what the Word of God says, so they take the word of "a man of the cloth," and that's all wrong.  As for those who say God only chooses certain people to go to Heaven, well, that's only because He knows the others have not chosen for Him.  God's will is expressed in John 3:16, "For God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His Only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER would believe in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."  We are all God's favorites, while at the same time we may be His enemies.  Choosing not to love one another, to not love our neighbors as ourselves, to not love our enemies, puts us at odds with God.  I am not pleased with the current administration, but I have to watch my tongue, because God has placed him there because we have all turned away from God.  So I love the president, the vice president, and pray that they will have the veil lifted off of their eyes and truly receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

You who would boycott this or that because of Christian beliefs, because it opposes Scripture, have you not read how all of us, were at one time, enemies of God?  Have you not read that if you break one law the same is a lawbreaker and guilty of the whole law?  Have you not read that while adultery, fornication, and homosexuality are listed as sin, so also is greed, lying, gossiping, strife, anger, and the list just keeps on going?  If then you who were once liars, or thieves, or gossips can find full and total forgiveness and grace in Christ, what makes you think that sexual sins would be more difficult for Him to forgive?

Jesus once told a group of people, "You err because you don't know the Scriptures."  I say to you, that many of you also err in other ways because we don't know the Scriptures. If you would do one thing, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, confess your sins to Him that you may be saved.  If you would have a closer relationship with God, then study His Word and pray.  Prayer is just us talking to God, but when we study God's Word we often find it is how God talks back to us.  Indeed that is what it should be.

Are We Failing?

This is something that I've been thinking about for a while, only recently has it expressed itself to me so that I could share it with others.  Here's the thing, do you know who are leading more people to Heaven than anyone else?  Think about it hard.  It's not a great pastor, or evangelist.  It's not some great Christian on TV or the radio.  It's abortion.  You heard me right.  I'm not making a pitch for abortion here.  Don't get me wrong, and I don't want to place the blame on young women who have had to make hard choices with no one around to give them wise advice.  They are hurting too.  Still the facts are these, there are over 3000 abortions performed daily, and that's just in the United States.  To date, worldwide, beginning at January 1st of this year over 24 million abortions have been performed.  And folks, we got another 5 months left in this year.

Children who die without reaching the age of accountability, that is they really don't get right and wrong yet, go to Heaven, simply because they didn't get to make a choice.  The same is true of aborted babies.  Like I said, that doesn't mean we should rush off and endorse abortion.  Abortion has two victims, minimum, the child and the mother.  So rather a call to abortion this is a call for Christians to do what Jesus told them to do, "Go ye into all the world..."

When was the last time you led someone to Christ in prayer?  When was the last time you told someone that Jesus loved them?  When was the last time you proved what you said about Christianity through the love God poured out in your heart?  Before you get irritated with me over these questions let me explain that this is directed at me as well.  Where was I when so and so needed a little encouragement?  Where was I when someone needed to hear about the love of God in Christ?  There have been times when I have spoken out.  There have been those I have prayed with and for, but it seems like so very little.

All of us who are Christian need to be more vocal, living lives pleasing to Him.  We need to surround ourselves in His love so that anyone coming near us will feel that love.  You see, while it's great that God takes care of those who die before their time, before they can make a knowledgeable choice, before they know right from wrong, and many times before they are even born, there is one thing that they are missing.  They do not experience the love of God the way we do.  You see, everyone of us has failed, has done things they don't ever want others to know about, in short, we have all sinned.  It is because we have failed, because we have sinned, that we can understand, at least a little bit, how great God's love is for us

To that end one of my favorite verses of Scripture is Romans 5:8, "For God commendeth His love towards us in this, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Did you catch that?  God loves us even though we have sinned.  If we turn to Him He is happy to answer our prayer of repentance and pour out on us His mercy and grace.  This is the message we should be telling everyone around us.  "God loves you.  He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for so that you wouldn't have to die, at least not eternally.  He took all your sin on Himself."  The unborn don't have the chance to be forgiven, but then, maybe that's a better place.

So whenever you think you are doing enough for God remember what He has done for you, and remember that over 3000 kids are going to Heaven without ever hearing about Jesus at the hands of people who may not ever see Heaven.  We need to do more.  We need to love more.  We need to be more like Jesus so others may come to know the fullness of His love.

Santa or Jesus?

Santa of Jesus?

Jolly, fat, dresses in a red suit with fur trim. Has a wide belt and black boots. Sports a full white beard. Keeps a list of who is “naughty” and who is “nice”. He refers to this list when deciding to give gifts, which he does once a year. The naughty get coal and the nice get good toys. Rides in a sleigh pulled by magical reindeer that fly. Lives in the North Pole and has elves that make the toys that he gives out each Christmas. Santa gives up one night of the year so the deserving boys and girls could get toys and such that will not last.

Looks pretty much like any other Jewish male of his time. As a man he was poor, but in reality Jesus is the King of kings. Jesus knew everything about you before the world was formed, every action, every thought, every sin, and because of that He gave up his throne to live among us so that through his death he could give us his righteousness, his holiness, his perfection, his joy, his peace, his healing, his authority. In fact, if you are on Santa’s naughty list you are the one Jesus died for so you could share in all his riches. He offers these and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and fellowship with God the father to anyone who would simply receive him and believe him. He is the gift God gave to us one Christmas and this treasure of fellowship with God can be received anytime of the year, and never wears out. It is eternal. Jesus gave of himself completely so that we might receive all that he is. The offer is to all of us because no one is worthy. There is no one on the “nice” list, but by his shed blood on the cross he moves us into his own home in heaven to fellowship with him always.

This is just a quick comparison, and it only bears up if Santa were a real person. We know there was a historical Saint Nicholas, but he has been dead for close to 1700 years. In contrast we also know that Jesus was a historical person and although he died some 2000 years ago he rose again and is alive forever. So when Christmas rolls around this year, who are you going to choose?

Just a couple of things

(Warning: These are my pet peeves and are not meant to be statements of Biblical truth, nor are they meant to be attacks on any persons or groups that practice these things. This is just me being me)

Worship. I believe church is to be a place of worship, but exactly what worship is has been redefined so many times by so many different people that I find the "worship service" to be anything but that.

The Bible says, "Be still and know that I am God," so while I'm trying to be still before the Lord (as my form of worship) I find it difficult when I'm being told to stand up, raise my hands, clap (or offer a clap offering) not to mention the music that is blaring so loud that every parent on the street where I grew up would have complained about the noise. I can barely hear myself think, so I wonder how I'm supposed to hear the "still small voice of the Lord." Then I find distractions. The same people seem to dance (in the same place in the church to have maximum visibility), twirlers with flags or other kinds of things to twirl, musicians who are doing the rock band thing with contemporary Christian music. This distracts me. I don't want to be distracted when I come to worship. Call me crazy, but I want to focus on Jesus. And what's with these contemporary songs? I know they can be good and should be woven into the fabric of a song service, but is there any possible way of singing the same songs, I mean at least long enough so we can learn them instead of singing a new song every week? And check out those songs first. Unless really moved by the Lord I don't want to repeat the chorus 15 times. I can't help but think I'm not alone in this. Christian comedian Ron Peason talks about our worship songs this way. He says he likes to sing songs that have meaning, like, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see." I agree with him. He goes on to point to a contemporary "worship" song that goes, "Our God reigns. Our God reigns. Our God reigns. Our God reigns. Our God reigns." He says, "It sounds like it was written by some 8th grade cheerleaders. Some of us old folks would like to sit down after standing for 2o minutes babbling the same words. (Remember, this is just opinion, my pet peeves. If you can't handle it read something else, because I'm just blowing off steam.)

The other thing that really gets me is these new Bible translations. Don't get me wrong, I think having something in contemporary English can be a real plus. But did you ever go to a church where the congregation was asked to read out loud with everyone else the passage of Scripture that the pastor or evangelist or whoever will be using from their text. A few of us are reading in the King James, several others in the New King James, a larger portion are reading from the New International Version, a couple from the New American Bible, and then there is this huge group reading from "The Message", which is basically an upgrade from "The Word". It isn't even a translation, but a paraphrase. So you have all these people "reading together" and no one can understand what the other is saying. Isn't that a bit confusing for the visitor?

When I grew up there were basically 2 translations, the King James and the Revised Standard, although my dad also studied the Philips Amplified Version, just like I may study from my Greek/English interlinear New Testament. But for reading out loud you really need to get everyone on the same, ahem, page, so to speak. For me it was the King James Version. We were encouraged to learn and memorize Scripture, by both my parents and the various teachers at church, all in the King James Version. Now I hear them quoting one of the verses I've memorized and ask, "Where is that in the Bible?" Read and study whatever version you are comfortable with at home, but please, for the sake of us old people who have learned the King James, read from the King James, or if that doesn't suit you, flash the version up on a screen or something so everyone can read from the same script. Otherwise, in my opinion, all you have is confusion.

Well, that's it for now. You go have a marvelous day in the Lord. As I said, I was only venting, these aren't doctrinal points you need to worry about. (Of course maybe you might want to give some of the things a little consideration, but that's up to you.) - David

Heterophobia

We have all been bombarded by the gay community with the term "homophobia." It's been attached to anyone who says they are against homosexual activity, whether they love the homosexuals or not. That is the basis of something very different, "heterophobia." If you haven't heard of the word before, don't worry, I more or less coined it.

Let me set some ground rules here. I am not straight nor am I gay. I am as God intended me to be, a male with a passion for my wife. I do not hate homosexuals, but I do detest the act of homosexuality, that is the intimate sexual act between people of the same sex. I bring to you the Wisdom of God's Word as well as some very interesting observations. I also want to get something straight about God's Word. When we talk of a God who is a loving God, we don't mean that He lets everyone into Heaven and allows any activity. I'll get into that later.

In fact, let's get into that now. In 1st John 4:7,8 it says, "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone who loveth is born of God; and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love." From those last 3 words people get the idea that God, being a loving God, would never pass judgment on anyone, much less send them to a place of eternal punishment. Excuse me? How could God then be a just God, for He must be both a just God and a loving God. Say for instance a person was pulled over for speeding, although they really weren't. Another person was pulled over for a hit and run. A third person was arrested for murder. The latter two are guilty of their actions, but the first one is not. Now they happen to go before the same judge (which won't happen in our society, but for the sake of the parable stick with me), what would you think of a judge who let them all go free? He might say something like, "Mr. Jones it appears that you have been tried and rightly convicted of murder. But I'm a loving God. No penalty will be given. Have a nice day. Case dismissed." Wouldn't you feel as though justice had been denied, at least for the victim of this murderer? So you see, saying God is a loving God must, by reason of logic alone, be a just God. That means there will be those who get to Heaven, and there will be those who go to Hell. The important thing to remember here is that God is the One who paid the price for all of our sins, past, present, and future, for all of us, but it is up to us to ask for His forgiveness. Failure to do so results in US choosing to go to Hell instead of Heaven. It's not God's fault. So stop blaming Christians, the church, or God for being unreasonable, and start taking some responsibility for our own choices. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." God clearly not only gives us a choice, but He tells us which choice to make.

Okay, back to this homosexual thing. How in the world is it right for you to judge me and not for me to judge your actions? This is the heart of heterophobia. Heterophobia is "Hate speech" directed towards people who have a different sexual orientation than homosexuals. Most Christians I know have taken a hard line against homosexual activity. My pastor, God bless him, has said he will never marry homosexuals in his church. Is this because he hates them? No, it is because he loves them. Confused? If you were sick and needed medical attention a doctor saying you were okay would be harming you, right? So would a man or woman of God. We don't hate homosexuals, but we hate the kind of sexual activity they have embarked on. We also realize that one sin is the same as another in the eyes of God, that is, none is acceptable. So we aren't putting people down, but we are letting them know they need a doctor. I remember talking with a man who admitted he was gay. I asked him if he ever wanted to get out of that kind of lifestyle. He said he did, but it was impossible to escape. That's correct, but God gives each of us His power when we come to Him to be released from our sins, whatever they might be. As I was explaining this to him another man came up and started ranting about how the homosexuals run the ad agencies, Hollywood, the fashion industry as well as most of the arts. He said this guy would be crazy to leave the gay community. This second man knew his lifestyle would bring him and all those who took part in it to death, and yet he was bound and determined to make sure others were bound to that same eternal punishment. Is that love? Is this what they mean by being tolerant? If so then count me as being intolerant, because I want to help those who wish to be helped. Plus, that little verse over in Romans about homosexuality actually talks about these people. For it says in Romans 1:32, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." This is not love. This is lust. This is sin. This is hatred towards those they say they love, which is possibly the worst kind of hatred, because it is betrayal.

I'm writing all of this because the New York State legislature, in their vast wisdom (or lack thereof) have made same sex marriages legal. The thing is I have yet to meet a homosexual couple that are pure homosexual. By this I mean there is a male and a female in each partnership. Oh, they might not have the body parts or the right chromosomes to be one or the other, but these couples are clearly defined nevertheless. Without getting too raunchy here if you look at a couple of gay males, one will be the dominant male, the other takes the role of the submissive female. "She" usually is the one who dresses like a woman, or at least softer than the "male" counterpart. In lesbian relationships you find the same thing. One is acting out the male part, while the other is acting out the female part. So even homosexuals agree that their relationship can only work if there is a male and a female, even if it isn't strictly biological. That should be telling us something. It should be telling us that they are aware that the laws for marriage should be between one man and one woman. But because of their lust they have decided that one can play the part of what is missing. Do you realize what harm this does to both of these people? And we aren't even talking about an eternal punishment. In Genesis 2:18 God says, "It is not good for man to be alone." In the 22nd verse we see how God takes a rib from the man and fashions from it woman. Then God brings the woman to the man. Why, because it is not good for man to be alone. Most interesting is what God says in verse 24, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Listen up you who think that homosexuality is something God thinks is okay, or something that is natural, or something we should accept. Man, that is Adam, was formed first. In him, and only in him, did both the male and the female life in one body. When God took from Adam and created Eve the ONLY way for that special union to occur again would be if a man and a woman came together. It's not just to make babies, as some have said, but it is to bring man back to that perfect union with God. He needed a partner, because he was alone, but he needed that loneliness to be filled with himself in the form of a female counter part. You cannot get away from this. You cannot join two men together and get one. You only get two men. You cannot join two women together. You just get two women. However, if in love you take a man and a woman and join them, then, and only then shall there be "one flesh", one union that will stand the tests of time. One union that can be filled with the glorious Light of God.

My dear friends in the gay community, please hear what I am saying. You are dealing dangerously with your life. I do not want that. God does not want that. For this reason He sent His Son to come down and die so that all your sins could be wiped away, and mine as well. If I stepped on your toes, perhaps it was to keep you from continuing on and falling into the abyss that stands before you. It isn't to hurt you but heal you, although only God can truly heal. Do not claim that God accepts what you are doing and condones it. Own up to your sin or you can never be free of it, for you will never repent of it. It would be the same for me if I denied that I had problems with my temper. I wouldn't ask forgiveness and therefore wouldn't receive it. Both those who are homosexuals and those who act on rage will go to the same place of punishment, but both can be restored through the love and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, whose blood can make us perfect and holy before God.