Women with stethoscopes and Men with hair on their chest do not work well together

I knew better from my first Heart attack that I should shave my chest. But noooo, I am a Man and…Well, that nurse came in and started pasting away those evil pieces of gorilla type sticky pads that they hook the wires to monitor my heart. Then she said, “Oh goodness, I put this one in the wrong place.” My eyes went misty, not because of her minty fresh breath. Not because of her expensive perfume. Not because of the eye shadow that made her eyes glow. My eyes went misty because she must have been mad at her husband and I looked like him. She slowly and let me reiterate the word slowly, started pulling off that evil vicious gorilla sticky wire holder. I winced with emotional pain as she said, “oh I should have pulled this off faster.” Then she stuck another one in almost the exact spot. She only moved it over just a smidgeon.  After I came home I stood in front of the mirror while my family members were outside and I bit my lip and yanked my friends; Yanked I say! I snatched those things off. Once my pain level was down and my heart quit beating out of my chest, I commenced to shave….not my beard. I will be prepared.

Now that I got your full attention and I pray you will finish this letter, let me share my true feelings about my third heart attack. Yes, what I wrote above is true and I say 110% true. But, what I am about to say is just as true. I am not lucky as some say. I am blessed. I have as of this writing which is Saturday afternoon around 4:00 P.M. just SURVIVED my third heart attack. I cannot express my deepest sympathy to some of my friends who have lost loved ones on their first heart attack. However, I was discharged around noon today because my Cardiologist cannot perform the surgery to place my fourth stent in my heart until Monday. So, I had two choices. Stay in the hospital or come home. I chose to come home. That probably makes me dumb and not smart, but home is better than staying in a hospital bed over the weekend.

Yes I am blessed and that means as of this writing that God must have something still for me to do in Brent, Alabama where we pastor a very small, and let me stress that again, a very small church that we planted. Debra and I do have a vision for this church and we, with great anticipation believe it will prosper and grow. We are not in competition with any other church. We are just trying to reach that one person who is searching for help. I have been preaching for going on 34 years and I have preached it and I still believe it that the Word of God sheds light on the fact that we ALL with take our final breath in these earthly bodies. As of this moment, God has not allowed me to stand before Him today. No, I am not lucky, I am blessed, because that means God still has a work for me in my town.

The Apostle Paul spoke of this when he said that if he died it would be ‘gain’ for him, but if he lived it would ‘Christ.’ If it was my time, then I would be in heaven and I would as of this writing be talking with our third child that I have never met. I would have spoken with so many prophets of old and others. However, it was not my time. I am still here for a reason and that is why I am writing you today. I will not waste my time any longer. If God has chosen me for this reason to continue to live, then there must be a reason that I cannot ignore any longer.

Life is hard and we must focus on what is important. The President and this gun issue are really not that important in the real sense of things. Some of you are going absolutely stupid on this second amendment stuff. Don’t you realize that before guns, we had God? Don’t you know that if it is successful and they remove our guns, that we still have God? I believe that my God with no guns is still better than the world with guns. My goodness Saints. Read the Word! David slayed a Giant with a rock and GOD! Doomsday preppers are going wild by storing up food and water. Worrying about who will win the Oscar and who is dating who and who is doing what in Hollywood is not that vital to what is really important. What is important? Naturally your family, friends, etc. Those things are grand, but what is really important is the relationship you have with Christ. Is your relationship with Christ to a point that you can take your last breath and be ready to spend eternity with or sad as it may be, without Him?

I have determined after walking out of that hospital today knowing that I have to walk back in Monday and put to sleep for the fifth time due to my heart, that regardless of the outcome, I am secured in my trust that no matter what happens to me, God knows about it. He is still in charge of me and I will from this moment on realize that God has not allowed me to take my final breath last night around 6:00 P.M. when my heart started hurting and the pain in my jaw was excruciating. I am alive for a reason and I feel that reason is to be a light. Now, let me digress to the ‘godly skeptics’ out there who will read this. Yes, Ron Nichols has committed a lot of sins. I confess that. I have committed some whoppers in my day. Yes, I know that I have hurt a lot of people and some of those were friends. Living 53 years will lead to hurting a lot of people. But, one thing skeptic is this. I have asked God’s forgiveness and I know that He has forgiven me for my sins. Man, I have done some dumb things in my life and I wish I could take them back, but I cannot do that. I can only ask God’s forgiveness and trust that He will. Praise His name I know that He has forgiven me.  Through it all, I state it emphatically that I am standing on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ and I will be a light to help someone find the true light, which is Jesus Christ.

I am alive today my friends and I do not deserve to be alive. I am a horrible individual that has been saved by the grace of our Lord. I do not deserve such grace, but I have accepted His love for me. He should in all reality smite me down to the uttermost depths of this world, but no, He saved me by His grace and mercy. Yes, I am alive. I did not ask Him to keep me alive. I cannot hinder the hand of God when He decides that my time is up. But, today I am alive and I will find someone who isn’t alive (spiritually) and try and help them. I ask you just three questions today and I pray you answer them completely.

1: Are you hanging on to past grudges that you know cannot set you free if you continue to grasp those issues? Those friendships with close friends are no longer due this. Let go and forgive.

2: Are you living the entire Bible, or just parts that suit you? When Christ said to follow Him, and you chose to follow Him, then you must be willing to follow Him in all things. You cannot pick and choose which parts of the Bible you want to follow. Christ had to not only die a horrible death on the cross, but He had to be beaten and humiliated for our sins. He even tried to get out of it, but to no avail. Please stop picking and choosing the good parts of the Bible, but choose all of it.

3: Does your co-worker, neighbor, waitress at your restaurant know you are a Christian? If not, then you have problems. When you praise the Lord during church service’s and then leave a chinky tip or constantly complain when your food is not right at your Sunday afternoon lunch to that waitress that did not attend church, and then ask yourself this question. What if she came to my church tonight and watched the way I act in church? You cannot and let me stress that again, you cannot be a Christian in church and live like a heathen during the week.

Today I am alive. Tomorrow(It is Sunday now when I am posting this) I may not be. You who have read this are alive, tomorrow you may not be. What are you doing for the Kingdom of God today?

Ron Nichols

Lead Pastor

The Journey Church

Brent, Alabama

Trust and Money or Money and Trust

The issue of money in churches seems to be a major problem today. The bottom line is people are not giving to the local church anymore. Television ministries are making appeals for income to help them and the strong appeal seems to draw funds away from the local church. Whether good or bad, this is happening. However, this is not the reason for this article. The reason for this article is the fact that people are not trusting God with their finances.

Every person who reads this article will trust in things that they never take for granted. We trust that our power will stay on while away and our food in the refrigerator will not spoil. We trust that while cooking that Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner, the power will continue so it won't mess up our holiday. However, when it comes to church, we fail to trust God with our money?

     I found out that the majority of those who complain about money and giving are those that do not give. Their excuses are irrelevant in this issue. Trust in God with your finances is paramount to the Child of God. If you make a thousand dollars a day or ten dollars a day, the principle is still the same. Trust God with what you have and give to Him. People just don’t trust God, so they feel they cannot support their local church. Once the church goes under for failure to pay the mortgage, power, benevolence projects, etc., they complain as to why? The reason is very simple. People are robbing God.

     Proverbs 3:9 says “Honor the Lord with your wealth   and with the first fruits of all your produce.” Now, I know you anti Old Testament folks will say that is not for today, but explain why it isn't for today? Can you just take the scriptures out because it doesn't fit or suit you? God deserves the first fruits and not the leftovers. Everyone likes to be first in line for that good ole fashioned dinner on the grounds so they can have the best food first. The person at the end of the line gets the leftovers. Now, what I like about this verse is the next one in chapter 3. Verse 10 says “then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”  That is powerful.

     God will take care of those who give and the Bible records this as well.  Malachi teaches us that: But what about the New Testament in giving? Look at what Cortni Marrazzo wrote in Crosswalk.com on July 17, 2008. (http://www.crosswalk.com/family/finances/is-tithing-for-the-new-testament-believer-11579309.html)    The article gives scriptures that explain why it is important.  He writes that in Matthew the 6^th chapter, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be”.  Therefore, if you feel you cannot give to your local church, then where is your heart? People will spend money on Cell phones; Cable or satellite television, expensive clothes, etc., but complains when the offering plate is passed. A person can go out and spend on payday $40.00 for a nice meal, but yet not give God a penny. What is wrong with this?

     This is the ultimate sad part about this scenario. You attend church and not give, but yet, you complain when the doors are closed or projects cannot be completed. You are the reason my friends. You are a thief and you will not, and let me stress this again, in this author’s opinion, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God as a result of this. My reason is twofold. The first is that most of the time, those who do not give, quit church and God. Therefore, they walk away from God because of MONEY.

The other reason is simply trust. The Word of God teaches us to come to Him in Faith. Can you honestly say you can trust God for everything but your money and that not cause you to step away from Him? Every person in the last 33 years of me preaching that has “griped and complained” about tithing have walked away from God. You can run to another church, but the problem will still follow you. Your life is in shambles because you cannot trust God in all things. This failure will harm not only you, but others around you.

5 things that happen to people who fail to trust God with their money.

1: Marriage issues
2: Children are disobedient
3: Health Issues
4: Joy is not present
5: There is no peace in their hearts.

You decide what is important to you. Matthew 22:21 says that for us to give to Caesar what belongs to him and to God what belongs to Him. You decide. Do you want to give to God or not?

The spiritual crumbling of America

This is from the the Continental Congress "THAT it is an indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves and posterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power to maintain, defend and preserve these civil and religious rights and liberties for which many of our father fought, bled and died, and to hand them down entire to future generations."

Should Christians be involved in Politics? I am going to cut and paste a blog from a man who I agree with. He wrote this in 2008.  I will give his website for his credit. I may not agree with all he does, but this I do agree with.   (April 5, 2008

Why Christians should and must be involved in politics

By Bryan Fischer

There are at least two main reasons why followers of the Judeo-Christian tradition should and must be involved in politics, reasons derived directly from the Scriptures themselves. I'll discuss the first today, and the second in a subsequent column.

Here's the first:

All political power has been delegated by God. As the great apostle says in Romans 13:1, speaking of civil authority, "There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."

This explains the fascination that Americans have with politics: politics, even if people are only dimly aware of the fact, is all about who among us will have in their hands the very authority and power of God himself to direct the affairs of our common public life.

God rarely acts directly in human affairs. (That's why we call them "miracles.") Rather than working apart from us, it is his customary practice to work through us, through men and women to whom he delegates his authority, whether in the home, in the church or in society.

He is always looking for willing servants who have a humble recognition that their authority is not their own but has been delegated to them by God, and who have a humble awareness that they are accountable to him for their use of it.

It is unconscionable for Christians to absent themselves from the public arena on the grounds that "Christians shouldn't be involved in politics," when the Bible they profess to believe tells them that political power comes exclusively from the very God they worship.

I've had people tell me that Christians shouldn't be involved in politics because it's so "messy" or "dirty." Well, I tell them, I was a pastor for 25 years, and I've never seen anything as messy at the statehouse as I have seen in the church. So if messiness is a reason to avoid participation and contact, we all ought to stop going to church immediately if not sooner.

And it's utterly illogical to abandon the supervision of our public life to those who have no respect for the God who grants them their authority.

D. James Kennedy was often told by fellow believers that Christians should just stay out of politics altogether. In response, he'd point out the irrationality of that idea. How can a Christian in good conscience, he would say, think it's a good idea to deliberately abandon the governing of our society entirely to atheists and secularists?

Jesus taught his followers, as recorded in the Sermon on the Mount, that we are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." Salt was used, in the absence of refrigeration, to arrest the spread of decay. Light, of course, was and is used to dispel darkness.

His point quite simply is that he intends his followers to penetrate all of life so that by our presence the spread of moral corruption can be arrested and darkness and ignorance about important matters can be replaced with illumination and truth.

And anywhere Christians refuse to engage, and so remove both salt and light, we ought to expect nothing but decay and darkness. When Jesus said we were the salt of the earth and the light of the world, he meant that we are his Plan A and there is no Plan B.

Further, if Christians think followers of Christ should just stay out of politics, then they have forfeited the right to complain about cultural decline and have forfeited the right to use instances of moral decay as illustrations in their sermons.

Many Christians seem particularly fond of complaining about how bad things have gotten, and yet immediately turn their firepower on any Christian who agrees with them but actually tries to do something about it.

Since lawmakers hold in their hands the very power of God, Christians in truth have much more reason to be concerned about political matters than our secularist friends.

In fact, as famous Dutch statesman Abraham Kuyper said, we not only have reason to become involved in the political process, we have a moral duty:

"When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith."

May his tribe increase.

© Bryan Fischer)

So, why is America crumbling and what is the result of such crumbling? It started because either just one person or a small group of people complained about something. Then the Christians felt compelled not to stand up because they felt they should not make a stand for what is right. I'm not talking about literally fist blows, but taking a stand to say "No," We are not going to accept this. You(Christians) have been told so long that the separation of Church and State makes us (Christians) have to just accept what they (lost) tell us. There is no such thing as separation of church and state. It is not in the constitution. What is in the constitution is that the State shall not make a church. So,  here is what has happened that you (Christians) have allowed to happen.

There are many things I could write  here but I will not do such a thing. If you, being the reader cannot see for yourself what is happening, then I am sorry. Christ did indeed say to render to Caesar the things of him and render to God the things that are his. Jesus called the Pharisees a bunch of Hypocrites. Christ got involved in Politics.
Kings were basically appointed by God back in the day. When they messed up and most of them did, then tragedy would follow. Today, God has given us the power now to elect our leaders. We must pray and decide what is important.
Prophecy:       You mark my words. One day we will hear that the Pledge will lose the words "one nation under God."   and "in God we trust" on our money.
Christians will say, "oh well, we must adhere to that."

Prophecy:     You mark my words. One day some of you will be told you cannot have a Bible study in your home because of ordinances. You will have to decide. What will you decide? Most will say, "oh well, we must adhere to that."

Prophecy:     You mark my words. One day they will come into your church and tell you what you can preach because the law says that (whatever sin you preach against is legal). You will have to decide. What will you decide? Most will say, "oh well, we must adhere to that."

When you stand before God on the day of judgment, then what will you say?

The Christian Heathen

Let me be a little sarcastic in this post, even though it will make some kind of sense. There is no such thing as a Christian Heathen, but the term should be used for people who act like Christians and Heathens at the same time. We all know who these people are and in fact if we were honest, we may even fit the bill at times ourselves.

So, here goes my top five lists of Christian Heathens. They are in no particular order.

1: The shouter and curse person at the same time. Sunday services are filled with Praise the Lord and Hallelujah. These people are shouting the isles down with good "church" words. However, once Sunday is over with, their other language kicks in. "Christians" who can curse worse than a sailor, and I was a sailor and I honestly say I have heard these people use language that I never heard while stationed on a ship  in the early 80's. The bible says "You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"   Matthew 12:34 (ESV).
2: The Prayer and the gossiper at the same time. Prayer services are just beginning and Sister so and so and Brother so and so are taking prayer requests down on their notepad. They are tearing the prayer walls down praying for someone's addiction and terrible habits. Once church is over with they are on the telephone sharing such stories all in the name of God. "At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention."  I Timothy 5:13 (NASB).
3: The spiritual food and secular food at the same time. The Pastor just said A-men. The Saints are shaking hands and hugging necks. They are getting in their vehicles and heading to their local restaurant. Once they walk in the door, they assume the minimum wage girl behind the counter should drop what they are doing and run to wait on them. They (church) wait in line because other Pastors have dismissed their congregations.  They get up to the counter and the action begins. Now, remember this Saint has just come from Church. Also remember this behind the counter minimum worker has not been in church. So, they start their order. Something happens and the food is wrong. The God loving all peaceful Saint blows a gasket and complains to the other saint in line who is getting frustrated b/c they have to wait awhile and number 2 above starts. They voice their opinion as to the satisfaction of the worker and go to their tables. To show these workers they are totally fired up ill with them, they leave their trash on the table to teach them workers a lesson. Now, I wonder what would happen to their church if that worker came and left their trash on their pew? Just saying. "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29 (ESV).
4: The Teacher and ball player at the same time. Brother so and so is the sunday school teacher for the junior boys class. Man, he loves his job. He takes the boys fishing and camping and they just love him. He is the best God fearing man in the church; until Saturday afternoon. That is when he takes his own son to the ball park to play baseball. The umpire is awful. Blind as a bat and can't find the strike zone. All the opposing fans love to come to this park, because they know that fan will let it all out at the umpire. He is spitting and fussing and his face is red because he called out his son. What nerve he must have. He goes to the fence and let's him have it. He high fives the other dads while they are talking about the umps and  how terrible they are. Yessir, he is a great Sunday School teacher. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29 (ESV).
5: The communion drinker and other drinks at the same time. Communion service just concluded. An awesome time in service. The stale crackers and grape juice hit the spot because of the symbol it stood for. he was excited about what the Lord was going to do in the church. Just last night he bought the crackers and juice for church today. Tomorrow he goes back to the same store and buys his alcohol and chips. He will now have another communion time with his lounge chair and television set. The same person who rung him up yesterday rings him up today. She is puzzled as to the difference, but he says, "it's ok to have a drink or two."  "But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.  You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit ^[b]while yet in his mother’s womb." Luke 1:13-15 (NASB).  
I don't think this person (not John) is great, do you?

We all have problems. Lord knows I have my fair share of them. However, you and I are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. I realize that I have done some terrible sins (have you?) and I am glad that God said David was a man after God's heart. That gives me hope for my terrible sins. I ask that you forgive me for what I have done to you and I will likewise. I do not want to miss heaven over something as small as a sin. I am reminded of the missionaries who never really got to preach to the South American Indians back in the early days of the 50's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Auca), but as a result of their sacrifice, such Indians came to Christ.

People are watching you and you must ask yourself a very simple question. Am I living for Christ on Monday just as much as I am on Sundays?

Man is the leader of the house

Let me start this blog off by stating that I am not a male chauvinist pig. I am stating what I feel is wrong with married couples today, and such “wrongs” are filtering into the church, which is causing problems. We do not have men who are leaders in their households anymore because they are either afraid of their wives or they are unlearned. The Christian man must bring back the love of Christ in the household by being what God intended him to be. 

 I will use three scripture verses to make my argument and I trust you will accept them.

I Corinthians 11:3 in the English Standard verses says “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”

I Peter 3:7 in the English Standard verses says “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Genesis 3:16 in the English Standard verses says “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you”

Now, that we have them out of the way, let me make another disclaimer. I am referring in this blog to a husband and wife team where both parties are Christians. I am not referring to a situation where the wife is saved and the husband is not. However, that can be discussed at another time, but I still think Genesis 3:16 can still fill in for that situation as well. Getting back to my point. I was in the store the other day and I saw a friend of mine. We did our usual pleasantries and finished our conversation by talking about church. I inquired where he attended and his reaction surprised me. He told me the church and I said , “oh, I thought you were a (name of denomination).” His reply, “Well, I use to attend so and so church, but my wife threw such a hissy fit, that I just started going where she was going.” I asked him was he happy and he said no. I then felt like I had to say something and I did. I asked him how come he did that. His response was just as sad. I want to keep peace in my household.

Now, let’s understand this. The husband is the spiritual leader of the household. I did not say that, but the Word of God says that. Women, your husband is the spiritual leader of your household and you must and I strongly say it that way; you must adhere to the program that they are following. 

True story. My wife and I were the pastors of a certain church before the year 2000. We had a precious lady who attended, but her husband didn’t attend. He was lost and just never came to church. Neither me, nor the previous pastors could reach him. A new pastor moved into the town to pastor a different denominational church. That man said and I quote, “I will go to church if we go to that church.” The wife came to us and asked our opinion. Without reservation, we said GO Be with your husband in that church. That church believed in Christ and ours did too. She went to that church with her husband after attending our church we pastored for many years. He got saved and is now a leader in that church.

When the husband fails to be the leader of the house or rather, when he allows the wife to be the spiritual leader of the household, then the house is living wrong. The man of the house should step up to the plate and be the spiritual leader that God’s Word instructs him to be. I Corinthians 11:3 in the English Standard verses says “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”

Wives should submit themselves to their husbands according to the Word of God. This should not be a difficult task if you are serving Him (Christ) faithfully. You may think it is difficult, but once you walk with Christ and follow his commands, then I share that your home will be different.

One last story. My wife is a preacher. She is a great preacher. When she was a teenager many years ago (sorry hun), she was preaching. There was a woman in the church whose husband would not allow his wife to come and here my wife preach.  The woman apologized to my wife who was a teenager then and my wife said no problem. The woman honored her husband. He is saved today.

So, to all you wives out there and to all you husbands out there. Are you following the Word of God in truthfulness or are you trying to please your household? 

How people act in public

The world should never judge anyone according to the Word of God. However, it is apparent that some people are not bearing forth good fruit. The Word of God also says you will know a tree by the fruit it bears. Let me share some things that I noticed the other day at the local restaurant that I frequently use. I hate to use the word "idiot," but these folks were just that. An online dictionary said that one of the definitions of idiot is stupid. That same online dictionary said the definition of stupid is someone who lacks common sense or intelligence. I like that better.

I also accept the fact that we shouldn't call people those things but come on folks. The way some of you act in public is just down right embarrassing. It was a Tuesday night and the fireworks show had just finished. The crowds started coming in at 9:00 p.m. (Restaurant closed lobby at 10:00 p.m.). The lobby was filled and people were waiting in line. The poor workers were working just as hard as they could. One person ordered 5 small burgers. The poor worker said, "would you like some ketchup?"  The person said no. Then she said her usual thank you. He (customer) said, "yes, I would like some." This process went on and on with the customer wanting one or two of everything he could get. There is nothing wrong with that, but wouldn't it been easier on the workers if he would have asked for all of it at one time instead of making the poor worker go back and forth?

OK, for the title part. A group of individuals came in. It was a party of 15. They went to the ? church down the street. Now, before you go off on me, I am  not picking on the ? folks. I know they are ?  for two reasons. Their clothes dictate this and plus I know them. Anyway. They had some very sour faces because there were allot of others in front of them. Once they got their food and was sitting down to eat...Well, this is the part. The restaurant was pulling down the gates. It was closing time. No problem for the customers in the restaurant; they could continue on eating. However, the poor worker behind the counter could not clean the lobby until the customers left. At 11:00, they left. They stayed an additional hour just chit chatting.

While they were chit chatting, some of their kids went to the counter and made 5 additional orders. Ordering things like the $1.00 frosty. Small things. Not at one time. But, 5 different times they went back and forth. That same worker had to stop their work. Wouldn't it had been easier adults if you would have sent one person to get 5 different small $1.00 items and you got up and helped them?

Let me share some personal observations:

1: Your attitude toward the general population stinks. Why would someone desire to be with you in church? You have condemned them from the beginning. People would smile at your kids and do the "googly goo" stuff at the babies and you would make frowning faces and them and not recognize them for their efforts to show good hospitality. 

2: Be nice and smile to those folks.

3: People see you and then they associate you with church and that just isn't good.

4: Stop complaining when you eat 1/2  half of your hamburger and they left the pickle off of it. They will replace your burger. So, you get a burger and half for the same price.

5: When you do take  your burger back, please, please, please, show some Christian love to those workers. Your hatred by "slamming" the burger down will not win that many souls to Christ nor get them to come to your church.

6: Pick up your nasty trash when you leave. When a worker comes out to clean the lobby and they have to first wait for you to talk about how your church is the only saved church in the world plus picking up your nasty trash you leave on the table: well, think about it.

7: Stop leaving tracks on the table stating that "that one eyed monster(television) is going to send you to hell.

8:Smile again and say thank you when they unlock the door for you. At least say good night when they say good night to you.

9: Talk to other folks in the store and not talk down to them.
10: Go Home at a normal  hour because you are just too old to be out that late     :-)

Against Homosexuality I

Chapter 1:

Introduction

 Recently someone posted a statement on a public forum board; A social media outlet. They made the statement that they support gay marriage. Naturally, several individuals jumped in with their support for this person’s statement. The author of this paper gave his response and merely mentioned that the Word of God was against it. What happened next was a barrage of anti-God and anti-bible statements from one individual. A public form on certain websites are no different from what happened many years ago in public forums in each city when something was brought up and the public had the opportunity to discuss it. The reader must be aware that once they publish something, it is open for debate. This paper for example will be open for debate as well.

 A Preacher friend of mine was associated with a ministry back in the 80’s. He felt he should write a letter to the opposing minister trying to encourage and help him. When all of this ended up in court the opposing minister’s lawyer had this letter blown up to about six feet tall by 3 feet wide. What was intended for good, turned against the preacher. His intentions were taken out of context. When a person posts something on a public forum, it is open for anything.

 Chapter 2:

Homosexuality as a rebellion Romans 1:25-27 (ESV), because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Paul is saying that homosexuality is rebellion against God’s supreme purpose in creation, and an uncultured distortion of His moral and flawless strategy for His created order. The Word of God is clear on the subject from the very beginning. Genesis records the story that God made man and He (God) said that man should not be by himself, and with that nature, God made a helpmate for man and that person was a woman. There is no mistake that God felt that man and woman should be together. This comes to light more when they are considered one flesh and his (mans) statement that she (woman) is “bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23 NASB).

 Chapter 3:

The Word of God “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground” Genesis 1:28 NIV). That one verse should be enough to satisfy the opinion makers about what God’s plans were for His created world. Man and his mate (woman) were to be productive. There are 16 different translations to this passage and they all say the same thing.
 Be fruitful…
 21st Century King James Version: "Be fruitful and multiply"
 American Standard Version: "Be fruitful, and multiply"
 Amplified Bible: "Be fruitful, multiply"
 Contemporary English Version: "Have a lot of children!"
 Darby Translation: "Be fruitful and multiply"
 English Standard Version: "Be fruitful and multiply"
 Holman Christian Standard Bible: "Be fruitful, multiply"
 The Message: "Prosper! Reproduce"
 New American Standard Bible: "Be fruitful and multiply"
 New International Reader's Version: "Have children and increase your numbers"
 New International Version: "Be fruitful and increase in number"
 New King James Version: "Be fruitful and multiply"
 New Life Version: "Give birth to many; grow in number"
 New Living Translation: "Multiply"
 King James Version: "Be fruitful and multiply"
 Young's Literal Translation: "Be fruitful, and multiply"

 There should be no other message clearer than those translations above. God intended for man and woman to be together. God created man and then made woman. Two different individuals that could reproduce. He told them to have children and settle the world. The only way that children can be born is through procreation by a male and female. One man can never have a child. There is no way physically possible for that to take place. A woman cannot have a child unless a man is involved someway. God’s plan was to have man/woman together to create families together. There is no place in God’s family for people of the same sex getting together to fulfill his commission in Genesis. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders…” (I Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV). “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind it is abomination” (Leviticus 18:22 KJV). “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13 KJV). “and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error” (Romans 1:27 NEW AMERICAN STANDARD).

Chapter 4:

 Nature proves Homosexuality is wrong. Look out your window or step on the front porch early in the morning and listen to the bird calls. Watch the two birds together. The most interesting are two pair of doves; one male and one female. When the Lord destroyed the world via the flood He told Noah to bring in the animals. Everyone who has been in Sunday school or Vacation Bible School as a child recalls how the animals came in by two’s; male and female so they could reproduce. Every zoo in the world when they want to reproduce their animals will get one from the opposite sex. Drive down any street in the world and find one dog in heat and you will find 5 other male dogs around her. Nature proves it is wrong.

 Chapter 5:

 The early Church Fathers The Didache (teachings of the twelve apostles) “You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty, and {Pederasty or paederasty is a bond between an older man and an adolescent boy separate from his direct family.} you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder child by abortion nor kill one that has been born” (Didache 2:2 [A.D. 70] Terullian “All other frenzies of the lusts which exceed the laws of nature, and are impious toward both [human] bodies and the sexes, we banish, not only from the threshold but also from all shelter of the Church, for they are not sins so much as monstrosities” (Modesty 4 [A.D. 222]). Eusebius of Caesarea “Having forbidden all unlawful marriage, and all unseemly practice, and the union of women with women and men with men, he [God] adds: ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for in all these things the nations were defiled, which I drive out before you. And the land was polluted, and I have recompensed [their] iniquity upon it, and the lnd is grieved with them that dwell upon it’” (Proof of the Gospel 4:10 [A.D. 319]).

 Chapter 6:

 I was born that way When God created the world He said that He would create man in His image. Once He created man, he seen man was lonely and made woman to help him. He told them to “make babies” and the process would continue. Man was born to be a dad and women were made to help the man and once the fall in the garden, they would have children. Very plain and simple. A Christian is an individual who exists in agreement to the instructions of Jesus Christ, irrespective of the delicate cost, identifying Christ’s lessons to be definitive truth. Such submission is made conceivable when a person is saved as an outcome of faith in what Christ did for him. Once a person is born again, he is empowered to abandon all effects which God proclaims to be evil. As evidence of his conviction, a true Christian will no longer desire to live in a state of constant sin. There are times when the Christian will struggle with their past sins and even new sins, he will not desire the same lifestyle which was going against the Word of God. I John 3:9-10 teach us that someone who is saved doesn’t practice sin. For the person who says they were born that way is going against God’s Word. The bottom line is a person who is practicing homosexuality is doing this because they desire to live this way. Those who attend church and feel they are Christians are feeling this way so they can appease their guilty soul. I person who drinks alcohol or uses tobacco is the same way. When a person chooses to do such things, is no other reason but to do them.