Sports / Family / Church
A must read
http://familydiscipleshippath.com/2013/11/22/sports-vs-church/
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Question: "What does the Bible say about gay marriage / same sex marriage?"
Answer: While the Bible does address homosexuality, it does not explicitly mention gay marriage/same-sex marriage. It is clear, however, that the Bible condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin. Leviticus 18:22 identifies homosexual sex as an abomination, a detestable sin. Romans 1:26-27 declares homosexual desires and actions to be shameful, unnatural, lustful, and indecent. First Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Since both homosexual desires and actions are condemned in the Bible, it is clear that homosexuals “marrying” is not God’s will, and would be, in fact, sinful.
Whenever the Bible mentions marriage, it is between a male and a female. The first mention of marriage, Genesis 2:24, describes it as a man leaving his parents and being united to his wife. In passages that contain instructions regarding marriage, such as 1 Corinthians 7:2-16 and Ephesians 5:23-33, the Bible clearly identifies marriage as being between a man and a woman. Biblically speaking, marriage is the lifetime union of a man and a woman, primarily for the purpose of building a family and providing a stable environment for that family.
The Bible alone, however, does not have to be used to demonstrate this understanding of marriage. The biblical viewpoint of marriage has been the universal understanding of marriage in every human civilization in world history. History argues against gay marriage. Modern secular psychology recognizes that men and women are psychologically and emotionally designed to complement one another. In regard to the family, psychologists contend that a union between a man and woman in which both spouses serve as good gender role models is the best environment in which to raise well-adjusted children. Psychology argues against gay marriage. In nature/physicality, clearly, men and women were designed to “fit” together sexually. With the “natural” purpose of sexual intercourse being procreation, clearly only a sexual relationship between a man and a woman can fulfill this purpose. Nature argues against gay marriage.
So, if the Bible, history, psychology, and nature all argue for marriage being between a man and a woman—why is there such a controversy today? Why are those who are opposed to gay marriage/same-sex marriage labeled as hateful, intolerant bigots, no matter how respectfully the opposition is presented? Why is the gay rights movement so aggressively pushing for gay marriage/same-sex marriage when most people, religious and non-religious, are supportive of—or at least far less opposed to—gay couples having all the same legal rights as married couples with some form of civil union?
The answer, according to the Bible, is that everyone inherently knows that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural, and the only way to suppress this inherent knowledge is by normalizing homosexuality and attacking any and all opposition to it. The best way to normalize homosexuality is by placing gay marriage/same-sex marriage on an equal plane with traditional opposite-gender marriage. Romans 1:18-32 illustrates this. The truth is known because God has made it plain. The truth is rejected and replaced with a lie. The lie is then promoted and the truth suppressed and attacked. The vehemence and anger expressed by many in the gay rights movement to any who oppose them is, in fact, an indication that they know their position is indefensible. Trying to overcome a weak position by raising your voice is the oldest trick in the debating book. There is perhaps no more accurate description of the modern gay rights agenda than Romans 1:31, “they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”
To give sanction to gay marriage/same-sex marriage would be to give approval to the homosexual lifestyle, which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. Christians should stand firmly against the idea of gay marriage/same-sex marriage. Further, there are strong and logical arguments against gay marriage/same-sex marriage from contexts completely separated from the Bible. One does not have to be an evangelical Christian to recognize that marriage is between a man and a woman.
According to the Bible, marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Gay marriage/same-sex marriage is a perversion of the institution of marriage and an offense to the God who created marriage. As Christians, we are not to condone or ignore sin. Rather, we are to share the love of God and the forgiveness of sins that is available to all, including homosexuals, through Jesus Christ. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and contend for truth with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). As Christians, when we make a stand for truth and the result is personal attacks, insults, and persecution, we should remember the words of Jesus: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).
In His Love,
Mark
In His Love,
Mark
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
New Year / New Life
A New Year, A Fresh Start, A New Master who offers the Hope of Assurance.
What keeps a running back from scoring every time he carries the ball? A defensive player, who is always there to throw a block or make a tackle, he is the obstacle to victory. To have victory, one must score, even in life. What prevents victory in our life? Sin is Satan’s obstacle to our victory, however He is defeated and the victory is ours. So, why not accept it, make this New Year really New, and Fresh.
1 Cor. 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we sin and we don’t even know that we have sinned! We are all sinners.
1 John 1:8-10 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
The overall impact of what Jesus is about doesn’t mean much to those who think they are without sin, or for those who do not believe that Christ suffered and died for their sins. The false teachers of Jesus’ day were like this, they believed they were okay right where they were. They denied that sin breaks fellowship with God. They also denied they ever sinned. But all people sin by nature and habit.
Here is a great an awesome truth about sin. When we become a NEW person in Christ by believing, confessing and repenting, our sins will be forgiven, that includes sins of the past, present and even future sins. Because of Christ’s death even future sins are forgiven! How awesome is that? This does not make it open season for sin however, far from it.
Even NEW people in Christ struggle with sin once in a while and must confess those sins. But a NEW person who is in Jesus Christ and who has a change of heart is not a “slave to sin”. There is a difference.
Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[a] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Most often, confessing our sins to God or to others takes humbleness and honesty on our part. We simply need to recognize our weaknesses in life and work on those areas we are the weakest in. We should never fear revealing our sins to God. When we pray to God about our sins we can do it silently in our heart, we do not have to speak out loud in front of others to be forgiven by God --He hears our heart!
The difference between a sinner who is a slave to sin and the person who may accidentally sin is simply this: to err is to be human, but to continue in that err is to be a slave to it. We become a slave to what has mastered us. If we cannot turn loose from a sin, then its effects will continue to rob and have a grip on us. If we are under sin we are to confess, repent, and ask for God’s forgiveness. We should never fear telling God about our sin(s) because he already knows what we have done, good and bad. He will not push us away no matter what it is we have done.
Romans 6:15-18 - What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Bottom line is every person has a master – either God or sin. Even Bob Dylan sang, Your gonna serve somebody, right? A Christian is not someone who cannot sin, but someone who is no longer a slave to sin because he or she belongs to God (Jesus Christ). They are dead to sin, alive in Jesus Christ.
Starting fresh takes a serious look at where you are at right now. Are you in the will of God? Are you into His word, service, and connected in prayer? Are others’ lives touched by your life for the good of The Kingdom? Do you have assurance of a heavenly eternal dwelling? Is your hope in the Lord or the things of the world?
Who, or what is your master? …
For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:19
It’s a terrible thing to be separated from someone we love, however there is no worse tragedy than to be separated from God for all eternity. The sin in our life is like a wedge that Satan drives between us and God. Our life story does not have to be lived or end this way.
Start Fresh this New Year, humble yourself, and allow God to work His stuff.
What keeps a running back from scoring every time he carries the ball? A defensive player, who is always there to throw a block or make a tackle, he is the obstacle to victory. To have victory, one must score, even in life. What prevents victory in our life? Sin is Satan’s obstacle to our victory, however He is defeated and the victory is ours. So, why not accept it, make this New Year really New, and Fresh.
1 Cor. 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we sin and we don’t even know that we have sinned! We are all sinners.
1 John 1:8-10 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
The overall impact of what Jesus is about doesn’t mean much to those who think they are without sin, or for those who do not believe that Christ suffered and died for their sins. The false teachers of Jesus’ day were like this, they believed they were okay right where they were. They denied that sin breaks fellowship with God. They also denied they ever sinned. But all people sin by nature and habit.
Here is a great an awesome truth about sin. When we become a NEW person in Christ by believing, confessing and repenting, our sins will be forgiven, that includes sins of the past, present and even future sins. Because of Christ’s death even future sins are forgiven! How awesome is that? This does not make it open season for sin however, far from it.
Even NEW people in Christ struggle with sin once in a while and must confess those sins. But a NEW person who is in Jesus Christ and who has a change of heart is not a “slave to sin”. There is a difference.
Colossians 3:5-10 - Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[a] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Most often, confessing our sins to God or to others takes humbleness and honesty on our part. We simply need to recognize our weaknesses in life and work on those areas we are the weakest in. We should never fear revealing our sins to God. When we pray to God about our sins we can do it silently in our heart, we do not have to speak out loud in front of others to be forgiven by God --He hears our heart!
The difference between a sinner who is a slave to sin and the person who may accidentally sin is simply this: to err is to be human, but to continue in that err is to be a slave to it. We become a slave to what has mastered us. If we cannot turn loose from a sin, then its effects will continue to rob and have a grip on us. If we are under sin we are to confess, repent, and ask for God’s forgiveness. We should never fear telling God about our sin(s) because he already knows what we have done, good and bad. He will not push us away no matter what it is we have done.
Romans 6:15-18 - What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Bottom line is every person has a master – either God or sin. Even Bob Dylan sang, Your gonna serve somebody, right? A Christian is not someone who cannot sin, but someone who is no longer a slave to sin because he or she belongs to God (Jesus Christ). They are dead to sin, alive in Jesus Christ.
Starting fresh takes a serious look at where you are at right now. Are you in the will of God? Are you into His word, service, and connected in prayer? Are others’ lives touched by your life for the good of The Kingdom? Do you have assurance of a heavenly eternal dwelling? Is your hope in the Lord or the things of the world?
Who, or what is your master? …
For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:19
It’s a terrible thing to be separated from someone we love, however there is no worse tragedy than to be separated from God for all eternity. The sin in our life is like a wedge that Satan drives between us and God. Our life story does not have to be lived or end this way.
Start Fresh this New Year, humble yourself, and allow God to work His stuff.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Teens Want Guidlines.
Here's some good news for parents of tweens and teens: YOU RULE!!!
That may be hard to believe sometimes. And it's true kids won't always follow your health and safety rules. But studies show parents who keep setting boundaries make a huge difference. In other words, "parenting works," even for teens, says Alanna Levine, a pediatrician in Tappan, N.Y., and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The latest example: a survey on media use by the Kaiser Family Foundation. It found that typical kids ages 8 to 18 spend an astounding 7 hours and 38 minutes a day consuming entertainment media, drinking deeply from the fire hose of TV, computers, game consoles, cellphones, music players and other devices (while occasionally glancing at books and other non-electronic media). Many experts, including the pediatrics academy, consider that much screen time bad for mental and physical health. You guess??
But the study also found that kids whose parents set time tables or content limits were plugged in for three hours less each day. "Parents can have a big influence," says Kaiser researcher Vicky Rideout.
And remember, it doesn't just include screen time...Show them a Christ-like example early on, be persistent, share family devotions regularly, and watch what can happen.Tweens and Teens really do want, and for sure need your guidance. Parenting is not for the lazy, or the fainthearted, but it is a serious business in forming the hearts and minds of our youth. God gave an awesome task to each of us as amateurs, however He will provide the way if we stand firm in His will.
That may be hard to believe sometimes. And it's true kids won't always follow your health and safety rules. But studies show parents who keep setting boundaries make a huge difference. In other words, "parenting works," even for teens, says Alanna Levine, a pediatrician in Tappan, N.Y., and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The latest example: a survey on media use by the Kaiser Family Foundation. It found that typical kids ages 8 to 18 spend an astounding 7 hours and 38 minutes a day consuming entertainment media, drinking deeply from the fire hose of TV, computers, game consoles, cellphones, music players and other devices (while occasionally glancing at books and other non-electronic media). Many experts, including the pediatrics academy, consider that much screen time bad for mental and physical health. You guess??
But the study also found that kids whose parents set time tables or content limits were plugged in for three hours less each day. "Parents can have a big influence," says Kaiser researcher Vicky Rideout.
And remember, it doesn't just include screen time...Show them a Christ-like example early on, be persistent, share family devotions regularly, and watch what can happen.Tweens and Teens really do want, and for sure need your guidance. Parenting is not for the lazy, or the fainthearted, but it is a serious business in forming the hearts and minds of our youth. God gave an awesome task to each of us as amateurs, however He will provide the way if we stand firm in His will.
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