Good for Chick-fil-A!! Good for their supporters!! Huge turnouts at Chick-fil-A restaurants today because conservative, Christian, and TEA Party patriots wanted to stand up for the belief that freedom of speech and freedom of religion give all of us the right to proclaim (as God in the Bible has) that marriage is the union of one man and one woman!
Note to all of those who would want to call all of these people "bigots," "haters," "homophobes," "anti-gay," or any other derogatory name "_______________" (you fill in the blank) you could think of - support for traditional marriage does not equate to "hatred" of gays. Unfortunately, that is a misnomer being spread by those who want to spread such ridiculous propaganda.
While doing errands today, I was listening to Hannity's radio show. A man called into the show to tell Sean that he is "a great American." The caller went on to say that he is "gay" and "wishes that the marriage debate wasn't out there" but he understands that Christians have the right to their beliefs - even if he doesn't necessarily agree. He also stated that Sean was instrumental in convincing him NOT to vote for Obama in 2008. For the first time in his life, he voted for the Republican ticket.
Why?
Because he stated that, "Obama's policies scare him."
Now...does that make him "anti-Obama" (the person) or just someone who happens to be against Obama's policies?? Doesn't he have the freedom of speech right to say that?
Unfortunately, most of the radical homosexual activists believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion should take a back seat to their particular favored ideology. Actually, the intolerance these days is often so severe that they would do anything to hurt those with whom they disagree. For them, tolerance is a one way street. It is not something that they would ever consider offering towards the other side. Therefore, that man who called into Sean Hannity's radio show is probably a rarity in this day and age.
There once was a time when homosexual activists claimed that they "just wanted tolerance." Then, they demanded acceptance. Now, they want to do harm to those with whom they disagree. The question is...why?
I think that it is a spiritual problem. Deep down, they know that they are willingly breaking God's laws through their sexual behavior, but they want acceptance more than anything else in this world so they are willing to do anything to get it. But, just like any other sinner in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ, the more secular "acceptance" they get, the more they demand. They can't be satisfied with the progress that they perceive they have reached (i.e. gay rights, gays serving openly in the military, civil unions in some states etc.). Why? I think that it is because they instinctively know that they will never gain God's approval of the aberrant sexual behavior that they engage in.
Look at it this way. A heterosexual person who fornicates may want God's acceptance of such a lifestyle too. But God's Word tells him/her that he/she must repent of such behavior. I'm sure we all know couples involved in fornication. Does that mean that we hate them too...just because we tell the truth of the matter??
Radical homosexual activists do NOT want to hear that. In fact, they HATE Christian believers because they don't want to know about God's Word regarding their behavior. Homosexual behavior happened in biblical times. As Solomon so wisely stated, "there is nothing new under the sun." Dozens of Bible verses state God's views on the matter.
Jesus told us that non-believers would "hate us" because they "hated Him first." Telling the truth about evil, sin and death isn't politically correct. The hatred against Christians and Jews continues to grow.
However, there is even more hatred spewed at former homosexuals who become Christians. How do I know this? Because I have heard the stories and experiences of several men and women who have gone through it.
When a sinner (any kind - which includes all of us!) is released from the former bondage to any type of sinful behavior (through the power of the Holy Spirit when they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ) the act of confession and repentance at the foot of the cross of Christ brings them into reconciliation with God. They receive, instead, the love, mercy and grace given at the moment of conversion!! This is the greatest gift in the world! It is the gift of eternal life! Of course, sanctification is a lifelong process, but once converted, no one can "snatch the believer" out of the hands of Christ!
Non-believers reject Christ. Therefore, they reject the need to repent and turn to the only Savior that can reconcile them back unto God! This often infuriates them! How do I know? Because I used to be one of them!
In another comment thread, I had a brief discussion with blogger Susan who experienced release from the bondage of lesbian behavior and identity through the power of Jesus Christ. I will share her comment here:
Dear Susan,
Christine shared “The Truth Gap” by Bill Muehlenberg:
“They may profess to be believers, but they live, think and act just like pagans . . . That is because they have never learned to think biblically and they have never developed a biblical worldview . . . As such, they are breaking the greatest commandment which Jesus gave: to love God with all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind.”
I lived, thought and acted like a pagan during more than 20 years acting out as a lesbian and more than 30 years acting out as a drunk trying to deal with my inner emotional pain that I did not understand.
I was hurting and did not know I was in pain for many years, because I numbed myself with sex, alcohol and other drugs. There is a better way. It is the truth that sets one free. The truth about myself set me free. It was not the truth about other people.
The Messiah said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). There is a better way to live. We all have a choice to obey the voice we hear. Everyone is a slave to the voice one obeys. One can obey sin that leads to death, or obedience that leads to righteousness (Romans 6:16).
The most amazing thing about the written Word of God is that it is absolutely ONE Truth. Why? There is only ONE Word of God, the Holy ONE of ISRAEL.
Much love to you, Christine and all your readers who hunger for truth and righteousness. They shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). ~ ss
The August, 2012 Turning Points devotional focuses on the "scraps of life." Dr. Jeremiah draws an analogy between the scraps of fabric (that are often discarded) and the scraps of our lives that we often wish we could do over. But those scraps can also be used to create a gorgeous quilt! They CAN be useful!
This brief synopsis doesn't do it justice, but one section was quite encouraging.
Despite the fact that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, we can be encouraged by Psalm 51 which recounts David's psalm of repentance and confession following his disastrous episode with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah.
Dr. Jeremiah writes:
"Have you ever prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (verse 10)? If so, you are praying words that were forged on the anvil of David's guilt and remorse over his choices. We wish he had never made those bad choices, but that time in his life produced words of instruction and encouragement for us.
Psalm 32, another of David's psalms, may have been written in the wake of the same affair. If not the Bathsheba episode, it is David's recounting of how miserable his life became when he concealed some sin from God. And how blessed it became when he made things right."
Dr. Jeremiah goes on to explain that Psalm 139 discusses God's omnipresence and how he sees and knows everything. David realized that God knew about his sin because there is no escaping God's presence!
Dr. J: "In any case, the scraps from David's life have become a comfort and inspiration to millions of people as they look for value in their own wrong turns in life."
Isn't that awesome?? Dr. J goes on to write, "save your scraps for the Master Tailor!" We are to regret and render them useless! There is a "godly sorrow [that] produces repentance" (2 Corinthians 7:10) --which is what we should do: repent or revive and be useful!"
Dr. J: "If we have sinned, we need to repent. If we are discouraged over a foolish mistake or a broken dream, we need to revive. In either case, the scrap we thought represented a wasted moment in our life will become something God can use to make us wiser, more disciplined, and more appreciative of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness--and make us more willing to extend the same to others (Ephesians 4:32).
God the Master Tailor, wants to use every moment in our life for His glory. If you will pick up the pieces and save our scraps for Him, the garment He fashions will be more beautiful than you can imagine."
See Susan? God thinks you are beautiful!! It is a spiritual beauty that can NEVER be taken away from you! And why are you spiritually beautiful? Because you said YES! to Jesus Christ! You chose to shed the sin that leads to death and obey God's Truth that leads to righteousness!!
Why anyone would not want to accept Jesus' gift of salvation is truly a mystery! Like you wrote, Susan, "it is for those who hunger for truth and righteousness. They shall be filled (Matthew 5:6)."
All we can do is continue to spread the seeds of the Gospel. God does the saving! And sharing those "scraps of life" may jolt a person away from the clutches of sin, evil and death so that they are no longer a slave (like you stated) to it!
God bless you today and always Susan! Love you!
In Jesus,
Christine
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Before closing my browser for the night, I ran across a blog post with some really funny cartoons!
Patriot Post: Who Knew Chicken Sandwiches Could Be So Funny?
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Good Night and God Bless!!
~ Christine
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