Do you Love Me?

Tags

acceptance, Body of Christ, challenge, Christianity, church, drugs, gangs, God's people, hypocricy, love, obedience, pre-marital sex, rejection

Rejection

Written by David Benrexi

Have you ever been rejected? Have you ever wanted to talk to someone and had them say, “Leave me alone!”? Has anyone ever told you, “I hate you!”? Do you ever call and leave a message, and your call is not returned? Do you ever want affection and your spouse has a headache?

Rejection, it’s part of living. Does anyone like it? I sure don’t. Why does one person reject another? I think it’s because we’re selfish. We don’t want to be bothered. We want to be left alone. We don’t want to deal with situations we’re not comfortable with. We don’t see the other person as a human being precious to God, Who loves that person totally and commands us to love him as well. We only see that it is not advantageous to us to love that person, so we don’t.

Has anyone besides me noticed that there’s a shortage of real love among God’s people? I think everyone is looking for love, and it’s not easy to find. If we, the children of God, would begin to truly love one another, love wouldn’t be so hard to find. The kids wouldn’t be turning to drugs and pre-marital sex. The bars would be empty. I am amazed at how preoccupied most Christians are with their own little soap operas while the people around them are dying and starving for love.

Command, not request!

This thing called rejection, How sad it is! If you like this brother’s teaching, another brother regards you as an enemy. If you play this style of music, you can’t play at that church. If you dress this way, speak in tongues, or don’t speak in tongues, you believe in divine healing or in modern medicine, it’s all a big deal to most Christians. “What church do you attend?” they ask. You answer, and they get a funny look on their face.

The question I have for everyone I meet in the Body of Christ is, “Do you love me?” Most believers feel like it’s up to me to be “loveable.” If I believe the same way they do and conform to their code of conduct, they might love me just a little after a while. If I don’t conform, they’ll avoid me. Of course, at a church meeting, they’ll shake my hand or even hug me and say, “How’s it going?” They want to “appear” to be righteous for their audience, but the dirty truth is, they find me objectionable. They don’t love me. Now, there is no possibility whatsoever that a person who rejects me will call me at my home later and say, “Brother David, I perceive there is strife between us, and it grieves me. Can we get together and talk?” That will never happen because the other person feels justified in not loving me. It’s my fault. I didn’t satisfy his requirements. Something about me isn’t right. If only I would change.

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LOVE is a VERB!

Tags

active-love, basic life truth, I love America, I love GOD, life, love, Nature of LOVE, reality

As many of you know, I have three adult children who continue to teach me about life. Funny how we, as parents, think we will teach our children, and we do, but only in proportion to who well we learn from them!

Family is about LOVE. Home should always be a “safe haven” from the harsh realities of life for each member of a family, a place of acceptance and truth. This is not so simple these days! We all have many influences in our daily lives and not all of them are healthy. Choices are a requirement!!! We have to learn to choose what builds us up rather than what destroys or corrupts us.

This reality prompted me on many occasions to ponder the “Nature of LOVE!”

Parents, teach your children LOVE by loving them … by giving to them not material things, but REAL things that will help them through life. Things like manners, integrity, and kindness are foreign in our modern culture, particularly in our celebrities and leaders, yet if well-learned, they can lead to a satisfied life.

We SPEAK our love every time we part from one another, whether for a routine trip to work or to go to our separate space. But words sometimes fall short. Have you noticed? I cannot be content simply saying, “I love you!” Since my kids were small, I have prayed for creative ways to DEMONSTRATE my love to each of them in unique ways, personal to them. LOVE is a VERB, and it is not only a CHOICE we make, but actions take confirm our choice.

One thing about a basic life truth is that it fits every situation from the most public to the most intimate. The same active-love that motivates my daily life with my family simultaneously impassions me as regards my country. I cannot simply SAY, “I love America,” I must DO whatever I can do to strengthen her, to build her, to inspire her to further greatness, and to unify her.

Do you love your family? your GOD? your nation? Are you as tired of all the divisive, hate-filled rhetoric filing the airways? We must overcome hatred with LOVE!!! What actions demonstrate your love?

Blind Leading the Blind

Tags

choices, communism, fun, hollywood, lifestyle, morality, motivation, people, progressive, SEN. MCCARTHY, sex, virtue, WALTON'S, WE THE PEOPLE

Lassie (CBS)
1954 – 1974
Shown: Jon Provost

Hollywood has long been a cauldron of Progressivism. Remember Sen. McCarthy in the 1950’s? Had he not discredited his theories with his own alcoholism, maybe things could have been yanked up back then. Remember the “Black List” of Hollywood stars, directors, writers, etc suspected (or known) to be Communist sympathizers? They weren’t planning a violent coup. Instead, they created program after program that subtly and progressively dismantled or mocked what most Americans know as “traditional American values.” So who or what governs your morality?

If you compare the programs of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s to the programs today, what are the most obvious differences? Look closely, the progression from the respectful, kind, and caring family programs like Bonanza (1959-1973), Combat (1962-1967), Flipper (1963-1967), Waltons (1971-1981), Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983), Lassie (1954-1974), and dozens more to the what seem to be hideously biased Progressive TV “comedies” that represent the lower possibilities of human interaction … and they’re presented as the Best New TV Comedies of 2013, which are a smorgasbord of base behaviors. Really? This is the BEST we can do?

There was a time not so long ago when at least some in Hollywood had a glimpse of the potential for their industry to impact the population for GOOD! Under the guise of entertainment, at least some writers and producers sought to motivate people to “improve” themselves: either improve their circumstances via hard work and education, or “improve” their character by inspiring people to a more virtuous life.

American culture, too, rewarded those who worked toward self-improvement. Lifelong loyalty at work was rewarded with retirement. A “clean life” was desirable, and was often rewarded with success. Now, in contrast, a “clean life” is a joke, often the brunt of jokes like the football player, Tim Tebow. Even worse, it seems many cajole such virtuous individuals in the hope they will “fall!” We don’t hear about the alcoholic that succeeds in living “dry” and rebuilding his life, but the press circles especially celebrities with alcohol or drug issues just waiting for them to self-destruct … and we, the people keep buying the trash they give us.

Although still recovering from his injuries overseas, Sgt. Sanchez insisted on leaving his electric wheelchair to walk the flag down Main Street, U.S.A., saying “If it’s for the colors, I’ll walk”

What do you suppose would happen if We, the People demanded, by virtue of our dollars, more wholesome, virtuous movies and TV programs? Is morality really old-fashioned or just too hard for today’s weak-willed citizen? Must every TV sitcom be about SEX? Is there such a thing as a loving relationship that does NOT focus on SEX? If we say we, as a society, are dismayed by the 50% divorce rate, might we not seek solutions rather than further exploitations? If we’re concerned about the violence in our society, might we not question the “gangsta” lifestyle endorsed by many high profile musicians? Is there anything FUN besides SEX?

What do you care about? What motivates your choices? As much as I disagree with the blind hatred of Islamic fighters, on some level, I respect their commitment to a cause, although it is driven more by fear and hate than real devotion, it seems. Most Americans are not devoted to anything bigger than themselves … even many who claim a religion. Is there anything worth living for? worth fighting for? worth dying for?

That the World My Know …

Tags

Christ's love, GOD’s love, love, real love, unconditional love

Command, not request!

This has been a busy few weeks in my little world. Included has been a deep heart issue: LOVE!

I’m a mom, and there is no more satisfying and challenging position (career) in life (except perhaps fatherhood!) My kids are all adults, but that doesn’t mean I stop being their mom. In fact, it seems as they grow and mature, so does my role as their mom! The hard part is redefining LOVE in accordance with my role as mom to adults!

As believers, we are COMMANDED, not requested, to love one another as Christ loves us. That is quite a tall order! First, we have to accept that Jesus loves us more than words can express, more than any human can possibly apprehend, more than our finite brains can even imagine. That is LIFE! But accepting Jesus love as truth is just the beginning! We are to love one another the same way … even FAMILY … even the absolutely unlovable!

This revelation shook me! It seems like common sense, but … how many of us really treat family with the kind of love Jesus pours into each of us continuously? I tend to try to control my kids’ lives! I confess! I am always right, and of course, I know better then they do what is best for them, right? 🙂 It was a “loving” smack across the face when I realized I was putting MY expectations, MY dreams, and MY plans onto them. THAT isn’t Christ’s love!

Strangers are much easier to love! We don’t have to see them often and deal with their imperfections routinely. Family we do! We are commanded to love one another as Christ loves us … in spite of our bad habits, inherent weaknesses, bad choices, and frailties!

Not so easy … but if we practice appreciating the best in each of our family members, our friends and co-workers, maybe … just maybe they will see Jesus in us!

Overwhemed? Take a Step of Faith!

Tags

Conservative Voice, Constitution of the United States, CONTRACT FROM AMERICA, Freedom Works, MERCURY ONE, PATRIOT VOICES, Sequestration cuts, WE THE PEOPLE

I happened to tune Rush Limbaugh in the other day (not sure which day.) He was going on about the obscene extravagances of the Obama vacations, i.e. 3 lavish trips in as many months. That coupled with the intentional damage the Obama administration is pushing onto the American people via the “Sequestration cuts,” is enough to outrage anyone paying attention. Rush commented that he was surprised there wasn’t more of an outrage … more what? More ranting? More … This is exactly where a majority of Americans find themselves. Exactly HOW are we supposed to demonstrate our outrage? And HOW do WE-the-PEOPLE choose which of the many OUTRAGEOUS actions/policies/EX orders etc to go “ballistic” about even if we were to figure out how to GO ballistic!

Fact is, I believe the majority of the American people are awake. They SEE what is happening but feel powerless to DO anything constructive to halt the destruction. So many new organizations, groups, etc, each with their own agenda, plan, focus … NONE opting to work together with OTHER groups … WE-the-PEOPLE are too splintered, which is EXACTLY what the President wants. The more he and the media point out our DIFFERENCES, the more divided we are, and the easier it is to override OUR WILL. At some point, WE-the-PEOPLE must lay down our differences and realize it is AMERICA we need to save, AMERICA we must defend … at ALL costs, including the cost of OUR specific issue. We must unite atop the Constitution of the United States and demand our leaders obey it, comply with it, or change it legally – not by Executive order!

God birthed America with a purpose. It has been the most generous, most helpful, most innovative, the most compassionate nation on earth. Perfect? NO WAY! There are several dark chapters in our history, but the overall influence on the world has been positive … until now. Too many Americans have gotten lost amidst everyday life and circumstances. We must once again reach out our hands to one another … Hurricane Sandy victims are still without … Many are hurting in today’s economy and joblessness. REACH OUT & TOUCH … We must reach out and re-connect! Whatever else we are or are not we are Americans!

Below are a few related links to groups/organizations focused on Conservative goals. There are many other groups/organizations worthy of help, but these are the BIG THREE … IMHO. The more of us that get involved, the more authority our VOICE will have on the many issues vital to our nation’s future. Think of it as a Step of faith … We don’t know what will come of our effort, but the effort itself is a good thing! God is ultimately in control, so if we acknowledge His gentle guidance, and adhere to it, only good will come of it.

• FREEDOM WORKS: FreedomWorks recruits, educates, trains and mobilizes millions of volunteer activists to fight for less government, lower taxes, and more freedom.






• PATRIOT VOICES: Patriot Voices is a grassroots and online community of Americans from across the country who stand together to affect change that otherwise could not be accomplished alone. We know that standing on the sidelines is not an option. We are committed to promoting faith, family, freedom and opportunity. We believe that we’re one nation under God and all we do must be consistent with the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. We support candidates who share our convictions and hold those accountable that serve us in elected office.






• MERCURY ONE: “To inspire, organize and mobilize individuals to improve the human condition physically, emotionally and spiritually with malice towards none and charity for all.”

And for WE-the-PEOPLE … AND those who seek leadership among us …

CONTRACT FROM AMERICA: The Contract from America is a grassroots-generated, crowd-sourced, bottom-up call for real economic conservative and good governance reform in Congress.

Blogathon Carries On …

OK, well … I’m enjoying a nice long weekend, mostly with family, but it seems I have some “time off” to attend my personal “stuff!” My friend “Citizen Tom” nominated me for this lovely – award/challenge! Thanks Tom!

What to do? Well, here are the rules.

1. Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.

2. They must also answer the 11 questions the “tagger” has set for them.

3. They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.

4. They must then choose 11 bloggers and tag them in their post.

5. These “lucky” bloggers must then be told.

6. No tag backs.

Here are the questions for the people I was tagged by TOM to answer. Since this is a blog that mixes politics and religion I will alternate between the two. When you answer, feel free to elaborate.

1. What is your favorite Bible story?
   hahaha Well, right off the bat, my hackles go up at the phrasing of this question! (I’m such a “heretic!”) There are parables in the Bible, and there are illustrations of Biblical principles but I choose not to call them stories because, to many, that gives them less importance! Anyway … My favorite would have to be, though it is a difficult choice, the advent of the Birth of Christ. From the conception of John the Baptist through the lamentations in the streets for the slaying of two year old babies it is absolutely fascinating to see the Sovereign Provision of God, how the prophecies of the Old Covenant are fulfilled to the letter …




2. Who is your favorite president?
   George Washington! Such a principled man, a man of extreme inner strength of character – strong enough to withstand the cry of the people to make him King! It amazes me and frustrates me because we see few such men or women in “public service” today.
3. What is your favorite book in the Bible?
   This changes from time to time, but I’d have to say currently it is Psalms. There is a Psalm to fit EVERY human need, condition, and emotion, and it’s a comfort to know that David was a “man after God’s own heart” even though he was a horrible father, and murderer, an adulterer, but he had a repentant, “teachable” heart.
4. What is your favorite person in history? Does not have to be a political leader.

   Well … after some thought, the one(s) I admire most throughout history are the ones excluded from the hsitory books except by generalizations. The feudal farmers, the early American settlers, the tribal peoples around the world, those who have endured grave oppression, those who have sacrificed personally for the good of others … The nameless heroes throughout time. His name is … the OTHER!

5. Which of parables that Jesus told has had the most significance in your life?

   The Parable of the Bags of Gold (Mt 25: 14-30) – to whom much is given, much is expected (and I’m not talking taxes here!!)

6. What type of government do you think works best?
   ” … government of the people, by the people, for the people” because it takes into account HUMAN NATURE!
7. Which character in the Bible do you identify with the most?

   DAVID! lol Imperfect, sinner yet called “a man after God’s own heart!” I want to be that … A woman after God’s own heart!

8. Have you read a book about politics?

   Yes, currently making my way through a few: the The 5000 Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen; Miracles of the American Revolution, by Larkin Spivey; and the political thriller, Black List, by Brad Thor.

9. Have you read a book about religion?

   Yes, but interestingly, the books I have read on “religion” are also books with a political flavor, as well. As listed above, The Celtic Crusades trilogy, and The Dragon King Saga (fiction), by Stephen R. Lawhead; and Miracles of the American Revolution, by Larkin Spivey

10. If you answered “yes” to question 8, please name the book and the author. SEE #8! lol
11. If you answered “yes” to question 9, please name the book and the author. SEE #9! 🙂

The Parable of the Bags of Gold: Mt 25:14 – 30

Here are the blogs I tagged. Why did I pick these blogs? Why did I pick you? Your blog discusses either (or both) politics and religion. I enjoy reading your posts, and I believe others will enjoy reading them, too! 🙂 I hope you do not find this too annoying or tedious!

Should you choose to accept this mission, here are your 11 questions:

1. Where is your birthplace?

2. Have you traveled outside the USA? Where & why?

3. What is your favorite genre of music? Artist?

4. Do you have a personal HERO? Who & why? or Why not?

5. Glass half-full or half empty? Why?

6. What motivates you to get up in the morning?

7. Do you have a favorite novel or film? Title & author/director

8. Have you enjoyed any affiliation with the US Military?

9. Beverage of choice?

10. Favorite non-computer activity

11. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 10 being Off-the-charts, how do you rate your passion for the USA?

You lucky chosen ones … must answer these questions to the best of your ability. This post will NOT self-destruct, but YOU might if you refuse to participate! 😉

1. America’s Watchtower

2. Village of the Banned

3. The Unknown Soldier Blog

4. The Constitution Club

5. Sword at the Ready

6. The Patriot Factor

7. Socialism is not the Answer

8. The Lorinov Report

9. Nice Deb

10. Freedombytheway

11. Green Mountain Scribes

Julia – an Uninvited House Guest?

Tags

birth control, Life of Julia, NannyState

The Life of Julia hit me like a slap in the face when I first checked out the video. Funny, it hasn’t improved over time! To insinuate that any American women is incapable of graduating from high school, Conquering College (and paying for it) and taking the corporate world by storm, if she so chooses, without the aid of “NannyState” is completely underestimating the abilities, the tenacity, and the guts of the American Woman! I’m appalled!

And then, to further presume that any American women is incapable of carefully selecting her mate rather than spreading her legs for every Tom, Dick, or Harry that happens by is selling Women so far short, it makes me wonder what kind of women the president has known!

Any adult female in this country that cannot afford $9/mo for birth control, if the need is legitimate (i.e. available funds are not being spent irresponsibly), can easily acquire birth control through Medicaid.

Then there is the “compassionate” GENDER-CIDE pushed to poor, uncertain women as a way to control their family size and dimension! While the WH has stated opposition to a ban on sex-selection abortions, today the Republican controlled House, once again, came down on the side of Women and protected a woman’s right to be born even if the parent(s) wants the opposite sex! Guys, too!

Maybe, just maybe if we started asking MORE of ourselves – like a little SELF-CONTROL – we might find we are stronger than we ever imagined! But no, not this regime! This regime believes it is more “compassionate” to addict each of us to the government. If I work for it and pay for it, chances are very good I will take good care of it, and appreciate it!

Please realize who really has declared #WaronWomen!!! Come on, ladies, figure it out!

Also Read: Is THIS Julia? Do YOU Know Julia?

Federal Government Ad: Get In Shape With Food Stamps

President Obama wants not only to get as many people dependent on our nanny government as possible, but at the same time, break the system by flooding it!

Can you believe this? We have a government ad, paid for by the tax payers, to promote food stamps. Worse than that it leads one to believe that food stamps aid in one’s fitness that can actually help you lose weight. Tax payer ads are bad enough, but if the Obama administration is going to waste the tax payers money with promotional ads with the debt this country faces, at least have ads that promote getting a job, or getting off drugs, but please don’t waste our tax money promoting food stamps. Remember this ad isn’t telling someone in need how to apply for food stamps, or where they can get food stamps. This ad is implying food stamps are a good thing to strive for. The two ladies discussion at the end of the ad was sickening. They were laughing when they said: “oh, you get food stamps too.” Like that was something to be proud of.

I am not saying in this post that people in true need should not receive some aid to get food they can’t otherwise get. All I am saying in this post, this should not be something the government promotes. What the Obama administration should be doing is getting out of the way of the private sector so jobs can be created. Then there could be an ad telling people how to get off food stamps because of the good jobs available. I’m not holding my breath on that ad.

As Fox News contributor Wayne Rogers said on the “Cashin’ In” segment, the worst part of this ad is that “the tax payers are paying for an ad that promotes something the tax payers are also paying for.” READ MORE

WATCH BECK’S EPIC RADIO SEGMENT AFTER HEARING TAXPAYER-FUNDED FOOD STAMP ADS

Maybe you’ve heard food stamp public service announcements before. Maybe you haven’t. But when Glenn Beck did on Tuesday, he couldn’t contain himself.

Beck’s co-host Pat Gray brought up the commercials on Beck’s radio show. While the commercials have been around since 2008 — with the help of your tax dollars — the Beck radio team couldn’t resist having some fun with the spots after Gray heard them in the car recently.

In the taxpayer-funded radio commercials, you can hear paid actors talk about how they are “making a healthy meal together with a little help from SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program],” or how the program “helps you eat right when money’s tight.” READ MORE

As Glenn said on the air, government assistance is kinda like heroin addiction. Once you’re hooked, it’s hard to shake loose because there’s an art of us that enjoys FREE STUFF and because we all feel just a little bit “entitled!”

It’s GOVERNMENT vs LIBERTY

Can’t trust both!

How Does Obama’s Gay Marriage Stance Affect Military?

Tags

gay marriage

WASHINGTON — When President Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriages on Wednesday, he noted that his decision rested in part on the plight of gay troops who feel they’re being treated unfairly.
Now, gay rights groups hope that the president’s statement could trigger more dramatic changes for gays in the military in coming months.

It also puts the Defense Department in the middle of another heated social debate, less than a year after the repeal of the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, which barred gays from serving openly in the military.

In an interview with ABC News, Obama said his position on gay marriage has changed in part because “I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage.”

Within hours of that announcement, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki announced that his department would not argue for the Defense of Marriage Act in a lawsuit seeking benefits for the same-sex partner of a Navy veteran in Connecticut, another win for rights groups. DOMA prohibits federal agencies from recognizing legal same-sex marriages for purposes of family benefits or programs, since state laws on the legality of those unions differ.

Other Democratic lawmakers — including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. — also voiced their support for same-sex unions following the president’s lead. Proponents said they hope the groundswell of support can quickly move into legislative or administrative action.

“Hopefully, this will be the catalyst for the Pentagon giving more benefits to same-sex couples,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. “We hear from our military clients that they’re looking at or are planning on getting married, so it’s an important issue for them.”

For the last year, SLDN has pushed defense officials to broaden the benefits available to same-sex couples, even while the Defense of Marriage Act prohibits federal agencies from formally recognizing those unions.
Sarvis said lawyers at the network believe military commanders could grant gay families things like base housing, military ID cards, joint-duty assignments and combat exemptions without running afoul of DOMA. So far, however, military officials have maintained that federal statutes prohibit such actions.

Officials from OutServe, whose members include hundreds of active-duty gay troops, said the president’s statement helps bring the issues of inequality for gay troops back into the public debate.

But Clarke Cooper, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans and an Army Reserve captain, criticized the timing of Obama’s announcement, which came a day after North Carolina voters rejected a proposal to allow same-sex marriages in that state. Conservative opponents of same-sex marriage also called it a move designed to rally Obama’s core voters but not representing any real change.

In fact, just a few hours after the news broke, Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee worked to step back last year’s biggest gay rights victory — “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal — in the annual defense budget debate.

One amendment would bar any same-sex wedding ceremonies on military facilities, while the second would prohibit commanders from punishing chaplains who express views against homosexuality.

Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., who sponsored the latter amendment, said the move was necessary because the president “is now using the military as props to promote the gay agenda.”

The measures are unlikely to pass the Senate and become law, but do indicate the continued difficulty ahead for any substantial change from Congress on the issue of same-sex benefits.

The Obama administration has said they will not defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, but Republican House leaders have taken up the cause in their place. Efforts to overturn the law have stalled in the Republican-controlled House … READ MORE

READ Obama Continues His Assault on Christians: Will Force Military Chaplains to Marry Gays, and

Public Opposes Gay Weddings at Military Facilities

OPINION: At a time when the correct thing, the necessary thing to do is CUT costs in the military, the timing of this couldn’t be worse! While it seems logical for same-sex couples to receive the same benefits as married couples (in & out of the military) the expense of bringing this to pass is certainly an issue.

In addition, it must not be mandatory for a Chaplain to go against his or her conscience in the performance of such ceremonies.

On some level, one must wonder what President Obama might have up his sleeve. Several statements in weeks past have polarized the American people even further on the abortion/contraception issue, including his own base. Why would he deliberately force people to choose between their conscience and him unless he has a “Plan B?” Just sayin … Are we paying attention yet?

Another Inconvenient Truth

Cards on the table: The banter back and forth about gays doing this and the repeal of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) and DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) have our American culture in an uproar – which is EXACTLY what the current administration wants. Contrary to his promises during his 2008 campaign, President Obama has divided our nation more than any previous leader. Not only are we Democrats v Republicans, but we are Left v Right, Black V white, Rich v not rich, white collar v blue collar, “religious” v atheist, Pro-life v Anti-life, Male v Female, and gay v straight. There seem to be no end to the issues he can raise to divide us further. His staff and supporters are working overtime to make the gay v straight issue into a major distraction from the genuine issues our nation faces, so I thought I’d take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and put my cards on the table – all of them!

FIRST: I am a student of both the Bible and human nature. As such, I believe I have a pretty clear understanding of what the Bible says about marriage and about homosexuality. basically, God loves marriage, but he hates homosexuality.

HOWEVER, and here I want to specifically address Americans of the Christian faith (including Catholics). It is my opinion that WE are responsible for the guile that often spews forth from liberals. Because many “Christians” fail to make a clear distinction in word or deed between the ACT of homosexuality and the INDIVIDUAL who lives by this lifestyle, we have built a reputation of hypocrisy! We SAY God loves, but WE do not exhibit this love except when it is convenient. FACT IS God loves each and every gay an lesbian man or woman as much as He loves you and me! That’s FACT! Why do we, as believers, fail to demonstrate this truth? Is it fear? Is it arrogance? Whatever it is, it is among the most destructive energies on earth! Rather than embracing individuals, often those rejected by society, Christians beat them up with the Bible verses condemning them to hell. Such love! Is it any wonder they spew hatred back at us?

SECOND: As far as I am concerned, we are all in the same boat – sunk without the grace and mercy of God! None of us are perfect, as described by Scripture. None of us can change any seck of our character and personality without the assistance of God. If I have an anger issue, I can get therapy or practice self-discipline, and the best I an hope for is some small improvement. God is the One who changes us, little by little, in HIS time and in HIS way. A gossiper is just as separated from God as a homosexual. A fornicator is just as separated from God as a thief. An unloving-Christian is just as displeasing to God as an adulterer. We are encouraged NOT to judge one another, but by our FRUIT (Mt 7:1; Gal 5: 16-26; 1 John 4: 7-21; Rom 3: 23; Rom 5: 6-8; Rom 6: 23,) but rather to love one another. If Christians were better at this, many, many things in our society would be much improved!

THIRD: Acceptance is a whole different matter! Again, there is a distinct difference between accepting the PERSON and accepting the behavior. As with ANY and EVERY sinful behavior, the first step is admitting it is sin. This is where gays today get hung up. Guilt is a tough thing to live with, so many have decided it is … “fair! God must have made some people gay.” Whether this is true or not remains unclear, but I have my doubts. It is certainly true that gays have been around since the earliest cultures, but always as a “fringe” element. Never until now have homosexuals tried to change their behavioral status to “normal.” Political pressure from the liberals have created an aggressive agenda to forward the issue of homosexuality as a valid alternative lifestyle choice. In response, at least one researcher has “changed” his opinion. Researcher apologizes for study of gay therapy. This President has turned around several policies that maintained the distinction between acceptance of the people (as in DADT) and the behavior, but we are seeing individual states defining MARRIAGE as, by definition, a union of 1 man and 1 woman – to date, more than 30 states have added this to their books.

What happens in my bedroom (or not) is no one’s business but mine and anyone I choose to be with. That is my bottom line. As far as the government is concerned, as far as taxes or benefits, or pensions, or … whatever, what matters most to me is the reservation of my Privacy! The LGBT movement is NOT about privacy. It is about endorsement! The social stigma under which they often live weighs heavy, and endures much in the way of harassment and bullying. (Again, if Christians handled it correctly, this would not be so!) To make up for this, they want the mainstream population to endorse their lifestyle as normal. This explains the aggressive agenda within our schools for children as young as kindergarten!

Just seems to me things would be a whole lot better if we would grow up and learn to differentiate between the behavior and the individual! All any one wants is to be accepted, right?