Let's Be Plain About This...

"I don't think gay marriage is any threat to marriage. So that's not why I'm voting the way I did. I think divorce is a bigger problem to marriage than anything else."

- Rick Warren

Let's be plain:

Divorce and remarriage is adultery.
Period.
No "kinda"s,
no "sorta"s,
no "if"s, and
no "but they..."s.

I don't care what Dr. Phil thinks.
I'll stand by what the Bible plainly says:

Divorce and remarriage is adultery.
This isn't about judging people any more than saying that intentionally killing someone with premeditation is murder.
This is about plain and simple truth.

Jesus did not give an escape clause... it's adultery.
Forget the special circumstances... it's adultery.
Ignore the excuses and explanations... it's adultery.
Toss the explanations about "Truth and Grace"... it's adultery.
Speculate no more about kindness... it's adultery.

Do we really believe that any situation is going to be made better by adding adultery to the mix?

Do we really believe that supporting adultery is kindness?

Do we really believe that God didn't understand the implications when He spoke to this issue?

Is God's Truth only Truth when we agree with it?

Divorce and remarriage is adultery.

"Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,

who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter."

- Isaiah 5:20

Quote of the Day

" ...if 2 to 3 percent of the population, [the gay marriage proponents] through hard work, good strategy, and smart use of resources can bring us to the brink of overthrowing a basic institution like marriage, imagine what the most committed, say, 25 percent of Christians and others of good will could accomplish."

Brian Brown, Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage
as quoted in "Marriage Moment"
by Kathryn Jean Lopez
National Review Online, March 10, 2009

Love Letter to the Beloved...

Right now many of our churches are under tremendous pressure. You as a pastor have made a commitment long ago to seek and to save His lost children.

You've toiled in the field.

You've made sacrifices that most men cannot understand.

You're trying to fight the good fight.

And now our economy has dropped and giving is down and you don't know how much longer you can hold it all together. Payrolls are being missed, members are fighting over where the sacrifices should be made and Satan seems to be running the table in so many areas of the church.

You're tired, you're hurt, your heart is breaking and the heat is coming from all directions, personal and professional.

Oh dear servant, take your rest in Him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

It was the word's Jesus spoke on the cross that changed the world forever. From the despair of saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” He was able to then say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

God has given us this night so that our lights may be seen clearly. This dark hour is but a season that we have been given to show His Power, His Truth and His Glory. A mere couple of sunrises separated Peter's despair from his rejoicing.

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

- Luke 22:31-32 NIV

He knows. He cares. He is here! Stand now, Beloved Warrior for the Cross. It is when we are weakest that God shows His Strength and He receives all glory.

And that, Beloved Servant of God, is why we are here.

One Last Lesson

I've learned a lot from my father over the years. Some lessons I learned as he talked to me and gave me explanations. Most lessons he taught me by example.

Lately, I have been watching and learning my father's greatest lesson: Dad has been showing me how to die. You learn some things when a person is facing death, but there have been no surprises with Dad. He loves the Lord and the Lord loves my Dad.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

- Exodus 20:12 NIV

I will miss my Dad very, very much when he goes to Him, but because of the parents that God gave me, I will someday go to my Dad and my Father. Oh, how I honor my parents for that.

Thank you, Mom and Dad. I love you.