Believers' Reactions and Relationships

In case you haven't heard, Jason Collins-- a black NBA free agent from Stanford-- made history Monday when he became the first professional athlete to broadcast himself as openly gay. He did so on ESPN and it has been the story of the day in print, on the airwaves, and online-- especially on Twitter. I saw an interesting tweet. Actually, we all saw it. Check it out y'all.

Tim Tebow: "I'm a Christian." Media: "Keep it to yourself." Jason Collins: "I'm gay." Media: "Aawwww, what a hero!"...

Now listen up, what you do in bed is not for broadcasting to the world. Homo, hetero, or your garden hoe. It is private information for only you, your family and close peers. That is not a headline story, ESPN. At best, maybe a line in the NBA notes section.

And what do you think we are anyway? Sodom and Gomorrah? Oh wait.... Well, God will NOT be mocked. Justice will be measured out. Why foolishly invite more?

All that said, hurling insults at Madame...., I mean, Mister Collins is no way to expose and set him free from the lies he is believing. See? With that joke-- funny or not-- I probably entrench him from my influences. Rather, I must use self-control and love him with the love of Jesus. As uncomfortable and illogical as that may be, God is greater. His Love wins.

Mind you, this is not synonymous with tolerance. God's grace is not that we can conttinue to do anything we want, but that we did nothing to earn His Love in Christ Jesus. He truly gave freely. Homosexuality is a sin. There's no denying it. God's love is not accepting the action of sin, but pursuing the person apart from it-- and doing so with patience, kindness, without envy, without boasting, no prides. not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not keeping record of wrongs, no delight in evil, rejoicing with the truth, always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, always persevering. (1 Cor. 13)

In loving others, it's all about relationship and how you treat people. First, the stronger your relationship with God is, the more you have opened up, surrendered, and let Him into all the rooms of your heart, mind, and life. As you do that, your identity becomes Christ. "...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal 2:20). The stronger your connection with God, the smoother Holy Spirit, God's love and power will flow in, around, and through you. Your relationship with God is what allows Him to reach you.

Likewise, your relationship with someone is what allows you to reach them. Who do people sooner listen to and heed: someone who insults and shuns them or someone who doesn't? Definitely someone who doesn't-- and more so as the relationship complicates positively. In a relationship, sometimes it only takes a few minutes to have a relationship adequete enough for a small matter. More often, however, it takes time-- days, months, years-- for a matter of greater weight.

If you then reach someone with the true spirit of the Lord, you will move them by God's love and power through you. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Yes, freedom from lies, bondages, depression, guilt, addiction, hatred, sickness, unforgiveness, darkness, and more!

That is what folks like Mr. Collins need. The Spirit of God and His love and power. And the freedom He brings. In this case, freedom from homosexuality as far as we know.

So spend time seeking God and building that strong connection to and flow of His Spirit. And treat others with His love no matter what. Your identity is then not only Christ but you know there's always someone out there who needs freedom. Jesus went to the Father so He could give us His Spirit.

The Spirit of God. That's how you win, kids. Now go get 'em.

Cover the Heartbeat Bill in Your Prayer

This post is just a reminder to pray that Arkansas' recently passed Heartbeat Bill-- which protects the unborn from the moment a heartbeat is detectable via ultrasound (at approximately 12 weeks) and is the strictest such law in the nation-- will hold up against inevitable lawsuits. A similar measure has passed in North Dakota. Several other states have upcoming proposals as well. Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and other organizations will take all to court very agressively. Please keep this a recurring prayer point in your relationship with God.

In Jesus' name, thank You, Father God, for these successful legal biddings on behalf of the innocent lives You create. Uphold them in the courts. Guard the judges even now from evil influences. Cover these cases with Your Hand. Help us to repent of this common murder. May we eagerly receive Your Holy Spirit and defeat these sinful spirits in our land. Praise You that Arkansas is leading the way! What a honor! Don't let the evildoer's anvil fall, but see us completely through for Your Glory. Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Yes. Amen.

Joseph Farah on Losing the Culture

This is an excerpt from one of Joseph Farah's daily columns. Farah is the founder, editor, and CEO of WorldNetDaily. You can read the original column here.

"There are many reasons Christians are losing the culture.

Christians don’t evangelize: The first-century followers of Jesus turned the world upside down because they lived their faith boldly, confronting the pagan culture even in the face of certain death. They did this out of love for sinners so they would have a chance to repent and avoid hell. As a consequence, they saved many from hell on earth. Nothing could stop them from telling others the good news. Today, most people who claim to be Christians are too afraid to evangelize – not because they will be killed, but because they might offend someone!

Christians retreat from confrontation: Is this biblical? Is it what Jesus did? Is it what Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, would do? Was Jesus non-confrontational? Read the gospels! Jesus confronted. He didn’t compromise. He said those not for me are against me. He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple and drove them out with a whip.

Christians' weak faith: Most Christians don’t know the Scriptures and thus can’t explain or defend it. For many, going to church once a week is the sole evidence of their faith. They don’t APPLY the eternal truths of God as written in the Bible to every aspect of their lives. For most, their so-called “faith” is a private matter.

Christians aren’t praying: God’s word tells us that if only believers prayed and humbled themselves and sought His face and turned from their wicked ways, then He would hear in heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. God didn’t say He would require all people in a given land to do those things to bring healing – just His people. That suggests to me the real problem in America today is with His people not doing their part...."

A Poem in Light of the Sandy Hook Massacre

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's
house."
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But Jesus, their Savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
Those children all flew into the arms of their King
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA