Jesus Wouldn’t Give Me That Ticket

Image via Wikipedia

I got a speeding ticket two weeks ago.  My emotions remind me of a boy caught with his hands in the cookie jar, but as an adult, I’m angry with the officer that we couldn’t just have a conversation to work this thing out. He nailed me, fined me, and jeopardized my insurance rates. He disagreed with my style of driving, so to speak, and won every argument against me. He didn’t care that I knew the speed limit had just reduced from 45 to 30 only a quarter-mile back.

As he approached the car I employed every respectful and compliant action possible. I handed him my license and registration out of the window BEFORE he asked. I had my window DOWN and acted friendly. I answered his questions HONESTLY. I didn’t cry (men don’t cry when they get tickets…we fume!). When he asked for my insurance card and had to get it from the glove compartment, he went back to his car to call in the numbers. I WALKED BACK to the police car with the insurance card, and still he punched in the numbers. I could tell his duty this day was to write speeding tickets.

In my mind, the ticket, though correct, is undeserved.

• I’m a good person and a good driver.
• I confessed my sin to him.
• I repented and respected his authority.
• I obeyed his requests without snarling back.
• This particular road is one of those roads where the speed limit is far less than most people drive. Most people drive 10- 15 mph faster than the 30 mph since it is five lanes wide and 45 mph just a quarter-mile back.

If Jesus had caught me speeding he would have let me off. When I confess my sin, he’s already forgiven it. I expect police officers and everyone else to put up with my trespasses just like Jesus. But they don’t. I’ve got to pay for my own sins with the human gods.

This week I went to the police station to see if I could get my ticket reduced by going to driving school. I was amazed at what she said: “Mr. Bier, we don’t have a record of any ticket.” I should have four plus this one. She typed in the number of the paper ticket I handed to her. She told me I could go to driving school to get the ticket REMOVED.

Image via Wikipedia

OK, maybe Jesus is in the system somewhere!

Two Inspirations for Getting in Shape

I’ve found two exercise inspirations the past two weeks. The first, a gift from my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law, bestseller, and totally flip saw to the current running shoe conventions. The second, a video diary of getting in shape using time-lapse photography.

First, Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen (Vintage) by Christopher McDougall made me run barefoot last week on the track (Awesome!) and go online to buy five-finger running shoes.

My injury plagued legs over the past thirty-five years never felt so good. Why? I McDougall claims (see short training video here), and I agree, the injuries are due to the high heels of my expensive running shoes and their rigid, anti-pronation devices. For the past twenty years, I’d run ten miles and come home with what felt like bruises around my ankles. My Achilles tendons stop stretching. I’ve had my right calf ball up almost regularly until the past four years the pain keeps me from running regularly, thus all the swimming and biking. I’m impressed by McDougall’s thorough description of the ultra runner’s footgear (or none), the current scientific research by University prof’s, and the fascination he displays with physiology and anatomy. So, I ran three laps barefooted in 45 degree weather on the brand new Science Hill High School track last week, and lap three seemed effortless at an 8:00 min/mile pace.

McDougall chronicles the ecstasy of running for-the-love-of-it, and the training, diet, and race-day antics these runners pull without injury and with unbelievable joy. The Terahumara (tera-oo-mara) tribe of Northern Mexico plays a mystical role in his writing. I found the stories of the encounters with a tribe which runs for-the-love-of-it a spiritual experience. I read Carlos Castaneda’s Journey to Ixtlan: the Teachings of Don Juan in college who spoke of running effortlessly, spiritually, for a hundred miles, but his “spiritual experience” while running was drug-induced and motivated by “the lord of the dark realms.” I don’t recommend reading his work, but for the past thirty years his mystical experiences while running fascinated me.

With Born to Run I connected to the stories of runners feeling light and airy as they bounce from rock to ground. I believe McDougall is right. We are born to run. We get fat and fluffy, lazy and used to sitting, watching, and getting others to do our dirty work, when our feet and legs were created (McDougall’s word!) perfectly for running well into our old age. One of our good friends is my age and typically beats every woman in almost every race she’s in. Now, I am going to share “Born to Run” with her so she can extend the life of her legs even longer!

Secondly, I cruised into a video of a man’s 365 days of exercise. I think he must have had a trainer, or he is well-read on body building, diet, and exercise. Nonetheless, I have several friends who keep up the same form through almost daily exercise including lifting weights, ab workouts, and swimming. I see the video and I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE. Now, if only I can get Rhonda to pose with me in our own time-lapse video of our own 365 days of exercise!

Related articles

• Best of 2011: The Barefoot Running Trend (fitsugar.com)
• BORN TO RUN: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen by Christopher 
• I was Born To Run (smileacrossthefinish.wordpress.com)
• Born to Run? (christostriathlon1.wordpress.com)
• Barefoot! (netniewoo.wordpress.com)
• Next Meeting (readingisoptional.wordpress.com)
• The Once and Future Way to Run: NY Times Magazine Article by Christopher McDougall (runblogger.com)
• Run for your life (muddlemash.com)
• Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton / Born To Run (itsnicethat.com)
• For Health, Running is a Natural Part of Human Life (samcivy.wordpress.com)
• Podcast: On Shoes, Form, Injuries and More with the Geeks in Running Shoes (runblogger.com)
• Staff Pick: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (themillions.com)

The Internet: My Third Brain

I have no doubt the internet is a crazy, maddening folly. It is also an amazing tool! I do almost all banking online. We bought over half our Christmas gifts online. I search for solutions to problems exclusively online. The latest search was for training our youngest dog to heel since I’ve tried my way for seven years with absolutely no success! The number of ways to train a dog to heel makes me dizzy. 

Watch: The Internet 20 Years Ago

The Internet 20 Years Ago!

I’ve repaired our refrigerator water dispenser from an online video saving about $100. I’ve repacked my trailer bearings while watching a video. My wife is knitting socks like crazy and often consults her favorite knitting sites.

We went online at our house in 1990 or 91. We had a 3200 baud modem for dial-up or maybe even something slower. I can’t remember all those numbers. I emailed so little since most of our friends, family and church members didn’t have email. When 14400 baud modem came on the scene in 1994, I paid the $100 for the modem, and then got hooked on the internet. Even though Rhonda could paint her nails waiting for a screen to load, most sites were relatively uncomplicated and fast.

One of the biggest fears for me is online pornography. It’s everywhere! I’m so sorry some folks click on those ads next to innocent sites, and then two years later find that they are spending every waking moment looking at worse and worse porn. It doesn’t take long! Buy a filter and set your search engine settings to filter all that stuff out. Get counseling NOW if you’re in trouble.

Another huge fear is identity theft or getting ahold of our credit card information. I’ve become so used to using different passwords only I know in my head, that I’m not as worried. As well, the thieves are so smart they’re going to get my info whether I’m on the internet or not if they really want it. How surprised was I when I got a call from Visa two years ago asking if I had made a purchase of truck parts in Australia for $3,200.00? Or in Brazil in 1996, when I was buying leather coats for Rhonda and me and my card wouldn’t go through…why? I had forgotten to tell the bank I was leaving the country! The credit card companies are more vigilant than I am, and don’t buy that Identity Theft insurance since we are only liable for $50.00 max if someone steals our numbers. And that leather coat? Stolen a couple of months ago!

The internet is my third brain. My wife’s is my second brain. If I can’t remember something I type in something close and “BING!” my browser finds it. It has learned the way I think. I’m going to get that program that continues to post Twitter feeds and Facebook feeds after I day based on my pattern of posting! No one will ever miss me!

For theological and counseling purposes the resources are amazing! I cannot believe how much information is free: from podcasts to textbooks. Google books is amazing with all or parts of many excellent resources copied online.

So, FEAR NOT! just use common sense and stay away from those perverts who are trying to get us addicted to trash and spending our money frivolously.  Get a third brain for only $44.95/month!

"Which of these three beings is thinking, 'Yum. These oats are going to taste great next fall?'" Image via Wikipedia

We are NOT like the animals. Please don’t clump me with worms, dolphins, cats, monkeys, aphids, and even dogs! While watching a documentary on dolphin slaughter in Japan (23,000/year in one bay!), (http://www.savejapandolphins.org/), people equated dolphins with humans almost 20 times! Yes, we overlap in some behaviors, but please don’t equate animals and humans. Here’s why…

In Ecclesiastes 3, verses 18-21 Solomon says that, yes, we are like the animals because they live and die and so do we. They breathe. We breathe. We have similar functions, and then we die. In verse 19, he states that this is HEBEL, a misty, transient, temporary, and “crappy” condition of our life on earth. We are both doomed to die. We have no choice in the matter at all!

21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

Some people have taken this verse out of context to say that humans and animals both have “spirits”. They make this verse say too much. Solomon simply states the obvious: When a person or animal dies, we don’t see a “ghosty” cloud leaving the body going up or down. You can believe what you want about dogs or animals in heaven, but that is not what is being said here. We humans cannot see beyond this life. We cannot see spiritual things with our eyes. What can we see?

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Solomon sees a powerful, life-giving force at work when someone enjoys working (producing results). Animals don’t work and find meaning. An oxen plowing a field has no greater satisfaction at the end of the day. A dog doesn’t lick itself, and say, “I love the feeling of being clean!” A horse doesn’t think when plowing and say, “Yum! These oats are going to taste great next fall!” They don’t find satisfaction in labor like humans do! Only humans are given that “lot in life.” That is our place! Enjoyment is what distinguishes humans from animals.

Humans CAN act like animals! Humans CAN act animal-ish, ruled by impulse, desires, and basal bodily functions. Humans CAN ignore the ultimate questions of why we do what we do, what happens after life, why are we here, how do we find real pleasure, how do we know God exists. The brilliance of Solomon’s wisdom is in asking the question in verse 22, “Who can bring him to see what will happen after him?” He begs the greatest question, “Where is God in this world?”

God is within this world, a good God, a God that wants our happiness in an unjust world, who can make work meaningful because he is present in it somehow. He asks us to think less like an animal and ultimately to acknowledge his presence! No animal can do that!

More Kids Cost Less, How to Pick a President, What Movies are Better Right Now, ETC.

From Around the Web…

And it has lights! Image via Wikipedia

More Kids Cost Less

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-01-10/family-parents-kids-spending/52484040/1

In the Above article we read how having more kids becomes LESS expensive. I guess it’s like buying in bulk!

 

How to Pick a President

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/june/17.22.html

From an old Christianity Today article we see a discussion about the 2008 Presidential election as relevant as any discussion today! What candidate is best? I’ve never had the omniscience to know the answer. Some spend their all their energy until their dying breath to prove their candidate is the “Right One.” I think the system has a fatal flaw: human incompetence or incomplete knowledge, or just plain sin! This article will bring sanity and a little more objectivity to your thinking. I think Jesus said something like, “Don’t get bent out of shape by the worries of the day…”

Movies to Watch

http://www.nyfcc.com/2012/01/armond-whites-2011-better-than-list/

What movies are trash and which have some redeeming value? Which one’s are hype and which one’s are substance? I have a few friend’s who’s choices I respect, but haven’t found one reviewer who has summed his critiques so succinctly as Armond White. Some of his choices are still too raunchy or portray immorality as normal, right, and celebrated for me.

Free Audio of “Knowing God”

Cover of Knowing God

http://christianaudio.com/free

Download the hugely inspirational, thoughtful, theological classic “Knowing God”, by J. I. Packer for FREE this month. I’ve listened to two chapters while running and didn’t want to stop running it was so good!

Funny!

http://www.punoftheday.com/

Nathan discovered this site. I think men like puns better than women, but if you could remember three or four good ones (to you!) they come in handy when the family is joking around the table. Example: Don’t be like the raisin who wined about how he couldn’t achieve grapeness.

Solid Daily Advice

http://michaelhyatt.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=52d5c7778a3adfda535c3b349&id=2c78f1b2da&e=dd68eb0f9a

I get Michael Hyatt’s blog sent to my email every day. Almost every day he has some useful tool, leadership element, or common sense life application for me. I hope you subscribe.

Pastors Do >15% of All Counseling, But How?

For 26 years much of my Pastoral Counseling took place in uncontrolled situations. Rarely did I have a “clinical” relationship with a “client.” For almost two years, I have had a “controlled” or “clinical” relationship with clients who do not attend my church nor have any other relationship with me. I’m using the word “uncontrolled” because so many more variables impact an active pastor who also counsels people in his/her church. The pastor has more than one role in a member’s life such as, friend, teacher, community leader, or tithe recipient. Playing the role of counselor without understanding the interplay of these other roles makes for an “uncontrolled” situation.

Pastoral Counseling is tough to define. The best description is that the pastoral counselor is concerned with “ways to bring together behavioral sciences and theology, or psychotherapy and spirituality” (Townsend, Loren. Introduction to Pastoral Counseling. Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2009. p. xii) Pastoral counselors often use theological reflection, that is, the use of comparison to deeper stories and concepts in the Bible, and ethical, justice, reconciliation, and redemptive themes. Pastoral Counselors must have a theological degree as well as clinical experience and education in current counseling theories and methods.

Because of the spiritual qualities to pastoral counseling many pastoral counseling books avoid a formal intake interview for the Pastor. Possibly, the pastor may seem too formal when using an intake evaluation, as a clinician would. In a formal intake interview the pastor asks questions about mental health and trauma, yet I have found many members not wanting to disclose these personal details! Members often have difficulty disclosing significant contributing mental illnesses, addictions, past marriages, or abuse. So, how should a pastor in a continuing relationship with a church member proceed to insure a complete understanding of the person and the issue at hand? How does a Pastor gather pertinent information without offending?

First, every pastor needs training in ethics and confidentiality. Current federal laws regulate all secular counselors to the strictest standards. Pastors are exempt from these standards professionally, but knowing the standards helps the pastor and the member understand the necessary boundaries to insure safety and honesty. All Pastoral Training should teach what these boundaries are and how to maintain strict confidentiality. Any staff, including custodial and administrative, should go through similar training and sign agreements of strict confidentiality. Some pastors may want to go so far as to explain the rules and ethics of confidentiality to members at the beginning of a first session.

Secondly, pastors need to know when to not counsel but refer members to professional counselors. Most of the pastors I know understand this guideline. Most seminaries teach pastors to refer, and to not have more than two to four sessions with any member. Several exceptions exist. First, pastors often engage in “informal counseling.” Talking on the phone, giving advice after a service, or hearing a problem as a “prayer request” describes some informal counseling settings. Secondly, pastors come in contact with people who have persistent problems and need friendly support. Though some see “support” as less than counseling, it is an exception to the guideline to stop counseling and refer, in my opinion.

(More thoughts coming on relevant intake methods for Pastors)

The Best Pill for Treating Diabetes and Just about Everything Else!

St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (Image via Wikipedia)

A Doctor-Professor answers the old question “What is the single best thing we can do for our health” in a completely new way.
Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Follow Dr. Mike on Twitter @docmikeevans
Facebook/docmikeevans

Conceived, written, and presented by Dr. Mike Evans
Illustrated by Liisa Sorsa
Produced, directed, and filmed by Nick De Pencier
Picture and sound edit by David Schmidt
Gaffer, Martin Wojtunik
Whiteboard construction by James Vanderkleyn
Production assistant, Chris Niesing
©2011 Michael Evans and Mercury Films Inc.

Failed Lesson for Controlling the Economy: Nudge-a-Meter Needed

Belarusian Coat of Arms (Image via Wikipedia)

Belarus, the last stronghold of Soviet styled economics proves the utter failure of trying to control an economy. Inflation has doubled prices this year, and dropped wages in half, too, for a double whammy. The government owns 70% of Belarusian businesses, and politicians most of the other 30%.(Read more here.)

The lesson here is: We can’t control the economy. We can nudge it, but the economy has animal kingdom tendencies. It eats the weak and naturally selects for one breed over another. Government ownership and doles eventually fail. A good economy rewards creativity and hard work.

On the other hand can we give the economy Darwinian Evolutionary power? Do we submit to the strongest and fittest mentality with little empathy for the weak or the poor? What controls and regulations inspire creativity and an individual’s desire to work hard? We have seen the failed attempts of “Occupy” protestors because they offered no solutions. Churches no longer play the role of providing for the poor or the homeless. The government continues to prove its ability to give a safety net and more, so do we really want to overthrow the government and our capitalism because of some obvious flaws? Overthrow only works once every thousand years!

A German movie, “The Wave,” plays with this idea. A High School teacher assigns his class an experiment to make up a new form of government. They make up all the rules as they go along. All old rules don’t apply unless the group decides. Within a day, the new system begins to break down. By day three, anger and tragedy bring reality home. The students need rules, authority and a real government. Humans left alone produce tyranny and chaos.

Paul said as much in Romans 12 and 13. The government is ordained by God, even bad governments. Even Belarusian dictatorships. Even capitalistic or Darwinian systems. However, Paul also speaks to this issue in Ephesians 6. He states clearly we don’t fight against flesh and blood but against the principalities, powers, and rulers of this world. These powers set themselves up and over human life and freedom. They destroy us. They oppress. They suffocate and constrict human potential.

However, Belarusians and Americans still produce vast numbers of creative and powerful human expressions. Though stifled in Belarus, the arts and religious expression continue to grow. Here, some anarchists work to overthrow our system as if all is evil when in reality, the governmental machine is more like an aircraft carrier than a kayak due to the bulk of humanity (100,000,000 more Americans in 35 years!), and the complex task of governing so many people.
We have to trust that God works in every system. People have a God-given drive to overturn oppression and moral wrongs. A good government is less about control, and more about nudging. If only we had a “Nudge-a-meter” to help decide who is the best nudger in the next election!

Related articles

• It is now illegal to access any foreign website in the Republic of Belarus (thenextweb.com)
• Censorship: Belarus Makes Certain Web Behaviors Illegal (mashable.com)
• Iron digi-curtain: Belarus nationalises internet (go.theregister.com)
• Belarus Has Outlawed Browsing Foreign Websites (forbes.com)
• Lukashenko calls Russia and EU partners, seeks help (rt.com)

Current Events Thoughtfully Discussed

Finally, an intellectual and relevant, non-hype broadcast using scholars and published works. I highly recommend listening to the podcasts called, “Thinking in Public.” Dr. Albert Mohler interviews professors and researchers with stimulating and relevant thinking. And there are NO COMMERCIALS.

As Christians walk through an increasingly chaotic and antagonistic world, we need a voice helping us think through tough issues. C. S. Lewis tackled similar issues of his day. His radio broadcasts during WWII and the bombing of London created a hope and purpose which countered the British intelligentsia’s skepticism about the war, the existence of God and moral law. The incredible number of replies requesting Lewis’s shows to continue surprised the BBC. His hopeful, Christian pragmatism coined phrases such as this: “History isn’t just a story of bad people doing bad things, but good people trying to do good things with something always going wrong.” The same virtues C. S. Lewis espoused, courage, justice, honesty, and charity continue to be virtues a conservative, evangelical intellectual named Albert Mohler promotes.

I occasionally listen to NPR’s hour-long talk shows including, Diane Rehm, Talk of the Nation, and Fresh Air, and Car Talk.  Except for Car Talk, each program brings an interesting person to the interview, but rarely is a Christian perspective given air-time. The conversation is interesting, but offers little, if any, helpful life application. I know this is an air-brushed generalization, but interviewing broken people who have no answers to avoid the same misery is typical of NPR. 

Because Dr. Mohler offers solutions or “advice” after each interview, he may seem judgmental, but he’s even-handed, non-judgmental, and appropriate without holding back where he’s coming from. He’s well read (seven or more newspapers before 7:00 a.m. daily!), a theologian, a professor, and a popular speaker. He’s a conservative, but moves freely in many circles (St. Meinrad Seminary, and the Gospel Coalition, for example).

His legacy as President at Southern Seminary (my Alma Mater) saw a complete faculty turnover in his first few years due to a resistance to conservative and evangelical scholarship. I don’t know all the ins and outs of these decisions, but most of my professors were great teachers. I understand that they played around the edges to give us a larger perspective, and some seemed to linger there too long creating a nagging doubt rather than an amazement at the scriptures.

Instead of listening to NPR, Rhianna, or Jay-Z while exercising or driving, download the podcasts of “Thinking in Public” and enjoy a world-expanding experience.

Related articles

• Al Mohler on NPR talking about the historicity of Adam (justaftersunrise.wordpress.com)
• The Goodness of God and the Reality of Evil by Dr. Albert Mohler (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)
• Mohler Appointed Schaeffer Chair at World Journalism Institute (prweb.com)
• Dr. Albert Mohler on 9/11 and Truth Telling (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)

An Aversion to Labeling Sin: Pastor Smith

Image via Wikipedia

Pastor Smith and Robert, the young man struggling with his sexuality, met again in Pastor Smith’s office. Robert came about fifteen minutes late in basketball shorts, a sweaty t-shirt, and new Air Jordan’s. He said, “Sorry about being late. I got into a three-on-three game at State’s gym. Sorry about stinking, too.”

“Don’t worry, Robert. It’s good to see you. I’ve had a few good games in my life, too. I’m glad you’re here.”

As Robert put a towel under his sweaty shorts he said, “I’ve thought a lot about our talk a couple weeks ago. I really don’t know why I’m so afraid of going to church. I guess I was programmed that way by my parents. They never went, and they only said how dumb and hypocritical church made you. You’re different, though.”

“I’m not much different than most of the Christians I know, Robert, but thank you for the compliment. It wasn’t Rodney King who started the phrase, “Can We All Just Get Along.” Jesus and the Apostle Paul said something like that 2,000 years ago!”

“That’s funny. I’m not sure if all Christians think that way, though.”

Pastor Smith leaned forward in his chair. “I think most Christians forget a fundamental doctrine of Christianity. We are all sinners, Robert. We get to feeling morally superior over other people all the time. In the 1500’s the Reformers had a phrase, ‘Total Depravity.’ to explain how we don’t have the ability to do much, if anything, perfectly. ”

“But Pastor Smith. That’s what I’ve been saying. Christianity is negative and rude. It labels people. “Good people.” “Bad People.” “Sinner.” “Saint.” “Homosexual or heterosexual.” How can you talk about someone else’s sin when you’ve got sin, too?

“Robert, the Bible doesn’t just condemn sin, but gives the answer to everyone’s inability to live perfectly in a chaotic world. In fact, I think that most people think they don’t sin, including Christians. I had an old Christian tell me once that most days he didn’t sin at all! He couldn’t remember the last time he had sinned. His only problem was that he couldn’t see his pride and indifference to any possible negative effect he had on people in his life.”

“But the Bible constantly talks about sin, doesn’t it?”

“Yes and No. In the Old Testament for every sin or list of sins mentioned, God restates his desire for relationship. He always shows people how he wants to forgive sin, from animal sacrifices to giving His Son as a substitute for our sin.”

“God didn’t say much about homosexuality, though!”

“That’s a good point. He doesn’t except for a few laws against it in Leviticus, which, I might add, are constantly questioned by my friends who do not believe homosexuality is a sin, and three places in the New Testament. Did you know that?”

“Not really, but I did hear some friends talk about how the Bible was twisted by homo-phobic translators, and a few of the translators were gay or lesbian. Wasn’t King James queer?”

“There is some evidence he was effeminate and possibly had male lovers, but his translators didn’t hold back any forceful translations against homosexual behavior, including Leviticus, even though King James used his power to get a translation favorable to his politics. Most modern translators understand that Jewish sexual behavior outside of marriage was due to cultural pressure, not because God allowed it. David had at least six wives. Abraham had a child with his wife’s servant. In the Promised land, the Israelites married Moabite women which God condemned, but we have no record of any man or woman lying with another of the same sex. It just wasn’t part of their mentality. Many wives? Yes. Same sex? As the King James Version says, ‘Abomination.’ I know this sounds hard, but that’s the cultural understanding of the context of the Bible. And it’s the same for the New Testament.”

“I think I’m done here. You’re just as prejudiced as anyone I’ve met.”

“You are welcome to go Robert, but one thing I must say. I’ve made a promise to be your friend, and even, to love you no matter what you do or say. You need to know that. I know we may differ, but if it’s love and acceptance you want, you’ve got it! Remember, I do the same for all my members, but it doesn’t stop me from talking about  sin and God’s tool he has for helping us become what he wants. If only I could help you see that God isn’t condemning because he’s hateful or prejudiced. I think this is the hardest part of the whole Christian doctrine to see, but it’s fundamental to hearing about God’s love, too.”

“Well, I’ll stick around for one more talk, but I don’t get it. I’m happy where I am, and so are most of my friends.”

“Robert, thank you! My goal is to talk freely with you, and if we can talk freely together, then we can see the most powerful of all the Christian beliefs. What time is good to meet next week?”

Related articles

• Come as you are (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)
• Scripture and Homosexuality: Romans (six11.wordpress.com)
• Why Is Homosexuality Singled Out? (reneamac.com)
• Homosexuality (conservapedia.com)