Sex Outside of Marriage

Sex outside of marriage is not the will of God. "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterersGod will judge."(Heb.13:4) Life is tough for all of us, and it does not matter if one is young or old or male or female. Life is tough for all of us. One of the major problems in life is that too many people do not know what they should do. Or how they should do it. Perhaps they have not been taught. Or perhaps they refused to listen. I do not expect for people to be obedient to God if they do not know God. I do not expect people to obey the teachings of God if they have been taught to worship idols. I judge no person. I refuse to hate anyone. Does that mean that I must agree with all lifestyles? I did not say that sex outside of marriage is wrong. God did. Whose side are you on? I remember being called intolerant. Let me give you an example of intolerance: Several years ago I read in the news that a young couple in rural Iran were living together in a conjugal relationship without officially being married. Islamic elders from the village took them from their hut and cut their heads off from their bodies. That is intolerance, fanaticism, brutality, and ignorance in action. I suppose it is one way of defending marriage. I have read reports of similar responses to such relationships by Islamic leaders. To kill people for fornication is not God's way. God has His Word. He shows us how to live. Either you believe His Word or you don't. I pray that you obey it. But I refuse to judge you. God will take care of that.

I'm Going to Foxborough

I have been a San Diego Charger fan since 1961, since the days of Balboa Stadium. I remember Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison, Ron Mix, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln, Dick Post, John Hadl, Chuck Munci, Kellen Winslow and a host of others too numerous to mention. I have been with the Chargers through the valleys and mountain tops. They are my team. I am not really prepared to discuss much history about them. At this time, all I can tell you is that early tomorrow morning, I will be boarding an airplane that will take me to Massachusetts where I will attend the AFC Championship game between the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots. I'm not too good at the trash talk. I only pray that the Chargers play their best game and not have any injuries. May the good Lord bless them. Congratulations Chargers! You have come a long way.

Its' Only Money, Part I

I am not a proponent of foolish spending. I know money does not come easy. I do not love money. I respect money for what it is. I realize that having lots of it can provide for a person, many opportunities. I invite you today to have a healthy attitude toward money. It is a controversial subject. Who has the answers for providing for us a proper attitude toward money. God does. He says: "The love of money is the root of all evil." This is a powerful statement. Do not love money. Please remember: All of the money, and all of the treasures in this world; all things of value belong to God. "For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." Does God "need a loan"? Emphatically no. God does not "need" anything I have. I need Him. I need to obey Him. I need to love Him. I need to know Him. I need to have faith in Him. He tells me "I will never leave you nor forsake you." He tells me that "He will supply all my need according to His riches in glory." He tells me "Not to trust in uncertain riches." If we put all of our trust in money, we will be seriously disappointed. "With God all things are possible." With money, not all things are possible. Money comes in handy. It helps. It serves the functions it is designed to serve. But money cannot do the impossible. God can; and does. All the money on this planet belongs to God. Use your money like a servant. Don't stash him away and refuse to give some and spend some. Don't be a cheapskate. "The liberal soul shall be made fat." God wants to give us an opportunity to be blessed and enriched. Pay 10% of your income to the Lord and His work. Give offerings. Give to missions. Give to special projects. If you give, God will bless you. Are we going to outgive God? No, because He gave 100%. He asks for 10%. Remember: Its' only money. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (luke 6:38) There is much more to say about this subject. I will save it for another entry.

Don't Procrastinate

There is a saying that goes like this: "Lack of preparation on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part." One of the problems about getting stressed out when you allow yourself to let time pass and ignore deadlines, is that you stress others around you as well. To put others on emergency mode just because you failed to to the things that you should have done is not fair to those affected, whether they be family, friends or co-workers. I also realize, however, that what happens to someone else can also happen to me. I need to help others when I can. It may be a battle, but I need to pick my battles and make sure that I, myself, am not defeated by any of them. I must remember the word s of our Lord Jesus: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Should I help someone who procrastinated? Should some-
one help me when I procrastinate? Should I procrastinate? The answers to those three ques-
tions are easy: What would Jesus say/do?

Laziness is an Addiction

"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man." (Prov.24:30-34) An addiction sneaks up on a person while he/she sleepily, foolishly, ignorantly and consistently practices it. Poverty is one of the consequences of laziness, and "want" comes to rob one of his peace, reason, self-control and freedom. "Want comes as an armed man." Laziness is a bad habit. It can become a serious addiction. What is the solution to this bad habit? Much depends on why the person is lazy. On the other hand; every addicted person needs a counselor. I want to recommend the "Great Counselor." The great counselor knows your every problem. He knows your every need. He knows you better than anyone knows you. He knows if pride is causing you to refuse to work, because you might think you are "too good" to do certain jobs. He knows if you are bitter or argumentative, jealous or resentful. He knows if you got a "raw deal" along the way. The reason the great counselor can counsel you so well is because; not only does He know all about you; He loves you more than anyone can ever love you. He will heal you of your addiction. Call on Him He is available. His name is Jesus.