Self-Control

Homosexuality is not modern. It’s been around for a very long time. Some suggest that it is because of homosexuality that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns. “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13).

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, [God] has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire (Jude 6-7)

I know this is a volatile subject, but the only reason it is (in my opinion) is because people want to do what they want to do—and they don’t want to be told they’re wrong in wanting what they want.

·         Fat people don’t like hearing that they need to diet and exercise!

·         Lazy people don’t like hearing that they need to get off their butts and work!

·         Gossips don’t like hearing that they need to shut up!

·         Heterosexual fornicators don’t want to be told how they’re hurting people emotionally and that they need to stop “screwing around”—people continue living sexually unrestrained lives and will insist abortion is a right and don’t want to be told that murdering babies is horrific!

·         Adulterers don’t like hearing that they need to stop tearing up families and can’t marry the one they committed adultery with, thus legitimizing their behavior.

Yes, addictions are real, but too often people want to do what they know they shouldn’t because: THEY WANT TO DO IT!!!!!

Like Jeremiah’s day, the people didn’t know how to blush (Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12). This is one proof that people generally haven’t changed. In the book of Judges the conclusion is offered a few times that because there was no king, people did want they wanted no matter if it were well-pleasing to the Lord or not (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). Their behavior made them happy, and that’s all that was needed.

The bottom line? We don’t like being told anything—which means we loathe authority. We’d rather go along the highways of life texting and drinking and speeding … and we’ll let anyone “have it” who’d actually try to stop us.

And … we don’t like self-control. We’d rather do what it is we want to do.

And THIS is the issue with regard to homosexuality. Immature thinkers don’t want to be told that they can’t do something: so they’re going to fight and scream until you leave them alone. And, yes, THIS is also the issue with regard to liars and gossips; baby murderers and whores.

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.
Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes.
But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

I Will Live To Be 115

They say only the good die young. I am inclined to agree; therefore, I will live to be 115.

We met at camp. We were fourteen (born in the same year, but he was actually six months older, his 46th birthday would have been Sunday, February 9th). Looking back on it I don’t know how our friendship really began; it seems to have simply always been. We hit it off very quickly and were not merely fast friends, we were best friends.

Now this doesn’t mean we always got along; like brothers we sometimes fought, but unlike brothers we always forgave. I can honestly say this is one thing I have missed so much about him: quick and complete forgiveness. It’s not that nothing was remembered, it just wasn’t remembered well. I have enjoyed other friendships in life (I truly consider my wife of nearly 22 years my actual best friend ever). But it is important—at least I think it’s important—for a man to have another man as his best friend. And I miss that.

I know when he died a part of me (deep within) died too. I can’t explain it with words, I explain it best with the tears that flow freely from me eyes when I hear a song that reminds me of him, or just some silly something happens. There have only been a couple times when I literally tried calling him, realizing as I dialed that he could not answer.

I know he’d laugh at me for being such a slobbering dummy, but I would like to think he’d miss me if our places were reversed.

It’s not like we talked all the time; as friends we didn’t need to (we sometimes would go a couple months without one word being exchanged). But whenever we finally came around to calling or writing or talking face-to-face, we picked up where we left off. And he was always there for me, as I tried to be there for him.

It’s been a little more than four years, but sometimes it feels a lot longer, and sometimes it feels like it happened just yesterday: reminders of him are everywhere if I choose to stop and look. Pictures in my office, an original drawing, Diet Dew.

We don’t get over the tragic losses, we just try to get through them.

I am thankful he is a part of my life; yes, I miss him dearly; and yes, I gauge other friendships by the one he and I enjoyed. There is always the hope another unique relationship will present itself. And I imagine at times that—if and when we see one another again in heaven—he will ask me what took so long. And we will pick up right where we left off.

Truth Set Right

Sometimes I’ve heard people speak about Jesus that he turned the truth upside down. But quite honestly I think “truth” was already upside down, and Jesus came and turned it aright (Jn 8.32; 14.6), showing everyone what truth was all about; except most could not handle the truth (most of us prefer a version much more palatable to our own tastes). He “fixed” the broken truths people had come to know and accept.

For example, in what we call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the Pharisees’ and scribes’ traditions against what God had commanded — “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5.20).

In Matthew 5.21-48 Jesus speaks against their self-righteousness by addressing about different things the people had come to learn and accept that were not entirely true. Murder is wrong, but being angry without cause is the root to murder and is equally wrong. Adultery is wrong, but lusting after someone with the intent to commit sexual immorality is equally wrong. Yes, we are to love our neighbors, but we’re also to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect and love our enemies (Rom 5.6-8). And if we are honest with ourselves then we’d admit how difficult that really is.

The heart is the heart of the matter (Mk 7.21-23). “For with the heart a person believes” (Rom 10.10).