Don't be folly

Sodomy (/ˈsɒdəmi/), refers to anal sex or other non-penile/vaginal copulation-like acts, especially between male persons or between a person and an animal.[1] The word is derived from the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in chapters 18 and 19 of the Book of Genesis in the Bible.[1] So-called "sodomy laws" in many countries criminalized not only these behaviors, but other disfavored sexual activities as well, but in the Western world, many of these laws have been overturned, or are not routinely enforced.


ANY FORM OF SODOMY whether it's man against man or woman or ANIMAL is SIN

Devotion on MONEY

Integrity with money: honest and trustworthy
Luke 16:1-18
Jesus spoke about money more than virtually any other subject (including prayer and heaven). Twelve out of his thirty-eight parables are about money or possessions. As Billy Graham put it, ‘If a person gets their attitude towards money straight, it will straighten out almost every other area of their lives.’

In today’s passage, Jesus teaches us how to get a right view of money. He starts with the rather strange parable of the dishonest manager, who is commended for his shrewdness.

Money is a tool
First, Jesus shows that money is a tool. The people of this world are often more sensible, thoughtful, prudent and wise than the people of God in understanding that money is a tool. The dishonest manager is commended for his shrewdness in seeing this. The reality is that money can be a tool for eternal benefit. ‘I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings’ (v.9).

Jesus has taught on the wonder of being with him for eternity in the parables of the great banquet (14:15–24) and the prodigal son (15:11–32). Here, we are reminded that the use of our money on earth can have eternal consequences. One of Jesus’ primary concerns was to see the good news of the kingdom of God being preached (v.16). Our money can be used to see God’s rule and reign coming to people’s lives – with eternal consequences.

Money is a test
Second, we see that money is a test. Jesus is not commending the dishonest manager for his dishonesty. Indeed, the opposite is the case. He goes on to say, ‘Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.’

‘So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?’ (16:10–12). We are called to be honest and trustworthy stewards of everything God has given us and, in this context in particular, of our money.

Money is a threat
Third, money is a threat. Jesus says, ‘No one can be a slave to two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot be a slave to both God and Money’ (v.13). As Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it, ‘Our hearts have room for only one all-embracing devotion, and we can only cleave to one Lord.’ Money is to be used, but not loved.

The threat is that love of money leads to hatred of God (v.13). Henry Fielding wrote, ‘If you make money your God it will plague you like the devil.’ The Pharisees loved money (they were ‘money-obsessed’, MSG) and sneered at Jesus (v.14). We are to have the opposite attitude to money. We are to ‘despise’ it (v.13). In other words, treat it with contempt by giving generously and focusing our love not on money, but on God who ‘knows [our] hearts’ (v.15).

Lord, help us to be good stewards with everything that you have entrusted to us, to be honest and trustworthy. Help us to break the hold of money in our lives by giving generously and focusing our thoughts not on money but on you.

Failure Anonymous – March 25
John 21:3-17

It’s my duty to barbecue the burgers, sausages, steaks or whatever else my wife has on the menu. And while I’m not the greatest chef when it comes to outdoor cooking, I love the unforgettable aroma of grilling over a charcoal fire. So the mention of a “fire of coals” in John 21:9 catches my attention. And I find myself wondering why John would include this detail in the story about Jesus calling a failing Peter back to serve and follow Him.

In verses 1-3, it’s apparent that Peter had reopened his fishing business. Just a few days before, Peter was warming his hands over a charcoal fire when he denied Jesus to save his own skin (John 18:17-18 ESV). So why not go back to fishing?

While Peter and his cohorts were casting nets, Jesus built a fire on the beach. Coincidence? I doubt it! And as Peter approached Jesus, I wonder if the pungent aroma of the burning charcoal brought back memories of that other fire where he had failed Christ. Yet Jesus in His mercy took the initiative to call Peter back into His service.

Think of it: Jesus is willing to forgive our failures and call us into His service. After all, if only perfect people qualified to serve Him, He wouldn’t have anyone to choose from! – Joe Stowell

Although we are imperfect, The Lord can use us still, if we confess our sins to Him and seek to do His will – Sper

Being imperfect doesn’t disqualify us from serving God; it just emphasizes our dependence on His mercy.

John 21:9: As soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it , and bread.

Ephesian 4:

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

If you are truly committed to serve God, your actions will follow like-wise.

If what your action today is not following God's word, re-evaluate yourself and find out how it happened.

And why do you bother what other people say about your action if what you did in your action was the will of the Father?

How do you know if you're following God?

Galatians 5:
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

You will be loving, joyful, peaceful, patience, kind, fill with goodness, faithful to God, gentle and self-controlled.

If you lack of any of these area then seek God to give you the spirit of beak through. Ask God to break your heart for what break His.

Choose Today Who You Serve. But As For Me And My House. We Will Serve The LORD. - Joshua 24:15


This post has been edited by fghvbn: Apr 20 2012, 02:13 PM

From The Christian Movie: Courageous (2011)

1. The resurrection: life beyond the grave
Psalm 49:1-20
In this psalm we see the stark contrast between life without God and life with God.

- Life without God
If we live without God, there is a tendency to end up trusting in two things: wealth (v.6a) and ourselves (v.13a). This trust in wealth and self is characterised by a search for status. The wealthy may ‘boast of their great riches’ (v.6b) and use money to impress others with their possessions (v.16). They may even name lands after themselves (v.11a).

They enjoy the praise of others (v.18b) and they ‘counted themselves blessed’ (v.18a). They may try to use their wealth to ‘buy off’ their own death (v.7). Yet no amount of money is ever enough (v.8). In the end, it is all futile as everything gets left to others (v.10b). ‘So don’t be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can’t take it with them’ (vv.16–17a, MSG). What is this all worth if we ‘decay in the grave?’ (v.14).

- Life with God
By contrast, if we live a life with God there is no need to search for status. This is because our status is determined not by our success in accumulating wealth, but in knowing who we belong to and how precious we are to him.

We know that our ransom has been paid for us (v.7b) and that we have been redeemed so that our future is secure. ‘But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself’ (v.15). As The Message puts it, ‘But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death, he reaches down and grabs me’ (v.15, MSG).

A life with God means we will live forever and ‘not see decay’ (v.9). Perhaps, above all, a life with God is characterised by a freedom from fear (v.5) because we are able to have total trust in God for this life and the life to come.

Here we get one of the few hints in the Old Testament of the resurrection which Peter quotes on the day of Pentecost to show that Jesus and his resurrection was foreseen by David long ago: ‘Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact’ (Acts 2:31–32).

Lord, thank you that you have made it possible for us to live a life without fear. Thank you that, just as your body did not decay in the grave, so too in Jesus you will redeem our lives from the grave and take us to yourself to be with you forever. Thank you so much for your death and resurrection which made this possible.

This post has been edited by fghvbn: Apr 23 2012, 10:39 AM

How to live your Christian life?
Ephesians 4:
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned
21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesian 5:
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I believe if we look back into the sermon of the mount in Matthew 5:



We can see that, God bless those who admit they are poor in the spirit.

Truly, we can see that, yes, God did told us not to depend on physical wealth in this life. But to be transformed to his likeness, to be RICH in character, attitude, faith and righteousness of Christ Jesus that we may be like him.

But at the same time, God did not despise wealth as well as he blessed Job, Abraham, Solomon with all the riches.

Money is just a tool God given us to reach out to others who are lost.
Money is also a test given by God, if God gives us more, will we be more greedy and not share it ?
And lastly Money is it a threat ? Will you choose Money over God as you receive more?

So brothers, let's be peace at this issue.

For
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

No, anal sex is not okay between married couples. The Bible condemns anal sex, which is called sodomy. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? God condemned the cities for their immorality, with homosexuality being one of the worst sins committed there. Anal sex is practiced in the homosexual lifestyle and is an unnatural sexual practice. Think about it. Male and female are meant to bond, not male to male and female to female. The natural biological structures (penis and vagina) are obviously designed for each other. Also, God’s intent is for men and women to marry each other and have normal sexual relations within the bonds of marriage. Anal sex is not normal sexual intercourse.

Finally, some studies have shown that the introduction of sperm into the anal cavity can contribute to various health problems. It is not healthy and it is sinful.

Lev. 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."
Judges 19:22, "While they were making merry, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, 'Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him.'"

http://carm.org/anal-sex

Brother, why would you want an unnatural sex? God create a key to open a lock, not for any other purpose, same goes for our sexual genital, it shouldn't be anywhere else other than the right places where they connect like a lock and a key.

This post has been edited by fghvbn: Apr 24 2012, 10:08 AM

Think about this, a man with a man ? which part are they talking about ? obviously the anus? that is homosexuality already, that is SODOMY.

Back to your argument above, you've already begin to question God's truth that sodomy is not this and that and it should be ALLOWED by your standard. Then my friend, you have been led astray.

Come back to the truth. God's truth is perfect in every sense, he has his reason that you should not conduct such act.

Whether or not you obey his Words or "to create a way that you think you are right and God is wrong".

and Please, TO ADD on, the story of Onan is not about masturbation.

The Story About ONAN.



This post has been edited by fghvbn: Apr 24 2012, 10:32 AM

Please refer to my story on Onan

What Onan was doing, however, was using Tamar for sex, but not giving her the child she deserved. One could call this theft - it isn't really the sex that is at issue at all. As the text clearly states, Onan did not want his deceased brother to have an heir. That would have negated his claim on the inheritance, and his new found status as eldest brother.

Interestingly, the story continues with this theme of theft - Judah refuses to allow his third son Shelah, to fufill this duty. (I mean, can you blame him? Two sons dead, and now looking at a third?) Instead of Shelah taking from Tamar, Judah is "stealing" Tamar's due. In the end, however, Tamar tricks Judah into securing her place in the line of Christ

it's not on masturbation, it's theft.

Medical Reasons Not to Have Have Anal Sex

- Anal sex can lead to stretching and tearing of the anal canal which leads to anal fistulas, perirectal abscesses, and anal fissures.

- After engaging in anal sex there is a risk of contracting vaginal bacterial infections, bladder infections, and kidney infections.

- Because the sphincter muscle was not created by God to dilate continuously like the vagina, forced dilation can lead to future incontinence. Which simply means you lose the ability to hold your bowels. If this happens, surgery will be required.

- Studies have revealed that the person receiving anal sex often experiences unexpressed feelings of shame, and embarrassment which can lead to depression.


Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship."

So, the Bible says that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It also says that you are to present your body as a living sacrifice unto God, holy and acceptable."

Although these scriptures do not speak of anal sex, they do tell you that your body (if you are born-again) belongs to God, and is the temple of God.

His expectation is that you present your body to Him holy and acceptable as an act of worship.

In our opinion, anytime you do ANYTHING to your body that purposely injures, or puts it at risk you are not honoring God.

Neither are you presenting your body holy and acceptable as an act of spiritual worship.

Think about it for a minute.

Doing all the above is already a sin and each of it has its own rewards.

Staying up late - you reap your reward for being tired and restless tomorrow morning and you feel miserable (The reward for your ignorance)
What happens next? You can't work properly, when you're tired, you can't concentrate on what God wants you to do.

Starving your body of sleep when you ought to sleep - same as above

Smoking - cancer (You'll reap the reward of sin later)
What happens next, would you be a good testimony to God's people at Church?

For the wages of SIN is DEATH - DEATH of Tiredness (ppl do die from tiredness of the body, gamers playing 72 hours without sleep = dead, smoking = cancer)

When you sin, it will bear fruit(or conceive) and when it is ripe, it gives birth to DEATH (Try being tired constantly without sleeping and see if you die)
But the Fruit of the Spirit gives LIFE.


God did not refrain us from eating any food. But eating excessive FATTY food knowing that it endangers your life should prompt you not to eat it so much. If you know you ought to exercise instead of sitting on the chair then do it.

WHATEVER YOU DO, IT SHOULD GIVE GLORY TO GOD.

This post has been edited by fghvbn: Apr 24 2012, 11:11 AM

"LIKE"

Thank You