I am sorry for my insensitive and offensive comments against the women species.

From now on, all of my blogs will be posted on my blogspot account.  Bookmark it and check in regularly, as I hope to have something posted (link to something, quote, quick thoughts, reviews, or written pieces) almost every day.  Enjoy.

http://hisnameextoled.blogspot.com/

Al Mohler had a very interesting blog regarding homosexuality. The entire article should be read, but here are his 10 points of consideration for any "Christians who are committed to think in genuinely Christian terms".

1. There is, as of now, no incontrovertible or widely accepted proof that any biological basis for sexual orientation exists.

2. Nevertheless, the direction of the research points in this direction. Research into the sexual orientation of sheep and other animals, as well as human studies, points to some level of biological causation for sexual orientation in at least some individuals.

3. Given the consequences of the Fall and the effects of human sin, we should not be surprised that such a causation or link is found. After all, the human genetic structure, along with every other aspect of creation, shows the pernicious effects of the Fall and of God's judgment.

4. The biblical condemnation of all homosexual behaviors would not be compromised or mitigated in the least by such a discovery. The discovery of a biological factor would not change the Bible's moral verdict on homosexual behavior.

5. The discovery of a biological basis for homosexuality would be of great pastoral significance, allowing for a greater understanding of why certain persons struggle with these particular sexual temptations.

6. The biblical basis for establishing the dignity of all persons -- the fact that all humans are made in God's image -- reminds us that this means all persons, including those who may be marked by a predisposition toward homosexuality. For the sake of clarity, we must insist at all times that all persons -- whether identified as heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian, transsexual, transgendered, bisexual, or whatever -- are equally made in the image of God.

7. Thus, we will gladly contend for the right to life of all persons, born and unborn, whatever their sexual orientation. We must fight against the idea of aborting fetuses or human embryos identified as homosexual in orientation.

8. If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin.

9. We must stop confusing the issues of moral responsibility and moral choice. We are all responsible for our sexual orientation, but that does not mean that we freely and consciously choose that orientation. We sin against homosexuals by insisting that sexual temptation and attraction are predominately chosen. We do not always (or even generally) choose our temptations. Nevertheless, we are absolutely responsible for what we do with sinful temptations, whatever our so-called sexual orientation.

10. Christians must be very careful not to claim that science can never prove a biological basis for sexual orientation. We can and must insist that no scientific finding can change the basic sinfulness of all homosexual behavior. The general trend of the research points to at least some biological factors behind sexual attraction, gender identity, and sexual orientation. This does not alter God's moral verdict on homosexual sin (or heterosexual sin, for that matter), but it does hold some promise that a deeper knowledge of homosexuality and its cause will allow for more effective ministries to those who struggle with this particular pattern of temptation. If such knowledge should ever be discovered, we should embrace it and use it for the greater good of humanity and for the greater glory of God.

something to hold you over until i write something more concrete...enjoy?
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"May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day." - taken from the prayer "Morning Dedication" in The Valley Of Vision

Such a simple idea on the surface. Who wouldn't want their best day to be their last. I was thinking about this, and I don't know of anyone who would want to leave a legacy that was consummated in a final moment of mediocrity. Normally, I am led to believe, that people would want their last moment to be one of glory. Glory. Can there be anything better than to live a glorious life? Fame, power, wealth, is there a pursuit that is not rooted in glory? Whose glory? That is the focal point here, and it is the deciding factory behind this prayer's closing statement. We as Christians do not seek our glory, we do not seek our own will. It would be a shame to die in the process of sinning against Christ, our Lord, and stand before Him in the shame of what we were just engaging in. Sure we'll be in heaven being children of God, but how pathetic a way to be entered through the gates of heaven, then be called out of a shameful act! This is precisely what this prayer is praying against. We know not when our ordained time to die is, so the only way to avoid such a sad predicament is to live every moment as one that glorifies our Lord, and not one that glorifies ourselves (tho it truly disgraces ourselves, but we are a deceived people when we sin glory in sin).

"May I speak each word as if my last word..." What is so important with how we speak? It is so easy to be caught up in the moment and let our tongue be careless. Slander, gossip, using the Lord's name improperly, lying, boasting (in anything but Christ), engaging in aimless debates and trivialities, there are so many ways that our speech can be used improperly. To have this aim means that, I do not want to engage in any idle speech! I don't want to be anything less than edifying when I converse with the other saints! I do not want to meet my Maker speaking anything shy of a completely admirable glorification of His excellence! Oh, what a great goal!

"...and walk each step as my final one." There are countless things we could choose to do. Plenty of places we can choose to go, and plenty of ways we can choose to spend our time. The path of righteousness, the way to heaven, is a narrow and restrictive path. There are many things we ought not to do, and sometimes they seem devilishly delightful. What we choose to do with our time, will it be for the glory of God? Where will I be found when Christ comes for me? Oh, that I am doing something worthy of His glory!

These lines, as simple as they may be, are in fact so hard to live by. However, if we do live by them, they will be of much profit and will benefit us greatly as we live lives of obedience and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know the time God has ordained for us to die, and we will never know. The only way that we can be sure that we meet our Lord, when we die, in a glorious state (for His glory), we must have this goal: that every moment is our last and we strive every moment to do what we ought to do. To live a life that has this as it's aim would be incredible and would ascribe much glory to God, as we should desire. I do no justice to this idea. I merely give some pondering, but consider them for yourself, and see if a live fulfilling such a prayer would not be one worth striving for. All glory to God. Let our lives be worthy of such a calling as we were called by God.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. - Matt 13:44-46

These two parables were given to give us a glimpse of a couple things regarding the kingdom of heaven.  I suppose the most obvious is the value of the kingdom of heaven.  In both cases both men sold all they had to obtain it.  That in and of itself doesn't necessarily speak to the value though.  A person who has little would value something that had much less value than a person with great wealth.  For a person in the ghetto to sell all they have and invest in a cheap piece of land doesn't speak to much value at all.  This could provide a problem in seeing the value of the kingdom of heaven in the parables.  How much did the person lose to gain the kingdom of heaven?  The second parable sheds light into this question since it is a merchant that sold all he had.  A merchant in the business of pearls would have a significant amount of wealth.  For the merchant to sell all he had to obtain a pearl speaks much more than a peasant.  The kingdom of heaven must be of great value.  If the second parable emphasizes the value of the kingdom of heaven, what is the significance of the first?  We see that the man sold all he had in a rapture of great joy.  There was no hesitation, there was no doubt that that the treasure was of great value.  There was a burst of joy that caused him to do whatever he had to do to obtain that treasure.  The loss of everything he owned was a joyous occasion because of the value of what he gained.

I am reminded of what the apostle Paul said of the value of Christ.  "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ".  What is so valuable about Christ?  Christ, the only begotten Son of the Living God, who lived a life of perfect obedience, who lived a life where on the closest scrutiny, he could only be condemned by lies!  With his perfect life he laid it down on the altar of sacrifice to appease the wrath of God for all who believe.  "The precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot", was spilled out upon the cross, sprinkled across his children even when they were a defiled people, enemies of God.  This blood purchased us from death reconciling us to God, and ending our hostility toward God.  Christ's love was so great, that He chose to lay down His life and spill his blood, of infinite unthinkable value, that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (would) be saved".  "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us".  This is the Christ that Paul valued more than anything, even life itself.  What immense value is the blood of Christ!  This blood from this Savior is more valuable than all earthly riches.  How many things in our lives do we cling to for fear of losing?  Let us be awakened to the supreme, infinite value of but one drop of the blood of Christ Jesus.  Let us say with Paul that we "count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus", let us throw off everything to obtain this gift from God, offered to any who will accept.

There is more.  Receiving this gift is not something of drudgery and duty, but of joy and willful service!  Paul says to the church in Rome that "...We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation".  So what if we lose everything for Christ's sake!  Everything is as rubbish compared to Christ and His supreme in value!  How valuable can something be when once you obtain it you regret all that you've lost?  Let us glory in Christ!  Let us sing praises on rooftops because of the gift we have received in Christ.  Even at the loss of all we have, even to the point or torture and death, what we have obtained in Christ has more value than life itself, so let us "count it all joy, my brothers, when (we) meet trials of various kinds".  Christ as our example, He endured the cross "for the joy that was set before him".  If we know the love of God who wanted to redeem and reconcile a worthless people to Himself, if we know the value of the blood that was shed as atonement for our sin, a death which we deserved, if we truly desire to emulate Christ, then let us be joyous!  The psalmist tells says "Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds".

Christ is the truth and if we know Him and love Him, we will "rejoice with the truth".  Christ is the gospel, and if we know Him and love him, we will "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you".  Love for Christ results in an indescribable passion and zeal.  We have joy that no one understands, and we have an urgent desire to go and spread his message of salvation to all men.  The more we see Christ in all His glory, the more our love for him turns into a passion that consumes all we are, a passion that boils in us, longing to be poured out.  Christ commissioned us to continue the work he started, the work that was furthered by His apostles.  As adopted sons to the Most High King, we should come along Paul who said "I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes".  This eagerness to preach the gospel comes from knowing it's value.  Christ came as the light of the world to bring the gospel into the darkness, and call all to Himself, to save any who come and turn away none.  That was the passion of Christ that led Him to the cross, the reconciliation of sinners to His Father.  The closer we come to Christ, the more all consuming that passion should be, a love for the lost that carries us into harms way if need be for the sake of the Infinite God.  We approach the darkness with the light of life, and the more we know him, the more joy we have, and the more passionate we strive to bring hope to the lost!  We should give our lives, wholly dedicated to the cause of Christ.  We should have the desire to give up anything that hinders us from pushing forwards and obtaining the great pearl of the kingdom of heaven, Christ and Him crucified, slain before the foundation of the world to reconcile sinners to God.  Oh what a joyous occasion it is to have your eyes opened to the gospel of your salvation!  It's an all consuming joy, and our lives should mirror that.  The gospel of Christ is a treasure hidden in a dead world, which by the grace of God we discover.  Then in our joy we go and give our lives as living sacrifices to God to obtain the gospel of Christ!  Let this be true!