What If...

...a woman in a business suit walked up to you and asked you if you would help her out with some money for lunch? What would be the very first thing that would come to mind?

...a homeless man walked up to you and handed you ten, one hundred dollar bills? What would be your very first thought?

Many times I react to things based on my life experiences, or lack of, over the years. I grew up, unknowingly at the time, in a low income family. Unknowingly because life was good. I stayed at home most of the time to help around the ranch, so I didn't get to visit friends much and see what they had while growing up. I really didn't realize what I didn't have until I moved away to go to college. I ended up as a teacher's assistant at a high school in an affluent part of a beach city in California. Not until then did I realize what I didn't have while growing up.

It started me on a journey to seek out and obtain the things that I didn't have while growing up and then to keep up with the Joneses. It also started to change me and how I looked at the haves and the have-nots around me, and I wanted to be with the haves.

A couple of years ago I was challenged in my views of other people. As part of an exercise, I got to sit in on a tutoring class for underprivileged third and fourth graders in a predominantly Spanish-speaking part of the county. I went in with preconceived socio-economic biases about the people and the community. Fortunately my eyes were opened to the truth about them. Other than the language, lack of material things and living arrangements, there really were no differences between these kids and any other kids that I knew in that age group. They loved to have fun. They worked hard at their studies and strove not to just succeed , but excel at what they did. They were polite and respectful, but also mischievous. They understood where they were in the economic pecking order, but instead of letting that weigh them down, it ignited their desire to excel. These kids turned my world upside down.

If I was wrong about these kids like that, what else could I be wrong about?

So what if you did have a well dressed woman in a business suit walk up to you and ask you for help with getting lunch? I think most of us would think that she probably forgot her wallet somewhere, was rushed to get back to her job or something like that, so sure, no problem. But what if she was homeless? What? Her? Look at how she's dressed? Her hairs done. She's clean.

How do we really know that she's not homeless? Why do we assume that? She may have spent the night in her car, if she was lucky enough to still have it.  Maybe somebody gave her some money the day before so she could get a motel room for the night to freshen up. These things do happen. I've been involved with a similar situation. Too often we go by what we see and no more. When we're comfortable with situations, we're more apt to do things freely.

So this homeless looking guy walks up to you and hands you ten, one hundred dollar bills. Your first reaction may be to think who did this guy steal this money from? Why does he want to give it to me? Is this a trap so he and his buddies can rob me too? Why do we react to what we see and assume things?

I once heard a story years ago about a dirty, unkempt and smelly man who walked into a bank with a satchel full of money and asked the banker to hold the money for six months. He didn't want any interest, he just wanted a place that would keep his money safe while he was gone. Appearances overshadowed the transaction that day, but the banker accepted the money and agreed to keep it safe. After the man left, the authorities were called. An investigation was launched but they couldn't connect any crime with the money that was deposited. On time, the man returned. But this time he walked in dressed in an expensive business suit and clean cut. It turned out that the man was Howard Hughes.

Appearances can be misleading and barely scratch the surface to the truth about what is going on. People have a story that we're either too reluctant or too busy to take the time to hear. How will you react the next time someone approaches you for some help? Will you base your decision solely on what you see, or will you take the time to hear someone's story?

Then what?

Feelings

When she breaks your heart, she feels nothing. She moves on quickly...like nothing happened. You feel as if a piece of you is missing. You can't eat, you can't sleep. All you do is think about her, wondering if she ever misses you. You're depressed for weeks, months, sometimes longer. But then you realize what's important in life and you decide you need to worry about yourself. You soon move on...and she's stuck watching you smile...and realizes she messed up...

She'll regret everything.

Men of my generation have been told through the years not to express their emotions. We are not to show our anger because it's either inappropriate or just plain scary. We aren't supposed to show sadness or mourn because that's a sign of weakness. We have been taught to suppress our emotions.

Over the last twenty years, our culture has been more acceptable of this. It's now okay for a guy to cry at a chick flick. It's more acceptable for a man to have a righteous anger, just don't go flying off the handle. It's okay for a man to lay his emotions out on a table.

I see that women have changed as well. They still continue to express their feelings well, but they have kept more of their emotions in check. My generation didn't have very many good female poker players, but there are a lot more top caliber poker players that are women now. Is it because they can hide their emotions better while still being able to read the emotions of men? Or is it because they are competing more in what was once a male dominated business world?

The opening quote was found on Facebook. The nouns and pronouns were actually male, but I changed them to female. If you would change it back to the original, the emotions expressed would be completely understandable. The funny thing is that it works this way as well. Both men and women would look at the changed statements and accept the emotions coming from a man.

Is it okay for a man to express himself this way or is this still a sign of weakness? Are men still supposed to keep emotions like this locked up and unsaid?

Show Your Pride

Before proceeding, please be aware that there are portions of this blog that are "R" rated. The quotes and references are not intended to be "Bible thumping", but a loving intent to explain my personal position and faith.

I have someone that I hold dear that is homosexual. He's my youngest brother. Although we haven't spoken to each other in years I love him dearly. There are others in my life that may be homosexual as well, but that has never been an issue in our relationship because it hasn't gotten to the point for us needing to discuss it. They are friends because I love them as well. I am proud to have these people in my life. That being said, it has not deterred me from my faith beliefs and what I believe to be the Truth.

Many of my faith-based perspectives have come from my own reading and study of God's Word. I know there are many that discount the validity of the Bible being God's spoken word, but I have through  exploration and study wholeheartedly accepted the Bible as truly being God's Word. These perspectives have been supported by many deemed to be scholars of the Bible AFTER deriving my own conclusions.

The month of June has become known as Gay Pride Month, and becoming more widespread in it's support by the general public. The same-sex marriage issue in our country will especially be in the forefront this month. Some people have called me harsh when I say that homosexuality is a sin just like lying, stealing and murder. They become indignant when I say it's a choice, like any other sin. They claim to believe in God or call themselves Christians. Although we have our strong opinions, we remain friends because friends can disagree yet still love each other.

First and foremost, I believe unabashedly that God is God. He is not the man upstairs; He is not a so-called supreme being in the sky. God is the Creator of all living things, that's you and me, and He has given us free will to choose. If we obey Him and what He tells us to do or not do, we are called righteous (a term that I don't particularly like). If we disobey Him and not do what He tells us, we sin. It's not as complicated as some want to make it.

I also believe there is an evil power in this world called Satan or more commonly known as the devil. He is not one to be discounted because he and his demons roam this earth planting lies into the minds of, and plotting against people like you and me. The battle created by this is called spiritual warfare. The lies we believe and hold on to that keep us from doing what God designed us to do create strongholds. These two issues will be discussed in a different blog.

I believe marriage was designed by God mainly for the sake of procreation, although we derive immense God-given pleasure from it as well. In Genesis 2:23-24 of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible God says, "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Take note of the word "cleave". The Hebrew word for that is "dabaq" meaning to be joined, stuck, stick together or stuck together. The Hebrew word for wife is "ishshah" which is a feminine noun meaning female, woman or wife. God created man with his unique genitalia and woman with her unique genitalia to be joined together in sexual intercourse. So, for the sake of procreation, a man is to leave his parents and family to be physically joined together with a female in marriage.

So God says marriage is to be between a man and a woman; not a man and a man, and not a woman and a woman. But the lies that permeate our culture and society say different, and Christians, Jews and people who say they believe in God are buying into the lie that same-sex marriage is acceptable. Why? If what God says is so simple and clear, why do people argue that same-sex marriage is acceptable?

In the culture that was in the Old Testament of the Bible, men were the leaders of the different tribes and the households. So God was speaking to the men of that time through the Bible to give direction on how they were to live to honor Him. The Book of Leviticus is full of these directives from God. In Leviticus 18:22 KJV God says to the Hebrews, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Just to be clear, God didn't say it in English in that vernacular.

We don't usually see the word "abomination" other than in the context of the Bible these days. Abomination means intense aversion or loathing; detestation. Notice in the Scripture, God does not say, "an abomination" but simply abomination. This takes on the tone that this is serious; an intentional act that is loathsome. God is telling the men to not "lie" (Hebrew "shakab" meaning lie with, sleep with, have sexual intercourse with) with "mankind" (Hebrew "zakar" meaning male) as with "womankind" (Hebrew "ishshah" meaning female). How much more clear can God be about this? Sorry, I don't have a Hebrew font to give you the actual Hebrew words.

Homosexuality is at the root of this. Homosexuality is a choice; it's a lifestyle that a person chooses to be in. I don't believe, as some say, that homosexuals are born "that" way. We were all created as men or women with our specific organs to do as God designed us to do. But the lies that have permeated our culture and society have been embraced as being good and loving towards this sin. The tragedy with that is that those that have embraced the lie have embraced the sin as being acceptable. It's not.

None of us are perfect do-gooders. If you think you are, I don't think so. We have ALL sinned. I have lied. I have stolen material things, time and even love from others. Sin is sin. Sin is separation from God. Homosexuality IS a sin that separates one from God; a choice like all the sins that I chose to commit that separated me from God. God has told us to confront others gently about their sin (Matthew 18:15-17) and we are to love one another (John 13:34-35). Confrontation is what it is. People are afraid to confront others about their sin because they see it as being UNloving. Nothing could be farther from the truth when you're focused on eternity.

The homosexuals that I know also know of God and Jesus. There lies the dilemma. For them, as long as they continue to live in their chosen lifestyle, it is living in continual sin separating them from the promise of eternal life with God. For me, it is how to share the story of love, forgiveness and repentance. Jesus came to save the sinners of the world to live for eternity with Him. In love, I need to carry out what He started. I want them to be in heaven with me. The only way this will happen is if we all make a concerted effort towards the Truth and Love of Jesus and His sacrifice for us.

So as homosexuals and their supporters are showing their pride for their choice of a lifestyle, I love you all but I am showing my pride for being the forgiven sinner that I am. I am no better than any other sinner because I have made the choices I have that separated me from a loving Father God. I am proud that I know a God that came down from heaven in human form as Jesus to save me and others from our sins. I am proud that He has shown me a love that goes beyond all understanding that I can share with others. I am proud that He has shown me that no sin is too great to not be forgiven when we repent of our sins. I am proud to know that His love is transformational and that if you let Him, He can change you with His love. Finally, I am proud that He has brought me to this moment to share this with you and be open to you to share more of His story.




The challenge for you now is not to accept what I have posted here. I was challenged many years ago NOT to accept what somebody said without challenging it and seeking the answers myself. It has served me well in my personal relationship with God. Now go and see what it says in the Bible yourself and let God talk to you if you're willing to listen. Yes, He does speak to us; for most not in an audible voice, but in different ways.