The Devil is Busy Sermon: Don't Believe the Hype

For those who no matter when you ask them how they are doing or what is going on in their lives you always get a story, scenario, report of how the devil has been busy in their lives. Each week or month, or even day to day, the devil has done some sort of misdemenor that has affected their lives almost to the point of giving up, but they inform you they are soldiering on with faith in God, battle scarred and helpless to his attacks, they press on believing Satan won't leave them alone because that is his job, but with faith in God they will survive and try to keep on smiling. Satan broke down their car- cars break down. Satan let their lights get cut off or their child went to the principles office for fighting, husband cheated etc. There is nothing supernatural about any of these circumstances except for perception of persecution Eccl. 1:9 "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."

For people living like this and feeling like this you just want to find a way not to add to their life of attack by Satan. But my heart screams to say to them "You may have become depressed by life's bumps and bruises and may need to look into making sure lingering pains and stresses have not caused you to have some resolveable mental health issues, but one thing for sure is you have become depressing." You know no matter what you say or ask them before you leave their presence they are going to reveal the last thing the devil has done to them or someone close to them. HOW CAN YOU HELP SOMEONE WHO IS CONSTANTLY UNDER ATTACK; WHO HAS DECIDED TO TAKE ON SATAN'S ASSAULTS AS A LIFESTYLE AND CONVERSATION STARTER? How can you tell someone to stop blaming Satan when this is undoubtedly the only comfort they have in what truly must be a pain filled life?

JOB 1:6 “One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord “From roaming through the earth going back and forth in it.”

If you continue to read this passage, Satan tells God that HE has a hedge of protection around Job and it would have to be God himself to strike down all of the blessings Job has, because Satan could not harm a servant of God’s without permission. God says in verse 12 “Very well then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."

Notice Satan said he was roaming the earth causing evil, but He had to get special permission to touch God’s child, Job. Then Satan made a special bargain that actually ended with a kingdom purpose when he asked allowing removal of MATERIAL blessings from Job to SEE what Job would do. Job was disturbed by what occurred but he said “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 1:20. To his wife he said “You are talking foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” 2:10

God restored Job back to prosperity even exceeding what had been taken. Job friends tried to convince him he had to have sinned to anger God to punish him, because bad things happen to bad people: SATAN CAN ONLY TORMENT A SINNER. But Job knew His relationship with God and the limited power of Satan and even when what his eyes saw confused him, he still lived in the truth SATAN IS NOT MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD and no matter what was occurring on earth, God loved those who worshipped and obeyed Him. The KINGDOM LESSON from Job: no matter what happens in your life; will you allow it to control you, dominate your life by trying to figure it out, wonder WHY to distraction of living and serving God? Job discussed and wondered for chapter after chapter what was going on. He had made his stand in the beginning to continue to serve God, but he agonizes on the WHY with others and in prayer to God. It is in chapter 38 and 41 God answers Job. God asks Job 38:2-4 “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question YOU and you shall answer ME. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I LAID THE EARTH’S FOUNDATION? TELL ME IF YOU UNDERSTAND.” If you read the rest of chapter 38-41 you will understand God created all with care precision and love. He does have all of the answers, but sometimes our focus goes wrong. GOD HAS ALREADY ANSWERED OUR MAIN QUESTION: His undying love for us in any and all circumstances whether the circumstances are the way we want them or not. That is the only thing of importance; His presence in our life or else Satan occupies our life. The ONLY thing we should hold onto with ferocity is God. Circumstances in life will forever have its ups and downs, most man made not of supernatural origin. The debate between Satan and God was HOW WILL GOD”S PEOPLE BEHAVE? Remember, God and Satan began this whole thing with a discussion.

THOUGHT CONTROL AND MIND RENEWAL

THOUGHT CONTROL
“I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well fed or hungry whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” Phil. 4:12 The SECRET learned was he could still serve God whether he had material things or not. Pain makes you think of self, distracts you on self, and imprisons you on your bad luck when the greatest gift is God. God gives you strength for kingdom work not to acquire wealth, good fortune, or the will to keep trying to reach your goal in life; this has been a false teaching for years by the church and other believers and this is why there are so many hurt, depressed, Christians. The verse does not mean: “I can do all things I want in my life to get all the things I want in my life for me and then I will help others with what I have with God strengthening me to do. I CAN HAVE IT ALL with God. Amen”

Philippians 4:4-9 guards your heart and mind and gives you peace. Giving Satan credit for the majority of life’s circumstances is not PEACE. This is still a state of turmoil, questioning, confusion. When discomfort, comes as it does in all human existence, the first person to point the finger to for a Christian is not outward (Satan, Christian haters). The first reflection should be on self (Eve pointed at the snake, Adam pointed at Eve and blamed God for giving her to him), then outward. I don't mean checking to see if you sinned, but just to see was the problem just man made and not a curse, attack, or punishment. The decision of action will come back to you after you have experienced something you do not like: NOW what do I do or how will I respond, react, walk out this circumstance with God? What is it that I really need to be happy? Favor, fortune, fame or God? Did God create me only to experience and take from life? Are all of my days, nights, weeks, months, years of living occupied with thoughts of only having pleasure and comfort or the Great Commission?

MIND RENEWAL

2 Tim. 1:7 “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and a sound mind.” People work on the power and love but not the sound mind. How can anyone be happy if they feel their life is being stalked by Satan waiting to cause a mishap, failure, crumbling of good, crushing everything? The NIV says it is self discipline (sound mind). Self discipline is your reactions, how your mind responds and influences your actions.

“…hasn’t not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him. (James 2:5) ” “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder” (James 2:19). Read the two kinds of wisdom James talks about in 3:14-17 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition there you find disorder and every evil practice.” We try to put kindness, love, and peace on top of our heart’s desires saying we are reaching for them like a Christian. Our ambitions and desires should be kingdom minded first and foremost for them to be wise and without disorder. How to know if it is Kingdom minded: it helps others to come to God, grow in God, be maintained in God and you may not get one thing out of it.

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given as well Matt. 6:33. “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." Do you treasure money, success, favor, fame or God alone and His kingdom work? You can not serve both God and money; Matt. 6:19-24. Many believe becoming a Christian and going to church on Sunday is seeking the kingdom, but it is more than that; it is a lifestyle of knowing God intimately, His nature towards sinners and His children, God’s deepest desire for His creation and how you work with Him to accomplish this great love for His creation, and that you ONLY exist to come into knowledge of your kingdom birthright, your kingdom duty, and your part and position in kingdom work (telling people what you have learned and helping them to do the same). Armed with this knowledge you will never doubt that God is with you and Satan is powerless in destroying you; the only endeavor of IMPORTANCE (knowing God). You know the ending, you are on the winning team and the little discomforts faced on earth are trivial, never lasting, because it is not this life you are concerned with having the best God has to offer (salvation). It is your next life, the permanent one that concerns you. With this attitude Satan becomes laughable with his small efforts to hurt you on earth. The biggest hurt would be to miss heaven and you are in full control of that. The economy; you cannot control, prejudices; you cannot control, who loves/likes you; you cannot control, your eternal resting place; 100% in your control. What do you REALLY care about? Where is your heart and mind?

Make your living testimony for God so great, Satan would have to have a conversation with God to mess with you and we know how that turned out in the end with Job 42:10. “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord mad him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job LEARNED from his situation, he did not get stuck at blaming, questioning, perpetual victim.

Know Your Place Woman!

Below is an article I read on the subject of women in the pulpit. I took a little creative license and recounstructed the flow of the article in an effort to break up redundancy in my post on the topic. For the complete unedited article by Gerald Williams go to http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/women-in-the-pulpit-gerald-williams-sermon-on-apologetics-general-50300.asp?page=3 I enjoy presenting a male voice to this discussion whenever possible to put to rest that this is only a concern to feminists or women who disrespect the position of men within the church and family.

A WOMAN NAMED JARENA LEE WAS THE SECOND BLACK WOMAN IN AMERICA TO TRY TO ANSWER THE CALL TO PREACH ON HER LIFE ONLY TO BE TURNED DOWN IN HER ATTEMPT TO BECOME LISCENSED. SHE HAD AN INTERESTING THOUGHT ON THE MATTER. SHE WROTE...
“IF A MAN MAY PREACH BECAUSE THE SAVIOUR DIED FOR HIM; WHY NOT THE WOMAN? SEEING HE DIED FOR HER ALSO. IS HE NOT A WHOLE SAVIOR, INSTEAD OF A HALF ONE? AS THOSE WHO HOLD IT WRONG FOR A WOMAN TO PREACH, WOULD SEEM TO MAKE IT APPEAR.” I THANK GOD THAT THOSE WOMEN PIONEERS DIDN’T GIVE UP BUT CONTINUED TO FIGHT WHEN THEY WERE DENIED ACCESS TO THE PULPIT. SISTERS LIKE JARENA LEE, QUINCEILA WHITLOW, IDA B. ROBINSON, ROSA HORN, ELLA EUGENE WHITFIELD AND MARY J. SMALL.

HERE IS A THOUGHT BY DR. CRAIG KEENER FROM HIS BOOK ENTITLED “PAUL, WIVES AND WOMEN”.”IT IS A DANGEROUS THING TO TURN PEOPLE FROM THEIR CALL, OR TO OPPOSE THEIR CALL IF IT IS GENUINELY FROM GOD. ON WHAT BASIS DO ANY OF US MEN WHO ARE CALLED PROVE OUR CALL? WE TRUST INNER CONVICTION AND THE FRUIT OF HOLY LIVES AND TEACHING AND FAITHFULNESS TO THAT CALL, AND IF THESE EVIDENCES ARE INSUFFICIENT DEMONSTRATION OF DIVINE CALLING IN THE CASE OF OUR SISTERS, HOW SHALL WE ATTEST OUR OWN?”

GERALD WILLIAM'S MOST RECENT ENCOUNTER WITH RESISTANCE TO WOMEN PREACHERS HAPPENED AT A WOMEN’S DAY SERVICE HE ATTENDED. THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS A MINISTER. SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED THE COURTESY OF THE PULPIT AND SO SHE SPOKE FROM A ROSTRUM ON THE FLOOR. AFTER HER WONDERFUL MESSAGE, THE PASTOR GOT UP, COMMENTED COURTEOUSLY ON HER MESSAGE - (AS ONE DOES CHILDREN AFTER AN EASTER OR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM) - THEN HE PROCEEDED TO PREACH ANOTHER ENTIRE SERMON. WILLIAM'S RECALLS THAT HE FELT A BIT INSULTED FOR THE LADY MINISTER. IT IS HERE I WILL ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK IN HIS OWN WORDS.

AND SO I BEGAN TO SERIOUSLY WONDER WHY THESE FEMALE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL WERE TREATED LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM. AS I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE MATTER AND QUESTION FOLKS. I QUICKLY FOUND SOME ANSWERS. A LARGE PART OF THE PREJUDICE WAS BASED ON A COUPLE OF SCRIPTURES.

I CORINTH 14:34 “LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES; FOR IT IS NOT PERMITTED UNTO THEM TO SPEAK: 35 AND IF THEY WILL LEARN ANYTHING, LET THEM ASK THEIR HUSBANDS AT HOME;
I TIMOTHY 2:11-12 LET THE WOMAN LEARN IN SILENCE WITH ALL SUBJECTION 12 BUT I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, BUT TO BE IN SILENCE.

IT’S AMAZING TO KNOW PAUL TAUGHT MANY THINGS THE CHURCH HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE BUT, THEY DECIDE TO LATCH ON TO THESE SCRIPTURES THAT SEEM TO DENY WOMEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH AND HOLD ON TO THEM FOR DEAR LIFE. LET ME POINT OUT TWO CRITICAL THINGS THAT PEOPLE DIDN’T TAKE THE TIME TO DO BEFORE THEY WENT ABOUT RESTRAINING WOMEN FROM GOD’S PULPITS.

FIRST, THEY DIDN’T DO ANY BACKGROUND STUDY ON THE CULTURE THAT EXISTED OR THE HISTORY OF THE TIMES WHEN THESE SCRIPTURES WERE WRITTEN. SECONDLY, THEY FAILED TO READ FURTHER OR TAKE OTHER FACTS, PRESENTED IN SCRIPTURE, INTO CONSIDERATION.
TAKING TIME TO RESEARCH THESE SCRIPTURES AND THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE TIMES WOULD HAVE REVEALED THAT DURING THE TIME THESE SCRIPTURES WERE WRITTEN - THE DEEP PARTICULARS OF THE NEW CHRISTIAN RELIGION WERE NOT WIDELY KNOWN BY EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN. REMEMBER, CHRISTIANITY WAS NEW. PAUL AND HIS ASSOCIATES WERE RUNNING ALL ACROSS THE KNOWN WORLD TRYING TO ESTABLISH CHURCHES, TRAINING CHURCH LEADERS, MONITORING THESE NEW CHURCHES AND TRYING TO HELP THEM WORK OUT PROBLEMS AND GROWING PAINS. THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON.

LETS EXAMINE THE FIRST ISSUE, THE ISSUE OF WOMEN BEING COMMANDED TO BE SILENT IN CHURCH AND ASK QUESTIONS OF THEIR HUSBANDS AT HOME. READ I CORINTHIANS 14: 27-29 AND YOU’LL SEE THE BIG ISSUE PAUL IS ADDRESSING IS “ORDER” IN THE SERVICE. AS YOU READ YOU‘LL SEE THAT IN ADDITION TO ASKING THE WOMEN TO NOT DISRUPT THE SERVICE WITH THEIR QUESTIONS, HE ALSO ADDRESSES THE "TONGUE TALKERS" AND THOSE WHO WOULD "PROPHESY" IN THE SERVICE -- INSTRUCTING THEM ALL HOW TO BEHAVE THERE MIGHT BE ORDER IN THE SERVICE.

NOW, AS FOR THE WOMEN AND THEIR QUESTIONS... THEY WERE ASKING QUESTIONS TO PROBE WHAT THE SPEAKER WAS SAYING IN THE SERVICE, IN ORDER TO LEARN. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE NOT NEARLY AS EDUCATED IN THAT SOCIETY AS THE MEN WERE. THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW RELIGION, THEIR NEW FOUND FREEDOMS IN IT AND WERE EAGER TO LEARN MORE SO THE QUESTIONS FLOWED FREELY. NO DOUBT MANY REDUNDANT AND IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS WERE ASKED. WHY WAS THIS QUESTIONING LIKELY TO HAVE CAUSED A PROBLEM IN THE SERVICE?
QUESTIONING WAS A LEGITIMATE PART OF LEARNING IN THIS SOCIETY BUT, IT HAD TO BE DONE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. THIS INTERRUPTION OF THE SPEAKER WAS LOOKED UPON AS A DISRUPTION AND RUDE... AND IT WAS. SO, SILENCE WAS REQUESTED BY PAUL. IT WAS NOT A FORBIDDING THE WOMEN TO EVER SPEAK IN A SERVICE, BUT A CALL TO ORDER IN THE SERVICE. PAUL’S POINT WAS THAT THOSE WHO DIDN’T KNOW THE BIBLE VERY WELL SHOULD NOT PACE OR RESTRICT THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE REMAINDER OF THE CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION WAS LEARNING . THEY SHOULD INSTEAD SEEK PRIVATE HELP (IN THIS CASE FROM THEIR HUSBANDS) TO HELP CATCH UP ON THE BASICS OF CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION OR DOCTRINE, THAT THE REST OT THE CONGREGATION ALREADY KNEW.

WOMEN FORBIDDEN TO TEACH

AGAIN, AS YOU READ THIS SCRIPTURE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WOMEN OF THIS SOCIETY WERE RELATIVELY UNEDUCATED, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW RELIGION (CHRISTIANITY). THE BOTTOM LINE HERE WAS THAT, IN SPITE OF THE ZEAL THAT THESE NEW CHRISTIAN WOMEN HAD, PAUL DIDN’T WANT THEM TEACHING OTHERS YET, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT YET EDUCATED OR LEARNED OR MATURED IN THE WORD THEMSELVES. HE WAS NOT SAYING TO ALL WOMEN - THAT THEY COULD NEVER TEACH OR SPEAK OR PREACH. HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE EPHESIAN WOMEN WHO WERE UNLEARNED AT THIS TIME. YOU READ IT AND THINK ABOUT THIS... PAUL DIDN’T BELIEVE WOMEN SHOULDN’T TEACH MEN. PAULS CO-WORKER, IN THE LORD, PRISCILLA... WHOM PAUL COMMENDED, TAUGHT APOLLOS, THE GREAT PREACHER (SEE ACTS 18:24) IN ADDITION, PAUL HIMSELF OFTEN MENTIONS OTHER WOMEN WHO HELD POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CHURCH. PHOEBE WAS A DEACONESS / MINISTER / PREACHER OF THE CHURCH AT CENHARAEA (SEN - HA- RAY - AH_). SHE IS ALSO THE ONE DELIVERING PAULS LETTER TO THE ROMANS. THE FACT THAT SHE IS DELIVERING IT MUST MEAN THAT SHE IS QUALIFIED TO EXPLAIN OR INTERPRET ANYTHING CONTAINED IN IT THAT IS NOT CLEAR TO THE ROMAN CHURCH LEADERS OR MEMBERS. OTHER WOMEN WHO HELD RESPONSIBLE ROLES IN THE CHURCH MENTIONED BY PAUL ARE - MARY AND TRYPHAENA (TRY-FA-ENA) AND TRYPHOSA. THEY WERE MENTIONED AS THE LORDS’ WORKERS IN (ROM 16:6,12). AND, EUODIAS AND SYNTYCHE (SIN-TI-CHEE) MENTIONED IN (PHIL 4:2).

THEN, NO DISCUSSION OF WOMEN INVOLVED IN MINISTRY IS COMPLETE WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING MARY MAGDALENE, SALOME, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES. THESE PRECIOUS SISTERS ARE THE WOMEN THAT GOD CHOSE TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS, TO THE DISCIPLES, THAT JESUS HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD!!!

SO NOW I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS ATROCITY AGAINST WOMEN PREACHERS HAS NO SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION. THE ONLY FOUNDATION SEEMS TO BE THE PREJUDICE AND INSECURITIES OF SOME MALE MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY. AS I ALWAYS DO, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ AND KNOW FOR YOURSELF. THERE ARE MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO MEET ANY AND ALL OF YOUR BIBLE STUDY NEEDS. WE HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR PREJUDICE AND ERROR ON THE PART OF OTHERS, LEADING US OFF INTO ERROR LIKE THIS THING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AGAINST WOMEN PREACHERS FOR SO VERY LONG. READ TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED.

LET ME SUGGEST FOUR ABSOLUTELY AWESOME BOOKS THAT DEAL WITH THIS SUBJECT OF WOMEN IN THE PULPIT, IN GREAT DETAIL. THEY ARE...

* DAUGHTERS OF THUNDER BY BETTY COLLIER THOMAS
(Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1998)
* STONY THE WAY WE TROD EDITED BY CAIN HOPE FELDER
(Fortress Press, 1991)
* PAUL , WIVES AND WOMEN BY DR. CRAIG S. KEENER
(Hendrickson Publishers, 1992)
* WHEN WILL EVE BE FORGIVEN? BY DOROTHY GUYTON
(Infinity Publishing, 2010)

****My note******
No matter who the defender is of women being able to preach, they will encounter cultural considerations. Most of the restrictions of culture or customs of antiquity have been over ruled or nullified in regard to our male Christian counterparts, but historical customs for women remain. To ensure accurate doctrine the same guidelines for interpretation must apply across the board.

BIG LOVE Lessons

If you have no idea or have never seen the HBO series called “Big Love” then you are missing an opportunity to think about and evaluate your own religious leaning; even your own particular denomination. Big Love is about more than a particular religious doctrine, it is about looking at people LIVING out their religion, something that is actually more important than your belief system.

Big Love is an American television drama on HBO about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah who practice polygamy. Big Love currently stars Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin, Douglas Smith, Grace Zabriskie, Mary Kay Place, Matt Ross, and Cassi Thomson.

The polygamous family struggles to hide their true religious practices from the public due to polygamy being illegal. This family unit broke away from their fundamentalist family ties which adhere strictly to the teachings of the Prophet. The Paxton family thinks they can have the same basic religious beliefs as the practicing fundamentalist Mormons, but updated and more acceptable to mainstream America.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the principle formal body embracing Mormonism in today’s world. It had well over nine million members by the late twentieth century. It is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joseph smith founded Mormonism in upstate New York after he translated his revelation of “the Book of Mormon,” which recounts the history of certain tribes of Isreal that migrated to America before Christ was born.

The Mormon way of life is distinguished by order and respect for authority, church activism, strong conformity with the group, and vigorous proselytizing and missionary activity. Mormons believe that faithful members of the church will inherit eternal life as gods and even those who had rejected God’s law would live in glory.

In both of the groups of Mormons depicted in the series, the fundamentalists and the more progressives, there is one common factor THEY ARE CRUMBLING IN THEIR FAITH BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL AGENDAS. Each family group wants power and control. Each is willing to lie and deceive others to get what they want. Each group’s life does not shine a good light on their faith.

With all religions, it is the action of the people that draw or repel those looking at the way they live instead of the words they say. Christians have this same problem. It is not the doctrine that speaks to the masses but the way that we live and interact with others. It is our private agendas added to our religious beliefs that cause the most conflict within the society. On the show Big Love, it is not necessarily the differences of the faith of Mormonism that is destroying the followers; it is how they are living it out.

LDS Church response:

In March 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) issued a public statement citing concerns over the program's depiction of abuse, polygamy, use of stereotypes, and television's depiction of moral and civic values in general. Among other things, the Church stated that, "Despite its popularity with some, much of today’s television entertainment shows an unhealthy preoccupation with sex, coarse humor and foul language. Big Love, like so much other television programming, is essentially lazy and indulgent entertainment that does nothing for our society and will never nourish great minds." In March 2009, the LDS Church stated that HBO's writers, producers, and executives were displaying insensitivity to church members by choosing to display simulated segments of the LDS Church's Endowment ceremony in an episode of Big Love. The LDS Church also stated that the show had continued to blur the distinction between the LDS Church and "the show's fictional non-Mormon characters."

BISHOP CAROLYN TYLER-GUIDRY biography

I will be doing a series of biographies on several women pastors as I continue to pick up interviews from other women clergy.

As the second female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Bishop Carolyn Tyler-Guidry was the first female appointed to be a presiding elder in the Fifth Episcopal District which includes California. She started Bible School in Los Angeles in 1977, followed by her pastor-ship of the First AME Church in Indio, California. After instituting some creative programs there, Tyler-Guidry moved on to pastor another church, Cain Memorial AME Church in Bakersfield, where she remained for five years.

Coming to Los Angeles in 1989, Tyler-Guidry was appointed to pastor the Walker Temple AME Church, a major metropolitan church with about 600 members. Her performance was so extraordinary that five years later, she became the first female appointed to presiding elder in the Fifth Episcopal District - a milestone.
Throughout the years that she pastored the above-mentioned churches, Tyler-Guidry used the skills she had acquired in Business and Secretarial Science at J.P. Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi, her hometown, where she earned her AA degree and she later studied economics at Tougaloo College, a liberal arts institution also in Jackson, Mississippi. She had also worked for the NAACP and chaired the women's voter registration in Jackson. In addition, Tyler-Guidry's 12 years at Security Pacific Bank in California added to her wealth of experience that she used skillfully during her various stints as pastor.

Tyler-Guidry went on to become the second female bishop elected in the A.M.E. Church in July 2004 about the same time she received her master's of theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. With her election as a bishop, she is designated one of the AME's Episcopal district worldwide; her first district was the 16th Episcopal district which consisted of Cuba; the Dominican Republic; Haiti; Jamaica; London, England; Suriname, Guyana; the Virgin Islands; and the Windward Islands.
At the 48th Quadrennial Session of the AME General Conference in July 2008, Tyler-Guidry presided over the Business Session XIV. One of the items on the agenda during the sessions, held every four years, is the assignments of the bishops to the various AME districts worldwide. After the 16th district, the Right Reverend (her official title) Carolyn Tyler-Guidry was assigned as the presiding prelate of the 8th district. That district included Louisiana and Mississippi, her home state and she stated that she was pleased to extend greetings to all who visit this site and I must say that I am truly excited to have the opportunity to serve as the Presiding Prelate of the Eighth Episcopal District for this 2008- 2012 Quadrennial.

Despite the rigorous schedule her administrative and pastoral duties as a presiding prelate entailed, Tyler-Guidry always found the time to conduct invocations, served on numerous boards and other community activities outside of the church. And though her official duties often make her relocate to different districts within the AME church structure, Tyler-Guidry calls Southern California her home. She is the mother of six children and the grandmother of twelve.

Women in the pulpit

I ran across an article by a husband and wife ministry team, the Swifts, who tackle the issue of 'Women in the pulpit.' Their entire article can be found on ezine (http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Women-Supposed-to-Minister-in-the-Pulpit?&id=1057596)

I like the way they use various passages from the Bible to bring to the forefront who exactly is allowed to teach others. They take the totality of the Scriptures, knowing that the letters of the New Testament were written separately, to deal with specific issues faced by a city at a particular time in the unfolding of the founding of Christianity. They begin by building a foundation of who the new Christian is:

To most Believers (especially new Believers who haven't been taught old customs) the verse that seems most natural (in a supernatural way!) about the ministry of women is found in Galatians where Paul says:
Gal. 3.26-28 -- Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Establishing first, who we are in Christ, is crucial on the individual level. To realize we have been freed in Christ from restrictions that bound us in culture and the Jewish faith allows us to participate in our new lives as Christians. This is the building block for all else we do in Christ.

Next, the article points out the main scripture used to show women should not be in the pulpit:
"But," many men claim, "there are Scriptures that teach the submission of women -- in marriage and in ministry!" Actually, there's just one. Our key verse is found in the letter to Timothy:

1 Tim 2.11-14 -- "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."

I have tackled this passage in my book "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?" pointing to the goddess worship that was occurring in Ephesus at the time Paul wrote this and their belief that womanhood was to be worshipped for its life giving and regenerative essence and the male counterpart was not to be held in high regard. The Swifts also looks at key words used in the passage such as: usurp and silence. In my book I did not deconstruct the usage of the word silence, which I now believe plays an important part to understanding the 1 Timothy passage, so I will include the Swifts' exegesis of the word at this point:

In fact, "silence" is a good word to show how quickly you and I can make a wrong guess as to the meaning of a word in the Bible. After all, if women are to "keep silent", wouldn't you think that means they have to keep their mouths shut? But the Greek word used for "silence" (hesuchia) is the same word used in 1 Tim 2.2 in which we're told to pray continually "for kings, and for all that are in authority; so that we may lead a quiet [hesuchia] and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

The word hesuchia (according to Strong's Dictionary) describes the life of "someone who stays at home doing his own work" and doesn't meddle in the lives of others." In 1 Tim 2.2, it would obviously be wrong to say it means the kind of "silence" that we usually talking about -- you know, "pray for kings, and for all that are in authority; so that we may all shut up and live in peace..."? It doesn't make any sense.

But when you apply the correct meaning in 1 Tim 2.12, it makes perfect sense that Paul would tell women to participate in the meetings "quietly", not "meddling" with the teachings that Paul had given them about the Gospel, Jesus Christ, etc.

"I do not permit a woman to teach"... In the spiritual atmosphere of Ephesus, women (especially women) needed to sit quietly and learn. And Ephesian women needed especially to not be allowed to "usurp authority" over the men who were teaching -- attempting to perpetuate the cultic teachings of female, spiritual authority and thereby taking control of the young, Ephesian church. What Paul is saying here to the Ephesian Believers, in light of the extraordinarily difficult circumstances facing this Asian church, was that women (steeped in these false teachings) needed to just be quiet, sit and learn from the men. Remember: Paul doesn't tell women this anywhere else. It is a word of instruction for Ephesus."

For this particular church faced with the false teaching of it's time--goddess worship, the women learning about the gospel of Jesus should not speak up about the goddess and what all of the other women in the area were participating in. Women, in that area, believed that it was through womanhood that people could be saved, not a man (Jesus). To take power from the notion of powerful womanhood, it would take men leading the charge. Even if the women of that area spoke the gospel and taught correct doctrine, it would still be a WOMAN in a power position issuing truth, still keeping the image of manhood weak. Paul had to use strategy in this area of female domination and it would have to be the MAN to step up to the plate in this area if the grip of goddess worship was to be conquered. Remember, Paul did not teach this to every area he evagelized and we know he evangelized Lydia and in essence sanctioned her home church and she was the one who would go on to teach the rest of the converts in her area. There is no way to get around this fact of this home church Lydia set up Acts 16:14-15. We all pull Phoebe up (Rom. 16:1-2) as a close worker in the church with Paul. Even with two named women, very active in ministry, one instruction in the book of Timothy seems to supercede them.

Whenever there seems to be some confusion in interpretation, more in depth study should be done. One of the main things I try to gently tell people is that the words used over 2,000 years ago have undergone many 'definition' changes. What a word meant even 200 years ago does not necessarily mean the same in the 21st century. Who would have guessed that 'silence' could have another meaning other than "shut up" or "be quiet?"

Continue to seek God's truth in prayer, study, and conversation amoung saints. Read the Swifts' article in its entirety. It is sure to be a blessing in the life of those trying to reconcile this issue of women as ministers.

The Pain of Christianity: My Story Dorothy Guyton Part 2

THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG READ:
I have said many times that a person must have a vision and a goal. I may have said some kind of 'happy go lucky' kind of quote or spark of wisdom like 'never give up and never give out." I remember drill sergeants screaming "Don't quit on your body and it will not quit on you" as they pushed you to do your 80th pushup.

The truth of the matter is you can get beat up on the way to greatness or success. You can be pushed so hard by people you would believe would be cheering for you until it not only knocks the wind out of you, but you’re fighting spirit as well.

I have been stung by comments from people and wondered what "I" was doing that warranted such a comment. I have had prophesied over me that I needed 'a humble spirit thus sayth the Lord.' This was after I was the only person to answer, strictly out of pity, the pleas and beggings of the prophet for people to come forth for prayer.

My latest gut punch was when a woman interrupted a conversation I was having and said I needed a covering and needed to stop jumping from church to church. How do you respond to a statement like that? What is a COVERING? And as far I know I have only been the member of one church, which I no longer attend, but visit other churches from time to time.

Maybe some more back story is needed. I am from a very small town where you are born into a church. You go there because everyone else in your family goes there. Your pastor is selected by whoever asks and you say yes so you will not hurt his feelings. People find it difficult to finish high school and will not attend any Bible teaching that requires a book, pencil, and paper. With this said, these are some wonderful, loving, devout Christians who have lived religious tradition and consider it some kind of voodoo to introduce anything new. Needless to say, the religious atmosphere is rigid and hell is the destination of those who want anything more or different. You must "WAIT UNTIL THE PASTOR DIES" because the anointed can not be removed. The Baptist are very Baptist and women are not allowed in the pulpit because they are unclean (I have heard because she has a period) and every other denomination holds very close to their tenants.

Some may assume from the above paragraph that I may have a problem with humility and they would also be mistaken. When I believed I was not being fed enough to enable me to have a closer personal relationship with God, I went to college to learn more. I did not make it an issue with my church or try to teach them all of the new wonderful revelations I was learning. Just the opposite occurred. The more invisible I tried to make my biblical studies, the more comments were being made. I heard "the Holy Spirit tells you all you need to know and man can tell you things and make you sound smart but God does not have to send you to school. People try to learn psychology and philosophy but all you need is God's word." It was more than clear that book smarts was not acceptable when it can to religion in my area.

There were many Sunday's after church that I would cry and ask my family was I doing something to warrant the comments. My family became protective of me trying to shield my=e from assaults as I tried to remain a faithful Christian and remain in the church for fellowship purposes. Good Christians wait out the devil, as pastors are prone to say when Christians are having difficulties within the church. I would become nauseous before attending church and began anointing myself with oil and having my family to pray before we entered the church doors. My children finally gave me an ultimatum, they could no longer bear to see me be under assault for no reason and they could no longer watch this unfold month after month. If the Lord told me to stay that was fine, but I was scarring them. WOW! What do you do with that?

After much fasting, prayer and tears, I finally felt peace within myself that five years was enough. I spoke to a Christian counselor who after hearing my story actually told me I was dealing with a person with a dangerous personality disorder where no matter what I did I was going to be a target of aggression. Even with this counseling, it was painful to leave my family church.

I have been searching for another home church that valued Bible study community service, and women. I was so traumatized from leaving my first church that I never wanted to get into that situation again. Needless to say, the search goes on and you are not considered a Christian or a good Christian if you are not in the pews every Sunday. People shun you; you must be a rebellious person who stirs up trouble wherever you go. I am a Christian with a SCARLET LETTER.

Now, do I believe I am the Christian people say I am or the Christian God says I am?

Paul said whether anyone believed him or not, he knew the calling God had given him (to preach to the Gentiles) and did not need anyone else's approval. He did not remain in the 'church' to prove he was a Christian, he went about his work and answered to God becoming one of the most prolific evangelists of the Bible. Jesus himself would be asked by the priests if he was the son of the devil. David, the anointed one of God, was chased for years by King Saul whose only intent was killing David. Jezebel put a hit out on the prophet Elijah.

If you are a fan of facebook, there is story after story of disenfranchised Christians for one reason or another was left with no other option than to leave the church. There are many who tell you that you must be in a church or else you are a renegade Christian. Martin Luther broke from the Catholic Church as did many other founders of denominations most are sitting under till this day. Persecution goes hand in hand for those truly seeking God.

Acts 5:41 "The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." the apostles had been arrested for preaching to the people in the temple court. In my case I was not teaching the gospel. But I was saying in a meeting that our community and children were being lost and the church would have to make a change and become involved because they were the ones who had the people's ear. Many in the meeting agreed going into more discussion on the subject with agreement from the chairperson who was a pastor. After the meeting I asked the pastor to ask his congregation, with strong encouragement, to attend a unity event meant to try to draw the community and churches together. The pastor began to explain the people were too poor and not concerned with anything and I said that has been the response from every one but could he really try to sell this as important to his congregation. "Enter pastor’s wife stage right with the comment I need a covering and to stop jumping from church to church."

I immediately became repentant and apologized for any offense. She said she just had to tell me what the Bible says.

I had a restless night of conversation with God; of soul searching. My family as usual prayed for me and became angry with others as I told them not to be. I got admonished as usual "when was I going to learn to stop throwing pearls in front of swine." I happen to be the vice president of the organization relaying the sentiments of all of the members, not my own (even though I thoroughly believe the
same).

What does one do when they are witnessing the death of their community, state, nation? Martin Luther King gave his life for his vision that was tinged with religious values. All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Many great ministers said they wanted to quit and throw in the towel. They say people covet what they now have but would not have survived the torment and trials they endured.

I want to throw myself a pity party, but I know I have nothing to be pitied for. God directed me to more education so "I" could have a closer relationship with him. And we know the Scripture says to those much is given much is expected or what you were given will be taken. I guard the gifting God have given me and I will not allow the three or four voices of opposition to stop me from encouraging and ministering to the needs of the greater number that have sought me out for counsel or a prayer. I will not say I love my brother or sister and watch them be misled if they ask me a question and if their soul is in danger I speak up gently in love planting a seed without demand, judgment, contempt, indignation, self righteousness or pride, because I represent Jesus and I will not be a stumbling block or have blood on my hands.

We have pretty much reinstituted the law again after we have been freed from it by Jesus. We tell each other you must do this or that in this way to be stamped publicly as a Christian. A deviation in the approach is not tolerated, we have found the one way God has approved and it must be adhered to: the Baptist way is the only way, the Methodist way is the only way, the Church of Christ way is the only way etc. and we are the only one's going to heaven. It is the outward that we must judge to know your Christianity by even though we were never intended to be the judge and the heart is what is judged by God. Anyone going against the established group is suspect. Join the church, be silent, be observant, and learn the people and the flow of operation before you try to put in your two cents. No new member instruction or doctrinal teaching; just follow what the rest are doing. If you catch on good, if not, it's your fault.

I feel at times I am living in a mad mad mad world and then I remember the Bible said this is the way it was going to be. Then you begin to question yourself; "I can't be the only sane one so something is wrong with me and they are all right?" Again take it to God, listen to Him, trust in Him and His word, hold firm to His word, live your gifted life in Him.

I guess you have guessed it is one of those days in which I need to be encouraged, a day I pray for my heart not to become hardened or bitter. Romans 13 begins under the heading of Submission to the Authorities we are told "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities..." and goes on to say God knows who is in charge and no one is in charge he has not placed there and to pay your taxes, respect, even honor. Then 13: "Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

So in those hard times that bring you to tears; those unjust times when you were not deserving of the punishment for the crime you did not commit, when being misunderstood leaves you wounded, when you realize no one knows your heart: YOU OWE NO ONE ANYTHING MORE THAN TO LOVE THEM, and you can survive without them giving you their stamp of approval. It is God who we worship, serve, and seek to please.

FASTING

Count it an honor and privilege to FAST.

There seems to be a fair amount of confusion and disagreement about how and why to fast. ; This is understandable since the bible does not give concrete guidelines for fasting. There are various passages in several books of the Bible where it is clear that there is power in fasting. I want to offer my opinion and attitude for this act of faith without implying that my view is the concrete biblical way. I hope my addressing this topic opens doors for reflection, prayer, and discussion on the subject.

Fasting is defined in The Layman's Bible Dictionary as the practice of giving up eating and drinking for a specified time, generally as part of a religious ritual in times of PERIL. Elijah and Jesus fasted for forty days (1 Kings 19:8; Matthew 4:2.

In the New Testament the Greek word is nesteuo meaning to abstain from food, to abstain from eating. Christ taught the need of purity and simplicity of motive. Fasting was the answers of Christ to the questions of the disciples of John and of the Pharisees reveal His whole purpose or method. (Mt. 4:2, 6:16-18, 9:14-15 MK. 2:18-20, LK 5:33, 18:12, Acts 13:2-3).

Matthew 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen, and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

The Book of Esther is a good study on when a great national need was met by the fasting of many. An edict had been given by the king for all of the Jews to be killed. The Jews responded to this by fasting, weeping, and wailing. Mordecai reached out to Queen Esther to plead the case of the Jews to the king which would be a dangerous undertaking. Only those invited into the king’s presence could speak, those not invited faced death. Esther told Mordecai to "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is DONE I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:1-17.

In the above chapter, the life of a nation was at hand, there was a threatening danger to the lives of others as well as the petitioner of God's mercy. Notice that Esther said AFTER the fast was over, then she would take ACTION. This passage demonstrates working cooperatively with God after seeking His mercy and grace.

Another great study on fasting would be the book of Jonah. Jonah was directed by God to go to the enemy of his people in Nineveh to reach out to them one last time before God would destroy them. Jonah is famously known for his disobedience and being swallowed by a whale before changing his mind and obeying God. Jonah was tasked with telling the people of Nineveh "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." Jonah did not know if his enemy would kill him even before he had a chance to relay God's message. He had concern for his life. The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them,...The king issued a decree "Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence." Through their fasting, praying, and turning from their evil ways, Nineveh was saved. Again we witness a situation occurring on a large national scale.

Finally I would like to look at Jesus. Before Jesus began His ministry, He went off to himself for forty days to fast, led by the Spirit. It was after His fast that Satan came to tempt Jesus. Jesus was able to resist and to tell Satan to leave and go on to begin His ministry after being ministered himself to by angels. We know that Jesus' ministry was a ministry of life and death for those who listened or refused to listen. His ministry changed a nation. His own life along with those who He ministered to and led was in mortal danger.

There are other mentions of fasting in the Bible but I use these three to point to a greater good and power of fasting. I do not believe fasting should be taken lightly because of its great power. There are people fasting for cars, money, restoration of health and I will not be the one to say they are wrong, because I am not qualified explicitly by Scripture to make that determination. But I do believe that fasting is a part of the armor of God. It is a weapon to fight against the principalities of darkness. I think as with all things concerning God it is the heart-motive that matters. Fasting in the examples I used were for the greater good, extending beyond self. Supernatural power and authority was needed for a supernatural change.

Fasting is a cry or plea to the gates of heaven for God to look down on you and to have mercy from your position of brokenness and humility on the highest form. The lack of food and water is an outward sign, a declaration stating your existence is not dependent on bread and water but on the mercy and grace of the Lord. I live or die by your hands, not by any other external source.

Christians teach on the power of fasting-to get what you want. But I do not think the posture or position of fasting is taught. Fasting says I will perish without your intervention- without you Lord. Once Esther and Nineveh had come to the realization of their dire circumstances, they pulled out the most potent weapon in their communication of God to relay their dire circumstance, but after the fasting there was an action. It was not left to the supernatural power of God but I believe in and will act on my faith in the ability of God to do what takes supernatural intervention. Esther went to the king, relying of the grace and mercy of God to spare her life; which He did. The Ninevites quit their behavior which had caused them to have the wrath of God turned to them. They became different-changed, with their petition for mercy. Jesus began His ministry in the power of God knowing men would reject Him; that He was putting His life in jeopardy each day. After fasting, Jesus began His appointed mission for the kingdom.

So fasting is not a one way street of just receiving. It is asking God to be with you, go before you, open un-openable doors, and do what has not been done before as you work with Him in His kingdom. Neither of these examples were a selfish request. It went beyond the faster.

This is why in the New Testament, God is warning to make sure your fasting is not just an act of gaining attention or for manipulation and that you have right motives.

I began this post by saying it is an honor and privilege to fast. How wonderful to know that when you are at your most hopeless and helpless you can still go to God. To say to God, this situation needs your supernatural intervention on a large scale. This situation is a matter of life and death and no one can do anything about it but you my Lord. Are you familiar with the boy who cried wolf? In the three examples I gave above about fasting, there is no doubt that these were dire circumstances needing supernatural intervention. As a soldier in God's army, sometimes we take a tank into battle when only a knife is needed.

I would never try to discourage anyone from fasting. I do not have that authority. My post is mainly to praise God for saying we can turn to Him when we are at our last and He will intervene. That when we are at the darkest hour in our lives, He can be counted on to be with us. I also wanted to stress ACTION on our part. Fasting is inviting God into OUR situation, not releasing us of our duty and responsibility. So the next time you fast, know that your part has not ended with the fast, but you have asked God to do the part that you are not able to do, but continue to do what you MUST DO. Remember, most people DO fast in dire circumstances, but they are empowered through and with God to continue on and to finish the supernatural

Christian Adultery

I almost titled this post "HOSEA'S WHORE" but shock value is not always needed, even though the title would fit well into my commentary on forgiveness in marriage after infidelity.

My facebook friends had what they considered to be a hot topic: SHOULD A CHRISTIAN REMAIN IN THE MARRIAGE AND FORGIVE AN ADULTEROUS SPOUSE.

One would think the Bible has answered this question beyond a shadow of a doubt, but for some reason, FORGIVENESS is really pushed and stressed regarding adultery. It seems the party offended must demonstrate their Christianity by how forgiving their heart is in this situation. I posted a reply saying that it seems marriage counseling is geared more for the sinner than for the saint. I said this because even when the one being cheated on is Christian and the spouse doing the cheating is a non-Christian, the counseling remains the same: FORGIVENESS. I also posted if the sheep is continually being bitten by the wolf, why are we instructing the sheep to forgive the wolf?

Leviticus 20: 10: "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife---with the wife of his neighbor--both adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death."

We are familiar with the adulterous woman of John 8:4 where the priest brought her before Jesus without the man she was committing adultery with to be stoned in accordance with the Law of Moses and Jesus in essence said let her go becaause you are following only part of the Law. Both guilty parties are to be stoned.

Proverbs 6:32 "But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment whoever does so destroys himself."

The Bible does not want Christians to commit adultery period. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IN EXODUS 20:14 STATES SUCH: "You shall not commit adultery." So the issue that is causing some debate is how does God feel about DIVORCE?

There is a long passage about divorcement that makes the head swim in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 "If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and the second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house or if he dies, then her first husband who divorced her is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. that would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord." DEFILED is not of a sexual nature but from touching or eating something unclean.

Matthew 5:31-32 :"It has been said 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries a divorced womon commits adultery."

There you have it. Adultery is grounds for divorce. WHERE'S THE QUESTION?

Now let's look at the prophet Hosea who God told to marry an unfaithful woman. Hosea 1:2: "...Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord. So he married Gomer..." God picked Hosea's wife and named the children that were born during that relationship. Why would God tell a chosen servant to marry an unfaithful woman?

God wanted to use Hosea's marriage to demonstrate how Isreal was like an unfaithful spouse and the kind of destruction that can bring to a 'body' i.e. marriage, family, and nation. God showed how the unfaithful goes after material things in selfish ways in 1:5 "Their mother has been unfaithful and has conceived them in disgrace. She said 'I will go after my lovers who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink." 4:14: "I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes- a people without understanding will come to ruin!"

The only God sanctified marriage consisting of adultery was a marriage intended to reflect how the children of Israel had turned to satisfying their flesh, both the men and women. At the end of the book of Hosea, God states even the vilest of sins can be forgiven if the people turn from their wickedness back to God in repentence.

So, why the push to forgive the adulterer? I don't know. Is there Scripture freeing the Christian from an aduterous spouse? Yes, there is. Should forgiveness even be attempted? Well, we are told to have a forgiving heart.

My advice is to present to the couple the Scripture and after that they themselves will have to decide their next course of action. To FORCE a person to forgive an adulterous spouse or their Christianity will be in doubt is abusive and I can not see it being biblical or healthy to the spirit. A covenant has been broken and there are numerous examples of what a perosn is to do once a covenent is broken. In all of them, the person breaking the covenent has released all obligations of the other person the covenant was made with ***look at my older post on covenants***

My final word on the subject is take everything to God in prayer. Live for God and not for man and realize God's word is meant to heal the broken, not cause more bondage and pain.

ANGER MANAGEMENT

Ephesians 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

Being made in the image of God we must assume correctly that we all have the emotion of anger just like our creator. In the New Testament we are told not to become so angry to the point of sinning and once angered, do our best to reconcile it and not carry it over into another day.

Many male Christians have made the point of saying that the Bible has become feminized. In their minds this means that there is only flowers and rose petals of love written within its pages. They are advocating for a 'masculine' look at the truth of Scriptures that God and Jesus became angry at times.

In Matthew 21:12-13: "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." In this passage Jesus was upset because many people had come to the temples to make sacrifices that were the standard for the Jews to do at that time and were being ripped off, having their sacrifices devalued in the monetary exchange of goods by the men in the temple set on making a crooked handed profit from the devout people of faith.

Even in marriage relationships, counselors advise not to focus on the 'anger' but the issue or root of the anger. In the same manner we should not focus on Jesus' anger, but the reasoning behind His anger. Jesus, as well as God, was always upset about the way the poor and the widow were treated.

Now for our favorite friend the Apostle Paul. Paul was a straight shooter and did not care about public response when it came to his clear ministry for God. In Galatians, Paul addresses the issue of circumcision and that it was a step backwards for the Galatians in their faith in Jesus. Circumcision was instituted under the Law of Moses. After Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, the Law of Moses was no longer to be adhered to.

As Paul gave point after point as to why circumcision no longer factored into the following of the teachings of Jesus, he said those that were teaching them such were wrong for doing so and their belief and following of such instructions were inexcusable.

One thing that struck me as I read the entire chapter was when Paul was coming to the end of his letter to the Galatians. Galatians 5:7-12:

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth...As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!"

Oh my goodness!!! Paul said for those advising you to just cut off the foreskin of your penis-I wish they would just go ahead and cut off their entire PENIS.

I believe Paul was a little hot under the collar at those continuing to preach circumcision. This example shows even great man of God become frustrated in their ministry. Paul had a problem with aggressive actions of faith before God called him on Damascus road and we can see his aggressive zeal continued as an apostle. Pretending we do not have issues with anger does not make us more holy. It is how we deal with our anger that makes us more Christ like. Paul had a powerful ministry. He was a strong personality and may not have been as effective if he did not possess all of the characteristics that made him in the image of God.

God gives us guidance in all areas of our lives, including the area of anger. I have said jokingly more than once, the holier many woman present themselves to be the more soft, angelic pitched their voices seem to be. Soon, some of them are going to be so godly until you will not be able to hear them.

The Bible has not become feminized and on that same note its masculinity does not have to be protected. Anger is a natural course of living, but its management is a part of Christian living. As 2011 has dawned, I find myself calmer, not easily rattled by things that use to push my buttons. I have always tried not to pitch a tent in the neighborhood of anger once angered. I purposefully try to find ways of diffusing my anger, not trying to win the argument or change the offender. My anger is about me in the end. I have a right to be angry but I do not have a right to allow my anger to cause me to sin.

If you found this blog while searching for ways to manage your anger; I hope I have said something to give you to think about for a moment. It is my prayer that you become released from the bondage of anger. Many people will declare almost with pride that they have a 'short fuse.' I guess we all are different, but we all are capable of anger. But we must strive to be the master of it and not mastered by it. Let's face it; if you choose to, you can be mad 24-7. There is just that much in this world to keep you involved in anger. But this is not your natural state of being, it is only one facet of a dynamic YOU. Tap into those greater parts of you that breathe life. Let anger come and go just like the wind. Your time can be filled with so many more spirit building activities.

Sexual harassment or doctrine: My Story Dorothy Guyton

To begin let me state without question I am not bitter at my journey through biblical academia. I have grown leaps and bounds spiritually, but there was a price to be paid. I thought long and hard about telling my story. I asked first would it seem like backbiting against my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and second I asked would there be any benefit to telling my story. Satisfied with my answers, I think I'll let you come to your own conclusion about my reasonings for opening up.

To say I wanted to be a female minister would result in the same answer from any other minister: God does the calling whether I want the duty or not. To say I am a female minister would not be correct anyway. I believe I am more akin to Joyce Myers; somewhere in the realm of not needing a title other than servant of God. Titles are only important to those seeking position. I admit, titles help to identify what your job or purpose is, but work results can also define us too. I can be called a mechanic, have it written across my chest and never fix a car. I can talk about it and be well versed in it, but would I be a TRUE mechanic. People would seek me out looking for aid for their car because of my title. Until I produce, and produce competently I do not live into my title.

I do believe God put a restless spirit in me back in 2005 to seek to know Him more in depth. To my surprise, I found in my local community a Bible college. I became excited and really praised God for divine direction. I had never noticed the the college in all of my years living in the community and I believed God had to have had something to do with letting the scales fall from my eyes.

I registered after reading their college catalog, deciding the classes were what I was interested in. Time passed and passed and I waited to be notified of orientation day. I finally decided there was only a week left before Fall term began and I better check to make sure I had everything in order to attend. To my surprise the campus was abuzz with the last ditch efforts to do placement test for straggler students. I was told I just walked in on the last testing opportunity to become registered and would have to take the 3 hour test within an hour before staff went to lunch; was I able to? Of course I said yes, and plowed into the 100 multiple choice test on the Bible, 50 question math test, and 5 question essay test to show my writing skills. To my surprise, I scored high on all and was informed I had cleared to register for classes in two days.

Feeling extremely lucky, I showed up to register for classes the following Monday. I followed the example given in the college catalog for my Junior year class selections(already had an associate degree). I was routed from one department head to the next for approval signitures, until I came to the next to last signiture needed. This middle aged man began to ask how I found out about the college and did I know certain "black" women in the community; which I did not. It was a friendly chat before he headed off the get the final signiture needed to complete my class registration (he said).

He returned with news that one class in particular had only one opening left and a senior desparately needed the slot and would I be willing to substitute another class allowing the senior to have that last slot. More than understanding and willing I agreed and we substituted a class, I took my form myself for final approval and headed to the book store to get my books.

Almost skipping I entered the bookstore still feeling lucky to have gotten in and so ready to learn more about God and the Bible I entered the bookstore to audible whispering "That's her" "She tried to sign up for Methods of Patoring" The people began to back away from me as I claimed books off of the bookshelves and stood in line to purchase them." I felt stares digging into my back. Some faces had actually turned red. The lady behind the desk literally snatched my class schedule with the list of my needed books from my hand. I was puzzled. This was a college with adults first and a Biblical College second. Was I imagining hostility? And if not, why was everyone hostile? People talk about playing the race card, but if you are the only black person standing in a sea of white people, the race card jumps out first in its own magic trick. Of course, knowing what Christianity should be, I did not let that reasoning find fertile soil in my mind.

Day one first class; I'm the only female in a class of 15 other males. The instructor suggested we go one by one to introduce ourselves and why we decided to attend Bible College. STANDARD PRACTICE in many class room settings. My turn came and being in Bible college truth reigns "I came to Bible college because I love God and wanted to learn more about Him and the Bible."

The guy who followed me (about 43 yrs old), stood up placing his arms behind his back in military style (parade rest) and said, "This is not a Sunday school class and it takes more than loving God to be a Christian. It takes obedience to His word, and that's why I am here." Okay people I have said many times I am slow on the uptake. This man who stood up was also different than everyone else in the room. He was bald, wore a silver band on his thumb and looked like a aging rebel, so I quickly was happy that there was diversity at the college and he was in the right place for his strong views. After two more introductions, a young man about 21 asked the instrutor, instead of introducing himself, would God hold people accountable for teaching people who were not called to certain areas (I promise this went over my head because first I was not called by God for anything, secondly no where in their catalog did they say women could not attend the college or certain classes, thirdly, I BELIEVED ALL CHRISTIANS WERE NICE and this was some kind of question to do with his own personal life.)

It took me about two weeks to finally realize my presence there was not wanted. Class instructors asked about my husband everyday and why he was not at the college and could they speak with him, I was never called on to read a passage from the Bible or answer any questions presented to the class. One of my instructor's wife had a class with me and she avoided me like the plague. It was not a black and white issue it was a WOMAN issue. Jokes about denominations especially the Baptist were cracked I do believe in a joint effort to offend me and make me quit. I was not Baptist and did not care for separation of God's children using denominations. I thought the denominational jokes were childish and crude; but not even close to being something to make me quit. I dug in my heals once I realized the nature of what was occurring. My husband was very upset with me that I was potentially putting myself in unknown harms way. When Christians are wrong they are very worng and very malicious and very dangerous. There was not a place of peace for me at college or home for that 1st semester.

I spent my second month there actually fearful. I had a young man about 21 become so visibly agitated at my presence in the college that he transfered to our college brother University in another state. He caused me a good deal of internal fear. Young men raised by fathers they admire will fight to the end to protect the integrety of their father's words and beliefs. I always sat as far away as possible from him.

After completing my first semester with 'A's, carrying myself as Jesus would, being far better, gracious, loving, kind, approachable, to others than they had been, killing them with the love of God, they broke. I gave them no reasoning to be cruel to a nice godly person whose ONLY interest was learning more about her professed religion. No agenda on my part was found, after much investigation. I became a mirror in which they only saw self after a while and then finally they could see me and along with me; Jesus.

The militant guy became my in-class-joking buddy. We sat side by side in all of the classes we had together my last semester. He had a great transformational testimony for God before I had met him and after we became friends. The last semester of my senior year he was demanding instructors to let me read from the Bible in class to the point I had to poke him to make him stop, it had developed to picking status. He admired me, my husband, and my children. He was a dear friend that continued on to minister to people in jail and recovering from drugs as he did while in college at our local jail and prisons in surrounding counties.

The instructor's wife and I laughed and laughed throughout the two years that followed and she cried my final semester almost every other day at my leaving her and returning her back to her testosterone world with no shading of compassion for womanhood.

Oh, the instructor who chatted me up before removing me from my 'preacher' class was a great academic mind who transferred to another state for family reasons. I cried missing his demanding expected expectation of greatness he believed we all had in us before exam time. I learned the most in his classes.

This was my undergrad experience and I walked into seminary with many echos of this on a higher level of civility and shading but it was there. I recalled on this blog a dentist in the throws of working on my tooth questiong me as to whether I was going to preach or not and I was terrified to give an incorrect response.

I had never been exposed to ugliness, hostility, prejucice, self righteousness, pride, egotism, sexism, abuse moreson than when I enrolled in these religious institutions designed to teach about God, His nature, His word, His doctrine. But my testimony rings louder. I determined to show Jesus when no one else wanted to. I determined to learn for myself the God I served and make sure everyone else who so desired would and could no matter what anyone else said. I saw first hand the power of being and living how God has told me to no matter what everyone around me has chosen to do. I learned it is not about others it is about self and what are YOU going to do and HOW are you going to respond and are you WILLING to be uncomfortable for God and GROW and not become bitter and die.

I ask in all of our efforts to follow the word of God, are we destroying the word of God? In all of God's truth and wisdom written for man to read, follow and flourish is his seed of love being demonstrated? You cannot harrass people into following God. You cannot abuse them into believing your understanding of His word, and you can not force the Spirit filled giftedness out of a person. All avenues of God's working and sovereignty do not begin and end with you. God is going to use His creation to reach His creation and He is not going to run it past you for approval.

Many have inccorectly assumed I wanted to become a minister or pastor without asking me and I can pretty much assume without asking God was that my intentions. My true calling has it's title which is Christian. Define the duties of a Christian and decide how I can fulfil them by sitting in a corner being silent. God said we have problems because we have no wisdom. Operate in God's word but operate in it in wisdom.

Sadly to say, this Bible College that taught so extraoridinarily well, I mean sound doctrine and opened the Scripture up to me in ways I will forever be grateful, closed in 2010 due to the economy and lack of students. My final semester there issued in a new college catalog with an asteric next to courses women could not take and also classes in which the men could not take.

This horrible time, this absolutely frightening time that made me run to the bathroom three time in two years to cry, gather myself up, say a quick Psalm 23 prayer, grew my spirt and mind in ways I can only give God the glory for taking my life in that direction. I testify to the goodness of that college and how it made me a better Christian, not to any of it fewer pitfalls.

When I began in 2005, I just wanted to know my God more, I learned there was so much I did not know and would spend the rest of my life trying to know. I had no further dreams than a bachelors degree. When I entered seminary on the road to my masters degree I was nauseous and questioning could I do this. Two books later and several print ready manuscripts, I am so blessed to have encountered everything I encountered those years. I met the person God knew me as during those years and I get reintroduced yearly to this person He knows and loves. He has whispered so audibly 'BELIEVE ME TO TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE IN ME. I CREATED YOU AND I KNOW.'

Women of God, keep doing the first part of being born again in Christ Jesus, living that transformed life daily and your title will be the title proclaimed in Scripture "a new creature in Christ" that all will try to give an 'other' name, but it is the name God knows you by that matter

JOE BIDEN AND JOAN RIVERS ARE TWINS!!!

Of course they are not twins. But they do share something that I know all can agree on: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS.

No matter what these two peole say, you just shake your head, drop your head so no one can see, and grin or try to hold back a smile or laugh. This unpredictability seems to endear them more and more to people. I know people are shaking their heads and saying "No real Christian will ever admit Joan Rivers is funny because she uses such foul language." Well, she is foul, but she is still funny. SORRY There are a lot of people in your family who are foul but are the family's favorite person. Hate the sin; not the sinner.

My dear Vice President has a mouth that can fix itself to say the most surprising things; that everyone has just come to know and expect of him. Why am I talking about Joe Biden and his infamous SLIPS? Notice where our vice president is while this tragedy is playing out in the United States: Afghanastan and Pakistan. I believe it is far better for him to be there than here, because he is apt to say anything.

One thing we do know about Joe Biden is that he takes his role of father very seriously and to have an innocent congresswoman and nine year old girl shot; Joe would have definitely been primed to let his loose lips fly.

Our dear Apostle Paul can be put into this unpredictable category. Peter chimed up that he would never be one of those to deny Jesus. Okay, big foot in mouth time. Peter jumped up with sword/knife in hand cutting off the ear of a man who had come to arrest Jesus. Peter was rebuked for his action publicly by Jesus and the man with the missing ear was restored. Peter was the brave one who jumped off of the boat to walk on the water to meet Jesus only to sink in fornt of all of his peers as his exuberance waned. But, this same impulsive person, Jesus would give the keys to the future church.

Oh Joan, Joe, and Peter; our lives would be so boring without you all. I admit you all are too much for my Christian constitution, but, if I am to be salt and light, then I guess you all are some kind of peppery spice and lightening.

INTERNET: THE NEW god???

"I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE LAND OF SLAVERY. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER gods BEFORE ME. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF AN IDOL (any graven image)in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them: for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and forth generation of those who hate me, but showidng love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:1-6

When a minister would go off on a tantrum telling the listening congregation that they have made an idol out of their automobile or their home, I would have to force myself not to roll my eyes. Then the minister would go on to throw all kinds of nick-knack paddy-whack into the mix as everyone was shouting and agreeing with him that "they" or "others" had made idols out of possessions. Okay, sometimes I am bad, but I reflect on my actions and seek truth to become a better person. From eye rolling to "idol" study come on this journey with me.

The word graven is Hebrew (pacal or pecel) meaning to carve, whether wood or stone , hew, carved image. There is no Hebrew definition for the word 'image' that follows the word 'graven' in the King James Bible in Exodus 20:4. Even though throughout the Bible there are 12 specific definitions for the use of the word 'image'; a pinpoint definition is not given by scholars in the Exodus usage. I checked to see if the substituted word 'idol' used in the New Internation Version of the Bible (NIV)had a definition and it also was not listed.

Thankfully the passage is clear enough that no further defining is necessary. Nothing carved out of stone or wood in any image of anything in heaven, on earth, or in the water should be made and bowed down to or worshipped. I guess we should look at the true definition of worship to have a complete study for my upcoming commentary.

KJV of the Bible uses the word 'serve' (and not worship like the NIV Bible)in this passage = Hebrew (abad). It gets a little complicated after that, because the prime root means to work (in any sense) to serve, till, enslave. Serve is used 227 x's, do 15 x's till 9 x's, servant 5 x's, work 5 x's, worshippers 5 x's service 4 x's, dress 2 x's labour 2 x's and miscellaneously 14 x's meaning bem keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, execute, husbandman, keep, be wrought. As a verb it means to serve, cultivate, enslave, work.

So the passage means we are not to bow down, work for, till for, be enslaved by, any graven image.

I will propose to you that it is not the carved image itself, (but it is the beginning), but our actions towards the carved image. We pledge our allegiance to it, we give ourselves in labor and deed to it. We wait on its command to us as in a servant and master relationship. The car, then for me, is not the idol but the one we listen to for our instruction and whose bidding we do telling us which material things (i.e. THE CAR)we must work for and have, which possession to love and admire once we have them it the true 'idol'. The worshipped thing or one tells us which possessions are worth killing for or dying for. The idol instructs us that our worth will be and can be counted as how much of the goods we have and how long we work and how hard we work to have them?

The idol, the golden calf, has always been man made; it was only given power when men believed it had the answers and looked to it to solve problems.

Enter the age of internet. It has the power to give instant fame. It can answer all questions. We work harder and longer to have more and better access to it. It is the source of all information. We are getting to the point where we are unable to function without it. It blesses those who can afford it and leaves others behind who cannot get it. It is great. It has changed the world. The only question to ask is DOES THE INTERNET SERVE US OR DO WE SERVE IT?

Remember the idol is worshipped by you. It is not the origin of evil it is the human that possess the corrupting power. We are allowing internet to raise our kids and head our lives. We cannot eat, socailize, or fuction without going into this cyber space.

BALANCE is key people. No one needs to lead a crusade to get rid of internet and computers, but just be aware of where your security in life lies. That with internet or without it you live - love - learn and continue to grow. Remember life does not begin or end with internet as we have come to believe. And mostly it should not be your source of evil as many use it to curse out or torment others with anonymously.

Just be mindful, the internet does not become your new idol, your new god.

Sarah Palin Parade

What a way to start the New Year - with finger pointing. I am reminded of the Creation account in the book of Genesis. Eve pointed the finger at the snake and Adam reminded God that He gave him the woman that caused him to sin.

FINGER POINTING people have come up with the wise saying that when you point one finger at someone else there are four pointing back at yourself. Well, that is not quite right. Go ahead try it; I'll wait. There is actually three fingers pointing back at yourself, but the point is made.

Must we assign blame )other than the criminal)for the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby? Well, it will probably make a lot of people feel better. A public wrong has been done and we must find and condemn all involved. I would feel better for the guilty parties to be aware of the harm they have caused. But, as in the Garden of Eden, no one wants to be responsible for wrong doings.

I never enjoy having to step up to the plate and have OTHERS tell me I have done wrong or made mistakes. It feels better if I admit it on my own. So can we count on those who are coupable to step up and admit to wrong doing? Doubt it. There are agendas that must be maintained.

Back to Sarah Palin. She has never been my cup of tea, but she has the right to her convictions like anyone else on earth, that is until they cause others to hurt others. We know you can be prosecuted for crimes if it can be proved you were involved in the planning of it whether you executed the crime or not. The public is trying to figure out how instrumental she was in the shooting in Nevada and I say GOOD LUCK.

People have had flunkies, people willing to do the dirty part for popular people as far back as time can go. She gave them cute names to make them seem less ominous like "momma grizzles" and "soccer moms" what an innocent club to be a part of. Even the "Tea Party" sounds quaint. But was there any doubt what these people fed off of - anger, rage, hostility as distorted faces cheered and chanted. There was always an essence of intimidation involved and the name calling showed the flunky mentality. Weak impotent men were mocked as to be told to get out of the way. OUT OF THE WAY OF WHAT? A movement that was intent on bettering the people?

I don't know. Sarah Palin is pretty - the cheerleader, pageant type that people just had to be friends with. I know children go through growth and development being defined by being friends with the cool group, but I thought adults grew out of that.

Maybe I am not seeing things clearly, but I never understood the phrase taking our government back. I did not know it had been taken. What hostile aggressor came on American soil and stole our government? I am an Army vet trained to identify an enemy of our country and I never saw the enemy that overthrew our government.

Okay, I've been beating around the bush, I think Sarah Palin has been reckless and rogue ever since she was introduced to the public arena. She found a niche and she milked it. She is now rich and powerful. She USED and MANIPULATED an economic crisis. While people were fearful they were encouraged to be more fearful. FEAR IS NOT BIBLICAL. The book of Revelation was written so Christians would not be fearful but be assurred they were not hopeless or helpless.

No where in the Bible was fear of government intended to be the activating force for Christians. Judas demanded revolt; Jesus commanded love.

SARAH PALIN I do not blame you for the senseless act of violence that occurred by the lone gunman. I do blame all of the people who allowed people seeking power and fortune to use them as instruments of social unrest forgetting that we are one of the greatest nations with a system of government that does not allow any single man or party to rise to a position of monarchy. We are great because we consciously safe guarded our nation from any one person leading the masses. Any one person, not democratically elected as the leader of the free nation, who begins speaking to the masses in such a way to incite "no retreat, reload" is the danger. Everyone knows what their power is and how to exercise it VOTE VOTE VOTE. No new system needed to be heard and to live.

So, as the days go on and people stop the hate speech we will regain our sanity.

another wise saying is "give people enough of rope and they will hang themselves" This is dead on. The next year on the way to the 2012 election will see a lot of political candidates hanging themselves. Judas hung himself in the end didn't he?