The Marvelous Message

     For some reason, yesterday was the first time I heard about the “controversial statements” by Andy Stanley regarding homosexuality. It was the middle of last year when he preached a message urging Christian's to not be so dogmatic over such an issue. I will summarize much of what he said: Jesus loved, he told us to love one another, love is the most important facet of Christianity. Christians do not need to harp on doctrine, only show love because our purpose is to show the world something that they can look at and say, “Wow, that is attractive to me.” He also relayed a story of how two homosexual men came to him and asked if they could be more involved in the church activities. Both were not yet “married”, because one of them was waiting to finalize a divorce with his soon-to-be ex-wife. Andy told them that they could not be involved until the man finalized the divorce with his wife. He then heralded the fact that after the divorce both the homosexual ex-husband and the ex-wi

           I hate cliques. In no way do I mean the individuals, but more along the lines of the ideology. As the old adage goes, “It's us four and no more.” Yes, that's the attitude I'm referring to. You may wonder, does my disdain for such “grouping” branch out of a righteous zeal or a compassion for the ones left out? I wish these  were the reasons. No, my grounds for contempt is completely selfish for it comes from self pity.           You see, my older brother and I were home-schooled. Trust me, I consider it a blessing in so many ways, but in enhancing popularity and instilling a gregarious attitude, it was a curse. Our rides on the church bus and church youth activities were our main outlets to social connection. Yet, many times it was as if we were simply flies on a wall. We were just there, peering at the different groups, while they gave quick glances our way, wondering when we would fly home.            Sadly, because of my brother's astounding intellige

My heart goes out to the families in Connecticut who lost their children during that horrific school shooting. I can't even imagine the pain and sorrow they are experiencing, but by all means I pray for the comfort and grace of God to overflow within their hearts. Just today, I received news of the tragic death of a good friend, and a great deacon, Bro. Everett Oliver. He attended Bethany FWB Church in Timmonsville, SC of which I used to minister at. Pray for his wife, Mrs. Sylvia. This world is filled with tragedy and pain and at times it seems like hope can be blown away as easily as smoke in the wind, yet praise God that a Christian's hope is not like smoke, but is a SOLID ROCK. Peter wrote that we have a "lively hope", literally a hope that is alive and well, for our hope is in Jesus and praise be to God, He IS risen! I emailed the poem below to a worker at the school where the children were killed, hoping that perhaps it would be given to the families. I p