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Let us begin by rejecting the term proof texts and, instead, use the term propositional truth. Because that is what truth is. God declares, "Let us reason together". He puts forward truth, a proposition upon which he, God, desires us to ponder. Truth is truth; nothing we can or anyone can do will make it otherwise. But truth has no meaning unless we consider God's propositions. We can accept his propositions or we can reject them, but rejection has a price tag. God does not force any man or women to accept his propositions, but he would have us to understand that there are natural consequences if we do not accept these propositional truths. God is not a bully who decided to create a reality in order to make our lives a living hell. Rather, he desires to make our lives full and complete, even in the midst of sin. He declares to us those propositional truths which, if accepted and acted upon, will give to us a very full and complete life and will bring us to a home where life will be lived to its fullest. God knows, in his infinite wisdom, those practices which will make life full and which practices will destroy that fullness. Sexual perversion in any form is sin because it has a long-term detrimental affect of which we are not aware. It produces sorrow and its natural consequences are perverted minds and death. We, as God believing and accepting that he is all-wise, all-knowing, should reach out to this community in order to bring them back from a life which is not full and eventually will lead to their death. Our love does not desire to see them continue in the practices that will prohibit fullness of life, bring unfullment, and bring death. Instead, we need to bring them to God, and help them to see that God has a better life for them. Further, however, you define deviant behavior, it is still sin. And God can remove sin and its power over our lives. Let no-one think that God cannot change the desires and orientation. Otherwise, we would all be in a quagmire. History has shown us that God can change the desires, and he can change the orientation. But it takes a total surrender of self to God. Christians should fear lifestyles which bring an incomplete, unfulfilled, destructive life because it means a person will not reach their full potential. We should hate sin as God hates sin because of what it does to the image of God in mankind. Yes, we need to accept the fallen of humanity into our churches, but let it never be to allow them to continue in their fallen state. We need to lift their sight to a higher plain of existence. One in which they can achieve a full and complete life and obtain the riches of the fuller glory to come. If your desire is to show love to the community of immoral behaviors without understanding that love's desire is for a better life for them, then you miss the point of God's love for all men and women. God will accept them as they are when they come to him, but that acceptance is not based upon keeping them at their level of degradation. God accepts them so that he might raise them above the power of sin over them. He accepts in order that he might restore to them the image of God which was lost when they chose to sin. And let none kid themselves, it is a choice. As God declared to Cain, "Sin desires you and is at the door." We have all sinned, and we all come short of the glory of God. But that does not mean God wants us to stay there. As James declares, it is our passion which seduces us, and we can rule our passion or our passion can rule us. God can give us the power to overcome our passions and makes us conquerors. So it is with those who practice immoral behavior, they can be overcomers through the power of Christ working through his agent, the Holy Spirit. Our love must be more than accepting; it must include promoting a better lifestyle through the power of Christ to overcome. If a homosexual or a prostitute or whatever immoral enters our places of worship, let it be understood that God brought them to us in order to present before them a more perfect way of liife. We are to show them the love of God who surrender his son in order to save them from their sin and bring them into a love relationship with him which will bring them from degradation to the plain of a full and complete life. Let us remember Christ's words, "I am come that they might have life, and that life more abundantly."

Today Cpl. Nathan Cirillo will be travelling from Ottawa to Hamilton on the Highway of Heroes. (Per CTV, his body will be taken on the stretch of Highway 401, from Canadian Forces Base Trenton to Keele Street in Toronto.) UPDATE #1: OPP says the motorcade carrying Cpl. Nathan Cirillo's body down the Highway of Heroes will not leave Ottawa until around 1 PM.

I found this encouraging and to be modeled on the Biblical model of resolving theological differences within the church. http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/mark-finley-offers-5-steps-for-resolving-disunity-on-women%E2%80%99s-ordination#.VEtAfz_O5eY.facebook

A child lacking understanding, experience and maturity may become upset with Mommy and what Mommy cannot explain to the child. We are less able to understand God and any possible explanation He might attempt. We also may not suffer from anything more than weariness that causes us to be upset easily.

And that will be the most merciful thing to do. Mercy does not force repentance. I think we err when we bind forgiveness and repentance. God forgives. We are to repent. God never fails to forgive, for He has already forgiven before we even know it or respond. We may refuse to turn around and accept it.

Gerry, you ask what will happen in the end to those who have not repented: In the end God will accept their choice not to spend eternity with Him. God will allow them to go their own way and the way, which is apart from God will have the consequence of death as life is not possible apart from God.

Vegan developing many tooth decays? It is a news to me. Won Bae, D.D.S.

I have been a vegan for 38 years. Raw food is something else again. Raw food (solely) plus juicing can lead to numerous nutrient deficiencies, and it sounds like what the person quoted was doing. Fruits vegetables whole grains nuts and seeds and legumes should all be included. Beans tofu or if desired protein shakes and even veggie burgers should be used daily by vegans for protein. Bread needs to be yeast raised in order for us to absorb zinc. A multi vitamin (without iron for most of us) would not hurt, and iodine may be obtained from a multi or from seaweed, or kelp tablets. Using plenty of fruits and vegetables like carrots and carrot juice, sweet potatoes and mango will provide beta carotene, which the body can make into vitamin A. B12 is important to take as a supplement without iron for most of us, and women should take a calcium supplement- calcium citrate malate is best, but divided into small doses- say 400 mg 2x a day or 3x if at risk for osteoporosis. Vegans as well as non vegans may need to take vitamin D3 unless they live in a warm part of the country and are outside a lot without sunscreen and with arms and face exposed, which may not be a great idea due to UV exposure.

That is like saying if Adam and Eve hadn't sinned. We live in a secular world,most are not governed by biblical reasoning. Nor will they be. I doubt that this group would be impressed and apologize for their unreasonable demands. It would not surprise me to see them succeed at some point.This is liberal MN with a very large number of Muslims.Not PC but they can be very difficult to deal with when they enter a business in a group

Note: The Pacific Press was required to pay women on the same scale as men.

Joeb, a pastor is not required to run a public business. But, once that person decides to run a public business, that business must be run in accord with the law. Being a pastor does not protect the person from following the law. The pastor is only protected in regard to services provided to congregational members.

I also prefer to hire nice worms to make and turn the compost rather than use the higher temperature more labor-intensive method. A rototiller might be nice to break up the soil for hugelkultur, but the human-powered shovel might provide better exercise and certainly at much lower cost. Now, if I could create these beds down by the creek on our acreage where there is an old log jam, and where, if the piles did need water, it wouldn't have to be pumped. We'd just need a way to keep the bears and deer away from the tastiness of a remote garden.

While I support same-sex marriage, this is an example of unhelpful over-reach, in my view. Even as an old leftie, this seems like something the market should be allowed to fix. Run a wedding business and don't want to marry same-sex couples? No worries - just miss out on that market. It's not something that should be compelled. I do think it's sad that Christians seem to be getting politically active only in support of their own right to discriminate, but there we are. I do wonder whether you would feel that it is appropriate for a wedding business to claim that it has a legitimate religious opposition to conducting mixed-race marriages. It's a parallel case from very recent history. Even in that case, I'd still be inclined to allow the market to sort it out.

Maybe we need a dictionary? I'm thinking tilling is used in the sense of turning the soil, where the broadfork is aerating the soil. Apparently there are plants that will break up hard, clay soils also which can then be cut off at ground level leaving the roots to decompose in the ground leaving air pockets for future plants.