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Today was a HIGH DAY for me,,,, this couple were married LAST NIGHT, after sundown... I was with them for their first supper meal. How cool is that? Guesses on who is who?

It would be a silly over-generalization to say that every time the question is asked that it is meant to be racist. It depends on the context and how it is asked.

The Bible doesn't say anything about "orientation," but it certainly has something clear to say about homosexual behavior. The Scriptures definitely condemn all immorality as sinful, and sexual relations between members of the same gender is included among the immortal behaviors. Jesus Christ shows us that it is sinful even to desire those things. We aren't doing gays any favor by telling them that homosexual relations are not sinful.

By God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit in the life, anyone-- whether homosexual or heterosexual-- can overcome their sins. However, one thing is for certain: If sinners don't realize they're sinning, they won't repent and seek God's power to overcome their sins. On the contrary, they will go right on sinning, persuaded that they're doing all right-- until it's too late.

apparently people have been ordained without laying on of hands. people have been married without a wedding also. in various parts of the world there are a variety of ways the information that two are committed to each other, for life. not always a formal wedding. a wedding formalizes to the community something that has already happened, two people love each other and have made a commitment to build a home together. the wedding doesn't make it so, it just makes known publicly the commitment that already exists. maybe ordination is something like that. it is not necessary to the commitment to God, and the ministry that is already taking place, but it makes a public statement about what already is.

What you've done there is to *assume*, without any evidence from the text and in the face of the context, that 'abominations' means 'homosexuality'. I'd argue that, in context, 'abominations' refer to the treatment of the poor and vulnerable.

You might want to read what you wrote and clarify your statement.The Bible doesn't declare being a homosexual as any more of a sinner than a heterosexual. There are certain practices declared to be sin for both. Your statement about change "if they honestly want to" is at the least presumptuous and they way it reads very judgmental.

There you go, reading your Bible again, some people here may not tolerate that.

Part of the problem with this "abomination = homosexual behavior" is that it is taking a roof texting approach that ignores how the would abomination (really Hebrew and Greek words translated as such) is used throughout Scripture. There are numerous things that are described as an abomination. Homosexual behavior is not all by itself as an abomination. Do a word search to see how frequently it is used and look at the context in each case.

In Letters To Young Lovers, Ellen White says love is a principle often talked about but seldom understood. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 deserves much more study and reflection.

The belief that homosexuality was practiced in Sodom comes from a combination of the story of the men wanting to have sex with the angels and the verse in Jude stating that they went after strange flesh. As the link I posted previously stated, strange flesh can also be fornication, It is an academic exercise because the Biblical condemnation for homosexuality does not rest on the sin of Sodom. The heaviest condemnation comes from Romans, 1 Corinthians and Timothy. It is seems apparent from the story in Genesis that homosexuality was certainly one of the sins of Sodom. Like most sin, homosexuality is weaved together with many other sins. A liar is not normally just guilty of lying nor is a thief normally just guilty of stealing. Sin is terribly destructive in our lives, families and societies. This is why those involved in 12-step recovery programs do a personal inventory so they can see the impact all of their character defects have on those they interact with. Yes, there were homosexuals in Sodom. We know that from the story. We also know that those living in Sodom had a wealth of food and neglected to help the poor. What we don't know is if those two sins were related to each other which is simply an academic matter and not one that would determine a religious doctrine.

Words such as the following which indicate a total ignorance as to what canon law is make us look very foolish: NOTE: If you really believe it is a part of canon law, please cite the numerical number for the canon law.

“Whenever the church, consciously or unconsciously, caters to one class it loses the spiritual force of the “whosoever will, let him come” doctrine, and is in danger of becoming little more than a social club with a thin veneer of religiosity." - MLK, Jr.

I think that the two quotes quite possible refer to the same thing. The divine grace comes by the Holy Spirit, "both to will and to do". First as/if we choose to be submissive to God the HS works on our thinking suggesting changes we either accept or reject. As/if we accept that change in thinking at some point we are then supernaturally by the Holy Spirit enabled to do His will. Personal experience as I claimed that text in a particular situation. Anyway, I think the "divine grace" is the same as the HS.

So true, but lest we forget. JESUS is very particular. "Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life; everything offensive to God must be put away. This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin. The work that we have to do on our part is plainly set before us: "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." Isaiah 1:16, 17. " {SC 39.1}

Even sinners can be likable and even liked. Even I have a few friends. Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." It's not my job to point out who's the biggest sinner (straight or gay). I'm supposed to point folks to JESUS.

Gerry Chudleigh was a great friend to *many* people, including others aside from me here on C/A. Gerry's passing is a loss to us all..

"... for He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45) Sometimes it looks like that God does not literally do this. But I wonder -- Is it possible that God actually DOES send rain on the just and on the unjust, but that humanity has the power to turn it away? Again, does He pour out His blessings to everyone, but we can turn these away, or block them (either partly or completely)? To me it looks like the prophet teaches this when he says : The Lord our God "gives rain, both the former and the latter, in [its] season... Yet your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you." (Jer 5:24-25) Iniquity can "turn away", deflect, or block, the things that God sends. In so many ways I think God is much, much, better than we know.

Jude 1:7 doesnt say anything about the poor and vulnerable as I remember. As important as tsking care of those two groups is, is that all Sodom and Gomorrah was all about?

When asked about the popularity of sex, one of Johnnie Carson's guest once mused, "That's because it's so centrally located." But isn't there a Scripture that said there are some things that are too shameful to even mention them?

BobRyan - I didn't mean to be criticizing you; rather I intended to criticize the headline writers for "Christiannews.net" who published a false, deceptive and inaccurate headline. The actual facts in the case are reported in the actual Supreme Court decision, available for free on a number of websites in Canada. Any first year Canadian law student knows that criminal law is the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal Parliament and that therefore there can be no "hate crime" under provincial legislation. When non-lawyers comment on legal matters about which they know less than nothing, such inanities result. However, there are over 100,000 lawyers in Canada, any one of which could have set them straight in a 2-minute telephone conversation. Moreover, if the "reporters" who wrote that article had actually read the Supreme Court decision (or taken the time to contact someone who could read it for them) they could not honestly have included the following statement in their article. “The Bible is clear that homosexuality is an abomination,” one flyer that was found to be in violation stated, citing 1 Corinthians 6:9. While that statement is technically true it is misleading, as a simple review of the actual Supreme Court decision would reveal. 1 Corinthians 6:9 was NOT the part of the flyer that was held to be hateful. Nor was the statement "The Bible is clear that homosexuality is an abomination" the part of the flyer that was held to be hateful. It would be as if I published a hateful anti-Semitic screed, cited Matthew 27:25, and then whined that "A pamphlet citing Matthew 27:25 was held to be hate speech". As for the "christianheadlines.com" reference about the Owens case - the Owens case was overturned on appeal in 2006 - that's NINE years ago. Here is the case https://ccrl.ca/doc/Owens decision april 06.pdf, if you're interested. That Court of Appeal decision is well known by anyone here in Canada who follows this stuff. That's why we have courts of appeal and that's how the system works here. In matters of law, the only authoritative source are statutes, regulations and the actual text of the judgements, not articles by "reporters", bloggers or other pundits, and certainly not articles from the professional "outrage" industry.

I don't see any respect whatsoever for what God asks of those who see His Word as important to heed. Only an self-justification to make of none effect the penalty for those who practice such things because everyone is a sinner and deserves the same thing. 13If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.....Leviticus 20 Only repentance and a turning away from the detestable act will bring the grace of Jesus to the sinner, no matter how it became entrenched in our lives. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.....1 John 1 "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39"For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."…Acts 2 God is Love! Jesus saves!

I have seen this sentiment posted before, that Sodom & Gomorrah was all about the poor and their mistreatment. When someone actually posts a Bible text for this idea, it is Ezekial 16:49. However, it seems to be out of a long discourse on Sodom and conveniently misses the texts around it. So, for context, here is a few more texts to consider: Ezekial 16: 47 Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. 48 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. Such is the problem sometimes with pulling out a single verse and hoping no one checks it out further and gets the whole idea being presented. And do keep in mind that the references to Sodom are in the midst of a long discourse against the whorish behavior of Jerusalem.

Congratulations to you and your bride Shane!

CoAspen, I always enjoy your input.... rarely do I find straights know what they are talking about when this topic comes up. "if they honestly WANT TOooo!" -Dreamweaver ?I will school you all here folks! For up teem generations when most male gays realize they are gay they want to die and maybe later (in the church realm) entertain to cut off body parts. (some have done that) Oh to Do anything to be straight! When it comes to ignorant statements on this topic I usually stay quiet. I have to be quiet alot here. God changes us with willingness. In most Cases GOD does not change them in ways people think they oughta change. Get used to it! . meanwhile ...God is trying to change many Christian's hearts toward Homosexuals. That is not easy and We know what it looks like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A beautiful replica of the Holy Temple on the rooftop of the Aish World Center, overlooking the real spot of the Temple, may it be rebuilt soon in our days!

High salaries + early retirement = TROUBLE

What is your position on homosexuality? The biblical one. Its a sin. Do you believe homosexuals can change as stated in the video? Yes. Anyone can change for Christ if they honestly want to. Some people can change completely and enter into a godly relationship. Some people have to battle the sin day by day and choose to remain single for the Lord's sake.

There was this guy I knew when we were in school. He was a big strong, muscular black guy. He was a Senior when I was a freshman. His name is David. Everybody liked David. He could do it all, he had it all. He was outgoing, charming, charismatic, athletic. He was a star on the football field and on the basketball court. He was good at track and field as well. He could speak. He could act. He was well liked and thought of by blacks and whites. And he was and is gay. Everybody knew it. We all liked him so much we overlooked it. I haven't seen David in decades. I do keep in touch with him via Facebook, along with scores of other people from my hometown. Reading between the lines I think he is in a relationship with a guy. I'm thinking they probably are married, but I am not sure. Whenever some sort of LGBT issue comes up in the news I think of David, and what he would say. I am sure if I went home and looked him up it would not take long to get him to give candid responses to the issues at hand.

This is the sure result of massive governmental debt. You keep on spending money you don't have and you go broke. There's no way around it.

Tonight I watched James Nix of the White Estate online at General Conference and he told of a vision Ellen White had but she could only hear the voice of the man it was about and not see his face. Then she and her husband went to an Adventist camp meeting and when they walked in the tent, she recognized the voice. She walked down to the front and told him he had no right to be speaking on that platform, that he was a bigamist. He left the platform and the tent quickly. His brother was also present and backed up the testimony, but said he had been sworn to secrecy. So even though she did not need this right to demonstrate she was ordained. she did in a sense have the power to hire and fire. There were other instances where God gave her a vision regarding a church officer that needed to be immediately removed. One was a local church treasurer who was embezzling funds. I am sure whoever hired him for that event was not about to continue that professional relationship. She said she saw the voice of the General Conference in session as the voice of God, not just the actions of a few at the head of the work. Today, there are female as well as male delegates- not sure about then, so going to Australia was listening to the General Conference but not because their leadership was exclusively male. By the way, soon after that SMI Henry, a woman, was General Conference treasurer, a role women can no longer hold because one must now be ordained. Ellen White wrote of her work, formerly with the Women's Christian Temperance Union, favorably Ordination was not a requirement in Ellen White's time for conference treasurers as far as I know.

"Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death."

Ancient Stone Homes This fantastic photo by Sharon Gabay shows the ancient stone homes built into the hills of northern Israel.

i cannot take any responsibility for other's self deception, but i have heard a small voice behind me saying, "this is the way walk in it." i cannot concern myself with all the voices other's may hear, some will say, Jesus is in the desert lets go hear him. I have heard the warning to not go. When the word of God speaks and anyone hears, and knows it is the voice of God saying, Behold it is I who stands at the door knocking, whoever opens the door and lets Him come in will live.

The 666 belief is problematic. To "get rid of it" does not get rid of any other belief about the Pope, Rome and last day events. We should move on to other issues. Folks, it is problematic to base our position on one, article that is 100 years old. It is less than honest to do so knowing that the author of that article admitted that it was based upon a factual error.

"All have sinned" not just homosexuals. All are born with a sinful nature - not just homosexuals. This is not a matter of "Who shall we be mean to" - it is a matter of 'truth' and whether it should be pc-downsized or just left as it is. If we leave it as it is - then all of us are doomed without the Gospel. And the Gospel causes the new birth - by supernatural means - not natural means. So then we are free to let the Bible speak to the subject of sin -and if a thread is started that is focused on just one sort of sin - well then we can show what the Bible says in that regard - but don't have to be mean spirited at all -- simply to admit to the truth. The facts. We could always look at what the Bible says on the subject Rom 1 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 1 Cor 6 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Lev 18 22 You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. What about the nation that approves of such things? 24 ‘Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. 25 For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants. 26 But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you 27 (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); 28 so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you. 29 For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. I think that in Canada you cannot read some of these texts over public airwaves... merely reading them is forbidden

I read that the other day, pretty interesting stuff. Won, I believe he has already brought a number of churches back to the fold and a few more are thinking about it.

I strongly suspect this pope is able to unite the churches as predicted.

My wife of 47 yrs and I are facing this right now, so this is a very timely question. She woke up with near total paralysis from the waist down Wed. CT & MRI showed metastatic dz (primary unknown at the moment). She had been wanting to die for several yrs because of severe pain. We had a little insight on dying well when our cat of 21 yrs died 2 yrs ago. The cat started lying on Marge's abdomen or chest when my wife's health deteriorated 5 yrs ago, even sleeping there through the night. One morning we woke up with the cat dead on her abdomen. To us dying well is dying in the comfort of one's home pain-free, and the last images one sees are the faces of those you love, not those of strangers in a strange place like a hospital. Hopefully, I'll be able to take her home and do just that.