Dear momma, can you tell me why they protest what we do?
Don’t they know we’re fighting for the red, white and blue?
Why do they think that it’s so wrong for me to fight for you?
I’m just finishing what I started the way you taught me to.
Oh momma when you watch t.v. don’t believe what you see.
There’s so many proud boys and girls fighting so you all could be free.
If you knew what I was doing every day I think you’d be proud of me.
Today I watched a young boy play where he once wasn’t allowed to be.
I made a promise that I would see this through until the end.
I came to fight for you, nana, papa, and every stranger and friend.
I didn’t do it because I wanted to follow some sort of trend.
But because the United States is on whom the world does depend.
It’s not pretty or clean and it is never going to be bloodless.
But too many have sat back and simply ignored this ongoing crisis.
I’ve missed birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgivings and Christmas.
But I’ve brought freedom and hope to the lost and the godless.
So momma, please tell everybody that I love and I miss them.
It’s time for me to go back and fight to bring peace to the mayhem.
Stand up for us when ignorant protestors try to condemn.
And if they still won’t listen then I hope they’ll read this soldier’s poem.
Monday, November 24, 2008
CHRISTIAN©
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I AM shouting “I’m clean living.”
Because I was once lost in the world,
And now I live sinless and forgiven.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
But I do speak with boldness,
Knowing Christ is my daily guide.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I am saying that I am strong.
Because I was once weak,
And God’s strength now carries me on.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I am bragging about my success.
Because it comes from the Lord,
And I know that I am truly blessed.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,
I am claiming that I’m made perfect.
Because I am made in Christ’s image,
And I know because of that I can claim it.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I know that I am free from all pain.
Everything that I have to go through,
I will have victory over in Jesus name.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I’m not saying I’ve made it some how.
I am no longer just a simple sinner,
I am a child of God blessed in the here and now.
I AM shouting “I’m clean living.”
Because I was once lost in the world,
And now I live sinless and forgiven.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
But I do speak with boldness,
Knowing Christ is my daily guide.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I am saying that I am strong.
Because I was once weak,
And God’s strength now carries me on.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I am bragging about my success.
Because it comes from the Lord,
And I know that I am truly blessed.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,
I am claiming that I’m made perfect.
Because I am made in Christ’s image,
And I know because of that I can claim it.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I know that I am free from all pain.
Everything that I have to go through,
I will have victory over in Jesus name.
When I say . . . “I am a Christian,”
I’m not saying I’ve made it some how.
I am no longer just a simple sinner,
I am a child of God blessed in the here and now.
GOD’S BEAUTY©
Now I know what they meant,
When they spoke of God’s beauty.
Everything he makes is beautiful,
And you’re the proof of that truth.
When I look into your eyes,
I see the stars that God created.
Because the twinkle that I see,
Proves to me that God is there.
When I see your beautiful smile,
I feel the warmth of the sun.
And that warm feeling that I get,
Reminds me of the love of God.
Your words are the words he speaks,
They say what I need to hear.
When you say them it’s then I know,
The Lord still cares about me.
When they spoke of God’s beauty.
Everything he makes is beautiful,
And you’re the proof of that truth.
When I look into your eyes,
I see the stars that God created.
Because the twinkle that I see,
Proves to me that God is there.
When I see your beautiful smile,
I feel the warmth of the sun.
And that warm feeling that I get,
Reminds me of the love of God.
Your words are the words he speaks,
They say what I need to hear.
When you say them it’s then I know,
The Lord still cares about me.
I CARE…©
I care, just in case you didn't know.
I care, more than you know.
I care, even if it doesn't show.
I care, I hope our friendship will grow.
I care, if I ever hurt you I’m sorry.
I care, what I say is what I’ll always be
I care, and I’ll be there if you allow me.
I care, I’ll stand firm like a tree.
I care, maybe it doesn't matter.
I care, when you're sad I'm sadder.
I care, if you hurt I shatter.
I care, so never give up or surrender.
I care, I pray for you from morning to night.
I care, by you I hope to always do right.
I care, my promises are air tight.
I care, because you made my life bright.
I care, when others break I won’t bend.
I care, I’m real and I’ll never pretend.
I care, because you’re my best friend.
I care, and I will until the end.
I care, more than you know.
I care, even if it doesn't show.
I care, I hope our friendship will grow.
I care, if I ever hurt you I’m sorry.
I care, what I say is what I’ll always be
I care, and I’ll be there if you allow me.
I care, I’ll stand firm like a tree.
I care, maybe it doesn't matter.
I care, when you're sad I'm sadder.
I care, if you hurt I shatter.
I care, so never give up or surrender.
I care, I pray for you from morning to night.
I care, by you I hope to always do right.
I care, my promises are air tight.
I care, because you made my life bright.
I care, when others break I won’t bend.
I care, I’m real and I’ll never pretend.
I care, because you’re my best friend.
I care, and I will until the end.
IF I COULD©
If I could I would trade places with you,
Take the pain and the tears for you.
I would feel the hurt they cause you,
When they take advantage of you.
If I could I would give you my eyes,
To show you where true beauty lies.
In you is something no money buys,
God’s daughter is beautiful and wise.
If I could I would show you forever,
To prove I’m here through whatever.
I’m here through good and bad weather,
We’ll ride through each storm together.
If I could I would move the world for you,
Take it in my hands and split the world in two.
I would do what it takes to get you through,
If I could I would trade places with you.
Take the pain and the tears for you.
I would feel the hurt they cause you,
When they take advantage of you.
If I could I would give you my eyes,
To show you where true beauty lies.
In you is something no money buys,
God’s daughter is beautiful and wise.
If I could I would show you forever,
To prove I’m here through whatever.
I’m here through good and bad weather,
We’ll ride through each storm together.
If I could I would move the world for you,
Take it in my hands and split the world in two.
I would do what it takes to get you through,
If I could I would trade places with you.
JUST ONE THOUGHT ©
My palms sweat,
My hands shake.
My head spins,
My stomach tightens.
My eyes blur,
My mouth dries.
My heart skips a beat,
All because I think of you.
My hands shake.
My head spins,
My stomach tightens.
My eyes blur,
My mouth dries.
My heart skips a beat,
All because I think of you.
THANK YOU©
You are my friend,And I think that’s something big.
You’re not just anybody,
I chose you as a friend for a reason.
I may group you with others,
But that doesn’t make you less special.
You’re not just another face,
You really mean something to me.
I don’t just say you’re my friend,I mean it for many reasons you don’t know.
I may not have told you why,
But I appreciate so much about you.
Because you are my friend,
I promise I will pray for you.
I promise I will always be honest,
And not just say what you want to hear.
The words I say may hurt you,
And you may not want to hear them.
But what I say I say with love,
If I didn’t then I wouldn’t be a friend.
I wish I could express in words,
What it means for me to call you my friend.
But the truth about it is,
You may never know how much I care.
It may not be enough,
And it may not mean much to you.
But I hope you’ll understand,
When I simply say thank you.
You’re not just anybody,
I chose you as a friend for a reason.
I may group you with others,
But that doesn’t make you less special.
You’re not just another face,
You really mean something to me.
I don’t just say you’re my friend,I mean it for many reasons you don’t know.
I may not have told you why,
But I appreciate so much about you.
Because you are my friend,
I promise I will pray for you.
I promise I will always be honest,
And not just say what you want to hear.
The words I say may hurt you,
And you may not want to hear them.
But what I say I say with love,
If I didn’t then I wouldn’t be a friend.
I wish I could express in words,
What it means for me to call you my friend.
But the truth about it is,
You may never know how much I care.
It may not be enough,
And it may not mean much to you.
But I hope you’ll understand,
When I simply say thank you.
SOMEWHERE…©
Somewhere there’s a girl who really loves herself.
She carries herself with dignity and class and self respect.
She was raised with morals and prides herself in them.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Some where there’s a girl who has never been drunk or high.
She would never think of harming her body in any way.She would never need to do things to mess up her mind.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who has never been to a club.
She’s never worn revealing clothes or danced around sexually.
She doesn’t have to dress half naked to get a guys attention.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who doesn’t dress like a tramp.
She doesn’t own any clothes that are too short or tight.
She would never walk around with her body hanging out.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who has never slept with any guy.
She’s never thought of giving herself away so cheap.
She knows she’s waiting for the man who will marry her.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who puts God first.
She would never put anything before her love for the Lord.
She’d never think of skipping church for worldly things.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who reads her Bible every day.
She prays to God and has no time for worldly things.She’d rather be in church than out with any worldly friends.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere is a girl who hasn’t compromised her walk with God.
She doesn’t have worldly friends because she is true to the Lord.
She desires to seek the Lord’s approval before the worlds.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who looks passed the outside.
She doesn’t care about the chiseled face or perfect smile.
She looks past the rock hard chest and defined biceps.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who sees what’s in my heart.
She waits to get to know the man I really am.
She doesn’t care if I don’t look a certain superficial way.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who is deserving of the man I am.
She was made just for me and I was created to provide for her.
She owns my heart even though I don’t know who she is.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
She carries herself with dignity and class and self respect.
She was raised with morals and prides herself in them.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Some where there’s a girl who has never been drunk or high.
She would never think of harming her body in any way.She would never need to do things to mess up her mind.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who has never been to a club.
She’s never worn revealing clothes or danced around sexually.
She doesn’t have to dress half naked to get a guys attention.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who doesn’t dress like a tramp.
She doesn’t own any clothes that are too short or tight.
She would never walk around with her body hanging out.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who has never slept with any guy.
She’s never thought of giving herself away so cheap.
She knows she’s waiting for the man who will marry her.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who puts God first.
She would never put anything before her love for the Lord.
She’d never think of skipping church for worldly things.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who reads her Bible every day.
She prays to God and has no time for worldly things.She’d rather be in church than out with any worldly friends.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere is a girl who hasn’t compromised her walk with God.
She doesn’t have worldly friends because she is true to the Lord.
She desires to seek the Lord’s approval before the worlds.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who looks passed the outside.
She doesn’t care about the chiseled face or perfect smile.
She looks past the rock hard chest and defined biceps.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who sees what’s in my heart.
She waits to get to know the man I really am.
She doesn’t care if I don’t look a certain superficial way.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
Somewhere there’s a girl who is deserving of the man I am.
She was made just for me and I was created to provide for her.
She owns my heart even though I don’t know who she is.
Where ever she is this is the girl just right for me.
TODAY©
Today, I woke up way too early and couldn’t go back to sleep.
You didn’t sleep at all because of all the gunfire.
Today, all I could find for breakfast was cereal.
You ate nothing because you gave your food to a hungry child.
Today, my body was in so much pain I couldn’t work out.
Your body is numb and still you stand up and fight.
Today, the water in my shower was too cold.
You washed your face in a mud hole and kept going.
Today, the iron broke so I had to wear wrinkled clothes.
You’ve been wearing the same uniform for months on end.
Today I complained about the weather again.
You’re living in unbearable heat in the day and bone chilling cold at night.
Today, none of my friends bothered to message or call me.
You jumped in front of a bullet to save a fellow soldier you barely know.
Today, the woman I love had more important people to talk to than me.
You jumped on top of a woman you’ve never met to shield her from a bomb explosion.
Today, I spent all day procrastinating to do homework.
You took time out of your day to read a little child a story.
Today, I realized how none of the things that happened to me even matter.
You keep on fighting for me even though I continue to act selfish.
Today, I’ve prayed to God to bring you home safely.
And I’ll keep on praying that prayer until that day is today.
You didn’t sleep at all because of all the gunfire.
Today, all I could find for breakfast was cereal.
You ate nothing because you gave your food to a hungry child.
Today, my body was in so much pain I couldn’t work out.
Your body is numb and still you stand up and fight.
Today, the water in my shower was too cold.
You washed your face in a mud hole and kept going.
Today, the iron broke so I had to wear wrinkled clothes.
You’ve been wearing the same uniform for months on end.
Today I complained about the weather again.
You’re living in unbearable heat in the day and bone chilling cold at night.
Today, none of my friends bothered to message or call me.
You jumped in front of a bullet to save a fellow soldier you barely know.
Today, the woman I love had more important people to talk to than me.
You jumped on top of a woman you’ve never met to shield her from a bomb explosion.
Today, I spent all day procrastinating to do homework.
You took time out of your day to read a little child a story.
Today, I realized how none of the things that happened to me even matter.
You keep on fighting for me even though I continue to act selfish.
Today, I’ve prayed to God to bring you home safely.
And I’ll keep on praying that prayer until that day is today.
WITHOUT YOU©
An angel without wings,
A clown without a smile,
A knight without a sword,
A king without a crown.
The moon without the sun,
The earth without the rain,
The sky without the stars,
The world without the Lord.
Emptiness and loneliness,
No passion and no desire,
Lacking reason and purpose,
This is my life without you.
A clown without a smile,
A knight without a sword,
A king without a crown.
The moon without the sun,
The earth without the rain,
The sky without the stars,
The world without the Lord.
Emptiness and loneliness,
No passion and no desire,
Lacking reason and purpose,
This is my life without you.
You Are So Fair©
You are so fair,
Oh yes you are.
When I look at you,
I see all I’ve ever wanted.
I wish to be your friend,
I desire to stand proudly by your side.
I want to know your name,
I long to spend my time with you.
You are beautiful,
You are the very definition.
No one compares,
None greater than you exist.
When I look in your eyes,
I see the love of God in you.
I know you are true,
Because your eyes tell me.
Your eyes do not lie,
Because a lie is not within you.
They are bright,
They are the beauty of the Lord.
When I see you smile,
I know I can believe you.
Your lips tell me truth,
They speak only God’s word.
Your smile hides no lies,
Your lips would never speak a lie.
When you smile it is truth,
Because it is the love of God.
Your body is perfect,
It has yet to be touched by man.
You did not give it away,
You’ve remained a true woman.
The secrets of your body,
You have not shared with another.
None have seen your gift,
You’ve danced indecently for no man.
Self respect and dignity and class,
You have them all in abundance and more.
You’ve given your all for truth,
Only the wisdom of the Lord guides your way.
Your speech is pure,
You do no speak filthy words.
Your words are like honey,
They comfort and never do they cut.
Your thoughts are right,
You have no thought of indecency.
You are not a whore,
You have not lain with many men.
Your bed is your own,
You would never share it with just any man.
You’ve made a choice,
To share your bed with only your husband.
You are worthy of kings,
You are more valuable than all riches.
You deserve greatness,
You should be showered with treasures.
Pearls and precious jewels,
Silver and gold and platinum should be yours.
The desires of your heart,
These are things men should strive to do.
But do you exist,
Or are you just a dream of mine?
Could this be real,
Such a perfect beauty as you?
I feel as if I sleep,
And you’re there in my dreams.
Only when my eyes close,
Do I see this beauty of God.
I pray God has heard me,
And my prayer will be answered someday.
My dream would come true,
If only I could wake up and find you.
Not a dream any more,
No longer someone imagined,
Because I can feel you,
And know that you are real.
How I wish to be your friend,
I would be proud to stand by your side.
Your name would be on my lips always,
Every moment spent with you would be heaven.
I see all I’ve ever wanted,
When I look at you.
Oh yes you are,
You are so fair.
Oh yes you are.
When I look at you,
I see all I’ve ever wanted.
I wish to be your friend,
I desire to stand proudly by your side.
I want to know your name,
I long to spend my time with you.
You are beautiful,
You are the very definition.
No one compares,
None greater than you exist.
When I look in your eyes,
I see the love of God in you.
I know you are true,
Because your eyes tell me.
Your eyes do not lie,
Because a lie is not within you.
They are bright,
They are the beauty of the Lord.
When I see you smile,
I know I can believe you.
Your lips tell me truth,
They speak only God’s word.
Your smile hides no lies,
Your lips would never speak a lie.
When you smile it is truth,
Because it is the love of God.
Your body is perfect,
It has yet to be touched by man.
You did not give it away,
You’ve remained a true woman.
The secrets of your body,
You have not shared with another.
None have seen your gift,
You’ve danced indecently for no man.
Self respect and dignity and class,
You have them all in abundance and more.
You’ve given your all for truth,
Only the wisdom of the Lord guides your way.
Your speech is pure,
You do no speak filthy words.
Your words are like honey,
They comfort and never do they cut.
Your thoughts are right,
You have no thought of indecency.
You are not a whore,
You have not lain with many men.
Your bed is your own,
You would never share it with just any man.
You’ve made a choice,
To share your bed with only your husband.
You are worthy of kings,
You are more valuable than all riches.
You deserve greatness,
You should be showered with treasures.
Pearls and precious jewels,
Silver and gold and platinum should be yours.
The desires of your heart,
These are things men should strive to do.
But do you exist,
Or are you just a dream of mine?
Could this be real,
Such a perfect beauty as you?
I feel as if I sleep,
And you’re there in my dreams.
Only when my eyes close,
Do I see this beauty of God.
I pray God has heard me,
And my prayer will be answered someday.
My dream would come true,
If only I could wake up and find you.
Not a dream any more,
No longer someone imagined,
Because I can feel you,
And know that you are real.
How I wish to be your friend,
I would be proud to stand by your side.
Your name would be on my lips always,
Every moment spent with you would be heaven.
I see all I’ve ever wanted,
When I look at you.
Oh yes you are,
You are so fair.
A COW A PIG A CRUISER LINER AND A 747
“I just don’t know why he (she) won’t commit”. I still crack up until I pee or spit milk out of my nose when I hear that. I see these women (and men) on television or in real life, asking why the guy (or girl) they live with just won’t settle down and marry them, and it makes me laugh until it hurts. I’m not joking here. I’m not saying this to be disrespectful, but are you really that stupid? There’s an old saying, “why buy the cow when you get the milk for free”. I am being so damn honest when I say this, but any woman (or man) who lives with their boyfriend (or girlfriend) before they’re married is an idiot. This has nothing to do with the fact that it is 100% immoral and against God’s word, because I know in this disgusting immoral world we live, that doesn’t even matter to so called Christians. This is just about common freaking sense. You’d think you’d have a little more respect for yourself than that. You’d think you’d be smarter than that. You’d think . . . oh wait, you obviously don’t think. I’m telling you, you don’t get any sympathy from me. You deserve exactly what you get. When you want them to marry you and they won’t, you deserve it. When he comes home with lipstick on his collar (cologne on her clothes) you deserve it. When you find the numbers in his (her) pocket, you deserve it. When he’s (she’s) out later than usual, you deserve it. When they’re not where he (she) said they’d be, you deserve it. When he gets you pregnant and then ignores you and eventually cheats on you with someone who USED to look the way you did, you 100% without a doubt deserve it (okay, this one is only one sided for obvious reasons). I am so sick and tired of hearing women (men) complain about how their boyfriend (girlfriend) they’ve been sleeping with them, now won’t commit to them. Get over it. You were stupid enough to put yourself in that position, you got exactly what you thought you deserved. And trust me, it doesn’t stop there, for the rest of his (her) life, even if they do marry you, they will remember how easy it was to get what they wanted from you and they will use it any time they can against you. They may never say it or hint to it, but they will use it to manipulate you, because from then on, you will be that easy target they got. You can tell yourself its okay. You can try and convince yourself that they really do care, and you know what? They probably do care, but unfortunately for them, you don’t care enough about yourself.
Well, the feminist left has come up with a quote of their own that says “Nowadays, 80% of women are against marriage! WHY? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage.” Is that so? Then why is it that 90% of women have had premarital sex by the time they are 30? Why is it that 40% of married women are having affairs? Why is it that the average number of sex partners for a woman is six to eight in one year? Why is it that 70% of women condone sex before marriage? Why is it that 35% of women are more apt to having “rebound” sex? Why is it that 30% of women are having sex on the first date? Seems to me that “women” aren’t just settling for the “pig” to get a “little sausage”, but they’re actually going out of their way to get even more. With all that, it must be said… “Even a cruise liner looks like it’s the size of a little sausage when it’s sitting in the middle of the entire ocean” or my favorite… “Even a 747 looks small when it’s landing in the middle of the Grand Canyon”.
Well, the feminist left has come up with a quote of their own that says “Nowadays, 80% of women are against marriage! WHY? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage.” Is that so? Then why is it that 90% of women have had premarital sex by the time they are 30? Why is it that 40% of married women are having affairs? Why is it that the average number of sex partners for a woman is six to eight in one year? Why is it that 70% of women condone sex before marriage? Why is it that 35% of women are more apt to having “rebound” sex? Why is it that 30% of women are having sex on the first date? Seems to me that “women” aren’t just settling for the “pig” to get a “little sausage”, but they’re actually going out of their way to get even more. With all that, it must be said… “Even a cruise liner looks like it’s the size of a little sausage when it’s sitting in the middle of the entire ocean” or my favorite… “Even a 747 looks small when it’s landing in the middle of the Grand Canyon”.
REAL CHRISTIAN
Do you know how hard it is to be a REAL Christian man and go out and to find REAL Christian friends? I was having this discussion with my pastor. Because I was explaining to him how it was so awesome to find a REAL Christian girl finally. I told him. I mean I'm just a man and I go out every now and then. I try to talk to people who claim to be Christians. But then they blow my mind with some of the things they say. Talking about how they're planning on going out drinking as they light up their cigarette. They talk about how they're all going dancing this weekend. When you're alone with some of the guys (and even some of the girls) they talk about having sex with their partner or someone they barely met. And these are supposed to be Christians?
What happened to Romans 12:2, where we are told to not be part of this world? And what about I Corinthians 6 that talks about when we do things like that we make our body the part of a harlot, which separates us from Christ. Or what about Ephesians 4:12, which says we are supposed 2 use our body to edify God. And does not Ephesians 5:20 say that we are members of his body? Do you think you would find Jesus drinking, or smoking or dancing around moving his body to entice the people around him? Philippians 3:21 says it best. Jesus came to fashion our bodies away from the corruption of the world unto glory, but the last part is the most important. He can only do that according to how much he is able to subdue things unto himself. In other words, we have and will always have a free will to do whatever we want. But, if we willingly do the things that are said to be wrong in the word of God then how can we be in his glory? Colossians 2:23 goes on to say that we as Christians are supposed use our bodies in humility and wisdom to worship God, and to neglect the satisfying of our flesh. It’s no wonder there are so many Christians who lack peace in our hearts and in our lives. Peace translated in the Bible means "nothing missing and nothing lacking" according to the Greek Concordance. So then it would make sense that I Thessalonians 5:23 says that unless we keep our bodies blameless until the return of Christ than we will never have peace in our minds, bodies or soul. Finally Amos 3:3 says how can two walk together, unless they agree. So I ask you "Christians" this, how can you expect to walk right with God if you continue to do the things that the Lord says are wrong to do?
Our body is supposed to be an extension of the Lord, and when we defile it by drinking, and smoking, and having sex, and going to places that we shouldn’t be like clubs and bars and places like that we willingly separate ourselves from God. And the Bible says that not even saying you didn’t know it was wrong is an excuse, because it is all written there for us to know. So ask yourself this next time you’re out drinking, smoking, sleeping around, or dancing around for the world:
IF JESUS SHOWED UP RIGHT HERE NEXT TO ME, COULD I EXPLAIN TO HIM HOW THIS WAS BRINGING HIM ANY KIND OF GLORY OR HOW THIS WAS ME USING MY BODY TO EDIFY HIM???
What happened to Romans 12:2, where we are told to not be part of this world? And what about I Corinthians 6 that talks about when we do things like that we make our body the part of a harlot, which separates us from Christ. Or what about Ephesians 4:12, which says we are supposed 2 use our body to edify God. And does not Ephesians 5:20 say that we are members of his body? Do you think you would find Jesus drinking, or smoking or dancing around moving his body to entice the people around him? Philippians 3:21 says it best. Jesus came to fashion our bodies away from the corruption of the world unto glory, but the last part is the most important. He can only do that according to how much he is able to subdue things unto himself. In other words, we have and will always have a free will to do whatever we want. But, if we willingly do the things that are said to be wrong in the word of God then how can we be in his glory? Colossians 2:23 goes on to say that we as Christians are supposed use our bodies in humility and wisdom to worship God, and to neglect the satisfying of our flesh. It’s no wonder there are so many Christians who lack peace in our hearts and in our lives. Peace translated in the Bible means "nothing missing and nothing lacking" according to the Greek Concordance. So then it would make sense that I Thessalonians 5:23 says that unless we keep our bodies blameless until the return of Christ than we will never have peace in our minds, bodies or soul. Finally Amos 3:3 says how can two walk together, unless they agree. So I ask you "Christians" this, how can you expect to walk right with God if you continue to do the things that the Lord says are wrong to do?
Our body is supposed to be an extension of the Lord, and when we defile it by drinking, and smoking, and having sex, and going to places that we shouldn’t be like clubs and bars and places like that we willingly separate ourselves from God. And the Bible says that not even saying you didn’t know it was wrong is an excuse, because it is all written there for us to know. So ask yourself this next time you’re out drinking, smoking, sleeping around, or dancing around for the world:
IF JESUS SHOWED UP RIGHT HERE NEXT TO ME, COULD I EXPLAIN TO HIM HOW THIS WAS BRINGING HIM ANY KIND OF GLORY OR HOW THIS WAS ME USING MY BODY TO EDIFY HIM???
AM I A CHRISTIAN?
I am a Christian. At least that is what I answer if you ask me what religion I am, because after all it is just a religion and as long as you don’t push your religion on me I won’t push my religion on you. I am a Christian. I gave my heart to Christ so long ago that I don’t remember the date. I believe that Christ died for my sins, so it’s okay if I sin a little bit every now and then, after all “we all have to sin a little bit everyday”, right? I am a Christian, and I will proudly tell you that any Sunday morning on my way to church, as long as it’s not football season. I am a Christian, and it’s okay if I drink a little or smoke a little every now and then, after all “I’m only human”, right? I am a Christian, I can quote you over a hundred Bible versus by memory and recite the books from beginning to end, but don’t ask me what they mean, because I really don’t know. Don’t ask me where it says that as a child of God I am free from sin, I don’t have to be sick and I don’t have to be poor, because I don’t know where it is, and since I don’t know where it is in the Bible it’s probably not true. I mean come on, its God’s word, “how do I know what it all means”? I am a Christian and I’ll tell you that as we go out to dance at the clubs, “I wonder if I’ll meet any Christian people while I’m here?” I am a Christian, but I have no clue what God’s will is for me, even though he says in his word that he “wishes above all that I [as his child] would prosper and have perfect health”. I am a Christian, and I will tell you this as I explain to you that me getting cancer is part of “God’s will”, even though I just finish telling you that I don’t know what God’s will is. I will tell you that it must be God’s will that I didn’t get the job, can’t support the children God blessed me with and don’t have the desires of my heart, because that’s the kind of God I serve, right? I will tell you that it must be God’s will for me to be sick, poor, oppressed, depressed and full of fear, all the while saying that “nobody knows what God’s will truly is”. As a matter of fact, as a Christian, I will blame God for so many things that happen in my life and I will tell you that they are all part of God’s will for me and yet I will continue to tell you that “I don’t know what God’s will is”. I am a Christian, and I will continue to say “nobody knows God’s will”, but I will continue to read my horoscope, go to fortune tellers and have my palm read in hopes to find out the future that I’ve already confessed God won’t tell me. I am a Christian. I don’t have time to read the Bible, I can’t find time to seek God in prayer and I’ll be lucky if I go to church once a month. But invite me to a movie, a party, or sport’s event and suddenly my schedule clears up. I don’t have money to pay my tithes and offerings, but I can buy a pack of cigarettes everyday, a quart of liquor, and I can find a way to go clubbing, a bar and a movie, all in the same weekend. And yet I will continue to wonder why I am sick or poor or depressed or oppressed or full of fear. Now don’t tell me I’m wrong for doing what I do, after all it’s my walk with God and you can’t judge me, even though the Bible says we should use God’s word to hold each other accountable, so that we can stand before God perfect. I mean come one now, after all we are nothing more than sinners saved by grace right? Even if the Bible says that we are “brand new creatures and everything we did in the past is done away with”. I know what I’m doing; after all I am a Christian.
Am I a Christian?
Or is it possible that every where I use the word “Christian” here, I could be using the word HYPOCRITE???
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(REVELATIONS 3:15-16)
Am I a Christian?
Or is it possible that every where I use the word “Christian” here, I could be using the word HYPOCRITE???
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(REVELATIONS 3:15-16)
BA BA BLACK SHEEP!
Black sheep is a derogatory colloquialism in the English language meaning an outsider or one who is different in a way which others disapprove of or find odd. This can be someone who has been shunned by others, or one who has chosen to be an outsider, due to actions and aims that separate them from the rest of the people or "flock". A typical example might be a family member who has chosen to follow a religion other than that of the rest of his family. In psychology, a black sheep is the member of a rigidly triangulated family who holds the rest tightly together by being identified as the bad/sick/deviant one who causes all the family problems. In this situation, the rule enforcer in the family is charged with the job of controlling the black sheep from revealing the family secrets. The black sheep is seen as an outsider, but only because he is a teller of truth.
I am the black sheep of my family and trust me when I say this, I wear the badge proudly. It doesn’t matter what it is, if someone in my family does something horrible they are easily forgiven, but when I do something that is “wrong” in my family’s eyes, it is held against me forever. No matter how long it takes, they will continue to hold it against me and keep it in mind when they see me. If I say something that offends someone in my family, that is unforgivable, but if someone else says something about me, it’s usually accepted as the truth. Double standards rule when it comes to my family. They will accuse me of not minding my own business, but when something happens between one person in my family and me, the entire family MUST get involved.
I love my family, which will never change. I pray for them daily and ask God to shower them with his grace and mercy and to bless them and keep them healthy. I know that God can only do so much when they CHOOSE not to walk according to His word, but still I pray for their protection, and God has kept them thus far. However, just because I love my family does NOT mean I would ever sacrifice my walk with God to please them. I will continue to love them and pray for them and if I am never accepted by them, the one thing I will know is that I can stand before God and say that I told them the truth; I gave them His word and I will not have any blood on my hands.But, like I said before, I wear this badge proudly; I truly am the black sheep of my family. Why am I proud of this you might ask? Because there is someone who doesn’t see things that way, and that is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When the whole world sees me as a black sheep and rejected, my Father God sees me as one of his very own. When my family rejects me, my Father God embraces me. When my family mocks me, my Father God comforts me. I am my Father’s sheep and He is my Shepherd. The flock I belong to is one that has suffered the same sacrifice as myself, being rejected by the world, but embraced by their Father God. And it is all worth it, because the sacrifices I make to please my Father God mean that there are countless blessings that I will receive because of it. When the whole world comes against me, there is one person who stands firm by me and with me and that is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is more valuable to me than the acceptance of anybody in this world.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(Matthew 25:31-34)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
(John 10:1-29)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:35-39)
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
(John 15:18-27)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
(Psalms 23)
I am the black sheep of my family and trust me when I say this, I wear the badge proudly. It doesn’t matter what it is, if someone in my family does something horrible they are easily forgiven, but when I do something that is “wrong” in my family’s eyes, it is held against me forever. No matter how long it takes, they will continue to hold it against me and keep it in mind when they see me. If I say something that offends someone in my family, that is unforgivable, but if someone else says something about me, it’s usually accepted as the truth. Double standards rule when it comes to my family. They will accuse me of not minding my own business, but when something happens between one person in my family and me, the entire family MUST get involved.
I love my family, which will never change. I pray for them daily and ask God to shower them with his grace and mercy and to bless them and keep them healthy. I know that God can only do so much when they CHOOSE not to walk according to His word, but still I pray for their protection, and God has kept them thus far. However, just because I love my family does NOT mean I would ever sacrifice my walk with God to please them. I will continue to love them and pray for them and if I am never accepted by them, the one thing I will know is that I can stand before God and say that I told them the truth; I gave them His word and I will not have any blood on my hands.But, like I said before, I wear this badge proudly; I truly am the black sheep of my family. Why am I proud of this you might ask? Because there is someone who doesn’t see things that way, and that is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When the whole world sees me as a black sheep and rejected, my Father God sees me as one of his very own. When my family rejects me, my Father God embraces me. When my family mocks me, my Father God comforts me. I am my Father’s sheep and He is my Shepherd. The flock I belong to is one that has suffered the same sacrifice as myself, being rejected by the world, but embraced by their Father God. And it is all worth it, because the sacrifices I make to please my Father God mean that there are countless blessings that I will receive because of it. When the whole world comes against me, there is one person who stands firm by me and with me and that is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is more valuable to me than the acceptance of anybody in this world.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(Matthew 25:31-34)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
(John 10:1-29)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:35-39)
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
(John 15:18-27)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
(Psalms 23)
DRAMA FREE
Why is it that just about every person I talk to, says they want to be or are “drama free”? What exactly does that mean? Look, I’m a Christian and I know that God won’t put anything in my LIFE that I cannot get through, but to say that there’s no “drama” in my LIFE is to say that every time something comes up that is a struggle for me, I would run from it. That’s what I call a COWARD. I thank God every day I am NOT “drama free”, because it reminds me that I am still alive. People who run from “drama” are not living LIFE, they’re running away from LIFE. LIFE is full of drama, every day, there’s something new that comes up. Are you telling me that when you face a struggle, instead of standing up and getting through it you run from it? That’s pathetic. That’s immature. That’s childish . . . I could go on, but I won’t, I hope you get the point. The Bible teaches that Satan doesn’t attack people he’s already got control over, so maybe that’s why you’re “drama free”, because Satan already has you so deceived and blind that he’s already controlling you. LIFE is NOT about living “drama free”, LIFE is about recognizing that there IS “drama” in my life and I know who I am in God and I am able to get through the “drama”. God doesn’t say he will take us OUT of the FIRE, but that he would take us THROUGH the FIRE. So, if you want to live “drama free” that’s fine, but you’re not really living, you’re just getting by. Cowards run from “drama”, but a REAL MAN (or WOMAN) runs forward until they get through the “drama”, because they know that the reward of finishing the race outweighs any benefit of running away.
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
(Psalm 66:12)
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
(Isaiah 43:2)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(1 Timothy 6:12)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
(II Timothy 4:7-8)
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
(Psalm 66:12)
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
(Isaiah 43:2)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(1 Timothy 6:12)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
(II Timothy 4:7-8)
GOOD OL' DAYS
THE FOLLOWING IS IN NO WAY AN ATTACK ON WOMEN. EVERY HER CAN BE REPLACED WITH HIM, EVERY SHE CAN BE A HE, AND VICE VERSA.
What happened to the good old days? When a guy and girl could just be friends nothing more? Why is it now, that if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, it’s almost required of you to eliminate all your friends of the opposite sex? Or just because a guy or a girl has a boyfriend or girlfriend, it automatically means they can’t make new friends of the opposite sex? Have we become so insecure that we feel the need to control those we claim to love? Have we become so self-centered that we think we have a right to dictate the life of someone who has blessed us by choosing to be with us? Trust me, I know what I’m talking about, I used to be the same way. But, then something happened, I grew up. I know how it feels to be so insecure that I felt the need to tell my girlfriend who she can and cannot talk to. But, I’ve learned that if I truly care for them then I have to trust them. So many times I come across women that I talk to and they tell me “I don’t think my boyfriend would like me talking to you”. So, I wonder, does your boyfriend trust you? Does your boyfriend think so little of you that you don’t feel he would allow you to make guy friends? Is he that insecure or is he just selfish? I mean really now, it makes sense if we think about it. This is someone you claim to care about and claim to want to be with. This is someone who you could potentially share the rest of your life with, and this is how you treat them? You control them and tell them how things are going to be in their own life? Excuse me, but grow the hell up. She is your mate NOT your slave. You are NOT two halves of a whole; you are two WHOLE people who have chosen to share yourselves with each other. Why do we feel the need to control each other? Why do we allow ourselves to be controlled? I know so many people who tell me “my boyfriend checks my messages, reads my e-mail and knows all the numbers in my phone book . . .” and they’re okay with this. How can people be so naïve, so ignorant, so stupid? How can you as a human being think so little of yourself that you would let someone who claims to care about you control you this way? I once dated a girl who expected me to tell her who she could and could not go out with. She told me each and every person who she talked to. She told me every guy who hit on her, every guy who looked at her, and every guy who tried talking to her. She felt she had to call me and ask me if she could go out with her friends. I finally had to look at her and tell her, “You are not my property. I trust you completely, if you want to go out with your friends you don’t need my permission to talk to someone or go out with your friends. I don’t care about guys who hit on you or talk to you, because I trust you enough to know you won’t do anything”. She was shocked that I said this and ended the relationship because she claimed I didn’t care. I was more than happy to end things; I was shocked I actually had to tell her this. It’s bad enough that women have very low self esteems, but it doesn’t help when we as men treat them as our property rather than a person. The sooner we realize they are a human being just like us, the sooner we will be happy. Not one of you men who act like this can tell me you have peace in your heart. I know how it feels. Always wondering where she is, always wondering what she’s doing, always thinking about what you don’t know. It’s not worth it. Trust me; it’s really not worth it. A good woman is worth going through hell for, but a real good woman won’t make you go through that hell. If you have a doubt there is probably a good reason, but talk to her about it, before you become obsessed with it. A hug between friends can just be that. A phone call from a guy can be just another friend. When a guy looks at your woman be happy, because you know other men want to be with her, but she’s with you. Trust your woman and she will reward you for it. If you have doubts talk to her about it before you act on it. Take it from someone who knows. I went from a guy who broke another guys nose just for giving my girlfriend a hug (because they were good old friends) to now being a guy who says “thank you” when I see another guy looking at my girl. Don’t get me wrong, don’t be naïve, you can tell if a woman is being secretive. Trust me, they suck at lying and hiding things, but we’re just too stupid to see the signs. Close your nose and open your eyes. You’ll see a quality woman by her fruits. A quality woman isn’t someone who denies their friends just to spend time with you, but she’s not the woman who tells you she’s going out with her friends without you. A quality woman is the one who asks you if you want to go and then waits for you to tell her it’s okay to go out without you. They want to be secure in knowing you’re okay with them being their own person, without having to deal with you calling them every minute to check up on them. Watch the friends they go out with, but don’t automatically assume they’re the same way. A good friend will encourage your girl to go out with them, but will never push you to be untrue to you. Above all, trust your girl. If you don’t have trust then you sure as hell don’t have love. Remember, a good woman will not give you a reason to doubt them, because they will tell you everything if you just listen. Life isn’t over if she cheats on you, but don’t be stupid enough to stay with her if she does, because then you really are a moron. If you know without a shadow of a doubt that your girl cheated on you, then the best thing to do is to turn your back on her 100%. If you give her a chance to explain or to ask for forgiveness then you’re only setting yourself up to get back with her and give her a second chance to make you look like a fool again. Nobody dies because someone cheats on them, and anybody who commits suicide or kills because of being cheated on is an idiot. The lesson here is this, now you know the kind of woman you don’t want in life. So move on, find a real good woman and don’t be stupid enough to make the same mistake twice.
What happened to the good old days? When a guy and girl could just be friends nothing more? Why is it now, that if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, it’s almost required of you to eliminate all your friends of the opposite sex? Or just because a guy or a girl has a boyfriend or girlfriend, it automatically means they can’t make new friends of the opposite sex? Have we become so insecure that we feel the need to control those we claim to love? Have we become so self-centered that we think we have a right to dictate the life of someone who has blessed us by choosing to be with us? Trust me, I know what I’m talking about, I used to be the same way. But, then something happened, I grew up. I know how it feels to be so insecure that I felt the need to tell my girlfriend who she can and cannot talk to. But, I’ve learned that if I truly care for them then I have to trust them. So many times I come across women that I talk to and they tell me “I don’t think my boyfriend would like me talking to you”. So, I wonder, does your boyfriend trust you? Does your boyfriend think so little of you that you don’t feel he would allow you to make guy friends? Is he that insecure or is he just selfish? I mean really now, it makes sense if we think about it. This is someone you claim to care about and claim to want to be with. This is someone who you could potentially share the rest of your life with, and this is how you treat them? You control them and tell them how things are going to be in their own life? Excuse me, but grow the hell up. She is your mate NOT your slave. You are NOT two halves of a whole; you are two WHOLE people who have chosen to share yourselves with each other. Why do we feel the need to control each other? Why do we allow ourselves to be controlled? I know so many people who tell me “my boyfriend checks my messages, reads my e-mail and knows all the numbers in my phone book . . .” and they’re okay with this. How can people be so naïve, so ignorant, so stupid? How can you as a human being think so little of yourself that you would let someone who claims to care about you control you this way? I once dated a girl who expected me to tell her who she could and could not go out with. She told me each and every person who she talked to. She told me every guy who hit on her, every guy who looked at her, and every guy who tried talking to her. She felt she had to call me and ask me if she could go out with her friends. I finally had to look at her and tell her, “You are not my property. I trust you completely, if you want to go out with your friends you don’t need my permission to talk to someone or go out with your friends. I don’t care about guys who hit on you or talk to you, because I trust you enough to know you won’t do anything”. She was shocked that I said this and ended the relationship because she claimed I didn’t care. I was more than happy to end things; I was shocked I actually had to tell her this. It’s bad enough that women have very low self esteems, but it doesn’t help when we as men treat them as our property rather than a person. The sooner we realize they are a human being just like us, the sooner we will be happy. Not one of you men who act like this can tell me you have peace in your heart. I know how it feels. Always wondering where she is, always wondering what she’s doing, always thinking about what you don’t know. It’s not worth it. Trust me; it’s really not worth it. A good woman is worth going through hell for, but a real good woman won’t make you go through that hell. If you have a doubt there is probably a good reason, but talk to her about it, before you become obsessed with it. A hug between friends can just be that. A phone call from a guy can be just another friend. When a guy looks at your woman be happy, because you know other men want to be with her, but she’s with you. Trust your woman and she will reward you for it. If you have doubts talk to her about it before you act on it. Take it from someone who knows. I went from a guy who broke another guys nose just for giving my girlfriend a hug (because they were good old friends) to now being a guy who says “thank you” when I see another guy looking at my girl. Don’t get me wrong, don’t be naïve, you can tell if a woman is being secretive. Trust me, they suck at lying and hiding things, but we’re just too stupid to see the signs. Close your nose and open your eyes. You’ll see a quality woman by her fruits. A quality woman isn’t someone who denies their friends just to spend time with you, but she’s not the woman who tells you she’s going out with her friends without you. A quality woman is the one who asks you if you want to go and then waits for you to tell her it’s okay to go out without you. They want to be secure in knowing you’re okay with them being their own person, without having to deal with you calling them every minute to check up on them. Watch the friends they go out with, but don’t automatically assume they’re the same way. A good friend will encourage your girl to go out with them, but will never push you to be untrue to you. Above all, trust your girl. If you don’t have trust then you sure as hell don’t have love. Remember, a good woman will not give you a reason to doubt them, because they will tell you everything if you just listen. Life isn’t over if she cheats on you, but don’t be stupid enough to stay with her if she does, because then you really are a moron. If you know without a shadow of a doubt that your girl cheated on you, then the best thing to do is to turn your back on her 100%. If you give her a chance to explain or to ask for forgiveness then you’re only setting yourself up to get back with her and give her a second chance to make you look like a fool again. Nobody dies because someone cheats on them, and anybody who commits suicide or kills because of being cheated on is an idiot. The lesson here is this, now you know the kind of woman you don’t want in life. So move on, find a real good woman and don’t be stupid enough to make the same mistake twice.
SIMPLE THINGS
The following was written by a female friend of mine and I thought deserved to be shared:
"As we approach a new dawn of a new era it's pretty easy to see that things change.. times change ... people change and society changes..
Call me crazy but no matter how the times, seasons and moral changes... Im an old fashioned girl with old fashion values... but with a little bit of a new age spin.
I mean grant it we can't live in the past forever but does that mean that we can't keep some of it to go along with the changing ways??
Lets start with pick up lines...
Don't call me Mami, because I am NOT going to be your mother... Don't call me baby because Daddy you are not.
I am a grown woman that can take care and provide for myself, I don't need someone to shelter me nor do I need to be the one to shelter you. I look for an equal someone to allow me the space and respect to care for myself, someone who can accept the fact that I love to care for another and want to grow from each other, I do not want to raise you.
So as a woman let me give some of the men out there a little something to go on in life with...
If you're out there looking for a wife... then your "club tactics" your "ay bay bay tactics" aren't going to be suffice.
I can not tell you how irritated it makes me when a guy walks by and says something stupid or whistles ... Yells something dumb out of the car window as you drive by....
I mean what you aren't man enough to get out of your car and do that? You have to drive away ?? Afraid of rejection much?
Or maybe it's because you know how ridiculous you look and sound.
Or how about the fact ladies... when you're in a club or a bar or wherever for that matter and a guy walks up and tries to grab /grope you and tries to say something in your ear.... I CAN NOT STAND THAT...
Just a thought gentlemen...
How about....
You see a woman that catches your eye and instead of doing something that's only going to leave a jerk off impression in her mind... you instead...
Walk up and say, Hi, (introduce yourself) and just say... Im just here and I couldnt help but notice you and I just wanted to say hello and maybe get the chance to talk to you...
Now I'm not going to say that you wont get turned down, because that depends on the girl and what she's got going on... but atleast you wont look like an idiot, and should she ever see you somewhere again, she's going to remember good things of you rather than some gross guy she saw in a club.
They say chivalry is dead but why? It doesnt have to be.
Maybe its just me but nothing makes me feel better than knowing that Im the whole package by the person thats into me.
Im not the kind of girl who has to be pampered... Im the kind of girl who wants the thought of being pampered offered to me.
I don't need roses and a limo on a date, I like the idea offered
I don't need diamonds and candy, I like the fact that the thought was there.
I don't need the world but I love the fact that you want to spend your life trying to offer it to me.
See guys.... Men have a lot of misconceptions about women... Im talking about REAL women...
If you ever took the time to get to know a Real woman you would see... that all she wants is the thought... the effort... I can live a life time in a card board box with news paper as my blankets if the man who loves me is with me.
And I'd live that life happy because no matter what we have and may not have, I know that the thought is in his heart.
So guys when you're out there wondering what to do... Just remember ....
It's the simple things...."
"As we approach a new dawn of a new era it's pretty easy to see that things change.. times change ... people change and society changes..
Call me crazy but no matter how the times, seasons and moral changes... Im an old fashioned girl with old fashion values... but with a little bit of a new age spin.
I mean grant it we can't live in the past forever but does that mean that we can't keep some of it to go along with the changing ways??
Lets start with pick up lines...
Don't call me Mami, because I am NOT going to be your mother... Don't call me baby because Daddy you are not.
I am a grown woman that can take care and provide for myself, I don't need someone to shelter me nor do I need to be the one to shelter you. I look for an equal someone to allow me the space and respect to care for myself, someone who can accept the fact that I love to care for another and want to grow from each other, I do not want to raise you.
So as a woman let me give some of the men out there a little something to go on in life with...
If you're out there looking for a wife... then your "club tactics" your "ay bay bay tactics" aren't going to be suffice.
I can not tell you how irritated it makes me when a guy walks by and says something stupid or whistles ... Yells something dumb out of the car window as you drive by....
I mean what you aren't man enough to get out of your car and do that? You have to drive away ?? Afraid of rejection much?
Or maybe it's because you know how ridiculous you look and sound.
Or how about the fact ladies... when you're in a club or a bar or wherever for that matter and a guy walks up and tries to grab /grope you and tries to say something in your ear.... I CAN NOT STAND THAT...
Just a thought gentlemen...
How about....
You see a woman that catches your eye and instead of doing something that's only going to leave a jerk off impression in her mind... you instead...
Walk up and say, Hi, (introduce yourself) and just say... Im just here and I couldnt help but notice you and I just wanted to say hello and maybe get the chance to talk to you...
Now I'm not going to say that you wont get turned down, because that depends on the girl and what she's got going on... but atleast you wont look like an idiot, and should she ever see you somewhere again, she's going to remember good things of you rather than some gross guy she saw in a club.
They say chivalry is dead but why? It doesnt have to be.
Maybe its just me but nothing makes me feel better than knowing that Im the whole package by the person thats into me.
Im not the kind of girl who has to be pampered... Im the kind of girl who wants the thought of being pampered offered to me.
I don't need roses and a limo on a date, I like the idea offered
I don't need diamonds and candy, I like the fact that the thought was there.
I don't need the world but I love the fact that you want to spend your life trying to offer it to me.
See guys.... Men have a lot of misconceptions about women... Im talking about REAL women...
If you ever took the time to get to know a Real woman you would see... that all she wants is the thought... the effort... I can live a life time in a card board box with news paper as my blankets if the man who loves me is with me.
And I'd live that life happy because no matter what we have and may not have, I know that the thought is in his heart.
So guys when you're out there wondering what to do... Just remember ....
It's the simple things...."
LOVE IS... (MODERN DAY WEDDING VOWS)
I take you, as my property, for you to do everything I tell you to do from this day forward, only for better because when it gets bad I’m running off with someone else, only for richer because if you stop buying me everything I ask for then I’m running off with someone who will, only in health because as soon as you get sick I’m leaving and letting you take care of yourself, to love and to cherish; until it becomes inconvenient for me, because after all it is about what you do for me and nothing more. I mean who really cares whether or not I’m understanding or caring or appreciative. Who really cares what I’m doing to the kids, after all, all I care about are my own needs and wants and if you can’t give them to me then I’ll go find someone who will. But until that day I guess I’ll put up with you as long as you do what I say, buy me what I want and don’t expect anything in return from me…
Love is impatient, and is unkind; love is envious; love is boastful, and is proud, and behaves itself unseemly, is selfish, is easily provoked, thinks evil; rejoices in iniquity, but does not rejoice in the truth; does not bear all things, believes nothing, hopes for nothing, and endures nothing. Love fails . . .
Imagine if that’s what love was? But, if you look at what the world calls love, this is what you get. People say they love, but when things don’t go their way right away, then run out. They claim to love, and yet are always speaking unkind words to those they claim to love. They say they love, but they demand you spend all your time with them and get upset when you want to spend time with friends. They claim to love, but are always bragging about what THEY do for you and how lucky you are to have THEM. They want you to believe they love you, but what happens when you won’t sleep with them or let them do other things, they’re gone. “If you loved me you’d have sex with me”, right? How about “why don’t you love me”, “why don’t you ever show me you love me”, “I love you so much and you don’t love me”. Try saying no to the person who claims to love you and see how angry they get. See how fast those kind words turn to cursing and hateful speaking. If that person really loved you, do you think they would really want you to do such immoral things out in public for all to see? But you see people everywhere practically mauling each other in public. They walk around with “hickies” and bite marks, like if they were a badge of honor. And if you don’t let them do those things to you, what happens? They break up with you and find someone who will. They don’t want your excuses, they just want what they want and don’t settle for anything else. They don’t care about your morals or self respect, because that only gets in the way of what they want. So, if you won’t give it to them, they find someone who will. This is the love the world has to offer.
I’m so glad this isn’t the love God speaks of. I’m so glad that when I sin, God doesn’t say, “who has time to wait until you stop sinning, you’re going to hell”. I’m so glad Jesus didn’t say “die for people I don’t know, I don’t think so”. I am so grateful that Jesus didn’t say “let them die for their own sins” or didn’t destroy the world before I could exist. I’m so glad God sent his son to show us the truth we could live in. I’m so glad that God believes that I can and will change, even if those around me don’t think so. I am so glad that God waits for the day I decide to walk according to his will. I am so glad that even though my friends’ love fails, even though my family’s love fails, and even though the love of the one I love fails; the love of God never fails.
Love is patient, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails . . .
(I Corinthians 13)
Love is impatient, and is unkind; love is envious; love is boastful, and is proud, and behaves itself unseemly, is selfish, is easily provoked, thinks evil; rejoices in iniquity, but does not rejoice in the truth; does not bear all things, believes nothing, hopes for nothing, and endures nothing. Love fails . . .
Imagine if that’s what love was? But, if you look at what the world calls love, this is what you get. People say they love, but when things don’t go their way right away, then run out. They claim to love, and yet are always speaking unkind words to those they claim to love. They say they love, but they demand you spend all your time with them and get upset when you want to spend time with friends. They claim to love, but are always bragging about what THEY do for you and how lucky you are to have THEM. They want you to believe they love you, but what happens when you won’t sleep with them or let them do other things, they’re gone. “If you loved me you’d have sex with me”, right? How about “why don’t you love me”, “why don’t you ever show me you love me”, “I love you so much and you don’t love me”. Try saying no to the person who claims to love you and see how angry they get. See how fast those kind words turn to cursing and hateful speaking. If that person really loved you, do you think they would really want you to do such immoral things out in public for all to see? But you see people everywhere practically mauling each other in public. They walk around with “hickies” and bite marks, like if they were a badge of honor. And if you don’t let them do those things to you, what happens? They break up with you and find someone who will. They don’t want your excuses, they just want what they want and don’t settle for anything else. They don’t care about your morals or self respect, because that only gets in the way of what they want. So, if you won’t give it to them, they find someone who will. This is the love the world has to offer.
I’m so glad this isn’t the love God speaks of. I’m so glad that when I sin, God doesn’t say, “who has time to wait until you stop sinning, you’re going to hell”. I’m so glad Jesus didn’t say “die for people I don’t know, I don’t think so”. I am so grateful that Jesus didn’t say “let them die for their own sins” or didn’t destroy the world before I could exist. I’m so glad God sent his son to show us the truth we could live in. I’m so glad that God believes that I can and will change, even if those around me don’t think so. I am so glad that God waits for the day I decide to walk according to his will. I am so glad that even though my friends’ love fails, even though my family’s love fails, and even though the love of the one I love fails; the love of God never fails.
Love is patient, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails . . .
(I Corinthians 13)
ONE WISH
There’s no denying it, Latin woman are down right the most beautiful women on the earth. Whether it’s Puerto Rican (my personal favorite), Mexican, Cuban or whatever, you will not find a woman more beautiful than a Latin lady. Of course now and days, not many of them can be referred to with the term “lady”. I am so sickened by what has happen with the Latin woman of the world. Whether you go to a club or turn on the television, now every time a Latin woman is depicted she is half naked and shaking her body all over the place. They walk around wearing skirts that are so short they might as well be underwear and tops that let the rest hang. I can understand these little teenagers dressing like that, because after all her mommy was her age when she got pregnant. But you’ve got women in their twenties and thirties (and horribly enough in their forties) dressing like whores. Hey, okay, yes it is your right to dress how you want to. I respect that. If you want to dress like you belong on the corner with a pimp standing behind you, more power to you baby. But where is the real woman at? Why do these queens on earth feel the need to lower themselves to common street trash? We already know that Latin woman have the best bodies in the world, hands down. So, why is it they feel the need to let everybody and their daddy (and their brother, cousin, best friend, guy down the street, guy on the corner, guy behind the counter . . .) see it? Give me a woman in a nice pair of jeans and a neck line top and I’ll be just as happy. But no, “papi if I don’t dress like this the guys won’t notice me”. Oye nena, is this the kind of attention you want? This man wants only one thing and once he gets it he’s gone. And what will you be left with? If you’re lucky you’ll just be pregnant without a father for your kid. And if anything else, you’ll have the STD that he got from sleeping with the hoe he slept with before you. Eso es lo que quierres? Are you that insecure? Do you have that little self respect? Do you have no dignity? Do you have no class? Were you raised without morals? Why do I feel like I’m repeating myself? To all the mamis in the world, I love you and I appreciate God for making such beauty, but bella, you embarrass yourself. You embarrass the REAL women in the world. You embarrass your family. You embarrass your people.
If I don’t say it, no one else will. All the so called “men” around are to busy staring at her ass or screaming “take it off”. What a bunch of cowards we as men are. Instead of realizing that is someone’s daughter or sister or MOTHER. We get over excited just because we can see her thong. Seriously boys, is this the kind of woman you want? I can see it now when you talk to your kids, “I hooked up with your mommy because her ass looked so good when she was dancing”. Men are disgusting. I see the kind of woman they share their time with and I’m embarrassed. These men have no class, no dignity, no self respect, and no morals. They are looking for the easy lay and that’s about it. They are so desperate; they want to find the girl who shows everything off because they know they’ll probably get some. HEY STUPID, if she gave it to you, how man others do you think she gave it up to so easily? But you don’t care about that, as long as you get your minute in right? Ninety nine times out of one hundred, if a group of half naked women walk by and one is decently dressed, those men won’t even remember that one girl. I am so sick and tired of walking down the street and have some half naked “hoochie” walk by me and EVERY guys head turns and follows her. You don’t think she wanted that? You don’t think that’s the attention she wanted from you. One month down the line, she’s got you walking (behind her of course) and buying her everything she points to. And you like a stupid dog with your tongue hanging out, does everything she tells you. And when you catch her with another dude, “he’s just a good friend baby”, and you’re stupid enough to believe her. Where are the men? Why do we have nothing but little boys in this world? Little boys, who have found it impossible to use that thing two feet above their asses (your brain stupid). I will tell you the same thing I tell the women. You embarrass yourself. You embarrass us REAL men. You embarrass your family. You embarrass everybody around you. Grow up. Get some dignity. Find some self respect. Learn some class. Gain some morals. Then maybe someday you’ll stop being a boy and start acting like a real man.
I am embarrassed when I walk down the street and see a half naked girl walk by. I turn my head in shame. I want to go over there and yell at her for being so stupid. Why is it so hard to find a good quality woman these days? I want a woman with class, dignity, self respect and morals. Is that too much to ask for? Is it too much to ask for a woman who puts God first. If she calls herself a Christian, why is it weird that I wouldn’t expect her to drink or smoke or go out partying? Why are there so many hypocrites in the world? Is it too much to ask for a virgin? Yeah, I guess it is. It used to be men bragging about how many women they’ve slept with. Now the women do it just as much. They wear it like a badge of honor. Why is it weird if she’s a virgin? Why is it NOT weird that she is NOT a virgin? I want a woman who is excited to go to church Sunday morning, NOT one who’s in a bitchy mood because she has a hang over from Saturday night (and probably from Friday to). I want a girl who’d rather stay in with me, rather than have to go out to some club and look like a hoe. I want a girl who thinks a good time is relaxing with me, and not how much money I can spend on her. Not that I’d have a problem spending money on her, but if you demand it, you don’t deserve it. You can sugar coat it any way you want, but you are a GOLD DIGGER!!! I want a girl who doesn’t have anything revealing in her wardrobe. I am not saying I am perfect. I have slept with my share of women and I’ve stared at my share of half naked hoes, but the difference between me and the guys I knew in high school is that I actually grew up. I wish I could find a woman more on fire for God than I am. I wish I could find a girl who prays for people, rather than cusses them out. I wish I could find a girl who dressed with some class. I wish I could find a girl who used her mind and not her body to get what she wanted. I wish I could find a girl who was more interested in getting my heart and being my friend rather than getting in my wallet. But I think I could some it up if I could just have one wish. I wish all women would see themselves for what God created them to be and not the filth the world has portrayed them as having to look like. I pray my wish comes true.
If I don’t say it, no one else will. All the so called “men” around are to busy staring at her ass or screaming “take it off”. What a bunch of cowards we as men are. Instead of realizing that is someone’s daughter or sister or MOTHER. We get over excited just because we can see her thong. Seriously boys, is this the kind of woman you want? I can see it now when you talk to your kids, “I hooked up with your mommy because her ass looked so good when she was dancing”. Men are disgusting. I see the kind of woman they share their time with and I’m embarrassed. These men have no class, no dignity, no self respect, and no morals. They are looking for the easy lay and that’s about it. They are so desperate; they want to find the girl who shows everything off because they know they’ll probably get some. HEY STUPID, if she gave it to you, how man others do you think she gave it up to so easily? But you don’t care about that, as long as you get your minute in right? Ninety nine times out of one hundred, if a group of half naked women walk by and one is decently dressed, those men won’t even remember that one girl. I am so sick and tired of walking down the street and have some half naked “hoochie” walk by me and EVERY guys head turns and follows her. You don’t think she wanted that? You don’t think that’s the attention she wanted from you. One month down the line, she’s got you walking (behind her of course) and buying her everything she points to. And you like a stupid dog with your tongue hanging out, does everything she tells you. And when you catch her with another dude, “he’s just a good friend baby”, and you’re stupid enough to believe her. Where are the men? Why do we have nothing but little boys in this world? Little boys, who have found it impossible to use that thing two feet above their asses (your brain stupid). I will tell you the same thing I tell the women. You embarrass yourself. You embarrass us REAL men. You embarrass your family. You embarrass everybody around you. Grow up. Get some dignity. Find some self respect. Learn some class. Gain some morals. Then maybe someday you’ll stop being a boy and start acting like a real man.
I am embarrassed when I walk down the street and see a half naked girl walk by. I turn my head in shame. I want to go over there and yell at her for being so stupid. Why is it so hard to find a good quality woman these days? I want a woman with class, dignity, self respect and morals. Is that too much to ask for? Is it too much to ask for a woman who puts God first. If she calls herself a Christian, why is it weird that I wouldn’t expect her to drink or smoke or go out partying? Why are there so many hypocrites in the world? Is it too much to ask for a virgin? Yeah, I guess it is. It used to be men bragging about how many women they’ve slept with. Now the women do it just as much. They wear it like a badge of honor. Why is it weird if she’s a virgin? Why is it NOT weird that she is NOT a virgin? I want a woman who is excited to go to church Sunday morning, NOT one who’s in a bitchy mood because she has a hang over from Saturday night (and probably from Friday to). I want a girl who’d rather stay in with me, rather than have to go out to some club and look like a hoe. I want a girl who thinks a good time is relaxing with me, and not how much money I can spend on her. Not that I’d have a problem spending money on her, but if you demand it, you don’t deserve it. You can sugar coat it any way you want, but you are a GOLD DIGGER!!! I want a girl who doesn’t have anything revealing in her wardrobe. I am not saying I am perfect. I have slept with my share of women and I’ve stared at my share of half naked hoes, but the difference between me and the guys I knew in high school is that I actually grew up. I wish I could find a woman more on fire for God than I am. I wish I could find a girl who prays for people, rather than cusses them out. I wish I could find a girl who dressed with some class. I wish I could find a girl who used her mind and not her body to get what she wanted. I wish I could find a girl who was more interested in getting my heart and being my friend rather than getting in my wallet. But I think I could some it up if I could just have one wish. I wish all women would see themselves for what God created them to be and not the filth the world has portrayed them as having to look like. I pray my wish comes true.
PLAN TO BE A PARENT
It used to be that people planned for such important things as marriage, child-bearing, child-rearing, finances, and living arrangements. Now it seems that these important milestones and responsibilities are quite secondary to impulsive behavior and immediate gratification. I have been stunned at the growing number of callers who marry without consideration for religion, finances, extended family problems, lifestyle, goals, and even personality differences.
For example, it flabbergasts me to get so many calls from young women complaining about their overbearing mothers-in-law, then admitting that the young couple is living with his mother because they don't have the wherewithal to take care of themselves.
So, they're living as a married couple, but also as dependent children in his Mommy's home, and the wife wonders why she doesn't have the power at home?
It's also unbelievable to me that so many couples will marry before either one of them is in the position to support a family, yet they start making babies and then the fights begin — over not having enough money or time to have any freedom, fun or opportunities.
It is not surprising, however, when women call to complain that their bosses are cutting back on maternity leave. That's because we've become a culture that makes everyone else responsible for our choices. Maternity leave pay generally comes in the form of six to eight weeks of disability pay, and such payments have been cut back due to economical issues. According the non-profit Families and Work Institute, only 16% of employers offer full pay for childbirth leave, down from 27% in 1998. The average maximum length of job-guaranteed leaves for new mothers dropped from 16.1 weeks a decade ago to 15.2 weeks.
The Wall Street Journal's "Work and Family" column (6/11/08) admits that "This comes despite research showing attentive nurturing has particular developmental power in a baby's first year, and that longer leaves can ease postpartum depression in some mothers." Boy, was I ever glad to see that truth in print. But when we are grousing about employers extending maternity leave by weeks, whose responsibility is it to maintain at least one full year of hands-on mothering? The government? Corporations? I think not. The first five years before kindergarten, and not just the first year after birth, are crucial in the emotional, social, and psychological development of children.
Children are not pets, only needing attentive care in case of danger, or who are just fed at one end and cleaned at the other. Every day, their brains grow and develop, and each day, they experience life and feelings. Each day offers significant opportunities for a loving and educational interaction with a parent who ought to be experiencing it with them, and supporting them in their explorations.
What is the solution? Better planning. I have often suggested that people live on one salary, putting the other in savings and/or conservative investments before they start building a family. I have suggested that they research areas where they wish to establish their family lives and roots, and make sure they are affordable.
The point is that when you become parents, you must shift the focus from individual gratification (through career) to group gratification (through family).
For example, it flabbergasts me to get so many calls from young women complaining about their overbearing mothers-in-law, then admitting that the young couple is living with his mother because they don't have the wherewithal to take care of themselves.
So, they're living as a married couple, but also as dependent children in his Mommy's home, and the wife wonders why she doesn't have the power at home?
It's also unbelievable to me that so many couples will marry before either one of them is in the position to support a family, yet they start making babies and then the fights begin — over not having enough money or time to have any freedom, fun or opportunities.
It is not surprising, however, when women call to complain that their bosses are cutting back on maternity leave. That's because we've become a culture that makes everyone else responsible for our choices. Maternity leave pay generally comes in the form of six to eight weeks of disability pay, and such payments have been cut back due to economical issues. According the non-profit Families and Work Institute, only 16% of employers offer full pay for childbirth leave, down from 27% in 1998. The average maximum length of job-guaranteed leaves for new mothers dropped from 16.1 weeks a decade ago to 15.2 weeks.
The Wall Street Journal's "Work and Family" column (6/11/08) admits that "This comes despite research showing attentive nurturing has particular developmental power in a baby's first year, and that longer leaves can ease postpartum depression in some mothers." Boy, was I ever glad to see that truth in print. But when we are grousing about employers extending maternity leave by weeks, whose responsibility is it to maintain at least one full year of hands-on mothering? The government? Corporations? I think not. The first five years before kindergarten, and not just the first year after birth, are crucial in the emotional, social, and psychological development of children.
Children are not pets, only needing attentive care in case of danger, or who are just fed at one end and cleaned at the other. Every day, their brains grow and develop, and each day, they experience life and feelings. Each day offers significant opportunities for a loving and educational interaction with a parent who ought to be experiencing it with them, and supporting them in their explorations.
What is the solution? Better planning. I have often suggested that people live on one salary, putting the other in savings and/or conservative investments before they start building a family. I have suggested that they research areas where they wish to establish their family lives and roots, and make sure they are affordable.
The point is that when you become parents, you must shift the focus from individual gratification (through career) to group gratification (through family).
PRIDE
One thing I will never understand is why people are so proud to be a certain nationality. They are PROUD TO BE LATINO or PROUD TO BE MEXICAN (OR PUERTO RICAN) or whatever. I find this interesting, especially considering that these people are born in the United States. So, how can you be proud to be from a country you’ve never lived in? How can you claim to be a PROUD CUBAN if you’ve never spent one day let alone a life time living their. You have no idea what it’s like to be Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Russian, Asian, French or any other nationality for that matter. You live in the United States of America and have been privy to the frills of such since birth. What do you possibly know about the hardships of another country? You know nothing, and yet you wear t-shirts and have bumper stickers on your car and all of a sudden you think you know something. I go to your MYSPACE page and your page is all about being a PROUD BORIQUA. Do you live in a country that could not sustain itself so therefore is now property of the United States? I do not think so. So you are PROUD TO BE CUBAN? So, did you live under tyrannical hand of Fidel and escape with your life? I think not. You live in the United States of America. At the worst you maybe had to wear hand me downs. Maybe you went without dinner a few nights. Poor you, you maybe had to walk to school. So please, stop disgracing yourself. Stop being something you’re not. If you were born in the United States, guess what? You are an AMERICAN!!! So, why don’t you start embracing the truth?
How are people prouder to be a race or nationality than they are to be a Christian? It’s rare to see a PROUD TO BE A CHRISTIAN bumper sticker or t-shirt. When is the last time you went to a person’s MYSPACE page and saw them say I’M A PROUD CHRISTIAN (of course other than my own)? How sad is that. You would rather profess your pride for a country you visit maybe once every five years before you profess your love and dedication for your LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST?
How are people prouder to be a race or nationality than they are to be a Christian? It’s rare to see a PROUD TO BE A CHRISTIAN bumper sticker or t-shirt. When is the last time you went to a person’s MYSPACE page and saw them say I’M A PROUD CHRISTIAN (of course other than my own)? How sad is that. You would rather profess your pride for a country you visit maybe once every five years before you profess your love and dedication for your LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST?
REAL MAN
I have been one known to attack women and I do so with pride, because the women I speak of are not women, they are whores. A woman who dresses half naked, dances around, and sleeps with any man who is not her husband is a whore. But, a man who goes out to find these women, well sadly there is no word for this man. I would use words like pathetic, disgusting, disgrace, and many more, but they still do not seem like enough. Why is a woman who sleeps around a whore and a man who does the same a pimp? And the sad thing is the word pimp has somewhere gotten a good connotation. These men are not pimps, a pimp is a man who sells women for sex and takes their money. These men prey on easy women and feel like they gain some measure of victory for sleeping with them.
I will never understand the point of going to a club. A bunch of horny guys go to the club and find a bunch of easy girls and then when they take one home with them they are so proud of themselves because they slept with them. Well, here is some food for thought for all the guys out there. You were not the first guy she did that with. You are not the last guy she did that with. She did it the week before. She did it the week before that. And I promise she will be doing it next week. How is it that you go find the girl with the least amount of clothes on, grinding on everybody on the dance floor, drunk as all hell and you find some sort of pride in sleeping with her? Is this what we as men have stooped so low to now?
It does not stop at the clubs either. Why do men go to house parties? Because they are desperate, pathetic, immature, sorry excuses for men who again look to prey on easy, drunken targets. We brag about the women we have slept with as if it were a badge of honor. We treat them like objects, like victories won, like another notch in our belt. And what about these men who go to strip clubs, porn conventions, and sadly car shows? You walk around and all you see is half naked whores parading around like cattle, and this gets you off? Are you that pathetic that you have to pay to watch a woman take her clothes off? Are you that insecure that you have to go watch a woman who has had sex with more men then she can count? Are you so shallow and immature that you need to go watch a half naked whore rub herself all over a car? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL A HALF NAKED WHORE HAS TO DO WITH A CAR SHOW ANY WAY?!?!?!?!?
Can someone please tell me where the real men have gone? You pride yourself in how drunk you can get. You take pride in some picture you took with your hand on some girls butt, and yet she took the same picture with hundreds of other guys. You take pride in having hundreds of pictures of naked whores in your collection. Your MYSPACE friend list consists of a bunch of naked whores. You think that it is cool that some fourteen year old little girl just walked by you with her breast and butt hanging out. You love watching two girls dance. You love watching to girls kiss. You think it is sexy. It turns you on. You think this is normal. You think you are a man. But you are not. All you are is a childish, pathetic, repulsive, immature, ignorant, disgusting little boy. This crap did not work in high school and it is not going to work now. Believe it or not, you were the joke in high school. You thought you were mister big stuff, but the girls used to laugh at you because you tried so hard. Sure, not all of them, because they were little whores to, but the real women were laughing at you, looking for the real men.
I am a real man. I do not get off by looking at naked women; they disgust me for having no self respect, dignity, morals or class. I am a real man. I do not need to go out and watch a bunch of half naked, easy whores grind in front of me, because I am not that desperate. I am a real man. I do not watch porn, or buy porno, or go to events where these things will be promoted. I am a real man. Once I did proudly sleep around with women, but I have grown up since then. I am a real man. I have grown up from the things I did, the thoughts I had, and the choices I made in high school. I am a real man. I see women as the beautiful, incredible, wonderful, and amazing creations of God that they are and not as my next conquest. I am a real man.
I will never understand the point of going to a club. A bunch of horny guys go to the club and find a bunch of easy girls and then when they take one home with them they are so proud of themselves because they slept with them. Well, here is some food for thought for all the guys out there. You were not the first guy she did that with. You are not the last guy she did that with. She did it the week before. She did it the week before that. And I promise she will be doing it next week. How is it that you go find the girl with the least amount of clothes on, grinding on everybody on the dance floor, drunk as all hell and you find some sort of pride in sleeping with her? Is this what we as men have stooped so low to now?
It does not stop at the clubs either. Why do men go to house parties? Because they are desperate, pathetic, immature, sorry excuses for men who again look to prey on easy, drunken targets. We brag about the women we have slept with as if it were a badge of honor. We treat them like objects, like victories won, like another notch in our belt. And what about these men who go to strip clubs, porn conventions, and sadly car shows? You walk around and all you see is half naked whores parading around like cattle, and this gets you off? Are you that pathetic that you have to pay to watch a woman take her clothes off? Are you that insecure that you have to go watch a woman who has had sex with more men then she can count? Are you so shallow and immature that you need to go watch a half naked whore rub herself all over a car? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL A HALF NAKED WHORE HAS TO DO WITH A CAR SHOW ANY WAY?!?!?!?!?
Can someone please tell me where the real men have gone? You pride yourself in how drunk you can get. You take pride in some picture you took with your hand on some girls butt, and yet she took the same picture with hundreds of other guys. You take pride in having hundreds of pictures of naked whores in your collection. Your MYSPACE friend list consists of a bunch of naked whores. You think that it is cool that some fourteen year old little girl just walked by you with her breast and butt hanging out. You love watching two girls dance. You love watching to girls kiss. You think it is sexy. It turns you on. You think this is normal. You think you are a man. But you are not. All you are is a childish, pathetic, repulsive, immature, ignorant, disgusting little boy. This crap did not work in high school and it is not going to work now. Believe it or not, you were the joke in high school. You thought you were mister big stuff, but the girls used to laugh at you because you tried so hard. Sure, not all of them, because they were little whores to, but the real women were laughing at you, looking for the real men.
I am a real man. I do not get off by looking at naked women; they disgust me for having no self respect, dignity, morals or class. I am a real man. I do not need to go out and watch a bunch of half naked, easy whores grind in front of me, because I am not that desperate. I am a real man. I do not watch porn, or buy porno, or go to events where these things will be promoted. I am a real man. Once I did proudly sleep around with women, but I have grown up since then. I am a real man. I have grown up from the things I did, the thoughts I had, and the choices I made in high school. I am a real man. I see women as the beautiful, incredible, wonderful, and amazing creations of God that they are and not as my next conquest. I am a real man.
SHACKING UP
The statistics from CDC are just what we'd expect: While little or no religious faith and low income portend divorce, which at the 43% rate is a contagion, CDC found that 40% of marriages that grow from "cohabitation" ended within ten years. In contrast, divorce occurs in 31% of marriages wherein the couples did not shack up.The reason, one observer told Associated Press, is that "many people enter a cohabiting relationship where the deal is, 'If this doesn't work out we can split up and it's no big loss because we don't have a legal commitment,' " she said. "The commitment is tenuous, and that tenuous commitment might carry over into marriage."No kidding. But the commitments are "tenuous" because they are joined to gratify concupiscence, not to offer unconditional love to another with the goal of becoming one. People shack up for the convenient sex. You don't have to go home on a cold night after it's over.And once the shoes are under the bed permanently, ending the "relationship" is much more difficult than if the shoes had not moved in. Retreating from an ill-considered "engagement" during "cohabitation" requires Herculean emotional and psychological strength.So one or both parties are channeled toward that "tenuous" marriage. Result? Divorce.The Wrong View of MarriageBut the CDC inadvertently identified another "factor" that explains the divorces where the spouses did not live together before marriage.Quoting a "marriage expert" who toils for the federal government, AP reports, "part of the problem may be attitudes toward cohabitation are different than attitudes about marriage .... When living together, [the "expert"] said, the attitude is 'I vow to stay together with you as long as you make me happy."In a marriage, people focus on making their partners happy. 'If you're used to viewing being together as a test of the other person's ability to take care of your needs, once you get married it's hard to just switch that,' " the "expert" said.Happy? Needs? The "expert" just doesn't get it. No wonder the federal government hired him.Marriage was not ordained to make you happy. It was ordained to make you better. The main duty for each spouse is not fulfilling the "needs" of the other, however selfless the effort. The principal duty for spouses, at least in a Christian marriage, is to help each other get to heaven. This is what should make us happy, and even married atheists or others who don't share the Christian view of marriage should strive to become better human beings -- not gratify egoistic urges.A Sacred BondWhich brings us back to the beginning.The prevailing, legalistic view of marriage as a "tenuous commitment" is ripened in a culture that no longer views marriage as an indissoluble and sacred bond or sacrament joined by God. Today, marriage is a "contract" either husband or wife can break because they aren't "happy."Until that changes, until society understands marriage the old-fashioned way, the CDC reports won't much improve
1. What is cohabitation?
Acctually i'd like to add something here: only married people live together. boyfriends and girlfriends shack up. "Cohabitation" is commonly referred to as "living together." It describes the relationship of a man and woman who are sexually active and share a household, though they are not married.
2. Why is cohabitation such a concern for the Church?
As you work with your priest during this time of preparation for marriage, you will speak with him about many issues. But the Church is particularly concerned about cohabitation because the practice is so common today and because, in the long run, it is causing great unhappiness for families in the Church. This is true, above all, because — even though society may approve of the practice — cohabitation simply cannot be squared with God's plan for marriage. This may be why most couples who live together before marriage find married life difficult to sustain for very long.The Church does not invent laws. It passes on and interprets what God has revealed through the ages. No one in the Church has the right to change what Jesus has taught. To do so would be to deprive people of saving truths that were meant for all time. Our Christian faith teaches that a sexual relationship belongs only in marriage. Sex outside of marriage shows disrespect for the sacrament of marriage, the sacredness of sex, and human dignity.
3. We have good reasons for living together before our wedding. Why can't the Church just accept that?
The Church cares for you as a parent cares for a beloved son or daughter. Knowing that cohabitation increases a couples' chance of marital failure, the Church wants to protect you and preserve your happiness. Besides, most couples don't really evaluate the reasons they give to justify their decision. Think about it:
Reason 1: "It's more convenient for us."
"Convenience" is a good thing, but it's not the basis for making a decision that will affect your entire life. Married life is sometimes inconvenient and even demanding. Cohabitation for convenience is poor preparation for that kind of commitment. Research bears this out. Studies show that those who live together before marriage tend to prefer "change," "experimentation" and open-ended lifestyles — all of which could lead to instability in marriage. One study, conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan, concluded that couples who cohabit tend to experience superficial communication and uncommitted decision-making once they are married. Cohabitation for convenience does not allow for the careful thought and adequate "space" necessary for making wise life decisions.
Reason 2: "We're trying to save money for the wedding, so living together is more economical."
Sure, you might save the price of monthly rent, but you're sacrificing something more valuable. Engagement is more than just time to plan the party. It is a time for deeper discussion and more thorough reflection, which are best carried out in a detached way. Couples who are living together do not have the luxury of such detachment. So whatever expenses you save, you'll likely pay more in the end. Dr. Joyce Brothers said it well in an article on cohabitation: "short-term savings are less important than investing in a lifetime relationship."
Reason 3: "Because of the high divorce rate, we want to see if things work out first."
Studies consistently show that couples who live together score significantly lower in both marital communications and overall satisfaction. On the surface, a trial run at marriage may seem to make sense, allowing one to screen out less compatible mates. But it doesn't work out that way. Couples who live together before marriage actually have a 50% greater chance of divorce than those who don't. And about 60% of couples who cohabit break up without marrying. Living together before marriage is different from living together in marriage, because there is no binding commitment to support the relationship.
Reason 4: "We need to get to know one another first. Later we'll start having kids."
Cohabitation is actually the worst way to get to know another person, because it shortcuts the true development of lasting friendship. Those who live together before marriage often report an over-reliance on sexual expression and less emphasis on conversation and other ways of communication — ways that ultimately lead to a more fulfilling sexual union after marriage. Traditionally, the process of dating or "courtship" has led couples to a deeper appreciation of one another through conversation, shared ideals and dreams, and a mutual understanding of one another's values.
Reason 5: "The Church is just outdated and out of touch with its thinking in this matter. Birth control made those old rules obsolete."
That's just not true. In the early days of the Church, living together outside of marriage was common among the non-Christians in the Roman Empire — as was the use of artificial contraception. But these practices were devastating for individuals, families, and society. Women were treated as disposable objects, mere toys for sexual pleasure, to be discarded when passions waned. The Christian vision of marriage and family led to happiness and fulfillment for individuals and families — and a great renewal of culture and society. Far from being outmoded, then as now, the Church's teaching is revolutionary — and it works!
4. Why does the Church interfere in the sex lives of couples? It's really just a private matter between us.
Sex is intensely private and personal, but it also has deep moral and social dimensions. Sex works as a primary bonding agent in families and the family is the building block of society. Sexual rights and wrongs influence the health and happiness of individuals, families and neighborhoods. That's why sexual behavior has always been the subject of many civil laws. The Church, of course, wishes to safeguard the family and society. But, more than that, the Church wishes to safeguard your relationship with your future spouse and with God. Sex is the act that seals and renews the couple's marriage covenant before God. Sexual sins, then, are not just between a man and a woman, but between the couple and God. And that's the Church's responsibility. Sex is not simply a private matter. If it's between you and God, it's between you and the Church. You need to ask yourself: "When do I stop being a Christian? When I close the bedroom door? When does my relationship with God cease to matter?"
5. But, really, how does what we do with our own bodies affect our relationship with each other and our spiritual relationship with God?
The gift of your body in sexual intercourse is a profound symbol of the giving of your whole self. In making love, the husband and wife are saying to one another in "body language" what they said to each other at the altar on their wedding day: "I am yours, for life!" God created sex to be physically pleasurable and emotionally fulfilling. But it is even greater than all that. It is, above all, the deepest sign of the complete gift of self that a husband and wife pledge to each other. This mutual gift empowers the couple to become co-creators with God in giving life to a new person, a baby. According to God's design, the gift of sexual union has two primary purposes: strengthening married love and sharing that love with children.The only "place" where this total self-giving between a man and a woman is to take place is in marriage. It is the only "place" where children can be raised with the secure, committed love of a mother and a father. So sexual intimacy belongs only in marriage. Outside of marriage, sex is a lie. The action says: "I give you my whole self" — but the man and woman are really holding back their commitment, their fertility, and their relationship with God. Before giving your body to another person, you need to give your whole life, and you need to receive your spouse's whole life in return — and that can only happen in marriage.
6. Why can't I just follow my conscience if I believe living together is okay?
People can be wrong in matters of conscience, and people often are. Where our self-interest is concerned, our capacity for self-deception is huge. Here, as in everything we do, we need an objective standard to tell us if our conscience is properly formed and able to make right judgments. Morality is not a matter of opinion or "gut feeling." Conscience is God's voice, speaking the truth deep within your heart. It's unlikely — if not impossible — that God would contradict His own commandments just for your convenience or desires. You are acting in good conscience when you choose to do what God intends. The choice to live together outside a marriage is always wrong and sinful.
7. Why does the Church claim that living together is a scandal to others? Many of our family and friends are doing the same thing.
Just because everyone does something doesn't make it right or any less serious. A couple's choice to live together is not simply made in isolation. It affects everyone in relationship with these two people — parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and even other members of the parish. A cohabiting couple implicitly communicates that there is nothing wrong breaking God's law. This can be especially misleading to young children — nieces, nephews, and children of friends — who are impressionable and whose moral reasoning is immature.
8. What is the best way to prepare ourselves spiritually for our upcoming marriage?
"A wedding is for a day, but a marriage is for a lifetime." That can be a long and happy time, but only with good preparation. The best way to get ready for marriage is to practice your faith. Catholics do this by faithful attendance at weekly Sunday Mass, by going to the Sacrament of Penance (confession), by prayer, and by practicing works of charity. If you haven't been attending Mass regularly, your parish priest will want to see you back. If it's been a long time since your last confession, your priest will help you. Confession is a necessary step if you have already been cohabiting. During the days of preparation, you are strongly encouraged to pray together as a couple, read Scripture, and lead a virtuous life. For guidance, look to other couples with strong Christian values.
9. Why should we need to separate now? It's just an arbitrary rule of the Church.
The Church's teaching on cohabitation is not an "arbitrary" rule. Living together before marriage is a sin because it violates God's commandments and the law of the Church. St. Paul lists this sin — technically called "fornication" among the sins (whether within or outside cohabitation) that can keep a person from reaching heaven (see 1 Corinthians 6:9) Cohabitation works against the heart's deepest desires and greatly increases the chances of a failed marriage.If you are honest with yourself, every practical consideration will tell you that separating before marriage is the right thing to do. It is a decision to turn away from sin and to follow Christ and His teaching. That is always the right decision. But it's a good decision for other important reasons, too:
it will strengthen your marriage
it will deepen your friendship
it will foster deeper intimacy and communion
it will build up your problem-solving and communications skills
it will give your marriage a greater chance for success
You may think you are unique and that your passion for each other will never wane. But that's what most couples think. No one goes into marriage planning for a breakup; yet a majority of couples today do break up. You want to be one of the exceptional couples who not only succeed in marriage, but also live together in happiness and fulfillment.
Some couples who are living together think that separation before marriage is artificial or meaningless. Some fear that halting sexual activity will be harmful to the relationship. But this is rarely the case. Sometimes in marriage, too, a sexual relationship will have to be suspended for a time due to illness, military service, business travel, or the good of a spouse. Relationships not only survive this , but actually grow stronger. God rewards such sacrifices with graces for a good relationship. Abstaining from sex will also enable you to rely on other means of communication, which ultimately will empower you to get to know each other in a deeper, lasting way.
10. What good will following the Church's teachings do for us anyway?
Catholic teaching in this matter brings rich blessings to those couples who willingly accept it. The Good News of Jesus frees you to enjoy intimacy even more:
by appreciating your spouse as a person, not an object
by living in a stable, secure, permanent, and faithful relationship
by expressing true, committed love rather than simply satisfying a physical urge
Married life has a special place in God's plan. Like everything good, it requires sacrifices. But they're small compared to the rewards. Seek first the Kingdom of God; everything else you desire will be given to you — and more!
I've written several times now about how the responsibility for children is moving lower on the priority scale to minimal status in our society. You can see this in the flippancy with which unmarried women have children, exposing them to a life with no father and the jarring repetition of Mommy's newest love fling. Or the way children are thrown into institutionalized day-care from birth, or are shuttled between casually divorced parents busy with new romances and career opportunities. You even see it with the increasing number of children left to die in the back seat of cars, because their parents forgot all about having a child in the first place!
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, having children has fallen to eighth on a list of nine keys to happiness in marriage, way behind what is now considered more important, such as sharing household chores and being faithful:
1. Fidelity 93%
2. Good sex 70%
3. Sharing household chores 62%
4. Adequate income 53%
5. Good housing 51%
6. Shared religious beliefs 49%
7. Shared tastes and interests 46%
8. Children 41%
9. Agreement on politics 12%
I see these results as ominous. If this self-centered "it's all about what I wanna have and do, with little inconvenience or stress" attitude continues, future generations of children will suffer increasing neglect. This neglect will cause deep emotional pain and social chaos as their "acting out of control" behaviors negatively impact American society.Of the nine qualities these folks mention as important for a successful marriage, only one had anything to do with giving, and that is children. The rest have to do with getting. Thoughts of division of labor and responsibilities are clearly out the window as the issue of which person might be doing more in the house than the other is more important. That sounds more like roommates than loving spouses.When 50% more folks think that not taking one more bag of garbage to the curb than their spouse is more important to a marriage than combining love and energies into making a family, America is in trouble.Much of Europe is already in trouble with this mentality, with the birthrates not replacing or growing their populations. Italy is most impacted, with most of its population considered "elderly." Dr. Laura recently got an email from a first time "mom to be" about her experiences online as she attempted to find support and information from others in the same situation. She was quite disturbed by what she found, and she offered her the opportunity to be this week's "Guest Blogger" and share her comments with you:Dr. Laura:I cannot thank you enough for being a voice of reason these days. It has recently hit home pretty hard about how "turned around" people have become in their thinking and the decisions they make. I'm 6+ months pregnant with my first child, and was excited to join an online pregnancy club for my birth month. I quickly became sickened as I read the threads that were being posted by other soon-to-be mothers. I read thread after thread of mothers whose boyfriends were cheating on them, and they'd just complain and get sympathy from other soon-to-be mothers (and I use that word very lightly). The overall sympathetic message that kept reverberating was that it is never the woman's fault, and they can't help it that their child's "sperm donor" is such a deadbeat. They encourage each other with strong words and big talk about how they have more than enough love for their child and have absolutely NO need for a father. They even have their own lovely support group for single/unwed mothers, to provide emotional support for these poor unwitting victims of sex. I tried to combat some of these women's comments to no avail. No matter what I posted about how life can be better, and we can make good decisions for our children and that there are other alternatives to give our children what they deserve (i.e., a two parent home), I kept getting absolutely lambasted from every direction: attacked on all sides, called every name, my words twisted and distorted to make it seem like I was the most uncaring, unfeeling person in the world, and had nothing of value to say regarding families. These women didn't need a father to influence their children, period! They certainly didn't need me advocating the importance of fathers or pointing out that we are old enough to make good decisions - for example, not bed-hopping from one creep to another, hurting our children. When I used my own wonderful husband as an example of the great guys that are out there, I was told to give my marriage more time, because it was certain not to last, and boy, then wouldn't I feel stupid for my words! This coming from the future mothers of America.When did we all become victims? When did we give up on making good decisions and become bodies just used for sex and ruining children's lives? I am sickened and disheartened, and I cannot wipe these "threads" from my mind. I couldn't imagine living the kind of lives they live - not out of self-righteousness, as they accuse me of and for which they spit on my ideals - but because life would be devoid of anything decent or holy. I did not realize there was really that kind of emptiness and deprivation in our wonderful country. I thank my parents for keeping me from that kind of a life. Thank you, Dr. Laura, for being a beacon shining through the haze of this new America. The "sperm donors" aren't the ones who are really ruining our society. The single/unwed mother club of America is robbing our future generations of life's purpose, meaning, and love.
1. What is cohabitation?
Acctually i'd like to add something here: only married people live together. boyfriends and girlfriends shack up. "Cohabitation" is commonly referred to as "living together." It describes the relationship of a man and woman who are sexually active and share a household, though they are not married.
2. Why is cohabitation such a concern for the Church?
As you work with your priest during this time of preparation for marriage, you will speak with him about many issues. But the Church is particularly concerned about cohabitation because the practice is so common today and because, in the long run, it is causing great unhappiness for families in the Church. This is true, above all, because — even though society may approve of the practice — cohabitation simply cannot be squared with God's plan for marriage. This may be why most couples who live together before marriage find married life difficult to sustain for very long.The Church does not invent laws. It passes on and interprets what God has revealed through the ages. No one in the Church has the right to change what Jesus has taught. To do so would be to deprive people of saving truths that were meant for all time. Our Christian faith teaches that a sexual relationship belongs only in marriage. Sex outside of marriage shows disrespect for the sacrament of marriage, the sacredness of sex, and human dignity.
3. We have good reasons for living together before our wedding. Why can't the Church just accept that?
The Church cares for you as a parent cares for a beloved son or daughter. Knowing that cohabitation increases a couples' chance of marital failure, the Church wants to protect you and preserve your happiness. Besides, most couples don't really evaluate the reasons they give to justify their decision. Think about it:
Reason 1: "It's more convenient for us."
"Convenience" is a good thing, but it's not the basis for making a decision that will affect your entire life. Married life is sometimes inconvenient and even demanding. Cohabitation for convenience is poor preparation for that kind of commitment. Research bears this out. Studies show that those who live together before marriage tend to prefer "change," "experimentation" and open-ended lifestyles — all of which could lead to instability in marriage. One study, conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan, concluded that couples who cohabit tend to experience superficial communication and uncommitted decision-making once they are married. Cohabitation for convenience does not allow for the careful thought and adequate "space" necessary for making wise life decisions.
Reason 2: "We're trying to save money for the wedding, so living together is more economical."
Sure, you might save the price of monthly rent, but you're sacrificing something more valuable. Engagement is more than just time to plan the party. It is a time for deeper discussion and more thorough reflection, which are best carried out in a detached way. Couples who are living together do not have the luxury of such detachment. So whatever expenses you save, you'll likely pay more in the end. Dr. Joyce Brothers said it well in an article on cohabitation: "short-term savings are less important than investing in a lifetime relationship."
Reason 3: "Because of the high divorce rate, we want to see if things work out first."
Studies consistently show that couples who live together score significantly lower in both marital communications and overall satisfaction. On the surface, a trial run at marriage may seem to make sense, allowing one to screen out less compatible mates. But it doesn't work out that way. Couples who live together before marriage actually have a 50% greater chance of divorce than those who don't. And about 60% of couples who cohabit break up without marrying. Living together before marriage is different from living together in marriage, because there is no binding commitment to support the relationship.
Reason 4: "We need to get to know one another first. Later we'll start having kids."
Cohabitation is actually the worst way to get to know another person, because it shortcuts the true development of lasting friendship. Those who live together before marriage often report an over-reliance on sexual expression and less emphasis on conversation and other ways of communication — ways that ultimately lead to a more fulfilling sexual union after marriage. Traditionally, the process of dating or "courtship" has led couples to a deeper appreciation of one another through conversation, shared ideals and dreams, and a mutual understanding of one another's values.
Reason 5: "The Church is just outdated and out of touch with its thinking in this matter. Birth control made those old rules obsolete."
That's just not true. In the early days of the Church, living together outside of marriage was common among the non-Christians in the Roman Empire — as was the use of artificial contraception. But these practices were devastating for individuals, families, and society. Women were treated as disposable objects, mere toys for sexual pleasure, to be discarded when passions waned. The Christian vision of marriage and family led to happiness and fulfillment for individuals and families — and a great renewal of culture and society. Far from being outmoded, then as now, the Church's teaching is revolutionary — and it works!
4. Why does the Church interfere in the sex lives of couples? It's really just a private matter between us.
Sex is intensely private and personal, but it also has deep moral and social dimensions. Sex works as a primary bonding agent in families and the family is the building block of society. Sexual rights and wrongs influence the health and happiness of individuals, families and neighborhoods. That's why sexual behavior has always been the subject of many civil laws. The Church, of course, wishes to safeguard the family and society. But, more than that, the Church wishes to safeguard your relationship with your future spouse and with God. Sex is the act that seals and renews the couple's marriage covenant before God. Sexual sins, then, are not just between a man and a woman, but between the couple and God. And that's the Church's responsibility. Sex is not simply a private matter. If it's between you and God, it's between you and the Church. You need to ask yourself: "When do I stop being a Christian? When I close the bedroom door? When does my relationship with God cease to matter?"
5. But, really, how does what we do with our own bodies affect our relationship with each other and our spiritual relationship with God?
The gift of your body in sexual intercourse is a profound symbol of the giving of your whole self. In making love, the husband and wife are saying to one another in "body language" what they said to each other at the altar on their wedding day: "I am yours, for life!" God created sex to be physically pleasurable and emotionally fulfilling. But it is even greater than all that. It is, above all, the deepest sign of the complete gift of self that a husband and wife pledge to each other. This mutual gift empowers the couple to become co-creators with God in giving life to a new person, a baby. According to God's design, the gift of sexual union has two primary purposes: strengthening married love and sharing that love with children.The only "place" where this total self-giving between a man and a woman is to take place is in marriage. It is the only "place" where children can be raised with the secure, committed love of a mother and a father. So sexual intimacy belongs only in marriage. Outside of marriage, sex is a lie. The action says: "I give you my whole self" — but the man and woman are really holding back their commitment, their fertility, and their relationship with God. Before giving your body to another person, you need to give your whole life, and you need to receive your spouse's whole life in return — and that can only happen in marriage.
6. Why can't I just follow my conscience if I believe living together is okay?
People can be wrong in matters of conscience, and people often are. Where our self-interest is concerned, our capacity for self-deception is huge. Here, as in everything we do, we need an objective standard to tell us if our conscience is properly formed and able to make right judgments. Morality is not a matter of opinion or "gut feeling." Conscience is God's voice, speaking the truth deep within your heart. It's unlikely — if not impossible — that God would contradict His own commandments just for your convenience or desires. You are acting in good conscience when you choose to do what God intends. The choice to live together outside a marriage is always wrong and sinful.
7. Why does the Church claim that living together is a scandal to others? Many of our family and friends are doing the same thing.
Just because everyone does something doesn't make it right or any less serious. A couple's choice to live together is not simply made in isolation. It affects everyone in relationship with these two people — parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and even other members of the parish. A cohabiting couple implicitly communicates that there is nothing wrong breaking God's law. This can be especially misleading to young children — nieces, nephews, and children of friends — who are impressionable and whose moral reasoning is immature.
8. What is the best way to prepare ourselves spiritually for our upcoming marriage?
"A wedding is for a day, but a marriage is for a lifetime." That can be a long and happy time, but only with good preparation. The best way to get ready for marriage is to practice your faith. Catholics do this by faithful attendance at weekly Sunday Mass, by going to the Sacrament of Penance (confession), by prayer, and by practicing works of charity. If you haven't been attending Mass regularly, your parish priest will want to see you back. If it's been a long time since your last confession, your priest will help you. Confession is a necessary step if you have already been cohabiting. During the days of preparation, you are strongly encouraged to pray together as a couple, read Scripture, and lead a virtuous life. For guidance, look to other couples with strong Christian values.
9. Why should we need to separate now? It's just an arbitrary rule of the Church.
The Church's teaching on cohabitation is not an "arbitrary" rule. Living together before marriage is a sin because it violates God's commandments and the law of the Church. St. Paul lists this sin — technically called "fornication" among the sins (whether within or outside cohabitation) that can keep a person from reaching heaven (see 1 Corinthians 6:9) Cohabitation works against the heart's deepest desires and greatly increases the chances of a failed marriage.If you are honest with yourself, every practical consideration will tell you that separating before marriage is the right thing to do. It is a decision to turn away from sin and to follow Christ and His teaching. That is always the right decision. But it's a good decision for other important reasons, too:
it will strengthen your marriage
it will deepen your friendship
it will foster deeper intimacy and communion
it will build up your problem-solving and communications skills
it will give your marriage a greater chance for success
You may think you are unique and that your passion for each other will never wane. But that's what most couples think. No one goes into marriage planning for a breakup; yet a majority of couples today do break up. You want to be one of the exceptional couples who not only succeed in marriage, but also live together in happiness and fulfillment.
Some couples who are living together think that separation before marriage is artificial or meaningless. Some fear that halting sexual activity will be harmful to the relationship. But this is rarely the case. Sometimes in marriage, too, a sexual relationship will have to be suspended for a time due to illness, military service, business travel, or the good of a spouse. Relationships not only survive this , but actually grow stronger. God rewards such sacrifices with graces for a good relationship. Abstaining from sex will also enable you to rely on other means of communication, which ultimately will empower you to get to know each other in a deeper, lasting way.
10. What good will following the Church's teachings do for us anyway?
Catholic teaching in this matter brings rich blessings to those couples who willingly accept it. The Good News of Jesus frees you to enjoy intimacy even more:
by appreciating your spouse as a person, not an object
by living in a stable, secure, permanent, and faithful relationship
by expressing true, committed love rather than simply satisfying a physical urge
Married life has a special place in God's plan. Like everything good, it requires sacrifices. But they're small compared to the rewards. Seek first the Kingdom of God; everything else you desire will be given to you — and more!
I've written several times now about how the responsibility for children is moving lower on the priority scale to minimal status in our society. You can see this in the flippancy with which unmarried women have children, exposing them to a life with no father and the jarring repetition of Mommy's newest love fling. Or the way children are thrown into institutionalized day-care from birth, or are shuttled between casually divorced parents busy with new romances and career opportunities. You even see it with the increasing number of children left to die in the back seat of cars, because their parents forgot all about having a child in the first place!
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, having children has fallen to eighth on a list of nine keys to happiness in marriage, way behind what is now considered more important, such as sharing household chores and being faithful:
1. Fidelity 93%
2. Good sex 70%
3. Sharing household chores 62%
4. Adequate income 53%
5. Good housing 51%
6. Shared religious beliefs 49%
7. Shared tastes and interests 46%
8. Children 41%
9. Agreement on politics 12%
I see these results as ominous. If this self-centered "it's all about what I wanna have and do, with little inconvenience or stress" attitude continues, future generations of children will suffer increasing neglect. This neglect will cause deep emotional pain and social chaos as their "acting out of control" behaviors negatively impact American society.Of the nine qualities these folks mention as important for a successful marriage, only one had anything to do with giving, and that is children. The rest have to do with getting. Thoughts of division of labor and responsibilities are clearly out the window as the issue of which person might be doing more in the house than the other is more important. That sounds more like roommates than loving spouses.When 50% more folks think that not taking one more bag of garbage to the curb than their spouse is more important to a marriage than combining love and energies into making a family, America is in trouble.Much of Europe is already in trouble with this mentality, with the birthrates not replacing or growing their populations. Italy is most impacted, with most of its population considered "elderly." Dr. Laura recently got an email from a first time "mom to be" about her experiences online as she attempted to find support and information from others in the same situation. She was quite disturbed by what she found, and she offered her the opportunity to be this week's "Guest Blogger" and share her comments with you:Dr. Laura:I cannot thank you enough for being a voice of reason these days. It has recently hit home pretty hard about how "turned around" people have become in their thinking and the decisions they make. I'm 6+ months pregnant with my first child, and was excited to join an online pregnancy club for my birth month. I quickly became sickened as I read the threads that were being posted by other soon-to-be mothers. I read thread after thread of mothers whose boyfriends were cheating on them, and they'd just complain and get sympathy from other soon-to-be mothers (and I use that word very lightly). The overall sympathetic message that kept reverberating was that it is never the woman's fault, and they can't help it that their child's "sperm donor" is such a deadbeat. They encourage each other with strong words and big talk about how they have more than enough love for their child and have absolutely NO need for a father. They even have their own lovely support group for single/unwed mothers, to provide emotional support for these poor unwitting victims of sex. I tried to combat some of these women's comments to no avail. No matter what I posted about how life can be better, and we can make good decisions for our children and that there are other alternatives to give our children what they deserve (i.e., a two parent home), I kept getting absolutely lambasted from every direction: attacked on all sides, called every name, my words twisted and distorted to make it seem like I was the most uncaring, unfeeling person in the world, and had nothing of value to say regarding families. These women didn't need a father to influence their children, period! They certainly didn't need me advocating the importance of fathers or pointing out that we are old enough to make good decisions - for example, not bed-hopping from one creep to another, hurting our children. When I used my own wonderful husband as an example of the great guys that are out there, I was told to give my marriage more time, because it was certain not to last, and boy, then wouldn't I feel stupid for my words! This coming from the future mothers of America.When did we all become victims? When did we give up on making good decisions and become bodies just used for sex and ruining children's lives? I am sickened and disheartened, and I cannot wipe these "threads" from my mind. I couldn't imagine living the kind of lives they live - not out of self-righteousness, as they accuse me of and for which they spit on my ideals - but because life would be devoid of anything decent or holy. I did not realize there was really that kind of emptiness and deprivation in our wonderful country. I thank my parents for keeping me from that kind of a life. Thank you, Dr. Laura, for being a beacon shining through the haze of this new America. The "sperm donors" aren't the ones who are really ruining our society. The single/unwed mother club of America is robbing our future generations of life's purpose, meaning, and love.
SINGLE "MOTHERS"
You couldn’t wait could you? Oh no, you thought you knew what you were doing. It’s okay, “he loves me”, “I love him”, ten months later “he’s an asshole” for the CHOICE you CHOSE to make because he ran out on you. Why do women blame men for the CHOICES they freely CHOOSE to make? Now, before you go there, I’m not talking to women who got raped, so let’s get that clear. But, if you CHOSE to have sex with a guy, got pregnant and he ran out on you, blame yourself, not the man. You lay down. You opened your legs. You let him in. So, don’t go putting all the blame on him. Now, don’t get me wrong, a guy who walks out on a girl he got pregnant is nothing more than a coward and a scumbag, but we need to stop making it sound like there are the only ones to blame. I have come to find out that single mothers are the bitterest women. Some how they think the world owes them something because they’re raising a child on their own. I should know I was raised by one and every day she reminds me of how much I owe her. Again, don’t get me wrong, I adore my mother and would die for her but I could’ve gone without the daily “do you know what I’ve been through for you” speeches. Single mothers have become the biggest victims in our society. They throw daily pity parties and invite us all and we all go and the even sadder thing is, we do. Let’s face it, if YOU CHOSE to take YOUR clothes off, lie down and spread YOUR legs for a man who was not YOUR husband than YOU have NOBODY to blame but YOURSELF for the situation YOU are in right now. There are women who say “I know love now that I’m a mother” and “I love my child more than anybody”. What a bunch of garbage. Loving your child does NOT begin when you give birth, nor does it even begin at conception. Loving your child begins long before your child is even a thought in your mind. Loving your child begins when you CHOOSE to make the CHOICE to never bring a bastard into this world. Loving your child begins when you CHOOSE to create a family that your child can grow up in. Loving your child begins when you CHOOSE to wait until you’re married. You didn’t give birth to a child because you loved your child, you gave birth to a child because you were a selfish hoe who couldn’t keep her legs closed and her clothes on and nine months later you made the only right choice you’ve probably ever made in your life, to allow a beautiful child to come into this world. That CHOICE should’ve been followed by another choice, giving up your child for adoption so a FAMILY could raise up a child they DESERVE the way that child DESERVES to be raised…
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
If I told you a woman wore a size 12 and stood 5 feet 5 inches, most people would think she was overweight. But, if I told you she was blonde haired (dyed, naturally brown), blue eyed, weighed 118 lbs, and was a woman named Marilyn Monroe with measurements 36D-22-36, you would come up with an entirely different picture wouldn’t you? What is a woman’s obsession with being so skinny these days? I mean you go shopping with one. You have to go to a “Large woman’s” store to find anything in the double digits, it’s disgusting. Why do women want to be a size zero or one or two? Why do we consider it “healthy” to be so skinny? I’m sorry if I’m along here, but I don’t think it’s sexy when I can see a girl’s ribs, or spine for that matter. To me, there is nothing sexier than a woman with some curves on her. I want a coca-cola bottle, a winding road, a BRICK HOUSE!!! I don’t want to walk down the street beside a toothpick with an olive on top of it. If I’ve got bigger chunks of meat stuck between my teeth then you’ve got fat on your body, I won’t even look at you. I probably can’t look at you because if you turn sideways you’d disappear. Bettie Page was nicknamed “The girl with the perfect body”. She weighed 128 lbs, stood 5 feet 5 ½ inches and her measurements were 36-23-35. I don’t know how many people saw the movie “Real Woman Have Curves”, but the title couldn’t be truer. Where are the real women at these days? When I walk down the street, I see tooth picks with barely any clothes on. This is supposed to be sexy? Ginuwine asked “is there any more room for me in those jeans?” Well, with the girls that walk around these days, it looks like there’s plenty of room left in them. I mean really now. Who is sexier, Selma Hayek or Lindsey Lohan? Would you prefer Halle Berry or Eva Longoria? Who do you want walking by you, Jessica Alba or Ashley Olson? Would you rather go out with Penelope Cruz or Gabrielle Union? I know I’m not the only guy who feels this way, at least I hope not. Who’s with me?
DREAM OF FAITH
Last night I had the most amazing dream. You know those scenes in movies when you come to the perfect neighborhood and every guy is mowing the lawn in unison as his wife stands at the door way waving and the kids are biking down the street? It was that kind of dream. But you were in it, yes, all of you. As I walked down the street I saw each one of my friends and family members were those people in the houses. And these weren’t normal little houses; each one of them was a big beautiful house. And in the drive way of each house were these beautiful and expensive luxury cars. As I walked down the streets you would all look up at me with the biggest smiles on your faces and wave at me. This was my dream.
Now to most of you, this is in fact only a dream. As a matter of fact, I don’t doubt that for 95% of you, as you read that, immediately to your head came "yeah right" and maybe 4% of you said "I wish". But, I know that there is at least one person who after reading this, didn’t say "yeah right" or "I wish", they said "I WILL". "I WILL" have big beautiful houses. "I WILL" will have the most beautiful cars. "I WILL" have the best things in life. And why can I be so bold to say this? Because my Father which is in heaven says I can have it.
Jesus himself told us to ask for it when we prayed, "on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10), does that sound familiar? Everybody talks about how were going to have mansions in heaven and have everything we need, want and desire in heaven. We are going to be rich in heaven. Well, how much simpler does God need to make it? Say it with me now. "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN". If were going to be living in mansions in heaven, then we can have mansions on earth. If were going to have all our needs, wants and desires meant in heaven then we should have them the same here on earth. If were going to be rich in heaven then we should be rich on earth, and for you people who think they mean spiritually rich, trust me when I tell you, if you’re not spiritually rich already then there’s no chance in hell you’re going to see heaven. Jesus said (I’m paraphrasing) "whatever you touch, you will have" (Matthew 18:19), do I need to explain that one to you to, or you think you got it?
Now here’s the kicker. The Bible says that all things happen by faith. Oh wait, what? I know what you’re thinking, "Just because I believe for something doesn’t mean Ill have it". Well, you’re doing it right now. You believe negative and that’s what you’re getting. You believe for lack and that’s what you have. ". . . of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45), what you believe in your heart is what you speak, and what you get in life. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21), the wisest man to ever live says that we live by our words. How much easier can God make it for us? But what do we do? We make some lame excuses. "I don’t understand the Bible" (rebuttal-II Timothy 3:150-Arent you smarter than a child?). "Nobody knows what Gods will is for us" (rebuttal-Romans 12:2-How are we supposed to fulfill Gods will if we don’t know it?). "Money is evil" (rebuttal-I Timothy 6:10-First of all, the LOVE of money is evil and if you LOVE money then even if you have it I know you're not happy, but God will give it to us with the peace that goes along with it. Plus if money was so evil, then why do we need it to live?)
See, the sad thing is that all these excuses show one thing; Christians are lazy. Instead of reading the Bible and knowing it for themselves, they are content with what they think they know. They’re okay with what you tell them, as long as they don’t have to walk out of their comfort level to do anything. Remember the "Faithful Servant" (Matthew 25)? After all was said and done, what did his master say to him? "Well done good and faithful servant". He didn’t call him perfect. He didn’t expect him to be perfect. He called him faithful. He judged him according to his faith. What did he say to the lesser servant who did nothing? "You wicked and slothful servant". He combined slothfulness with wickedness.
What does this tell us? Faith takes work. "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). God sees how faithful we are by the works we do to get to where we want to be. Our salvation is a gift from God according to his grace, but the blessings we receive in life is according the faith we have to belief for them. So I end with this, stop telling God what he can and cannot do. God who created the universe can get you that house or that car or that career. God who created the world can give to you what is on it. God who created your body has the power to heal it. But, God is limited by only one thing, your lack of faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . . . But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). Show God your faith and he will show you amazing blessings, but give God no faith and he will give you nothing in return. What you give to God, he gives to you.
Now to most of you, this is in fact only a dream. As a matter of fact, I don’t doubt that for 95% of you, as you read that, immediately to your head came "yeah right" and maybe 4% of you said "I wish". But, I know that there is at least one person who after reading this, didn’t say "yeah right" or "I wish", they said "I WILL". "I WILL" have big beautiful houses. "I WILL" will have the most beautiful cars. "I WILL" have the best things in life. And why can I be so bold to say this? Because my Father which is in heaven says I can have it.
Jesus himself told us to ask for it when we prayed, "on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10), does that sound familiar? Everybody talks about how were going to have mansions in heaven and have everything we need, want and desire in heaven. We are going to be rich in heaven. Well, how much simpler does God need to make it? Say it with me now. "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN". If were going to be living in mansions in heaven, then we can have mansions on earth. If were going to have all our needs, wants and desires meant in heaven then we should have them the same here on earth. If were going to be rich in heaven then we should be rich on earth, and for you people who think they mean spiritually rich, trust me when I tell you, if you’re not spiritually rich already then there’s no chance in hell you’re going to see heaven. Jesus said (I’m paraphrasing) "whatever you touch, you will have" (Matthew 18:19), do I need to explain that one to you to, or you think you got it?
Now here’s the kicker. The Bible says that all things happen by faith. Oh wait, what? I know what you’re thinking, "Just because I believe for something doesn’t mean Ill have it". Well, you’re doing it right now. You believe negative and that’s what you’re getting. You believe for lack and that’s what you have. ". . . of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45), what you believe in your heart is what you speak, and what you get in life. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21), the wisest man to ever live says that we live by our words. How much easier can God make it for us? But what do we do? We make some lame excuses. "I don’t understand the Bible" (rebuttal-II Timothy 3:150-Arent you smarter than a child?). "Nobody knows what Gods will is for us" (rebuttal-Romans 12:2-How are we supposed to fulfill Gods will if we don’t know it?). "Money is evil" (rebuttal-I Timothy 6:10-First of all, the LOVE of money is evil and if you LOVE money then even if you have it I know you're not happy, but God will give it to us with the peace that goes along with it. Plus if money was so evil, then why do we need it to live?)
See, the sad thing is that all these excuses show one thing; Christians are lazy. Instead of reading the Bible and knowing it for themselves, they are content with what they think they know. They’re okay with what you tell them, as long as they don’t have to walk out of their comfort level to do anything. Remember the "Faithful Servant" (Matthew 25)? After all was said and done, what did his master say to him? "Well done good and faithful servant". He didn’t call him perfect. He didn’t expect him to be perfect. He called him faithful. He judged him according to his faith. What did he say to the lesser servant who did nothing? "You wicked and slothful servant". He combined slothfulness with wickedness.
What does this tell us? Faith takes work. "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). God sees how faithful we are by the works we do to get to where we want to be. Our salvation is a gift from God according to his grace, but the blessings we receive in life is according the faith we have to belief for them. So I end with this, stop telling God what he can and cannot do. God who created the universe can get you that house or that car or that career. God who created the world can give to you what is on it. God who created your body has the power to heal it. But, God is limited by only one thing, your lack of faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . . . But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). Show God your faith and he will show you amazing blessings, but give God no faith and he will give you nothing in return. What you give to God, he gives to you.
ONCE SHAVED ALWAYS SHAVED
There were once two old men, named Elmer and Don who were sitting around talking, when suddenly the conversation came to shaving:
Elmer: I’ve never had a decent shave in my life.
Don: Really? Well, you should come let my wife give you a shave; she gives the best shaves in the world.
So, the next day Elmer came over and Don’s wife gave him a shave. A month went by before Don and Elmer saw each other again. When Elmer saw Don, he ran up to him quickly.Elmer: You’ll never believe this Don. I mean you really won’t believe this.Don: What happened?
Elmer: Well, remember your wife gave me a shave, right? Well, I waited a few days and nothing grew back. I waited a week and still nothing. I waited another and another, until a month had gone by, and still nothing grew. I just don’t get it.
Don: Well Elmer, you see, my wife is a Baptist, and you know what they believe, once shaved always shaved.
Moral of the story: Isn’t it sad that people think just because they said the “Lord’s Prayer” one time a long time ago, it means they’re saved for the rest of their lives. So they can go around sinning and doing whatever they want to do because “Once saved, always saved”, right? WRONG!!!
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace . . . Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5:4, 19-21)
NO SIN WILL EVER ENTER HEAVEN!!!
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6)
ONCE WE’VE BEEN SAVED, WE SHOULD NEVER SIN AGAIN!!!
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(Hebrews 10:26)
IF WE WILLINGLY SIN AFTER ASKING GOD TO FORGIVE US, WE WILL NOT FIND FORGIVENESS!!!
But, there’s a simple solution.Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(James 4:7)
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS RESIST SIN AND SUBMIT OUR LIVES TO GOD!!!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(I John 1:9)
AND IF WE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND PROMISE NEVER TO SIN AGAIN, GOD WILL FORGIVE US AND FORGET OUR SINS!!!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(II Corinthians 5:17)
AND GOD WILL MAKE YOU A BRAND NEW CREATURE, WITHOUT SIN!!!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 12:1-2)
IF AND ONLY IF WE KEEP OURSELVES FREE FROM SIN AND SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD AND IT’S WAYS!!!
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
(Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
THE CHOICE IS YOURS TO MAKE; WILL YOU BE BLESSED OR CURSED???
Elmer: I’ve never had a decent shave in my life.
Don: Really? Well, you should come let my wife give you a shave; she gives the best shaves in the world.
So, the next day Elmer came over and Don’s wife gave him a shave. A month went by before Don and Elmer saw each other again. When Elmer saw Don, he ran up to him quickly.Elmer: You’ll never believe this Don. I mean you really won’t believe this.Don: What happened?
Elmer: Well, remember your wife gave me a shave, right? Well, I waited a few days and nothing grew back. I waited a week and still nothing. I waited another and another, until a month had gone by, and still nothing grew. I just don’t get it.
Don: Well Elmer, you see, my wife is a Baptist, and you know what they believe, once shaved always shaved.
Moral of the story: Isn’t it sad that people think just because they said the “Lord’s Prayer” one time a long time ago, it means they’re saved for the rest of their lives. So they can go around sinning and doing whatever they want to do because “Once saved, always saved”, right? WRONG!!!
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace . . . Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5:4, 19-21)
NO SIN WILL EVER ENTER HEAVEN!!!
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6)
ONCE WE’VE BEEN SAVED, WE SHOULD NEVER SIN AGAIN!!!
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(Hebrews 10:26)
IF WE WILLINGLY SIN AFTER ASKING GOD TO FORGIVE US, WE WILL NOT FIND FORGIVENESS!!!
But, there’s a simple solution.Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(James 4:7)
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS RESIST SIN AND SUBMIT OUR LIVES TO GOD!!!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(I John 1:9)
AND IF WE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND PROMISE NEVER TO SIN AGAIN, GOD WILL FORGIVE US AND FORGET OUR SINS!!!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(II Corinthians 5:17)
AND GOD WILL MAKE YOU A BRAND NEW CREATURE, WITHOUT SIN!!!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 12:1-2)
IF AND ONLY IF WE KEEP OURSELVES FREE FROM SIN AND SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD AND IT’S WAYS!!!
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
(Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
THE CHOICE IS YOURS TO MAKE; WILL YOU BE BLESSED OR CURSED???
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