OK–we all know what comes next. With the President and Vice-President publicly declaring their support of same-sex marriage, the next step is to redefine marriage and make same-sex “marriage” lawful, and unlawful to speak out against.

Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank is well known for asking: “How will my same-sex marriage harm your marriage?” This question is meant to be a show-stopper, shutting the mouths of all those who oppose gay marriage. Well, it won’t work. Some of us are not going to roll over and play dead. We are going to speak out.And anyone with an ounce of sense, which isn’t everyone, knows his reasoning is flawed.

To answer Barney’s question–Your same-sex marriage won’t affect my marriage at all. However, neither would my marriage be affected if you and your partner decided to beat the snot out of each other, or ever slit one another’s throat. But the point of this debate isn’t about your private relationship–wrong as it is. The debate has to do with redefining marriage for everyone in our nation. What gives you the right to insist that your perverted relationship be the standard by which all marriages are defined. Shall we use your reasoning to approve marriage between a 21 year-old-man and a 5 year-old-girl, because he wants her? Or how about those given to beastiaity? Do you see where this leads? Once we break away from the mooring of God’s Word we are at the mercy of public opinion’s raging sea, and it ends in shipwreck.

So, Barney, if I want to beat my wife, how does that affect your same-sex “marriage”? It’s no skin off your nose! How then could you object to us making a law to legalize wife-beating? After all, there’s a lot of guys who would jump at the chance to join “the wives beater club”.

Glenn T. Stanton said it well:”Same-sex ‘marriage’ is not just about one’s personal marriage. It is fundamentally about how we define and understand marriage, families, and humanity itself. And for the first time in the history of our nation, religious freedom is being asked to move to the back of the bus. And the reason is to make room for sexual and familial experimentation”.

We need some folks like Rosa Parks with the conviction and courage to not give up our seat –vacating the place our nation has occupied since its inception and disobeying the principles of God’s Word. It will be interesting to see who stands against this assault on the family and how they vote in November. Think about it!

A Partial List Of President Barack Obama’s Historic Firsts
Doug Ross compiled this partial list of some of Obama’s “firsts”

Yes, he’s historic, alright.

• First President to Preside Over a Cut to the Credit Rating of the United States Government

• First President to Violate the War Powers Act

• First President to Orchestrate the Sale of Murder Weapons to Mexican Drug Cartels

• First President to issue an unlawful “recess-appointment” while the U.S. Senate remained in session (against the advice of his own Justice Department).

• First President to be Held in Contempt of Court for Illegally Obstructing Oil Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico

• First President to Defy a Federal Judge’s Court Order to Cease Implementing the ‘Health Care Reform’ Law

• First President to halt deportations of illegal aliens and grant them work permits, a form of stealth amnesty roughly equivalent to “The DREAM Act”, which could not pass Congress

• First President to Require All Americans to Purchase a Product From a Third Party

• First President to Spend a Trillion Dollars on ‘Shovel-Ready’ Jobs — and Later Admit There Was No Such Thing as Shovel-Ready Jobs

• First President to sue states for requiring valid IDs to vote, even though the same administration requires valid IDs to travel by air

• First President to Abrogate Bankruptcy Law to Turn Over Control of Companies to His Union Supporters

• First President to Bypass Congress and Implement the DREAM Act Through Executive Fiat

• First President to Threaten Insurance Companies After They Publicly Spoke out on How Obamacare Helped Cause their Rate Increases

• First President to Threaten an Auto Company (Ford) After It Publicly Mocked Bailouts of GM and Chrysler

• First President to “Order a Secret Amnesty Program that Stopped the Deportations of Illegal Immigrants Across the U.S., Including Those With Criminal Convictions”

• First President to Demand a Company Hand Over $20 Billion to One of His Political Appointees

• First President to Terminate America’s Ability to Put a Man into Space.

• First President to Encourage Racial Discrimination and Intimidation at Polling Places

• First President to Have a Law Signed By an ‘Auto-pen’ Without Being “Present”

• First President to Arbitrarily Declare an Existing Law Unconstitutional and Refuse to Enforce It

• First President to Tell a Major Manufacturing Company In Which State They Are Allowed to Locate a Factory

• First President to refuse to comply with a House Oversight Committee subpoena.

• First President to File Lawsuits Against the States He Swore an Oath to Protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN, etc.)

• First President to Withdraw an Existing Coal Permit That Had Been Properly Issued Years Ago

• First President to Fire an Inspector General of Americorps for Catching One of His Friends in a Corruption Case

• First President to Propose an Executive Order Demanding Companies Disclose Their Political Contributions to Bid on Government Contracts

• First President to allow Mexican police to conduct law enforcement activities on American soil

• First President to Golf 90 or More Times in His First Three Years in Office

But remember: he will not rest until all Americans have jobs, affordable homes, green-energy vehicles, and the environment is repaired, etc., etc., etc

Now we can add another “First”–Obama is the first president to approve, support, and promote homosexual civil unions and “marriage”.Of course, his first puts the Bible last. I wonder what smiling Joel Osteen will have to say about Obama being a Christian now!—O I forgot, he doesn’t talk about sin. Obama is becoming good at being first, but that is bad for America. It’s time for every God-fearing American to stand up and speak out. If Obama is re-elected every person who votes for him and every person who refuses to vote against him will get what they deserve! Sadly our entire nation will have to suffer for it also. We reap what we sow. Plant a seed of corruption in the White House and what do you get–corruption, but on a larger scale. If this doesn’t shake us out of our complacency nothing will.We’ll see!

Charles Spurgeon called Psalm 119 the Golden Alphabet. He did so because each section begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Germans called it, “The Christians Golden ABC of the praise, love, power, and use of the Word of God. Indeed it is just that! We have been studying this marvelous song in our mid-week service and it never ceases to bless my heart.

As Spurgeon said, “Its variety is that of a kaleidoscope—what you see is the same, and yet never the same; it is the same truth, but it is always placed in a new light, put in a new connection, or in some way or other invested with freshness—it is an incense made up of many spices—The more one studies it the fresher it becomes”. Those involved in our study can say “Amen!” to that.

Those who have never made a thorough study of this great chapter don’t know what they are missing. Those who sincerely love God’s Word cannot help but be blessed by it. It contains exactly what we need. It’s theme is the Word of God and we never get too much of that. When we began this study I said,” I can’t think of anything that is more needful to our well-being than serious Bible study. I haven’t changed my mind. With all my heart I believe that is true.

The wonder of the Word, its formation, inspiration, information, accuracy, power, perfection, and preservation should cause us to stand in awe, bow in reverence, kneel in prayer, and fall flat on our face in humble submission.

Of all the portions of God’s Word none serve better as a catalyst for Bible study than Psalm 119. In this wonderful chapter you will find comfort in your trials, strength in your temptations, purpose in your life, direction in your decisions, wisdom for your walk, guidance in your journey, peace in your path, and success in your endeavors. It will produce spiritual growth, provide cleansing from your sins, prevent you from falling, protect you from Satan, preserve hope, promote success, prepare you for prayer, and purify your soul.

For the life of me I do not understand those who claim to love God, yet have no appetite for His Word. There is something seriously wrong with those who ignore it, disobey it, or show contempt for it. How can we possibly really love God and not love His Word? Have you no desire to hear from the One who heard your desperate cry? Will you refuse to give your attention to the One who gave all for you? Do you not need what the Bible provides? Is there something more important, more interesting, or more inspirational than the Bible? Is there truly some good reason why you shouldn’t join us in this study? Would your answer really be acceptable to the Lord? Think about it!

Today’s Morning Manna, “God Can Use You”, started an avalanche of thoughts to my mind. I love to watch God use people. It is interesting and inspirational. It reminds me that there is hope even for a person like me. It assures me that I don’t have to be a failure in life, unless I choose to be. God is not limited by my limitations. If He could use Balaam’s ass to deliver a message He can use me(Num.22:28).

I doubt that any of you ever heard of Lee McDaniel–at least not the one I knew, but I’ll never forget him. Lee had been severely injured in the Korean war and had a steel plate in his head.He was a short stocky man and his speech had been affected by the injury. His mental abilities had also been affected and he was highly emotional. However, Lee loved children–to an extent that I’ve seldom if ever seen. In spite of all his “disabilities” Lee was heavily involved in children’s ministries. He could relate to children far better than most people and they responded to him. Those who think they must scream and yell at kids to get their attention could have learned a lot from Lee–he never raised his voice and he had them eating out of his hand. They knew he loved them and that made a world of difference.Among all the strange things Lee did, he whittled, and was quiet good at it. He would take an old piece of wood and whittle out a car or a toy and give it to some kid. He was always coming up with some unusual idea so he could witness to the children. I’ve often wondered how many people will be in heaven as a result of God using Lee McDaniel–many I’m sure.

I’ve known many people with abilities far greater than Bro. Lee who have done far less than he.Some are doing nothing by way of service to God. They could but they won’t. One of the most troubling things about being a pastor, or a parent, is watching people you love literally wasting their lives. Although possessing great ability and given numerous opportunities they have no interest in being used of God or being a blessing to other. In their mind it’s all about them and what they want to do. It always boils down to that doesn’t it? It’s always about our availability rather than our ability.

It’s heart-breaking to see people more concerned about gratifying the flesh than they are about glorifying the Father, more interested in entertaining self than exalting the Savior, more determined to satisfy themselves than surrendering to the Holy Spirit, more zealous searching for happiness than seeking holiness. What a waste! Such living is a tragedy that has eternal consequences. Not only are such people miserable here (if they are saved), they miss the rewards that await those who are faithful. Maybe not having a handicap is our biggest handicap. Maybe we would be better off if we didn’t have it so good and started looking for a reason to live. Think about it!

Yesterday I preached about the Chief Commandment and the Companion Commandment. I concluded the message by saying that the natural man needs a changed nature and a comprehension of God’s nature ( to know Him is to love Him). Sadly some folks just don’t get it. Here’s an example:

Several years go a preacher (of all people!) suggested that we should use the word “salvage”, rather than “salvation”. I guess you could say, that’s politically correct gone wild. Worse than that–it’s just plain stupid! When you salvage something you still have the same old wreck. You can patch it up, repair it, paint it, etc. but you just have an improved version of the same thing. Salvation is different. It has to do with making something new, something different, something better.

When Christ saves us He doesn’t just give us a new improved version of self. He creates something brand new. Sinful man needs much more than a new start, he needs a new heart. Christ didn’t die to give us another shot at getting it right. He died that we might receive life –become an entirely different person. The moment we receive Him as our Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our heart, gives us a new nature, and makes us a “new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Admittedly we are, for the time being, still in the same old house of flesh, but a new person now lives within. We continue to be troubled by the flesh, but we’re not troubled about it. Our new nature desires to please God. His interest is now our interest. Our new desire is to glorify the Father, rather than gratify the flesh. The Christian, thank God, is not the old man reformed. He is a new man, re-born, regenerated by the life giving force of the Holy Spirit. He is not struggling for salvation, but from it. He is working out that which God has placed within.

The word “salvage” might be fine and dandy if you’re talking about cars or ships, but it is totally inadequate to describe what happens when a person is “saved”, born again. The Christian has been saved, delivered from self, sin, Satan, and the sentence of judgment that was against him. Whereas he was dead, he is now very much alive and shall never perish. Think about it!