Writing my first book was not very hard. Some days the words would flow easily out of my mind then other days I would have to step back and take a break. I hadn't written anything since I was in college. When my book was finished, I read over it for any grammatical errors, misspelled words and missed punctuations. I thought I had done a good job according to my own knowledge. Then I let Debbie and Melinda read and edit the book. They made a few changes and I looked over it 2 more times. I was almost ready to hit the publish button on Kindle Publishing when Debbie said, Why not let someone with experience in editing look at it. I believed the spelling, grammar, and punctuation were fine. I agreed for her to get someone who had done this for a living and knew all of the rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling review the book for us.
The person Debbie asked to edit my manuscript returned it in about a week. I was so happy, because I wanted to publish on Kindle that evening. I confidently tore open the large manila envelope, just believing that there were probably not many errors to correct. Suddenly, my hopes and dreams of being an author vanished as quickly as a hundred dollar bill at Disney World. The manuscript of my first book came back to me looking as though it was bleeding to death. I do not believe a single page was without red ink. I sat back in my chair. You do not know how ignorant I felt and also relieved that I hadn't pushed the publish button on Kindle Publishing a week ago without the proper editing.
I got on the internet and found out that many authors go through the same process I had just experienced. I realized I didn't know all I needed about editing. I could learn how, or I could get someone that already knows the rules. I choose to do both. I want to learn so I can write better, and I will always let a professional editor do the final edit. How did I correct my manuscript? I retyped it making the changes as the editor suggested.
If I do not seek to learn the rules of writing well and do not have an editor that already knows them, my writing will never get better. The words that I want to express from my heart will never be expressed in the proper way they should be. I must have the desire to get better and be patient with the process. I will need to examine my progress by the fewer red marks from the editor. Will I be perfect? No! But I will know I am trying to continually do my best.
I am a Christian. What if I live my life anyway I desire to? I say I believe in Jesus and God but live as what I describe a good life. My life is just like an unedited manuscript. I have several red marks on each page.
Just like I thought my manuscript was acceptable, I could also think my life is acceptable by the way I feel and compare myself to others. The only way I could edit my Christian life would be to let God's word do it for me.
I must not think what I do in secret, or what I think about is never known to anyone. David says it well in Psalm 139 that God knows all about man. Read the whole chapter and then you can say as David in verses 23-24; Search me O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting(NKJV).
There are books written that contain the proper rules for writing. There is also a book inspired by God and written by men, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to provide instruction on how to live as Christians in this life. That Book is the Bible. If I call myself a Christian, God's inspired word is the only standard by which I can examine my life. The way I worship God and the way I should live to please Him are all found in this book.
If we have the mindset of David when he said, Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart, Psalm 26:2(NKJV), we will be willing to go to God's word to examine the way we are living. The hardest exam we will ever take, if we are honest, is the one we give ourselves.
The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians: Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified(2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV).
I have examined myself over the years with God's word and have had my life's manuscript come back with several red marks. The problem is, I can't retype my life. The only thing I can do is repent of those things,(kinda like retyping) and go forward never desiring to do them again. How do I get the red check marks off my past? I can't and I will never be able to remove them because I will never be good enough. But there is the One who can, His name is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. God loved us so much that He sent the perfect sacrifice to die in our place. We had plenty of red check marks, about like my first manuscript, but God loves us. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NKJV). Jesus shed His blood for you and me to wash away our sins. When we examine our lives by God's word, the scriptures tell us exactly what to do to have Christ's blood wash away those sins.
It is hard to live in this fallen world. No matter how hard we try, you and I will sin against God. The most beautiful passage in the Bible that comforts me when this happens is taken from I John 1:5-10.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you that
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and
do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
* If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. NKJV
My desire is to live a life that pleases God, and I assume you do, too. If I am to come out of the closet as a Christian and to wear the name Christian, I must want more than anything to live as He has commanded..To do this I must want to examine my life on a regular basis to make sure I am not living as the world would have me to live.
Many times it is not easy to be a Christian, but with God's promises and His love for us, you and I can make a difference in:our lives and the lives of others in this world.. Let's do it.!!!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read my blog. People from all over the world are now reading my post each week. If you have anyone that would like to be on my mailing list please send me their name and email address, and I will notify them of new blog post. Also, thank you for getting my first book-The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.
Please send comments to: rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
You can review and purchase my book by going to:www.amazon.com
Thank you!
Rick Hepler
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Monday, September 15, 2014
They Wear the Name and Play the Game
In the late summer of 1966, an older friend of mine talked me into going out for football. I first said no, but he insisted so I went to the first night of practice to see what it was like. Back then I weighed, soaking wet, 135 pounds. I was a freshman at Fulton County High School. I made the team. I would be wearing number 40 on my FCHS Pilots jersey. There were 3 other freshmen my size and the coach would not let us do much. I believe he thought we would get hurt. We were so small the only thing we added to the team was filling up space on the bench.
On Fridays, game day, all of the football players would wear their jersey to school. I felt so proud being a Fulton County Pilot. We would have a pep rally, and the star players would speak saying what we were going to do to the opponent that night. One of those Fridays, I was feeling important in class with my jersey on and so happy to be a Pilot when a classmate brought me down to size very quickly. My little football player strut was over for that year. She said to me, with a convincing and very confident voice, You don't even play. All you do is sit on the bench. Quickly what little strength I had in me left like the air coming out of a pin pricked balloon. I still remember it to this day and believe it or not as I write this, it is game day.
I still remember her name, but I will keep it to myself. She was right, and I knew it. I didn't add any more to the team than she did being a fan.The only thing the other 3 small players and I would do in practice was warmup exercises before practice and running sprints at the end of practice. What we did in between our exercises drills was look for change that people dropped around the concession stand. You know 25 cents back then would buy more than it does now.
Saying all of this leads me to this. If she had not said those negative statements, in the tone she said it in, I would probably have quit or sat on the bench the other 3 years. I now was determined to play football and get off the bench. One more thing that helped me and was also an humbling experience was our athletic banquet in the Spring. The coach was talking about all the players that actually played. Some got trophies for their dedication and playing ability. I don't even remember my name being called. I made my mind up right then that I was going to play in actual games.I was going to get me a trophy. The next year, I got a trophy for being the most improved player.My senior year I got best lineman. I also played the whole entire game. I played right guard on offense, center for extra points and punts, and middle linebacker on defense.
I go back to this many times. When I want to do something that is hard or I feel inadequate on attempting something, I remember this story from the past. Back then my classmate did not believe I would ever get off the bench. She was right, unless I started believing in myself. Yes, it is hard when you are the only one who believes in you. Many of you know what I am talking about. Many of you have gotten off the bench of life and have made extra ordinary accomplishments in helping people. And some, like me, have had that one triggering event that caused you to decide to give everything you have or quit. There is no in between. You either do it or don't.
I made friends for life playing football. Playing as a team taught me so much about life. Sometimes we try our projects alone when we really need it to be a team project. Every player on the team that wore the Fulton County Pilots whether it was on the jersey or letter jacket ended up Playing in the Game. All of them were a great bunch of guys.
It is the time of the year for baseball playoffs, college football, and NFL football. All sports enthusiast have teams they root for. Many even wear the jerseys of their favorite players. Some of these enthusiast wear jerseys, jackets, or caps of their favorite team. They wear the name but will never get in the game. Only the real players will get in the game, and it is expected of them from the owners, coaches, and especially the fans. The players of the game have spent many hours practicing their craft. They study films of their opponents. They are in top physical shape. They practice over and over the plays until they come natural to them. They are heavily criticized if do not play to their full potential. Their desire is to play in the game no matter the weather or the pain.
Today because of my age, I can only be a fan or a spectator of football, but Christian is one name we all can wear, and we are never to be a spectator. Christians are to play in the game from the day we put on Christ's name until we die.(Revelation 2:10) There is always a play you can run, always a team member to lift up, and the reward for playing is not money nor trophies. The reward is eternal life for you and anyone else you have influenced by playing until the game is over. This game has rules to abide by just like football. One main difference in this game is everyone that plays is a winner, and they can make others winners also.
Acts 11:26 says, And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, NKJV. How did they put on Christ? In Galatians 3:26-27 the Apostle Paul tells the churches of Galatia: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, NKJV. So they put on Christ and they were called by the new name that God was going to call His people as prophesied in Isaiah 62:2, You shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will name, NKJV.
So if we say we are Christians, we wear the name of Christ. By wearing His name we have the responsibility to uphold that name with all the ability God has given us. God has given all of us different abilities in which we can be His servants. We know this by the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man sat on the bench, unlike the ones with two and five talents. The two and five talent men doubled their talents. God called the one talent man a lazy and wicked servant and ordered him to be cast into the outer darkness.
When I was wearing my football jersey that Friday in class, I was really acting like one of the players but was quickly reminded that I had not played in one game. This fact really hurt, but it was a good lesson. If I had not made my mind up to do what it took to be a good player and desired to get it the game, I would have been cut from the team. Instead, because of my determination, I learned how to play 3 positions and added to the team.
If I only wear the name Christian and do not serve my God and fellow man as a Christian, this is what will happen: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in your name?' And I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!
I can't wear the name of Christian and live anyway I please. I must live and act in accordance to God's will. Players of any sport realize they must play by the rules.
I can go to church and sit on a pew and go home thinking that is all I have to do to be a servant of God. I did that at one time, but I realized that I was just sitting on the bench not engaging in the work of a servant of God. If I didn't change, I would have no influence as a Christian and there would be eternal consequences. Also, my children and grandchildren could imitate my Christian life and have the same eternal consequences. This woke me up. I want to get in the game!
Just a few short years ago 78 percent of the people in our country called themselves Christian. Look at the immorality that we have today. Immorality is more popular than morality. Do you think Christians are sitting on the bench and letting Satan's team win? God doesn't like abortion, yet we have had more than 56,000,000 abortion in this country since Row vs Wade. Since the late 60's God has been almost taken out of every aspect of public life. Children are being taught the theory of evolution as fact and Bibles are not being allowed into the classroom. Seventy percent of black children are being born out of wedlock with many of the families today of all races fragmented due to adultery and fornication. Calling the act of homosexuality another form of diversity is being forced upon all people.Same sex marriages not far behind it. What do you think? Who's game are we playing? Who's rules are we playing by, God's or Satan's?
If football players today played football like all of the people who say they are Christians in this country, they would be fired immediately. Being a successful athlete requires a love for the game, learning the plays, practicing daily, and knowing the rules setup to play the game.They cannot go out on game day and play anyway they want.
If Christ looked at my Christian life would it make Him want to puke?(Revelations 3:14-21) I. Rick Hepler, have to examine myself to see if ,on the playing field of life, I am living as the light of the world pleasing God by showing His love and mercy. Have I been as the salt of the earth by getting close to people and teaching them the love of God, His plan for our salvation, and also His wrath if we die lost? I am getting in the game. I don't want to wear the name of Christian and look like the world. I want to be Christ like.
Are you a Christian? How do you talk? Is your language salted with profanity? Do you drink alcoholic beverages? Do you do the things of the world and dress like the world? Do you love God with all your heart soul and mind?(Matthew 22:37) If so, is He really first in your life? I am writing this on a Sunday. Did you worship God today? Do you put sports and other forms of recreation and entertainment before God?
My answers to these questions hurt. God loved me so much He gave His Son to die for me so I can have the opportunity of an eternal life with Him.. My decision was: I want in the game. Things are not going to get better if Christians remain on the bench. There are a few that are playing the game for God and battling evil everyday, but they need all Christians working to get off the bench to defeat our opposing enemy, Satan.
What if someone said to you. You don't act like a Christian, I have never seen you on the playing field. Would it upset you?
I wish Christ's prayer in John 17:20-26 would be answered.
I have a favor to ask. I am trying to build the number of people I have reading my blog to 10,000 per month and 7000 per month in book sales. I am making many contacts each day, but I need the help of everyone. Please pass this on to others. I have readers in different countries and also some have purchased my book. If you like reading my blog please send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com.
You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase my book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.
My promise to you is: to get better with my writing skills, and to write stories and books that will encourage you, your children, and grandchildren to desire to grow a faith in God that will help all face the giants of this life and be in heaven with God for an eternity in your next life. As always I appreciate you reading my post and buying my book.
Thank you so much!
Rick
.
On Fridays, game day, all of the football players would wear their jersey to school. I felt so proud being a Fulton County Pilot. We would have a pep rally, and the star players would speak saying what we were going to do to the opponent that night. One of those Fridays, I was feeling important in class with my jersey on and so happy to be a Pilot when a classmate brought me down to size very quickly. My little football player strut was over for that year. She said to me, with a convincing and very confident voice, You don't even play. All you do is sit on the bench. Quickly what little strength I had in me left like the air coming out of a pin pricked balloon. I still remember it to this day and believe it or not as I write this, it is game day.
I still remember her name, but I will keep it to myself. She was right, and I knew it. I didn't add any more to the team than she did being a fan.The only thing the other 3 small players and I would do in practice was warmup exercises before practice and running sprints at the end of practice. What we did in between our exercises drills was look for change that people dropped around the concession stand. You know 25 cents back then would buy more than it does now.
Saying all of this leads me to this. If she had not said those negative statements, in the tone she said it in, I would probably have quit or sat on the bench the other 3 years. I now was determined to play football and get off the bench. One more thing that helped me and was also an humbling experience was our athletic banquet in the Spring. The coach was talking about all the players that actually played. Some got trophies for their dedication and playing ability. I don't even remember my name being called. I made my mind up right then that I was going to play in actual games.I was going to get me a trophy. The next year, I got a trophy for being the most improved player.My senior year I got best lineman. I also played the whole entire game. I played right guard on offense, center for extra points and punts, and middle linebacker on defense.
I go back to this many times. When I want to do something that is hard or I feel inadequate on attempting something, I remember this story from the past. Back then my classmate did not believe I would ever get off the bench. She was right, unless I started believing in myself. Yes, it is hard when you are the only one who believes in you. Many of you know what I am talking about. Many of you have gotten off the bench of life and have made extra ordinary accomplishments in helping people. And some, like me, have had that one triggering event that caused you to decide to give everything you have or quit. There is no in between. You either do it or don't.
I made friends for life playing football. Playing as a team taught me so much about life. Sometimes we try our projects alone when we really need it to be a team project. Every player on the team that wore the Fulton County Pilots whether it was on the jersey or letter jacket ended up Playing in the Game. All of them were a great bunch of guys.
It is the time of the year for baseball playoffs, college football, and NFL football. All sports enthusiast have teams they root for. Many even wear the jerseys of their favorite players. Some of these enthusiast wear jerseys, jackets, or caps of their favorite team. They wear the name but will never get in the game. Only the real players will get in the game, and it is expected of them from the owners, coaches, and especially the fans. The players of the game have spent many hours practicing their craft. They study films of their opponents. They are in top physical shape. They practice over and over the plays until they come natural to them. They are heavily criticized if do not play to their full potential. Their desire is to play in the game no matter the weather or the pain.
Today because of my age, I can only be a fan or a spectator of football, but Christian is one name we all can wear, and we are never to be a spectator. Christians are to play in the game from the day we put on Christ's name until we die.(Revelation 2:10) There is always a play you can run, always a team member to lift up, and the reward for playing is not money nor trophies. The reward is eternal life for you and anyone else you have influenced by playing until the game is over. This game has rules to abide by just like football. One main difference in this game is everyone that plays is a winner, and they can make others winners also.
Acts 11:26 says, And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, NKJV. How did they put on Christ? In Galatians 3:26-27 the Apostle Paul tells the churches of Galatia: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, NKJV. So they put on Christ and they were called by the new name that God was going to call His people as prophesied in Isaiah 62:2, You shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will name, NKJV.
So if we say we are Christians, we wear the name of Christ. By wearing His name we have the responsibility to uphold that name with all the ability God has given us. God has given all of us different abilities in which we can be His servants. We know this by the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man sat on the bench, unlike the ones with two and five talents. The two and five talent men doubled their talents. God called the one talent man a lazy and wicked servant and ordered him to be cast into the outer darkness.
When I was wearing my football jersey that Friday in class, I was really acting like one of the players but was quickly reminded that I had not played in one game. This fact really hurt, but it was a good lesson. If I had not made my mind up to do what it took to be a good player and desired to get it the game, I would have been cut from the team. Instead, because of my determination, I learned how to play 3 positions and added to the team.
If I only wear the name Christian and do not serve my God and fellow man as a Christian, this is what will happen: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in your name?' And I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!
I can't wear the name of Christian and live anyway I please. I must live and act in accordance to God's will. Players of any sport realize they must play by the rules.
I can go to church and sit on a pew and go home thinking that is all I have to do to be a servant of God. I did that at one time, but I realized that I was just sitting on the bench not engaging in the work of a servant of God. If I didn't change, I would have no influence as a Christian and there would be eternal consequences. Also, my children and grandchildren could imitate my Christian life and have the same eternal consequences. This woke me up. I want to get in the game!
Just a few short years ago 78 percent of the people in our country called themselves Christian. Look at the immorality that we have today. Immorality is more popular than morality. Do you think Christians are sitting on the bench and letting Satan's team win? God doesn't like abortion, yet we have had more than 56,000,000 abortion in this country since Row vs Wade. Since the late 60's God has been almost taken out of every aspect of public life. Children are being taught the theory of evolution as fact and Bibles are not being allowed into the classroom. Seventy percent of black children are being born out of wedlock with many of the families today of all races fragmented due to adultery and fornication. Calling the act of homosexuality another form of diversity is being forced upon all people.Same sex marriages not far behind it. What do you think? Who's game are we playing? Who's rules are we playing by, God's or Satan's?
If football players today played football like all of the people who say they are Christians in this country, they would be fired immediately. Being a successful athlete requires a love for the game, learning the plays, practicing daily, and knowing the rules setup to play the game.They cannot go out on game day and play anyway they want.
If Christ looked at my Christian life would it make Him want to puke?(Revelations 3:14-21) I. Rick Hepler, have to examine myself to see if ,on the playing field of life, I am living as the light of the world pleasing God by showing His love and mercy. Have I been as the salt of the earth by getting close to people and teaching them the love of God, His plan for our salvation, and also His wrath if we die lost? I am getting in the game. I don't want to wear the name of Christian and look like the world. I want to be Christ like.
Are you a Christian? How do you talk? Is your language salted with profanity? Do you drink alcoholic beverages? Do you do the things of the world and dress like the world? Do you love God with all your heart soul and mind?(Matthew 22:37) If so, is He really first in your life? I am writing this on a Sunday. Did you worship God today? Do you put sports and other forms of recreation and entertainment before God?
My answers to these questions hurt. God loved me so much He gave His Son to die for me so I can have the opportunity of an eternal life with Him.. My decision was: I want in the game. Things are not going to get better if Christians remain on the bench. There are a few that are playing the game for God and battling evil everyday, but they need all Christians working to get off the bench to defeat our opposing enemy, Satan.
What if someone said to you. You don't act like a Christian, I have never seen you on the playing field. Would it upset you?
I wish Christ's prayer in John 17:20-26 would be answered.
I have a favor to ask. I am trying to build the number of people I have reading my blog to 10,000 per month and 7000 per month in book sales. I am making many contacts each day, but I need the help of everyone. Please pass this on to others. I have readers in different countries and also some have purchased my book. If you like reading my blog please send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com.
You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase my book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.
My promise to you is: to get better with my writing skills, and to write stories and books that will encourage you, your children, and grandchildren to desire to grow a faith in God that will help all face the giants of this life and be in heaven with God for an eternity in your next life. As always I appreciate you reading my post and buying my book.
Thank you so much!
Rick
.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
I Am Coming Out!
I first wrote this article with anger in my words, but I
reconsidered my feelings.We all sin sometime and even have thoughts we
shouldn't have as God's people. As heterosexuals, we have battles every
day in controlling our thoughts and actions in response to our fleshly
desire of sex. Satan has used this lust of the flesh in bringing many
of God's men down. Look at King David. Men you know exactly what I am
talking about. A Christian still has those fleshly desires but has no
right from God to fulfill his sexual appetite outside of marriage. This
falls under the sin of fornication. Men, especially young men, you know
how hard this is in our present culture. The apostle Paul comments on
this in 1 Corinthians 7:1-9. If you can't control this then marry. I
have not found a scripture in the Bible where God is pleased with sex
outside of marriage. This marriage is between a man and a woman.
In the 50's and 60's homosexuals kept their practices under the cloak of darkness. Back then people disobeyed God as they do today, but homosexuality was only committed by a few. Harsh criticism was pronounced upon those who were found to be participating in this sin. So they practiced it "In the Closet". I assume that over the years the pain of keeping silent about homosexuality caused them to do something about it.
I do not know how a homosexual feels. I do not know how being bullied or made fun of feels. I can't imagine the emotional pain some may have experienced telling their families and friends that they were "coming out of the closet". As a Christian I want them to know God loves them just like He loves me. Satan hates both you and me and does not want us to obey God. Satan is going to get us as far away from God as he can. Why? So on judgment day we will both be lost in Hell, the place prepared for Satan and his angels. Everyone on this planet was created in the Image of God. Satan has deceived us into covering up this image with the sins we choose to commit. He knows our weakness in the flesh and uses it to tempt us. Then we choose to partake in whatever it is.
Growing up I never heard a sermon on homosexuality. We only read about Sodom and Gomorrah and that was about it. How could such a small group over the last few years gain the power to change the attitude of our country's view towards homosexuality? What steps did they take to get to the level of acceptance that they have today among heterosexuals? They have replaced their fear in the past with brass confidence. They have gotten homosexuality, which is evil in God's sight, to be called good.
What course of action did it take for them to have this measure of success? You have to give homosexuals credit, they have put the fear in everyone from publicly saying anything bad about gays or lesbians. They now have protection and some states have legalized same sex marriages. Politicians, Hollywood, and the media give praise when prominent sports figures, movie stars, or even politicians "come out of the closet". If anyone makes a critical remark about homosexuals, the media is all over it. The public then demands an apology, some are terminated from their jobs, and businesses are boycotted and even faced with lawsuits. God condemns homosexuality the same as He condemns fornication and adultery. (Leviticus 17:22 and Romans 1:26-32)
How did those who are practicing homosexuality do this? It started with a few having the courage to "come out", then this gave others courage. Homosexuals managed to get in places of leadership. They portrayed themselves as being discriminated against. They seized every opportunity to desensitize and remove the stigma of homosexuality among the general public. They did this by the "coming out" of popular public figures and TV shows promoting gays as just an alternate lifestyle. You can think of other ways. Their strong desire to be accepted and still be able to participate in homosexual practices gave them the courage to rebel against God and even silence some of God's people. Christian, were you silenced by them? Are you going to let homosexuals teach your grandchildren in school that this is an acceptable way of life. When you die and have gone to your eternal home, who will teach them homosexuality is wrong?
Well, I do not know about you but I am tired of it. As of this date, I am "coming out of the closet". Mom and Dad don't pass out yet. Let me finish. I mean I am coming out of the closet as a Christian. NO I AM NOT GAY! I am not embarrassed to be a Christian. If you are my enemy I will love you as Jesus loves you. He loved you enough to die for you. I have been letting God's light shine, you might say, only in a closet. My "salt of the earth" is still in the box in the cabinet. I want to go to heaven and I want every one I know to go there. I want to be like Christ. I want to love like He loves.
I do not want my grandchildren to wonder why granddaddy and other Christians his age let this happen? What will your grandchildren say about you? Most importantly what will Christ say? (Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 10:32;John 12:42)
Evil is Evil and always will be. God cannot lie. He said homosexuality is a sin and it always will be. Christians cannot not be sympathetic or moderate on this. For a Christian to be lukewarm on this issue is just like the church of the Laodiceans. Christ said because they were lukewarm He would spew them out of His mouth.
As Christians we should be Christlike in everything we do.We are to abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) If the world wants to promote evil and call it good, we can all group together and buy food and what we need from those who stand against evil. The big question is how many of us are ready to come out of the closet and be Christians who spread the Gospel to a lost and dying world. We need to be in leadership roles. How are we glorifying our Father in Heaven now? I am coming out and showing Christ to my brothers and sisters in humanity. There may be those who struggle with homosexuality. We can show them and all sinners the love of God through each of us. We must desire to have compassion and unconditional love for them and all people. Remember all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God and without Christ we can never be righteous before God. My "coming out" as a Christian is probably not going to make headlines, ESPN or Fox News, but 25,000,000 coming out will. The sponsors of some of the TV shows that laugh at Christians may have to rethink who they are sponsoring.
Final question. If as Christians we keep doing as we are now, will anything get better morally in our country?
What if 25,000,000 Christians decided "to come out of the closet" and show God's unconditional love for all mankind. Also, these Christians would be hot instead of lukewarm, having a zeal in their heart for obeying God, loving Him, abstaining from any appearance of evil, and live according to the example Christ has given us. They are not going to listen to me, but they will all of you. How about you? If you come out, you will be in a glass house. The world will be watching how we live and will be ready at a moments notice to call us hypocrites if we fail to live as faithful Christians. Read in John 15:18-19 and John 17:14-19 what Christ says about us and the world. Please think about it. Our grandchildren are depending on us.
I need some comments on this one and if you agree send it out everywhere. The cold water challenge was a great deed showing love, support and hopefully a cure for those with a dreaded disease. "The coming out of the closet as a Christian" addresses the spiritual disease we all have, Sin, and Christ is the Cure!
You can comment at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Please go to www.amazon.com to buy my new book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. If you do not have a Kindle you can download on your personal computer.
Thanks, it's good to be back.
Rick Hepler
In the 50's and 60's homosexuals kept their practices under the cloak of darkness. Back then people disobeyed God as they do today, but homosexuality was only committed by a few. Harsh criticism was pronounced upon those who were found to be participating in this sin. So they practiced it "In the Closet". I assume that over the years the pain of keeping silent about homosexuality caused them to do something about it.
I do not know how a homosexual feels. I do not know how being bullied or made fun of feels. I can't imagine the emotional pain some may have experienced telling their families and friends that they were "coming out of the closet". As a Christian I want them to know God loves them just like He loves me. Satan hates both you and me and does not want us to obey God. Satan is going to get us as far away from God as he can. Why? So on judgment day we will both be lost in Hell, the place prepared for Satan and his angels. Everyone on this planet was created in the Image of God. Satan has deceived us into covering up this image with the sins we choose to commit. He knows our weakness in the flesh and uses it to tempt us. Then we choose to partake in whatever it is.
Growing up I never heard a sermon on homosexuality. We only read about Sodom and Gomorrah and that was about it. How could such a small group over the last few years gain the power to change the attitude of our country's view towards homosexuality? What steps did they take to get to the level of acceptance that they have today among heterosexuals? They have replaced their fear in the past with brass confidence. They have gotten homosexuality, which is evil in God's sight, to be called good.
What course of action did it take for them to have this measure of success? You have to give homosexuals credit, they have put the fear in everyone from publicly saying anything bad about gays or lesbians. They now have protection and some states have legalized same sex marriages. Politicians, Hollywood, and the media give praise when prominent sports figures, movie stars, or even politicians "come out of the closet". If anyone makes a critical remark about homosexuals, the media is all over it. The public then demands an apology, some are terminated from their jobs, and businesses are boycotted and even faced with lawsuits. God condemns homosexuality the same as He condemns fornication and adultery. (Leviticus 17:22 and Romans 1:26-32)
How did those who are practicing homosexuality do this? It started with a few having the courage to "come out", then this gave others courage. Homosexuals managed to get in places of leadership. They portrayed themselves as being discriminated against. They seized every opportunity to desensitize and remove the stigma of homosexuality among the general public. They did this by the "coming out" of popular public figures and TV shows promoting gays as just an alternate lifestyle. You can think of other ways. Their strong desire to be accepted and still be able to participate in homosexual practices gave them the courage to rebel against God and even silence some of God's people. Christian, were you silenced by them? Are you going to let homosexuals teach your grandchildren in school that this is an acceptable way of life. When you die and have gone to your eternal home, who will teach them homosexuality is wrong?
Well, I do not know about you but I am tired of it. As of this date, I am "coming out of the closet". Mom and Dad don't pass out yet. Let me finish. I mean I am coming out of the closet as a Christian. NO I AM NOT GAY! I am not embarrassed to be a Christian. If you are my enemy I will love you as Jesus loves you. He loved you enough to die for you. I have been letting God's light shine, you might say, only in a closet. My "salt of the earth" is still in the box in the cabinet. I want to go to heaven and I want every one I know to go there. I want to be like Christ. I want to love like He loves.
I do not want my grandchildren to wonder why granddaddy and other Christians his age let this happen? What will your grandchildren say about you? Most importantly what will Christ say? (Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 10:32;John 12:42)
Evil is Evil and always will be. God cannot lie. He said homosexuality is a sin and it always will be. Christians cannot not be sympathetic or moderate on this. For a Christian to be lukewarm on this issue is just like the church of the Laodiceans. Christ said because they were lukewarm He would spew them out of His mouth.
As Christians we should be Christlike in everything we do.We are to abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) If the world wants to promote evil and call it good, we can all group together and buy food and what we need from those who stand against evil. The big question is how many of us are ready to come out of the closet and be Christians who spread the Gospel to a lost and dying world. We need to be in leadership roles. How are we glorifying our Father in Heaven now? I am coming out and showing Christ to my brothers and sisters in humanity. There may be those who struggle with homosexuality. We can show them and all sinners the love of God through each of us. We must desire to have compassion and unconditional love for them and all people. Remember all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God and without Christ we can never be righteous before God. My "coming out" as a Christian is probably not going to make headlines, ESPN or Fox News, but 25,000,000 coming out will. The sponsors of some of the TV shows that laugh at Christians may have to rethink who they are sponsoring.
Final question. If as Christians we keep doing as we are now, will anything get better morally in our country?
What if 25,000,000 Christians decided "to come out of the closet" and show God's unconditional love for all mankind. Also, these Christians would be hot instead of lukewarm, having a zeal in their heart for obeying God, loving Him, abstaining from any appearance of evil, and live according to the example Christ has given us. They are not going to listen to me, but they will all of you. How about you? If you come out, you will be in a glass house. The world will be watching how we live and will be ready at a moments notice to call us hypocrites if we fail to live as faithful Christians. Read in John 15:18-19 and John 17:14-19 what Christ says about us and the world. Please think about it. Our grandchildren are depending on us.
I need some comments on this one and if you agree send it out everywhere. The cold water challenge was a great deed showing love, support and hopefully a cure for those with a dreaded disease. "The coming out of the closet as a Christian" addresses the spiritual disease we all have, Sin, and Christ is the Cure!
You can comment at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Please go to www.amazon.com to buy my new book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. If you do not have a Kindle you can download on your personal computer.
Thanks, it's good to be back.
Rick Hepler
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