Sodom and Gomorrah

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The “sins of” Sodom and Gomorrah were stated as adultery, pridefulness, and uncharitableness.

The most (mis)quoted verse in the Bible referring to Sodom is Genesis 19:5 … “and they call unto Lot and say to him, ‘Where [are] the men who have come in unto thee to-night? bring them out unto us, and we know them.’” Many claim this is stating homosexual activities are intended.
The Hebrew word for “know” appears over 900 times in the Hebrew Bible, only 1% (13–14 times) of those references are clearly used as a euphemism for realizing sexual intimacy.

Leviticus has chapters with very detailed lists of what is considered sexual immorality.

Most arguments focus on one, Leviticus 18:22. A short line in a very long list of descriptions of “adultery“. This particular item was “And with a male thou dost not lie as one lieth with a woman“.

Let us not forget what the basic parameter is for “adultery” … Sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse.

The Leviticus lists are about adultery .. ALL FORMS of adultery.

Historically, the term “Sodomite” was used to reference a person who was focused on any and all forms of sexual intercourse, natural or unnatural. (Beastiality, sexual intercourse with animals, is included in this description.)

For those who like to use the ONE item, of the LONG list of items, to argue something that is NOT what this passage is about … stop taking things out of context.

Reading the Bible is not about finding scriptures to use to get your way.

Reading the ENTIRE Story … Reading the ENTIRE Passage … Reading the ENTIRE Focus … This is what we are supposed to do. We are to read what God wants us to learn. NOT just read for personal gain.

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Leviticus Words

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Since soo many people claiming to be “christian” like to mis-quote a verse, I am sharing some passages that should be read.

Leviticus 18:6-20 (GOD is speaking to Moses) (NLT)
6“You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the Lord.
7“Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.
8“Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.
9“Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else’s.
10“Do not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, whether she is your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for this would violate yourself.
11“Do not have sexual relations with your stepsister, the daughter of any of your father’s wives, for she is your sister.
12“Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister, for she is your father’s close relative.
13“Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative.
14“Do not violate your uncle, your father’s brother, by having sexual relations with his wife, for she is your aunt.
15“Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.
16“Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife, for this would violate your brother.
17“Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. And do not take her granddaughter, whether her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives, and this would be a wicked act.
18“While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.
19“Do not have sexual relations with a woman during her period of menstrual impurity.
20“Do not defile yourself by having sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife.

Leviticus 19:9-14 (GOD is speaking to Moses) (NLT)
9“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. 10It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.
11“Do not steal.
“Do not deceive or cheat one another.
12“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.
13“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.
14“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:33-34 (GOD is speaking to Moses) (NLT)
33“Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. 34Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:10 (GOD is speaking to Moses) (NLT)
10“If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death.

NOW, Look at the current US President. Before you join his bandwagon of hatred, think on these things.

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Thought of the day – Greif Scrambles The Brain

Healthy Life, Life Notes, Struggles, Thought, , , ,

Fact: Greif scrabbles the brain.

Unless you have gone through it (and I do not wish it on anyone), you have no clue what a person faces. No, I am not talking about sitting in the dark and crying like most of you arrogantly preach about. Grief changes a person mentally, emotionally, and physically. The brain is scrambled. Circuits are fried. New pathways will have to be made over time. The person you were is not who you become. As I have said before, Grief has no time limit. Those who say otherwise are arrogant know-it-alls.

To all of you dealing with your own form of grief … like picking up broken glass, you may get cuts and scrapes, and it will not be pleasant … but you can put those pieces together into a new masterpiece. God does see the final work, after all, HE created you. He knows what pieces go where and when to put them there.

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My Easter Sunday Thoughts

Bible Study, Charecteristics, Thought, ,

I have been pondering for a few days what it is that I need to share. I made notes a few times with some thoughts. As I start typing, I am still pondering how to bring these thoughts together into this post.

I will start with feet. Yes, with feet.

A couple decades ago, I was part of an Easter program at our church which was a basic reenactment of the Last Supper. Our pastor played the role of Jesus. I played the part of Simon the Zealot. (Check Out This Post Later: “A Zealot Was“) Part of preparation for this event, we, those of us playing the parts of the Disciples and our pastor (who played the role of Jesus), discussed the lives of each of the Disciples. We talked about social norms and practices of the period. We dove into the backgrounds of each of the disciples to better understand the parts we were playing. During the performance, each of us “disciples” would “break out” in a spot lighted monologue … glimpsing into the possible thoughts of each particular disciple.

The Passover meal was (and still is) a major Jewish culture. Each part of the meal involves major symbolisms. The particular part of the meal that the rest of us are loosely “familiar” with, Jesus “replaced” an old with a new. The “New Covenant”. Further detail is … at this time, when a cup of wine was sipped and passed … it was, in essence, a “marriage” proposal. The term “Bride of Christ” comes from this symbolism.

Also, at this time in history, culturally, it was custom for the host of a gathering to wash the feet of the guests. (Keep in mind, dusty (no asphalt) roads, and sandals for shoes.) Jusus was the one to “organize” this particular event. After all his displaces had arrived, Jesus began washing their feet … one foot at a time … He washed all of their feet.

You have heard this told many times I am sure. However, have you had it done to you? As I sat there, in the midst of this set, I knew we were only “reenacting” the event .. however … we were, in fact, reenacting an actual event that really took place. The magnitude of what was happening … and WHOM actually did this was … this was and still is very overwhelming for me. I get emotional when I hear the story told. I am now, as I am remembering … typing it.

I will not expound on the views that the various disciples might have pondered and delt with at this time.

This point in this post, I am tying in something else that is heavy on my mind and heart.

I am not going to make this a political post. I am simply stating that current political leaders and their “supporters” have been making statements about Christ’s example was weak.

God, the eternal power that has created all things … this being without bounds … God not only created us, but … because he loves us so much, came to this world in human form. God, in flesh, lived on earth, and dwelt amongst us. He did not come in on a war horse, dressed in armor, leading an army to take over the world. First of all, he created the world, it is already HIS. Most importantly, GOD, should us the ULTIMATE example of humility. THE CREATOR, humbled Himself to live amongst us.

While on this earth, HE showed LOVE and COMPASSION. He showed Faithfulness and Humility. HE, CHRIST, God In Flesh, allowed mere mortal men to mutilate his body and kill him. HE died. His flesh was destroyed. AND .. AND .. HE Rose From Death. Jesus Christ Over Came Death. He defeated the Devil.

Jesus Christ, God In Flesh, Lived and Died and DEFEATED DEATH!

The way of Christ is FAR from “weak”. Cowards mock what Jesus did.

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