There Is No Third Option

 Can you feel it? There is tension in the air, and everything is changing. Life will not return to the way it was. Everyone notices it, though some feel it more strongly than others. Change is happening, and we are at a crossroads. We are at a point where our paths will diverge significantly from the past. Many Christians sense that this Resurrection Celebration will be different from those in the past. For non-believers, this shift appears as uneasiness, anger, and sadly, violence. God is acting, and when our loving Father acts, the universe responds.

So what is God doing? Let’s explore. The universe is in turmoil. Objects coming in from outside our solar system (three already). Conjunctions of planets and stars that haven’t been seen for millennia.  Here on Earth, politics, society, ways of life, and technologies are all rapidly changing. Spiritualism is part of our everyday lives in symbols and rituals. Christians are being murdered (martyred) in Africa. Islam is rising all over. Non-believers call it “The Convergence” (cue ominous music here).  We Christians know it by another name. Births pangs. The End Times. Uh-oh, not another “this is what’s going to happen” post.  Nope, I promise. But I will present you with a different perspective that some may not have considered. 

The Bible says in:

Genesis 1:14, “Then God said,' Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.” (https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Sun-Moon-And-Stars-Before-God)

Daniel 2:21, “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.” (https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Seasons-Changing)

Daniel 12:4 says, “But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

Mark 13:25, ” ...and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken.” (https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/The-End-Of-The-World/type/asv)

Luke 12:56, You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze the present time?” (https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Seasons-Changing)

And finally, Matthew chapters 24-25. God is speaking to us. Are we listening? I’m not sure we are. I hear the words of these scriptures spoken from the pulpits, and I hear the media shouting about the destruction, saying this prophecy is fulfilled or that prophecy is coming to pass. But I am not talking about the “End Times” sensationalism that is rampant throughout the media. It's something deeper, something simpler. The church, I believe, has missed it. Sadly, a lot of Christians have missed it. The Bible says in Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with me is against me.”  Jesus adds in Luke 11:23, "...and whoever does not gather with Me scatters."

Consider this: It's time. God is moving the world around us for us to make a decision. Think of this as our "Sneak Preview" of things to come. God is showing us what the world will look like when the Anti-Christ comes. Jesus is our refuge. He is our hope. He is emphasizing that neutrality is impossible in spiritual matters. There is no middle ground; indifference toward Jesus is considered opposition, and failing to actively participate in His mission results in spiritual scattering. Some might think Jesus’ words are hard and cold.  Some will think, "I need more time." Some will say, "I want more options." There are only two choices. There is no third option. I believe the pressure is only going to increase from here. The choice will always be yours, and so are the consequences. Until next time.

Walk in gudance of the Lord.

G

Some More Thoughts On Prayer

 During my last post, we discussed our prayer life. Its importance and basically how to pray. The more I thought about it and prayed about it, the more I felt drawn to provide additional information to help you formulate your own prayers.

In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus teaches us what our approach to prayer should be. Prayer should be personal, not showing off to the public how spiritual we are. Still pray in public, but don’t make a big deal out of it. Prayer is private when praying in public, pray in your head or softly to yourself. God sees you and rewards you accordingly. Prayers should not be repetitious. Two things to keep in mind here: first, don’t keep saying the same thing over and over again. Telling God you are a sinner fourteen times in the same prayer is not necessary. Second, long-winded and fancy words don’t impress God. Finally, God knows what you need before you ask for it, but He really loves hearing it from you.

In Matthew, we find this, Matthew 6:9–13, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”

This version is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. In Luke 11:2–4 – there is a shorter version that is presented in the context of Jesus praying, after which a disciple asks him to teach them to pray. In each account, Jesus presents this as the foundation for prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is not in the Old Testament; it is a New Testament teaching from Jesus. It is not a rigid formula to be recited, but a model for prayer—a framework for approaching God with reverence, dependence, confession, and trust.

Here are some of the prayers I pray pretty much daily.  Sometimes all of them. Sometimes just one or two of them. This is not to say any of my prayers are better than yours or that God hears my prayers more than yours. These prayers are the words that God has given me over the years to help me articulate what I want and desire in my walk with Him. I offer them, so you might draw some inspiration to craft your own appeals to God.

“Lord, bless the people that can’t do what I do; my work is for them.”

“Lord, I surrender me, my heart, my mind, my body, my soul, my thoughts, words, and emotions. I submit to your will in my life.”

“Lord, I pray to don the full armor of God this day. So that I may stand against the Evil One. So that I may stand against the powers, principalities, the rulers, and forces of darkness, the wickedness in high places, and unclean spirits. And my own sinful nature. I ask in your name, Jesus.”

“Father God, I pray for my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild and their families. I pray for my siblings, nieces, and nephews, my in-laws, and my friends. I pray that you would guide, protect, and direct them. I pray that you would put godly men and women into each of their lives so that they would hear your word and be drawn closer to you.  I ask in your name, Jesus.”

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, maker of the heavens and the earth. By you, through you, and for you all things were created. And I belong to you. You called me out of the darkness, you called me into the light, and you called me to walk with you. And I want to walk with you. I will trust in you with all my heart, and I will not lean upon my own understanding. But in all my ways I will acknowledge you, as you direct my paths. I aspire to lead a quiet life. To work with my hands, to mind my own business. So that I may walk towards those who are on the outside, just as you commanded, lacking nothing. Lord, I pray that you would forgive me my sins. I turn and repent of all the things I have done, said, and thought that grieve You. I also ask forgiveness for those things I have failed to do or say. Restore me to your righteousness so that I may walk in your will, your way. “

Even the Holy Spirit prays for us.  In Romans 8:26, it says, “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Your prayer is to God. It's from you, your heart, your soul. Your prayer is your thanks for what's been done for you; it's about what you want/need, not only for yourself but also for others, too. It is the sorrow and repentance for what you have failed to do. Prayer is the hope you have, knowing you have been forgiven and can move on in your walk with Jesus. Until next time,

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

G

Pray Without Ceasing

  

What's your prayer life like? Is it like, “well, I say amen just loudly as the person next to me when my overseer prays in church on Sunday,” or do you say the same prayer over and over again because that's what you were taught to do? The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians (1 Th 14-18), “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Pray without ceasing? What does that even mean? I'm not a monk or a nun. I don't have time to pray. I can't pray at work; people will think I'm nuts. I'll pray when I really need help. Besides, God said He knows what I want and need. Sound familiar? Is prayer important? Is it necessary? YES! It is an integral part of our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. First, it is the conversation we hold with our loving Lord. God loves to hear from us regularly. The Bible says, ”Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16). Other verses to check out: Hebrews 5:7, 1Timothy 1:2-3. Secondly, prayer is part of your worship to God. In Romans, it is addressed as part of our bodily sacrifice as our reasonable service to God. In the book of Revelation, it says, “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne (Rev 8:3).

Now that we know prayer is important. So, how do I pray? Simple, just talk. Talk to Jesus. Your words aren't important; thankfulness and acknowledgement of God are. You wake up in the morning, “Be with me today, Lord.” Get a promotion at work, “Thank you, Lord.” You sit down for a meal (especially in a restaurant), “Thank you, Lord, for this meal.” There's a whole bunch more on prayer, more than I can get into here. It heals, it strengthens, it helps others. Investigate the power of prayer for yourself. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  Your prayers acknowledge that Jesus is part of your life. As you do this regularly, you will find that your gratitude for Jesus will grow. Soon it will be second nature. Now you are praying without ceasing. Until next time.

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

G

Our Turn

  

Ritual

noun

1. A ceremony in which the actions and wording follow a prescribed form and order.

2. The body of ceremonies or rites used in a place of worship or by an organization.

3. A book of rites or ceremonial forms.

(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.)

Picture this: every Sunday morning, all across the western world, people gather and listen to a person preach, teach, cajole, scream, shame, and manipulate the word of God. The word of God is shredded, processed, and packaged into small bite-sized uncontextualized verbal goo slathered over with music, lights, and, sometimes, fog machines. Congregations, by and large, sit contentedly and will do it all again next Sunday, thinking they're good with God. Sound like your church? Non-believers see the same thing and want nothing to do with it. Is that you?

So why are most churches like this? Some will say that the church is a business, defined by money, personal agendas, power, and fame. All true, in some instances. Now, to be fair, the vast majority of Overseers (Pastors, Priests, Elders, and Deacons) are genuinely sincere about bringing the lost to Jesus. But what changes? What gets twisted, overlooked? There's only one reason the church of today is the way it is...You. Believers are the church, not the Overseer, not the building; it's you and me. This is what many churchgoers want from their church. They want something quick, easy to digest, nothing challenging or convicting, an event they can schedule and move on to the rest of their day. It makes them feel good about themselves. It is a ritual with no thought, no soul-searching, nothing genuine or sincere, and most importantly, no personal life changes.

Many Overseers walk a fine line between getting people in the seats just to hear the word of God and keeping them returning. Hence the compromise. I hasten to add that there is nothing wrong with the music, the lights, or even the fog machines per se, as long as they are subordinate to the word of God! When the ritual becomes the event, in my opinion, it's time to leave, and I did.

So what are we believers and non-believers left with? God wants us to fellowship.

Hebrews 10:24-25 is one of the most direct verses encouraging fellowship:

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Also check out Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:3, Galatians 6:2, and Proverbs 27:17. Our loving Father wants us to gather. It is a vital, transformative practice in our Christian life. Are there churches that are true to the word of God? Yes, there are! But you have to look diligently. You have change your mindset, attitude, and genuinely seek a church and a fellowship that teaches the whole word of God, in context. That means book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Some of you may object to that, tough. Take it up with God. That's how the Bible was written, and that's how it should be taught.

But first and foremost, pray. Pray and find out where God wants you. Pray and ask for forgiveness for your attitude. Pray to go deeper in your walk with Him.

God will meet you wherever you are at, right now, today. We'll get into it next time.

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

G

Timothy The Overseer

The first and second epistles of Timothy provide insight as to what the Lord is looking for in an Overseer (Priest, Pastor, and Elder). Timothy was born in Lystra, a city in Lycaonia (modern-day Turkey). Timothy had a Jewish mother, Eunice, and a Greek father, making him culturally bilingual and able to function comfortably in Jewish and Gentile communities. Both his grandmother, Lois, and mother were devout believers, and Timothy was taught the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).

Timothy first appears in scripture in Acts 16: 1-5. Paul and Silas (Paul's second missionary journey around 50–52 AD) are passing through Lystra, and the church there brought Timothy to Paul's attention. Scripture says he's already a disciple when Paul encounters him and is well spoken of by the brethren of both Lystra and Iconium. To help Timothy gain acceptance among Jewish communities, Paul has him circumcised, despite his Greek heritage, demonstrating cultural sensitivity without compromising doctrine (Acts 16:1–3). Timothy was later ordained by the laying on of hands by the presbytery and Paul, who described him as his “beloved child” and “true son in faith” (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2).

According to Biblehub (https://biblehub.com/topical/t/timothy.html), “Throughout Paul’s ministry, Timothy served as a trusted co-worker, traveling with him to Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. He was sent on important missions, such as encouraging the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:2) and helping manage affairs in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:10–11). His name appears as a co-author in several of Paul’s epistles, including 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon.“ Additionally, both Biblehub and Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Timothy) state that, “After Paul’s release from Roman imprisonment, he left Timothy in Ephesus around AD 64 to oversee the church and combat false teachings. Paul wrote 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy to guide him in leadership, doctrine, and personal conduct. In 2 Timothy, Paul’s final letter, he urges Timothy to remain faithful, endure hardship, and “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), expressing deep affection and concern for his spiritual son. According to tradition, Timothy became the first bishop of Ephesus and was martyred around AD 97 during a pagan festival worshiping the goddess Diana. He was beaten and stoned to death for opposing idolatry.

In 1 Timothy, Paul lays out the foundational truths for an Overseer.
   Teach in Love from a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5)
   Be knowledgeable of scriptures and sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:7)
   Pray for all men (everyone) (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
   Acknowledge that there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2: 5-6) (Only! My emphasis- calling on dead people in prayer to help you is called divination and necromancy- Deuteronomy 18:9–12 provides one of the clearest and most comprehensive prohibitions:
"When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who... practices divination, tells fortunes, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD..." Other scriptures to check out: Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Leviticus 20:27, and 1 Samuel 28.)

Next, Paul lays out the qualifications for being an Overseer,
   Be blameless, a man with one wife (polygamy was common during the 1st century), moral, upright, good behavior, hospitable, and able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2)
   Not a drunkard, violent, greedy, covetous, quarrelsome, but gentle (1 Timothy 3:3)
   Rules over his family (but not as a tyrant) (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
   Not a new Christian (1 Timothy 3:6)
   Have a good testimony (1 Timothy 3:7)

Paul then goes on to lay out the qualifications of a Deacon,
   Reverent, limits alcohol consumption, not a liar, not greedy (1 Timothy 3:8)
   Faithful with a good conscience(1 Timothy 3:9)
   The position is a tested one; they were nominated from within the body of the church and selected when they were judged to be blameless (1 Timothy 3:10)
   Have one wife (1 Timothy 3:12)
   In addition to the man being judged for the position of deacon, his wife and family were also looked at (1 Timothy 3: 11)

Elder is another position mentioned in scripture. Primarily, they were overseers, who oversaw other overseers (the term used in some translations is bishop); however, Paul speaks of them being paid once they reach that position (1 Timothy 5:17-19). So how do you (if you are an overseer) stack up with what the bible says? Christians, how does your pastor, priest, elder, or deacon stack up with what the bible says? All we have to do is look at today's headlines to find that out. So does the Bible address the failures of our Overseers? Sure does (1 Timothy 5:19-20), “19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. “

Until next time.

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

Priests, Preachers, Teachers, Elders, and Evangelists, Oh My! Part 2

 

I did a search for the following questions.


How many clergy believe/teach Jesus is the Son of God?

How many clergy believe/teach the Bible is the literal/inerrant word of God?

How many clergy believe/teach that Jesus led a sinless life?

How many clergy believe/teach that Jesus needed to die for our sins for us to be saved?

How many clergy believe/teach that Jesus will return bodily to rule over an earthly kingdom?


I was surprised at the responses I received, for a couple of reasons. First, when I selected these questions, I believed they would reveal some solid support for core Christian beliefs. Secondly, I was overwhelmed at the diversity and volume of information out there. As such, I have supplied only the websites I queried and some brief comments following each question. I did this for the sake of brevity. But I encourage you to investigate on your own. It's necessary to provide you with clarity on your beliefs.



How many clergy believe/teach Jesus is the Son of God?

According to the Stack Exchange - Christianity (https://christianity.stackexchange.com/) The majority of pastors and priests across Christian traditions teach that Jesus is the Son of God, based on biblical texts and historic Christian orthodoxy. According to the Eric Hyde blog (https://ehyde.wordpress.com/2022/09/27/73-of-american-evangelicals-believe-jesus-is-a-created-being-whats-the-big-deal/), “There are non-trinitarian groups (such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and some Biblical Unitarians) that hold differing views, often emphasizing Jesus as a created being or a divine agent rather than coequal with God the Father. These groups are minorities within global Christianity and represent a small fraction of pastors and priests.”


How many clergy believe/teach the Bible is the literal/ inerrant word of God?

The Theology Think Tank says, (https://theologythinktank.com/is-the-bible-the-literal-word-of-god/) “Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians are more likely to uphold biblical literalism, often teaching that the Bible is the inerrant, literal word of God. This view is common among many Protestant pastors, particularly in denominations like Southern Baptists and certain Pentecostal groups.

The Lonely Pilgrim responds with (https://lonelypilgrim.com/2018/02/18/the-claim-that-catholics-cannot-interpret-scripture-for-themselves/) “Catholic and Orthodox Churches generally do not teach biblical literalism. Instead, they emphasize historical-critical interpretation, recognizing that Scripture contains literal, symbolic, and figurative language. The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is the "word of God" in a theological sense—inspired by God—but not necessarily in a strictly literal, word-for-word sense.”

The Church generally encourages reading Scripture in context, guided by the Magisterium (teaching authority), and warns against using the Bible as a source of scientific or historical fact.

And again like this, (https://lonelypilgrim.com/2018/02/18/the-claim-that-catholics-cannot-interpret-scripture-for-themselves/) “Mainline Protestant denominations (e.g., Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans) often hold a moderate view: they affirm the Bible as divinely inspired and authoritative, but recognize that human authors wrote it, and interpret passages through historical, cultural, and literary context. Other pastors and priests teach the Bible as the literal word of God—especially in conservative evangelical circles—the majority across Catholic, Orthodox, and mainline Protestant traditions do not. The belief in literal inerrancy is not a universal teaching among clergy.”


How many clergy believe/teach that Jesus led a sinless life?

(https://lutherancore.website/2022/05/11/did-jesus-die-for-our-sins/)

Generally, the Church of Christ theology teaches (https://southsidechurchofchrist.com/sermons/yet-without-sin-the-sinless-life-of-christ.html)“While a small number of fringe or non-traditional groups may question aspects of this doctrine, the vast majority of ordained clergy across Christian denominations teach and believe in the sinless life of Jesus as a non-negotiable truth of the Christian faith.”

From Got Questions,(https://www.gotquestions.blog/did-God-sacrifice-Himself.html) “The majority of clergy indicate that this belief is foundational in mainstream Christianity, particularly within Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and traditional Protestantism. The consensus among traditional Christian authorities is that the belief in Jesus dying for our sins is central to Christian faith—though some clergy in progressive circles actively challenge or reframe this teaching.”



How many clergy believe/teach that Jesus will return bodily to rule over an earthly kingdom?

(https://gospelway.com/man/jesus-king-priest.php)

(https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/where-is-the-scriptural-support-that-says-jesus-will-reign-on-earth/) “Generally speaking, the context indicates that this belief—known as premillennialism—is widely held among certain Christian traditions, particularly evangelical, fundamentalist, and dispensationalist groups (Baptists, Adventists, Pentecostals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and some Churches of Christ.) These beliefs are based on interpretations of passages like Revelation 20, Zechariah 14, and Isaiah 9:6–7.”

Before we move on, I'd like to point to a couple of astounding revelations I uncovered in my research. Eric Hyde's Blog cited an article from Christianity Today that stated, “73% of American Evangelicals believe Jesus is a created being—a view considered heretical by historic Christian orthodoxy!”

According to another study, “only 20% of Americans say the Bible is the 'literal word of God," suggesting that only a minority hold this strict view, even among Christian Evangelicals and fundamentalists.” Think about that for a bit.

Next we'll dive into what the bible says about being clergy. The books of Timothy contain the most definitive scriptural instruction for establishing a Christian church and selecting clergy in the bible. Until then,

Walk in the Guidance of the Lord.

G

Priests, Preachers, Teachers, Elders, and Evangelists, Oh My!

 When it comes to spiritual matters, most Americans are followers, not leaders. So who are the individuals that are teaching and preaching to us? Are they more knowledgeable than we are? Are they divinely appointed (Called)? Do they believe in the same things I do? Let's see what the Bible says and compare that to what Priests, Preachers, Teachers, Elders, and Evangelists say about their own beliefs.

For the sake of brevity, for the rest of this thread, I'll use the term “clergy” to define Priests, Preachers, Teachers, Elders, and Evangelists. How many clergy are in America? According to the Harvard Institute for Religion Research (https://hirr.hartfordinternational.edu/), there are “reportedly 600,000 clergy serving in various denominations in the United States. But that figure included retired clergy; chaplains in hospitals, prisons, and the military; denominational executives; and ordained faculty at divinity schools and seminaries. The 600,000 figure did not include independent churches, not tied to a denomination.” Additionally, “There’s no way to know how many there are,” said Jackson Carroll, Williams Professor Emeritus of Religion and Society at Duke Divinity School. In addition, Carroll said that the figures provided by the denominations may not be that accurate. Nevertheless, at present, it is the best figure to use. Next, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, part of the Southern Baptist Convention states the same number at roughly 600,000. While the Department of Labor Statistics claims that only 53,180 Americans are employed as clergy. (There are currently 47,000 Baptist churches in the United States and its territories.) Finally, according to Zippa, a job site (https://www.zippia.com/) There are over 29,944 non-denominational pastors currently employed in the United States.

Here are a few more facts about our clergy. I include them because I believe it's important to understand these folks are a reflection of our society, culture and the times.

• The median age of an American clergy is 57 years old, for the various denominations and 51 years old for non-denominational clergy.

• Most clergy first felt a calling to ministry in their teen or early adult years, more than half (55%) had another career before going into ministry. Roughly one-quarter (26%) remains bivocational, currently holding some other kind of (paid or unpaid) role in addition to working in ministry, usually for non-financial motivations like personal fulfillment or having other outlets for their gifts.

• Most clergy value the education they received at the seminary. More than three-fourths (76%) of clergy have graduated from some form of religious education.

• 12.9% of all clergy are women, while 87.1% are men.

• The most common ethnicity is White (68.3%), followed by Black or African American (11.7%), Hispanic or Latino (9.0%), and Asian (6.6%).

• 16% of all clergy are LGBT.

I know this is dry, but it's necessary because these individuals are the folks Jesus charges or calls to lead us to heaven. Next time, let's look at what they teach and believe. Until then...

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

G