Biblical view on inaugural choice

I found this on the Desiring God blog. Obviously those who don't have the Spirit can't understand the things of the Spirit, but those of us who do claim to and are believers should very much think on this choice by Barack Obama at the inauguration and it should make us angry when choices like these basically slap our God in the face. It should matter a great deal.

How Barack Obama Will Make Christ a Minister of CondemnationJanuary 17, 2009 By: John Piper Category: Commentary
At Barack Obama’s request, tomorrow in the Lincoln Memorial, Gene Robinson, the first openly non-celibate homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church, will deliver the invocation for the inauguration kick-off.
This is tragic not mainly because Obama is willing to hold up the legitimacy of homosexual intercourse, but because he is willing to get behind the church endorsement of sexual intercourse between men.
It is one thing to say: Two men may legally have sex. It is another to say: The Christian church acted acceptably in blessing Robinson’s sex with men.
The implications of this are serious.
It means that Barack Obama is willing, not just to tolerate, but to feature a person and a viewpoint that makes the church a minister of damnation. Again, the tragedy here is not that many people in public life hold views (like atheism) that lead to damnation, but that Obama is making the church the minister of damnation.
The apostle Paul says,
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves , nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
What is Paul saying about things like adultery, greed, stealing, and homosexual practice? As J. I. Packer puts it, “They are ways of sin that, if not repented of and forsaken, will keep people out of God’s kingdom of salvation.” (Christianity Today, January 2003, p. 48).
In other words, to bless people in these sins, instead of offering them forgiveness and deliverance from them, is to minister damnation to them, not salvation.
The gospel, with its forgiveness and deliverance from homosexual practice, offers salvation. Gene Robinson, with his blessing and approval of homosexual practice, offers damnation. And he does it in the name of Christ.
It is as though Obama sought out a church which blessed stealing and adultery, and then chose its most well-known thief and adulterer, and asked him to pray.
One more time: The issue here is not that presidents may need to tolerate things they don’t approve of. The issue is this: In linking the Christian ministry to the approval of homosexual activity, Christ is made a minister of condemnation.

So, I'm sitting here so incredibly thankful of the faithful friends that the Lord has placed in my life. 3 weeks ago a dear friends of mine's mom passed away suddenly and unexpectedly and young. I have been grieving for my friend and her family and specifically for God to show me how to minister to her best, how to give of myself to help her and for her husband to know how to love her the way she needs to be loved right now. Tonight at Bible study was the first time I've seen them since everything happened and they went out of town and God used them to bless me and teach me in a way I've never seen. They are hopeful! They love their Lord more today than they did yesterday. She is grieving, but asking us to pray that God will show her how to grieve in a way that glorifies Him!I honestly think the 2 of them speaking about how God is using this heartache to draw them closer to Himself and to long for him more and to hate sin that much more( because the ultimate reality of sin in our life here is death) is the most beautiful moment I have ever been a part of. I began the day seeking out how I could best be of benefit to them and the Lord used them to teach me and to show me what a faithful believer looks like in the face of anguish and loss. I love them so much and they are such an example to me. Thankyou Jesus for the light you are shining through them and their great encouragement!

Christmas Day 2008

So, I've been thinking a lot lately about those times my parents told me that each year goes by faster than the one before- this year has been the quickest year seemingly of my life. But even more than that I can barely remember the last 5 or so years period, mainly because I hid myself in a hole for many of them due to painful situations off and on. For a really long time I simply survived, that was my mentality, to get through another day and I didn't even realize how incredibly lacking that kind of life was. It took God's Word and intentional friends to show me that I should be enjoying my life. More than that- I should be immensely enjoying Jesus Christ! The life of the believer is not simply some "stick to it" and "deal with it" situational life, but a life of joy and unbridled passion for my Creator and Sustainer who gives and who takes away and who heals what is broken and holds me when all around me is breaking and who disciplines me because He loves me and tears down and rebuilds according to His will and for His glory! My hope and my joy and my satisfaction can only be found in Him and I will never be who I am meant to be unless I am obedient to Him! There is no greater gift for me to dwell on today than that of my precious Lord whose death was not even about me, but was about God being glorified and His will being done and drawing a people to Himself, people who didn't deserve anything but seperation from Him, but in His great and wonderful mercy He demonstrated His love for me that while I was still full of every kind of evil towards Him He gave His life! How can I not praise Him? How can I complain? Why should I be complacent?

Excitement

So... I've lost 8.5 pounds! i know, I still have like a gazillion to go, but am encouraged!

So... it's been awhile.... :)

Well, I've decided to try to start blogging again.... you know, since my life is so incredibly interesting, lol. Not much to report today, worked and am tired now since it's almost 2am. Had a phenomenal day at church today, very encouraging. Am very excited about a project we're getting together to help out some refugees that have been re-located to downtown Louisville from Asia. More about that later. Spent some time reading 1Cor.1-3 tonight. Am praying that the Lord will continue to mold me into who He wants me to be and am laying my dad at His feet. That's it for now.

Yeah!

What a good day! My brother Eli was baptized today! He became a believer a few weeks ago and my dad came and everything. I haven't been in church with my daddy in years. I hadn't been to church in a few weeks with being out of town, sick, and work, so.... it was so refreshing, and encouraging, I went out to eat with everyone from the college group and Kate came too.
oh, and update, the Boxer that I picked up in Michigan attacked my Bibi, so she had to go all the way back to Michigan, how ridiculous.
This week I have reflected on reconciliation, first between God and us, but because of His grace, we can truly reconcile with others, even if they've broken our hearts or acted in ways we never thought possible, it's so beautiful when two people start to rebuild and really forgive, no matter what their relationship. Well, I better head to bed.

Toodles

Yeah, countdown to new doggie!

So, I am officially getting my family a Boxer for Christmas. I am soooo excited and will drive to michigan in a couple weeks to pick her up, and I"ll stop and see my gran and papa while I"m there. It's been an ok week, I'm tired, I just got done with a 32 hour shift this morning and am back at a clients house right now, but I can't really complain because God has given me the ability to work long hours and has provided me with tons of work opportunities, so, my debt should be paid off in the next year and that will be wonderful. Gotta go.

Toodles