how sweet it is to be single

Religion

It's something that I've RARELY mention in the 4 yrs that I've had this blog. I don't talk about religion for my own personal reasons. I am a spiritual person and I see no need to impose my beliefs on you. These are mine. And you have yours.

Today will be different. Kinda...

I want to share with you some exerpts from a FUNNY sermon that I heard this past Sunday at my church. The title of the sermon was...HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE SINGLE

One thing that the pastor made clear that is universal...everybody has been or is single. Some have been single...married...then single. Others have been single...married...single...then married again. He tied the sermon to the bible verses, I Corinthians 7:27,28 ,32-35. One thing that I learned from the sermon is that it's ok to be single. Enjoy being single and you'll have no regrets.

HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE SINGLE

1. The ability to serve the Lord without marital FRUSTRATION makes being single sweet. (verses 27 & 28)

"Art thou bound unto a wide? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin (meaning someone who has not been married) marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you."

TRANSLATION

Are you married? Stay married. Are you unmarried? Don't get married. But there's certainly no sin in getting married, whether you're a virgin or not. All I am saying is that when you marry, you take on additional stress in an already stressful time, and I want to spare you if possible

2. The ablilty to serve the Lord without marital OBLIGATIONS makes being single sweet (verses 32-24)

"But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how many he please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in both body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband"

TRANSLATION

I want you to live as free of complications as possible. When you're unmarried, you're free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master. Marriage involves you in all of the nuts and bolts of domestic life and wanting to please your spouse, leading to so many more demands of your attention. The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God.

3. The ability to serve the Lord without marital DISTRACTIONS makes being single sweet (verse 35)

"And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."

TRANSLATION

I'm trying to be helpful and make it as easy as possible for you, not make things harder. All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the Master without a lot of distractions.

So you could avoid FRUSTRATION, OBLIGATION, and DISTRACTIONS by staying single?!!?

Hmm...

Now who wants to get married????

no homo

One of the things that I've always loved about this blog...it's mine! And I can talk about whatever I wanna talk about.

There are 2 subjects that I never talk about...politics and religion. It's not that I can't...I just don't.

Until today.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past week, we've all heard the story about the embattled pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, of the Newbirth Missionary Baptist Church in metro Atlanta. He's the pastor who is being sued by four different men. The lawsuits accuse Long of using his power and influence within the 25,000 member church to lure young male church members into sexual relationships. The suits allege that the relationships, which began when the men were in their teens, lasted over many months. Long took the young men -- all of them teens at the time -- on trips, including to Kenya, according to the suits. Long allegedly paid for their hotel rooms, and gave the young men gifts, including a car, cash and jewelry -- all in exchange for sexual favors such as massaging, masturbation and oral sex. These accusations are even more controversial because Eddie Long, who is married, has preached passionately against homosexuality over the years. Long said that he won't "be tried in the court of public opinion but in a court of law." Well, I'm sure he'd lose in the court of public opinion. Preacher + young men = homosexuality. You can't convince most people otherwise.

I don't know Eddie Long. I've only been to his "megachurch" once. I left the church that day very impressed. I've tried to withhold judgement on this story. I've read all of the lawsuits and I've heard Long give his perspective. They each have their sides of the truth but the REAL truth is somewhere in the middle. I do believe that where there is smoke...there is fire. And there is some smoke here. Long never said he "didn't do it". These young men could have conjured up these stories. Who knows? Nevertheless, it does not look good. I guess we'll all find out in due time.

One of the things that I found interesting is the conversations that were spawned. Some "church folk" scoffed at the notion that you could not have homosexuality in the pulpit. Of course you can! Homosexuality is a part of society just like drugs/sex/alcohol. Eddie Long, like other pastors, is a man. He puts on his pants one leg at a time. He laces his Jordan's one foot at a time. Every man (and woman for that matter) sins. How do we sin? According to the Bible, we all sin in our thoughts, words, and deeds. No man is above that. For all that I know, my pastor could be looking at Ms Parker and her phat booty during the service.

Lastly, pastors like Long denounce homosexuality. Why is it that the church...of ALL places...will alienate gays and lesbians? Is that fair? You may not agree with a person's lifestyle but they should be able to worship without being picked on. Personally, I don't understand why a man would want another man. That's not my style. However, that's their choice. And the church...especially the black church where people should know the feelings of discrimination...should be the last place where people should turn a cold shoulder.

Do yourself a favor...trust GOD. Don't put your trust in man.