Book Writing Update

I received a response to my last blog post from Richard Brentlinger. We then entered into a debate and in the process he was linking his web site in my comment section.

His last comment (which I did not allow to be posted) had imbedded links in a sentence and since I did not want my blog to become a place for him to promote his agenda or advertise for his web site I decided not to post his comment.

In his last comment (which I did not post) he brought up old and expected questions which deserve a thorough and Biblical answer. The problem is in order to respond thoroughly I would have to post around 120 pages.

I have found that anything over an equivalency to 4 pages on a Word processing document posted on a blog will not be read. Rarely does anyone spend more than a minute reading this blog. His questions and objections are expected, they’re not new and so I’ll be providing a response in my book.

Speaking of which….

My day begins at 3 a.m.

I get up and begin writing and drinking coffee.

At around 6:30 a.m. I start getting ready for work and I’m on the road at 7 a.m.. On my way to work I listen to sermons on the radio (usually Alistair Begg) on my car stereo or sometimes Christian music to set my mind ready for the day.

At lunch I read my Bible for 30 minutes, take a 30-minute nap and then get back to work.

After work I go to the gym, read for 30 minutes (usually about theology or wine) while on a stationary bike, lift weights for 30-60 minutes, go home, eat dinner and I’m in bed by 8:30 – 9 p.m..

Then my day begins again at 3 a.m.

At this pace I can write about 40 pages (rough draft) a week. I have outlined 21 chapters for my book and I hope to have a rough draft completed by beginning next summer, a final version by the end of summer and it published by October 2010.

At this rate I estimate the book will be around 840 pages but I have more ideas for more chapters in the back of my head so I am sure it will be over 1,000 pages.

Should I publish it as one book? A series of books?

I don’t know.

I am trying to be both scholarly and pastoral, to deal with both the exegetical, apologetical and theological issues as well as the personal and practical issues.

I don’t need any financial assistance due to receiving a rather large inheritance.

However, I do need prayer and I anticipate that I will need some help editing and creating a web site to launch this book.

I also would really appreciate some time in the near future a partner in the ministry who has a similar vision and complimentary gifts, skills and talents. Specifically, I could really use the help of a computer geek who is Macintosh oriented.

I am also thinking through and reading books on the practical, logistical aspects of ministry and how to communicate cross-culturally. In essence, in my mind I am developing “A Theology of Missions to Sub-Cultures.”

Living in Salvador Dali World

Sometimes I feel like I am living in a Salvador Dali painting.

Salvador Dali was a Spanish surrealist who is best known for his odd and yet captivating paintings of distorted and confused images of a world where clocks melt, people and creatures morph and Jesus hovers above it all.

Privately and secretly reading and writing about Gay Theology feels like living in a Salvador Dali world.

I have a passion for studying and writing about theology. I’ve written hundreds of works (under my real name) and whenever I wrote them I read every book from every perspective on the subject I could get my hands on. I have also written a number of works in which I broke new fresh ground on a theological subject or exegesis of a text.

Each time I studied or wrote I was absolutely driven to consume books, articles, papers, and audio lectures and my mind was constantly thinking and meditating on the Scriptures.

I thoroughly enjoy doing this.

Now I have a task ahead of me to which I am driven but do not want to do. My mind is being consumed with this subject and yet it is more like a form of torment than an enthusiastic love or passion for the subject.

For some time now my writing on Gay Theology has been on the back burner but the truth is I was tired of it and have been trying to avoid it. Essentially I am writing an apologetical book for Christians who have same sex attractions so that they may hold on to their faith and live a life of moral integrity rather than being persuaded by the fallacy of Gay Theology in all its various forms. My purpose is to give them answers to Gay Theology arguments as well as hope for their own future so that they may live a life of joy and walk with integrity rather than compromise without buying into the unbiblical methods and teaching of Reparative therapy.

This is not a book I want to write for I would rather spend my mental energy on something more…. (how shall I say it?)… publicly acceptable which I can discuss in the open with my friends as I have all my other works.

This is a book I HAVE to write and will have no peace until it is completed.

Another oddity about my current studies and writing is interacting with all the various authors from the various perspectives.

There are radical Gay Theology proponents that are Marxist liberation and feminist theology proponents. These people will assert so far as to assert that that the apostle John was Jesus’ gay lover and that the apostle Paul was a self-hating closet homosexual. These people tend to dismiss the Bible as having ANY authority for sexual ethics whatsoever for us today

Then there are your standard Higher-Critical Liberal Gay Theology proponents who come out of German rationalism that has infected our seminaries over the past 150 years. These people just assert that we need to “de-mythologize” the Bible, remove its primitive unscientific assertions and then hold on to the kernel of what is left. The very foundation of this line of thinking is flawed as it is based on an unjustifiable epistemology.

Then there are your Historical Revisionists Gay Theology proponents who insist that the church has just read the Bible wrong for 2,000 years on the issue of sexual ethics and that the Bible actually affirms same sex relationships even amongst men who are already married to a woman. John Boswell author of Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality is an example of this line of argument. Their “scholarship” of the argument is shoddy at best.

Then there are Post-Modern Gay Theology proponents who simply insist that while truth may exist, since there are so many opinions on so may different texts we can’t really have any certainty about truth or tell anyone that the Bible prohibits any sort of sex act and therefore we ought to just accept everyone and everything into the church and just let God sort it out later. What is so odd is that while they assert that we can’t be sure of truth, the one thing they are sure that they can’t be sure of truth. This is a self-refuting cycle or reasoning.

There are Hyper-Dispensational Gay Theology proponents who claim to be conservative in their view of the Bible but then go on to dismiss all of the Old Testament as having any normative application for Christian ethics today and then assert that Paul’s statements regarding same sex acts only refer to pederasty, male prostitution or ritualistic cultic sex acts. Rick Brentlinger, author of Gay Christian 101, is an example of this line of thinking. The problem with this line of argument is that you have to actually dismiss 80% of the New Testament which repeatedly quotes the Old Testament law as being applicable to Christians and warns Gentile Christians not to repeat the error of their Old Testament forefathers or return to their former Gentile ways of living. This theology destroys the promises given to Abraham that he would be a father to the Gentiles, that the Old and New Covenant saints are one people of one vine and asserts that Jesus has two brides (a Jewish Old Covenant bride and a Gentile New Covenant church) with two distinctive standards for morality, two distinctive plans for salvation and that Christians can have Jesus as a savior without submitting to Him as Lord and even going so far as to return to their former way of life, deny Christ and yet still be saved. I’m not making this up! Brentlinger’s theology is founded on the heretical antinomian teachings of C.I. Scofield, Charles Ryrie and Zane Hodges whom he cites repeatedly.

There are even (oddly) liberal higher-critical theologians who argue against Gay Theology such as A. J. Gagnon author of The Bible And Homosexual Practice. The problem with his book is buys into also the fallacies of Higher-Critical textual criticism Liberal Gay Theology he denies the Mosaic authorship of the Penteuch, asserts that two people wrote Isaiah and that Paul didn’t write all of the Pauline epistles. If the law didn’t come through Moses then why should we believe what John says about Jesus? (John 1:17) If I were Rick Brentliger and wanted to debate A. J. Gagnon on the issue of homosexuality I would challenge him on his view of the Bible! Yet, and this is very strange, A. J. Gagnon actually has some of the best exegetical insights on the various texts relative to the homosexuality debate. For some time I have had a link to his book but I recently removed it because its foundational flaws regarding the Bible may be more destructive to the church than the homosexual issue itself.

Then there is a long-line of conservative Bible-believing theologians who argue that texts such as Genesis Chapters 18-19, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Timothy 1:9-11 clearly prohibit same sex acts in any context. I find some of these works helpful, but most of them are not very thorough, they only skim the surface of the text, fail to take into consideration the presuppositions of the Gay Theology proponents and they lack ANY pastoral counsel and hope to those who are reading their books and may be struggling with their own sexual identity and desires.

So, this is why I am writing… I’d rather be writing abut something else but this is the burden that is on my heart and a subject that the Lord will not allow me to put aside until have thoroughly exercised it out of my soul in writing – to write a thorugh pastoral apologetical book that provides answers to Gay Theology proponents and offers hope to Christians struggling with their faith and their sexuality.

Being Alone and Growing Older

It seems most of my life these days revolves around just learning to be content being single, making the most of my time when I am alone. You know, the normal stuff like reading, writing, exercising, praying and searching for extra-terrestrial intelligent life…

But learning to be content be being single forever is no small task.

When you are twenty-something a lot of your friends are still single and it is easier to develop a social life but once you hit your late 30’s to 40’s it is tough. Then once you pass 55+ I am sure it gets more difficult as more and more of people in your age group begin to die. Even if you were married, by the time you hit 75 more than likely when your spouse dies you are looking at 10 to 20 years of living alone.

That is the circumstance my mother is in now.

I don’t live near her and she is still mourning the loss of her husband so I am really sorry for her as a widow. Apparently her church doesn’t check up on her much either.

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress…” (James 1:27)

I guess that part of the Bible has been forgotten.

I’ve had a cold from hell the past couple weeks, it started off as a headache, fever, runny nose… and now it is in my lungs and for an asthmatic THAT is not good.

But, I’m still going to work and the gym!

If I feel better soon I plan to drop in on her and see how she is doing. She called me last Saturday and we talked for over an hour. My heart goes out to her but there isn’t much I can do during the week. She needs to move into an assisted living home or a small house (she doesn’t need a acre of land and a 4 bedroom house!) but she has been in the house for over 40 years and doesn’t want to move.

I am hoping to make this holiday special for her by taking the time to decorate the house, get a tree etc. We’re having Thanksgiving dinner at my younger brother’s house which ought to be nice and make things easier on her.

Sometimes I think to myself, “I wonder if I’ll live to be her age? What would life be like with no children, no grandchildren? Will the church ignore me as they do her?”

My future is in the hands of God. and I know He won't forget me.

“I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

Besides, today has enough to be concerned about so there is no sense in worrying about tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34)

No Mo’ Biscuits – A Personal Update

No mo’ biscuits? No mo’ coffee? No mo’ Capn’ Crunch? That sounds like hell to me!

Wait…. That’s the diet I’m on now! AHHHHHHH!!!!!

(Note: The above video has nothing to do with this blog post. I just thought it was funny)

Having posted a couple series on this blog, one on Presuppositions and the other on Overcoming Gay Porn Addiction, I thought I’d update everyone one what has been going on with me personally.

In September I preached and taught for the first time at my church. It was probably the best sermons, as well as one of the most important messages, I have ever delivered. The Lord really blessed the sermon and the response I received during the following weeks from the elders and parents in the church was overwhelming. I was both humbled and blessed that God would use me in such a way. I attempted to post the sermon on this blog but the file is too large.

I have been doing well on my job, in my daily exercise, in my spiritual walk and pursuit of holiness but I am still having a great deal of difficulty handling loneliness.

So, I am still trying to learn to be content in the state that I am in.

I am also wondering and I keep asking God what sort of ministry He wants me to work in and where I should minister.

Should I seek to be a cross-cultural missionary to the Gay Community?

Should I start a parachurch organization that offers a more Biblical alternative to people than what is available through Exodus International (i.e. Reparative Therapy)?

Or should I try to find a church that is looking for someone to start such a ministry within their congregation?

I keep praying and seeking, waiting for the Lord to direct my steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

In the mean time I am resuming working on my book – a Pastoral Response to Gay Theology.

My intent is for this book to provide a through biblical apologetic against Gay Theology and offer hope to those within the church who struggle with SSA as well as equip pastors to minister to those within their church who have SSA and Gay people in their community

I had done all the research and a lot preparation for the book but I put the project on the shelf for a while. My original plan was to have the book completed and published by October 2009.

Now I have resumed writing and I have decided to tackle the subject of Gay Theology from a different angle. I have chosen to deal with the issue in a more pastoral approach rather than just a detailed academic exegetical/apologetical manner.

My primary intended audience will be Christians who have same sex attractions and are tempted to either abandon their faith or be persuaded by Gay Theological arguments.

My secondary intended audience will be pastors who need to know how to respond to Gay Theological arguments and how to best minister to people in their church who have SSA and reach their Gay neighbors for Christ.

My goal is to have this book completed by the Summer of 2010 and published by October 2010. Once that is accomplished I hope to launch a new web site that will also have in depth theological videos, Bible studies and so forth.

The funds for this project have already been provided so all need now is some administrative and technical assistance. So I am hoping the Lord will provide for me a partner in the ministry with some computer skills, preferably someone who is theologically like-minded and lives locally.

If you know anyone like that in the San Francisco Bay Area, let me know!

STRAIGHT To Hell

A “good person” who went to church every Sunday, paid his taxes, etc. and dies without knowing Jesus goes to hell.

A sinner who has stopped getting drunk and dies without knowing Jesus goes soberly to hell.

A sinner who has gotten free from drugs and dies without knowing Jesus goes clean to hell.

A sinner who has gone from gay to heterosexual and dies without knowing Jesus goes straight to hell.

Let’s keep our focus on first things: Everybody needs to know Jesus.

“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Freedom from Porn “Addiction” –Discerning Tastes (Part 6)

Last semester I took a class on analyzing wines both for the positive attributes (aromas of fruit, floral, spice etc.) as well as perceptible flaws due to poor wine making practices, spoilage, or heat damage.

We learned that there can be flaws in the wine that are below the threshold of perception of humans. In other words, the odors and flaws are there but we do not have a sensitive enough nose and palate to detect them.

We also learned that a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times that of a human.

I thought to myself, “If I had a dog’s sense of smell I would be a much better wine critic with more discerning tastes, able to pick up minor nuances and many layers of complexity in wine and food.”

Then I thought about a dog I had when I was growing up name Skip.

He had a backyard to play in, got three walks a day, three meals a day and a fresh bowl of water every day.

But even though his sense of smell was greater than mine he didn’t have a very discerning palate.

Have you ever smelled dog food? Eeeeew!

And he liked to sniff other dog’s butts too!

I remember there were times when my brothers and I would be watching television when all of a sudden from a nearby bathroom we could hear…

“Lap, lap, lap….”

Then someone would yell, “Skip! Don’t drink out of the toilet you stupid dog!”

Even though he had perfectly clean drinking water in his bowl, because he had no discernment, no sensibilities, he drank out of the toilet. Of course that’s isn’t the worst that a dog will do. They’ll eat poop and even their own barf as well.

But when you return to using pornography again, and again and again… even though you went through a cycle of regret, remorse, shame, and self-loathing the last time you did so are you any different? This is what the Scriptures tell us:

“Like a dog that returns to its vomit

Is a fool who repeats his folly.” (Proverbs 26:11)

Are you are better than a dog?

If you are a Christian you can have discernment concerning the things of God and the things of the evil one and the tactics he uses to get you to become a slave to porn.

You have been given fresh living water of eternal life in Jesus Christ. (John 4:14)

So why do you drink out of the toilet?

Why do you return to your own vomit?

Becoming free from Gay Porn is not merely a matter of NOT desiring the wrong things, it is also a matter of desiring the right things – seeking and pursuing the things of God as Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)

Freedom from Porn “Addiction” – Guard Your Heart (Part 5)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Let’s say that you have read my previous posts and have decided to pursue the road of integrity – to become free from porn.

So, what is your strategy?

What is your plan for how you handle the next time you will be tempted to go back to your old habits again?

If you do not have a plan to overcome the attack of the enemy ahead of time you will find yourself unprepared and with your guard down.

You may also want to try some online computer protection software that will screen out, block porn web sites or report to an accountability partner all your internet activity. But, these are not fail-safe devices as it is still possible to get around them in numerous ways. If I had children in my house I would have these on my computer. But I have been free from porn for over 2 years with out it. I self-report to my elders and they on occasion check up on me as to my spiritual and emotional welfare.

My hope is that you are already beginning to form new habits – daily Scripture reading, prayer and a have a good support network being a member of a good local church in submission to elders. I know a lot of pastors and elders out there are very poor shepherds and don’t deal with these sorts of things. So, if your church won’t help the next best thing is some sort of parachurch organization that can hold you accountable.

The most important thing that you can do to remain free is to guard your heart and mind, which also includes guarding your eyes.

This means that not only do you need to avoid blatant pornography but also anything that will “get your motor running” by stirring up the flesh.

This means avoid cruising on the internet for pictures or videos (such as on YouTube) of non-nude photos of cute guys as well, looking at muscle magazines or whatever lights a spark in your flesh that may then ignite into a fire to see pictures that are more revealing.

You also have absolutely NO good reason to be perusing the personal advertisements in the newspapers, craigslist, chat rooms etc.

And don’t lie to yourself saying, “I’m not going to DO anything… I’m just curious and want to look…”

“Just cruising” gets the desires of the heart going, whether you are checking hot cars, hot stereos or hot guys.

But what do you do when you are just minding your own business and you inadvertently seeing something or someone without looking for it?

Let’s face it, we live in a very sexually provocative culture and it isn’t hard to find homoerotic pictures just about anywhere you go. A few weeks ago I went to a local shopping mall to buy new running shoes and an iPod. I had not been to a mall in several years so as I walked from one end to the other I was shocked at how many shopping stores have gigantic pictures of barely dressed hot guys in their windows advertising everything, shorts, sunglasses, whatever. I quickly made my way to the shoe store, then across to the Apple store and headed home. Seeing the pictures in the windows can quickly turn to strolling for hot guys in the mall.

This is why we have to always be on guard, don’t be caught defenseless an unprepared for the attack so that you become a victim like the military personnel at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 or the passengers on the high jacked airplanes on 9-11-01 as Jesus told His disciples:

“Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41)