Standing for Marriage for The Good of All
A good friend, leader in ministry, and co-laborer in ministry, Andy Comiskey, Executive Director of Desert Stream Ministires has organized a call for prayer and fasting for the sanctity of marriage through the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I am embracing this call, and I am asking others to do so as well. Below you can read Andy Comiskey’s call and reasons behind the fast Please click on the hyper links for more information.
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Calling for 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Marriage • October 17 – November 25
Click here for more information
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8 Reasons to Resist ‘Gay Marriage’
1. ‘Gay marriage’ radically redefines the meaning of marriage.
Marriage is the most basic and arguably the most important building block of civilized society. For thousands of years, society has made marriage the one context in which sexual attraction between a man and woman matures into an enduring, exclusive unit that creates and protects children.
Marriage has always been defined by gender complementarity, or gender unity within difference, and by commitment, a pledge of permanence and fidelity. ‘Gay marriage’ radically alters that definition, and the values that underlie it. To say that the definition of an apple must include the attributes of an orange changes the meaning of an apple. It ceases to be what it was. Similarly, ‘gay marriage’ changes the meaning of marriage as it has always been understood by civilized society.
A wise man said that ‘the corruption of society begins by a failure to call things by their proper names.’ I refuse to ascribe marriage to homosexual unions based on the original and true meaning of marriage. That is why I use quotes to reference the misnomer of ‘gay marriage.’ I urge you to do the same.
2. ‘Gay Marriage’ devalues gender differences in human relating.
‘Gay marriage’ is founded on the premise that gender should no longer matter in sexual relationships. For example, licenses in states which have legalized ‘gay marriage’ have replaced the language of ‘Bride and Groom’ with ‘Partner 1 and Partner 2’.
‘Gay marriage’ removes the centerpiece of marriage: how one gender provokes and balances the opposite gender, creating (besides children) an emotional, spiritual, and sexual whole. Instead, ‘gay marriage’ redefines sexual wholeness as the freedom to desire and wed whomever one wants, regardless of gender. That undermines the inner logic of man for woman, and woman for man, and makes freedom from that logic optional for all.
3. ‘Gay Marriage’ devalues monogamy.
‘Gay marriage’ tweaks the meaning of fidelity. Gay men in particular tend toward tolerating multiple sexual partnerships in the context of a commitment to one partner. A marriage license will not change that tendency.
J. Michael Bailey, Chair of Psychology at Northwestern University and one of the foremost researchers in homosexuality, contends that “regardless of marital laws and policies, gay men will always have more sexual partners than straight people do. Those who are attached will be less monogamous.”
4. ‘Gay Marriage’ is founded on a false understanding of homosexuality.
California’s ‘gay marriage’ decision was founded on a 1948 Court decision (Perez vs. Sharp) to strike down a state ban on interracial marriages. That means today’s Court tends to equate ethnicity with homosexuality. Bad reasoning. Unlike ethnicity, homosexuality is neither genetically-based nor immutable.
Same-sex attraction is a three-fold cord of nature, nurture, and culture, all bound together by one’s moral decisions. The fact is: many choose to change their homosexuality, and find peace and purpose in heterosexual relationships. ‘Gay marriage’ advocates refuse that truth and insist that homosexuality is destiny, which is a false understanding.
5. ‘Gay Marriage’ makes its opponents racists.
Based on #4, those who oppose gay marriage will be seen as bigots. ‘Gay marriage’ validates as normal and good the problematic, complex condition of same-sex attraction; all who choose to view that attraction as a problem not a birthright will inevitably be accorded the same social shame and even legal consequences that racists incur.
6. ‘Gay Marriage’ encourages and increases homosexual behavior.
Over the last 50 years, homosexual behavior has increased due to media advocacy, our culture of divorce, porn, and promiscuity, and the greater economic and emotional independence of women from men. Validating ‘gay marriage’ will further encourage men and women to explore homosexual unions.
Social shame used to inhibit homosexual experimentation; ‘gay marriage’ casts off the last restraint, and increases homosexual behavior in our society. Between 1995 and 2005, lesbian unions in the USA increased 7 times, while male unions doubled.
7. ‘Gay Marriage’ opens the door to other types of ‘marriage.’
In changing the meaning of marriage to include infidelity and gender sameness, ‘gay marriage’ sets a precedent for other types of units, like incest and polygamy. Legal cases involving polygamy now invoke the same legal precedents of gay rights advocates. What seemed unthinkable 10 years ago is now ‘gay marriage’ law. We flinch until we become sensitized, then we flinch no more.
8. ‘Gay Marriage’ unleashes a global legal nightmare.
‘Gay marriage’ will clog the courts with myriad issues. Already, married gay couples are demanding marriage rights wherever they settle, regardless of the current laws of that state or nation. Not to mention the hundreds of cases in the USA alone concerning a host of bewildering issues, like gay divorce and ownership of artificially inseminated offspring.
The profound needs and fragility of soul at the core of same-sex unions will make for messy and consuming court battles—all within an already beleaguered system that has no precedents for the legal Medusa that ‘gay marriage’ has created.
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Pray & Fast with staffs and participants of Desert Stream Ministries and with First Stone Ministries
Saturday October 17 through Wednesday November 25, 2009
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We ask that each one joining us would ‘fast’ something of meaning for these forty days and pray instead.
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Please set aside 30 minutes a day for this effort.
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During the 40-days, we will employ the “Honoring Marriage for the Good of All” daily devotional guide, —available at www.desertstream.org.
Andy Comiskey will also post key battles we are targeting for prayer, and provide a daily podcast.
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For more information contact info@desertstream.org or visit our website at www.desertstream.org.
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Pray with understanding. We can all bow down and ask God to honor His image. And we can grow in our understanding as to why upholding His image in marriage matters for all.
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Restore the broken. Our prayers issue out of a commitment to making every effort possible to provide restoration for those who know they are broken.We can and must give practical helps to those seeking healing for their personal lives and marriages.
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Appeal to the good of reason. One man pledged to one woman helps ensure the well-being of the children they create, while providing a witness of gender order and stability to children in our culture who are not blessed with a Mom and Dad at home.
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Yield to the Lord. Having prayed, offered restoration, and appealed to reason, we surrender to God. We dare not fight this battle in our own mind and strength.We prayerfully join the One who created man and woman in His image, and who wills that all of creation benefit from that image.
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I would like to know if you have made this commitment, you can email me at: stephen@firststone.org
Freedom from Homosexuality!
Ex-gay Leaders Speak Out about FREEDOM from Homosexuality! There is help! There is freedom!
The Coming Out 4 Good YouTube Ex-gay videos have launched, with many more to come! I am very excited for the truth to be told. There is freedom in dying to this self-centered world we live. Jesus has called us to deny ourselves. There are many who are walking in denial of what Christ says, and are embracing deception in a “gay gospel.” They teach God loves you as an indication of approval for their sinful lifestyles. This was prophesied to happen in the last days, people running after teachers to tickle their ears and give them “another gospel” which is one of selfish indulgence. There is no gay gene that we are aware of to date with millions of days spent to prove it! All of this deception of denial about sexual sins only leads to destruction as is written in the Scriptures.
“You can be certain of this, you should be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vices or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]–for he [in effect] is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. You can be sure of this that no one who practices adultery, fornication, homosexuality, prostitution, lying, stealing, reviling, idolatry, covetousness or things like this will have any inheritance in God’s Heaven.” Eph 5:5 (Amp, and modern versions). (click to see 1 Cor. 6:9-11)
I really like what the late Keith Green used to say, praying prayers isn’t what saves you! Everyone prays prayers in every religion, it is loving and adoring Jesus Christ as God and King; surrendering to HIS LORDSHIP, believing in HIS sacrifice that saves us. Truly believing in HIS sacrifice alone and not in ourselves. We surrender ourselves to HIM! This is salvation to have true fellowship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus loves us so much. He gave Himself completely to save us from the penalty of death and hell. The Scripture goes on to tell us the truth about being in denial.
Let no one delude and/or deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for all these sins], you cannot practice these sins and love God, for through these things sinful practices the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience. So do not associate or be sharers with them. For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Eph 5:6-8
It is not how you start a race but how you finish determines IF you win. Let us run the race in such a way as to win!
He who overcomes will receive the crown of life which the Lord promises to those who love and obey Him. James 1:12-13 & Rev. 2:10
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click picture to watch First Stone Ministries Freedom from Sexual Brokenness Video
Left to right: Joseph Thiessen, Laura Leigh Stanlake, and Stephen Black
There is hope for those who desire freedom! Jesus Christ did not die in vain. He died so that we can live a life free now, and to have eternal life. His compassion reaches to the Heavens. God does not desire for anyone to suffer but for all to come to Him in full surrender. He loves us all. He wants us to love Him in return, with our wholeheart and with our whole-life.
A Promise from God to the False Prophets
The morning of March 28, 2009 at WWW.IHOP.ORG
I feel deep grief and brokenness over several people I have known in ministry and served who are now living under a Gospel of Self Indulgence ~ The Gay Gospel. I truly mourn over the coming judgment of those who perpetuate this false gospel, and say, “peace, peace when there is no peace” for then there will be sudden destruction with no remedy.
False Prophets of Hope Denounced: reading from Jeremiah 23:9-15
My heart is crushed within me, all my bones shake; I have become like a drunkard, like one overcome by wine, because of the LORD and because of his holy words.
For the land is full of adulterers;
because of the curse the land mourns,
and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up.
Their course has been evil,
and their might is not right.
Both prophet and priest are ungodly;
even in my house I have found their wickedness, says the LORD.
Therefore their way shall be to them
like slippery paths in the darkness,
into which they shall be driven and fall;
for I will bring disaster upon them
in the year of their punishment, says the LORD.
In the prophets of Samaria I saw a disgusting thing:
they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.
But in the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen a more shocking thing:
they commit adultery and walk in lies;
they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one turns from wickedness;
all of them have become like Sodom to me,
and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets:
“I am going to make them eat wormwood,
and give them poisoned water to drink;
for from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
