Manny Pacquiao you have demonstrated what bigots and hypocrites some Christians are.

Once again Manny Pacquiao has demonstrated how a lack of education can keep a man in ignorance. Manny you need to watch National Geographics and not cartoons on television. If you did you would know that other species besides man have same sex partners. Manny, Christians pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar,so pay your debt to the people of the Philippines - TAXES! I would never say anything negative about your ability to fight in the ring, but unfortunately that does not qualify you to represent the people in Congress, Senate or as President. The message I think you send to the young people of the Philippines is education does not matter or is not important.'I will be President with a third grade education'.

You may say you're sorry in an attempt not to lose endorsements and votes, but what comes from a man's mouths speaks for his heart. You my friend are a bigot and are misguided in your theology.

 Manny Pacquiao - compared same-sex couples to animals. “It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex?" YES, Manny I have! "Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female,” Manny, read something besides a boxing magazine. "If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals.” Is that another one of your direct quotes from the bible - show me where it says that homosexuals are worse than animals. It also says women and men do not have sex outside of marriage - you know what I mean.

I think your time would be better spent not making disingenuous apologies and seek forgiveness from God.

Manny you said, "God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally
married, only if they are in love with each other.(Manny in case you did not know marriage in biblical time had nothing to do with love, marriages were arranged.) It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old." Manny, did God say it was okay to have sex with others after you went to the altar of matrimony. I have always thought Sodom and Gomorrah was about rape and incest, but I am sure you know more about the bible than I do.

I wrote a blog a few weeks back on should we make idols of celebrities - Manny has demonstrated why we should not!

Put down your rocks!

Many Protestants say that all sin is the same in the sight of God. Others, while they admit that some sins are worse than others, argue that all sins, if not forgiven, bring death to the soul. They imply that Catholics are soft on sin.

Protestants will quote, "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), and "The soul that sins shall die" (Ezek. 18:4), but what about 1 John 5:17, "Not all sin is mortal." Jesus, John and Paul indicated that some sins are greater than others they knew that the Jews taught that sins committed intentionally were more serious.

John 19:11 - Jesus says before Pilate, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." Jesus must have recognized a greater and lesser degree of sin.

1 John 5:17 - “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.”

Some Christians would say that sin is sin, and all are the same.  I do not think the Bible agrees with that. Any kind of unrepentant sin can send one to hell. But the Bible speaks of one kind of sin that God referred to by a different name: It was called an Abomination. The word “abominable” refers to something which is extremely despised. Therefore, there are some things which God hates extremely.

These are some things which are found in Proverbs 6:16-19 that are said to be abominable to the Lord.

  A Proud Look:  “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord “(Prov. 16:5). Pride is an attitude of arrogance, superiority, boastfulness. The wealthy often feel superior to the poor; the educated often feel superior to the uneducated; the strong often feel superior to the weak. The Pharisee displayed an attitude of arrogant superiority toward the publican, Luke 18:9-14. This attitude is still present today when some Christians act “holier-than-thou”.  A Christian must display humility. He or she needs to imitate the humility of Jesus Philippians 2:2-3 and not the superiority of the wicked. Do any of us really display humility all the time?

  2.      A Lying Tongue: “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 12:22). People lie for different reasons. Some auto dealers lie to sell automobiles. Some politicians lie to win an election. Some preachers lie to gain wealth. Some people lie with the intent of keeping peace. But, the Bible states, there is no justification for one to lie to another.  ALL LIARS shall have their part in the lake of fire. Revelation 21:8.  Has any Christian not told a lie?

  3.     Hands That Shed Innocent Blood: “Shedding innocent blood” is a reference to murder. A physician, who is trained to save life and use their medical instruments to kill an innocent unborn baby as a means of birth control is an abomination to God and all those that participate in the procedure are likewise guilty of murder. Anyone who kills, or attempts to kill the righteous is an abomination to God, Deuteronomy 19:10; Isa 59:7, 8. Is an accident that takes a life when the party involved is under the influence of drugs or alcohol included in this? I think it is.

  4.     A Heart That Devises Wickedness: “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,” Proverbs 15:26. Before wickedness is committed, it is planned and plotted. This would include robbery, pornographic movie or magazine, rape, seduction, cheating, fraud, gossip, etc. Have you really never planned anything that you knew would profit you, but would be a disadvantage to others?

        Feet That Are Swift in Running to Mischief: If you have ever done anything for pleasure while knowing that God would not approve this would apply to you. We should all remember to be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger, but how many of us have always done that.

  6.     A False Witness: A false witness is a special kind of liar their lying assists in perverting justice. The false witness distorts the truth. Does it really have to be only in court that bearing false witness is an abomination to God? Most of us deal with dispensing some kind of justice every day, especially if you are a parent. When you remain silent and you know a wrong has been committed, when you support a friend and you know they have wronged another, when you cover up the wrongs of your children is that not also bearing false witness? I tend to believe we have all been bearers of false witness at some time in our lives.

  7.     He or She That Sows Discord: Those who disrupt the unity of God’s people are objects of God’s anger. The unity of God’s people is destroyed by gossips and carrying tales. “Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife”, Proverb 26:20, 21. A whisperer separates chief friends, Proverb 16:28; 17:9. Wow! You are really a good person if you have never gossiped or repeated something to someone that you knew before you said it would not benefit the person you were carrying the tale on.

Who's the biggest sinner? WE HAVE ALL SINNED. We all need to put our stones down and stop acting like hypocrites. It is human nature to look upon the sins and faults of others, while often overlooking our own sins. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he or she is guilty of all.” This is a doctrine that is hardly touched upon in churches today.

 No Christian should claim to be less a sinner than others. There is no teaching in the Bible that says Christians are less sinful than unsaved people. Christians should never reject the sinner because of a perceived sin we think he or she has committed. We ought to love everybody with God's unconditional love, but many in the Christian Churches are rejecting others when it comes to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. I am tired of hearing them say we love the sinner, but not the sin and then close their doors on the sinner. Where do they expect them to go? If they are not welcome in their church then you should take responsibility for sending them to the gay bars.

 If we could ever hate the sin in ourselves as much as we hate the sin in others, we might have a better idea what the Bible is all about. I have no righteousness to offer God, and neither do you. People tend to judge themselves based upon the sins they personally DON'T commit. People who don't commit adultery are quick to condemn others who commit adultery, because that's not their sin. Some Christians who are not homosexual are quick to condemn homosexuals without taking a good look at themselves.

 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortionist, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalted himself shall be abased; and he that humbled himself shall be exalted, “Luke 18:10-14.

We had all better think twice before we decide to throw rocks at other people who sin, denouncing them as evil, and taking delight in their troubles (HIV/AIDS). Our day of reckoning is also coming. So before you look down in disdain upon someone else who you think has sinned, you had better consider your own sins, because the Lord will judge us according to how we judge others.

Can abortion be forgiven?

Some people believe having an abortion is an unforgiveable sin and that is not true.  There is nothing in the Bible that would support that idea.  I suspect that most who teach that abortion is unforgivable are simply trying to scare women into not having an abortion. 

I whole heartily believe abortion is murder.  I believe killing any one is terrible, especially an innocent child.   If abortion is unforgiveable then all types of killing are unforgiveable and no scripture supports that.  Numerous people in the Bible committed murder and were forgiven by God. 

Moses murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:12), David had Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11:14-17) and even Paul went about arresting and killing Christians before he became one of the greatest missionaries the world has ever seen (Acts 8:1-3). Even when it comes to killing children, many Israelite people fell into the sin of sacrificing their children to false idols (Ezekiel 16:21).  Although these sins were deplorable to God they were still forgiven by God.  If God can forgive people like Moses, David, Paul, and the idol-worshipping Israelites, God will also forgive every mother who has had an abortion.   There is grace and forgiveness for all who have had an abortion who sincerely repent.

People have often asked me what about rape and incest?  What about it!  As horrible as it would be to become pregnant as a result of rape or incest, is the murder of a baby the right answer?  Two wrongs do not make a right.  The child who is a result of rape or incest could be given in adoption to a loving family unable to have children on their own or the child could be raised by its mother. Again, the baby is completely innocent and should not be punished for the evil acts of its father.  All life has dignity and value. 

I have also been asked many times what about when the life of the mother is at risk.  This is the most difficult question for me to answer on the issue of abortion. The truth is the issue of the mothers health is the reason behind less than one-tenth of one percent of all abortions done in the world today.  Far more women have an abortion for convenience than women who have an abortion to save their own lives.  

I think we must remember that God is a God of miracles.  He can preserve the life of a mother and a child despite all the medical odds being against it.  But, I believe this question can only be decided between a husband, wife, and God.  Any couple facing this difficult situation should pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) as to what He would have them to do.  I do not think a priest, preacher or any Christian should give advice to a parent facing this dilemma.

Over 95 percent of the abortions performed today involve women who simply do not want to have a baby.  Less than 5 percent of abortions are for the reasons of rape, incest, or the mother's health being at risk. 

For those who have had an abortion, remember that the sin of abortion is no less forgivable than any other sin.  Through faith in Christ, all sins can be forgiven (John 3:16; Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:14).  A woman who has had an abortion, a man who has encouraged an abortion or even a doctor who has performed one can all be forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ.  There is hope for those who have participated in, or who have had an abortion.  If this is you, I encourage you to read Psalm 51 often.  God's unfailing love and compassion will see you through.  We lean on His strength for the future and not our failures from the past.   

The Catholic Catechism Says: “Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which absolution consequently, cannot be granted.” and “The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation....” – CONFUSION.

Monsignor J who is now deceased interpreted that to mean if you have an abortion you go to hell.  He told a young woman who was a diabetic and pregnant she would go to hell and there was no way to change it.  The woman was in the hospital for one month in the early stages of her pregnancy and the doctors advised her to have an abortion immediately.  She refused. 

Before she left the hospital her husband ask her for a divorce and told her he was marrying someone else.  The young woman then changed her mind and had the abortion.  When Monsignor J told the young woman several months later she could never take Holy Communion and she would definitely go to hell she had a mental breakdown. 

I in no way agree with Monsignor J.  I think his sin of telling the woman she could never be forgiven and was going to hell was a greater sin than the woman committed if you could rate sin. The woman unfortunately took the priest words as God’s words.  

Frankly I am confused by the Catechism.  As we have seen in Scripture, God is merciful and full of compassion, even to those who have committed the worst of sins.  On one hand, we are told that abortion is a mortal sin, which needs to be confessed to a priest.  This confession needs to be made in order for the Catholic individual to participate in the eternal life-giving sacrament of the Eucharist.  Then the Catechism places the decree of excommunication on those who have participated in the act of abortion and they are forbidden from receiving this life-giving sacrament.

Now I must make clear that the Catholic Church today says and the early Church Fathers agreed abortion, like all sins, is forgivable; and forgiveness is as close as the nearest confessional.  Unfortunately Monsignor J must have been absent the day when they taught that in the seminary or his disgust for abortion was so great he allowed his law to replace the law of the church and most importantly the law of God.  He may have been as confused as I am. 

I do not believe God has separated out the sin of abortion and withheld His redeeming grace from those who have fallen in this way.  Only God offers eternal life.

I also want to add that I believe the Sacrament of Communion belongs to God and not the Church.  It is a private matter between the person taking Communion and God.  I do not believe any man has the right to deny Communion to anyone unless they are intentionally making a mockery of Communion.  Of course this goes contrary to our Catholic belief.  I would never refuse anyone Holy Communion who was seeking it with reverence.  I did have a responsibility to see that the person giving the Communion was worthy to distribute Communion to the best of my knowledge.

Latter-day Saints believe murder is an unforgivable sin, when it’s done with real intent to take an innocent life, and they believe that to have an abortion is murder and is an unforgiveable sin. 

They tell their member, “In all seriousness you who submit yourselves to an abortion or to an operation that precludes you from safely having additional healthy children are jeopardizing your exaltation and your future membership in the kingdom of God.”  They go on to say, “Church members guilty of being parties to the sin of abortion must be subjected to the disciplinary action of the councils of the Church as circumstances warrant.   Such discipline, which applies to all parties consenting to the evil act, may include excommunication from the Church.”   

Again, I am confused by their teaching is it forgivable or not.  It appears some men in the church can meet and make it forgivable it they choose.  That sounds to me like playing God.

I want to relay to you a message that I read from a young woman.   “Not long after I turned 30-years-old, I met and surrendered my life to the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Creator of the universe.  Many a Sunday I sat on a church pew and bumped elbows with my new friends and family in Christ.  I estimate that during three years I listened to about 150 sermons; and three times I cried and died on the inside as I sat through the well-meaning Sanctity of Life programs.

Condescending tones of voices, shaking of wise heads, wagging righteous fingers, and all manner of good and godly in which ‘abortion’ was spoken of inside of church walls, forced me throw secret shovelfuls of dirty dirt on the pain of my past.  I crammed it deep down into the unmentionable regions of my soul. I thought it was my only option. 

You need to realize that as a young Believer, I did not know that that ugly, horrific piece of my past could be and or should be handed over to Jesus.  About three years into my Christian walk, I praise God that I heard a teaching about freedom and healing through forgiveness.  Finally, someone tore back the curtain just enough for me to see that this Jesus was not only capable, but quite available, and even willing, to set free a sinner such as me. 

Even so, I knew I could not travel this road alone as I sought Christ’s mercy; so, with humility and shame to the utmost, I shared my past, my guilt, and my secret with a couple of women.  These ladies immediately came alongside me with gentle hands, tender hearts, and Truth-edged tongues.  They led me to the very feet of Jesus. Once there, I literally laid flat at the base of the cross as He poured redeeming water over hell’s sin-flames.  God drenched the devil’s fiery lies and set me free.

What I had done may have been unfathomable to most, but it was forgivable by the Jesus of my salvation.” 

God doesn’t pick and choose the forgive-ability of sins; He doesn’t weigh them on a scale and set the ugly, heavy ones aside and refuse to forgive them.