Are there couples that are gay that can be loving and competent parents? I am sure there are, however the best thing for children is a two parent heterosexual married home. What those who do support homosexual marriages, do not understand, is that according to California law family code 297.5, same sex couples ALREADY HAVE the exact same rights as married couples- so the emotional appeal of discrimination of homosexuals does not apply. What the world and society at large is attempting to do, is a smooth calculating removal God's authoritative principle to the given roles of male and females in the covenant of marriage.Man by nature is attempting to implement the dissolving of how SIN fits into the paradigm of sexual activity. Since God has stated in His word what is wrong and right- humans, "leaning to their own understanding", make up their own ideas of right and wrong. For example as Paul states in Rom. 10:13 "For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God". This "deciding" of what is right and "not judging people" and the way they live is a subtle way of redefining the word "marriage". What is really happening is that through the imposition of "gay marriage", gay couples are attempting to remove the stigma of sin and shame that is felt as they engage in an activity that is described as Sin in both the New and Old Testaments of Scripture. Through reasoning and the emotional appeals of political correctness, gays have now gathered the sympathy of a society that had previously viewed them as victims of hatred and discrimination and that now need the rights of being called married. However propositions cannot remove how they feel about themselves and how others feel about them regardless of how many laws are made including the crowning of the title "married" on them.
I personally feel that evil done to anyone because they are gay is wrong and in fact criminal; and I don't think that any believer in Christ should behave in such a way. I also feel that Christ would have reached out to the gay community with the love of God as he did to all. With that said, let us not confuse the issue at hand which is sin. When one engages in the act of homosexual sex or heterosexual sex out of the boundaries of God's ordained covenant of marriage it is in violation of God's law and therefore designated as sin- regardless of yes or no on Prop 8 or any other Prop for that mater. For God says: "woe unto them that call evil good and good evil…" (Isa. 5:20). So attempting to redefine marriage to include: a man and man or a woman and a woman or a man and a dog or a grandmother and a grandson, etc… is as one of the political candidates stated: "putting lipstick on a pig" you can do that if you want- but it's still a pig.



YES ON PROPOSITION 8
By
Pastor Paul Starks

Marriage first of all is a cornerstone to the civility and structure of society as God -and not culture- has defined it. In fact by design, long-term heterosexual monogamous relationships are the healthiest relationships for the continuation of the family and offspring as well as the next generation that will be developed -therefore the government and state has a vested interest in protecting this institution and its designation as well as it's definition including the boundaries as to what it is and what it isn't.

A sad but true clip

Unfortunately a lot of churches are caught up in being everything but church. Listen as Dr. David Wells describes the weakness and softness of the modern church. He accurately describes a church of today that is so compromised that it will act and be anything to get and keep people in the pews
Enjoy

Sermon: "How Close Are You and God?"

Rescued From Foolishness

Here is a video I posted a while back that tells about a movement that is rampant in African American Churches unfortunately. So often people are looking for what they can get from God; so they flock to churches that will tell them how they can get health and wealth. However the Christian life is about sacrifice of yourself -just ask Jesus.

Blogging once more!

Hey everyone! I’m back and I have a lot of catching up to do so lets get started! I have just completed Hebrew this summer so I am back on focus with the re-plant. One of the families I was talking to kinda fell through but that means we have to get back on the job even harder. I am looking for a specific paradigm that I will use with the replant that I think will be helpful in worship and discipleship in which the church can transition through. Anyway the changed format for worship that we tried this Sunday went smooth I think -and I hope- all will enjoy as we move in a different direction and structure.

Rescued from Foolishnes

Jesus Christ himself speaks of the deception of riches in the "Parable of the Sower" and yet so many are fooled by the lure of being rich with a happy life. Although there is nothing wrong with being rich however it is not the primary goal of believers. So many people that are poor are taken advantage of by these so called prosperity pastors and these "bishops". They deceive them by luring them with the idea that: God is calling them to a life of wealth and happiness rather than a life of submission and service to the king. Click on: "Rescued From Foolishness" and listen to this young lady speak about how she escaped the false teaching of a movement that has infiltrated the body of Christ in the African American community and unfortunately reeked havoc in the lives of many misguided people.
Enjoy.

I'm Awoke!

Hey people I do want to give a few more updates later in the month to let everyone know what is going on. I also have a video about the prosperity movement that is sweeping through the Black church like a plague that I will post later this month. Anyway blessings to all and I hope God has been doing great things in your life and I hope you have remained faithful despite many issues you may be facing. Remember: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ..."(Phil. 1:6) I too am confident that God is working out His will and is in control. Continue to pray for the church and our leaders as we march for the kingdom of God and bring in more of the harvest for the glory of Christ and beauty of His holiness -which without it no man shall see God.
Blessings

Oprah's worldview is anything but Godly.

Don't ever be surprised at what you hear and see and as Christians we must be even more vigilant and alert. Oprah ramble off on some kooky new age mumbo jumbo.

Forgive me for I have sinned!

I have violated one of the 10 commandments of blogging: "Thou shall blog and blog often". This is a grave sin in the blogging world. (I think I violated this commandment before) I do apologize that I haven't got a chance to write and let everyone know what is going on- in over a month and a half! So anyway lets get started shall we. Well, the replanting is going fine- believe it or not -we are now beginning to start our first phase of evangelism which I hope will go well. Our new class on Thursday is beginning to settle and take root, however I am hoping that we will have something for the kids on that night while the adults study. A new praise and worship format will be starting on the 4th Sunday in April so I will fill everyone in on that at the next church replant meeting. I do want to emphasize praying. Please remember to pray with your partners and do it often: at least three times a week with your partner and everyday for yourself. Sis. Tabitha mentioned that she does talk to her prayer partner but they don't pray all of the time. Well that's okay as long as you pray at least three times with a week with your partner that is acceptable. I would prefer everyday, but three is fine. To advance the kingdom of Christ we need prayer and lots of it from everyone!
Anyway gotta run....
Blessing,
Pastor Paul
Oh yeah one more thing- I got a new video I will be posting so stay tuned....

New Bible Study Group

Hello folks! Hopefully all is well. We are starting the new study on this Thursday and I hope you are praying for it's sucess. The group is looking forward to learning a lot of the basics of the faith that I think that are important for your growth as believers and disciples of Christ. We're definitely looking forward to picking up new people- so invite your friends and neighbors. And I am hoping that we will learn a lot and have fun in the process. The new materials should be here this week (hopefully today or tomorrow) but if not I will make copies of the first lesson and distribute them to all.
Blessings!
Pastor Paul.

Church Planting and Spiritual Warfare

I though I would let everyone know about an article I posted on spiritual warfare and church planting just click on the Influential Books in the My Library section and scroll down past the books and you will see the article.
Enjoy

The Replant Has Begun! Hooray....

Hey everyone! I haven't been a blogging in a couple of weeks but I am back in full force! We have begun the the church replant and have laid out some of the basic components that we will use in this endeavor! Our key element of course is prayer and we emphasized that at the 9:00 AM replant meeting. Looking forward to all who will participate in this great adventure as we travel with God in building His church!

Bible Study Groups!

A big hello to all! We are back again in the new year with each of the groups. Our groups will meet on Sunday Mornings at the church at 9:30 AM and Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM (Sunday evenings will be changing to Thursdays soon) Tuesdays at 10:30 AM, Wednesdays at 6:30 PM and Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM. No excuse people! Glad to all who came out to the meeting on last Sunday we will be meeting again regarding the scheduling on the replant on February the 3rd. Please remember the assignments I gave to all I will be expecting to receive all of the index cards!
Be good and God Bless.

New Group Has Begun!

Hey, Hey, Hey! Well everyone we want to announce a new bible study group has begun. We had our first study session on Sunday night and it went great! I was glad to see as many people as we had there as we cover the fundamentals of the faith. I am looking forward to great things from this group and we are hoping that it grows and expands as well as the growth and expansion of the members spiritually. Looking forward to this Sunday at 9:00 AM for the meeting on the replanting of the church. We really are looking for great things for the new year so continue to pray and support the effort as we march to expand the kingdom of God for 2008!

Happy New Year to all

Hey to all! I am finally back and blogging again. I hope everyone is well and sorry I haven't blogged in a while- but I have repented and I am back again putting in my two cents! We will be doing a lot of new things this year including the REPLANT! Looking forward to recruiting the team and getting things going with the plant. It is something that is needed and we are looking for great things as we contemporize our church. I'm looking for greater consistency in our attendance people and dedication in our service and commitment for fellowship with each other.
Okay I'll say bye for now
God bless to all!