2020 Happy New Year!
I have moved my Blog. you can get a hold of me if you want to know the new address. 

I look forward to connecting. 
Joe

Gay Marriage Part One

From the Huffington Post Posted: 07/21/2011 6:42 pm EDT by Chris Michael 

In Arizona, it has been legal for gay/lesbian couples to get married since late last summer.
As a pastor who does believe marriage is between a man and a woman, I don't have a huge problem with this.

The problem I have is that there is small group of people within the gay/lesbian community that are trying to make a point by forcing people who do not agree with the lifestyle or marriage or both to accept it one way or another. 

I say only a few because I know many gay/lesbian people and they are not about making points, though they do want to be heard, which are two separate things.
We have some "Christian" churches that deal with this topic in a very hateful manner. We have seen them on the news and there have been documentaries created about them. These people that call themselves Christian are filled with so much hate that as a pastor I have to think that there is very little room for God in their hearts. They give all other Christians a bad name because they have the bigger mouths and we as Christians tend to stay silent, which helps the media and others, combine us all into one group. Shame on us.

I truly believe that marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman, and that is my right as a Christian and an American to believe.  Now that does not mean I hate gay/lesbians. 

I do not believe they need to be treated differently. They are humans and Americans as well and have rights as well. I truly believe that most in their community feel the same way about most Christians, they know that all Christians do not hate them and agree that Christians have a right to believe what we do as Americans. 

I am only talking about here in the United States of America. Unfortunately, other countries do not have the blessing we know as Freedom. (Sounds like another topic for the future) 

A small portion of Christians believe hate is the way to treat the gay/lesbian population and some gay/lesbians  feel they have to prove a point by forcing Christians, to do things against their beliefs. My focus will be on the few that are trying to prove a point.

I was honored to attend not one but two same-sex marriages in the past year. The first one was not too long after it was made legal in AZ. It was a small quaint ceremony at the home of the couple. They have been together for over 10 years I believe.  The mom of one got up and shared how she had attended a church in Jackson MS, back in the 60's. That day, there were a crowd of gay and lesbian students from a nearby university outside of the church, wanting to attend the service. Some of the people from the church, would not allow them into the building.  They were not being rude or flaunting anything, they wanted to worship God. When the Pastor got up to speak he stated he could not be apart of something where there was so much hate and He and the assistant pastor resigned and walked out of the church. The mother explained this with tears in her eyes, stating that she was excited and full of joy that her daughter could finally marry her partner. 

The other wedding I attended most recently was a big to do.  This couple went all out to express their excitement for being able to get married after many years of being together. The ceremony was in a church, which I have to admit I was a bit uncomfortable at first. It was a beautiful ceremony, and I have to say the reception was amazing. 

These two sets of couples got married because they loved each other and just wanted to have the same rights with their partners as married couples have, such as Hospital rights, death benefits, etc. They are not trying to prove a point to anyone. They just want to be happy and be with the ones they love. I get that, I understand, again I may not agree with the lifestyle but who am I to judge? Who are we to criticize? Who are we to not like the fact that it is now legal for them to do so (did you vote?)?

There are many verses in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, that speak to how the homosexual lifestyle is wrong and there was so much hate. Jesus came into the picture and things changed.  Hate is not an option. Sin is Sin, from lying to adultery, from stealing to murder. Sin, no matter what it is, is still sin. No one is perfect, and those that claim they are, Ah! They are lying! A sin! LOL 

God Bless 

Your comments and discussions are welcomed, you can do so anonymously. 

Coming up! 

Why is it so important to make a point? Who are you trying to hurt? 

If you truly love each other, why start off by suing people?  is that really love? 

Zombie Apocalypse!

It's good to be back! I look forward to a bit more sharing with you all. 

Last year I went to the Zombie Walk in Downtown Phoenix, after attending a wedding. My wife and I had some time and we figured what the heck let's see what this is all about. WOW. there were some intense costumes. People went all out. We was surprised to see it was actually a family event. the kids were dressed up as well. Zombies were all over the in all shape and sizes.  they even had the Zombie hunters, i think that is what they call them. It was incredible. they had a stage with a DJ. Adult beverage areas, and tons of food.  

There is such a hype right now with Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, and whatever else is out there. Popular T.V shows and Movies. 

I wonder why that is?  Any Thoughts? 

Please share. 

If I am able to go this coming year, you bet i will be there! LOL 

God Bless

Coming Soon!

Gay Marriage Part 1 and 2

Seasons of Change..

Happy 20th...Yes Dear.

20 years ago I married my… ok I am not going to say the “F” word, I would rather use a Bible Verse.

 “It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.” LOL… (Proverbs 21:19, NLT). Can I get an AMEN! I have another one for later. Yes Dear..

I have known Alissa for close to 28 years. Boy does that make us sound old! We were high school Sweethearts. She loves to tell the story that she saw me in the school hallway and told her friend that I was the one she was going to marry. She had not even met me. She also loves to tell everyone that God created her for me because I am 9 months older than her. She loves to tell people how we met, but tends to forget the specific details. We did break up for about 2 years from 87-89, since we were in separate parts of the country. Also that I prayed to God for her to call me while we were our separate ways, and she did. Ultimately we wound up together. Whether you believe it was fate, coincidence, chance, luck, or the one I believe is true, part of God’s plan an purpose, we have been married for 20 years. 

“A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands” (Proverbs 27:15-16, NLT). LOL Look it up, it is in there. Yes Dear…

I would be lying if I said the last 20 years have been without drama. The first 7 were a roller coaster ride, not one of those fun ones either, more like the ones you come off all beat up or ready to throw up. Now before you get mad at me, Alissa would agree with me. It wasn’t because we did not love each other but there were some differences we had not dealt with or had to deal with when we were dating or engaged. Our Beliefs in God were vastly different. It was not fun. But somehow we made it work (God). It would have been easy to break up. But God reminded me that I did not marry her because of our faith but because of love. 

Ultimately, what was supposed to be the “7 Year itch” was a perfect year. A joyous year; a year of release; a year of seeing God at work. That’s right I am talking about 9/2001, it was a year of tragedy for our country and the world, but this was the year and month of breakthrough for Alissa and I, a year of new beginnings. We had built some huge walls and were so used to keeping things bottle up, we had to learn how to have a real relationship again. Have we perfected it? NOT, but we laugh, we cry, we talk loud, we whisper, we talk (I still need to work on actually listening, though, LOL). Yes Dear…
So what the heck or where am I going with this? Good question. Not sure, just started typing. 

20 years ago… I married the love of my life. We are older, wiser, heavier, and produce a lot more gas, yet you can’t pull us apart. She has supported me through thick and thin. Crazy career changes, school, and becoming a Pastor.
She is a great mom, teacher, friend, prayer warrior, and now Dr. and part time Professor, sister, daughter, aunt, daughter-in-law, cousin, well you get the picture. 
Almost forgot, wonderful wife! Yes Dear.. 

Chiqui (Chiquita, Spanish for shorty) I love you and look forward to the next 20. We have a beautiful daughter and someday, many grandchildren, according to Laura, LOL.  

A couple of months ago I was blessed and honored to marry a good friend of mine and her husband. My first wedding gig. It was awesome. The perfect day for the perfect couple. 
Watching them just Giggle and Gleam was a huge blessing for me. 

As I prepped for their wedding, I began to think of Alissa and I’s wedding day, it was hot and sticky and they pulled a dead body out of the river near the reception hall, after we finished taking pictures. But it was the most AMAZING day of my life tied with the birth of my daughter. We sit and watch the video at least once a year to get a good laugh, and get that goose bump feeling as if we were right there in the moment! 

Happy 20th Alissa. I love you!