Homosexuality is....

It is a perversion...of what God intended.

It is an alienation... from one's identity.

It is a brokeness... of the unity of marriage.

It is an inward bent... toward the love of self.

It is a rebellion... against God's design.

It is rejection... of God's remedy for loneliness.

It is acceptance... of Satan's lies about human nature.

It is submission... to the inner mastery of sin.

It is a delusion...by the world's philosophy of hedonism.

It is an abomination... of what God calls good.

It is in a word...sin.

It can be forgiven.

Those in its clutches can be redeemed, transformed and freed for life.

See the work of Exodus and Harvest to see the evidence.

The PCUSA Endorses Homosexuality Officially

The New York Times has reported that the mainline Presbyterians have officially voted to ordain openly homosexual men and women as pastors, elders and deacons. I saw this coming back in 2004, when I left the PCUSA after spending years debating and defending a biblical view of marriage and morality.

The NY Times stated:
The change approved on Tuesday does not mean that presbyteries must ordain gay candidates — only that they may. The wording leaves the decision open to local presbyteries, according to church officials. It says that governing bodies that consider candidates “shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”

Anybody who knows how church polity works, understands that "may" really means "must" when this new change of law is established de facto as a new biblical interpretation. Those who fought for this change, understand it as a moral mandate, as wierd as it sounds.
The strange irony is that to be "guided by Scripture and the confessions", no longer means for them to see them as authoritative or binding. Allegiance to God's Word revealed in the Holy Scripture was lost long ago. When I realized this a number of years ago, I sought out the PCA. Thankfully, they received me and this lovely bunch of saints I serve, have my profound appreciation.

May 8, 2011 Sunday Morning Sermon

The first in a series on Biblical worship entitled, "The Beauty of Worship". This first part is from 2 Sam. 24:24 where David lays down a biblical principle that is foundational to worship - we should not offer worship that cost us nothing! Click on the title to hear the audio of the sermon. True worship demands that we give God the first, the best and it is never free!

ESL Training at the PCA GA

eslGA

City Council Approves Zoning

We are moving closer to our plan to remodel, renovate and build onto our existing sanctuary. The city council approved the zoning for our church last night. Our session is meeting Thursday to discuss the next steps. Once everything is properly approved, we will bring the whole proposal, nuts and bolts to the congregation. There have been many questions, but we needed to ensure we could actually do something here, before we started on such an ambitious project. In all this our desire is to demonstrate the glory of God and offer to Him that which is pleasing to in His sight, reflecting the beauty of worship and the witness to our community. We do need an attractive place of worship that conveys a sense of welcome, invitation and commitment to worship as our highest priority.

Responding to the Needs after the Storm

I have heard from the MNA Disaster relief network of our denomination and they are meeting right now in Tuscaloosa to provide guidance, support and advice. Volunteers are already pouring in, but there is a need to provide structure and strategy as not to overwhelm the churches capability to resource the work teams.

I have spoken to people at both Trinity and Riverwood PCA churches in Tuscaloosa. They know we will be ready to help in any way we can. Both churches will be receiving donations to help with the cost of their relief work. You can look at the website of Riverwood to see updates on their relief work (www.riverwoodchurch.org) and they also have a facebook page. I am waiting to hear back from the Pruets to hear about the work going on at Trinity. MNA is at Trinity today helping them respond. I am grateful for the tremendous response of these two churches.

There is also the report on the Lee family, a homeschooling family of 13 kids who lived on a farm in Ashville, AL (known as Shoal Creek Valley). Tom Lee, the father of the family was killed as their whole house was demolished. Matt Chancey is there now helping with the family. This family is a member of Briarwood Presbyterian and there is a moving account of what happened told by the oldest son in an interview. It is well worth looking at. (click on the Title of this blog).

Matt Chancey will plan to be with us at church Wednesday night. Chris Gill was there this weekend helping with relief and reported to me of the unbelievable damage, but more importantly the Body of Christ coming to help. Thanks Chris!
Wes and Katie Britt lost their home, but all were unhurt. Two of Katie’s sisters were there as well. So there are reports on property loss, but praise God no one was hurt. Tracey Pangallo is in her final year at Alabama and is well. As you probably know, the University is closed until the Fall. The city’s infrastructure is badly damaged. Even Covenant College in Chattanooga had to close over the weekend, because of water and electrical problems.

For those of you who want to give a financial gift to the effort, you can give to our Tornado Relief fund here at First Presbyterian Church. Our Session will decide on the way it will support the Body of Christ in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, but it will go 100% to this need. Our primary focus will be to partner with other PCA churches so that we can be unified in meeting physical needs and maintain a witness for the Gospel. We are also interested in taking a team to work. Let me know if you can help and if you can work a week or a weekend.

For the glory of Christ an His Crown,
Pastor Todd
P.S. We also had a busy weekend with hosting the cookout for the church officers and families, and hosting a dinner with the Pohls from Ecuador and hearing of their work at church. I think the sign of a healthy church is that a mission is always happening in some form. That is true of us!

Sunday Morning Sermon - May 1, 2011

I've been preaching a series on the Psalms each Communion Sunday. This is Psalm 19, entitled "Sweeter Than Honey." The Word of God is a treasure to be claimed and a taste to be enjoyed. Click on the title to hear the sermon.