Truth - NoT - Trickery

Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Endurance and Gentleness : Random Bible Verse of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:53:00 +0000

"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
Some people...eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, who serve God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness...
godliness...
faith... love... endurance and gentleness.

Fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

1 Timothy 6:10-12

Zach Wahls: : Iowa Gay Rights debate

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:11:00 +0000

He's not even my son yet I am very proud of him and his parents - standing up for equality and speaking his personal truth - God bless the Zach Wahls and all those who break the silence and speak their individual truths as well...
R. Calloway

Heterosexual Sodomy? Homosexual Sodomite? Clarification.

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:29:00 +0000

just one moment of clarity:

hmm... really?

‘Sodomite’ differs from the contemporary idea of ‘homosexual’.

A sodomite was understood as act-defined, rather than as a type of person. Someone who had desires to engage in sodomy, yet did not act upon them, was not a sodomite. Also, persons who engaged in heterosexual sodomy (anal sex) were also sodomites. There are reports of persons being burned to death or beheaded for sodomy with a spouse. Finally, a person who had engaged in sodomy, yet who had repented of his sin and vowed to never do it again, was no longer a sodomite. The gender of one's partner is again not of decisive importance, although some medieval theologians single out same-sex sodomy as the worst type of sexual crime.

From Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=homosexuality)

Stop the Police Brutality and Violence against protesters NOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Dear Readers:
I just signed a petition telling the University of California to protect protesters' First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble, and ban the use of chemical agents and/or physical violence against nonviolent protesters on all University of California campuses.

I hope you do, too. You can find out more information and sign the petition at the link below.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/violence_uc/?r_by=30861-2584097-WnwiEJx&rc=paste2

...and they say this is a free country :/ smh.

Gay = God Accepts You : Christian + Gay = OKAY

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:29:00 +0000

For all those who are seeking
This WILL change your life.
God's Love is chasing after you... He loves you deeply... HE ACCEPTS YOU TRULY Just as YOU are -JUST as He created You!
So don't be afraid to accept Him too.
Warning: This is video from a revival- it's lengthy and 1st from a series I will share - but it is a life changing message, from a powerful man of God. So take some time out and listen to what the man of God has to say... if your mind is alert and your heart is receptive - then after listening your life will NEVER be the same.

"Restoration - 1" from COHSS on Vimeo.

Sick and Twisted: Ecuadorian Lesbian Torture Clinics

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Paola's parents knew they were sending her to a forced-confinement clinic, but they had no idea how awful it would be. Once Paola's mother realized what she'd done, she tried to get her daughter back, but the clinic said no. The process to free Paola took a year. "I spent two years in one such facility and for three months was shackled in handcuffs while guards threw water and urine on me," said Paola, who describes numerous accounts of physical and sexual abuse during her "rehabilitation." "Why is the clinic where I suffered still open?"

Read full Article here: Huffington Post: Why 200 Lesbian Torture Clinics Are Still Operating in Ecuador

Take action! The following is a copy of an email sent to me from AllOUT.org - they are working to stop this senseless torture of lesbians in Equador... you can help them by signing the global petition- every voice counts!

R. Calloway

The world is just waking up to a horrific situation. Right now, hundreds of illegal clinics in Ecuador are holding young women captive to be raped, tortured, starved and beaten by so-called "health care professionals". Why? The clinics claim that lesbians are "sick" and they offer a brutal cure.

While the government of Ecuador made a show of shutting down nearly 30 clinics this summer, our friends there are saying that over 200 still exist across the country -- holding young women against their will. Hundreds of young people are still at risk, but if you and other All Out members raise your voice, we can shut down these clinics for good.

Will you add your name to the global call to shut down the clinics? We'll deliver our demand directly to the Ecuadorian president, as well as the president of the the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights -- and make sure these illegal clinics are shut down once and for all. If President Correa, a leader who's staked his reputation on a series of progressive positions, knows the international community is watching closely, he'll be pushed to act:

www.allout.org/ecuadorclinics

These "cure the gay away" clinics persist all over the world, despite the fact that all major international psychiatric and medical associations have discredited them, and even called them damaging to people's health. Only a few weeks ago, a young woman in Ecuador told the press she was held in one of the facilities for months where she was sexually abused and humiliated, with guards throwing water and urine on her. Thankfully, with the help of her mother, she was freed. But many women have not been able to get out.

Some confused parents are forcing young people to be “quarantined” in these dangerous clinics, but a fact remains: they are illegal. Voters in Ecuador approved a progressive constitution supporting gays rights -- including federal civil unions for same sex couples. The country also has strong laws to punish violence against women. But despite the legal protections on the books, these dangerous clinics are falling through the cracks.

Activists in Ecuador, and their partners at Change.org and Credo have been petitioning the Health Minister to shut down these clinics. But the responsibility to take action also rests with the man Ecuadorian voters elected to uphold the rule of law - President Rafael Correa. Sign this urgent letter to the Ecuadorian president, and we'll deliver it to him with our partners in Ecuador - demanding these illegal clinics are shut down once and for all. President Correa needs to know that international pressure is building right now, and that ignoring this issue won’t make it go away:

www.allout.org/ecuadorclinics

All the best and All Out,

Praise to Jesus - spontaneous worship

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:02:00 +0000

Vox Storytelling slam : Random Verse of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:22:00 +0000

I'm taking a quite unique class this semester called Women and Storytelling: I was required by my professor to go to a story telling event this weekend but I was not required to tell a story. I decided it might be more fun to tell a story - so I did. :) Here's what happened...

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:8

Poetry Vault: Lord God You are my Rock and my Strong Tower

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:53:00 +0000

Lord God,

You are my Rock and my Strong Tower...

Who can kill me without Your permission?

What can any man withhold from me?

No one, there is no one that can match You.

There is nothing Your eye can't see.

No man can stand against You,

No power in heaven or earth is above You my God my Rock my Love my Abba Father and Friend

You God are my God until the very end

You God are my Rock so I will not break or bend

Lord I have not always been faithful

but You oh Lord have never left me.

I can never be perfect,

but You oh Lord still love me.

I had fallen, cursed and forgotten You

but You oh Lord still carried me,

Your mercy still enveloped me,

Your glory is never ending.

Lord God You are my bright and shining star,

my Hero in the 12th hour

my Cooling rain shower.

Lord You are my portion

...so I need no witchcraft or special potion

Just You alone do I need.

You alone do I seek.

You alone are my everything.

You and You alone are the reason why my heartbeats,

My heartbeats,

that heavenly beat

for You.

My God.

My King.

My Everything.

:MetaMorphosis:{Poetry)4-Jesus.

Random Bible Verse of the Day : Hebrews

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:36:00 +0000

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

Religious Oppression in America - When Politics and Religion Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:33:00 +0000

“The past does not repeat itself,

but it rhymes.” - Mark Twain

As the human race progresses we don’t often repeat the same mistakes, however as history proves, we do often stick to the same tune. The United States has a rich history of oppression and prejudice. Our society has managed to wage war against those who are different, starting first with the African American, Jewish and Irish communities and now moving on to the LGBT community. Fueled by ‘group think’ and prejudice this oppressive tune has carried on for centuries and is still present today.

Religious leaders misusing the Bible to justify their hatred of other men, has been the backbone of the prejudice and oppression in the United States for centuries. Justification of oppression was preached by religious leaders such as Reverend Thornton Stringfellow, a Virginia baptist minister , who in 1856 published a sermon titled: “A Scriptural View of Slavery,” proclaiming from the pulpit that God Himself had sanctioned slavery through Noah, Abraham, and Joseph. Reverend Thornton Stringfellow whole heartedly maintained the argument that the biblical record was unambiguous, and that his interpretation was the only sound one.

“Reverend Fr. Charles E. Coughlin was an Irish Catholic priest, vocal anti-communist, and one of the first clergymen to ever use media broadcasting as a political tool. In the 1930’s radio audiences all over the country heard Reverend Coughlin rail against the threat of Jews in America’s economy and defend Hitler’s treatment of Jews as justified in the fight against communism (Jim Hill and Rand Cheadle, The Bible Tells Me So)."

The use of religion as a political tool to justify the oppression of any group people is always wrong. Unfortunately, this pattern of oppression in the United States still continues. In today’s America you will often hear ministers and religious leaders using the Bible to justify their outrageously bigoted viewpoints on homosexuality. The presence of religious influence in public office is not only contrary to the spirit of the constitution but it is also a grave injustice to the very people our constitution was created to protect... the minority.

The United States is a country that was founded on the principles of Majority Rule/Minority Right and the separation of church and state. Yet, we far too often find that the personal religious beliefs of elected government officials are not only influencing them personally, also influencing them to politically discriminate. This political discrimination against the average LGBT individual, our civil laws and public policy is simply unjust and not inline with the spirit of the constitution.

This prejudice that exists in the hearts of politicians can be clearly seen around election time when the nationally debated topic of gay marriage surfaces. more often than not US political debates and statements end in a politician citing his or her religious affiliations as the sole reason for discriminating against the homosexual individual’s civil rights. The United States Constitution intelligently protects minority rights, including a Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights states that all American citizens are created equally and given certain rights. Those rights include: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In today’s America the homosexual individual is often

robbed of their ‘pursuit of happiness’,

robbed of her liberty...

robbed of his life.

“Recent data has found that denying LGBT people equal access to the institution of marriage, protection from employment discrimination, and other civil rights and family benefits may be contributing to higher poverty rates in the LGBT community than in the general population overall (Quintana, Nico - Center for American Progress).”

We pay taxes and our country turns it’s back on us,

they charge our families a higher tax rate by refusing to recognize our civil marriages. They rob our grieving and bereaved by not allowing us access to the federal estate tax exemptions that heterosexual married couples are entitled to. The US Government now allows our men and women to fight but does not give their partners or families their proper rights, the same rights heterosexual married couples receive. I wonder where the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is for the homosexual in today’s America?

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions about life and marriage and God- but those opinions shouldn’t reflect the way we run our country, or the rights our citizens receive. I dream of a day where ‘all created equal’ actually means that...

I wonder when the world will finally understand that discrimination is oppression.

Be blessed and a blessing...

R. Calloway

Poetry Vault -- Set Me Free.

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:46:00 +0000

Set me Free.

and Let me

me.

Allow me

To finally

See

everything.

Free me,

Unleash me

Teach me

Help me

...fulfill my destiny.

Unlock me...

Take me...

Shape me...

Remake me:

- Fill me

Reveal me

...so that all might see

You shining through me.

Undo me

N- show me

the true me.

Help me....

because I cover the lonely

I need You to show me-

where this place of peace is hiding...

I’ll follow You...

We’ll take the road You choose

as long as it’s me You use.

Take what was mine and make it Devine

Help me to find

that Peace of mind.

And I’ll take what You pick -n- choose-

I’ll move just how You say to-

And each day I’ll get on my knees and pray to...

You... Lord and only You.

<----MeteMorPhosis-

Let Go Let GOD

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:46:00 +0000

A friend emailed this to me,
I felt it worth sharing.
Be blessed and a blessing,
R. Calloway

I let go of concern and let God be God in my life.
Sometimes life events lead to anxiety and worry. When I feel anxious, I take a moment to remember I am not alone. Whether I have a difficult decision to make, a challenge that seems overwhelming, or even a small matter that confuses me, I can take any issue into prayer.

Spirit works in unknowable ways. So in prayer, I let go of trying to control every outcome. I release my need to micromanage every detail. I gratefully acknowledge that all is working for good. I listen for guidance and prayerfully give thanks as I receive it. Releasing my concerns,
I let God be God in my life,
and then I do what is mine to do.

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. --Psalm 128:2

www.dailyword.com

The Poetry Vault: Love n Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Mon, 30 May 2011 01:46:00 +0000

Love is not something to do

But a place you commit to
A space where you
   have to
  s u r p a s s "you"
and transcend through-
...all the words
...all the drama
   ....all that noise
forgetting all those who make advances
and betting only on your chances
with THAT one
   who dances
to the beat of the same DRuM...
   you do.

--metamorphosis--

Bigotry in the Bible belt: Tennessee's 2 steps back : What would Jesus Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:00:00 +0000

There appears to be a great divide taking place in the world today. On one-side, forward thinking people who walk in love by respecting other people's differences - and on the other people acting in hate and often using religion as justification ...but before I really begin allow me to fill you in:

NEWS from Advocate.com

"Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (pictured below) has signed an underhanded new law making it impossible for cities and counties to enact antidiscrimination ordinances — quite possibly the harshest antigay measure in nearly two decades."

"The new law, signed by Republican governor Bill Haslam on Monday, immediately reversed a new Nashville ordinance that required that businesses the city contracts with function as equal opportunity employers who don’t discriminate against LGBT people. But the state law went even further than voiding that ordinance — it made it impossible for Tennessee cities and counties to enact any antidiscrimination ordinances in the future. Since Tennessee offers no protections for LGBT people and the Republican-controlled legislature makes it highly unlikely that such protections would pass statewide, Tennessee’s gay, lesbian, and transgender citizens can be drummed out of work and kicked out of their apartments with little to no recourse — something that was a possibility before, but now a situation that is unlikely to change for years to come.

The wording of the actual legislation takes away the ability of any Tennessee municipality to impose discrimination restrictions on any private business or employer, in effect taking away and preventing protections for Tennessee gays in not just employment but housing, public accommodations, and services (though cities or counties can still protect their own government employees from being fired for their orientation or gender identity, as Nashville did in 2009)." To read the FULL STORY, click here.

For all all those in the 'Bible belt'- who believe discriminating against LGBT people is "Christ-like" -- I think Christ, a forward thinking loving being- already disagreed for He said:

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." - Luke 6.32-36

So if you were really a CHRISTian you would fight for LGBT rights not war against them. For if you truly loved LGBT people as Christ asked you to then you'd want them to have the same rights as everyone else. True Christians must stand up and fight for the rights of the disenfranchised and mistreated- we must fight for the freedom of ALL people for it is the work Christ started at the cross and the work we are called by God to continue.

Be blessed and a blessing people,

R. Calloway

The Truth Factory: Who wrote the Bible God or humans?

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Tue, 10 May 2011 04:11:00 +0000

"The freedom to love urges us to love freedom" -Rebekah Calloway - worth a thousand words

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:47:00 +0000

Homosexuality and Science ::: "Sexuality is a gift from God" -Representative Steve Simon video response to proposed Minnesota amendment.

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:18:00 +0000

"How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves if he wants them around?" - Representative Steve Simon

Excerpt from :www.guardian.co.uk

"US researchers are finding common biological traits among gay men, feeding a growing consensus that sexual orientation is an inborn combination of genetic and environmental factors that largely decide a person's sexual attractions before they are born.

"In the past decade, I think the pendulum has swung more toward biological theory and biological causes," said Richard Lippa, a psychology professor at California State University-Fullerton, who has studied hair patterns and other biological traits in gay men.

Sven Bocklandt, a geneticist at the David Geffen school of medicine at UCLA, is bewildered by the argument that people choose their sexual attraction. He said that virtually every animal species that has been studied - from sheep to fruit flies - has a small minority of individuals who demonstrate homosexual activity." - Read more research evidence about homosexuality and genetics by clicking here

April 15, 2011 my last Day of Silence - No more Silence Video - It's time to end Anti-Gay Hate Crimes, oppression and bigotry!

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:49:00 +0000

April 15, 2011 marks the 15th anniversary of the Day of Silence- and the only questions I pose are what has silence ever done? What has become of this movement? What has been accomplished by laying our voices down? What would Harvey Milk have occomplished if he not open his mouth and fight?!

No! NO! NO!
I SAY NO MORE SILENCE!

Today I am participating in the Day of Silence to stand in solidarity with my fellow LGBT activists - but today is it- today is the LAST day I WILL BE SILENT. I propose that we all end the silence! Stand up for your rights! You have to open your mouth and fight with your words - fight oppression with compassion but let those oppressors know that YOU will no longer stand by the wayside and be quietly complacent – YOU will no longer be silent! You will no longer allow your rights to be infringed upon and YOU will come out of your closet and join the fight for equality! The time for silence is over people... it's time to fight!

R.Calloway

I am a face of that 26%

Our Random Bible Verse of the Day : John 15.16

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:38:00 +0000

John 15:16

(Amplified Bible)

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.

::Poetry Vault:: Fresh Apples Rotting Risky Love - "Hey kid there's only one life to live,  take the risk and love..."

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:22:00 +0000

March 24, 2006 • Friday // Revised March 29, 2011

"Hey kid there's only one life to live,
take the risk and love..."

These words f l o w e d through my being for years and years without meaning...

The old man who stood on the corner of Elm street and sold apples, always smelled like old spice. He spoke those words directly into my life one day... his wisdom simple, yet memorable. I remember the smell of apples and cologne seeping from his skin... That day, the air was sticky and the old man was hard at work, like he always was. There was an ever-present sense of goodness about him, I used to tell him that he reminded me of Mr.Roger from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, a television show I often watched as a child. But during the summers I'd sit for hours with with the old man, working for him picking and selling apples. He was always hard at work albeit he never seemed like he needed the money. The old man always carried a weathered brown leather wallet full of money. He lived in a great big cream colored mansion in the center of town. The gentle old soul would always take me out to dinner or ice-cream after a long day of selling apples on the street corner. We never made much money selling them though because the old man nearly gave them away- selling them for much less than their worth. He was known to often give them away to the neighborhood children and the working men that passed by. During our nights out he would tell tails of the adventures his youth afforded him- he would speak the stories of his life, with a deeply nostalgic look in his eyes. Imparting unto me the wisdom of his years- lessons that lingered...

as the years passed.

But all too soon grew too old and wise for the old man, I was far too big for my britches and my 'wisdom' led me to believe there were things better and bigger than, "That old man, this town and crusty old Elm street."

Many days had passed since those of apple picking and story telling. I moved on to university but always kept in contact with the old man, I'd often receive boxes full of apples and apple sauce -the tangible reminders of where I'd been, where I came from and the Elm Street I'd left behind.

One day I received an especially heavy package containing a crate of apples, three bottles of apple sauce, an envelope with a letter, a newspaper clipping and one other envelope filled to capacity with crisp $100 bills. As I unfolded the newspaper clipping the joy of the surprise suddenly slipped away....a tear began forming in my right eye as I read the headline - "Sweet Ol'Joe has passed away."

The article spoke of his life, how he'd grown up in town, born into a wealthy family and how he always tried to give back to our community.

I couldn't control the tears as they began uncontrollably pouring out of my eyes. I tried to pull myself together, put the newspaper down and picked up the second envelope....

Unfolded the letter and read:

"Hey kid, I suppose if you're reading this then the cancer got the best of me, but hey don't worry we'll sit at heavens' gate and give apples to the saints one day! But seriously kid -I gave you the best of me, I taught you everything I know, about how things grow... the seasons that come and go-- the good and the bad the world isn't all good you know?

Sometimes it’s harder than you think you can deal with but kid there's only one life to live, so just remember to take the risk and love.

Ps. I’m leaving you some money, it’s not too much so don't spend it all in one place.

Love Old Joe-"

I read and re-read the last line of the letter aloud over and over and over again. These words were very familiar to me, he said them nearly everyday I was with him even if his story had nothing to with love he would always say, "Kid there's only one life to live, take the risk and love." My father later told me that old Joe once had a wife and son but they died the winter Joe was away fighting in the war. I asked the old man a few times about them, but he'd always change the subject saying something like, "Apple season is almost over kid, soon we'll have to plant seeds." Later he would say something like, "There's are a lot of unfortunate things that happen in life, but still you only get one life to live so take the risk and love"

take the risk and love...

take the risk and love...

t a k e t h e r i s k . . .

so I did.

I think the old man would be proud.

-MetaMorphosis- the poet.

Our Random Bible Verse of the Day:: STAND...with the FULL Armor of GOD --STAND when you've done all you can --STAND when you just feel like giving up hope....simply STaND!

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 03:10:00 +0000

Ephesians 6:13 (King James Version)

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, stand.

Gay dating + Christian dating = RainbowChristians.com - a Gay Christian Dating Site

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Dan Adams, Reporter from News10.net, interviews the founder of RainbowChristians.com, a dating and matchmaking service for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and transsexual Christians.

Our Random Bible Verse of the Day::: || Ephesians 2:8-10 ||He saw the best in me... when everyone else around could only see the worst in me.

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 02:21:00 +0000

"He’s mine, and I am His
It doesn’t matter what I did
He only sees me, for who I am.... "

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT

Psalms 136, Pharaoh's Army and Chariot wheels at the bottom of the Red Sea in the 20th century

noreply@blogger.com (Truth-Not-Trickery) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:35:00 +0000

Growing up in Christian school I’d heard the story of God leading the Israelites out of Egypt more than your average kid to say the least. I’d always known about Pharaoh's Army drowning in the Red Sea and even reenacted the story several times in skits and plays. I’d heard my Pastors preach many sermons, my teachers explain in great detail and even sang songs in church glorifying the event. But it was never as real to me then as it is now...

The other day while reading Psalms 136 I was listening to a song in which the lyrics sang, “...cause Pharaoh’s army don’t yah know God drown them in the Red Sea!”

I am a naturally inquisitive person - I wonder not due to lack of faith but just because I am a curious person. I wonder what other people must think about this story, people who say things like “There is no such thing as God...” or “ I don’t believe in the Bible” I wonder if they think it’s just a made up story...

These thoughts bring me to google images- I type in two words: ‘Red Sea’

and I soon see pictures of a long narrow sea dividing a strip of land. Internally a battle begins- I wonder if its really that deep or if the Israelites just waded across seeking safety on the other side. But just as instantly as the thought crosses my mind- I see images of people deep sea diving in the Red Sea. I see pictures of sunken boats... assuming the mindset of a Biblical critic I think again, ‘If all this really happened and its not just a story then there would still be pieces left...evidence of an entire Army doesn’t just disappear’

But just as quickly as this thought crosses my mind I see an image of what looks like a golden wheel- I click it and see a story from the 1970’s about how a diver found the remains of chariot's and chariot wheels. And how the Egyptian government took a wheel he brought up from undersea - authenticated it- stating it dated from the 1400B.C. era and then made it illegal to recover any more items from the underwater area. (read more about this discovery here)

Mineralized bone, one of many found at the under water
crossing site

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.

His love is eternal.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

For to the age is His kindness.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords.

His lovingkindness endures forever.

He alone does great wonders.

His mercy endures forever.

He made the heavens skillfully.

His love continues forever.

He spread the land on the waters.

His steadfast love endures forever.

He made the great lights:

His faithful love endures forever.

He made the sun to rule by day,

His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.

...the moon and stars to rule by night.

His love never quits.

He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians

His mercy endures forever.

and brought Israel out from among them

His mercy endures forever.

with a strong hand and outstretched arm.

His mercy endures forever.

He divided the Red Sea

His mercy endures forever.

and led Israel through,

His mercy endures forever.

but hurled Pharaoh and his army
into the Red Sea.

His mercy endures forever.

The realness of God is undeniable - when He chooses to move in our lives it is unfathomably beautiful.

Be blessed and a blessing brothers and sisters in Christ. I am praying for you!

R.Calloway

Truth - NoT - Trickery

Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Endurance and Gentleness : Random Bible Verse of the Day

Zach Wahls: : Iowa Gay Rights debate

Heterosexual Sodomy? Homosexual Sodomite? Clarification.

Stop the Police Brutality and Violence against protesters NOW!

Gay = God Accepts You : Christian + Gay = OKAY

Sick and Twisted: Ecuadorian Lesbian Torture Clinics

Praise to Jesus - spontaneous worship

Vox Storytelling slam : Random Verse of the Day

Poetry Vault: Lord God You are my Rock and my Strong Tower

Random Bible Verse of the Day : Hebrews

Religious Oppression in America - When Politics and Religion Mix

Poetry Vault -- Set Me Free.

Let Go Let GOD

The Poetry Vault: Love n Stuff

Bigotry in the Bible belt: Tennessee's 2 steps back : What would Jesus Do?

The Truth Factory: Who wrote the Bible God or humans?

"The freedom to love urges us to love freedom" -Rebekah Calloway - worth a thousand words

Homosexuality and Science ::: "Sexuality is a gift from God" -Representative Steve Simon video response to proposed Minnesota amendment.

April 15, 2011 my last Day of Silence - No more Silence Video - It's time to end Anti-Gay Hate Crimes, oppression and bigotry!

Our Random Bible Verse of the Day : John 15.16

John 15:16

(Amplified Bible)

::Poetry Vault:: Fresh Apples Rotting Risky Love - "Hey kid there's only one life to live, take the risk and love..."

Our Random Bible Verse of the Day:: STAND...with the FULL Armor of GOD --STAND when you've done all you can --STAND when you just feel like giving up hope....simply STaND!

Ephesians 6:13 (King James Version)

Gay dating + Christian dating = RainbowChristians.com - a Gay Christian Dating Site

Our Random Bible Verse of the Day::: || Ephesians 2:8-10 ||He saw the best in me... when everyone else around could only see the worst in me.

Psalms 136, Pharaoh's Army and Chariot wheels at the bottom of the Red Sea in the 20th century

::Poetry Vault:: Fresh Apples Rotting Risky Love - "Hey kid there's only one life to live,  take the risk and love..."