Book Spotlight - Whatever Is Done

Book 3 of The Whatever Series.

 A fun-loving construction foreman longs for a family, but a widow doesn't want another husband.

He’d watched his best friend lose custody of his son—Isaac.

 Ray Simmons protects himself from becoming a weekend dad, 

and avoids complicated relationships. 

But after meeting an orphaned, little boy, 

the fun-loving, construction foreman is tempted with the idea of fatherhood. 

When he’s introduced to Trevor’s beautiful mother, 

he willingly trades the women attracted to his hardhat f

or the lady he wants to build a home with.

In memory of her loving husband, 

Cindy Maxwell has suffered the life of a church widow, 

and kept her appearance spotless for five years. 

But when a revealed secret casts doubt on her fairytale marriage 

and threatens her son, 

she finds comfort and safety in Ray's arms.

He'll move earth to convince her that his love is genuine, 

but will consequences of their sin drive them apart? 

Is a Father’s love unconditional? 

Or does love forget those lost in the past?

**Each of these contemporary romance books have individual plots, and may be read as a stand alone, yet an underlying story is woven throughout this entire Christian Fiction series. The heart tugging topics of child abuse and drug use are motivations for its character driven plots in stories that take place in southern Alabama. In these new adult, inspirational fiction novels you can expect to find a life changing stories of truth, sacrifice, and love.

Also available from STL Distributions through Ingram Content Group, Spring Arbor Distribution, Amazon, NACSCORP, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Espresso Book Machine, and Independent Retailers. Or publisher direct at http://www.empoweredpublicationsinc.com/books.html 

Did God create Homosexuals?

I have friends that claim to be homosexual, and I love those friends dearly. And because of that love, I can’t remain silent concerning their salvation. Just as adultery and fornication are sins, homosexual acts are indeed sin.

The basic definition for sin is disobedience to God. The eighteenth chapter of Leviticus details most sexual sins, including homosexual acts.

The argument that many have used to contradict this biblical edict is that if God didn’t want me to be a homosexual, why did God create me this way? 

He didn’t. God created Adam perfect, yet man disobeyed God and sin entered the world. Now, we are all born sinners. We were NOT created sinners.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ~ Romans 3:23.

Every human has a weakness. Every human has a specific area in which they struggle. For some, it may be gossip, or judgmental attitude, but others struggle with sexual sins such as an addiction to pornography, desires for the same sex, or even an insatiable desire for the opposite sex which can result in fornication and adultery.

The result of sin, whether that sin be a little white lie or murder, is the same—death. However, the consequences of sin vary. For example: if you are caught robbing a bank, the consequences is a prison sentence, but if you are caught telling a lie you may or may not lose a friend. The world judges and condemns based on the consequences of sin. But to God, without repentance, one sin is just as deadly as another.

If you battle a sexual desire for the same sex, you are NOT a freak. You are NOT a threat to society. You are loved by God. We all battle lust in one form or another. It is only if we dwell on that desire, and act on that desire that it becomes sin. 

The world insists that you must be either a heterosexual or homosexual. But a child of God doesn’t allow the world to define who they are. 

In Matthew chapter nineteen, Jesus talks about sexual sins, divorce, and adultery. He also mentions eunuchs.

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake... ~ Matthew 19:12

I have heard many practicing homosexuals quote this verse to “prove” that God created them the way they are. But that isn’t what Jesus is saying. Just as some are born with excessive sexual desires, some are born with NO sexual desires.

The world says, if a man DOESN’T desire a woman sexually, he is Gay. WRONG! That is a lie from Satan. Don’t believe it.

If you are one of the few people who doesn’t battle sexual desires, you are blessed. 

You are NOT a homosexual.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul talks about marital relationships. Those who are married and those who are not. In this chapter, he makes it clear. If you struggle with sexual desires you need to marry. But if you don’t battle sexual temptations, or if you can abstain from sexual intimacy, you will be able to DO more for God. You can work for God’s glory without the distraction of lust.

Even the world acknowledges that lustful desires distract people from their purpose. Take the movie Star Wars for example. If Anakin would have obeyed the Jedi law of not having sexual relations with Padmé, he wouldn’t have been easily deceived by the Emperor. He wouldn’t have slain the Younglings. He wouldn’t have fathered Luke and Princess Leia. He wouldn’t have become a dark figure hiding behind a false identity.

Ennouchos in the Greek or Saris in the Hebrew are both translated as eunuch in the bible. Besides castrate, both mean an official or commander. There are different types of eunuchs. Some eunuchs were fully castrated. Some were not. However, all eunuchs held a specific job. Throughout the bible eunuchs have been greatly used of God. Search the bible for eunuchs and you will be amazed at some of their accomplishments, and their high ranking positions.

The book of Isaiah reveals a promise from God especially for eunuchs.

Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, 

saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: 

neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 

For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, 

and choose the things that please me, 

and take hold of my covenant; 

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place 

and a name better than of sons and of daughters: 

I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. ~ Isaiah 56:3-5

So, if you were born without sexual desires, or in rare cases without sexual genitals, don’t listen to the world’s philosophy of being either heterosexual or homosexual. 

Perhaps, God meant for you to be a eunuch? Perhaps, he has a spouse waiting for you? Search His word and listen for His voice. 

Be who God intended you to be. He has a special purpose for your life.

Hindrances

We all have those little things that interfere with our work for God. Some are unnecessary and brought on by ourselves. Others are natural things that are just in our way.

 ...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,... Hebrews 12:1

This morning I cut my fingernails for the week. Usually I do this on Mondays. As I clipped the long tip, I thought how many people would love to have the curse of fast-growing nails. You see I can’t type with long fingernails. So I cut them once a week because if I don’t I can’t do the work God has called me to do.

Pretty, long fingernails 

are my hindrance.

What are your hindrances? 

Are you willing to sacrifice 

them in order to 

work more efficiently 

for God’s kingdom?

Book Spotlight

Many Christians are quick to cast stones, but we are all tempted with one thing or another. How much easier this walk would be, if we helped bear each other's burdens. Now think about this, where would you turn for godly advice, if you were faced with a choice? Which would you choose?

Fidelity or Fantasy?

A New Book Release by Parker J. Cole.

Leah Westwood loves her husband Jacob with all her heart, even as the smoldering glances of her ex-flame Vincent Miller continue to affect her. What she once shared with Vincent threatens to rip apart the bonds she is trying to build with her husband.

Jacob's heart belongs to Leah, but his body refuses to accept that. Rachel is the one who has been his mainstay at the most difficult times in his life. How could he leave her alone?

Vincent wants Leah back and all he has to do is watch and wait as Jacob and Leah's relationship unravels.

Ultimately, Leah must make a choice . . . between fantasy and fidelity.

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/parker.j.cole4125

Twitter: @parkerjcole

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Parker J. Cole is a writer and radio show host who spends most of her time reading, knitting, writing, cooking, and concocting new ideas for stories. Her first novel, Dark Cherub, won Best of Spring Reading 2013 from eMediaCampaigns. She lives in Michigan with her husband and beloved dog Sarah. 

Visit her site at www.ParkerJCole.com

Our Hugs Belong to Jesus

Some months ago, Dylan Farrow wrote an open letter about the abuse of her father, Woody Allen. Because of his celebrity status, the letter was published in the NY Times and received a lot of media attention.

But what about the unheard voices? Voices of little girls and boys around the globe suffering in silence?

I have talked with many sexual abuse victims. Their stories are all very achingly similar. A friend or relative that they have been taught to love and respect breaks trust and touches them inappropriately. Those awkward touches escalate over time into sexual assault. We have all heard horrifying stories.

As a mother, I asked myself; how can I protect my child? Of course, I’ve the import question. “Has anyone touched you inappropriately?”

Then one day while grocery shopping, we see a distant relative. He’s an older gentlemen and he asks her for a hug. 

I watch as she grimaced and endured an awkward embrace. Me, being a paranoid mom, watched his hands very carefully, but both touched only her shoulders.

Yet, she clearly didn’t want the hug.

When we were back in the car, I asked, “Why did you hug him, if you didn’t want to?”

Her answer astounded me. She said, “I didn’t want to be rude.”

My 10 year old daughter accepted a hug that she clearly didn’t want, because I had taught her to be nice. 

Right there in the parking lot. I assured her that her body was special. A gift from God. And she didn’t have to hug or kiss anyone.

It wasn’t rude.

But it was rude of people to claim her affections without permission.

As a mother, I’ve often struggled with ways to protect my children from sexual predators without revealing more sexual knowledge than their immature minds can process. 

But here is my answer.

Their bodies belong to God. And no one has a right to touch them without their permission. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to tell them that your hugs belong to Jesus.

That’s not rude.

That’s smart.

That’s safe.

Later that night, I wondered again why she didn’t want to the man to hug her. So I asked.

Her answer, “He has bad breath.”

No Excuses

I was a born a sinner.

But then, praise God, I was reborn.

I loved the atmosphere of church. I loved the people. The adults. The teens. The kids. Their potential for impacting the world was limitless. God had given them something that I longed for and I was proud to join their ranks.

A good rally or campmeeting would revive my soul with an atmosphere of worship and a message straight from the throne of heaven.

Over the years, I heard some pretty amazing sermons. They all had one of two messages.

1. Repent.
2. Go to work.

God would miraculous poor out his spirit and empower his people. He forgave us of our transgressions and called us to “go unto all the world and preach the gospel.” We would hear, get excited and promise to do something for the Lord.

Afterward when we realized that He called us to the Samaritans and the sinners our enthusiasm waned. We don’t mind helping saints, but we can’t associate with "those half-breeds" or those “uncircumcised gentiles”. 

Shame on us!

We don’t mind singing in church, teaching a Sunday school class or preaching a sermon to good people. But we turn our nose up to the prostitute that is looking for a love that only our Savior can give. What about the addict that’s a slave to their addiction? Or the homeless man lost in a bottle?

Who are we to choose who hears the gospel?

At one of the churches mentioned above, I caught a child breaking the rules, when I confronted them I was shocked at their answer.

“I’m a preacher’s kid. I can do whatever I want.”

Most church goers have a similar mentality. “My grandfather started our church.” “My mom is the song leader.” My grandmother was a great prayer warrior.”

But can we really do whatever we want? At the end of this life and we will stand before God, alone. Our grandparents will not stand with us. Our parents, our children, our spouse, the preacher? None of them will answer for us. We will be judged by our own obedience to God.

What will he say when our excuses are null and void?

I recently had a vision from God. I was standing alone, in front of God’s throne waiting for him to say “well done.” 

Instead an awkward silence fell and conviction gripped my soul. 

Then God asked, “Why didn’t you do what I told you to do?” 

I replied, “Someone told me that I couldn’t.” 

Silence reigned and God opened my eyes. 

I had no excuse. God is the ultimate authority in my life and when he says “Go unto all the world and preach the gospel.” He means it. 

At the end of this life, I will have no excuse.

All through history, when someone stood for God and began calling in sinners, the church didn’t like it. Why? Because they didn’t want their holy ranks polluted? Because seeing someone work for God convicted their own lack of obedience? Or because it made them look bad in comparison?

Opposition will come. Satan will remind us of all the souls we failed to harvest. Some good-intended person will point out our mistakes. Church leaders may believe the great commission is only for them. But when we stand before God, these excuses aren’t going to fly. God has called us and there is a dying world out there waiting for someone to bring them Jesus.

So we have two choices.      

1. Recline on a pew while the harvest rots off the vine. Or,
2. Save those that we can.

We need church. We need the forgiveness in the blood of Jesus. We need an atmosphere of worship where we can bask in God’s presence and be filled with His power. But then, we need to take that power into the rotting fields and save those souls that would be saved. We need to give them Jesus.

No excuses.

My Favorite Story

Once upon a time a queen had jolly servants who worked for her and were always jolly. 

One day, the queen’s cousin was going to have a baby shower at the queen’s house. 

So the jolly servants were told to do work double time while the queen was called away. 

When she returned, the work was not done. 

She had not realized it, but she made the little work seem a lot. 

She blew her fuse, and took away the servant’s free time to play. 

They became depressed at the fact that the work overwhelmed them and the playtime was gone. 

After an hour, the queen saw their depression and returned their free time and always the servants were jolly.

The end.

We love you and we are sorry.

Written by my children years ago.