I don’t know if you saw the story, but earlier this month in Atlanta a 16 year old teen was supposedly kicked out of his high school because he was a cross dresser.  Reports say that Jonathan Escobar was told by the schools principal to “stop dressing in such a female manner or stay home.”  Jonathan most days can be caught walking the halls of North Cobb High School wearing a colored wig, make up and womens flats, which he says is just the way he expresses himself.  Needless to say Jonathan is outraged and has developed a rather large group of followers who believe that this is an “infringement of his right to creatively express himself.”

The school board has upheld its rulling saying that Jonathan has violated the school’s dress code which bars disruptive clothing.  No matter where you stand on this issue of his rights being violated is not my point to argue; I wanted to make the point that freedom really isn’t free; it always costs.  For example when the  Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1862 freeing all slaves, this freedom came at a cost of thousands of lives who fought for this freedom.

Here in America are always fighting for someones right to do something that goes against the grain.  We do this because we live in a country who’s slogan is “land of the free, home of the brave.”  But all freedoms are not free and they always cost someone something.  You and I have a God given right to sin as much as we want to, but that freedom to sin comes at a cost of bondage to sin.  The bible tells us in Romans 1:24-25 God gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themsleves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. 

What this means is we are free to do whatever we want in this life, but that freedom will cost us.  When you and I fight for someones freedom to sin, we only help them to become a bigger slave to something else.  Don’t misunderstand, Jonathan’s cross-dressing isn’t a sin, but in all truthfulness it will most likely lead to and at least promote a sinful lifestyle that is against God’s truth.  Romans 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due.

Be careful what you fight for! The same freedom that you may be standing for could cost you a life of bondage and slavery.

I am a huge New England Patriots Fan.  Not just because I played for the team and won championships with them, I also have friends that still play on the team.  So Last week I was jumping with joy when the Pats beat the Titans 59-0.  On Tuesday I came to find out not everyone shared my enthusiasm over the victory. 

I don’t know if you heard, but Amazing Grace Baptitst Church declared that Tom Brady, the teams future hall of fame quarterback, is “destined for eternal damnation for his sinful existence in this life.” They go on to say “Tom Brady has an unwed child, but its okay because he wins Super Bowls.  Tom Brady is teaching us to have sex outside of marriage, to commit fonication, and its okay because of who I am.”

Oh and I almost forgot, the church has also identified two other NFL players that are going to hell with Tom.  I find this interesting coming from a church with the name “Amazing Grace” to be so quick to throw stones!  That’s those Baptist folks for you.  That’s why I am a recovering baptist. LOL!!  Relax I’m only joking!

Seriously, Romans 14:12-13 says “each of us shall give account of himself to God.  Therefore let us not judge one another anymore.”  If anyone calls themselves Christians, then we have the right as believers, to point out to them, that the fruit they are producing doesn’t match up with their words.  But when we start pointing out who is going to hell, we are on dangerous ground.  Jesus Christ is the only Judge! 

One final thought, when you read the gospels you will notice Jesus saved the condemnation for the Parisees and Scribes, not to the sinners.(Matthew 23)  We all need to learn to act more like Jesus.

The Iphone craze continues to sweep the nation and tons of folks have switched to AT&T.  I have yet to jump on the Apple bandwagon.  I have splint, I mean Sprint and I refuse to switch.  I am however, attracted to the commercials that boast about all the applications that will make our lives easier.

Well now they have created an app that all perverts will like.  First of all I should mention that Apple had an app called “Hotest Girls”, where you could look at hot women half dressed as much as you like.  Apple has since pulled the app and released a statement saying, “Apple will not distruibute applications that contain inappropriate content.”

Well now Apple has an app called “Puff!”  In this application you can choose a woman from different scenes and blow into your microphone.  Once you do this you will see the womans skirt will lift up revealing her underwear and she will let out a squeal for you.  The harder you blow the higher the skirt.  I quess Apple doesn’t consider this as being inappropriate?

The more I think about it we shouldn’t be suprised the bible even tells that in the last days things will go from bad to worse.  In 2 Timothy 3:4 it says people will become “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”  Folks, we need to be self controled and alert for things like this that continue to desensitize us to sin.

“Sippin on some sizzurp” has been popular since the year 2000 when rap group Three Six Mofia came out with a song about this concoction.  Syrup or “purple drank” as it is also know as, is made up of cough syrup, codene and soda used to create a relaxed feeling.  Since 2000 there have been numerous deaths of some prominent up and coming rap artist.  So why am I telling you this? 

IBG (Innovative Beverage Group) has decided to capitalize off of the sucess of the popular street drink and have come up with a “legal” beverage called “Drank”  It promotes itself as an extreme relaxation beverage with the tag line, “slow your role” right on the can.  If you are interested you can buy a 24 case of 16oz cans for $54.95.  I should warn you that side effects include insomnia, high blood presure, psychosis, panic attacks, coma and even death. 

The worse part of all this is that our young people will be drinking this up like its going out of style once it hits store shelves around the country.  Our teenagers are sheep which have the tendency to follow the examples that exist in our culture.  This is just one more example of us leading them to the slaughter house.  Folks, if we continue to make the bed for them, how can we blame them for laying in it?

That is not to say that you young people are not responsible for what you put into your bodies.  The bible says in Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker; strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led estray by it is not wise.  This might seem harmless to some, but it isn’t.  I would consider it a strong drink and if you are foolish enough to put it into your body knowing the potential side effects, the bible says in Proverbs 14:12 there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

That is the new number of once famed reciever for the New York Football Giants, Plaxico Burress.  If you don’t remember Plax, whose old number was 17, was arrested on two felony counts of criminal possesion of a weapon of the second degree.  He was found guilty recently and sentenced to two years in jail.  What a shame.  I can remember just two years ago when Plaxico caught the game winning touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning to beat the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.  I am still in therapy over that one.  LOL! I am willing to bet that Plaxico never imagined after the high of that moment that he would experience the low of being alone in a cell at one of the toughest prisons in the world, Rikers Island.  Looking back on the incident, I’m sure he is thinking to himself how stupid the decision was to carry that gun into the club.  I bet if he had to do it all over again he would have done some things differently.  Unfortunately when a choice is made we cannot take it make.  Time will only tell what will become of Plaxico Burress.  It is my hope that there is a young man somewhere that will learn from his mistake. Proverbs 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.  My plea to you is be careful where you hang, who you hang with and what you do while you are hanging.  These decisions will always cost us more than we want to pay, keep us longer than we want to stay and take us further than we want to go.