What is the Biblical Perspective on Sex?

     Have you ever wondered what the Bible really has to say about sex?  Are you concerned that it is either super repressive or way too permissive, or even not relevant in the 21st century?  Do you feel overwhelmed trying to make sense of it by yourself?  The mistaken attitudes, and lack of understanding of some of my young Bible students and church goers alarmed me so thoroughly that I wrote a booklet to address some of their expressed thoughts and concerns. It is called "Sex, 13 Common Lies, and the Truth from God's Word".  It's available on Amazon.  You can read it for free if you have Prime.
     In it, I've tried to present God's revealed will for our sex lives in a relate-able
fashion.  There's no fluff in it.  I think it's a great tool to share with your Sunday School or Bible Class.  It's aimed at anyone at or above middle school, and loaded with Scripture references. It's only available as an ebook today.  Follow the link over to it and tell me what you think.  I'd really appreciate the feedback. If you like it, feel free to write a review.  Also feel free to leave constructive and appropriate thoughts and comments below. Thank you.

Karon D. Webster is a caregiver and affiliate marketer.
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"Sex, 13 Common Lies, and the Truth from God's Word" is available now on Amazon.

1 Peter 1

“1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

The Apostle Peter wrote to Christians who were scattered all over the Middle East.
He offers them grace and peace through God. They were subject to persecution under the Roman Empire, and needed encouragement.

“3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

He comforts them, letting them know that God the Father, through His mercy, has reborn them to the living hope of resurrection from the dead, through Jesus, and like Jesus. Their inheritance won’t rot, wear out, lose value with time, or erode, and is waiting in heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through their faith in Jesus Christ, their salvation until He’s ready to be revealed, in the very last time.

“6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

Do we still rejoice with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” for our salvation when we’re tempted daily at home, school, and work? Do we remember how precious the trials of our faith are? We who love the Lord and rejoice in Him without ever having seen Him will receive our souls salvation, and Holy Ghost power for here and now. Keep rejoicing!

“ 10. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11. Searching what, or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

The prophets wrote about the coming salvation (Jesus) without understanding that they were writing for those of us who would know Jesus as Savior.

Did you know that angels can’t get saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ? Salvation is for humans.

“13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

As Peter warned the early first century Christians, we are to prepare our minds for battle, be sober, and hold on until Jesus returns. Be obedient to God by obeying His Word, the Bible, and don’t live like we lived before we knew Christ. The word conversation here, and other places in scripture, means social behavior, not discussion. So we should be holy in our behavior to everyone.

“17. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,but was manifest in these last times for you,
21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

Sojourners are like hotel guests. They’re just passing through. and the fear spoken of here is fear and reverence for God almighty.

“22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
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Karon D. Webster is a caregiver & affiliate marketer.
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Sex, 13 Common Lies, and The Truth from God's Word now available on Amazon!

James 5

James 5

Hi ! Today’s Bible Study is James, chapter 5. It begins warning the rich who trust in riches to save them instead of God.

“1. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.”

I think “the rich” that James was referring to were noblemen, government officials, religious officials, the wealthy landowners and slave holders of his day. They who had power to affect many lives through their edicts and behaviors. They who believed that they didn’t need God because their wealth would protect them from any harm.

Their modern day counterparts run multinational corporations, are government and religious officials, own hotel chains and apartment buildings, oil companies, drug companies or cartels,etc. Many of the individuals who make up these entities still believe that they will always be protected by their wealth. They still, by law and precept, routinely mistreat and abuse wage earners, home buyers, voters, consumers, children, and any one they can with lies, deceit, fraud and murder. They’re heaping up treasure for the last days. I wonder who will get it?

God hears and answers the cries of the oppressed.

“7. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

We live in a world with instant food, instant communication, and instant gratification. Patience seems hard, but farmers still wait months for crops to mature, and prophets of old often waited years for God’s promises to them to be fulfilled. They remained faithful to God through adversity, and so can we. When we endure, and see the end of the Lord, we’re gonna be well blessed.

“12. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

We tend to take our very foul mouths lightly, even thinking it’s cool to be profane. Never swear or curse because we’ll condemn ourselves. That literally means we send ourselves to hell. We are to pray when we’re down, and sing psalms when we’re happy. And call for the elders of the church to pray and anoint us in Jesus’ name when we’re sick. The Lord will raise us up and forgive our sins. Cursing in our troubles will kill us eternally.

“16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

Be righteous people, and pray fervently for the people whose lives you touch everyday. Convert sinners to Christ, and change the world one soul at a time.


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Karon D. Webster is a caregiver and affiliate marketer.
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Sex, 13 Common Lies, and The Truth from God's Word now available on Amazon!

James 4

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone! Been caught up in Holiday activities, but I’m back. I have much to be thankful for. God is good to me all the time. Our family had a wonderful traditional thanksgiving celebration. How about you?

My Bible Study today is found in James, chapter 4.

1. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Lust is “sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from God (Rom. 1:21). "Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity." In Mark 4:19 "lusts" are objects of desire.” ( Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

This is especially powerful today. I watched the news on Black Friday Evening with a certain amount of horror as fights and arguments were reported to have broken out in stores and malls around the country while shoppers scrambled for the best deals. War rages in Afghanistan, and threatens in North and South Korea. What a different world this would be if every individual would control and subdue their own lusts and ask God for what they truly needed.

3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

Enmity is deep-rooted hatred.(Easton’s Bible Dictionary) The world spends much of it’s time and energy chasing sex, power, wealth, and and destroying whoever gets in the way. God’s ways are not our ways. He wants us to love Him first, and love people next, and treat everybody the way we want to be treated. Whose side are you on? Do you hate God because loving Him (truly) is inconvenient to your chosen lifestyle?

6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Grace is..."Unmerited favor from God (GRACE - God's Riches At Christ's Expense)” (Bramford’s Bible Dictionary) and humble means..."Meekness, not to think more highly of yourself than you should.” (Bramford’s Bible Dictionary) To “draw nigh” means to get close.

So verse 6 means that God will give us more of His riches at Christ’s expense if we lay down our pride, be humble, and trust Him with our lives (and lifestyles). The devil gets our minds all twisted. Did you know that with God, you can run him off, and be free from his destructive influences? Get close to God through prayer and Bible Study. Find a good Bible believing church, get in it, and be faithful. Stop sinning, mourn for the evil you’ve done, the separation from God, and the people you’ve hurt.

10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13. Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Be humble, trust God, get and stay close to Him, and let Him lift you up. Plan for tomorrow, but know it only comes by God’s grace. God willing, I will visit with you again soon. God bless you all!
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Karon Webster is a caregiver and affiliate marketer.
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Sex, 13 Common Lies, and The Truth from God's Word now available on Amazon!

James 3

Hi!
For a number of years I used to keep a hand written daily Bible Study Journal, kind of notes on whatever blessed my soul or struck my fancy, you know, for personal growth. It is fitting, therefore, on the day that I have elected to begin publishing my thoughts online that my scheduled Bible Study is James, chapter 3.

I want to acknowledge and honor God right here, and thank and praise Him for this privilege of blogging, and ask that He bless my efforts to encourage and strengthen His Kingdom. I thank you dear Lord in advance, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

James 3 talks about our tongues.

1. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

James was addressing the “twelve tribes that are scattered abroad”(1:1). He calls them Brethren, (1:2) which suggests to me that they were saved, born again, Holy Ghost filled Jewish believers. Maybe they’d been driven out of Jerusalem by persecution and settled elsewhere, planting churches where they landed.

In chapter 3, he starts out telling them not to all try to be in charge, because the leaders get greater (bigger, more, worse) condemnation from men (whether right or wrong) and from God (when they’re wrong). Perfect people (they do exist) don’t offend with their words, and can control their whole bodies.

8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

James explains that the tongue is a tiny thing full of poison that we cannot control. People say think before you talk. I say pray before you talk. We can’t control our tongues, but God can.

13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary “meekness” is ...

Text: a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked (James 3:13). Peculiar promises are made to the meek (Matt. 5:5; Isa. 66:2). The cultivation of this spirit is enjoined (Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11; Zeph. 2:3), and is exemplified in Christ (Matt. 11:29), Abraham (Gen. 13; 16:5, 6) Moses (Num. 12:3), David (Zech. 12:8; 2 Sam. 16:10, 12), and Paul (1 Cor. 9:19).

Bramford’s Bible Dictionary says “meekness” is humbly submissive.

So, when we are wise, we demonstrate out of good conversation (no cursing or profanity, encouragement & clarity) our works (whatever good thing we’re doing) with calmness and humility.

Abandon envy and strife, it’ll lead you to earthly wisdom, which is devilish, and evil.

17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Cool.

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Karon D. Webster is a work from home care giver and affiliate marketer.
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Sex, 13 Common Lies, and The Truth from God's Word now available on Amazon!

Bible Study Assignment: Compare Nahum 1:15 with Romans 10:15

Bible Study Assignment: Compare Nahum 1:15 with Romans 10:15
Copyright © Karon Webster
http://karon60.buildingonabudget.com

Nahum1:15. “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Romans10:15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

It seems to me that Paul (the author of Romans) is quoting Nahum, although not perfectly. I believe that each author has a different purpose in using similar qoutes.
Nahum wanted his readers (the Judahites) to be righteous and holy and trust God while Nineveh was being destroyed. The Ninevites had been cruel captors and neighbors to Judah. The “good tidings” and the “published peace” that this lone messenger brings are confirmations that the destruction of her evil enemy is complete, and consequently there is peace. The religious feasts and duties can continue without fear of retribution from the Ninevites. These tidings are cause for rejoicing.
Paul’s purpose in his quote was to encourage his readers to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in Caesar’s Rome of Paul’s day (Romans 10:9-15). He wanted the young church there in Rome to preach the gospel to any and all. His readers would be subject to persecutions, and imprisonment, and eventually even death, but their feet were beautiful to all who eagerly awaited and received their tidings, “the gospel”, and Jesus as their Savior, and eternal life.
Both writers wanted to comfort people who had good cause for distress and alarm. Ultimately, both writers wanted their hearers to be faithful to God in the face of obstacles.


Karon Webster is a work from home mother and caregiver.
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Sex, 13 Common Lies, and The Truth from God's Word now available on Amazon!

What Is “Zion”?

Hello Everybody!
I thought this was a great place to re-insert my disclaimer: I am not a great Bible Authority or a theologian of any sort. I'm just a Christian who loves and enjoys the study of the Bible and wanted a place to share my Bible Study Homework and promote my business, too. So here I go.

I strive for integrity in both my business and my Bible study. So whaddaya think?
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Answer 1: “Zion” was the Jebusite stronghold at Jerusalem captured by King David of Israel about 1000B.C.( 2 Samuel5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.) The name “Zion” is also applied to all of Jerusalem, and has been since the city fell to Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 B.C. “Zion” is Jerusalem. Zion is a place.

Answer 2: “Zion” was, and is used to refer to the house of God in the Bible (“Psalms9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion:”). Solomon’s temple was God’s house in ancient Jerusalem. (“1 Kings8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 1 Kings8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD…1 Kings8:13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.”) God had promised King David that He would allow David‘s son, Solomon to build a house for Him in Jerusalem. It was located in “Zion”. So, “Zion” was, and is, God’s dwelling place.

Answer 3: In the psalms and the prophetic writings just prior to and after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem, and the destruction of Jerusalem, “Zion” is used to refer to a people. (“Psalms125:1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.”) (“Psalms147:12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion…Isaiah51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.”) So, Zion is God’s people.

Answer 4:. Zion also refers to the ideal worldwide society headed by Messiah from Jerusalem envisioned by Judaism (Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia, 1999, The Learning Company). (“Psalms2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” “Isaiah24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. Isaiah24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Isaiah24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” ) “Zion” is the future seat of Government, Christ’s throne.

Answer 5: “Hebrews12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Hebrews12:23 To the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Hebrews12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, …”Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem, the home of the spirits of just men made perfect. That includes modern day people who walk in relationship with Jesus Christ.

Answer 6: Our New Testament (New Covenant) understanding is that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and through repentance, and relationship with Him, God can and does live in people’s hearts, and our body is God’s house, His dwelling place (Zion). “Romans11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?Romans11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.Romans11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion (Jerusalem, God’s people, God’s house) the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (all of Israel and Judah):Romans11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Zion is the sum total of all people who trust Jesus for salvation, Jew and Gentile.


Karon Webster is a work from home mother and caregiver:
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Sex, 13 Common Lies, and The Truth from God's Word now available on Amazon!