Is God Anti-Gay?

An open letter to Christians who struggle with their sexual identity.

        Friend, you may have asked if God is against homosexuality.  Here is my answer.
        God? Anti-gay? Of course he is. He hates sin, doesn’t he? So that would make him hate homo-sexuality, right? Well, indeed God hates sin, and insofar as the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, then yes, he is anti-gay. But he is not against you. My friend, God is not anti-you. In fact, if you are a true Christian, then God is absolutely and fully for you: he wants you to trust fully and only Christ’s saving work on the cross. He wants you to find your identity in him, not in your sexual orientation. He wants you to trust him – with your whole life.
        Now, that doesn’t mean God overlooks the sin of homosexuality. For it is indeed a sin, condemned by God. Romans 1:26-27 says “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” This shows that God counts homosexuality as a sin – but sin can be forgiven.
        And that’s the amazing thing about the Gospel. It shows us that we are sinners. But it also shows us that we can be made new. We will still struggle with sin until we die, but by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s power, we can begin to overcome the power of sin in our lives. We have been set free from the penalty of sin; we are being set free from the power of sin; we will be set free from the presence of sin in glory.
        You need to see that even though you feel you have a homosexual tendency, God is for you. He will help you conquer that feeling, and be full of love for Him. You will struggle with this sin, but it has been paid for by Christ. Now, as a Christian, you must live in light of the fact that the Gospel is what sets us free. In so doing you will find the greatest freedom of all - freedom in Christ.

Written by William A Moore

Recollections of War: Operation Market Garden Reprise

        Last year was the 70th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden, the heroic yet disastrous attempt to end WWII in one stroke by striking deep into German held territory in Holland.  I posted a couple articles commemorating that event in September 2014, and share them with you again on the anniversary of the ill-fated operation.

British troops marching toward an objective in Holland

      Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far

              An essay explaining the major points of the operation and how and why it failed.

      The Heroism of the Allied Forces

              A post focusing on the airborne troops with a short clip from the movie 'A Bridge Too Far'.

Reposted and Written by William A Moore

Recollections of War: The Battle of Britain: Part Two

Part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

        Today is Battle of Britain Day.  Across Britain, Poland, France, Germany, Canada, America, and elsewhere, services of remembrance and commemoration are being held as many remember the bravery, heroism, and sacrifice of those who participated in the Battle of Britain.  It is has been seventy-five years since the climax of a battle in the skies which decided to a great degree the outcome of WWII.
        This was the day when, 75 years ago, the Royal Air Force defeated two major attacks by German Luftwaffe bombers and fighters on England and London.  61 Luftwaffe planes were destroyed at a cost of only 31 aircraft for the RAF.  These were the most severe losses that the Germans had suffered in the past month.  Over the next few days, the German High Command gradually stopped large daylight raids on Britain, and the Battle of Britain, while not completely over, was virtually won.
        Britain had survived - but only just.  Another week, and the tide might have turned the other way.  But that was not what happened.  In God's providence, the RAF defeated the Luftwaffe and ended the threat of invasion of Britain by the Germans.  Fighting would continue for another four years, but in one of the most heroic and desperate battles ever fought in the air, history was made and courage exemplified.
        At the end of the Battle, almost 1500 airmen from thirteen countries had given their lives in defense of Britain - and freedom. Following is a list, by country, of those who fought and died during the official period of the Battle of Britain: July 10 - October 31, 1940.

           Pilots                Nation             Killed in Action*

1878          United Kingdom            448

21                  Australia                     14

73               New Zealand                 11

88                  Canada                       20

21                South Africa                    9

2               South Rhodesia                 0

8                     Ireland                         0

7                United States                   1

141                Poland                        29

86            Czechoslovakia                 8

26                  Belgium                        6

13                   France                        0

1                      Israel                         0

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German Losses During the Battle of Britain

     Bomber Crews:            2621

     Fighter-Bomber Crews:            297               

     Fighter Pilots:            171

_________________________________

May we never forget those who fought on both sides.

~ William A Moore

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*Many more died of wounds received in the battle later on.

Recollections of War: The Battle of Britain: Part One

Dedicated to those of the Royal Canadian Air Force who did not return.

        September 5th signals the 75th Anniversary of the end of the hardest fought week of the Battle of Britain.  By the end of this week, the German Luftwaffe had launched over 1500 separate attacks on Britain.  During the last week of August and first week of September, the German Air Force made a determined effort to erase and defeat the RAF airfields and aircraft.  By September 4th, the RAF lost 112 pilots and 256 planes, and were close to defeat.
        But the Royal Air Force had responded with so many sorties against the enemy that the head of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, became frustrated with his raids being met by seemingly endless numbers of RAF aircraft, and made the decision to leave off attempting to destroy the RAF.  With the pressure relieved, the Royal Air Force was able to regroup and rebuild their strength, and prepare to meet the final major German offensive that would come soon.
        Below, presented as a short photo-journal, are some remarkable pictures taken during the Battle of Britain of Royal Canadian Air Force aircrew and ground-crew as they fought alongside Britain in its hour of need.

RCAF pilots run towards their waiting Hurricanes in this
incredible photograph taken during the height of the Battle.

Ground crew replace the port wheel on a Hurricane.  These often forgotten,
yet vital members of the RCAF, played an important role throughout the war

A pilot of No.1 Squadron climbs out of his plane after a sortie knowing full
well that he will be fighting in the skies again before the day is out.

A rare colour photograph of a Hurricane of 
No.1 Squadron RCAF over the south of England

Remembering 75 years ago,
William A Moore
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Part Two commemorates all those who fought in the Battle of Britain with a insightful look at the period of WWII history between July and October 1940.