Cross Dressing

Two days ago while waiting for a friend to pick me up at the Minneapolis Public Library, a man with a beard walked in wearing open-toed high heels plus short denim shorts. The latter in itself was bizarre considering the temperature outside was at the freezing mark. This man ended up causing a ruckus at the library. A couple of times I heard him defiantly challenge people to touch him. Because he refused to leave on his own accord, three security guards tackled the man to the floor and hauled him away in handcuffs.

I recall at least one incident when witnessing to a crossdresser. Again this happened in Minneapolis. While walking towards the downtown area, I encountered a homeless person sitting outside. He claimed to know Jesus but wasn't going to church anywhere because of not being accepted dressed as a woman. This man even claimed God told him it was okay to be transgender. If that was true, God would be contradicting His own commandment in Deuteronomy 22:5...

“A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”

On the other hand, there are preachers who go the other extreme by proclaiming man-made dress codes. Years ago while working for Billy Graham’s World Wide Pictures, I called one female pastor who wouldn’t show any of our films. Her reason? “Women shouldn’t wear pants.” What would this pastor do if God called her to minister in Scotland? She might have a hard time seeing Scotsmen wearing kilts.

I’ve also heard ministers preaching against men having long hair. Personally I’m not fond of women with really short hair but that’s between them and the Lord. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “...man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Nevertheless, God expects men to act like men and women to act like women. 1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV) states that effeminate men will not inherit the kingdom of God. Anyone who lives a lifestyle as the opposite gender is rebelling against God’s word. 

There is one type of “cross-dressing” acceptable for Christians...wearing the cross of Christ.

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” - 1 Peter 5:5

Seated in Heavenly Places

Do you sometimes feel your prayers aren’t going beyond the ceiling?  Maybe you’re tempted to think God isn’t hearing them at all.  If that’s the case, then let me share a simple truth that can help transform your prayer life.

I’ve heard Christians talk about “bombarding” or “storming” the gates of heaven when praying.  Yet the gates of heaven aren’t closed at all to those who know the Lord.  Ephesians 2:6 says God has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  Spiritually speaking, you already have a position of authority in heaven.

Unanswered prayers are not God’s fault.  Sometimes it’s due to our own disobedience such as not tithing (Malachi 3:8-10) or being in strife with our spouse (1 Peter 3:7).  Demonic opposition can also delay prayers from being answered.  The prophet Daniel fasted and prayed for 21 days until he received an answer that had been immediately sent to him by an angel (Daniel 10:12).  Under the New Covenant, we have greater promises and therefore should expect quicker results. 

God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8) and even wants to give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).  So if you are a born again child of God, don’t think you have to “rend the heavens” to receive answers to prayer.  You are already a King’s Kid seated in heavenly places!

 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:16

Last Dance (on Earth) for Donna Summer

At the end of every year, the media reflects on the numerous celebrities who passed away during the previous twelve months. One who died this year was singer Donna Summer. The “Queen of Disco” succumbed to throat cancer on May 17th at the age of 63.

Donna grew up in Boston and originally sang in churches but gradually drifted away from the things of God until she rediscovered her Christian faith in 1980. That year she released an album called “The Wanderer”, which contained the track “I Believe in Jesus.” 

Donna’s recordings from the late 1970s appealed to me not so much because of her voice but because of the innovative sounds created by her producer Giorgio Moroder. His use of synthesizers in songs such as “I Feel Love” was ahead of its time. It was one of the things that inspired me to later create my own electronic tunes.

However, the anointing of God was certainly on Donna Summer’s voice. A few years ago while at a bookstore, I paged through Donna’s autobiography “Ordinary Girl: The Journey” and read testimonies of people who experienced supernatural healings as a result of listening to Donna’s music. 

Perhaps when I go home to be with the Lord, I will get to dance to Donna Summer singing along with God’s angels. Heaven knows how soon that might happen.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” - Mark 13:32