Will California bill AB 2943 ban the Bible?

by Barbara Latta

The chairman of the California LGBT caucus, Assemblyman Evan Low, has introduced AB

Will California AB 2943 ban the Bible?

2943 which would prevent “advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual” as illegal under the state’s consumer fraud law. Read about the bill here.

While the language of this bill doesn’t specifically ban the Bible, the wording is so vague the interpretation could mean anything any proponent of the bill desires it to mean.

In 2012, the California Assembly passed Senate Bill 1172 which banned health professionals from attempting "sexual orientation change efforts" (SOCE). AB 2943 stands to add more detail to 1172 by:

Prohibiting SOCE from being performed on anyone, not just children under 18;
Prohibiting SOCE as a sale or service.

Of course, supporters of the bill claim they are not trying to remove the Bible, but California State Assembly member, Travis Allen, who is running for governor, says it could.

Here is a portion of the transcript from the interview with Liz Wheeler of One America News Network and Assembly member Travis Allen:

Wheeler:   This is essentially criminalizing religious beliefs. And I don’t mean to speak in hyperbole here, but if this bill were to pass, would this prohibit the sale of the Bible, that teaches these things about sexual morality?

Allen:   Well, literally, according to how this law is written, yes, it would. This is, you know, PC culture, politically correct culture, gone horribly awry. This is really directly hitting at our First Amendment rights as American citizens. Now the Democrat legislators in this building, right behind me, the California state legislature, they want to tell you how to think, what sort of books that you can read, write and purchase.

The love of Christ has the power to transform every life.

While it is difficult to find an unbiased news agency, it is our responsibility as Christians and as American citizens to remain informed of what is going on in the world around us. These laws affect our lives and the lives of future generations.

So, what can we do?

• Pray
• Contact legislators
• Support conservative legal agencies
• Be willing to take a stand

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

Our fight is not against people, it is against the evil spirits in the world who deceive souls into acting out the lies whispered into their minds. The remedy is to proclaim the gospel, the love of Christ, who truly does have the power to transform every life who will submit to Him.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

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9 Tips to Define Your Purpose in Life

by Barbara Latta

Do you ever get confused about your purpose in life?

How can you know your calling?

Are you confused about your purpose in life?

Do you question whether you are pursuing God’s will or not?

We can learn a lot from Nehemiah about fulfilling the dream God has called us to achieve.

For example, I feel called to write. I didn’t pursue this plan in my younger years, but I never had a settled feeling until I started to seek this goal. Each of us has reason to be here. Until we discover that objective we will not be fulfilled, and we are missing the ability to bless others.

These 9 tips can guide you to follow your destiny:

Gun Control Doesn't Address the Real Issue, the Real Issue is...

by Barbara Latta

Gun control doesn't address the real issue

Waking up to the news of another shooting has become too common. Gun control is always at the forefront of politics and becomes more prevalent with every act committed with a firearm. The second amendment is defended by those who want to keep their guns, and those on the other side think confiscating all guns will stop murder.

If every gun was disposed of, murder and violence would still be prevalent. Cain killed Abel with a rock. Guns weren’t available and Cain still committed murder. When a person harbors hatred in their heart, violence will be the result. Bare hands can kill.

Cain became angry and jealous because God accepted his brother, Abel’s, sacrifice but did not accept Cain’s. Cain obviously didn’t follow God’s command about the sacrificial offering or his would have been accepted, as well.

God addressed the issue before the murder took place.

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7)

God was telling Cain to take care of the issue in his heart before he acted on sin’s desire. Rule over it.

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment” (Matthew 5:21-22a).

So you see, it’s not a gun control issue—

The Passover Lamb and the Eternal Change that Took Place in Jesus

by Barbara Latta

God had to show us choosing the lamb was personal.

Something so precious had to die so something so ugly could live.

Before the first Passover, the Hebrews were commanded to choose an unblemished lamb on the tenth of the month (Exodus 12). They were to take it home, nourish it, cherish it, feed it and let it live with them until the fourteenth of that month. By that time, the animal would have bonded with the family and become a pet.

Now it was time to kill it.