Gay Pride by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 I recently spent a little time in El Paso, TX. They have a decent public library, some restaurants, Amtrak, Greyhound, an airport. They also have gay bars. There's a new bar near downtown. Their sign, beside giving the name of the bar, says, "In Pride Square." But I think there's a word missing there. I think they mean gay pride square, since the new bar is in an area of gay bars. Here is 1 Cor 6:9,10 from the King James Bible-- 1Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1Cor 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Here is 1 Cor 6:9,10 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version-- 9 Don't you know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God. The term “effeminate” in the King James means male homosexuals. I was recently looking at a Gideon Bible, and it said homosexuals at that place. Couldn’t be sure what translation it was. A page seemed to have been torn out. But it was neither of the above translations. The expression "inherit the kingdom of God" means going to heaven. In other words, homosexuals don’t go to heaven. Jesus taught that we will all go either to a nice place called heaven, or to a nasty place called hell, where there’s crying and gnashing of teeth, where their worms don’t die, and where the fire is never quenched. If you don’t go to heaven, then you do go to hell. And if you go to hell, you don’t get back out of hell. And Jesus said that most people go to hell in Matt chapt 7-- 13 Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there, 14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Are you going to be one of the few that go to heaven, or one of the many that go to hell? There has been a teaching about a place called purgatory, but that teaching is a lie, and there's no scripture to support that. But death and hell will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is a place very much like hell. But why do people gnash their teeth? They gnash their teeth because of anger. Why are people in hell angry? Because they were tricked, they were cheated, they were seduced out of going to heaven through the free salvation of being born again through Jesus Christ. More on that later in this book. "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth." (Acts 7:54) What Stephen said to them made them angry, so they gnashed at him with their teeth. We are quoting above from First Corinthians. Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, recently referred to Second Corinthians, and he called it “2 Cor” “2 Cor” is a perfectly acceptable abbreviation for Second Corinthians, ON PAPER. But to get up in public and say (“2 Cor”) shows how far Donald Trump is out of his depth when it comes to things spiritual. Do we really need a person so ignorant about the things of God in the White House? I submit that he is inappropriate for that office. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is a Socialist. Socialism is very much like Communism. Communism hasn’t worked well in any nation where it’s been tried. What you get is a bunch of fat cats getting rich, and making the rules for the rest of us to follow. This is America. We are not Socialists. We don’t need Bernie Sanders for President. I give arguments why Hillary shouldn’t be President in my recent book, “And Women Rule Over Them.” In my opinion, she's a person of bad character. It is not only 1 Cor chapt 6 that condemns homosexuality. In the Old Testament, the Mosaic law says, “Man shall not lie with mankind as with womankind.” (Lev 18:22) And in the first chapter of Romans, both male and female homosexuality are condemned— 21 Because, when they knew God, they didn't glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed animals, and creeping things. 24 So God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to filthy affections, for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature, 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward each other, men with men doing that which is wrong, and receiving in themselves the repayment for their error that was appropriate. 28 And since they didn't want to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a rejected mind, to do the things that are not convenient, 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, disagreeable, unmerciful, 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those who do them. (from Romans chapter 1) I was shopping at a supermarket, and a young man came up to me with a question. He asked me about homosexuality. I don’t know how he happened to choose me to ask his question of. Perhaps because he could see that I was decades older than he was. As I was talking to that young man about homosexuality, I said, “Really, it (homosexuality) is a form of insanity.” Most forms of insanity are demonic in nature. Demons are fallen angels that rebelled against God when Satan did. The top demon is Satan. Demons go around tempting people to commit sins. Demons would like very much to get into human beings. Demons don’t have physical bodies, they are spirit beings, and so we don’t see them with our natural eyes, just as we don’t normally see the angels that are among us with our natural eyes. When demons get into people, they’re not there to do you any good, but rather to steal, to kill, and to destroy, like Jesus said in John 10:10. Please see my book, "How to Cast Out Demons." Chapter 2 I say again, homosexuality is a form of insanity, and comes from Satan, enemy of mankind. Satan wants to get us to hell. And homosexuality is one way that he is accomplishing that, since God says homosexuals don't go to heaven. Another way is addictions, such as to alcohol, or to illegal drugs, addiction to gambling (which destroys lives and families.) If you are a straight person who has considered becoming gay, let me ask you a question—Do you really want to go to a nasty place called hell, and spend the rest of eternity there? Actually, I shouldn't say the rest of eternity because eternity never ends. Once you get to hell, you’ll immediately see that you made the wrong choice. Some might say, “I don’t believe in hell.” My Dad was like that. He said he didn’t believe in God, and he didn’t expect to go to hell. But now that he has died and gone to hell, he can no longer say that there’s no hell, while he is being tormented by the flames of hell. It is not necessary for someone to believe in hell for them to go to hell. Jesus said there’s a hell. It exists whether we believe it or not. It would be a shame to have to go to hell just to find out that hell exists. Those who don’t believe in hell make it easier for Satan to get them to hell, because if they believed in hell, they would try to make sure they weren't on the road to hell. I heard a man say one time, “Well, if I’m going to hell, I’ll have a lot of friends there.” Yes, but here’s the thing—in hell you and your friends will be blaming each other for your being in hell. There’s no friendship in hell, just insanity, crying, gnashing of teeth, worms, perpetual torment. Haven’t you heard about the rich man and Lazarus? We know because Jesus told us. (Luke chapt 16)-- 19 "There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, also the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being tormented, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he shouted, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, so he can dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in these flames. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime, you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted, and you're tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a large gulf fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you can't, nor can they pass to us that want to come from there. 27 Then he said, Please, therefore, father, send him to my father's house, 28 For I have five brothers, so that he'll testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. 30 And he said, No, father Abraham. But if someone went back to them from the dead, they'll repent. 31 And he said to him, If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded, even if someone rose from the dead." The events with the rich man and Lazarus confirm the words of Jesus in Matt chapt 16-- 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For how does a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his doings. When I was growing up, you didn’t hear about gay pride. But now, seems like there’s a gay pride parade annually in San Francisco, a city famous for having a lot of gays, in addition to its cable cars. I really don’t see how the cable cars are enough reason to visit San Francisco. Big deal. But the expression “gay pride,” suggests that the gays see no reason to be ashamed that they’re gay. This strategy probably derives from the thinking, "Well, why should we go around apologizing for what we are? No, let's take the proactive approach that we have every right to be the way we are." Thus, gay pride. And, that strategy may bring something of an advantage in the dealings of gays with other humans. But it gets them nothing with God, who has already said that homosexuality is an abomination. (Lev 18:22) So then God hates homosexuality. One reason that God hates homosexuality is that God knows that the insanity of homosexuality is a short cut to hell for those who go down that road. And God would prefer that no one goes to hell. The Lord is "...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet 3:9) God created the male and the female, and God has ordained marriage between a man and a woman. Satan wants to pervert things and not do it God's way. Shall we follow God or shall we follow Satan? But if you choose to follow Satan, then you wind up in a fiery hell. There is no negotiator, no orator, no spectacular attorney, nor any assembled group of them, not Henry Kissinger, not John Kerry, nor if Albert Einstein were to be able to get in on it, that could possibly persuade God to change his position that homosexuality is an abomination. God has said that. God still thinks so. God will always think so. So then, the gay pride attitude counts for nothing with God, except to confirm that the gays are crazy. A better idea then, would be to try to see things the way that God sees them, and to do whatever needs to be done to get over to the right side of God, instead of his bad side. And that, of course, is to renounce homosexuality, ask God for His mercy, become a born-again Christian, and ask for God's help to resist temptation. Have you heard that expression, "If you can't beat them, join them."? That applies double or triple with God. We can't beat Him, so we'd better join Him. OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. (Deut 4:24) Seems like the TV personalities, Anderson Cooper and Ellen Degeneres have both come out as being homosexuals. Obviously, they don’t believe the Bible. But people sometimes get satisfaction out of being a part of something. In my youth, I was part of the Boy Scouts. But before becoming a part of something, make sure that it’s something that is worth being a part of. Don’t be part of something on its way to hell. There are some who try to say that they were born gay. If that has ever happened, I think it’s very rare. But the insanity that is homosexuality tends to raise up revisionist historians. My Dad was a revisionist historian. He would recount past events differently from the way that they actually happened. Rev. Lester Sumrall, of LESEA Broadcasting, said something very important about homosexuality. He said, “Homosexuality is a demon that gets in, and needs to be cast out. And it gets in (to the person) through lust." So I believe that many homosexuals started as heterosexuals, and got into heterosexual pornography, and then a demon of homosexuality came along and tempted the man. At the beginning, homosexuality was the furthest thing from the man’s mind. But after getting deep enough into lust, then the homosexual temptation didn’t seem to be such a bad thing anymore. So then, if there was ever a time in a homosexual man’s past when he used Playboy, and heterosexual porn such as that, how can he truthfully say that he was always a homosexual? And although homosexuality might start as just one demon getting into someone, additional homosexual behavior will continue to increase the number of demons in that person until, like the Gadarene demoniac, he might have a legion of demons. (Mrk chapt 5) But Prophet/Teacher, Kenneth E. Hagin, has shown that you can't cast demons out of someone that wants to keep their demons. Homosexuals might argue, “Well, everyone has sexual desires.” Yes, and God has made provision for that—Marriage between a man and a woman. “Marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled, but God will judge whoremongers and adulterers.” (Heb 13:4) God will also judge male and female homosexuals. The Bible speaks of "...many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and hell." (1 Tim 6:9) One of those foolish and hurtful lusts that will send you to hell is homosexuality. Speaking of Lester Sumrall, it was announced that he would speak at the auditorium at DeAnza College in Cupertino, Calif. I asked my co-worker, Joe, if he would go with me to hear Lester Sumrall, and we went. After Sumrall spoke, Joe said, "That's the best preaching I ever heard." For more about Lester Sumrall, please see my book, "Lester Sumrall." Lester Sumrall is also the author of an excellent book, "Demons, the Answer Book." It may be available at the website for LESEA Broadcasting (Google it), or at a Christian book store. If the book store doesn't have it on hand, they can probably order it for you. In the book, Sumrall tells about a woman bitten by demons. You could see the fang marks in her arm, bite marks not of human teeth. Sumrall heard about that woman by listening to the news on the radio. After turning off the radio, the Lord told Sumrall to go and cast the demons out of that woman. So he did. Here is a passage from 1 Cor chapt 6-- 13 Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods, but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual sin, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God has raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 Don't you know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a prostitute? God forbid. 16 What? Don't you know that he that is joined to a prostitute is one body? For he says, "Two shall be one flesh." 17 But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 RUN AWAY FROM SEXUAL SINS. Every other sin that a man does is outside the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. Notice verse 13, above. Here is the same 1 Cor 6:13 from the King James— “Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them...” That same verse applies just as well to homosexuality and homosexuals. God shall destroy both it and them. Someone might say, "Well, it would be OK if God just cancels me out, as though I never existed." No, that's not how it works. If God destroys you, you don't cease to exist. You continue to exist, but in a nasty, fiery hell. It's the destruction, you see, that keeps on giving. And Jesus said, "Don't fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has power to throw into hell, yes, I say to you, Fear him." (Luke 12:4,5) And the One that Jesus is telling us to fear, of course, is God, who can not only kill you, but throw you into hell. The Lawrence Welk show was live on TV every week for many years. One of their musicians was Mr. R. I visited his home in California for a concert he was performing. Mr. R had been an Evangelical Christian. Unfortunately, he turned aside to the Church of Religious Science, which is a false religion. The Bible says, “The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in congregation of the dead." (Prov 21:16) The congregation of the dead refers to the people in hell, even though Mr. R may still be on earth. But he is part of, and will be joining those in hell. Don’t be like Mr. R. Don’t wander out of the way of understanding. For more on the subject of homosexuality, please see my book, “The Nature of Homosexuality.” Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." (John chapt 3) To become a born again Christian, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone 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 has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.