The Line Drawn in the Sand…

By Courtney Short

The “Line Drawn In The Sand” answers the unresolved issues regarding homosexual origination and its historical affliliation with the universal church. The book pinpoints the single objective regarding the pride movement. It also employs foundational biblical truths, practical principles and unique insight that leverages the psychological argument concerning homosexuality which leads us to the single remedy overlooked by man for such a time as this. The Line Drawn In The Sand is a spiritual read that will appeal to all readers who have experienced or is continuing to fall victim to identity issues. Make no mistake about it, the number one global debt crisis has nothing to do with money, beleive it or not! It has everything to do with not knowing who we are as individuals and as a human race collectively. Having high expectations from the wrong information can become traumatizing to the spirit and soul. Nevertheless it is the love of God that outlasts humanites attempt to redefine the line of life drawn in the sand, tailor made for each one of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664220348

Courtney Short

“After you have tried everything else, TriLife” is the slogan for Pastor Courtney Short, the visionary of TriLife Ministries. Pastor Short is a writer, mentor, chess and golf lover. Pastor Short is a certified professional life coach, holds a BA in Christian Leadership, MA is Pastoral Counseling and Christian Studies and he enjoys teaching the infallible Word of God. Pastor Short beleives that God (although often misunderstood) is real, merciful, gracious, loving and faithful. Pastor Short suggests “The only way to truly discover the authenticity of such a statement is to try Him for yourself.” Pastor Short is a father of four and has been married to Nicole Short, his 1st Lady for over 20 years.

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Copyright © 2021 Courtney Short.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2035-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2036-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2034-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021901252

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/28/2021

Contents

Inside We, Outside Me

God’s Revelation, Not Ours

Introduction

Sin

Deep in Sin

Homosexuality

Belief System

Unbelief System

H.I.S.S.

The Argument, We Are Born as Homosexuals

The Argument, We Are Not Born as Homosexuals

The Remedy

The Good Samaritan

The Present Church

The Church, Cold & Blurry

The Remedy For The Church

What I have discovered

Let’s Talk To God

About the Author

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

-Psalms 1

Special Thank you!

This book would not have become a reality without the help of my dear friend in the Gospel Elder Nathan Crawford. Elder you have an anointing greater than the title of Elder! You are a wonderful friend, you have been an outlet and private minister for me countless times. I am reminded that God told Abraham I will make your name great (Genesis 12:2). I believe He is doing just that for you. Elder you have provided essential nuggets and critical incite that has helped me in the dry moments of writing the book. This book will ultimately become a breakthrough for many prisoners suffering on so many levels due to the crisis at hand. This book unveils many of the grey areas sin blurs for legitimate leverage in our lives enough to modify our course of life. Adjustments are necessary for any success in life. We all will face situations where slight adjustments can become the momentum we that connects us to our purpose and assignment found only in Jesus Christ. You have helped me regain leverage and utilize it for Gods glory unapologetically through the book. Thanks for watering the seed in me. Look what God has done! This is the increase! You are a significant Citizen of the His Kingdom and lifelong member of the many Members of the Body of Christ and God can depend on you. I love you to life Elder Crawford!

"Don’t compromise your convictions to satisfy the traditional

and conditional soul. You will surrender its innocence to

wolves in sheep clothing and lose yourself in the process"

-Pastor Short, TriLife Ministries

Inside We, Outside Me

W e all have a trilogy of interdependent phases we operate in everyday that externally demonstrates who we are inside. They are me, myself, and I. These three phases are major contributors that help dictate who we are and who we have been determined to become, based off of both favorable and erroneous events in our lives. It is these self-willed agents of our flesh that may prevent us from experiencing the next level of God in our lives Let’s break this down further. Stay with me because I’m going to the mountain-top, but when I come back, it will all make sense I promise.

Here it is. Grammatically speaking, me is the tangible form of I which is the ultimate revelation of who I am. Good grammar demands that I say I am Courtney, as representing who I am. However, to say that me is not Courtney is incorrect. Now we can’t set aside the fact that Courtney is me, the physical person of who I am. I am Courtney Short, the author of this book! To go a little further, myself is the replacement of me and is used after I. For example, I wrote this myself. Myself, on the other hand, is subtle and crafty, prideful, and just about arrogant all by itself! Myself, is often connected to our thoughts and opinions that seek to outwardly express the inward self, such as saying people like myself love the Lord and attempt to do good. Are you still with me? It’s going to get better I promise!

Spiritually, I am all spirit accompanied with me and myself which make up both my mind and my body. All three phases, me, myself, and I make up the body, mind and spirit created within the community of God (Genesis 1:26). While all three phases represent the same individual, grammatical law supersedes all incorrect application presented by the individual through speech. In other words, I can never be misused by me or myself unless the mind and body are permitted to take preeminence over the spirit. Words are powerful! When I allow myself to be replaced by me, I make the original intent of who I am of no effect and misapplication takes place. I naturally begin to take things personal and I allow myself to think thoughts that I should not. When I succumb to the originality of myself I once again make the intent of who I am of no effect, as the I in me begins to fight with myself and tries to figure out exactly what is happening to me. Because in the mist of it all second and third place of the ultimate revelation of who I am just won’t do! That’s some heavy stuff! How are you doing so far? Stay with me, here we go!

Let’s go deeper. If I compromise with me then I lose not only me, I also lose the identity within myself. Have you found yourself in situations where compromise was intended for the greater good, but it ended up costing you everything? What do I do when I want me and myself to win who I am as the Courtney I am called to be? I am Courtney, but me and myself desire to be Courtney as well. I can’t be any ole Courtney, I have to willingly become their version of Courtney which contradicts who I am for me. Now there is no I in me nor is there an I in myself grammatically, but me and myself cannot exist without I both grammatically and spiritually.

God never intended for the body and the mind to function without spiritual influence. The problem with me, myself and I is now easily understood: the spirit is designed to tame the mind and body working as one unit. The mind desires to govern the spirit by manipulation of our emotions and will, and the body both hates the spirit and the mind but will generously collaborate with the mind long enough to accomplish its goal, which is to suppress the spirit into a forfeiture of identity. This is an identity crisis we all will run into at some point in our lives. Who am I? Nevertheless, God leaves it up to us, broken imperfect vessels, through our freewill, to determine the functionality of this unit. God trusts the identity He placed in us to overcome the crisis taking place from within. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would (Galatians 5:17).

Whenever you go on a fast to detoxify yourself from the unhealthy sweets and treats we don’t mind falling victim to, have you noticed how your mind and spirit responds? The mind goes bizarre, doesn’t it? It is always attempting to persuade the spirit to give in to the mind through thoughts of food. It is the mind that generates strategic thoughts through natural situations, which stimulate insecurity and guilt within your spirit as the vessel! Look again at the potluck that was rescheduled on a day of your cleansing, or take the engagement you were invited to attend; everyone important to your career will be there, eating and socializing, networking, and enjoying the atmosphere. It’s already difficult enough to remain connected and content publicly while privately suffering, for a lack of a better word, when you have the ability to end the discomfort whenever you choose!

Speaking of suffering. The mind dislikes the suffering signals the body is sending it, advising the mind of the need for food to survive!

We are going to die, the mind is saying a loud, hoping that the body will react in a way to offend the spirit. Both the mind and body are supposedly subject to the spirit by law; however, it is in the original intent of identity that audaciously allows the mind and body to be governed by the spirit through decision. This is why when I would do good spiritually the choice of me the body and myself the mind welcomes the presence of evil not because of necessity, but because of purpose intentionally. Can’t we all just get along? I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (Romans 7:21-23).

I often desire to help myself, consequently every time I attempt to help myself I get in the way of me. I desire to please the Lord, but me and myself desire to please self, the flesh, which just tears me apart! The million-dollar question becomes do I forfeit His purpose and the gifts delegated to me and fulfill the craving for me and myself, or do I please the Lord, operate in the calling over my life as intended and forfeit me (the I within myself)? The we in me wants its own identity!

God in His infinite wisdom has a way of making the wrong work together for the right thing to be accomplished the right way! I am now freely able to admit through much trial and error that I can’t help myself, that is very difficult to say, yet through this confession humility materializes as light and it delivers me from the consideration of becoming somebody else other than me. The aha moment of a relentless pain that has become the substratum of my journey in life to answer my call to be Courtney again. Now when me, myself and I are submitted under the original intent of identity, then the true me comes out. I begin to listen to myself because I understand that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). I see myself successful, prosperous and walking into the finished of product me that God sees. The spirit within me has taken his rightful place of authority and has dictated the assignments of the mind and body in a cohesiveness compatible for only me. We all are flowing now, and it feels great being me! All three phases are now working together to bring God ultimate glory, spear-headed by the spirit.

What you will discover through this grammatical illustration is a hidden spiritual principle that we must embrace in order to understand it in our lives. The five most important words, who is really inside me?

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (Romans 8: 1-5).

God’s Revelation, Not Ours

I have discovered, by way of trial and error and through obedience and disobedience, that God will remove the public problem from the source of the problem only to unveil to those facing the problem. The true problem which lies within ourselves. We can be a trip if given the opportunity! Do you agree with that statement? I have also discovered in order to really know that God is real, for our own peace and sanity, we have to go through something far greater than anything we can fathom. Now let me begin by saying that some things are indeed ordained by God to take place in our lives. This is inevitable. And, of course, if you know anything about God, you will also know that whatever He orders, He pays for. I’m not talking about that filet mignon, cooked just right, from your favorite Japanese restaurant that makes you so happy on the inside. The orders I am referring to are the events God has taken full responsibility for and ownership of in our lives; He will bring to pass what He has ordered in our lives.

Yet, within the framework of being associated with God, there are the other things that are self-inflected which also seem ordained and out of our control. This occurs even when we make uneducated choices that have contributed to the success of that situation, which also modifies the direction we were headed in. A direction we were never born ready for. We are now fighting a battle within ourselves trying to free ourselves of a perpetual chaos we have been emotionally invited into and, for some unknown reason, attracted to. I am always emotionally invited to eat what I know isn’t good for me! I succumb to the quick fix of cream-filled donuts or iced coffee with chocolate drizzle, accompanied by the colorful confetti-like sprinkles! Look what I have got myself into! Be careful about them emotions now!

It is here that God will teach us through the instructions He has provided, or He will reach us through the experiences we survive. Sometimes luck in the lesson isn’t achieved. The momentum generated from the circumstance causes us to mentally deviate from what we should have learned. I don’t know if I have learned what I should have out of the life I have lived so far. What I will say is that often, we learn the lesson on the downside of life even though God waits for us on that downside to revive us and take us to a secure place we are too ashamed of. This is the learning curve suitable for complete understanding of the experience one has just encountered and survived. Can you relate to any of this?

This is life. Stumbling upon who we are, right? Providing a voice to the internal learning curves and setting visual markers that should not be crossed, only measured by. It’s amazing what we will endure to eventually come across what we have been unaware of about ourselves. We seek higher education to leverage our conception of life. As parents we pay expensive tuition that includes room and board, as well as a campus food card hoping our children will graduate with a diploma and a greater understanding about themselves.

What happens when the diploma doesn’t align with the discernment? What happens when our gut feeling appears better than God’s intent for our life? What are we to do when how we feel goes from a figment of the imagination to our present reality? Is it wrong for wishful thinking to materialize every now and then? Becoming someone perceived by others as less fulfilling and equivalating the idea into a more suitable life for you and me is worth investigating, isn’t it? I wonder how many of us could say this is the secret to their style of life!

Our identity makes us who we are to the world. There is nothing created that isn’t connected to some concept of identity. The Golden Arches are identified with the McDonalds fast food chain, crosses are identified with a religion of some sort, and the Buckeye Nut is associated for those Buckeye nuts! O-H! Identity drives the things of the world from history past into our present reality. Even unto death, when we have relinquished our last breath, we will still be cleaved to identity. If you own a Mercedes Benz, there is a physical presentation of the car that connects with luxury, precision and character. From the inside out, the car exceeds its own measure of quality with the intent to be identified as nothing less than excellent by both the customer and the manufacturer. If the Mercedes Benz’s identity was modified slightly to be deemed comparable to a lesser identified vehicle, the company would feel insulted. It is the goal of the company to create a car identified to be in its own class. A car extremely credible in sustaining proven character and recognized globally as one of the best cars anyone could imagine having for themselves. At the end of the day, it is what it is! Identity is everything!

I welcome you to the world of homosexuality, because this is homosexuality at the core. It is an identity issue birthed from within. It is taking the Mercedes Benz emblem and attaching it to another vehicle renaming it something suitable to fit the need of the vehicle’s desire to be identified as a luxurious car. I have never struggled with homosexuality, however I had ignorantly purchased its fundamental truth, as I believe many have done unaware themselves. What do I mean by this statement? The world’s view of homosexuality is different from our Makers perspective. Homosexuality is an abomination to God meaning a distaste, a dislike, a disgust or to be in contempt of a law. God is not in agreement with homosexuality at all.

God has provided me this hidden truth regarding homosexuality from a divine revelation for such a