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 The Wages of Sin

“. . . sin will take you further than you want to go . . .”

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 Acknowledgements

A few years ago, a friend shared some basic, but essential truths with me. “In adversity
remain flexible. In family matters, be patient and optimistic.
Always keep a good attitude toward your fellowman and never ever stop looking for a
rainbow in your ‘storm’”.
Unfortunately, in real life, it is not always easy to see the beauty of the “forest” [the blessings
of the Lord] when so many “trees” [trials and tribulations] are blocking your view.
I, however, have had someone to help me through these rough spots of life for the past forty
years, my wife Cecilia.
In her own and unique way, she has taught me many invaluable lessons about life, “When to
shut up”, “When to walk away”, “When to let go”, “When to be bold”, “When to be silent” … and
so on and so forth.
Yet, there is one more lesson that is just as apropos, “Before proceeding down the ever
changing and complex road of life, always pause before each step.
This will allow you opportunity to refocus on the what, why, where, when and how of your
mission and then adjust accordingly.
And lastly, always use this time to recommit to the task(s) at hand”.
I vividly remember the look in Cecilia’s eyes when I told her
I was writing another book.
Her look was so intent and piercing that I thought she was reading my mind.
She then just as quickly acquiesced and gave me that all-important nod of approval.
I value her insight as they are my barometers in my decision-making.
Experience has taught me that it is best to heed her sound wisdom, solace, instruction,
inspiration and encouragement the first time rather than later.
Every marriage should have a “Cecilia” in their corner.
They are the one’s who can stand “side by side” with you in celebration, or go “toe to toe”
when and where the situation dictates.
In either role, she has always been my strongest and most ardent supporter.
So, thank you Mahal ko (My love) for believing in me.
 Introduction

N ot to long ago, America was a revered and highly respected nation: almost everyone
wanted to come to our shores.
However, our once mighty nation now staggers and stumbles along almost as if in a drunken
stupor.
The nations of the world that once praised America, now watch in awe as we indiscriminately
extend our hands towards them with cries of, “Brother can you spare a dime”.
Even the wisdom of King Solomon would be taxed to solve the plethora of problems besetting
America; problems I might add that are becoming more rampant and pandemic each day.
While sharing our thoughts and concerns across the backyard fence may ease our conscious, it
in no way exempts us from addressing these problems and issues as a collective voice to our
leaders.
Throughout this book, we not only define the problems besetting us, but we also give a brief
history of their evolution. We then validate the magnitude of the problem with corresponding
statistical data.
The solutions we offer may not be to the majorities liking, but since “Washington” has failed
us, why not at least entertain the Bibles take on these issues.
In chapter 1, we delve into America’s drug problem; both illegal and prescription drugs. In
chapter 2, we deal with pornography and its ensuing proclivities.
In chapter 3, we look into the world of homosexuality, its allurement and its end result.
Chapter 4 explores the world of gangs, their history, and their rise to prominence.
In chapter 5, we take an in-depth look into the elusive and ever growing corruption in our
political world.
We take a closer look at the state of our governmental political parties in chapter 6.
In chapter 7, we expose the hidden dangers embedded within the little known governing law
of Islam, Sharia Law.
In chapter 8, we give a frank and enlightening study regarding the addictive powers of
alcohol.
Chapter 9 is a “no holds” trek into the world of Rap and Hip-hop music.
 Chapter 1
Drugs
(The New Panacea)

B efore I begin, I need to state a few facts about drugs, both legal and illegal.
I know for some this is old news, but for the far greater majority this is new news:

—You can’t predict the effect that a drug can have on you—especially if it’s the first time you
try it, even if it’s only a small amount or dose.
Everyone’s brain and body chemistry are different. Everyone’s tolerance for drugs is different.
—Using drugs can lead to abuse, addiction, serious health problems, and even death.
—Drugs that are legal—prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications—can be just as
dangerous as illegal drugs.

With all the chaos and unrest in our society, it seems an insatiable, all-consuming spirit has
been loosed in the land: a spirit that ensnares unsuspecting victims by any means possible.
What is the end game?
I believe it is to possess, to conquer and to control the will, the mind and the hearts of the
unsuspecting.
No one is exempt from the tentacles of this alluring beast: the rich, the poor, the young and
the old, all are susceptible to its toxic and highly addictive aroma.
This maddening lust for power has almost pushed our nation to the brink of destruction.
We no longer are a people united and solely trusting in an All Knowing, All Seeing and All
Caring God.
With abject disdain for rules, regulations and what’s right we have blindly set out on a course
of recklessness for our progeny and ourselves.
Even sadder, our foolishness has brought us face-to-face with another powerful and
challenging enemy—drugs.
With all the hype and glamorization that our society attaches to drugs, especially when a
public official is involved, a willful spirit of blindness now overshadows our common sense.
 Chapter 3
Homosexuality
(Right? Wrong? or Indifferent?)

T he truth of the matter is, writing is never an easy task.

Sure, it can be exciting and rewarding, but often it is slow, monotonous and even
just plain old “work” at times.
Ask any serious writer and they will tell you that getting the verbs, nouns, pronouns, adverbs,
adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections to fit together in a sensible pattern, is a
constant challenge.
However, the task before me becomes even more formidable when you consider that 67
percent of those reading this chapter will frown upon it—regardless of its veracity and
applicability.
This chapter and chapter 9 (which deal with music) will probably be the most challenged and
criticized of any in the book.
While each chapter in some way deals with the human heart and choices that we make, these
two chapters confront lifestyles; and as you know anytime you confront “pet peeves”, you are
bound to anger some and irritate others.
If I stood on a street corner holding a sign that read, “Down with Drugs” or “Prepare
Yourself, the End is Near”, most would pass by with little more than a nod of the head.
However, repaint those same signs to say, “Homosexuality is a Sin” or “God did not make
Adam and Steve, He made Adam and Eve”, and my friend the gloves come off!
I often ask myself why the nonchalant, ho-hum attitude on one hand and an endless
venomous, vituperative railing on the other.
My only conclusion is that maybe, just maybe homosexuality and music enslave the soul of
man in a deeper way than other life choices or pursuits.
If that is true, then I’d go so far as to segregate them into a unique category, “Life altering
Sins”.
Over the years, I have talked with a number of Christians who were struggling with
homosexuality.
 Chapter 5
Corruption in Government
(How the Mighty have fallen)

T he United States of America is blessed with inherent freedoms and privileges that no
other country in the world can equal or compare to it.
Yet, with great freedoms come great responsibility. This checks and balance system is not
only applicable to every citizen, but for the elected officials we have chosen to govern for us.
Without this constant accountability, our human nature drifts toward evil and with it, our
carnal desires of power, greed and corruption come to light.
Transparency International recently released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index for
2014, and the report puts some perspective on how the United States citizens view their
government and how it compares to other nations globally.
Admittedly, the U.S.’s score is hardly the worst.
That unfortunate honor goes to North Korea and Somalia, tied with a score of 8 (with zero
being the most corrupt based on this scale) where both have been for three years now.
America is tied for 17TH in a four-way tie with Barbados, Hong Kong, and Ireland, but the
fact remains its score is still at 74, only a one-point increase over its score in 2012 and 2013.
It’s also a fairly significant distance away from the world’s least corrupt government,
Denmark, up at 92 this year.
The release, in expressing concern that “not one single country gets a perfect score”, was
perhaps hyperbolic, leaning more on rhetoric than logic.
After all, human nature and human error dictates that there will be corruption and problems
within even the best government, and it’s a positive sign rather than a negative sign in some cases
that this corruption is recognized and publicly addressed.
It’s potentially cynical, but show me a country with absolutely no corruption, and I’ll show
you a country I find suspicious.
The report is also made up of perceptions rather than hard data, with information “based on
expert opinion from around the world”.
 Chapter 7
Shari’ah Law
(The New Threat to America)

A mid several global crises that we face today, the debate on the nature of Islam vis à vis
security, refugee, and even economic policy has created the biggest controversy.
The Media have featured a series of opinion pieces written by educated, liberal thinkers that
claim to dispel ‘myths’ about Shari’ah law being against western values.
One in the Washington Post claimed that Shari’ah is in favour of everything ranging from a
western-style government to gender equality.
Another piece in the Huffington Post claimed that the definition of Jihad refers primarily to
“sustained effort” in advancing the common good and reprimanding evil.
The reality couldn’t be further from these ideas, which are based upon re-interpretations of
very vague Qur’anic verses.
The notions that Islam can be progressive, Jihad can mean ‘peace’, and Shari’ah is nothing
more than a ‘personal relationship’ are the real myths and deserve to be put to rest.
It is often argued that the Qur’anic verse stating that “there shall be no compulsion in
religion…” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256) affirms freedom of religion.
For sure, nobody is allowed to coerce others into accepting Islam—but that does not mean
there is ‘freedom of religion’ as understood in the west.
Under a truly Islamic regime, people are allowed to believe and practice in the faith they want
to. However, non-Muslims in an Islamic state are not given the privileges of Muslims.
For example, non-Muslims pay separate (often-higher) taxes, such as the Jiziyah tax. Even in
the criminal code, a Muslim that kills a non-Muslim cannot be given death penalty.
So, even if religion is not coerced and often non-Muslims will have the option of having their
own laws (including criminal code within their society), it is a fact that having a different religion
means being treated differently in an Islamic state—contrary to the (supposed) western notion that
religions should not affect rights and responsibilities as a citizen.
Furthermore, changing one’s religion from Islam to another religion does warrant the death
penalty. A Prophetic narration comes to mind: “whoever changes his religion, kill him”.
 Chapter 9
Rap and Hip-hop Music

(Redefining our Values)

H
people.
ip-hop has been completely modified into a genre of music that no longer serves its
original purpose: voicing the political, social, and cultural struggles of the black

In her book, From Black Power to Hip-hop: Racism, Nationalism, and Feminism, Patricia
Collins conveys, “Mass media created a seemingly authentic Black American culture that
glamorized drugs, violence, and hyper-sexuality”.
She also remarks that Hip-hop has been converted into a multi-billion industry that has been
turned to “generate cold, hard cash”.
This statement is true because nowadays, Hip-hop artists focus more on making money and
glamorizing drugs, money, and naked girls.
Although there are many ways Hip-hop affects a person, for this opening article, I will be
focusing on two major things: sex and drugs.
Sex
In her post, The Problem in Today’s Hip-hop and Rap, Addie Wagner detects a crucial thing
regarding Hip-hop. She states:
“Because sex appears all throughout the media: television, music, advertisements, the public
has, for the most part, become numb to it. The television used to show married couples’ bedrooms
with two separate beds and now, they almost show full sex scenes”.
These days, most of the sexual scenes are usually seen in Hip-hop music videos. So, why does
this matter, and how is this affecting the youth?
I will try to answer these questions this way:
When young men watch these Hip-hop and rap music videos, they invariably impact the
sexual decisions of the youth.
The thought projected is, it is okay to become intimate with whomever they desire, regardless
of the number of people.
This highly increases the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
 J ames Langston, a retired naval officer, faithfully served his country for 27 years before
writing the final chapter of his career in 2003.
Langston is founder and senior pastor of the Pilgrim Outreach Ministries.
He is ordained and licensed through World Evangelism Fellowship of Baton Rouge,
Louisiana as a preacher of the gospel.
James is a 1976 graduate of El Campo high school in El Campo, Texas.
Langston is the founder of two popular social media sites hosted on Twitter, @joybells49 and
Facebook, pastorjameslangston@facebook.com.
He is a author, ordained minister, husband, father, grandfather, avid jogger, bowling
enthusiast, senior pastor of the Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International, a Information
Technology web developer, a communications officer (public relations specialist), a playwright,
and a SyFy writer.
His work across these multiple disciplines broadly addresses narratives of human experience.
As a playwright, James has captured the attention of executive producers at Sony, Pixar,
Discovery Channel, Lifetime TV, A&E, SyFy, Velocity and UKTV.
You can visit the Pilgrim Outreach Ministries online bookstore at,
www.thewilltosucceed.homestead.com.
Here you can preview and order his books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu Enterprises
and NOOK in paperback or hardcover, or as a Kindle e-Book.
James and his wife Cecilia have been married for almost 40 years.
They have six children and fifteen grandchildren.