Gay Marriage

Now that NY has made same sex legal, I am almost afraid to go to church tomorrow. I fear that my pastor is going to say something that will I will find really offensive.

Before I go further, let me explain the thought process that occurs in my head that makes it possible for me to support issues that most believers so vehemently oppose:

1. Acceptance does not equal endorsement: Just because I feel that someone should be entitled to make their own moral decisions does not mean that I am going to agree with what they decide. For instance, I could never abort an unborn child; I would never want someone with whom I am involved to abort a child that we had conceived together. It is not within my personal moral make-up to allow that to be acceptable for me. Just as I am allowed to come to that decision on my own, I do not want to disallow someone to go through their own moral struggle and come to their own decision, even if I disagree with their decision. While I do not agree with their decision, my allowing them that freedom is not an endorsement of the conclusion they have reached after their own consideration.
2. The rights of others is not an imposition or infringement of my rights: This is the idiotic notion that allowing gay marriage is an attack on or somehow diminishes of my right to choose who I want to marry; that allowing people of other faith to have their religious customs honored in our judicial system (I'm talking about Sharia, here) is an attack on my right to have the customs of my Christian faith honored in our judicial system.
3. We are supposed to hate the sin, but love the sinner: This is one of Jesus's teaching that I see people of faith stumble over time and time again. I have seen preachers and pastors try to talk about touchy subjects (such as homosexuality) and invariably attack the person and not the offense. If I see someone shacking up without getting married, I am instructed by the Bible to love them, even if I abhor the act in which they are engaged. And that includes not talking about them, judging and damning them in my mind, distancing myself, yelling at them, etc. This is the teaching that I see every single believer (self included) fail over and over again - more than any other.

Having explained that, let me say that gay marriage is not an attack on marriage, it is not an endorsement of homosexuality and we should celebrate with gays and lesbians that they now have the right to be married to who they love and enjoy the same protections under the law that we do even if we would not want to marry someone of the same gender.

Somehow, I know my pastor is not going to greet this news happily. I may have to leave my evangelical church that I love and become an Episcopalian...

Republican Vs. Democrat: Who Believes What

Reposted from addictinginfo.org:

With all this hullabaloo going on about which party does what… I’d like to offer you my opinion, backed with common sense, and very noticeable to the naked eye fact. You can assume it will be biased, that is also common sense… but you will soon see why. I know we are more than a two-party country, but thinking realistically as to who predominately wins elections, I’m going to stick to the Republican and Democratic Parties.

I will start with the elephant in the room… the Republicans.

What do Republicans believe in:

• They prefer State Rights and Laws over Federal Law.. they feel that States should be able to fend for themselves. (Even though it’s pretty certain that there once was a war over this same issue… it was Civil though, and the North was full of “Aggression”.. it seems it cut into profit to treat humans like humans)
• They prefer little to no taxation, and reliance upon the individual. (This may also include, but is not limited to, paving and painting their own roads, responding to their own emergencies, fighting foreign invaders, and delivering their own mail)
• They feel that the solution to gun violence is more guns being allowed in more places. (..because this is working out great for the middle east, and parts of Africa. I’ve always wanted to form a well-regulated militia whilst dusting off my tri-cornered hat and musket. Like I’ve always said, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people… with guns” .. We need more “well-regulated” gun laws, not less)
• Some Republicans want to cut federal regulation of air, water, food, pharmaceuticals, airlines, as well as building codes. (because who needs to be healthy and safe anyways?)
• They want the individual to pay for their own health care, because they think being healthy is a privilege and not a right. (Even though if we had Universal Care we would still be paying for ourselves, it would cost less, and everyone would be covered for every ailment without question or hesitation… Doctors should be paid for quality of care and healthy patients, instead of procedure, and the number of unhealthy patients…. but that just makes too much sense.. I know)
• Most Republicans seem to think it’s okay to discriminate in regards to pay and employment based upon gender. (Instead of performance… I guess women leave to take care of their families… because the men don’t?)
• Some Republicans want to eliminate a minimum wage, employee bargaining rights, as well as other benefits. (… because being a good employer is too expensive when it cuts into profit…. ever heard of investing in human capital?? You’d see a better outcome overall)
• Many Republicans think that it’s okay to take public tax payer dollars away from public schools and give them to private and religious schools. (As long as the money goes to private industry and not back to the tax payer… it’s all good… so sayeth the Republicans)
• They think that the nation will be better off if we continue to give billion dollar handouts (subsidies) to record profit-making oil companies that don’t pay any taxes, instead of to the actual tax paying citizens that deserve to see services from their money.
• Some Republicans think that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) should be cut, and or abolished all together (Ron Paul). (Those that vote Republican, seem to hate the government, until they desperately need it due to natural disaster… while the Republicans say… “too bad… fend for yourselves”… Yet many continue to vote for them. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.)
• Some Republicans will tell you that they think the ‘Civil Rights Act’ was bad, and that it takes away from personal freedom. (Yes, the personal freedom to be a racist and a bigot, and not see consequence for such abhorrent, juvenile behavior)
• Republicans think that it is okay to openly discriminate against LGBT individuals. (Based upon their religious beliefs, which is in direct violation of the Constitution barring the involvement of Church in legislative matters that effect everyone. Not everyone has the same beliefs… and we are not a Theocracy)
• Some Republicans also think that it’s okay to restrict citizens from voting by any means necessary. (Apparently, they can’t win by legitimate means)

Now onto the Party that I feel if you vote for them… “The ass you save, may be your own”

What do Democrats believe in:

• They prefer State rights and legislation for local issues, and federal law for human rights, as well as other issues that pertain to the nation as a whole. (Democrats believe in a Nation of, by, and for the people… every person, not just oneself.)
• They prefer a tax that will be suitable to the current time and situation, and reliance upon the nations citizens to understand when we are in multiple wars that are not paid for, as well as a terrible economic climate where more people due to poor policy, are out of work and need assistance. (Assist those that need it, not those that don’t. Democrats believe in a Nation of, by, and for the people.)
• They believe in “well-regulated” gun use. (This is not the wild wild west, nor a video game… “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people… with guns.”)
• Democrats believe that it is the job of our elected legislation (elected by and for the people) to make sure that we maintain proper and safe conditions for the quality of air, water, food, and drugs… as well as making sure that airline and building safety is safe and up to code.
• Many, if not most Democrats believe that health care is a right, and not a privilege. They believe that we should have a national system set up to ensure everyone has the ability to be properly cared for. (“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”… Without life, we can have no liberty to pursue happiness. Without health we are not alive… that is common sense.)
• They believe that there should be no discrimination based upon gender or race in the workplace or when applying to a school.
• Democrats understand “human capital”. (Human Capital: “The attributes of a person that are productive in some economic context. Often refers to formal educational attainment, with the implication that education is an investment whose returns are in the form of wage, salary, or other compensation. These are normally measured and conceived of as private returns to the individual but can also be social returns.”) (Invest in people, and you will invest in the company, and/or the nation.)
• Democrats understand the importance of everyone having the ability to achieve a high quality education, and firmly believe in the investment into public schools… this goes back to “human capital”… we will later see a return on this investment.
• Democrats believe that we should be investing in people and not giving hand-outs to big corporations, and big oil. (Wealth doesn’t trickle down… pee does.)
• They believe in the importance of a national disaster relief service such as FEMA. We are after all a nation of, by, and for the people (not corporations)… we help our people when it need, that’s what makes us great.
• Democrats believe in equality for all, where all men and women are created equally, and have the equal right to pursue their own individual version of happiness, albeit law-abiding. (This includes eliminating the red tape for immigration, treating all minorities as decent human beings that have the same right to be in this nation as anyone else, and recognizing that LGBT individuals are just people in love with other people, which has nothing to do with anything else. They should be given the same rights and privileges as everyone else… It’s not about some “losing freedom”, it’s about others gaining freedom and catching up.)
• Democrats believe in fair and just voting practices that do not eliminate someones right to vote based upon trivial matters.

These are my opinions… take them as such, but also take them to heart when deciding who to vote for.

I Love My Brother Whoever You Are

"I love you my brother whoever you are whether you worship in your church, kneel in your temple, or pray in your mosque.You and I are all children of one faith, for the diverse paths of religion are fingers of the loving hand of one Supreme Being, a hand extended to all, offering completeness of spirit to all, eager to receive all."

- Kahlil Gibran

WBC explained

Great explanation of why the Westboro Baptist Church is hardly typical of (or actually is) a real church. If you are unfamiliar with the group (or unaware of what they call themselves but have seen them in the news,) these are the people who show up at the funerals of soldiers who dies in Iraq and Afghanistan carrying signs like "God Hates Fags," "God Loves Dead Soldiers," etc. They are absolutely despicable.

WWJD? (What Would Jesus Drive?)

If I had to describe the city in which I live, I would say that it was a fairly large, suburban town with aspirations of being rural. Does that make any sense?

It's the largest city for a good 20-30 miles in any direction... population of more than 30,000... 30 square miles in area. It's a good-sized town. We have two McDonalds, three high schools (one semi-private,) a college, an inordinate number of Dunkin Donuts (two within walking distance of my home,) and at least one really good sushi bar (and couple so-so ones.) There are a couple of farms within the city limits, but these are very small family farms - no big corporate farming here. It's not urbane: there is no social scene to speak of, no local music scene, very little going on culturally.

It's a big town that is deluded into thinking that it is small-town Americana. A city of decent size, convinced that it is actually Mayberry.

A LOT of people drive pick-up trucks. And not just pick-up trucks, we're talking Ford 350's, Dodge Rams with the big Hemmi engines, big GMC's with Cumming diesel engines. Monster, heavy-duty trucks...

To commute back and forth to work in... not to haul lumber or farm equipment; the majority of truck beds have fancy covers. Most of the trucks appear that they are regularly detailed as if they were high-end Jaguars or Porches.I venture to guess that most of them get somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 MPG. Why don't they just burn the money instead?

Christians are called upon to be good stewards of what we have been given. We've been entrusted with but one planet upon which to live, with a limited supply of natural resources. Instead of driving a Toyota Tundra with the 5.7 L V8 that gets 12 miles to the gallon to go to the grocery store and grab a gallon of milk, ham, cheese and a loaf of bread (which is usually the size of your typical payload) why not drive a regular, mid-sized sedan that will get at least twice the mileage?

If Jesus were drive a vehicle today, what do you think He would be behind the wheel of? Before you answer, think about this: when the Messiah entered Jerusalem he could have chosen a gilded chariot drawn by a team of fine horses, but instead entered the gates of the holy city on a lowly donkey. I don't think he'd be caught behind the wheel of a Dodge Ram 3500.

...a Prius? Maybe.

Atlas Shrugged and Jesus Wept

I will probably say this over and over in this blog: you cannot ascribe to the philosophy of Ayn Rand and be a Christian; the two are incompatible. Her philosophy is the antithesis of Christianity. You could more easily declare yourself a fish and breathe underwater than make the philosophical stretch that would allow you to place a foot in both schools of thought, both systems of beliefs.

I can see the allure of Rand's Objectivism: the idea that each person is beholden only to himself, never sacrificing himself for the sake of others or expecting other to make sacrifices on our behalf. It is a philosophy that is tailor-made for our modern time. In our society, because of the startling technological advances that have been in the most recent and extremely brief period of human history it is easier than ever for a person to cut themselves off, be wholly self-sufficient and wholly devoted to one's own happiness. Each man an island and each island a sovereign nation beholden to no other.

But as a Christian, I know that man was created to be a companion. Adam was made to be a companion to God, Himself. Eve was created to be a companion to Adam. We have this built-in gravitational pull that compels us human beings to draw close to one another, to seek out companionship. This interdependence on one another is our greatest source of joy. Can you honestly think of any time of happiness that you have experienced in solitude that can rival the happiness that has been shared with your closest and most intimate companions? We are just wired this way. And in spite of the fact that modern life pushes to greater compartmentalization and times of independence or solitude and we are becoming more and more accustomed to this does not make it natural.

To go along with the independence around which Rand built her philosophy is her concept of "the virtue of selfishness." Altruism, charity, generosity have no place in a Randian world. But these are one of the cornerstones of Christian faith. The new commandment that Jesus gives us, that we love one another as He has loved us is in 180 degree opposition to this very idea. Jesus loved us enough to take our place and sacrifice Himself for our sins - the greatest and most stark example possible in opposition to selfishness. And we all ourselves Christians because we identify with Him and want to be living examples of His life. We cannot do this and be selfish - they are extreme opposites.

...we'll talk more on this later.

Oh God, Where Are You Now?

Oh God, hold me now

Oh Lord, hold me now

There's no other man who could raise the dead

So do what you can to anoint my head

Oh God, where are you now?

Oh Lord, say somehow

The devil is hard on my face again

The world is a hundred to one again

Would the righteous still remain?

Would my body stay the same?

Oh God, hold me now

Oh God, touch me now

There's no other man who could save the dead

There's no other God to place our head

Would the righteous still remain?

Would my body stay the same?

There's no other man who could raise the dead

So do what you can to anoint my head

Oh God, hold me now

Oh Lord, touch me now

WWJD? Certainly nothing that comes from the mouth of Rick Perry

Rick Perry both scares and infuriates me. He is always shoveling some fresh idiocy into the waiting mouths of his insane, right-wing supporters, but this time it's just too much. The latest word from the good governor is that the current economic downturn and joblessness is God's way of getting us to get back to living lives based on biblical principals. This coming from a man whose latest state budget kicks millions of Texans off of Medicare programs, cost 300,000 jobs, slash aid to the needy and services essential to the middle class and lay off 100,000 teachers. When people are hurting, you do not pull the rug out from under them - that goes against just plain, common human decency. Put in his pinheaded little brain it makes sense:

"I think in America from time to time we have to go through some difficult times — and I think we’re going through those difficult economic times for a purpose, to bring us back to those Biblical principles of you know, you don’t spend all the money. You work hard for those six years and you put up that seventh year in the warehouse to take you through the hard times. And not spending all of our money. Not asking for Pharaoh to give everything to everybody and to take care of folks because at the end of the day, it’s slavery. We become slaves to government."

Some people will swallow anything if you wrap it in enough biblical imagery or wrap it up in a nice analogy based on a passage of scripture. This is, of course, ludicrous. Tithing is not ludicrous; I am a firm believer in tithing. It is the only thing in the entirety of the Bible where God actually dares us to put him to the test: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10

What is ludicrous is the idea that when times are bad, you cut off aid to the poor and the needy. That is not biblical; that is not humane; that is not from God. There are dozens of verses in the Bible that show us that when people are in need, you are to reach out and help them from Deuteronomy to 1st Timothy. In fact the portion of the bible where Perry references bringing the tithes into the storehouse? It's "so that the Levites (who have no allotment of inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless, and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied." You don't fill the storehouse by taking that food out of their mouth. That's not what Jesus would do. That's what Ayn Rand would do; but that is for another time...

Israel

My pastor said something the other day that set off some alarm bells in my head. He asked the congregation, "Do you pray for our country?" Many of us answered in the affirmative. "Do you pray for our president?" Not so many in agreement on that question. He went on to say that President Obama had done something that caused him alarm; that he was afraid that it would invite calamity to fall upon the U.S. He went on to reiterate the president's stance on a peace plan for the Middle East and that Israel should honor the borders to which they agreed in 1967 at the end of the Six Day War. Somehow this was not only unacceptable, but horrific. He reminded us that the people of Israel were still God's chosen people. This is a position that a lot of conservative Christians ascribe to: that we should give our allegiance and support to Israel blindly and unconditionally. That they can do no wrong and we should be behind them 100%.

The last time I looked through my Bible, I didn't read anywhere that the Israelites were infallible. There are also plenty of instances where they displeased God sufficiently that he allowed them to be taken into captivity and slavery, allowed calamity to visit them. In fact, there are probably more instances of them being forsaken and punished as a nation than being delivered and/or restored as a nation.

I do not believe that God prevaricates on what is right and what is wrong, especially when one is aware of the difference. I will not believe that God supports Israel breaking treaties, invading land that they relinquished, acting like the terrorists that they decry their enemies to be. I don't think that God would want Christians to support these actions either. I certainly don't.

Israel is the chosen nation of God. That is not in dispute. But does that mean we should blindly and unquestioningly support their actions? ...especially when we know that their actions are wrong? Absolutely not. It's all part and parcel of the whole free will package: if God really required blind, absolute devotion (not only to Him, but to his chosen people as well) then there would be no choice; we'd be bound to do it by the force of His will like the sun in bound to rise in the East every morning. If Israel were capable of doing no wrong they would not have spent centuries in captivity and under subjugation to other nations throughout its history. I cannot believe that God would want us to blindly support wrong doing by any of His children, not even His favorite ones.

- M

Definition of CONSCIENCE

Conscience: noun (kän(t)-shən(t)s)

1. a: the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good
b : a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts
c : the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego

2. : conformity to what one considers to be correct, right, or morally good; conscientiousness

3 : sensitive regard for fairness or justice

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The idea that someone of the Christian faith cannot be tolerant about... other peoples' values, beliefs, positions... is absurd. The idea that someone who supports... liberal and progressive policies, equality for gays and lesbians, freedom of choice, etc.... cannot be a good Christian is equally absurd. In this blog I will explore my own thoughts and views and how they conflict and/or line up with my faith. I invite you to join me in this journey.

- M