Christocentric

At least that’s what the world wants you to think about condoms. I’m always amazed to hear or read discussions about STDs and unwanted pregnancies and the cure all is always “education about condoms” or “just make sure you’re protected” or oodles of money sent to public schools and organizations for access for kids to get condoms. I’ve been bouncing around different blogs reading discussions about relationships, disease, and the word “condom” eventually pops up. In our modern age of STD statistics climbing, you’d think that most people would get it by now – CONDOMS AREN’T SAVING US!

Aren’t people aware of the fact that condoms are NOT perfect? With the high incidence of AIDS why play with their lives and have dangerous sex with someone they may or may not marry? Why not wait until marriage because more than likely they won’t use a condom unless to prevent pregnancy and even THEN the condom may not work! (I’m a witness to that as I have one child while a condom was in use with me and hubby (ex).)

What the Doctors and Scientists say about sex and condoms

The truth is that no matter the failure rate of condoms whether .00456% or 99%, who can afford to gamble with their lives? Interestingly, even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say to ABSTAIN from sex is the BEST way to avoid STDs.

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is uninfected. CDC Dept. of Health and Human Services on Male Latex Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

CDC goes on to say,

For persons whose sexual behaviors place them at risk for STDs, correct and consistent use of the male latex condom can reduce the risk of STD transmission. However, no protective method is 100 percent effective, and condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STD.

NO GUARANTEES! And why are we taking that chance? I really want to know!

Now I found a sheet that has been floating around the Net for sometime now and I haven’t been able to confirm its truthfulness or not. But what’s noteworthy about this are the opinions of doctors knowledgable in the business of sexually transmitted diseases:

Condom Warnings — Beware!!!

Doctors speak out about condom failures!

Many leading health experts have warned against depending on condoms for protection against AIDS and other STDs. Here’s a sampling of their comments:

- “You just can’t tell people it’s all right to do whatever you want as long as you wear a condom. It (AIDS) is just too dangerous a disease to say that.” – Quote from Dr. Harold Jaffee, chief of epidemiology, National Centers for Disease Control

- “Simply put, condoms fail. And condoms fail at a rate unacceptable for me as a physician to endorse them as a strategy to be promoted as meaningful AIDS protection.” – Quote from Dr. Robert Renfield, chief of retro-viral research, Walter Reed Army Institute

- “Relying on condoms for ‘protection’ can mean lifelong disease, suffering, and even death for you or for someone you love.” – Quote from Dr. Andre Lafrance, Canadian physician and researcher

- “Saying that the use of condoms is ‘safe sex’ is in fact playing Russian roulette. A lot of people will die in this dangerous game.” – Quote from Dr. Teresa Crenshaw, member of the U.S. Presidential AIDS Commission and past president of the American Association of Sex Educators

Adapted from: Lickona, T. and J. Sex, Love, and You. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1994.

Another website shares some of the same information: Are Condoms Foolproof or for Fools?

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This is a repost from the Concerned Women for America website. I thought it’s time for us to be reminded on the best ways in witnessing to the homosexual in light of increasing acceptance of their lifestyle. Many are no longer hiding their sexual orientation and as a result, more and more of us who do not accept their lifestyle are having to deal with their openness.

How do we go about that? This article is a great reminder of how we are to be with people who’s lifestyle’s are contrary to God’s Word.
_______________________________

How Christians Can Talk to Homosexuals
By Yvette Schneider
2/26/2004

A former lesbian explains how to reach out to homosexual friends and family members.

Everywhere I go, people ask me how they can talk to their homosexual friends and family members. That question always makes me think about a young man named Jeff with whom I worked several years ago at a law firm in downtown Los Angeles. Jeff was a Christian who had deep religious convictions. He carried a Bible with him and wallpapered his office with index cards containing Scripture verses. When I first met Jeff, I was a lesbian activist who disliked outspoken Christians. But because of his persistent good will and kindness toward me as a person, Jeff disarmed me and later was instrumental in my conversion to Christianity. He modeled how Christian people should demonstrate compassion and kindness.

BUILD FRIENDSHIPS
As Christians, our primary concern for others should be for who they are as individuals created in God’s image. Jeff was concerned for me as a person, not about my homosexuality. In an attempt to strike up a conversation, every Monday morning Jeff would ask me about my weekend. Considering that what I did over the weekend was offensive to Jeff as a Christian, I did not want to discuss my personal life with him. But after several months, I realized that Jeff wasn’t asking me about my weekend so he could look down on me or ridicule me behind my back. He was genuinely interested in my life and what was important to me, because he cared about me as a person.

After some time, I realized that Jeff was friendly toward me because he wanted to be my friend. In the beginning, I was suspicious of his motives, and thought he was friendly toward me for the sole purpose of “converting” me. I believed that anyone who disagreed with me or disapproved of my behavior was rejecting me and couldn’t possibly care about me. Jeff showed me that he could disapprove of my lifestyle and oppose my worldview while genuinely caring about me and my well-being. I had never experienced that from anyone, especially a Christian. The Christians I had come into contact with at gay and lesbian pride parades only shouted at me that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Jeff never uttered a harsh word toward me, but always treated me with dignity and respect. As a result, I began opening up to Jeff and telling him about different things that were happening in my life. He would usually respond by opening his Bible and finding applicable Scriptures. That was the first time anyone related the teachings of the Bible to my life in a practical way. Eventually, I looked forward to hearing what the Bible had to say about issues that were personal to me. When my neighbors beat up two men leaving a gay bar down the street, Jeff read to me the story of the good Samaritan. I knew from that story that even though I was afraid of what my neighbors might do to me in retaliation, I had to report them to the police.

God does not only guide us in the right way to live, Jeff told me. He is primarily interested in people on a personal level, even someone like me. At the time, I didn’t believe in God, but to hear that I could have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe touched an empty place in my heart.

DISCUSS A VARIETY OF TOPICS
Often when we are aware that someone is involved in sexual sin, we feel obligated to bring it up in conversation, or to find different ways to talk about it. Jeff didn’t badger me about homosexuality being sinful like I thought he would. We talked about the morality of other forms of sex outside of marriage such as fornication, adultery and prostitution. We also discussed abortion, ethics in the work place, and lying, but rarely homosexuality. The only time Jeff mentioned homosexuality was when a celebrity had “come out.” Then Jeff would say that he felt sorry for that person involved in homosexuality, but no more than he felt for someone who was sleeping around or cheating on his wife.

The point Jeff was making was that no one is without sin. We are all fallen creatures. There are no special sins that make some people, but not others, unworthy of God’s presence. As the book of Romans says, all humans have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23¹, 3:10,12²). Every single person needs the redemption of Jesus Christ, from homosexuals, adulterers, liars and thieves to someone who is basically “good.” God loves us enough to have sent His own Son to be the perfect sacrifice needed to redeem us from our sin (John 3:16³, Romans 8:32⁴).

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Maulana Karenga, the creator of the afrocentric celebration of Kwanzaa, wrote his response to the CNN special on Black America in the Los Angeles Sentinel, a black newspaper titled: Peddling Pathology in the Media: Selling Dream, Drama and Dread. I’ve written about Karenga and his views regarding race and religion on my website, The Truth About Kwanzaa (see link on top of site). This article caught my eye because it tells me a little where Karenga still stands, as the article appeared last week in the Sentinel on July 24th.

We actually agree here

He starts off saying a few things that I actually agree with. He expresses his disdain for the media taking information about the Black family, showing mostly negative images without offering any real solutions. It’s the diagnosis of our problems and how to correct them where I disagree very strongly with Dr. Karenga.

Here are a few excerpts from the article that can be seen in its entirety by the link provided on the side bar:

“Whatever benefits one believes will result from the extended dissection and discussion of Black pathology in the TV “docu-drama”, “Black in America” and whatever its producers promised and pretend to accomplish, increased public insight, community initiative and “patient” involvement are not among these. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine that after so many years of pretentions and failed practice that even the media could be so submerged in self-delusion that they would believe that they are doing anything but repeating and reinforcing a racial catechism of pathology, impotence and impossibility.”

The Creator of the “Kwanzaa Religion”

Dr. Karenga’s two PhDs show profusely in his writings. Of immense worldly intelligence, he holds degrees from USIU (now Alliant International University) and USC in political science and social ethics (info from the faculty page of California State University, Long Beach). He’s used his acquired education to come up with solutions he’s formed within his philosophical framework called Kawaida theory, from which he derived the seven principles of Kwanzaa (The Nguzo Saba). These principles he believed would make black men and women better human beings, that is, if they follow them daily. (See Is Kwanzaa a Religion?)

Karenga is speaking some truth

Karenga goes on by saying,

“It is said also that showing the negative side of Black life is “keeping it real”. But that’s a deficient, degraded and degrading concept of reality in which the lowest level of Black life is posed as the model and an elevated and achieving life is viewed with disbelief and disdain. In such a context of conceptual confusion, self-destruction and distortion, thuggin and thinking low-life are posed as real, and loving each other, commitment to learning and living a good and meaningful life are seen as unreal and perhaps unreachable. The established order feeds on and funds such a conception; producing, promoting and profiting from images, music and conversations of self-condemnation, self-degradation and self-mutilation in old and new ways they’re still working on.”

I’m almost tempted to say to Dr. Karenga at this point PREACH! He’s speaking a lot of truth here. Especially when he says, “such a context of conceptual confusion, self-destruction and distortion, thuggin and thinking low-life are posed as real, and loving each other, commitment to learning and living a good and meaningful life are seen as unreal and perhaps unreachable.” Exactly my beef with CNN too!

The examples they showed, some positive, but mostly negative images of black life with no real solutions would give many the feeling of hopelessness! Sadly, the images of black Americans is reduced to that of sagging pant thugs and video vixens, a point ironically brought out by CNN.

Back to Victimization

But what does Dr. Karenga provide as the reason for these problems?

“Aware of its role as victimizer, the established order does not want us to talk about victims, damage done and justice due. Thus, it tries to redefine our rightful social justice conversation as victimhood conversation. But social justice is at the heart of a good society and is not wished or waved away. Black people, as poll after poll shows, are aware that they are not being treated justly, but the issue is always, what is to be done?”

Dr. Karenga was on a roll there but he fell “victim” to that good old victimization rant again. He’s still looking for justice as if injustices are the primary problem that black people are facing. He’s still stuck in the 60′s when social justice was the point of emphasis in a people looking for equality. Much of that has been achieved even though social injustices are still in existence.

Is he hating on Christ here?

But look closely at the creator of Kwanzaa’s following statement:

“Surely, it involves more than the magnified and manipulated hope that the “ascension” or election of one person will miraculously empower a whole people, lift them up beyond the raw and subtle racism which appears in both ragged and rich disguises.”

His use of the words “ascension” and election gives me the impression that he’s speaking of Obama and Jesus. Another place where you will find inferences to Obama and Jesus in the same sentence (not good). Of course I could be wrong and perhaps Dr. Karenga himself could provide me clear meaning here. Karenga appears to be scolding black people who would dare find hope that racism will be eradicated by electing Obama as president or by even placing their faith in Jesus Christ. Karenga has made it known his dislike of Christianity because of his belief that it’s a “white man’s religion.” He’s obviously not happy with black people looking to Obama as their political savior either – which is a good thing, albeit for the wrong reasons.

Still living in the 60′s and Self-Liberation

“Indeed, as we’ve always said, there is no remedy except thru resistance, no real strategy that does not require struggle and no way to repair injuries and injustices that afflict our lives, except by repairing the world in the process. For we are our own liberators and a people that cannot save itself is doomed to eke out its life in the marginal and minor spaces of others’ lives.”

Resistance? Our own liberators? Save ourselves? And this is after commenting in so many words that Jesus is not enough. Not only is Jesus not enough, but evidently Jesus can’t even save us because we must save ourselves. Save ourselves from whom though? He answers that question next:

“Thus, there is no alternative to taking responsibility for our own lives. Yes, the oppressor is responsible for our oppression, but we are responsible for our own liberation. And part of our being responsible is to hold the oppressor responsible for the wrong done and the justice due.”

Still believes that the White man is our oppressor

The oppressor that Karenga speaks of is representing “White Supremacy” thus, the White man Karenga is pointing the finger to. This man although very educated, is ignoring the statistics. Racial injustices are not on the top lists of whats bringing down the black family. Divorce, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, abortions, drug and alcohol additions, poverty and etc., how much of that is the “oppressor’s” fault? Blame the white man if you must, but true oppression results from the abandonment of God’s principles found in the bible – resulting in separation from God!

He ends the article with the following:

“As we’ve argued before, we are injured physicians who must and can only heal, repair and transform themselves by healing, repairing and transforming society and the world. And given the radical nature of this awesome effort, our oppressor cannot be our teacher, will not televise our work or welcome us in Washington to salvage his image and give the system a new lease on its problematic life. As Fanon says, it is a question of our engaging “on a vast scale in enlightened and fruitful work”, as men and women conscious of our tasks, committed to our struggle and confident every dawning day will “find us firm, prudent . . . resolute” and relentless in the pursuit and expansion of African and human good in and for the world.”

Real problems require real solutions

Dr. Karenga ends up placing himself in the same category as CNN: saying a whole lot without it meaning much of anything! I will give CNN this over Dr. Karenga, it is a bit more realistic on placing most of the blame back to where it belongs, on black people and not others. Karenga did his part in pointing out CNN’s faults in just talking about our ills without any real solutions.

Both CNN and Dr. Karenga have this in common: both have rejected the solution found in empowering people to conquer their ills with a real walking, talking relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ! Because of Karenga’s contempt of Christianity, he tried very hard in getting people to follow after his “new religion” of Kwanzaa. Unfortunately for him, most only celebrate it as an extension of Black History without realizing that it’s not really true Black History, but a conglomeration of made up things by Karenga. Nor do most understand that Kwanzaa IS another gospel and must be rejected by those who profess a faith in Jesus Christ.

I really hated going back to the color thing again, but this topic I couldn’t pass up because of the influence Karenga has had on this nation. When the presidents have to give Kwanzaa greetings every Christmas season, you know that it’s achieved some level of importance to people. When Kwanzaa is mentioned in the same breath as Christmas and Hanukkah, then folks must think its of some spiritual significance.

Karenga is a false teacher

Dr. Karenga must be looked upon as a false teacher. He words are attractive, especially to the intellectual crowd, but he’s teaching a deadly doctrine of humanism, the teachings that MAN is the center of his own universe, and can save himself without the help of God.

Exposing the hatred of this man to Christianity should be enough for Christians to turn their back on both Kwanzaa and Karenga. Sadly, many still don’t get it and don’t love Christ enough to obey the scriptures to not have anything to do with the those who are responsible for false teachings!

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
- Ephesians 5:11

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
- Colossians 2:8

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” – 2 Peter 2:1-3

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien covers a special report call Black in America all this week. Covering topics about the Black family, woman and man, CNN attempts to cover the problems facing Black Americans today and what people are doing about it.

Racism isn’t the primary problem!

I have a very big problem with this special. With so much emphasis on the color of one’s skin, CNN is overlooking the fact that the bulk of the problems are not racial, but spiritual. Of course, I don’t expect CNN to come from that angle, but the report is useless if problems are not examined in the context of what makes people do the things that they do! Single-parenthood, divorce, incarceration, drug use, women being single and alone are more because of issues in not having a right relationship with God. Even in the case of the biracial couple and their children where the husband and wife were having issues raising the child because the wife wants to bring “black culture” into the picture – that’s also spiritual! Just let your kids be kids and raise them up as the God would want parents to raise their children – under His principles!

I’m even more bothered by the fact that if we are to ever strive towards a nation of racial equality, then why do we keep putting emphasis BACK on the color of our skin? Racism is a color issue, but this show wasn’t so much about racism as it was about problems within the Black family period. Although at times it seems as if CNN tried hard at times to blame black problems on whites, such as the incarceration of black men and their high percentages and media focus. If black men would do the things to stay out of jail, then there be very little to talk about! Again, It has very little to do with our color but how we are living our lives!

SEX is the problem!

Specifically the problem of sexual immorality I feel is the major problem within the American culture PERIOD! It is a problem rampant nationwide, not just within the black family. If sexual immorality is addressed alone and if people took steps to wipe out immorality then how many of our problems would be solved? How many would still be single parents if they weren’t having sex resulting in illegitimate babies? How many children would be stuck in poverty because only one parent was taking care of them? How many of those children would be off the streets if they had dads at home disciplining them? How many would be affected with Aids if not practicing sex outside of marriage? How many marriages would still be intact if no one cheated on their spouses? Lack of sexual responsibility found within the confines of commitment in marriage is the biggest problem facing MOST Americans today!

Insulting!

AND just how would we feel as Black Americans if a special was done on “White” in America? Why is it even necessary? This idea of addressing of po’ little black folks as if we need different solutions than whites is insulting. Let’s address the problems of each person, then go about solving them!

Okay, I may be a little hard on CNN because after all, the reporter Soledad O’Brien can relate to a lot of the issues being discussed being a biracial woman. Perhaps she’s very passionate about gathering information that she feels would help Black Americans. But it’s not helping. If nothing else, it’s pouring salt into the wounds without any bandages to stop the bleeding.

Solution: Know God and Follow after HIM!

Real problems require real solutions and it must start with the individual – an individual’s relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ!

Thank you CNN for giving me something to rant about!

Go to CNN here: Black In America

This is somewhat old news, but it’s new news for me. Just doing my morning browsing of websites and blogs and I came across several articles on Obama and school vouchers.  This is a subject very dear to me because as a single-parent, I had a great desire to send my children to private schools. But because I couldn’t afford to, they ended up going to the problematic local inner city schools. If vouchers had been available, undoubtedly my children would have gone to schools of my choosing! I did not have time to wait on schools to get their acts together. Nevertheless, they went to their godless schools where they weren’t even allowed to say “Jesus” during the Christmas season.

Obama is chanting the “real change” motto for schools as part of his overall message of change for American campaign. He shares his desire for a better future for our children on his campaign website:

A World class education

“I don’t want to send another generation of American children to failing schools. I don’t want that future for my daughters. I don’t want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.”

But when it comes to school vouchers, Obama was skeptical but at least willing to try them to see if they worked. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 14, 2008 it says of their report on Obama:

He pronounced himself a skeptic of private school vouchers, saying: “My view is you’re not going to generate the supply of high-quality schools to meet the demand.”

Obama said he was surprised to learn from Gov. Jim Doyle that “there was no assessment process” for the Milwaukee program but indicated he might be open to supporting voucher programs if studies show they work.

“If there was any argument for vouchers, it was ‘Let’s see if the experiment works,’ ” Obama said. “And if it does, whatever my preconception, you do what’s best for kids.”

But over satellite, after receiving the endorsement of the 1.4 million American Federal of Teachers Association on July 13, Obama completely reversed his position on school vouchers when he addressed the 80th convention of AFT. He also chides McCain for supporting vouchers while denouncing it. The following is quoted from his own campaign website:

Of McCain he says:

Now, John McCain is an honorable man and I respect his service to our country, but he won’t even get us to that starting point. For someone who’s been in Washington nearly 30 years, he’s got a pretty slim record on education, and when he has taken a stand, it’s been the wrong one.

He voted against increased funding for No Child Left Behind to preserve billions in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans – tax breaks he wants to extend without saying how he’d pay for them. He voted against increasing funds for Head Start, and Pell Grants, and the hiring of 100,000 new teachers again and again and again.

In fact, his only proposal seems to be recycling tired rhetoric about vouchers and school choice.

He then goes onto say of himself:

“But what I do oppose is using public money for private school vouchers. We need to focus on fixing and improving our public schools; not throwing our hands up and walking away from them.”

Flip-flopping or more political pandering to the powerful teachers organization? Whatever the case, this is even more disgusting to me and another reason not to vote for Obama. The hypocrisy of it all is that he sends his own children to private schools! (see American Thinker)

As I’m writing this post I am finding more and more articles reporting on Obama’s educational hypocrisy in his speech to the ATF. What do you all think and especially to what Obama says about McCain?

More articles that I’m finding as I write this article:

Obama and the AFT – New York Sun

Obama tells teachers unions he opposes vouchers – New York Sun

Commentary: McCain right, Obama wrong on school vouchers – commentary by CNN contributor Roland S. Martin

McCain tells NAACP he’ll back school vouchers – Yahoo News, Associated Press Writer Devlin Barrett

Change he can’t believe in – Steve Chapman, July 21, 2008, Reason Magazine

According to the James Hartline Report blog, Peter Tatchell, a child sex advocate will be leading the Gay pride parade and festival. This is a man who wrote an article that appears on his website, “Lowering the unrealistic age of consent will help teens.”

An example of what he says on that page:

Any lowering of the age of consent needs to go hand-in-hand with candid, compulsory sex education in schools. From the age of 12, they need explicit advice on how to deal with sex pests, negotiate safer sex and sustain fulfilling relationships based on mutual consent and respect.

Very disturbing! There’s much more on that site – if you can stomach it!

Please read James Hartlines very informative post titled: A Pedophile’s Paradise: The 2008 San Diego Gay Pride Events His post will probably give anyone a small window to peer into what goes on with the average Gay Pride celebration.

I had responded to a blog I fell upon called the MichelleObamaWatch.com. The discussion I was commenting on was titled, Michelle Obama Reiterates Barack’s Solidarity with the GLBT Community, which was also subject of my June 27 post about Michelle Obama.

I didn’t want to get into a debate about homosexuality, but I did want to make clear that I was one of a number of black’s who aren’t choosing to follow after Obama and why I wasn’t. I let it be known that it was Obama’s stance on homosexual marriage and abortion that has me very turned off from his politics.

I’ve invited the posters from that topic to continue our discussion over here. Posters, Ron Glenn, Joi, Ken, Meagan, CS, and Angie Hussein Jackson. I won’t debate on that board, but I will continue the discussion and will respond to all of their questions or comments directed to me here on this blog. The blog guidelines on their board made it clear that it wasn’t for attacks and gave permission to cross post to our own blogs to “let loose.” Some of my comments may be viewed as “attacks” so I didn’t want to take a chance in not having any of my comments “banned” so here I am, about to let loose on my own turf! I don’t like attacking, but if a gay person can sue the bible for hate, I guess anything we Christians can say can be viewed as even worse!

I started first by telling them in my very first post on June 30th that a result of having gay marriages declared legal their lifestyles would be considered “okay” and would result in lawsuits and the like against Christians. We would be declared as discriminating against them and the bible would be declared a book of hate!

The evidence of this statement was made quite visible with WorldNetDaily.com’s article yesterday on gay author Bradley Fowler suing the bible publishers Zondervan and Thomas Nelson for $70 million dollars because of the insertion of the word “homosexual.” The paper cites his discomfort for the Bibles’ references to homosexuality as a sin having made him an “outcast from his family and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of demoralization, chaos and bewilderment.” It will be quite interesting in how far this lawsuit will go, and the way things are going right now, I won’t be surprised if the bible does get condemned for its “hate speech.”

Okay, let me begin my followups to the MichelleObamaWatch.com board starting with poster Joi. She says the following:

“Carlotta, I’m going to assume you’re NOT virgin. Biblically, that makes you a whore if you’re not married. Sex should only happen in the confines of marriage. So, from that stand point I don’t condone your lifestyle choice. I suggest you keep your legs closed act like the Christian you claim to be and stop worrying about other people’s lifestyles. Especially, since people like you can’t seem to live the values you preach.”

Joi, you assumed correctly. I’m a mother of five kids so therefore, I’m no virgin! You assume incorrectly that I’m a whore if I’m not married. I’m divorced, and celibate for a number of years now (lost count!) So yes, to follow after biblical commandments of no sex outside of marriage, I’m doing just that! It is true that we sometimes don’t live the values we preach, but that’s no reason why we still can’t speak out against other people’s lifestyles. I do make sure before I “preach” that my own life is in sync with God’s purpose and commandments.

Meagan says:

“Christianity and the bible are not inherently hateful constructions. What IS hateful is the way some Christians choose to interpet the bible, and how they spread their hatred under the banner of God. And if you’re worried about some lawsuits because GLBT Americans wish to be treated with the same decent respect as you, well, then your priorities are seriously out of order.”

The way that Christians choose to interpret the bible? The bible is pretty clear on what is sexual sin and what is not. It’s pretty clear on what’s considered marriage and what is not. Even in the lawsuit against the bible publishing companies and the way the words are changed, it is still clear what the bible is talking about whether the word homosexual is used or not. Take a look at the difference in interpretations that was mentioned in this lawsuit which was taken directly from homosexual activist and author, Bradley Fowler’s blog by rightpundits.com – incorrect spelling and all:

1. In 1970, I Corinthians 6:9 read as followed – Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulteres, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effiminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
2. In 1982 ,the same scripture read like this – Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodimites.
3. In 2001 the same scripture reads like this – Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God’s kingdom. Do not be fooled, those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob thses people will not inherit God’s kingdom.

Meagan is trying to say that we intrepret the bible incorrectly, but those three different interpretations above still show that no matter how you cut it, if you use common sense and read the bible as you would any book, you can’t escape it’s meanings of homosexuality! No where in the bible, Old Testament or New, will anyone find God’s blessing on that sexual activity! It’s intellectual dishonesty to say that it’s misinterpretation to say homosexuality is SIN.

Meagan goes on to say:

So you’re going to vote for John McCain, who will do nothing to ensure the sustainability of our planet, believes that we should stay in Iraq for another 100 years, does not support equal pay for women, and has remained silent on the issue of torturing enemy combantants even though he himself was a POW? All because you can’t get over the fact that Barack Obama believes that all Americans are deserving of the basic right to marry the person that they love? Very smart.

You assumed incorrectly that I’m voting for McCain. As of right now, I’m not voting for anyone – yet. But I am leaning more towards McCain – if anything to prevent Obama from winning. But right now, I’m just not sure yet.

Ken says,

The bible is great, maybe we just should not force people to live by it, lets allow others to be free to be who they are, god loves us all. In addition, there is part of the gay community that is not divine, and can be put as sin, however, we all sins. Therefore, we are all sinners, and your way of thinking is a since as well, yet, the divine still is ready to embrace us all.

I send this with love to you Carlotta

I love you too Ken! But does God loves us ALL? Let’s see what God says about who His children are and who aren’t.

In John 3:16 we find the most popular bible verse in the whole universe! It says:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Yes, God loves us so much that He gave His only Son – with conditions! We must believe in Him to receive eternal life. This is reiterated all throughout the 3rd chapter of John.

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” vs 18-21.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” vs. 36

God’s love isn’t all willy nilly and accepting everyone and whatever they do, there are conditions and it start’s with accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. And the evidence of this faith is obedience! Obedience doesn’t get us saved, but if we truly repent of our sins, then the objective will be to obey God because of our love for Him. That’s how God can tell who belong to Him and who doesn’t.

Jesus says the following about love and obedience:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14

So Ken, God loves us all, but as far as whom he embraces? Look again at John 14:21 – “He who loves me will be loved by my Father and I too will love and show myself to him.” God will only “embrace” those who love Him, and that love is shown by WHAT YOU DO in obedience!

Ron Glenn says,

“Our “lifestyle” has been proven to be “okay” per one of the most trusted and respected scientific organizations in the world – The American Psychological Association – and that was over 35 years ago now…”

I was amused by how easily Ron accepts what the American Psychological Association says about homosexuality than what the word of God says.

Angie Hussein Jackson (is that your real middle name or made up) says the following about her lesbian best friend and roommate:

When I think of gay and lesbian rights, I think of her. I’ll admit that for many, many years I questioned the validity of the statement that gays are “born that way” rather than choosing a lifestyle. Knowing her, seeing her struggle with this issue for so many years without once losing her faith in God or her conviction in His calling on her life, has convinced me that it is true. Nothing about her chose to be a lesbian, rather, she is one. So, with no insult intended whatsoever, I do believe that like race or gender, sexual orientation is not something we choose for ourselves, but something we are born with. Therefore, it should not be criminalized.

Angie, have you forgotten that there are many, many sins we are born with? Heck, we are all born into sin period! Many of us are born liars, cheaters, procrastinators, lazy, sexually promiscuous and the like. There are even studies that say that some are even predisposed to alcoholism. Does that make alcoholism acceptable?

The bottom line is that no matter if we are “born” into a particular lifestyle, we must always check it to what the word of God says. If it’s classified as a sin, then that particular lifestyle must be stopped – no matter how difficult it is to do so! No excuse for homosexuality whatsoever. Pray for your best friend instead of making her feel comfortable in her sin. Otherwise, judgement will be cast on you also for doing so (gosh, looking for that scripture that says that.)

I challenge the homosexual community and their supporters to read posts from ex-gay Christians (yes, there is such things as EX-GAY which some of you deny) James Hartline (fellow San Diegan) and Pastor DL Foster over at the Gay Christian Movement Watch Blog. You can select their links from my “Faith Defenders” section anytime!

Hopefully, those on the Michelle Obama Watch blog will continue the discussion here. Otherwise, this is still open to all!

According to the WorldNetDaily.com’s article titled, “Gideons Chased from Maryland School,” a school board voted to ban the Gideon New Testament Bibles from being passed out to the children. The worse part about this article was that it was a “Christian” who contacted the ACLU and protested the action by the Gideons as blurring the lines between separation between church and state.

I took a special offense to this article because of a certain seven year old girl that was touched by the handing out of that little bible at her elementary school. She remembers reading in the back of her Gideon bible the steps of becoming saved. She was so happy to learn that God loved her just the way she was and gave her an opportunity to trust Him as her Lord and Savior. On the back of the bible she wrote her name and the date she made her commitment to Christ.

That little girl was me and that little Gideon bible that I kept for years and after the birth of my five children, I was able to share with them their mother’s written commitment. That bible was lost when my parents home was sold a few years ago, but if it wasn’t for the Gideons passing those little bibles around, I wouldn’t been able to learn at such a young age, the truth concerning Jesus Christ and salvation.

Now, according to that article, the woman who contacted the ACLU, Stephanie Kayhan, declared that:

“The Supreme Court has said this is unconstitutional,” she told the TV station. “It’s not allowed. So how high do you have to go? I mean it’s the Supreme Court. You can’t argue with the Supreme Court.”

And she says,

“I don’t have a problem with them, I have a problem with them being in the schools.”

I tried real hard getting into the mind of this woman as why she wouldn’t want bibles to be passed around. I came to the conclusion that she must be a Christian in name only, because what Christian who loves the Lord and His word, the Bible, would NOT want it in our sin-soaked schools?

Listening to Bill O’Reilly on TV today about those 17 girls who were are all pregnant at the same time, all under the age of 17. Bill said that the students there are just devoid of morality. But you do have to wonder with a school that allows day-care centers, what difference would there be if bibles were more accessible? What would be the influence of students reading their bibles as opposed of seeing other teen moms carting their cute little babies around? At this particular school I don’t know if bibles were banned or not, but you can’t help but to wonder.

How ironic to be celebrating our independence, our breaking away from Europe to form a nation where religion can be studied and practiced freely. Those freedoms are slowly disappearing. Can’t pray in schools, teacher’s can’t have their bibles on their desk, no Ten Commandments in the court house and now the little Gideon Bibles banned from youngsters in elementary school!

This is just further evidence of more erosion of our country’s moral values, principles founded on the word of God. Little did our writers of the Declaration of Independence know we would be headed to a time where even “Christians” don’t want the bible around! Pray for America!

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. Psalms 119:105

Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You. Psalms 119:11

Sanctify them by the truth;
your word is truth. John 17:17

(All New King James Version)

Psalm 119:44-46 (New International Version)

44 I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.

45 I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.

46 I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,