Christocentric

I’m still recovering from my two-weeks of traveling so I didn’t do my music homework as I should have.  But here’s some fun dancing from  some fellas and gals (mostly the guys), dancing to a song off of a rapper I’ve already reviewed – Lecrae – and his newest album titled Rebel.  The song is “Go Hard” and it’s featuring another rapper on this label named Tedashi.  The song is encouraging the Christian to not be lukewarm but “go hard” in their life for Christ.

So kick back and relax this Friday and if you can’t Krump (the dance), that’s okay just check out these dancers as they do it!  Check out Lecrae’s album by Reach Records on amazon.com by clicking on the pic below!

Pastor Miles McPherson on CNN discussing Prop 8: glad for the ruling but feels bad for the 18,000 that stay married creating further confusion; says he’s anti-gay marriage but not anti-gay.

Update 5/27: Pastor Miles vs Comedienne Carol Leifer on Prop 8 on the Larry King Show

By a 6 to 1 vote the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Proposition 8 while maintaining as legal the 18,000 gays who did marry before the law took effect. And why am I not thrilled about this decision? Is it because of the fighting legally, politically, socially, and spiritually that will continue forever?

I don’t know about many of you who read this, but I’m tiring of the fighting. But I will always be against gay marriage no matter how mentally and spiritually drained I become because of this ongoing conflict. Gay marriage is immoral and no matter the cry for equality, there will never be an acceptance by the general population of those immoral unions.

Should legally married gays be accepted in the Christian church?

A San Diego pastor, Jim Garlow was asked on TV news if Prop 8 would be overturned, would he recognize gay marriages in his church. His answer was rightfully no! His reason he gave was because simply it was not acceptable biblically and no gay couples would be welcomed in his church as a marriage, but would be quite welcomed as individuals.

That’s the stance any pastor should take whether or not gay marriages are legal in their state/country or providence. Any pastor should have the courage that the young 21 year old beauty queen (now 22) Carrie Prejean took that day she decided it was better not to compromise God’s standard for marriage to win an earthly crown. Too many pastors are shying away from God’s clear principles regarding marriage. Many are turning their backs completely on God’s word with their concern to please people rather than God.

Can a person be anti-gay marriage without being anti-gay?

Totally! I just completed two-weeks of traveling which included dining with my lesbian cousin and her live-in girlfriend.  I also treated my gay nephew for dinner while visiting San Francisco to bring my daughter home from college.

These individuals know my stance on their lifestyles very well as we have had some pretty heated discussions regarding homosexuality but that didn’t change the fact that I love them very much!  Anti-gay marriage, anti-homosexuality doesn’t mean we hate the person involved and this is something that many people don’t understand.

Of course, many LGBT people will always believe that if you don’t accept their lifestyles, then you automatically hate them.  Nothing much we can do about that no matter how kind we may treat them otherwise.  And if we don’t watch ourselves, we too can get caught up in bitterness and hate if we allow the animosity of the “haters” to affect us.

So yes, after seeking spiritual replenishment through God’s word, the bible and much prayer, I will continue my effort in supporting marriage between a man and a woman only while not being hateful towards the LGBTQ person!

Folks, I’ve been busy going out of state to my daughter’s graduation (Louisiana) and getting ready to pick up another daughter to bring back to home from school in San Francisco but when I return and settle in, I will resume my posting of relelvant topics.

Just a few subjects that will be tackled in the future:

Gay Marriage
Divorce
Biblical Womanhood
Church’s responsibility to the poor
Tithing (biblical or not?)
Teaching Abstinence
President Obama and Christian Principles
Friday Music Jams
… and many many more!

Should resume in earnest by June 1, if not before then.  If you have any suggestions for topics or musicians that you’d like to hear, please email me at blog@christocentric.com.

God bless all of you and thank you for visiting Christocentric!

Carlotta

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Donald Trump made the decision that Miss California, Carrie Prejean will keep her crown and continue her duties as beauty pageant spokeswoman for the state of California.  He decided that the picture in question was decent for the 21st century and that she was not dishonest in declaring no knowledge of nude pictures taken of her.  The one picture in question was taken by her girlfriend who had her submit it with an application while they were in high school.

Carrie gave an impassioned speech declaring her right as an American to freedom of speech and only mentioning the Miss USA judge, Perez Hilton only by the phrase “judge number 8.” She spoke about how un-American it was for anyone to limit another’s freedom and how we all should learn to agree to disagree.

I’m very happy for Carrie that this part is over and she can now continue on with her duties as both Miss California and as a spokesperson against gay marriages.

Donald Trump recognized the brutal attacks against Carrie primarily because she spoke her mind on the issue of gay marriage.  Glad that Trump spoke out against the intolerance directed towards the beauty queen.

Now let’s wait and see what the future will bring for Carrie Prejean – as both Miss California and as a follower of Jesus Christ!

I  am fed up with the backlash Miss California has had to experience, seemingly on her own.  So this is my rant on why she is absolutely right. Not only do I agree with her, but so does the Holy Bible , social science, and basic biology.

Only a committed, sexual union between a man and woman should ever be called marriage.

  ²³ The man said,
       “This is now bone of my bones
       and flesh of my flesh;
       she shall be called ‘woman, ^[j] ‘
       for she was taken out of man.”

²⁴ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Genesis 2:21-24 (NIV)

This is the familiar account of the first romance. However, there was something that always confused me about this verse. The phrase:

“For this reason.” Or in King James Version “Therefore.”

What is the actual reason they get married? Was it because Adam was alone? Or was it because he fell asleep? Was it because God made Eve from the rib or was it because God brought the woman to Adam?

Adam wanted Eve the minute he saw her.  Perhaps it is for that reason does a man leave his family and start his own, because the sex is coming soon.

And with sex comes children ! They seem to be the forgotten entity in the heated battles about relationships. Moses, the commentator of the Pentateuch,  makes the connection from man and wife to parents because children (and sex) were natural byproducts of Adam and Eve’s relationship. 

What does that mean for us today? Original American law simply regulates the only sexual union that produces children known as marriage.  In a land that outlines freedoms and liberties, our law designates the unification of a man to a woman and the children that their erotic behavior will inevitably produce as a family unit.

It’s pretty obvious that God always intended his creations to reproduce:

²²And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply

Genesis 1:22 (KJV)

Homosexual relationships can not produce children naturally. Even after adoption, sperm donors, expensive medical procedures, or relations outside the immediate monogamous relationship are exhausted, homosexuals can not claim to be legitimate parents as often or as consistently as their opposite-sex counterparts.

If a society is at all concerned about its future generations, it would promote the best possible environment for many children to be raised in. That environment is a loving marriage consisting of the child’s own biological parents.

If we, as Americans, truly want to stand up for American ideas and rights we would support only healthy marriages as God originally designed. We would continue to set it apart as something special. We would understand that it is for the betterment of our country’s future to encourage sexual unions between a man and woman and we should promote loving, low-conflict marriage as the most stable institution in which to regulate those unions.

_______________

Updates below with Miles McPherson on Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News Show, and response from NOM’s Maggie Gallagher!
_________________

According to blog sites and verified through news channels, Miss California, Carrie Prejean took some unsavory pictures, semi-nudes of herself while modeling as a 17 year old.  (The age is also in question).

Many in the LGBT community have been salivating at the propect of a not-so-clean image of Christian beauty contestant Carrie Prejean.  These pictures weren’t even decent enough to show on the news stories so they feel that they have found what they need to discredit her as a pro male-female marriage spokesperson.

Here is Carrie’s response to the circulation of these photos from MSNBC.com:

“I am a Christian, and I am a model,” Prejean said in a statement released overnight to the media. “Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be.”

MSNBC didn’t publish her complete response as reported on her social network sites.  Here’s the rest of her response:

“But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others’ opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks.

“With that in mind, I will continue to support and defend marriage as the honorable institution it is. I will continue to stand with the overwhelming majority of the American people and the voters of my home state of California. If this whole experience has taught me anything, it is our precious right to speak freely, and how we as Americans can never allow anyone or any group to intimidate or threaten us to keep silent.”

Hooray for Miss California, Carrie Prejean! She will not be intimidated into silence by those who are angry at her daring to stand against their godless  lifestyles.

The Problem with Christians and modeling. (re-edited 5/6/09)

I’ve received many comments from Christians about why we even support Carrie and build her as an American hero when the beauty standards of pageants and modeling are considered sleazy or unrepresentative as one who’s called a Christian.

As an older woman, I believe we have the responsibility (as scripture teaches) to teach the younger women to be somber in the way they dress, always mindful of the ‘lust factor.’

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” – 1 John 2:16

For that reason alone, a woman must use discretion in how her body is being portrayed and the possible affect it can have upon it’s viewer.  Most beauty pageants encourage women to perform the exact opposite as what should characterize the godly woman – immodestly showing off one’s body.

Was Carrie wrong to participate as a Christian? Whether we believe it to be wrong or not, Carrie’s conscious has to dictate her decisions.  She’s young and she’s growing spiritually.  With great support and counsel, she’ll only continue to become a brighter star for Jesus Christ!

Should She or shouldn’t she (keep speaking out)?

So, should Carrie not speak out against gay marriage? Should she still hold on to her Miss California title? Should Christian organizations such as her church and the NOM organization use her?

Her image has definitely taken a hit, but by no means do I believe she can’t be used by the church in speaking out on ungodly issues.  The church is filled with imperfect people turning to serve God.  How she portrays herself from this point on is important and that’s would should be carefully watched by Carrie – not her past.

Carrie has already shown great integrity by NOT choosing the obvious beauty pageant victory by saying the “politically correct” response to that controversial political hot topic question.  It was that act alone that has raised her as a present day Christian hero because of the cowardness of many Christians who are too fearful of the gay activists’ intolerant rants and actions.  We have pastors who instead of speaking out against homosexuality, have not only stopped preaching against it, but are now ignoring scriptures and inviting the lifestyle as acceptable within the church.

So the likes of Carrie are a welcoming site for those of us who dare stick up for family values!  Yes, she should definitely be supported!

Her associations with the pageant and NOM may be a different story.  How she’ll end up with them we’ll find out later.  I will give updates as that information comes out.

Do your thang Carrie – God’s thing!

Carrie is being attacked based upon her beliefs and her past.  It’s her present and future that anti-Christian folks need to watch out for!  All one has to do is look at God’s imperfect servants of the bible, Old and New Testament, and you will find normal everyday sin-proned humans as a Carrie speaking out and doing tremendous things.

Carrie (and the rest of us) is no exception!
__________________________

UPDATE! (tonight) Pastor Mile’s McPherson with Bill O’Reilly discussing this latest Miss California controversy:

Gloves are off! – Fox News/Bill O’Reilly

UPDATE! (today) – NOM’S Response:
(Princeton, NJ) – Today, Maggie Gallagher, President of the National Organization for Marriage, released the following statement regarding Carrie Prejean:

“Because Carrie honestly said what she believed in answer to a question–marriage is the union of a man and a woman– she is now the subject of ongoing character assassination. The level of hatred directed at her is astonishing. Even more astonishing is her personal courage and strength of character in the midst of these attacks. Of course Carrie is not perfect. On a personal note, as a former unwed mother, I want to say to Americans: you don’t have to be a perfect person to have the right to stand up for marriage. Nothing gay marriage advocates can do can change the fact—we all saw it on national TV—that Carrie is a young woman who surrendered all the glitter Hollywood has to offer, because she would not become the kind of person afraid to say the truth.

“Through Carrie, we are also learning, the lengths some people will go to hurt and harass those who speak up for marriage.”

Update 5/11/09 (Friday Music Jam will continue in two weeks when I return from my vacation)

Since creating this post on Shai Linne, I have purchased and listened to his latest album titled Storiez. It’s one of the most amazing rap albums I’ve ever listened to!  Strong biblical lyrics combined with nice beats is the best way to describe Shai Linne’s music – which is the latest in a growing list of lyrical theology rappers.

This unique album brings biblical stories alive in the form of rap and beats that will appeal to many folks.  People who don’t even like rap because of its association with the dark side of life, have fallen in love with Shai Linne’s rap evangelism.

Children and adults both will like the music and the words.  From his tracks Penelope Judd (children) to As the Hour Draws Near/Letter from the Grave (my personal favorites) this album makes you want to get out your bible and look up the verses and stories he tells.

Try it and Buy it!!!

Click on the image for a sampling of the music.  You can download from Rhapsody or Itunes or purchase the CD direct from Lamp Mode Records here or from your nearest Christian book store or Amazon.com.

Lamp Mode Records description:

“shai linne’s new album Storiez, is an album entirely filled with narratives. shai covers topics such as modern day martyrs, a Hebrew family living through the Passover, an autobiography of Charles Spurgeon and a modern day love story – to name just a few. shai threads together a theme of mini-storiez, all under the umbrella of God’s redemptive plan, which ultimately leads us to the greatest story ever told, that of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ coming to earth to save us from the wrath of an Almighty God. Storiez is shai’s 3rd album.”

Shai Linne on MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/shailinne
Shai Linne’s Blog (with lyrics to songs) – Lyrical Theology

Other Blog Reviews:
LADIES!! – Shai Linne on Biblical Womanhood
Another Review on Storiez:  Christian Manifesto
Lyrical Theologists explained – Holy Hip Hop

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