Posted by: the warrioress | January 9, 2012

Gutsy But Humble – Joel Osteen on OWN

I just watched an interview with Joel Osteen this evening, conducted by Oprah Winfrey. I’ve always liked Joel from the moment I clicked onto the televised Lakewood church and heard Joel’s messages. 

I’m as cynical as the next person about televangelists, but there is something sincere and believable about Joel and I honestly believe he’s not a fake, liar, or someone who is just all about prosperity preaching. I think Joel Osteen is a simple believer who has strong faith in God.  I believe Joel Osteen is blessed by God. He has been brought up in a family ministry, and God has used him in a mighty way to bring everyday people who have trouble with organized religion, to God.

English: Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church, Houst...

Joel Osteen preaching at Lakewood Church

Tonight, Joel was pinned down on a few specifics. This should help many Christians who were critical of Joel, breathe easier.  Joel stated that He firmly believes that there are not “many ways to God,” but that there is one way, and that way is through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He clarified as well, however, that there could be many ways to Jesus Christ, and that Jesus could use these ways to bring people to God through Himself.

I didn’t have a problem with the way Joel answered Oprah. He was straightforward and didn’t flinch from the confrontation on this tough question.

Nor did he avoid the other difficult question about homosexuality and whether he considers it to be “sin.”  Anyone could see, despite the question, that he was not about exclusivity and did not want anyone to feel less than or uncared about. He stated again and again that gay people are welcome at Lakewood, but he answered straight up that he believes that the lifestyle/behavior is sin, according to what the bible tells us. That had to be tough for him. It’s been tough for me to answer this question in a similar fashion, not wanting to exclude anyone or make someone feel less than.

I respect the willingness to take a difficult stance in today’s politically correct society and know Joel will take heat because of it. No matter which direction he wiggles or turns, or how he tries to please, he will hear criticism either from other Christians or the homosexual community. For the more conservative Christians, you can bet Joel may find it difficult if he doesn’t come off conservative enough.

Frankly, one just can’t please everyone no matter what one does, so one’s best bet is to strive to please God and just leave it at that. If we stay true to God’s word, we may not please everybody, but we’ll please God, and thus we’ll be doing the next right thing. Who can argue with that?

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada)

Image via Wikipedia

The interview went wonderfully and I recommend it to anyone who may not have caught it. It was on the Oprah Winfrey Network,  OWN, and the program was Oprah’s Next Chapter. It should repeat again tonight, and will repeat on OWN over and over, certainly. Should someone upload it to YouTube, I’ll certainly share it here on this blog.

You can have a look at some of the after the show sneak peeks here:

http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/Pastor-Joel-Osteen-Discusses-Sin-and-the-Path-to-God

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Posted by: the warrioress | January 7, 2012

Animal Hoarding?

Maltrato animal

injured and abandoned

The article below caught my attention because I’m an avid animal rights activist and do animal rescue on a small-scale. 

I absolutely love animals. 

It’s appalling that in one of the wealthier nations in our world, the way America cares for our animal friends is heart-breaking.  Because of the tremendous issues America has with spay and neuter, more and more animals are put down. Many of these are perfectly healthy but are unwanted strays.  I think this is primarily what creates the animal “hoarder.”

Hoarders

why do people hoard animals, really?

I believe that a lot of animal hoarders are extremely kind-hearted people who simply cannot turn away a starving animal, even though they can’t afford to feed and pay for the veterinary care necessary to take in another one.

My take is that instead of attacking those who are merely trying to help, why not offer these wonderful, caring people consistent support in their attempts? Every shelter could be regularly looked into and investigated and the owners could be assisted and supported in their weaker areas. 

PETA logo

Shelters of every kind, even the small-scale ones should be provided discount veterinary services and free advertising for donations. If animals were not being dumped and abandoned at such alarming rates by Americans, I don’t believe the “hoarder” would be so prolific. 

Unless someone is seriously neglecting and abusing animals out of sheer laziness and sadism, I believe they need the help and support of all of us so that they can succeed in the venture that they have taken on. If they have more than their share, financial help and loving volunteers should be located to lighten the load. 

English: Description: Alex Pacheco, American a...

What really angers and disgusts me are the harsh judgments that are so easily offered instead of  willingness to discuss the overwhelming problem of these unwanted, injured, debilitated, and abandoned animals in this country. Anyone who is trying to help these animals should only be cheered on in my eyes, even if they’re not doing it perfectly. May God bless and help them in their efforts.

When you give to charity, please don’t forget our animal friends. Make it a point this new year to put aside money to give to those who are making a difference in this world for animals. Please remember these kind, loving people who try to care for those who cannot speak for themselves, who are doing their best to make a difference in their unfortunate lot in life.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-

DELHI, N.Y. — Susan Marino started Angel’s Gate animal hospice more than a decade ago to care for animals with special needs: Dogs paralyzed after being hit by cars; cats with severe deformities; a Labrador retriever born without lower limbs, now fitted with orthotics.

A registered nurse who for more than 35 years specialized in emergency and critical care, mental health, and the care of critically and terminally ill children and their families, Marino went back to school and became a veterinary technician, got a certification in canine rehabilitation and a license to rehabilitate wildlife and had her efforts noticed by Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray.

Winfrey did a segment on Angel’s Gate; Marino’s center won $50,000 from the Food Network star. There was an appearance on Martha Stewart, an ASPCA Founders award and a Woman of Distinction honor from the state of New York.

Not all the attention was welcomed. The hospice came under fire from animal rights activists whose undercover investigation led to five cruelty charges against Marino.

Acting on a tip from a job applicant, an animal rights group sent in an undercover agent posing as a volunteer to scout the 100-acre ranch in rural upstate New York that 75 dogs, 230 cats, three horses and nine birds currently call home. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the investigation found paralyzed dogs dragging themselves around until they developed bloody skin ulcers while their wheeled carts hung on a fence unused; animals kept in diapers for several days, causing urine scald; animals with open wounds and respiratory infections that weren’t taken to a veterinarian.

They turned over the video to a local prosecutor who charged Marino on Dec. 30 with failing to provide sustenance to five cats, a violation of the state’s agriculture and markets law. The district attorney also charged her with possession of a controlled substance. They’re all misdemeanors that carry up to a year in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine.

Marino said the PETA video is edited in some places to give a misleading impression. She disputes claims that animals were neglected, and says many of PETA’s complaints amount to little more than a philosophical disagreement over whether a damaged animal should live or die.

Acting on PETA’s 27-page complaint, investigators from the county district attorney’s office searched Angel’s Gate in May.

“They had a warrant to remove any animal they deemed not properly cared for,” Marino said in a recent interview. “They never removed any animal from here.”

Holly Cheever, an Albany-area veterinarian with 30 years of experience in animal cruelty investigations, assisted in the probe of Angel’s Gate. She told The Associated Press that she cited about a dozen animals that should have been humanely euthanized, including cats with active cases of feline AIDS.

She called Marino an animal hoarder and Angel’s Gate a death camp.

“Hospice is a temporary situation that leads to humane euthanasia when the quality of life is no longer acceptable,” Cheever said. “With Marino, they’re essentially trapped inside of suffering bodies without the compassion to end their suffering. That’s a hallmark of the hoarder. They refuse to recognize suffering.”

After charges were filed, Marino invited a reporter to make a second trip to Angel’s Gate; her lawyer later instructed her to cancel the visit and decline interviews.

“I’ve had death threats,” Marino said before her lawyer intervened. “All I’ve ever wanted to do was do something good for these animals.”

The Oprah show featured Angel’s Gate in 2008 and donations poured in. Marino said the organization received more than $400,000 and its website got millions of hits from around the globe. Marino used the money to buy a farmhouse on 100 acres in rural Delhi, moving from suburban Long Island where neighbors had complained.

In 2009, Ray’s pet rescue organization chose Angel’s Gate as one of 64 shelters participating in a “Mutt Madness” competition. Angel’s Gate won the top prize of $50,000, which Marino used to build a food preparation building she dubbed “Rachel’s Kitchen.”

“There is a vetting process with any organization that gets donations,” Rachael Ray spokesman Charlie Dougiello said this week. “At the time of the donation, there were no allegations against Angel’s Gate.”

In videos on the Angel’s Gate website and Facebook page, dogs romp on spotless white tile floors and doze in peaceful piles on dog beds. At breakfast time, a worker sets out 25 bowls of meat in a room filled with dachshunds, shih-tzus, beagles and other small dogs, some of them dragging themselves to their bowls because they’re missing limbs or are paralyzed. Marino hugs, kisses and cuddles with the animals.

Video shot by PETA presents a different picture.

Daphna Nachminovich, a cruelty investigator for PETA based in Northrup, Va., said the group acted on complaints including one “from a job applicant at Angel’s Gate who spent several hours there and was sickened by what she saw.”

“There were animals suffering horribly at death’s door, without the relief of euthanasia,” Nachminovich said.

PETA’s video, posted on YouTube, includes a frantic scene of dogs barking and fighting in the kitchen, apparently at feeding time, with Marino yelling and trying to break up the squabble.

When The Associated Press visited Angel’s Gate in April, dogs were dozing on cots or playing with toys in large, bright rooms with clean tile floors. Many were disabled and some with spinal injuries dragged their hindquarters. Cats were in little cottages equipped with climbing poles, cubbyholes and scratching posts. It was apparent that remodeling had been done recently on some of the main buildings, and more construction was in progress. All of the facilities were clean and neat.

“She was very aware that the boom was about to fall” when PETA began investigating in November, Cheever said. “She put a lot of energy into cleaning up her operation. By the time I went there in May the physical plant wasn’t as dirty, but was disorganized.”

Rosemary Throssell, a dog breeder who provides a custom-made raw meat diet for Angel’s Gate animals, said PETA’s allegations are unfair.

“Those animals have a fantastic quality of life,” said Throssell after she and her husband attended a brief court appearance for Marino on Wednesday.

___

The video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?vC4ntPXWHkwM

Source

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Posted by: the warrioress | January 5, 2012

My Own Little World

English: Old Beggar, 1916, by Louis Dewis, pai...

Image via Wikipedia

Please take time out of your busy day or evening and click

RIGHT HERE.

Now watch the video.  You won’t be sorry.

This is a beautiful, very important video you must see that will change the world if we will but begin to pay attention.

Meditate on this and join me in changing lives and thus, actually changing the planet.

Expand your horizons.  Open up your world.

Embrace God through His people.

Remember what Jesus said:

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

   37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did

Jesus on the wall of the senior Home

Image by freestone via Flickr

we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

   40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

   41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ – Matthew 25: 34-43 

http://www.crosswalk.com/video/my-own-little-world.html 

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Posted by: the warrioress | January 4, 2012

Crazy Life

English: the picture consist of articles on bu...
I wanted to write about bullying tonight because it’s in the news again, but primarily because this topic is something that disturbs me due having experienced it when I was younger, and now my daughter is going through something similar.

 

The girl in the piece below, Amanda Cummings, jumped in front of a bus to kill herself. Bullying was a part of why she chose to end her life. We can think our children and young teens are doing fine up until the moment in which they commit suicide and then it’s too late.

When I watch the news, I’m stricken at times with just how out of control everything is becoming. Violence is off the charts. Parents are murdering their children daily. Children are murdering their parents. Another child has died because he bought a gun to school; it was a pellet gun but the police didn’t know that,  so they shot and killed the middle school-er. 

English: An example of cyber-bullying on gmail...
Violence like this didn’t happen when I was a girl growing up. Bullying existed, but there was no social media sites or computers to spread viciousness, lies, and rumors for the entire school and the rest of the world to view.  Children weren’t killing themselves off like they are now. Parents weren’t doing their own children in. They were more involved in their children’s lives.  There was a family structure that was sound and strong.

 

At least one parent stayed home and it was usually Mom, and Mom’s knew what was happening to their children and dealt with it. I’m aware what’s occurring with my child daily and have discussed it with the school in the past.  Should this bullying of my twelve-year-old continue, my child will promptly be removed from the public school she attends and home-schooled or enrolled in an alternative locale. I won’t wait until she is yet another statistic.

We as Americans have to wake up and understand that something is very wrong in America. People’s hearts have grown cold, exactly as the bible told us that they would.  And it’s going to get worse. 

  12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. – Matthew 24:12-14

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

A 15-year old teenager from Staten Island died after being struck by a bus while carrying a suicide note on Monday evening.

NYPD officials say a witness saw Amanda Diane Cummings jump in front of the bus on Hylan Boulevard by Hunter Avenue. She was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital where she was in critical condition and ultimately died from her injuries.

Cummings was a sophomore at New Dorp High School and according to the girl’s uncle, Keith Cummings, she had been bullied by peers.

The relative spoke to the Staten Island Advance on the alleged bullying and said Amanda was tormented after bullies stole her possessions including her jacket, phone, and shoes.

He said they were even posting cruel, inappropriate comments on Amanda’s Facebook wall while in the hospital after being struck by the bus.

The uncle said he would be seeking legal action against the bullies and said, “I’m not going to tolerate this. I’m gonna go full force. Kids can’t do this to each other.”

Amanda’s family described her as a kind teenagerwho loved animals and enjoyed poetry. A family blog has been created in her memory.

Bullying, specifically cyber-bullying, has been a growing problem for young adults across the nation, as social networking sites become centers of harmful taunting and insults.

In 2010, The New York Times reported that one of out five middle-school students said they had been victims of cyberbullying and while most states have bullying prevention ordinances in place, less than half provide guidance on what should be done about bullying on the internet and electronic communication devices.

Pop superstar Lady Gaga has been an advocate of anti-bullying measures and recently launched theBorn This Way foundation with the help of the MacArthur Foundation and Harvard University to highlight “issues like self-confidence, well being, anti-bullying, mentoring, and career development” and help empower young people.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

http://tinyurl.com/7jaaj6h

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Posted by: the warrioress | January 2, 2012

A Little Java With Your Porn?

Green logo used from 1987-2010, still being us...

It would appear that our country’s citizens have lost their sense of decorum and manners in polite public company. Apparently in our current immoral culture of “anything goes,” people feel that they can now pop out their laptops or cell phones anywhere they please and begin to view porn, including at the familiar quick-stop coffee shop, Starbucks. 

More and more we’re beginning to become acquainted with these rather bizarre scenarios that one would think would be taking place on the Jerry Springer show, instead of out in everyday public life.  Citizens buzz in and out to grab a cup of java before heading into the office, off to school, or perhaps for a quick happy hour energy blast after work.
 
Why does America now have to worry about and tolerate the porn viewer taking his or her porn addiction public? Should we have to actually fear the perverse and the obscene in our faces when we’re out and about in the public square?
 
I don’t think so.
 
There is a limit, America.  And I think we’ve reached it when one is actually engaging in an activity that breaks the law by risking exposing a minor to pornography within a public locale. The man in the news brief below definitely must be arrested and I’m so glad that he was, patron brawl or no brawl. He needs to be prosecuted and made an example of. This is ridiculous.
 
We’ve got to dig deep and begin to find some kind of morality in this secular nation that we’ve become and put it back into the country any way that we have to — even if it means we have to restrain freedom of speech to do it. 
 
I don’t care to be exposed to a shot or two of porn while waiting to pick up a cup of coffee. I don’t want my child exposed to it if she happens to be with me. That we might happen to sit down at a table, glance around while we’re sipping our beverages, and get a flash of whatever pervo-boy has on his computer, strikes me as outrageous. I don’t like it. It puts me into grizzly-bear mama mode.  Look out, now. 
 
                   ———- 
English: Brown Bear

December 31, 2011 

A 45-year-old man was arrested at the Soscol Avenue Starbucks Friday morning after what police described as a confrontation over pornography another patron said was visible on a laptop.

According to a shift activity log released by the City of Napa Police Department, which logged the incident at 8:20 a.m.:

NPD Officers responded to a report of a fight occurring at Starbucks (247 Soscol Ave).

Upon arrival it was alleged that Eric Martin Anderson (7/3/66) of Napa was looking at pornography on a laptop that was visible to other patrons.

One of the patrons confronted Anderson and a verbal argument ensued.

Anderson allegedly made threats to harm the other patron and challenged him to fight.

Evidence was located at the scene that supported the allegations.

Anderson was booked at the Napa County Department of Corrections on suspicion of disturbing the peace, criminal threats, violation of probation and violation of paragraph (a) of chapter 647 in the California Penal Code, which prohibits as disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, “lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view,” according to the police report.

http://napa.patch.com/articles/porno-blamed-in-coffeeshop-conflict?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl6%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D124311

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Posted by: the warrioress | January 1, 2012

Happy New Year 2012!

How Much for Happy

Being happy is a decision

Well, it’s 2012, everybody!

Happy New Year!

Are you feeling happy yet?

There’s no better time than now to make a decision that no matter what happens, we’re going to be happy this new year, 2012.

In other words, no matter who gets elected president, we’re going to be happy. No matter what the network news says every night before we go to sleep, we’re going to lay our heads down and sleep the sleep of the peaceful and the happy.

No matter how much money we have or don’t have, we’re going to be contented and believe that we have enough for now.  Even if you can’t find a job, somehow you’ll scrape by through a host of home business opportunities or tasks you can do to support yourself, so you’re going to be happy!

Are you catching on?

Being unhappy is not an option 😉

If you’re still unhappy, despite yourself, consider God, Prozac, and/or counseling, and I’m serious about that, despite saying it tongue-in-cheek.  Sometimes people need a little help and there’s no shame in it.  There’s no reason not to take advantage of the medical advancements society has made in these areas to help those who may have chemical imbalance or other medical or mental health issues.

If you’re still not happy, I’ll borrow and old AA slogan that says “fake it ’till you make it.”  Or in other words, your feelings don’t run your life. Transcend them. Make the conscious decision that no matter what, you’re going to be happy the rest of this new year and begin to put this into action decisively. If you fall down, get back up and try again. You can always start your day over, happily.

Now that we’ve reached this decision, let’s proceed. 

Happy New Year! lucky food - blackeyed peas

Did you have your blackeyed peas at midnight or today? There’s still time to cook some up or pick up a can or two at the convenience store. I’m not sure if you’ve heard the logic behind the blackeyed pea tradition/ phenomenon.

Supposedly, if you cook up some black eyed peas you’ll have luck. If you add greens to them, you’ll also get rich.

I’ve never cooked any greens with ours. Perhaps that’s why we’re not rich. I never heard about the greens aspect of the blackeyed pea superstition and have neglected that part of the deal for quite literally years.

Blue eyed girl
 

Moving right along..

I notice that there are no POST A WEEK 2012 badges to be found.

Anywhere.

I may have missed them. If anyone knows where one can be found, I would appreciate a shout-out. In the interim,  I just made my own.  Anywho…

I’ve got a young lady to fix dinner for and move along to a regular bedtime since school starts back for her in the morning. So you bloggers take care and start your New Years’ off merrily, kay’?

I wish each one of you a wonderful new year ahead and many blessings!!

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Posted by: the warrioress | December 31, 2011

The Final Prayer

English: A prayer to God

Image via Wikipedia

“I will instruct you and  teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” – Psalm 32:8

 
 
It’s been a strange year for me.   So many things have happened that were unexpected. Many of these things were difficult for me and painful. I didn’t understand God’s purpose as I marched on, but I trusted nevertheless. It’s the way of things for me because I’ve learned over time to trust God even when I don’t understand where or why He leads me as He does. 
There have been disappointments, moments of doubt, times of silent questioning within my mind. Despite these, there remained firm resolution to trust no matter how I felt, no matter what I feel. I’ve learned that I don’t live by my feelings. Where this has brought me is a place that is unfamiliar. Even though I don’t know the terrain, I know that He is with me.
 
And so in what lies ahead, I’ll hold onto what I believe that is entrenched within my heart. His promises, His word, His love, His faithfulness will be my comfort on the narrow road I walk. I’ll walk this road, even if I have to crawl to get to the end of my destiny. You see, I’ve always loved Him in my deepest heart of hearts. Even as a babe in the crib, I knew Him.
 
I don’t know what’s coming in 2012 but I know that He will be in it and will be by my side no matter what comes my way. I’ll handle the coming year with the grace He gives me as I grow spiritually in leaps and bounds, growing ever closer to my Source, my Life.
 
I love you, Father.
 
May God bless each one of you in this new year that lies ahead of us. I hope it treats you well and that you’re happy.
 
For those of you who do not understand me, I leave you with this:
 

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me the strength
And the conviction to complete the task you entrusted to me.
Thank you for guiding me straight and true,
Through the many obstacles in my path.
And for keeping me resolute when all around seemed lost.
Thank you for your protection and for your many signs along the way.
Thank you for any good that I may have done.
I’m so sorry about the bad.
Thank you for the friend I made.
Please watch over her as you watched over me.
Thank you for finally allowing me to rest.
I’m so very tired.
But I go now to my rest
In peace
Knowing that I have done right
with my time on this earth.
I fought the good fight.
I finished the race.
I kept the faith.

gratitude

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Posted by: the warrioress | December 30, 2011

A Christian’s Response to Homosexuality

"Homosexuality & the Bible" booklet

My personal take as a Christian on the issue of homosexuality can be summed up fairly easily. Because I believe the bible is truth, I believe what the bible tells us about this issue and the behavior itself. While the bible appears to condemn homosexuality as unnatural human behavior and sin, it also condemns many other behaviors as sin that even Christians themselves struggle with. Some of these issues are adultery, lust, sloth, greed, gluttony, apathy toward the poor, and many others. 

The bible makes it clear that we must repent of all of our sin and essentially “go and sin no more.”  

Obviously, we all attempt to do this to the best of our ability after we have become a new creature in Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, we are not perfect at being sin-free. I know of no human being, regardless of his Christianity, who no longer sins. God knows this. It’s the effort, I believe, that counts. The attempt to “go and sin no more” is what Jesus Christ specified was right within the bible. Jesus Christ did not condemn the person; He condemned the sin and said to stop sinning in the future. 
 
English: Opponents of California's Proposition...

I have several friends and acquaintances that are part of the gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered community. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves them just as much as He loves me. I know that the salvation of Jesus Christ awaits them if they are willing to just reach out and take it.

 What they do at the point after they have been saved, in reference to  their homosexuality, is between them and God. It is the same thing about my own personal sins where I don’t measure up. These are between God, me, and no one else, short of a Christian brother or sister I may ask counsel from, who may come to me in love, to help me deal appropriately with my sin. 

(In order to get into lengthy debate and discussion about the passages within the bible that tell us about homosexuality and why it is sin, I have begun a topic within CONVERSATION CORNER on this site.
 
If you’re interested in discussing this issue with me in-depth and are willing to cite sources and carry on polite, reasonable dialogue about the issue, please join me in commenting on what I’ve already presented and sourced there. We will also be discussing gay marriage within the topic of what the bible says about homosexuality).
 
Please enjoy the following article that I found interesting, that seems to kind of fit my perspective on  homosexuality,
sourced below:
 

There are three passages in the Old Testament (Gen. 19: 1-13; Lev 18:22; 20:13) and three in the New Testament (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; I Tim. 1:10) that have traditionally been read as prohibiting homosexuality. On top of this, the entire biblical narrative presupposes that sex is supposed to take place between a man and a woman in the context of marriage (Gen. 2:23-24). The biblical definition of “sin” is “missing the mark” (hamartia), and on the basis of this scriptural evidence, I have to regard homosexuality as “missing the mark” of God’s ideal. So yes, I regard homosexuality to be a sin.

Having said this, I need to add three important points.

First, there are a number of scholars who argue that these six passages are not as clear cut in denouncing all forms of homosexuality as they may initially seem. For example, some point out that the word Paul uses in I Tim. 6 and I Tim. 1 that is usually translated as “homosexuality” (arsenakoitai) is very ambiguous. It’s never used before Paul coins it in these verses and historically it’s been translated in a wide variety of ways. (For example, Luther translated it “masturbation”). Also, some scholars argue that the kind of homosexuality Paul had in mind when writing Romans 1 would have been the kind typically practiced by Romans and would not have included loving, respectful, monogamous committed relationships. I am not persuaded by these arguments, but neither can I casually dismiss this debate. 

Second, there is absolutely no justification for the way many Christians today make homosexuality out to be worse than other types of sin. Judging from the way certain Christian leaders have publicly crusaded against homosexuality, you’d think it was the number one sin in the Bible and the most damaging sin to society. Yet, while we have at most six verses in the Bible that mention homosexuality, we have around 3,000 passages that address greed, gluttony and the need to care for the poor. Not only this, but if there are any sins American Christians are most guilty of, they’re greed, gluttony and apathy toward the poor. And if there are any sins that demonstrably kill people, it’s these ones. Yet Christians go after gays. Why? One can’t help but suspect it might be because it’s one sin they can feel self-righteous in condemning.

Third, and closely related to this, there’s no justification for the way many Christians make homosexuality a “deal breaker” sin. That is, many seem to think that it’s impossible to be a Christian and also be gay. You can be Christian and be greedy, an overeater and never sacrifice for the poor, but you can’t be gay? You can be Christian and be divorced and remarried, gossip and judge others — all mentioned in the Bible more than homosexuality — but you can’t be gay? Why?

When people get their life from their religion rather than from their relationship with Christ, they need to find some sin-group they can positively contrast themselves with. Sadly, for many Christians, this happens to be gay people.

This tendency to put sins on a scale of importance, ranking homosexuality near the top and other sins – the ones we are guilty of (and that are mentioned more frequently in the Bible) – towards the bottom is antithetical to the Kingdom. Jesus commands us to do the opposite. We’re to regard our sins, whatever they are, as planks sticking out of our eyes, and other peoples sins, whatever they are, to be mere dust particles (Mt. 7:1-3). With Paul, we are to confess that we are “the worst of sinners” (I Tim. 1:15-16).

So, while I believe homosexuality “misses the mark,” I adamantly believe it doesn’t do so more than any other sin we might think of — including the ones we are guilty of.

http://www.gregboyd.org/qa/christians-social-issues/is-homosexuality-a-sin/ 

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Posted by: the warrioress | December 29, 2011

Regarding ‘Post a Day 2011’

I want to thank WordPress.com for Post a Day 2011.

St. Augustine writing, revising, and re-writin...

This has been the most incredible, awesome blessing in my life. I can’t possibly describe the many benefits it’s given to me because there are just more benefits than I have time to share.

Post a Day 2011 helped my writing. It helped my writing by forcing me to write when I wasn’t in the mood to write.

It’s made me more disciplined in my writing. It’s pulled me out of a funk when I didn’t feel I had anything to write about.

It’s made me more confident in my writing. I had to write what came to mind and eventually something always showed up!

It’s brought me in touch with a lot of new people and writers whom I greatly admire. It’s also changed who I am to some degree because of the many wonderful benefits I’ve received through this commitment to the writing process.

Unfortunately, I cannot keep up this pace in the new year ahead with what I am facing, responsibility-wise. The demands upon my time are going to increase greatly and so I have decided that as of January 1, 2012, I will move to Post a Week 2012.

Certainly I believe I will post more than once a week because I don’t think I could exist without writing more than this, but this will alleviate some of the pressure, and I know I can commit and keep the commitment to at least post once a week; that will be a piece of cake.

Writing

Should I find that time allows for more frequent postings, I will revert back to Post a Day 2012, but for now, I am just grateful that I was able to be a part of this superb idea and look forward to continuing to be a part of all of this now and in the future.

 

Thanks again, WordPress.com!

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Posted in bloggers, Creative Writing, fun, hobby, inspiration, life, people, Post a day 2011, Post a day 2012, Writing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: the warrioress | December 28, 2011

Turkey Soup & Wife Swap

Well, it’s been one of those kinda days when the kiddo is not feeling too well. She’s had a stomach virus with fever, so it’s been pretty subdued around ye ole’ homestead.

Turkey Soup With Rice Prep time: 10 minutes Co...

Today I’ve whipped up a batch of turkey soup full of potatoes, onions, carrots, natural turkey juices, dark and white turkey meat, corn, and some rice. It’s still cooking away in there and should be ready shortly. It smells terrific!

My little girl likes to be babied when she’s sick, even though she’s almost thirteen. I guess everyone appreciates being cared for when they’re ill.  We’ve been watching lots of reruns of “Wife Swap.” This is a really cool reality show where the wives of two couples swap places with each other’s family for two weeks. Each family gets to learn new things about how the other family’s mom does things. Both families wind up usually benefiting from the differences in each other’s points of views on how family life is supposed to be.

Wife Swap

Some of the people in the show don’t appreciate being moved out of their comfort zones though. They can be really ugly about this sometimes. Usually by the end of the show, they realize that the change was good for them. They realize that they’ve learned a lot and are attempting change in areas that change was necessary. This reminds me of God and us, in a way. God often puts people into our lives that teach us new or different points of view, through uncomfortable or difficult interaction and experiences with them.

At the time, we may not appreciate these people very much at all. After we finish learning the lessons we are supposed to learn from them though, we find that we couldn’t have learned and improved our lives without them teaching us through their behavior or example.  Sometimes the lessons are harsh, sometimes they’re just day-to-day little things that we need to change in our lives. Maybe we need to learn to spend more meaningful time with our family, wife, or husband, instead of working all the time. Maybe we need to learn to speak up for ourselves, or tell our partner how we really feel about certain issues. Life is funny like this. We never know what’s going to happen next that God will use to teach us something.

365x4:1

The one thing that I always take comfort in, despite the occasional growing pains that occur in these scenarios, is that God promises that He will turn everything that happens for our good. In other words, even in the most difficult, demanding, really awful circumstances, God will find a way to see that we benefit from the matter somehow.

I love God for that. And I trust Him to know enough to be in charge of the lessons I need to learn so that I can be the best I can be for Him and His glory. He’s got a heck of a job to do on me before I’m Christ-like, I assure you, but I know He’s up to the task. He’s up to the task with each one of us and we’ll be the better for it in the long run.

Anyway, back to the turkey soup I go, and a few more taped episodes of Wife Swap. I hope your after Christmas holidays are fun and that you’re happy and feeling well. The new year is just around the corner! 

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