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Monday, December 17, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Follow-up to Clarification post on 12-4-07
I am following up that post with the reply to a Brother in Christ who pointed out the portrayal of hate conveyed in my original post. His comments and my reply (also below) are in the comments section of that post on 12-4-07. I feel this is an important enough issue that I felt I should post my reply to clarify my position, and apologize publically for my unintentional portrayal of hate. I just want to also say "Thanks" to Tadd for pointing out my erroroneous thought process. I still detest political correctness, but we still need to be tactful and loving in all of our actions
Tadd,
Thanks for you comments, you are correct. This has been on my mind since I posted it. Right in that very post I asked the question if it was "un-Christian" to use the term "fag" for homosexuals. I do not hate homosexuals, I hate the immoral actions of homosexuals. Fag is much shorter to type, and say, versus homosexual, and yes it is politically incorrect. Yes, it was meant to be derogatory when I wrote it, not as an expression of hate towards an individual/s, but rather towards the immorality of homosexuality.
However, more so recently, but also in the past, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." is what I have heard. The "love your neighbor" has also been in the forefront of my mind. I guess I'm learning as I go. Before you even posted today I had somewhat of a paradigm shift regarding this. It is not right to use the term because it does convey the idea of hate. I then come across in a negative light, rather than in Christ-like loving light. Although my convictions regarding homosexuality will not change (which they shouldn't), the way I express it could be more tactful (which it should).
I was wrong, and I apologize to anyone reading this, not for my feelings or beliefs, but rather for using a term that does not reflect my desire to be more Christ-like.
No this is not just lip service. As I grow in Christ, I continue to change. My conscience, Pastor's and Lay-Minister's words, listening to Christian TV, reading God's word and last, but not least, your post have been God's way of telling me I was wrong.
Tadd,
Thanks for you comments, you are correct. This has been on my mind since I posted it. Right in that very post I asked the question if it was "un-Christian" to use the term "fag" for homosexuals. I do not hate homosexuals, I hate the immoral actions of homosexuals. Fag is much shorter to type, and say, versus homosexual, and yes it is politically incorrect. Yes, it was meant to be derogatory when I wrote it, not as an expression of hate towards an individual/s, but rather towards the immorality of homosexuality.
However, more so recently, but also in the past, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." is what I have heard. The "love your neighbor" has also been in the forefront of my mind. I guess I'm learning as I go. Before you even posted today I had somewhat of a paradigm shift regarding this. It is not right to use the term because it does convey the idea of hate. I then come across in a negative light, rather than in Christ-like loving light. Although my convictions regarding homosexuality will not change (which they shouldn't), the way I express it could be more tactful (which it should).
I was wrong, and I apologize to anyone reading this, not for my feelings or beliefs, but rather for using a term that does not reflect my desire to be more Christ-like.
No this is not just lip service. As I grow in Christ, I continue to change. My conscience, Pastor's and Lay-Minister's words, listening to Christian TV, reading God's word and last, but not least, your post have been God's way of telling me I was wrong.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Exciting News
Tonight I learned that my plans are not always parallel with what God has planned.
I mentioned in a previous post that I plan to go to a local Bible College after I finish my degree in Logistics and the local Technical College. A guy at the Church we go to, and who teaches the youth group on Monday nights, attends this College. He has said it is an awesome school. I can't wait to start going in fall of 2009. Here is the school link: Midwest Bible College
Anyhow, I and my two older daughters were at Bible study tonight, and the Pastor told me he wanted to talk to me afterwards. We had already planned to talk because on December 23rd the whole family is being baptized. We talked about that, and then he told me I should pray to see if God is really calling me to ministry, and to see if I am ready to take on some responsibility concerning teaching Bible Study, Adult Sunday School and/or a men's group. I had asked a few weeks ago about the process of becoming ordained, and he had said I could eventually get ordained through the Church, but that until then I could become a Deacon, and work towards becoming ordained until I'm ready to go to the Bible College. I told him obviously if he's asking me, then God is calling. The Lay-Minister who currently teaches Adult Sunday School has some personal things going on that will take him away from the Church for a short while, and the plan is for me to take over and fill in until he can return. I will also help out as needed on Wednesday nights for Bible Study.
As I mentioned before, I am a fairly young Christian, but I have a deep thirst for knowledge and understanding of God's Word. I am reading through the whole Bible right now, and had planned to actually study it after I read through it once. Like I said, though, God has a different plan. As I prepare for any lay-ministry talks I may give, I will need to study whatever it is God will have me teach. The Pastor said that I will be amazed at how much I will learn because I need to teach it to someone else.
My whole desire to become ordained is due to wanting to get a better understanding of God's Word, and then be able to spread that message to others. I have no desire to make this a career, I already have a career. I do, however desire to serve God in whatever way He may direct my path, and get His message out to as many that will listen. Things are happening much faster than I had planned, but as I said before, it's God's plan, not mine. Praise be to Him!!! God Bless!!
I mentioned in a previous post that I plan to go to a local Bible College after I finish my degree in Logistics and the local Technical College. A guy at the Church we go to, and who teaches the youth group on Monday nights, attends this College. He has said it is an awesome school. I can't wait to start going in fall of 2009. Here is the school link: Midwest Bible College
Anyhow, I and my two older daughters were at Bible study tonight, and the Pastor told me he wanted to talk to me afterwards. We had already planned to talk because on December 23rd the whole family is being baptized. We talked about that, and then he told me I should pray to see if God is really calling me to ministry, and to see if I am ready to take on some responsibility concerning teaching Bible Study, Adult Sunday School and/or a men's group. I had asked a few weeks ago about the process of becoming ordained, and he had said I could eventually get ordained through the Church, but that until then I could become a Deacon, and work towards becoming ordained until I'm ready to go to the Bible College. I told him obviously if he's asking me, then God is calling. The Lay-Minister who currently teaches Adult Sunday School has some personal things going on that will take him away from the Church for a short while, and the plan is for me to take over and fill in until he can return. I will also help out as needed on Wednesday nights for Bible Study.
As I mentioned before, I am a fairly young Christian, but I have a deep thirst for knowledge and understanding of God's Word. I am reading through the whole Bible right now, and had planned to actually study it after I read through it once. Like I said, though, God has a different plan. As I prepare for any lay-ministry talks I may give, I will need to study whatever it is God will have me teach. The Pastor said that I will be amazed at how much I will learn because I need to teach it to someone else.
My whole desire to become ordained is due to wanting to get a better understanding of God's Word, and then be able to spread that message to others. I have no desire to make this a career, I already have a career. I do, however desire to serve God in whatever way He may direct my path, and get His message out to as many that will listen. Things are happening much faster than I had planned, but as I said before, it's God's plan, not mine. Praise be to Him!!! God Bless!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Clarification About Me
I'd like to clear up something, not that it's anybody's fricking business, but when asking my wife why she doesn't blog roll me she replied with because I'm not clear enough about our (my) past, and she got comments on her blog stating the reason she had certain issues was because she had to deal with me and my crap.
Yes, I am a recovering alcoholic. I am not ashamed of that. I'm not ashamed to be a Christian either. I'm not afraid to call a fag and "fag". I tell it like it is, so if I offend anyone, TOO BAD. Deal with it. I struggled for years to get sober. I didn't finally get clean and sober until 4 days BEFORE I hooked up with my wife. To be honest with you, if I had not hooked up with her I probably would've drank or used again, and wouldn't be writing this today. She, nor any of our kids, has ever seen me drunk or high since we have been together, and God willing they never will. My wife and I knew each other from Junior High School on, and she used to come into the bar (very infrequently) I worked at, so she had seen my drunk years before we hooked up. July 10th, 1998 was my last drink, and July 13th, 1998 was the last time I smoked weed. I smoked for 3 days to get me past the withdrawals of alcohol, then I quit everything, making July 14th my first full day of sobriety. July 14th, 2007 I celebrated 9 years. Yes, I do go to 12-Step meetings.
I have tattoos up and down my arms, back and chest. I ride a Harley-Davidson. I look like a hardcore biker, but I'm really a big teddy bear-especially in the belly... I do ride hard, and it'll probably kill me one of these days, but I enjoy it. I hunt for the thrill before the kill, not the meat. The meat is just an added bonus. Killing animals is fun and necessary, like it or not. Hunters contribute more to the environment and wildlife than any other group. Period. If you want proof, email me and I'll send it to you. The fact is the only reason we still have many of the animals here in the US, rather than memories of extinct animals, is because of conservation, and the biggest portion of conservation dollars comes from sportsmen.
I am a young Christian, meaning I have only recently come back to Christ. I still have a lot of work to get to where I need to be, but I am very grateful to God for where I am right now. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was pro-choice prior to becoming a Christian. I now see how wrong I was. I went through a big change right away, and am now going though many small changes. Is using the term "fag" for someone who is homosexual un-Christian? Maybe, but at this point I don't really care. I feel the way I do, and will not apologize for my feelings or beliefs.
I hate political correctness. That's part of why we don't have God in our schools. Separation of Church and State is not a part of the US Constitution. It was a radical ruling by the 1962-1963 Left-Wing Supreme Court. The First Amendment was meant to keep Government out of Religion, not keep Religion out of Government. This country was founded by Christians as a Christian Nation. The idea was that we would not impose any one Denomination or Religion upon our people. It was never intended to keep people from practicing their faith, or "protecting" people from being "subjected" to another's belief, as it has become. Growing up we had Jehovah's Witness' as neighbors, and the twins were in my class. They stepped out in the hallway when we said The Pledge of Allegiance. That was, and should still be, their choice. Instead, we have to cater to them by not even saying it. What a joke. People need to grow some fricking skin. I almost feel hypocritcal because 2 1/2 months ago I was athiest, but even at that time I thought his whole Separation of Church issue was BS. Those who feel we should have Separation should stop using our money then, seeing it says "In God We Trust."
Just like the foreigners that come to this country and refuse to learn the language. This is ridiculous. We should not cater to them. They should be required to learn the language, just as my grandparents had to. Nothing irritates me more than having to choose 1 for English or 2 for Spanish. This doesn't make me a racist, it makes me a Patriotic American. I have ideas regarding the illegal immigrants here in the US, but I'll save that for another post. I'll just say at this time I'm not for either total amnesty nor total deportation, and leave it at that.
Anyhow, I hope this clears up some things about me. Maybe now my beautiful wife will blog roll me. {:~)
Yes, I am a recovering alcoholic. I am not ashamed of that. I'm not ashamed to be a Christian either. I'm not afraid to call a fag and "fag". I tell it like it is, so if I offend anyone, TOO BAD. Deal with it. I struggled for years to get sober. I didn't finally get clean and sober until 4 days BEFORE I hooked up with my wife. To be honest with you, if I had not hooked up with her I probably would've drank or used again, and wouldn't be writing this today. She, nor any of our kids, has ever seen me drunk or high since we have been together, and God willing they never will. My wife and I knew each other from Junior High School on, and she used to come into the bar (very infrequently) I worked at, so she had seen my drunk years before we hooked up. July 10th, 1998 was my last drink, and July 13th, 1998 was the last time I smoked weed. I smoked for 3 days to get me past the withdrawals of alcohol, then I quit everything, making July 14th my first full day of sobriety. July 14th, 2007 I celebrated 9 years. Yes, I do go to 12-Step meetings.
I have tattoos up and down my arms, back and chest. I ride a Harley-Davidson. I look like a hardcore biker, but I'm really a big teddy bear-especially in the belly... I do ride hard, and it'll probably kill me one of these days, but I enjoy it. I hunt for the thrill before the kill, not the meat. The meat is just an added bonus. Killing animals is fun and necessary, like it or not. Hunters contribute more to the environment and wildlife than any other group. Period. If you want proof, email me and I'll send it to you. The fact is the only reason we still have many of the animals here in the US, rather than memories of extinct animals, is because of conservation, and the biggest portion of conservation dollars comes from sportsmen.
I am a young Christian, meaning I have only recently come back to Christ. I still have a lot of work to get to where I need to be, but I am very grateful to God for where I am right now. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was pro-choice prior to becoming a Christian. I now see how wrong I was. I went through a big change right away, and am now going though many small changes. Is using the term "fag" for someone who is homosexual un-Christian? Maybe, but at this point I don't really care. I feel the way I do, and will not apologize for my feelings or beliefs.
I hate political correctness. That's part of why we don't have God in our schools. Separation of Church and State is not a part of the US Constitution. It was a radical ruling by the 1962-1963 Left-Wing Supreme Court. The First Amendment was meant to keep Government out of Religion, not keep Religion out of Government. This country was founded by Christians as a Christian Nation. The idea was that we would not impose any one Denomination or Religion upon our people. It was never intended to keep people from practicing their faith, or "protecting" people from being "subjected" to another's belief, as it has become. Growing up we had Jehovah's Witness' as neighbors, and the twins were in my class. They stepped out in the hallway when we said The Pledge of Allegiance. That was, and should still be, their choice. Instead, we have to cater to them by not even saying it. What a joke. People need to grow some fricking skin. I almost feel hypocritcal because 2 1/2 months ago I was athiest, but even at that time I thought his whole Separation of Church issue was BS. Those who feel we should have Separation should stop using our money then, seeing it says "In God We Trust."
Just like the foreigners that come to this country and refuse to learn the language. This is ridiculous. We should not cater to them. They should be required to learn the language, just as my grandparents had to. Nothing irritates me more than having to choose 1 for English or 2 for Spanish. This doesn't make me a racist, it makes me a Patriotic American. I have ideas regarding the illegal immigrants here in the US, but I'll save that for another post. I'll just say at this time I'm not for either total amnesty nor total deportation, and leave it at that.
Anyhow, I hope this clears up some things about me. Maybe now my beautiful wife will blog roll me. {:~)
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