Don't Back Down: Be The Change in The Wake of Prop 8 Ruling (video)
Since the California Supreme Court decision almost two hours ago, I have been trying to stay focused on work and get to the many things I have sitting on my desk waiting for my attention, but have been stewing inside and wanting to write a rant-type of blog to vent my frustration over this all-too-common blow of a decision.
But then, I got an email from HRC and watched this video (below) and realized that while anger and frustration is definitely a normal reaction, the passion and energy needed to get anything accomplished needs to be refocused and put in the right direction to really make a change.
We cannot stop fighting! Those concerned with equality for ALL must come together and continue to work for what should be afforded to every citizen of this country. Please watch this video and do what you can and what you personally determine will help to make a difference. Steve and I make monthly donations to the HRC and I also donated extra today, in accordance with what we could afford right now. I know that in this economy, that money is tight, so if that's not possible, donate your time and your energy in any form possible.
While it's hard to remain positive in light of disciminatory mindsets, it's essential to concentrate on the change that simply MUST come. We need to educate the ignorant and choose love and equality over fear and bigotry.
BE THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 11:43AM
Reader Comments (50)
@ Lisa
Oh and a few other things.
In the neighborhood that we live in there are:
4 elementary schools, one junior high and one high school - all 6 of these schools have churches that rent space and conduct services there every Sunday. In addition the movie theater closest to our house (and a few others in town) has a church that meets there on Sundays.
Lastly, there are at least 4 (that I know of) churches that meet at private homes in our neighborhood. They put out signage on the street (a-frame) signs and banner on their garages. So tell me that we live in a neighborhood that discriminates against christians.
In fact, I do not know any school in our town of (a few hundred thousand people in the Inland Empire just outside LA and OC) that does not have a church in it.
We live in the middle of this shit. The reasoning for this being allowed is that groups like the Boy Scouts (which is a bullshit group) is allowed to meet at the school so they have to rent to churches also. The principal gets to decide who they want to be in the school. There are waiting lists of churches who want to start up seed churches in our neighborhood and are waiting for space in one of the schools. Stupid ass Greg Laurie (Harvest Festival fame) even has a satellite church at one of the school in our neighborhood.
We stand out like sore thumbs in this neighborhood. Everyone knows our lack of belief, everyone knows that I threw the bible in the trash on national TV, so you want to talk about being discriminated against. Try living in a neighborhood full of evangelical atheists and be one of the few Christians, that is our situation, but in reverse.
Its' obvious we're never going to agree.
I ALMOST feel sorry for you; however, that action of throwing the Bible in the trash on national TV keeps me from feeling completely sorry for you that you have to endure that from people. Yes, I saw that episode of wife swap. You don't have to get that text book if you don't want to. I believe you, really. I just wonder why mine never had that info. in it. And Im' not sending my pastor here because he has two young children to take care of, so he doesn't have time and he has better things to do then argue his point with someone who will never agree with. So do I, so I am done arguing my point. Since you all know how I feel, I will try really hard not to reply on any of these blogs about gay issues. However, I am still coming around because I think Jinxi comes up with some really interesting topics, and I will probably reply to other ones. But I'm done with the gay issue, since, like I said, we're never going to agree on it.
@ Steve.
I forgot to answer your question. Any religion has their own views about what their god does, however, the Holy Bible is the ONLY book that was INSPIRED by God and written by His real, true, followers. People who knew Him (Jesus) as a real person when He was alive on this earth. People who actually witnessed these events and miracles. And any religion that says to kill other people just because of their beliefs (ie, the Muslim faith) is NOT a god that I want anything to do with. The God I worship does not hate, only loves all people. Yes, He will send people to hell but that's because they chose to take their own path and refuse to acknowledge His existence. He doesn't want anyone to have to go to hell, but He is a loving and just God. I can see how this sounds crazy to you. I was raised Lutheran and thought the Pentecostal faith, Non-denominational churches, the ones that spoke the truth and sometimes offended people in their messages, were nuts. But then I was literally led (I believe God led me there) to a non-denom church and I could feel the presence of God. And I now attend a church that is of the Pentecostal style. I no longer think it's strange that people lift their hands in worship or call out Amens! during the message. I myself have been compelled to do both at times. I no longer think it's crazy that people believe in speaking in tongues or claim to have the gift themselves. It's in the Bible, that some have the gift of prophecy, some the gift of tongues, and many other gifts that are listed there. But I digress....
to get back to the point at hand, those other religions that act in hate and refuse to talk like normal human beings and instead resort to violence (of which the Christian faith does NOT do-anyone who does this and claims to be a Christian is a LIAR) is not a true faith from God. Jesus even said many false prophets/ churches will come and go and not to follow those false gods. Evil is always going to exist, fighting is always going to exist, until the end. False churches are always going to exist to pull believers away from their faith. God isn't going to resort to this kind of wrath until the very end of the tribulation period-right before Jesus comes back to rapture His church. Only then, will the wrath of God be unleashed-and it won't affect believers. It is one last attempt to get everyone's attention. I would be very, very wary of ANY faith that calls murder justifiable. I would be very, very wary of ANY faith that shuns people for leaving the church (ie, the Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses-and I know your wife was a former Mormon (I read the stuff on the wife swap website), but I also know people from these churches who have been shunned for leaving). That is the true definition of a cult. The Christian faith does neither-that is why we are fighting against abortion. That is why we PRAY for people, rather than resort to violence and threats. I hope that answers your questions.
"The Christian faith does neither-that is why we are fighting against abortion. That is why we PRAY for people, rather than resort to violence and threats. I hope that answers your questions."--Lisa
Um, Scott Roeder is christian and he just murdered a doctor, he also prayed for people on some of his blog posts, so whats the deal with that bullshit? I know you will say he is an extremist, but his roots are in the bible, so don't tell me he wasn't motivated by god. He murdered the doctor in a CHURCH!!! What the doctor was doing, even though controversial, was legal. Who's to say that you won't go nuts with hate and kill a doctor, or a gay person, or Steve, yourself?
Religion, BE GONE!!!
Um, if he killed someone, he was NOT a Christian! Look at that serial killer they caught a few years ago! ThE BTK killer. He claimed he was a Christian, he served in his church, even! But when you kill another human being, you are either a very good hypocrit who made everyone believe that you were a Christian, or you are a liar. Period. Anyone with the true spirit of Christ living inside of them will NOT kill another person! My church in Arizona runs background checks on ANYONE who wants to serve in the church, to be sure they are getting the real deal and not some psycho person who is living a lie. If it's a person who has a bad past before they were a Christian, that's one thing, but if you had ever been a convicted child molester, you can be sure you will not be working near children! If you have ever murdered anyone, you can be sure you will never be alone in the church, or alone with other people from the church! End of story. You are NOT a Christian if you kill someone. There are no two ways about that one. It's those people, those hypocrits, who make all Christians look bad.
forgot to add....to back up my statement:
THOU SHALT NOT KILL! What part of this do we not understand????????
@ Lisa
for the umpteenth time, Mormons ARE Christians. the NAME of our church is "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints." I have followed this blog and author for some time and don't ever recall her saying she was "shunned" by the Mormon church so I would guess that she would not appreciate you putting words in her mouth like that.
it sounds like you are a Pentacostal? you REALLY believe that people in masses have the ability to speak in tongues? this type of nonsense seems to paint the picture of cult-like behavior if you ask me. funny that you don't see things that way.
@ Lisa
Again, you did not address most of my comment. However, I, unlike many "christians" I talk to, will not dodge your points.
God does not like killing? Um have you read the bible? It is full of killing. You should pick it up and give it a read, then tell me that murder is not in there.
"Real Christians" - you keep saying that. Who are you to judge who is right or wrong in their christianity? Hell awaits the person who judges others.
You seem to have the perfect story, anyone who does bad is not a christians, therefore all christians are prefect. Why are you so fast to condemn the Islamic faith based on the few who kill. Perhaps they are not real muslims, as you would put it. You do not have a problem lumping them all together, but want to pick and choose who is a representative of your faith.
What about forgiveness? Anyone who kills is not a christian. I thought that JC was big on forgiving. So can a person who kills another, repent and be forgiven for that sin? Oh wait, he is forgiven, but I forgot that Lisa is the decider of who is a real christian or not.
Oh and all religion is a cult, including yours. Look up the definition in the dictionary. You qualify as an adherent of a cult. Oh and I must agree with "fyi" Mormons are just as much christians as you are. Like it or not. Your definition of a group that shuns a person for leaving is not part of the actual definition, unless you are using either a definition you made up or one a religious person made up to exclude a group, ie mormons from christianity.
@ fyi...
I happen to personally know people who have been shunned for leaving the Mormon church and the Jehovah's Witness church. Maybe your church doesn't do it, but there are people who have left those faiths and been shunned.
just because you are a Christian, it does not mean you can go out and do whatever the heck you want. That is mocking the grace and forgiveness of God. Hebrews 10:26: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." 1 Jn. 3:6: "No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." 1 Jn.3:9: "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." Romans 6: 1-2: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Read the rest of Romans 6, it's too long to type here, but it explains that one, just so you all know that I am putting it in context. If you want to read another verse in context, read 1 Ths.chapter 4, and when you get to verse 7: "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit." One more for thought: 2 Jn. verse 6 (There is only one chapter in 2 Jn.) :"And this is love: that we walk in OBEDIENCE to his commands." Read the rest of 2 Jn. if you want to see it in context. If someone has the heart of God, they will not kill. Yes, we mess up. yes, we fall and do something stupid; we are only human. But if we DELIBERATELY sin, then we need to stop and examine our hearts and repent and GO AND SIN NO MORE. Jesus even said that to the adulterous woman, he specifically told her she was forgiven but to go and sin NO MORE.
Murder is in the Bible, but so is the punishment that awaits. The people who think they can go out and do what they want and then ask for forgiveness later are the ones who give Christians a bad name. Fruits of the spirit include, kindness, gentleness, SELF-CONTROL, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness and faithfulness. (Gal. 5:22-23).
For the record, it's not me who is deciding this stuff; it's God. If you would actually read and study the Bible you would know this. My pastor tossed out the title of a book one day that I am wanting to check out and read, it's called "Forgive Me For Not Telling You Sooner." When he brought it up he was talking about US telling others about what we are responsible for as Christians. And what will happen if we dont' do our best to live holy lives. No, we won't be perfect, but we will not deliberately do something wrong just because we can be forgiven.
@ fyi again...
yes, the gift of tongues is in the Bible: 1 Cor. 12:7-11: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by tha one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another SPEAKING IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."
See, this is what I mean about picking and choosing scriptures to suit you. OT aside, as that was before Jesus and now we don't need to follow the laws of Moses, we need to follow Jesus, people pick apart what they want to believe. Just because the idea of spiritual gifts makes them uncomfortable, they ignore it. Just because the scriptures on divorce and remarraige offend people, they choose to ignore it and do what they want. That's like saying just because this person doesn't want to believe he has to stop at a red light, he isn't going to, even though it's written in the books as a law. I go by the old quote, "What is RIGHT is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right." I dont' care if you call me a heretic (to use my pastors wording); I don't care if you call me legalistic, I am not going to go against God's word. Believe me, I was once in the position where I scoffed at the idea of spiritual gifts, and all that other stuff. but then someone pointed out to me, so if you dont' like it, why don't you just tear that page out? Why are you ignoring what is in front of your face? That remark stung at first, I would NEVER tear out a page from the Bible, so the person who told me this brought me conviction. It says it exists, so who am I to say differently? If you are an atheist, I don't expect you to understand that since you don't even believe in God, but what's the point of having laws if noone is going to obey them? They keep us safe and keep other people safe. What's the point of having a Bible if you are not going to follow it? What's the point of following God if you are going to ignore/ change things that make you uncomfortable?
Steve...
how did I not answer your question? Was my reply too long so you didn't read it? Here is my answer from above, again.
Any religion has their own views about what their god does, however, the Holy Bible is the ONLY book that was INSPIRED by God and written by His real, true, followers. People who knew Him (Jesus) as a real person when He was alive on this earth. People who actually witnessed these events and miracles. And any religion that says to kill other people just because of their beliefs (ie, the Muslim faith) is NOT a god that I want anything to do with. The God I worship does not hate, only loves all people. Yes, He will send people to hell but that's because they chose to take their own path and refuse to acknowledge His existence. He doesn't want anyone to have to go to hell, but He is a loving and just God. those other religions that act in hate and refuse to talk like normal human beings and instead resort to violence (of which the Christian faith does NOT do-anyone who does this and claims to be a Christian is a LIAR) is not a true faith from God. Jesus even said many false prophets/ churches will come and go and not to follow those false gods. Evil is always going to exist, fighting is always going to exist, until the end. False churches are always going to exist to pull believers away from their faith. God isn't going to resort to this kind of wrath until the very end of the tribulation period-right before Jesus comes back to rapture His church. Only then, will the wrath of God be unleashed-and it won't affect believers. It is one last attempt to get everyone's attention.
That is how I know that MY God is right. He does not kill. He does not hate. It's hard to explain this in a way that someone who does not know God will understand. It's hard to get someone who doesn't even believe in God understand what I'm saying. I dont' know how else to explain this to you.
Oh Lisa, you really do seem to be beyond help and under a spell.
Just so I am clear, you do or do not follow the OT? It seems as though you say that you do not ( I know the whole JC came and now the old law is not followed anymore.) If you do not then why do you still quote the OT, ie same sex marriage debates we have had.
You do not think that anyone who has left the Pentecostal faith has been shunned by their family or community, really, you think that does not happen in your faith?
christian god = murdering piece of crap - see scriptures below link to almost a thousand verses regarding violent acts by god or his followers
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/long.html
The fact that you say that the christian bible is the only true version does not make it so. You have no more proof than any other religious person has. Personal testimony, yes they have that. Book of scriptures, yes they have that. "Miracles", yes they have those also. You name it and every other religious person has the same proof that you have.
As for the bible keeping us safe. Um, we are an organized civilization that has evolved and learned to work together. We have laws. There are civilization on Earth that do not have anything to do with the christian bible, yet they have laws and order. How do they do that without the christian bible?
Yes I did read your comment. I read it a few times, I thought about it and then responded. You respond with statements as if they are fact, you do not respond with logical answers. Do you realize that the NT was written a few generations after JC lived. Why are there NO contemporary writings regarding JC? NOTHING. Go ahead and look, there was not one thing written by ANYONE about JC or his "miracles" during his lifetime. Why not? I would like to see how accurate of an accounting it would be if your great grand kids wrote about our debates today. The average person lived to be about 35 years old during the "life" of christ. The oldest book in the NT was written about 50-70 (or longer) years after JC lived. So please tell me how nothing was written about JC during his lifetime. Oh and yes there were plenty of writing about people of that time, plenty of historians who wrote about events of that day, however, nobody saw fit to write about JC healing people or anything. Interesting.
Your interpretation (or actually your pastors) of the christian bible does not have any more weight to it than another christian or Islam, Hindu or any other faith.
@ Lisa
Which of the three sects of Pentecostalism do you belong.
- Wesleyan-Holliness
- Higher Life
- Oneness
Or some other smaller sect.
My questions is regarding the division of your faith after the Azusa Street Revival waned. After this division of the faith there was plenty of infighting and disagreement on what path to take. Even if Pentecostalism is the one true version of christianity how do you know that your sect was the right one?
William J. Seymour was sure the the end times was coming 100 years ago and he spoke in tongue all the time, was he not really receiving utterances from the holy spirit? or did he not really have the gift?
Oh and regarding speaking in tongues. Pentecostals cannot even agree on this topic. So who is right? Are the Pentecostals who disagree with you on this topic not "true" christians?
Last one, Oral Roberts is a Pentecostal, do you believe that a 900 feet Jesus appeared to him and gave him instructions (as he claims). Um, do you believe that? He is a Pentecostal leader, is he "real" or not.
I messed up . The title of the book I mentioned earlier is actually called "Forgive Me For Waiting So Long To Tell You This" By David Servant (in case anyone wants to read it). I haven't yet, but when I get all my bills paid this month, I am going to order it and read it.
Thank you all. You keep inspiring me to read my Bible more and more and study it more and keep going to church and learning more from my wonderful, well-educated pastors (we have 5). I would rather live my life the way I am living it and believe what I do, living inside of God's word, than to go through life without that hope and eternal security found in God. I am not afraid to die because I KNOW where I'll be someday--with God, worshipping and serving Him for all eternity. When I hit rough spots in life, I just keep my eyes focused on that goal and everything gets better. I need nothing else in life. So you can knock my beliefs down all you want, but it doesn't matter to me. The only person I am trying to please and impress is God.
@ Steve...
It's an Assemblies of God denomination with some Pentecostal similarities, such as the belief in modern day miracles and spiritual gifts. And raising hands in worship. And Baptism by the Holy Spirit (which is different from Baptism in general. Baptism is the public declaration of Jesus as your Savior; Baptism of the Holy Spirit is what happens when you receive the gift of tongues). I actually remember my pastor saying one day that we are "mildly Pentecostal." But my church actually belongs to Assemblies of God.
@ Lisa
So are the Oneness adherents who broke off from the AG all going to hell? Are they not "real" christians?
Gift of tongues?? I'm not even going there....
Ok, just one.....three girls ask a guy if he's ever had a gift of ton....
Naw, I'm just mucking around Lisa, I wish you the best in your goals. :)
@ Tiger
LOL, you heathen
yes I am! Exactly why I have 'Rude Bwoy' on my knuckles. I just saw a friend of my moms today and she saw my atheist tattoo and told me "you know, you're going to hell with that!" Straight up nasty. I responded "what the hell is hell?" She literally shook her head at me and made the "tisk tisk" sound. I'm sick of people telling me what is going to happen to me. If there is a heaven and I got in, I would fuck with those kinds of people...."haha, god thinks I'm sexy". I'm sick of being called homophobic, oh wait, that's not me.....man, I'm such a dick today.
@ Tiger...
what is "rude bwoy" ? Just curious.
it's a Jamaican term used for gangster or bad boy I guess. The 'W' was added to complete all four knuckles, plus when a Jamaican says it, it sounds like "bwoy" instead of "boy" I used to record music and a lot of my beats were reggae/electronic/rock/dub style and my friends always called me the rude boy producer, then they dared me to get it tattoed and you don't dare me to get a tattoo, cuz I will.
And, like my last post, I am rude sometimes, so it goes with the territory.
@ Tiger
You are ska'd for life with that tattoo, brings back all the nights that Jinxi and I skanked our night way to some ska music.
hey hey hey hey hey hey pickitup pickitup pickitup pickitup......skankin' away! lol.
Did you two ever go on that reggae boat ride out of Long Beach? When I lived in Phoenix, I would drive out to Long Beach to see some friends who were friends with Bud and Eric from Sublime. They took me on this boat one time that had a bar and some reggae/ska band playing all night long, it was dope! The alcohol and the rocking of the boat got to me after one too many, but I kept it all down, haha.
Shit, we got off subject a little bit here.....um.....fookin' christians?? I kid I kid.
reggae's kinda cool! I took a world music class in college and got introduced to many different styles and cultures of music, including reggae. It was pretty fun to hear them all (the styles of music I mean).
Reggae is cool, but Rastafarianism is a very bad 'new' religion. Bob Marley brought the One Love vibe to America, but they have some ridiculous beliefs. Like I said earlier, they thought end times was 7/7/1977..oops. And they dislike gays too but what religion doesn't? And yes, smoking herb is part of their religion, so when I was making beats, people just assumed I was smoking weed the whole time, and I understand that, but I smoked weed maybe once or twice while making music, made me too nervous to function. But I agree, the music is very cool and relaxing. NOFX just made a new reggae-ish song called "Best ?? in Show" check it out on their myspazz page.