"Being Gay is a Choice!" I posted this comment a couple of times in various media in response to the assertion that being Gay is not a choice but a function of Nature. It is not politically correct to hold this view. Judging from some of the angry responses that I have received, it's not okay to hold, much less to express, this view. If you have read my previous blog entry you know what I believe with respect to political correctness and free speech. Therefore, with all due respect to those who may take offense, let me explain why I hold this belief.
First and foremost God, the God of the Bible, condemns homosexuality as being wrong and therefore sinful. Those who don't believe in God will probably dismiss this reason without giving it any further consideration. Those who do believe in God will find this point is quite compelling.
There is a Supreme Being, God, who is the Creator of all things that have been created. He is the ultimate authority on ALL things in the universe. He has the authority and the power to establish what is morally right or morally wrong. He is the ultimate source of love, life, morality, justice, ethics, etc. He has shown Himself to be a God of love, grace and mercy. He has communicated with humanity through about 40 different authors over a period of approximately 1500 years in a library of 66 books we know as the Bible.
God being just, holds us responsible for the exercise of our God-given free will. It is clear from a reading of the Bible that God does not punish people for things that are beyond their control, like getting sick for example. He does punish people for what they do.
Therefore, logic compels me to conclude that: (1) God justly punishes us for things that we choose to do that are wrong/sinful; (2) God has declared the practice homosexuality is sinful; (3) God does not punish us for what is not our choice; (4) God declares that He will punish those who practice homosexuality; (5) homosexuality, being gay, is a choice.
Next, consider the natural world around us. All animals on land, in the air and in the seas, with rare exceptions, are male or female. It takes a male and female to propagate the species.
Human beings are male or female. It takes a male and female to propagate the human species. That is the natural order of things. Homosexuality is not natural. No one is born homosexual, they become homosexual later in life by choice. No one has ever gone to a doctor and after being examined was told by that doctor "You're a homosexual."
There is no empirical scientific data that supports the proposition that being homosexual is anything but a choice of the person who declares themselves to be homosexual.
If a person chooses to be homosexual it is their choice. They are entitled to make their choices just as we are entitled to make ours. They are entitled to be treated with the same respect everyone else is entitled to. I mean to say that it is morally wrong to harass, abuse, bully, physically assault, denigrate or mistreat them in any way. God will be their judge, and ours, not you...not me!
It is proper to try persuade people and to "lovingly" point out where they stand with respect to God and the potential consequences of their choice. However, it is never proper to coerce them to your point of view. It is never appropriate to use the Bible as a cudgel to beat anyone into submission. God never coerces us, He persuades us in love. He leaves the choice to us. We can do no more!
Being Gay is a Choice!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
CAN WE TALK ?
" Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.)
One of our most cherished rights as a free people is our right to speak freely. The Government is expressly prohibited from passing any law that would infringe upon that right. Courts have consistently ruled that all speech, particularly vile and offensive speech, are protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Some people sometimes try to expand this right to include "the right to not be offended." They seem to believe that they have a God given right to be "free" from being offended by another's exercise of their free speech right. This is incorrect as a matter of law! Various Courts that have addressed this issue have observed that it is precisely offensive speech that needs to be protected.
Enter the concept of "Political Correctness." Expressions that can be perceived to exclude, marginalize or insult people who are disadvantaged or discriminated against. So according to P.C. gurus there are certain classes of people who may not, in effect, be offended. Who are these protected classes? Who decides who is a protected class? Who decides what speech is offensive to these classes? Who decides what is offensive?
Political Correctness is an artificial concept with constantly changing parameters depending upon the subjective whims of the P.C. gurus. In short it is the stuff that is extruded out of the south end of a northbound bull.
Ideas should stand or fall of their own weight, competing freely in the marketplace of ideas. No one should have the power to deny anyone of their right to speak freely.
People who know me know that I do not seek to deliberately offend anyone. I have strongly held views and I can be persuaded by a cogent, logical, well-presented intelligent argument. I do not come by my views lightly. I do spend a fair amount of time thinking and re-thinking about my views, considering new information or re-considering old information.
It is wrong to cause people to lose their employment, their freedom or their life because they have expressed an opinion that you do not agree with, especially if what they say is founded in truth.
I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE, PARTICULARLY P.C. GURUS, TO DEPRIVE ME OF MY GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO SPEAK FREELY! ! !
I HEREBY DECLARE that I reserve the right to express myself in ANY manner and/or by use of ANY words that I may choose at the time. If you find my speech offensive, let's talk.
What do you think? Can we talk?
One of our most cherished rights as a free people is our right to speak freely. The Government is expressly prohibited from passing any law that would infringe upon that right. Courts have consistently ruled that all speech, particularly vile and offensive speech, are protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Some people sometimes try to expand this right to include "the right to not be offended." They seem to believe that they have a God given right to be "free" from being offended by another's exercise of their free speech right. This is incorrect as a matter of law! Various Courts that have addressed this issue have observed that it is precisely offensive speech that needs to be protected.
Enter the concept of "Political Correctness." Expressions that can be perceived to exclude, marginalize or insult people who are disadvantaged or discriminated against. So according to P.C. gurus there are certain classes of people who may not, in effect, be offended. Who are these protected classes? Who decides who is a protected class? Who decides what speech is offensive to these classes? Who decides what is offensive?
Political Correctness is an artificial concept with constantly changing parameters depending upon the subjective whims of the P.C. gurus. In short it is the stuff that is extruded out of the south end of a northbound bull.
Ideas should stand or fall of their own weight, competing freely in the marketplace of ideas. No one should have the power to deny anyone of their right to speak freely.
People who know me know that I do not seek to deliberately offend anyone. I have strongly held views and I can be persuaded by a cogent, logical, well-presented intelligent argument. I do not come by my views lightly. I do spend a fair amount of time thinking and re-thinking about my views, considering new information or re-considering old information.
It is wrong to cause people to lose their employment, their freedom or their life because they have expressed an opinion that you do not agree with, especially if what they say is founded in truth.
I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE, PARTICULARLY P.C. GURUS, TO DEPRIVE ME OF MY GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO SPEAK FREELY! ! !
I HEREBY DECLARE that I reserve the right to express myself in ANY manner and/or by use of ANY words that I may choose at the time. If you find my speech offensive, let's talk.
What do you think? Can we talk?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
WHERE DO WE FIND THESE PEOPLE?
I am one of those people who likes to people-watch. I'll sit in the mall and watch people walk by while SWMBO is inside a store shopping. When we travel and stop for lunch or for gas, I'll watch the other people who are doing the same thing. When I enter the places where I do business, i.e. stores, dry cleaners, restaurants, etc, I usually engage the employees in some light, jocular banter.
I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the American people are a decent and noble people. When a disaster strikes anywhere in the world, our government is usually the first government to supply assistance. Above and beyond that, individual Americans are quick to dig deep into their own pockets and collectively send huge amounts of assistance to people in need. What impresses me about this is that individual Americans generously donate to people they do not know, may not agree with politically or religiously, and probably will never meet during their life time.
The other day I went to get a haircut. The young woman who cut my hair on this occasion truly impressed me and made me proud to be an American. Here was a single mother, gainfully employed cutting my hair. She told me about her 14 month old son of whom she is very proud. What also impressed me about this woman is that she is an U.S. Army reservist. Beyond that she is being deployed to Afghanistan soon for 14 months. She was anxious to go and serve her country even though it meant leaving her son for such a long time. She said that "It's my turn."
Where do we find these people? She, like all members of the U.S. military are volunteers. We have the best military that the world has ever seen and they are all volunteers. Amazing!
I was truly impressed with this young woman and her dedication to our country. I thanked her for my haircut. I thanked her for her service to my beloved country. I wished her and her fellow soldiers well. I left the haircut place feeling blessed at having met her and privileged to be her fellow citizen.
Where do we find these people? I don't know! I am, however, very glad and thankful that we do find them!
Have you met anyone who has impressed you as this single mother impressed me?
I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the American people are a decent and noble people. When a disaster strikes anywhere in the world, our government is usually the first government to supply assistance. Above and beyond that, individual Americans are quick to dig deep into their own pockets and collectively send huge amounts of assistance to people in need. What impresses me about this is that individual Americans generously donate to people they do not know, may not agree with politically or religiously, and probably will never meet during their life time.
The other day I went to get a haircut. The young woman who cut my hair on this occasion truly impressed me and made me proud to be an American. Here was a single mother, gainfully employed cutting my hair. She told me about her 14 month old son of whom she is very proud. What also impressed me about this woman is that she is an U.S. Army reservist. Beyond that she is being deployed to Afghanistan soon for 14 months. She was anxious to go and serve her country even though it meant leaving her son for such a long time. She said that "It's my turn."
Where do we find these people? She, like all members of the U.S. military are volunteers. We have the best military that the world has ever seen and they are all volunteers. Amazing!
I was truly impressed with this young woman and her dedication to our country. I thanked her for my haircut. I thanked her for her service to my beloved country. I wished her and her fellow soldiers well. I left the haircut place feeling blessed at having met her and privileged to be her fellow citizen.
Where do we find these people? I don't know! I am, however, very glad and thankful that we do find them!
Have you met anyone who has impressed you as this single mother impressed me?
Monday, October 11, 2010
HAVE A BAD DAY, I'M HAVING A BAD MONTH!
Did you ever have a day when you thought the universe decided to come after you with a vengeance? I'm having a month like that! Please bear with me while I have a little pity party.
The first nickel to drop was our TV cable went out. Next, our telephone service went out. We get our telephone service through our cable company. Next, our clothes dryer went kaflooey! These things happened while I was away on a business trip. Next, some idiot backed his wife's car into the garage door breaking the garage door. Next, the starter went kaflooey in our pick-up truck. Next, and hopefully last, the battery in the pick-up truck gave up the ghost and had to be replaced.
I am not a rich man! I do not have a lot of surplus disposable income. The above attacks by the universe has / will cost a fair amount of money to repair or replace. UGHHHH!
Why me? What have I done to deserve this ? I'm not such a bad guy! My wife loves me and has done so for the better part of forty years. I have a reputation of being kind, helpful, compassionate and generally a nice guy. So why me?
The fact of the matter is that despite the above vexations I have it pretty good! I am lavishly blessed by God! I am reasonably healthy. I have a wonderful marriage to a terrific woman I do not deserve. I have the necessaries of life - shelter, clothing, food, drink, warmth, etc. I have gainful employment. I worship with people who are loving, compassionate, and dedicated to living as Godly a life as possible. So, like I said I don't have it bad at all and I have been lavishly blessed by God.
We are all blessed in this country. For the most part when we wake up in the morning the odds are very good that we will live to see another day. We are a nation that has obese poor people. Think about that, obese poor people! We have access to great medical care.
There are countries in this world where the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread" has real meaning. There are countries in this world where death is ever tugging at the populations sleeves. Consider the people of Haiti who struggle daily just to survive. Many have lost everything! Consider the genocidal conflicts in Africa. Consider the religious intolerance in numerous countries around our globe where adherents of the majority religion hunt down and kill the adherents of the minority religion. We don't have to contend with such man-made and natural disasters.
When life comes crashing in on you and you feel that life is not fair, remember how really tough other people have it. Also, remember that life is fair in that it is unfair to everyone. Remember that a loving God is always nearby, ready to listen, ready to give comfort and to help. HE IS FAITHFUL!
Are you having a bad day? Be of good cheer for this too shall pass! May God bless you all!
The first nickel to drop was our TV cable went out. Next, our telephone service went out. We get our telephone service through our cable company. Next, our clothes dryer went kaflooey! These things happened while I was away on a business trip. Next, some idiot backed his wife's car into the garage door breaking the garage door. Next, the starter went kaflooey in our pick-up truck. Next, and hopefully last, the battery in the pick-up truck gave up the ghost and had to be replaced.
I am not a rich man! I do not have a lot of surplus disposable income. The above attacks by the universe has / will cost a fair amount of money to repair or replace. UGHHHH!
Why me? What have I done to deserve this ? I'm not such a bad guy! My wife loves me and has done so for the better part of forty years. I have a reputation of being kind, helpful, compassionate and generally a nice guy. So why me?
The fact of the matter is that despite the above vexations I have it pretty good! I am lavishly blessed by God! I am reasonably healthy. I have a wonderful marriage to a terrific woman I do not deserve. I have the necessaries of life - shelter, clothing, food, drink, warmth, etc. I have gainful employment. I worship with people who are loving, compassionate, and dedicated to living as Godly a life as possible. So, like I said I don't have it bad at all and I have been lavishly blessed by God.
We are all blessed in this country. For the most part when we wake up in the morning the odds are very good that we will live to see another day. We are a nation that has obese poor people. Think about that, obese poor people! We have access to great medical care.
There are countries in this world where the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread" has real meaning. There are countries in this world where death is ever tugging at the populations sleeves. Consider the people of Haiti who struggle daily just to survive. Many have lost everything! Consider the genocidal conflicts in Africa. Consider the religious intolerance in numerous countries around our globe where adherents of the majority religion hunt down and kill the adherents of the minority religion. We don't have to contend with such man-made and natural disasters.
When life comes crashing in on you and you feel that life is not fair, remember how really tough other people have it. Also, remember that life is fair in that it is unfair to everyone. Remember that a loving God is always nearby, ready to listen, ready to give comfort and to help. HE IS FAITHFUL!
Are you having a bad day? Be of good cheer for this too shall pass! May God bless you all!
Friday, October 8, 2010
THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY
Tonight I had the distinct pleasure of meeting my niece's soon to be in-laws. They're from San Antonio, Texas. They are Bill and Mary. Bill is a retired pilot from the U.S. Air Force. They seem like real nice people. I really enjoyed meeting Bill and Mary and getting to know them a little.
I got to thinking about my family. I have an older brother. You can blame him that I'm still around. Even though I gave him ample opportunity and reason to remove me from the planet while we were growing up, he chose to let me live. I can't tell you how much love and respect I have for him. He is really a terrific person and a great big brother.
The family is the bedrock foundation of society. It has been well said "As the family goes, so goes the society." Those of us who are middle aged remember the examples of traditional family; Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, June and Ward Cleaver, The Anderson's (Father Knows Best). Each family had a strong male at the head of the family, a strong female partner/helpmate, raising children in the security and context of a loving relationship.
The families of those halcyon days lived according to similar moral values. There were things that were viewed as being clearly right and there were things that were viewed as being clearly wrong.
The "right" things such as truth, integrity, self reliance, hard work, and responsibility, were encouraged. The "wrong" things such as falsehood, dishonesty, dependency, laziness, irresponsibility, were discouraged.
When a family member ran into hard times, the other family members would rally around them and support them. No government program needed...or wanted.
In modern times many believe that there is no such thing as objective truth. Many also believe that there is no standard of morality. They believe that everything is relative, dependent upon what you "chose" to believe is right or wrong. Take a look around you and take a close look at what is going on in the world today. How's that working out for us?
What is "Truth?" What is "Moral?" What is clearly "Right?" What is clearly "Wrong?" Are there any standards? Think about it!
I got to thinking about my family. I have an older brother. You can blame him that I'm still around. Even though I gave him ample opportunity and reason to remove me from the planet while we were growing up, he chose to let me live. I can't tell you how much love and respect I have for him. He is really a terrific person and a great big brother.
The family is the bedrock foundation of society. It has been well said "As the family goes, so goes the society." Those of us who are middle aged remember the examples of traditional family; Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, June and Ward Cleaver, The Anderson's (Father Knows Best). Each family had a strong male at the head of the family, a strong female partner/helpmate, raising children in the security and context of a loving relationship.
The families of those halcyon days lived according to similar moral values. There were things that were viewed as being clearly right and there were things that were viewed as being clearly wrong.
The "right" things such as truth, integrity, self reliance, hard work, and responsibility, were encouraged. The "wrong" things such as falsehood, dishonesty, dependency, laziness, irresponsibility, were discouraged.
When a family member ran into hard times, the other family members would rally around them and support them. No government program needed...or wanted.
In modern times many believe that there is no such thing as objective truth. Many also believe that there is no standard of morality. They believe that everything is relative, dependent upon what you "chose" to believe is right or wrong. Take a look around you and take a close look at what is going on in the world today. How's that working out for us?
What is "Truth?" What is "Moral?" What is clearly "Right?" What is clearly "Wrong?" Are there any standards? Think about it!
Monday, October 4, 2010
I'M BAAAACK!
It has been a while since my last post. The annual Ganderbrook Men's Retreat has come and gone. Also, I was away on business for a couple of days.
The Men's Retreat was excellent! F. LaGard Smith is an excellent speaker and has a gift for thought provoking lessons. He spoke about passion, or rather the loss of passion in the Church of today. He lamented the lack of passion at worship.
Mr. Smith also decried the dearth of passion when it comes to observing the Lord's Supper. LaGard opined that the Lord's Supper, of primary importance at worship, has become more ritual than worship. He also seemed to express the opinion that today's "mega-churches" bear no resemblance to the Church of the first century. Controversial stuff!
I don't know if I agree with LaGard but it provide grist for contemplation. I think it behooves all those who call themselves Christians to examine themselves from time to time to see what evokes their passion.
I also had the pleasure of meeting new people and getting to know a little about them. When two Christians meet for the first time there seems to be an immediate bond between them. I experienced this a few times at the retreat. It is one of the highlights of the retreat for me. I find it fascinating to see people from such diverse demographic backgrounds come together in such unity, harmony and acceptance.
Men, if you have never experienced a Men's Retreat you owe it to yourself to attend one. You will be better off for having done so. God Bless You!
The Men's Retreat was excellent! F. LaGard Smith is an excellent speaker and has a gift for thought provoking lessons. He spoke about passion, or rather the loss of passion in the Church of today. He lamented the lack of passion at worship.
Mr. Smith also decried the dearth of passion when it comes to observing the Lord's Supper. LaGard opined that the Lord's Supper, of primary importance at worship, has become more ritual than worship. He also seemed to express the opinion that today's "mega-churches" bear no resemblance to the Church of the first century. Controversial stuff!
I don't know if I agree with LaGard but it provide grist for contemplation. I think it behooves all those who call themselves Christians to examine themselves from time to time to see what evokes their passion.
I also had the pleasure of meeting new people and getting to know a little about them. When two Christians meet for the first time there seems to be an immediate bond between them. I experienced this a few times at the retreat. It is one of the highlights of the retreat for me. I find it fascinating to see people from such diverse demographic backgrounds come together in such unity, harmony and acceptance.
Men, if you have never experienced a Men's Retreat you owe it to yourself to attend one. You will be better off for having done so. God Bless You!
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