Putting a nativity in my yard at Christmas is not a statement of hatred toward unbelievers. Displaying an American flag in my front yard is not a statement of hatred toward non- Americans. Putting a "Yes On Prop 8" sign in my front yard is not a statement of hatred toward gays. The sign is my declaration of agreement with the definition of marriage being the union of one man with one woman, just as God designed it. I support this Proposition for a number of reasons and this article from a paper in Vallejo sums it up fairly well:
Proposition 8 - Truth vs. Myth
Article Launched: 10/28/2008 08:33:42 AM PDT
Proposition 8 - Truth vs. Myth
Over the last few weeks, we have seen many letters to the editor, political advertisements and news stories regarding Proposition 8. Unfortunately, many of these seem to be providing accidentally mistaken or deliberately incorrect information. I offer the following as a way to provide correct information:
g Myth: Proposition 8 strips constitutional rights from gay and lesbian couples.
Fact: Proposition 8 does not take away any rights. According to section 297.5 of the California Family Code (look it up) gay and lesbian domestic partners have "the same rights, protections and benefits" as married spouses. Proposition 8 does NOT change this.
n Myth: Gay marriage cannot (or will not) be taught in California schools.
Fact: The California public education code directs that marriage be taught as part of the kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum. Currently, some schools teach it and some schools do not. If Proposition 8 is not passed, schools will be free to teach gay marriage whether or not parents agree. This has already happened in Michigan and, in response to the Michigan example, the California Superintendent of Schools stated "nothing inappropriate will be taught in California schools" (KPIX News story, Oct. 22). Please note the important choice of the word "inappropriate." The superintendent knows, as should we all, that if Proposition 8 is not passed, gay marriage will not be considered "inappropriate" and, as such, will become an eligible topic to be taught to school children under the dictates of the education code.
n Myth: Proposition 8 discriminates against gays and lesbians.
Fact: The sole purpose of Proposition 8 is to prohibit the redefinition of marriage. In fact, the entire proposition is only 14 words long, the SAME 14 words passed by nearly two-thirds of the voters in the state of California in 2000. "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." It is a very simple statement.
n Myth: Marriage as an institution has already failed, so gay marriage won't make any difference.
Fact: Traditional marriage is an ideal worthy of emulation. Sure, there are situations when the ideal is not reached (or able to be maintained), but that does not mean it is something for which we should not try. Children reared in the home by a loving father and mother are provided with the best framework possible for future success and stability. Again, the world is not perfect and, occasionally, this is not possible. It is essential, however, that we as a society always strive for the best things possible and, failing reaching those goals, we make the best of what we have.
There are far more myths out there than I have time to mention in this brief letter. I would encourage anyone considering their position regarding Proposition 8 to research the proposition and what it means. If you agree that four activist judges should not be permitted to thwart the will of the people and that the definition of marriage, marriage between a man and a woman, should be the only marriage recognized in the state of California, I respectfully ask that you join me and many others Nov. 4 in voting "yes" on Proposition 8.
Steven Davis
We must understand that there is a battle in this world between God and his enemy. The enemy is crafty and subtle in spreading his lies. When someone who professes to believe in Christ states that a home where two people of the same sex are raising a child and the child is kind, polite, etc. thus causing this person to consider that it is a valid relationship, it disturbs me. When satan approached Eve and whispered the lie that God had denied access to all the fruit in the garden, it caused her to doubt God. Now, satan is asking "Does God really say that marriage is a man and a woman only?" Christ spent much time with sinners, however, He never embraced or approved of their sin, He forgave it and told them to go and sin no more. He told them to turn from sin and turn to God. If there are marriage failures in the community of believers, the answer is not to try alternatives to marriage, Christians have been sucked into the enemy's lies and need to return to God and live according to His Word. Love is always revealed in Truth. Our society is disintegrating rapidly, and our children, grandchildren and future generations will be swallowed if we do not act to keep principles that are important in place. When four judges have the ability to overturn a vote of the people....it's appalling. My placing a nativity scene on my lawn is a proclamation that God sent a Savior to the world. My placing a flag in my front yard is a proclamation that I live in a free country and people have given their lives for that freedom. My placing a "Yes on Prop 8" sign in my yard is a proclamation that God has designed marriage between a man and a woman to display Christ to the world. Eph. 5:32 " This mystery (a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.) is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church."
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Showing posts with label soapbox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soapbox. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Family-A target of the enemy
Question: What factors contribute to demographic decline?
Answer:
A number of social trends of the post-war era have converged to create a perfect storm for Demographic Winter.
Men and women are delaying marriage, making it less likely they’ll have more than one or two children. Today in the West, almost one in two marriages ends in divorce. The children of divorce are less likely to marry and form families themselves.
More married women are putting off having children for careers. After 35, it becomes progressively harder for women to conceive.
The news and entertainment media tell young adults that satisfaction comes from careers, romance, travel and “personal growth” – not from having children. It’s rare that Hollywood even portrays large families (today, more than 2 children). The culture’s message is live-for-moment and live primarily for yourself, with no sense of obligation to generations past or concern for posterity.
The growth of cohabitation also has an impact. (In Scandinavia, almost as many couples are living together as married.) Cohabitation is not conducive to childbearing or childrearing.
For the past 20 to 30 years, children have been taught that over-population (the so-called population bomb) will wreck havoc on the environment and economic development. Not surprisingly, children thus indoctrinated frequently choose to have fewer children when they reach maturity.
Religious observance has been shown to correlate with higher birthrates. The increasing secularization of Western societies has been accompanied by lower birthrates.
Thus, every aspect of modernity works against family life and in favor of singleness and small families or voluntary childlessness.
http://www.demographicwinter.com/
Answer:
A number of social trends of the post-war era have converged to create a perfect storm for Demographic Winter.
Men and women are delaying marriage, making it less likely they’ll have more than one or two children. Today in the West, almost one in two marriages ends in divorce. The children of divorce are less likely to marry and form families themselves.
More married women are putting off having children for careers. After 35, it becomes progressively harder for women to conceive.
The news and entertainment media tell young adults that satisfaction comes from careers, romance, travel and “personal growth” – not from having children. It’s rare that Hollywood even portrays large families (today, more than 2 children). The culture’s message is live-for-moment and live primarily for yourself, with no sense of obligation to generations past or concern for posterity.
The growth of cohabitation also has an impact. (In Scandinavia, almost as many couples are living together as married.) Cohabitation is not conducive to childbearing or childrearing.
For the past 20 to 30 years, children have been taught that over-population (the so-called population bomb) will wreck havoc on the environment and economic development. Not surprisingly, children thus indoctrinated frequently choose to have fewer children when they reach maturity.
Religious observance has been shown to correlate with higher birthrates. The increasing secularization of Western societies has been accompanied by lower birthrates.
Thus, every aspect of modernity works against family life and in favor of singleness and small families or voluntary childlessness.
http://www.demographicwinter.com/
Saturday, June 16, 2007
More Thoughts on Marriage....
Over the last year, I have done alot of reading and scripture study on marriage and what God desires from me in my role as a wife. In April, I blogged about relational intimacy and the humility that is required for it. What I shared was from the book "Love That Lasts" by Gary and Betsy Ricucci. It has become my new favorite marriage book. It's only 178 pages and full of great information. The first chapter of this book talks about what marriage is...since God came up with marriage in the beginning, the only place we find a reliable and accurate description of marriage is in the Bible. Gary then asks and answers some defining questions of biblical marriage. The first question is: Does your marriage find its purpose primarily in God? Here is his answer.....Many people, if they were totally honest, would admit that the central focus of their marriage is their personal satisfaction. In this view, marriage is a means of self-fulfillment, a path to personal happiness. I find someone who seems to complete me, who feels like my "soul-mate." My heart melts, I open myself up to her, and she to me. This view says, I know my marriage is good because I'm happy. You complete me, and I'm so satisfied with you. Therefore, our marriage is good. Others say that's just selfish. Marriage is not about me--it's about you, my spouse, they declare. I commit my life to making you happy. If you're happy, I'm happy. My needs aren't important. I am your noble servant, the wind beneath your wings. I exist to serve you. I must serve you! Still others say, No, marriage is not about you or me. It's about us. We check our Me at the door of We. What you might need and what I might want are all consumed in the greater vision of Marriage. We live as one. We think as one. We feel as one. We are Marriage! The truth is, all these views have the same fatal limitation: They are centered in man rather than in God. A truly Christian marriage starts with the reality that the institution of marriage does not belong to us. It belongs to God. He designed marriage, and his purposes for it are paramount.
So then, what are God's purposes for marriage? Whenever we speak of God's purposes, we must begin and end with Scripture. It is so easy to look elsewhere for guidance. We are quick to depend on our feelings, our habits, the opinions of others, secular culture, false religion, expediency, or self-will as a basis for our perspective, behavior, and decisions regarding marriage. Yet Scripture, and Scripture alone, is God's means for revealing who he is, who we are, and what marriage is intended to be.
Briefly stated, Scripture teaches that marriage is a profound and marvelous relationship--a mystery, established by God for His glory. Glory means doing that which, to some degree, accurately reveals and represents him and appropriately honors and responds to him for who he is in his perfection and power. Thus, marriage brings glory to God by displaying as fully as possible how he relates to his people through Jesus Christ.
What is this mystery of marriage? It began in the Garden of Eden when God himself fashioned a woman perfectly suited to Adam and "brought her to the man" (Genesis 2:22). From Genesis 2:24 we glean this divine description of marriage: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." So from the earliest pages of Scripture, we see that marriage--an exclusive, passionate, and permanent relationship between a man and a woman--owes its very existence to God.
As significant as marriage was in Eden, the full meaning of marriage was not disclosed until the coming of Christ. When the apostle Paul teaches about marriage in Ephesians 5, he quotes Genesis 2:24 and then draws back the curtain on this amazing truth: "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." This revelation explodes all human-centered explanations for marriage. The relationship between a husband and a wife is meant to be a reflection of Christ's relationship with his church--a living parable of the supernatural union between Jesus and his Bride.
To grasp this staggering truth is both inspiring and sobering. What a privilege! What a responsibility!
For many of us, this truth reminds us not so much of God's grand design, but of how far short we fall of the divine ideal. Yet God wouldn't have made the analogy unless he intended to draw us to himself and his faithfulness for its fulfillment. It's overwhelming to realize that God intends to create and cultivate the same abundant, gracious love between a husband and wife that he has for us. In light of this glorious gift it is no wonder that Scripture reminds us that marriage is to be held in honor among all (Hebrews 13:4).
So marriage, far from being an end in itself, is a key part of God's plan to fill the earth with a demonstration of who he is. Marriage belongs to God and exists for his glory. And that is for our good.
So then, what are God's purposes for marriage? Whenever we speak of God's purposes, we must begin and end with Scripture. It is so easy to look elsewhere for guidance. We are quick to depend on our feelings, our habits, the opinions of others, secular culture, false religion, expediency, or self-will as a basis for our perspective, behavior, and decisions regarding marriage. Yet Scripture, and Scripture alone, is God's means for revealing who he is, who we are, and what marriage is intended to be.
Briefly stated, Scripture teaches that marriage is a profound and marvelous relationship--a mystery, established by God for His glory. Glory means doing that which, to some degree, accurately reveals and represents him and appropriately honors and responds to him for who he is in his perfection and power. Thus, marriage brings glory to God by displaying as fully as possible how he relates to his people through Jesus Christ.
What is this mystery of marriage? It began in the Garden of Eden when God himself fashioned a woman perfectly suited to Adam and "brought her to the man" (Genesis 2:22). From Genesis 2:24 we glean this divine description of marriage: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." So from the earliest pages of Scripture, we see that marriage--an exclusive, passionate, and permanent relationship between a man and a woman--owes its very existence to God.
As significant as marriage was in Eden, the full meaning of marriage was not disclosed until the coming of Christ. When the apostle Paul teaches about marriage in Ephesians 5, he quotes Genesis 2:24 and then draws back the curtain on this amazing truth: "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." This revelation explodes all human-centered explanations for marriage. The relationship between a husband and a wife is meant to be a reflection of Christ's relationship with his church--a living parable of the supernatural union between Jesus and his Bride.
To grasp this staggering truth is both inspiring and sobering. What a privilege! What a responsibility!
For many of us, this truth reminds us not so much of God's grand design, but of how far short we fall of the divine ideal. Yet God wouldn't have made the analogy unless he intended to draw us to himself and his faithfulness for its fulfillment. It's overwhelming to realize that God intends to create and cultivate the same abundant, gracious love between a husband and wife that he has for us. In light of this glorious gift it is no wonder that Scripture reminds us that marriage is to be held in honor among all (Hebrews 13:4).
So marriage, far from being an end in itself, is a key part of God's plan to fill the earth with a demonstration of who he is. Marriage belongs to God and exists for his glory. And that is for our good.
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