and yet, so hard

In the current cultural climate many people are willing to check the Christian/Other box if need be. But sometimes admitting it, out loud, in public, where people can actually hear you can be a bit embarrassing.

Yes the word 'Christian' might affiliate you with some ignorant, judgmental and arrogant people, but so does the word 'human' or 'American'.

I find people like Rob Bell can take the sting out of it.

I was lucky enough to see him give this lecture in LA and had the privileged of meeting him afterward. I would recommend this DVD to anyone, in public, where people can actually hear me.

to find the real threat

Alright, my views on prop 8 have warranted many a debate with friends and family, which made me realize my argument was incomplete. Here is my conclusion: Homosexuals are not the threat to marriage, the government is.

The Establishment Clause of the 1st amendment to the United States Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof".

The government started regulating marriage in order to control STDs and taxes. By doing so they have secularized it and it has suffered greatly ever since. By setting a government standard for marriage, most conservative, religious, law abiding people will also define their sacred, spiritual marriage by that standard. When the government then offers the same, cold, industrial form of a marriage-contract to couples that aren't Biblically founded, conservatives see it as a slap in the face.

There isn't a state church for a very good reason, and marriage, like every other religious act, should not be controlled by the same 'people' who issue parking tickets.

Stop fighting the battle to make marriage holy and spiritual through the very system that has destroyed it.

It really hurts when I see "yes on prop 8" signs on church lawns. All I see is a thicker wall being built between the church and the masses they are supposed to help. Yes, even the gay ones. I also see a a supposedly sacred institution taking part in expanding the arm of the government, which is a very fair-weathered friend. A monster is being created, it will only be a matter of time before it stops feigning obedience.

Check out this bloggers post

to be righteous

My town is flooded with YES ON PROP 8 signs. They're on every other suburban lawn and minivan I encounter; please tell me why.

As an individual I believe marriage is when and man and women fall in love and want to make a permanent commitment to each other and God. I believe that is what God created it to be. I believe humans mess it up every single day.

I don't believe MY beliefs, or anyone else's, should be enforced by law.

I believe God gave us free will to decide if we want to follow him or not; I don't believe the government should have the right to take that away.

I believe if God doesn't want to recognize a marriage as legitimate, for any reason, he doesn't have to, even if they have a California state certificate.

I heard some parents are worried about what children will learn in school about gay marriage. I don't care if they teach marriage is between a man and a goat, children learn about marriage from their parents. That is where children should learn about morals, values and beliefs. I went to public school, I was bombarded with theories and myths DAILY, mostly from other children. I knew what was true and what to second guess because of what I learned in my home.

People, let's work in our homes, our families, our churches and most of all ourselves before we start to legislate what others should do. According to the Barna Group, Christians are just as likely to divorce as non-Christians. I personally proved that to be true. We will NEVER be perfect, but let's try to lead by example, not law.

If nothing else, as a small government person, when the state is able to tell someone they are not allowed to do something that doesn't cause bodily injury to a bystander they have too much power. The government should not be here to protect us from ourselves or our sin.