North Carolina joins 29 other states in the USA who've decided that marriage still means what it has meant since the days
of Moses - a committed union between one man and one woman only.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/08/north-carolina-approves-amendment-banning-gay-marriage/?test=latestnews#ixzz1uLam1x6V
The
article sites a supporter of same-sex marriage claiming the "fact" that people are "born gay," so their
"right" to marry anyone they want to - male or female - is at issue. If it's exclusively a "Civil Rights"
matter, then it might be necessary to determine if there are any limits or boundaries regarding what constitutes a "right."
I haven't heard that discussion in the public arena very much.
Let's take up the matter of "rights" at a later
date. First, the "born gay" argument:
When a person is born male, it can be observed and confirmed immediately.
When a person is born female, or Caucasian, or Asian, or of Negroid decent, that can be observed and confirmed at birth. When
a person is born with a heart condition, or a blood disorder, for example, tests can be done to "confirm" that diagnosis
within a matter of hours or days, at the most.
On the other hand, if someone were to say, at a child's birth, "This
kid was born to play the piano," or "She was born to prefer apples over bananas," how would it be scientifically
possible to determine that? Is it not easier to substantiate that the environmental and social influences in one's life are
more likely to have shaped their preferences? If there truly is a "gay gene," how soon can it be tested for? Or
is that another talking point that is going to keep being repeated and declared in public schools until it is believed to
be fact?
Finally, back to rights. At the risk of sounding crass, a person has a "right" to knock their own
house down, or to sever their own hand off. So, if two men want to marry each other they should probably have the "right"
to do so. Whether or not that's ultimately a good idea is another question.
So much more to discuss.
Sexual Reformation
Central
A 41-year old California school teacher (James Hooker) recently left his wife and children to move in with a student (Jordan
Powers) with whom he's fallen in love (18-years old). Oddly enough, the big question seems to only be about whether or not
it can be proven that he had any sexual contact with the child before she turned 18. REALLY? A wife is devastated. Children
have basically lost their father. None of that can ever be repaired sufficiently, no matter how much counseling happens, yet
the big concern is about what difference one-second makes?
You see, when young Ms. Powers was 17-years, 264 days,
23-hours and 59-seconds old, if Mr. Hooker had had any kind of sexual contact with her, she would technically be classified
as a "victim" of "sexual assault" or "molestation." That makes Mr. Hooker a criminal. Exactly
one-second later, she suddenly "matures" to the point of being a "consenting adult." Hooker's off the
hook if he can prove that nothing ever happened prior to midnight on her birthday. Perhaps we need to be asking more than
just legal questions.
Sexual Reformation Central
The following is an unedited chat conversation (no punctuation or grammar corrections either) with
a fellow YWAM worker named Annamarie. She had recently read "Get Married For Christ's Sake - The Christian Single's
Call To A World-changing Marriage."
November 30, 2011.
9:52am
Hey Lady. Do you have s brief minute or two that I can ask you something?
9:52am
sure
9:54am
I was quite encouraged by your story about being asked to marry, right after reading my book. Could I ask
you four or five questions in this chat, and possibly cut and paste some into promotional materials for my book?
Maybe
for about 10-minutes of your time right now?
9:55am
I am supposed to meet someone on campus at 10, can you wait till maybe lunch or is it urgent?
9:55am
How about 12:30?
9:56am
On second thought, lets do it right now, I can postpone my 10am a little bit
Go for it
10:02am
Are you still there?
10:02am
Yes I'm here. My thing said you were still typing.
I actually like the idea of doing it now. So here comes...
1.
What were the circumstances around your deciding to pick up the book?
In other words, what motivated you to get it?
If
it seems like I'm taking a while to reply, it keeps showing that you are still typing.
10:07am
Honestly I was under the impression that the book is for people who are engaged already, and I didn't want
think I was 'supposed' to read it before he popped the question. You see, I have been ready for a while to get engaged and
emotionally thinking about it too much was little exhausting on the emotions without a ring
But then I just finally had enough and out of sheer determination thought I would read the book anyway and prepare
myself even before ha,ha. It didn't take long before I realised that the book was written for exactly the situation Jeff adn
I are in, considering engagement.
10:09am
Absolutely. That's good to know. Honestly, would you recommend it to singles whether or not they are even
in a relationship?
10:09am
Ha ha, I have been recommending this book to all my single friends already! What a great book about the real
stuff, not just the fluff adn bubble
10:10am
That means a lot to me, coming from you. 2. Is there any particular part of the content that stands out to
you as possibly something you had not considered before.
10:11am
Give me a moment ...
For the most part the whole book was confirmation to what I already knew and expected,
but I want to say that #7, a marriage fuel gauge was a real eye opener, and I deeply consider the point you made about keeping
the love tank filled up. Jeff is very open and aware of this, but being a girl and more emotional I sometimes assume the tank
will always feel the way it does now but that chapter was just so well put. I love the part about forgiveness
and prayer time to fill the love tank... My own words but that what I got out of it
10:15am
I appreciate your time. Maybe a couple more questions...
10:16am
sure, I postponed my meeting so I am not in a rush
10:16am
3. Will you and Jeff have time to go through the questions in the back of the book?
10:17am
We had already discussed some of them, but I asked him if he would read the book and if we could go through
the questions. We will do that. BTW, he loved the chapter about spiritual warfare... that sold him to read the whole book
10:18am
Wow. Well thanks for taking some time like this. Your thoughts are very valuable...
10:18am
anytime. I believe in this book
10:19am
I'd love to maybe touch base with you guys after your first year to see how things are going, if that's ok.
10:19am
YEAH!
10:19am
It's a date, then!
10:19am
Anymore questions?
10:20am
Well, maybe only one: Is there anything else that you would like to share, or that you think people should
know?
10:21am
Well, yes
I think every single christian should read this book. From a female perspective, when us ladies
enter our late 20's and 30's (I am 33) it is often a burden to not have anyone special, especially when so many people (even
though their intensions are good) put a lot of pressure on us to get married, when it is really not up to us. Therefore many
Christian women totally ignore the whole marriage thing just because it is too painful to read books about living happily
ever after and stuff like that. But this book is just straight forward, and doesn't play on our emotions of make us feel uncontent.
Instead, it is great preparation before even going on a date of starting a relationship. I think it should be mandatory DTS
reading
Great job Kenny
10:27am
My goodness! How encouraging. Everything you've said is exactly what my desired response from the reader was
while writing it. You've been more than helpful, my friend. Keep going "deep and beyond!" Bye
bye.
10:27am
Ha
ha, anytime! Cheers!
bye.
10:27am
Ha ha, anytime! Cheers!
When I read the book, I just said yes yes yes in my heart and knew that we
were ready to get engaged and married soon after. Thanks. That was part of a last bit of confirmation I needed
10:29am
I don't know if I can handle much more encouragement
10:30am
LOL!
