Laura posted some of her thoughts regarding the book on Facebook and I posted the following comment.
… I JUST finished listening to the unabridged audio book of this today on the treadmill.
I didn’t have a problem with the personification of God as a woman because it was in a fictional setting. BUT, wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs and when I was a young Christian I thought that was very cool.
Granted, Andy Comiskey’s talk about true femininity and masculinity was very insightful to me on the importance of finding both in the Creator’s Being but He is called Father for very important reasons.
I cried twice during the two weeks audio listening thing. Embarrassing to do on the treadmill :). Some of the mystical experiences freaked me out because of my own experience in prayer life. Even so, there were times it seemed SO completely preachy :). It might have been the guy reading the book to me but … I was like… come on already.
Anyway, I echo your warnings for people to be very careful. I am concerned about the theology behind how he dealt with the Trinity. BUT, when it comes to recovery and healing … *very* good stuff.
And that is basically how I feel. All the major, and it was major, theology discussions sounded a bit preachy at times and something made me nervous about them. I am not a theologian or the son of one so I won’t even try to pick it apart piece by piece but … there were a handful of times I thought, “well, I never heard that in the Bible.”
Have you heard enough about her already? Are you *done* with the blahbitty blah blah banter concerning her chances for Vice President? Well … get over it because I am about to add another chorus to the wall of sound. ::: laugh ::: But, first, here is a video of the highlights of her speech last night. My thoughts are after the jump.
*Should Rick Warren court Presidential Candidates and possibly support an abortion rights candidate just so he can promote social justice and Green policies?”
When I think of “courting” in political realms I think of superficial flattery and pandering. So, I might be thrown by that word. But this question, for me, points to the broader issue of the merit of Warren’s event and who should Christians support. The last I checked, neither candidate has stated, “I want to be President to glorify Jesus Christ and bring more people into relationship with Him.” It’s very complex. Both candidates could be accused of promoting sin in public policy. Both candidates could be accused of ungodly decisions. At the same time, both candidates must be very talented to be the two men being considered for President. I think Pastor Warren is doing a great thing by having this forum and I hope it is very revealing for the Body of Christ and the country at large. [click to continue...]
Somehow the huge increase has always been there and not known so that equals the same old same old just more of it … right? I love spin doctors (emphasis mine): More thoughts after the jump.
The improved science will allow more real-time monitoring of HIV infections. Now, CDC officials say, the estimate will likely be updated every year.
Yearly estimates allow better recognition of trends in the U.S. epidemic. For example, the new report found that infections are falling among heterosexuals and injection drug users.
Some experts celebrated that finding, saying it’s a tribute to prevention efforts, including nearly 200 syringe exchange programs now operating in 36 states despite a federal ban on funding for such projects.
But they also lamented the CDC’s finding that infections continue to increase in gay and bisexual men, who accounted for more than half of HIV infections in 2006. Also, more than a third of those with HIV are younger than 30.
Some advocates say that suggests a need for more prevention efforts, particularly targeting younger gay and bisexual men.
For years, AIDS was considered a terrifying death sentence, and since 1981, more than half a million Americans have died. But medicines that became available in the 1990s turned it into a manageable chronic condition for many Americans, and attention shifted to Africa and other parts of the world.
BRIGHTON - The man arrested in the murder of a 20-year-old transgender person was on date with a person he thought was a woman, 9NEWS has learned. Police say when the suspect discovered his date was actually a man, he killed her.
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Allen Ray Andrade, 31, was arrested in Thornton on Tuesday and faces second-degree murder and aggravated motor vehicle theft charges.
In an arrest affidavit obtained by 9NEWS, Andrade admits to police to killing Angie Zapata, 20, who was living as a woman but born as Justin Zapata.
Zapata was found beaten to death in a Greeley apartment in the 2000 block of 4th Street on July 17. Authorities say Zapata had suffered fatal wounds to her head and face.
It goes without saying that what Andrade did was evil. I hope someday, somehow, he will personally seek to make amends to Zapata’s friends and family. I pray that Andrade is brought to justice, and there are plenty of laws on the books to do so. “Trans-panic” arguments are ridiculous… he committed murder and should be punished to the full extent of what the law demands. I also pray he will ask God for forgiveness concerning his murderous actions.
I think Senator Gramm walked right into a political quagmire and was too dismissive of the economic struggle for many people today. That said, people sure do know how to complain. I crack up watching Obama scoff at Gramm which in effect is proving Gramm’s point. Scoffing is not much different than complaining in my view.
A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of HIV-AIDS data from 33 states between 2001 and 2006 revealed a distressing trend: HIV infection in young gay men rose 12 percent a year. For African Americans in that group of 13- to 24-year-olds, the annual increase was 15 percent. The safe-sex lessons that took hold after the loss of a generation of gay men during this epidemic’s two-decade advance appear to be lost on the young. The stunning success of retroviral drugs for those with AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes the disease, has diminished people’s fear of the disease, though it still has no cure…
A friend sent me the above artwork. While I love my friend and not sure why they sent it on, I don’t think it is funny. I don’t care for these four powerful symbols being combined in such a manner.
I don’t like Obama’s policies and think he would be a disaster for this country. His judgmental comment, while in poor taste, deserves a better response than the one above.
I will bear arms because I can for my own reasons. I don’t cling to religion out of bitterness, I embrace Christ out of joy. I love who Uncle Sam really is, a symbol of patriotism and the Constitution is one of the best man made documents to *ever* be drafted to facilitate freedom.
Perhaps Obama thinks a little to highly of himself, I don’t know. Perhaps the artist of the above graphic might think a little more highly of their positions than to reduce them to such a negative context.
Father’s day is a little interesting for me. I often meditate on where my Bio Dad is and what he is doing. He never was a part of our lives and then completely disappeared when I was 10. I later found him when I was 18. We were only in the semblance of a relationship from then till I was around 24. Then, for various reasons, he took off again.
The picture to the right is Bio Dad, Randy Sr., in his younger days. Last time I saw him he had less hair and what he did have was completely white. He is a lot shorter than I and dresses up as Papa Smurf every Halloween.
Well at least he did the last time I saw him.
Then, there is my Step-Dad James (picture to the left.) We have had our “issues” but I do love him and I know he loves me. He has been a part of our lives since I was in sixth grade. He has always been there and I am glad he became a part of our lives.
We still argue about politics … but get along pretty good otherwise :).
What I love about God the Father is that He has given me the love of a Father in ways that no mortal Father can and fulfills where mortal father’s might fall short. He has been very good to change my perspective of Randy Sr. and balance out my understanding of James. The Lord has also helped me to grow up and mature in these areas so I don’t quit living in a false reality of bitterness and unforgiveness.
Like a good Father, the Lord, calls us into maturity, individuation and personal responsibility. He’s cool like that.
Well, I could go on and on about everything the Lord has taught me with regard to all of this. In fact, I am writing an article with a working title of “Bio Dad” for a Christian magazine about it. I could use your prayers for that project (it, along with two other articles are due by the end of the month!)
There are so many great Dad’s around. I love watching good Dad’s loving on their kids and kids loving on their Dad’s. I hope you all have had a great Father’s day.
A friend forwarded me the poll from Quinnipiac University. The poll itself asked a lot of questions about the state of Florida politics but this was the one concerning the Marriage Amendment.
Laura posted some of her thoughts regarding the book on Facebook and I posted the following comment.
