Where in Bible is marriage being for a man and a woman.

Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God with Adam and Eve. Genesis 2:24 states: "Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh."

In Matthew 19:4-5, Jesus reaffirms this: "He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’?"

I doubt that this will satisfy the culture worshipers. We may have to look at biology or chromosomes.

http://www.catholic.com/video/same-sex-marriage

Muslim prisoners seem to have rights that Christian bakers don’t

From Washington Post: [Likewise, o]rdering a Muslim prisoner to handle pork requires him “to defile himself by doing something that is completely forbidden by his religion.” [In context, the court is referring to the Muslim religion as understood by the prisoner, not passing judgment about what Islam actually requires.-EV] And there are no alternative means of allowing Jones to exercise his right to avoid handling pork besides not ordering him to handle pork. Accommodating Jones’s right to avoid handling pork isn’t less burdensome than the religious-based accommodations, such as providing Kosher diets and disposable utensils, that we have held for many years are constitutionally required.

You can choose from 51 genders on Facebook; what does God say?

Fifty one genders listed on Facebook?  Does language have meaning?  Some of you may be old enough to remember when “gay” and “queer” were pejoratives, now they seem to be the preferred terms. But does language matter? Our church (Lutheran) doesn’t discuss the language—or the acts—or the marriage—or the culture. Need to go elsewhere—to the Catholics.  Some insights.  Attorney Charles LiMandri explains why the Catholic Church does not use the terms "gay" and "lesbian" in Magisterial documents.   http://www.catholic.com/video/the-importance-of-language-in-the-homosexual-marriage-debate

What the people of California (and many other stats) said in 2008 and how the SCOTUS undid the will of the people.

LiMandri is smeared in every pro-same-sex program/article I’ve seen on the internet. Anyone who stands for traditional, scriptural or historical definition of marriage will now be called homophobic, hater, bigot, etc. So if that is also your opinion of scripture and culture and me, don’t bother to leave your hate comments here.

Stay with us

National Lutheran Choir, Minneapolis recorded live at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis MN on Dec 9, 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmO0MUBr1Fk

Luke 24:28-30 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us.
Stay with us, it soon is evening.
Stay with us, Lord Jesus,
Stay with us, it soon is evening, and night is falling.

Jesus Christ the world’s true light!
Shine so the darkness cannot overcome it!
Stay with us, Lord Jesus, it soon is evening.
Stay with us, Lord Jesus, for night is falling.
Let your light pierce the darkness
And fill your church with its glory.

EGIL HOVLAND (1924-2013) tr. Gracia Grindal

The new encyclical on the environment

“Some in the media are portraying the encyclical as if Pope Francis is a secular environmentalist, when in reality the encyclical is sharply critical of environmental ideologies that don’t recognize mankind’s unique place in creation,” said Jimmy Akin, senior apologist for Catholic Answers, the largest lay-run apostolate of Catholic apologetics and evangelization in the United States.

Akin said the Catholic Church’s longstanding teaching on caring for the Earth is fundamentally different than the politically driven agendas of many activists.

“Some environmentalists look on humans as menaces to nature—as if all other life was meant to be here, but humans are interlopers,” he said. “But both Scripture and Pope Francis’s new encyclical view human beings in a positive light and recognize that they have a unique and special role as caretakers of God’s creation.”  Catholic Answers

Talking points on same sex marriage and other hot issues of the day

• Why is it intolerant for me to point out the intolerance of those who say they can’t tolerate someone else’s “intolerance?” Why is it hateful for me to call attention to the hate of those who clearly hate those they find “hateful?” Why is it illogical for me to argue for logic? Why is it fallacious for me to challenge those who use fallacies? And why is it considered libel for me to point out the illiberality of those who claim to be “liberal?”

• Why is it unscientific to argue for science; to contend for facts and, thus, point out that it is a physiological fact that gender is genetic and not a feeling; that it is a sociological fact that children fair much better in a household anchored by a married mom and dad; that it is a medical fact that some sexual behaviors result in disproportionate negative consequences; and that it is an economic fact that traditional marriage accrues to the financial advantage of women and their children?

• Why is it considered loathsome for me to argue for the highest definition of the human being and to contend that it’s an insult to dumb down the identity of a person to nothing but the sum total of his or her appetites and inclinations?

• Why is it angry for me to draw attention to the anger of those who are clearly angry?

• Why is it wrong for me to point out that many who disagree with my above points will find it impossible to avoid name calling and other meaningless breaches of basic freshman level Socratic logic; that in their closed-mindedness they will find it impossible to be open-minded; that in their illiberality they will find it impossible to be “liberal; and that they will not be able to resist shooting the messenger rather than simply considering the veracity of his message?

• Why is it wrong to challenge those who ignore the facts of an argument and instead digress into the fallacious, sensational and salacious?

• Why is it wrong to suggest that those who have lectured conservatives for years about the dangers of legislating morality are now celebrating the legislation of morality?

• Why is it wrong to point out that same judges who constructed the wall separating Church and State now seem intent on dismantling that wall brick by brick?

• Why is it wrong to ask what ever happened to academic freedom and intellectual liberty and to remind everyone that the liberal arts academy was founded some 800 years ago upon these precepts and not upon an ideological fascism where power suppresses the people and where conformity is demanded by demagogues who seek to silence debate?

• Why am I wrong to suggest that the thoughtful scholar and true liberal, as well as, the committed conservationist (i.e. one who truly believes in conserving not only the physical environment but also the time tested truths of justice and human dignity) must always seek to do what’s right regardless of what the Supreme Court of the United State says?

• Why is anyone wrong to remind everyone that morality isn’t determined by the minority, virtue isn’t defined by a vote, and nine men and women in black robes surely don’t have the power to tell over 300 million Americans what a sacrament of the Church is or isn’t?

• Why is it wrong to contend that, as human beings, self-evident truth is written on every heart and that we don’t have any right to make the rules up as we go?

Everett Piper

In 2005 we visited this college on an architectural tour.

Shocking. The New York Times has been caught doing investigative reporting

Buried on A14 today.  She wasn’t telling the truth in March about her e-mails.  Boy, am I shocked.

Hillary Rodham Clinton told reporters last month that the memos about Libya she received while secretary of state from Sidney Blumenthal, a longtime adviser whom the Obama administration had barred her from hiring, had been “unsolicited.”

But email records that Mrs. Clinton, according to officials briefed on the matter, apparently failed to turn over to the State Department last fall show that she repeatedly encouraged Mr. Blumenthal to “keep ’em coming,” as she said in an August 2012 reply to a memo from him, which she called “another keeper.”

All or part of 15 Libya-related emails she sent to Mr. Blumenthal were missing from the trove of 30,000 that Mrs. Clinton provided to the State Department last year, as well as from the 847 that the department in turn provided in February to the House committee investigating the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya. The emails were reviewed by a reporter.

Grace and Frankie

I don't understand how Netflix works, but obviously it was up on current events (and anticipating and pushing for them) with "Grace and Frankie," a series about two older 70s something women (Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) whose husbands decide to leave them so they can marry each other. Reading the story lines, I see it's rather smarmy (now there's a shocker!), but has been picked up for another season.

Somewhere I read (and it’s not worth looking up) that although only 2% of Americans are LGBT, about 20% of the themes in movies, TV and theater are. This series pushes the envelope of decency with humor, good writing and well known stars. It’s a formula that works.  Let’s assume no judgment about right or wrong, or sin or religion.  Let’s just consider biology and anatomy.  Inserting the penis into another’s anus or mouth for sexual pleasure, for love, is not natural. It might be many things, including disease transfer or a power statement, but those body parts were never intended to work together for the glory of God, for procreation, or for comfort.  So why would certain groups, both gay and straight, in entertainment and politics, be pushing so hard for its acceptance? If you have an answer that doesn’t include calling me names, leave a comment.  Otherwise, don’t comment because it won’t be published.

Donald Trump—you’re fired

Trump was the last person in the crowded field of Republicans that I would choose as candidate, however, the firing of him by NBC and Univision is pretty absurd.  He clearly was referring to ILLEGAL immigrants, not all Mexicans. There are sufficient news stories to back up his claims, even if they appear on the back burner of the MSM.   And Univision is so racist (shadeist) that you can’t find a single brown, black or Asian person on any of their shows—except in its enthusiastic studio audiences.

A reminder for my trolls and critics—read the rules

This blog is written to suit Norma, not its readers. She hopes that what suits her will suit them; but, if not, it will make no difference. No reader, subscriber, or body of subscribers, will be allowed to govern her course, dictate her policy, prescribe her methods, or choose her topics. Collecting My Thoughts

Clement of Rome chastises the first century Christians at Corinth

“So the worthless rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.”Chapter III of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).  Christian Classics

Sounds so familiar, doesn’t it, like it could be this week, but this is the letter of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians.  Any Christian who suspects the first century church had it all together should read the church fathers. Early Christians seemed to be following every whim and whiff and lust of the culture, and squabbling among themselves.

Gay backlash

From the Wall Street Journal:

“It didn’t take long for the backlash to emerge after the Supreme Court handed down Obergefell v. Hodges. From opponents of same-sex marriage one heard the usual empty talk about constitutional amendments and civil disobedience. The fiercer—and uglier—backlash came from the victors.

A case in point is the Patriot-News. The Harrisburg, Pa., paper rushed out an editorial that began celebratorily enough: “June 26 just became a de facto national holiday for gay Americans. . . . [Justice Anthony] Kennedy nailed it: There are no rights more fundamental than due process and equal treatment under the law.”

Not even free speech? Definitely not, according to the Patriot-News, which in the same editorial announced this new policy: “As a result of Friday’s ruling, PennLive/The Patriot-News will no longer accept, nor will it print, op-Eds and letters to the editor in opposition to same-sex marriage.””

But remember, it’s all about love.

A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN (humor)

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialect in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

13.. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

Note: In the last update, OED added twerk, FLOTUS, yarn-bombing, and crowdfund. That sounds sort of American English to me. The first edition took 44 years to complete 1884-1928.

The President was heckled at the LBGT Pride gathering, but . . .

“The press reported on this “scolding” approvingly. NPR noted that the president “shut down” the heckler. CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley called it a “smack down.” Missing from the fawning coverage was a revival of the insinuation that, because of his race, President Obama has been the “most disrespected president in history.” Why? Perhaps because the heckler wasn’t a Republican or a right-wing pundit but an illegal immigrant and transgender activist protesting the detention of LGBTQ migrants slated for deportation.”  Matthew Hennessey

Blackface actors insult blacks, drag queens insult women

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Blackface” is a style of theatrical makeup that originated in the United States, and is used to make an actor look like a Black person, but in a very exaggerated way. It is the countenance of an iconic, racist American archetype—that of the “darky,” as Blacks were often called in the past. Blackface also refers to a genre of musical and comedic theatrical presentation in which blackface makeup is worn. White blackface performers in the past used burnt cork, and later greasepaint or shoe polish, to blacken their skin and exaggerate their lips. They’d often wear woolly wigs, gloves, tailcoats, or ragged clothes to complete the transformation. Later, Black artists also performed in blackface. http://www.blackhistory.com/content/61585/blackface

The Left will call this hate speech

SCOTT WALKER: " I call on the President and all Governors to join me in reassuring millions of Americans that the government will not force them to participate in activities that violate their deeply held religious beliefs. No one wants to live in a country where the government coerces people to act in opposition to their conscience. We will continue to fight for the freedoms of all Americans."

About that rainbow flooded White House Obama set up

The White House doesn't belong to the current residents and their values; it's the people's house. Leftists are all about tearing down the flag--this one. They don't care about what happened 150 years ago. They re-enslaved those who were set free.

Which party cares about minorities?

While one U.S. party attacks a flag, monuments, statues and historical sites of a war that was won 150 years ago, another party saves lives. One party says they care about a past they can't change, the other party actually does something about saving the future.

“Right now [2013] abortion on demand in the black community, according to the archives of the Tuskegee Institute, from 1882 to 1968 – 86 years – the Ku Klux Klan lynched 3,446 Negroes,” [Walter] Hoye said. “While it took the Klan 86 years to accomplish this, abortion on demand in America accomplishes that in less than 4 days.” Hoye's numbers are based on the Guttmacher Institute's (research arm of Planned Parenthood) fact sheet on induced abortion in the United States. Tuskegee's records also show 1,297 whites were lynched. Abortion is seen as a compassionate way to keep children from the effects of poverty and poor parenting, even by some Christians.  Twisted.

There is no judicial branch

Andrew C. McCarthy: “Yet, for all the non-stop commentary, one detail goes nearly unmentioned — the omission that best explains this week’s Fundamental Transformation trifecta. Did you notice that there was not an iota of speculation about how the four Progressive justices would vote? There was never a shadow of a doubt. In the plethora of opinions generated by these three cases, there is not a single one authored by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, or Sonia Sotomayor. There was no need. They are the Left's voting bloc. Once it has become a given that a critical mass of the Supreme Court is no longer expected, much less obliged, to do law, then the Court is no longer a legal institution. It is a political institution. That is where we are. We should thus drop the pretense that the Court is a tribunal worthy of the protections our system designed for a non-political entity — life-tenure, insulation from elections, and the veil of secrecy that shrouds judicial deliberations.”

Who is this man?

I wonder who paid for the disgraceful, gaudy light display at the people's house in Washington DC; I wonder why it was all ready to go when the SCOTUS decision was announced; I wonder why this president is so effortlessly divisive; I wonder why he lied to the American people about so many of his core values in order to get elected.