tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post7611447863921349793..comments2023-10-31T04:33:30.335-06:00Comments on The Life of Bon: What I've Learned from the Same-Sex Marriage Debatebonbonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13580532603443802313noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-76785610884286512122014-05-21T18:59:00.328-06:002014-05-21T18:59:00.328-06:00My name is Sophia from usa,i never believe in spel...My name is Sophia from usa,i never believe in spell until i contacted this great man of spirit called DR ABIZA.Me and my husband have been married for three years and we had a baby boy,before we got married we dated for two years and we love each other so much.But i never knew that he was having an affair with one of my closest friend and they have been seen each other for about four months.One day he came home and raise up an unnecessary argument with me and we had a quarrel so he threaten to live the house which he did the following day and he left me and the kid to be with my so called friend,so in the course of my distress i was reading some pages on the internet on how to get back a lost husband,then i saw a testimony by Jessica on how DR ABIZA help her to get back her ex boy friend,so i also contacted the DR via the email address provided by Jessica and he told me that my friend cast a spell on my husband that made him to leave me and the kid to be with her.To cut the story short,DR ABIZA also told me what to do which i did and my friend hated my husband so much that she never wanted to see him again and after three days my husband came back to me begging for my forgiveness.Today am happy with my husband again.If you are having any problem like this you can email him through this address:{DRABIZASPELLTEMPLE20@HOTMAIL.COM},and you can count on him for a great help. Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00810965692531701326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-37542816414385159872014-01-21T11:55:00.582-07:002014-01-21T11:55:00.582-07:00Kate this reply is amazing and so thoughtful. You...Kate this reply is amazing and so thoughtful. You are dead on with the interpretations of the bible- there are so many and it has been translated so many times that it is difficult to know for sure what Jesus and the apostles were saying. God's word has definitely been muddied.<br /><br />Excellent point about the T-shirt discussion. Maybe we would all be more sensitive if everyone could read our struggles so clearly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-12455543202439350382014-01-21T11:45:10.819-07:002014-01-21T11:45:10.819-07:00Thank you for your comment, Emmy. It is very hard...Thank you for your comment, Emmy. It is very hard coming from a deeply religious background to make heads or tails out of the debate. If I didn't believe in God or the bible it certainly would be a no brainer, but it's trying to decide where God stands on the issue that makes it so tough. The only thing I know for sure is that, like you said, God stands on the side of love and grace.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-55587944819284429982014-01-21T11:43:14.030-07:002014-01-21T11:43:14.030-07:00This is the best comment I've ever gotten! I ...This is the best comment I've ever gotten! I am honored that you would be discussing the post over coffee. And Carole's praise is more than all I need right now. Thank you! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-4196194987947072742014-01-21T11:42:22.081-07:002014-01-21T11:42:22.081-07:00Thank you for sharing this Jo-Anne.Thank you for sharing this Jo-Anne.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-79865507311981839042014-01-21T11:41:54.455-07:002014-01-21T11:41:54.455-07:00Love this perspective... there is so much out ther...Love this perspective... there is so much out there besides just us. When you really consider how small we are in the vastness of the universe it does seem pretty obvious.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-3756991900150381502014-01-21T11:40:24.404-07:002014-01-21T11:40:24.404-07:00Thank you, Sarah. That is a very kind and thought...Thank you, Sarah. That is a very kind and thoughtful comment.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-52420129970444796822014-01-21T11:39:50.828-07:002014-01-21T11:39:50.828-07:00Yes. Exactly. I think it is the personally knowi...Yes. Exactly. I think it is the personally knowing someone that makes a world of difference.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-37877771510819486372014-01-21T10:52:06.958-07:002014-01-21T10:52:06.958-07:00Yes, let's! You should come with me to a USGA ...Yes, let's! You should come with me to a USGA meeting one of these days. Some of them are sort of silly get-to-know you things that I don't really find interesting, but the LGBT panels are the best.Jenniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532899712985168672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-47074474051636433992014-01-21T10:44:08.136-07:002014-01-21T10:44:08.136-07:00Thank you, Danica, for this comment. You stated i...Thank you, Danica, for this comment. You stated it perfectly. We don't have to "choose" a side sometimes the kindness and love is the only side we need.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924351941081235891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-60732112094428315352014-01-20T23:44:21.136-07:002014-01-20T23:44:21.136-07:00This is awesome! I'm so happy that you are hon...This is awesome! I'm so happy that you are honest about it, and make no judgement. Like you said, it's easy for people to shun gays if they don't even know any. When you personally know them, you find much compassion, which is based on their soul, not their sexual orientation.Janna Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03803772675815432282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-65730215443679115322014-01-16T21:51:16.469-07:002014-01-16T21:51:16.469-07:00God is love. Whenever I am unsure of what He wants...God is love. Whenever I am unsure of what He wants from me, I just look for the love. I always find God there, waiting to lead me where I need to go. <br /><br />Bonnie, thank you for taking the time to write this. I admit my first thought when I saw the topic was, Oh man, here we go...But shame on me for doubting your grace and thoughtfulness. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-62641022342570315422014-01-16T12:35:54.218-07:002014-01-16T12:35:54.218-07:00Yeah I find I'm happiest when I just stay quie...Yeah I find I'm happiest when I just stay quiet - to each his own opinion. I don't affiliate myself with any religion because of the conflicting choices of statements that arise within it. I'm happy being spiritual on my own terms and respect all to make their own choices. I feel they should have the same right to express their loves for their partners as heterosexuals. Especially, since when they lose their partners they grieve the same as we all do. If we think about the vastness of the universe, being that we're only apart of one out of many, and the greatness that exists beyond just us and our opinions, in the grand scheme of things, what does it boil down to? What does it matter? Best of luck forming your opinion because there will never be an answer, an answer doesn't exist when the opinion of others doesn't allow there to be one. Life is what we make of it Bonnie, have a great one! -IvaAwesomelyOZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13849681096434789896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-57705652971732747922014-01-15T22:11:24.165-07:002014-01-15T22:11:24.165-07:00Kate, I love legalease! That's an awesome litm...Kate, I love legalease! That's an awesome litmus test that I'm totally going to bring up next time I debate same-sex marriage or abortion with my conservative Christian friends who think our laws should be based on Christian morals.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09711743439868985297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-30654416316691638302014-01-15T18:14:24.264-07:002014-01-15T18:14:24.264-07:00Ok I am a christian I believe the bible teaches us...Ok I am a christian I believe the bible teaches us that marriage is between a man and a woman, I also believe that it is not my place to judge people, if you haven't done so before you can read my thoughts on same sex marriage here: http://jo-annemotherandnanna.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/marriage-is-about-love-not-gender.htmlJo-Anne's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418152399382818709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-59333214566637102652014-01-15T15:54:54.728-07:002014-01-15T15:54:54.728-07:00If you suddenly have a very charismatic 78-year-ol...If you suddenly have a very charismatic 78-year-old woman commenting you can thank me. She and I had a wonderful chat over coffee (that lasted 7 hours, the coffee..not the chat) concerning this post. She's a devout Christian (I'm a little newer of a believer than she is but mainly because I'm less than half of her age) and was very happy when I read her the last few paragraphs of this post. In this lifetime, we may never get to hear Jesus' actually giving us praise but I tell ya, hearing Carole cheer you on is as close as most of us are gonna get. Keep it up Bon!Dee @deeConstructed.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09460783052786622948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-34992278540109916692014-01-15T15:43:16.618-07:002014-01-15T15:43:16.618-07:00I feel like we have such similar views. To be tota...I feel like we have such similar views. To be totally honest, one of the unspoken reasons why I decided to leave youth ministry is because I'm not sure I 100% agree with the Lutheran stance on homosexuality and same sex marriage. I felt like I couldn't talk about it and what I really felt. I go back and forth all of the time, and there are valid (and Biblical) points to both sides of the argument. But ultimately, we are all God's children and all need his love and grace no matter who we are, what we've done, or who we're attracted to. Emily Hornburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03517036280716456767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-43735688460267399282014-01-15T15:23:22.845-07:002014-01-15T15:23:22.845-07:00I love the t-shirt discussion. So very true! I love the t-shirt discussion. So very true! Whitney M. @ The Married Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428885219835188535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-29689970830556050342014-01-15T15:19:17.697-07:002014-01-15T15:19:17.697-07:00Exactly. Marriage is no longer sacred in the first...Exactly. Marriage is no longer sacred in the first place! I mean it is in your personal should you make an effort to do so but the respect for it is already lost on society! <br /><br />But I agree there are way bigger things out there ruining marriage then monogamous homosexual couples!Whitney M. @ The Married Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428885219835188535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-54616676802294632132014-01-15T15:16:35.073-07:002014-01-15T15:16:35.073-07:00As to the "separation of church and state&quo...As to the "separation of church and state" issue, the Lemon Test is the most cited (and easy to understand) test for whether a law infringes upon religion or promotes it (as neither is allowed):<br /><br />1) The government's action must have a secular legislative purpose; (Purpose Prong)<br />2) The government's action must not have the primary effect of either advancing or inhibiting religion; (Effect Prong)<br />3) The government's action must not result in an "excessive government entanglement" with religion. (Entanglement Prong)<br /><br />Therefore, when looking at laws on "pornography, prostitution, abortion, gay marriage" we must consider each proposed law individually and ask these questions. I see what you are saying about "moral" issues and in a way, yes, they are morally issues. But they are also greater social issues that don't have anything to do with religion. For example, murder is punishable not because the Bible says it is a sin, but because as a society we've determined that murder is wrong. <br /><br />There are interesting debates over the issue, but I think we can all agree that a rationale atheist would also agree that murder isn't good for society -- that's why we have laws against it. We've also determined as a society, that certain murders aren't "as bad" as others. Therefore, we have degrees of murder and certain defenses available in some situations. Again, these laws -- while certainly touching on moral issues -- don't stem necessarily from any religious text or religious group in particular. They are overarching societal beliefs about a what condemn and what we do not.<br /><br />So for each murder law, we can go through all three prongs of the Lemon test and easily determine that having those laws (while perhaps having some moral implications) does not mean that the government is promoting religions, nor infringing upon the practice of it.<br /><br />Sorry -- that was just the lawyer part gushing out of me! Opps! :)<br /><br />-Kate<br />www.theflorkens.com<br />the Florkenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916792843117696002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-12857157102553045732014-01-15T15:02:31.585-07:002014-01-15T15:02:31.585-07:00As a lawyer, a Christian and a girl raised in Texa...As a lawyer, a Christian and a girl raised in Texas who married a Buddhist, I feel like I have been staring down this issue for YEARS! I do understand (and yes, even respect) the viewpoint that some have against same-sex marriage. However, it is simply not constitutional. The more I learned about the law, the more that fact became abundantly clear to me. For better or for worse, the government has attached benefits, laws, and designations to the word "marriage." And yes, to me, it is just a word... a label. You could call it "camel" for all I care. The word has legal significance. <br /><br />I'm Christian and my husband is Buddhist. We're married. Certainly, the Catholic church would have refused to marry us -- as is their right. Many churches could have refused to marry us -- as would be their right. But a Justice of the Peace, an officer of the state, (i.e., the government) could not have refused. Why? Because my husband's religion isn't a basis for denying a marriage license. And in my own opinion, neither should sex be a reason.<br /><br />I've studied many of the religious texts that condemn homosexuality, and frankly, I am not convinced. Yes, the Bible says that it is a sin. But it also says that my husband sins when he sleeps in the same bed with me while I'm on my period... and that my mother sinned for getting re-married after a divorce... I think that many Christians find it easy to "pick" the sins they protest. There are so, so, so many translation so the Bible and I'm not convinced that entire messages can't be corrupted with those translations. For example, Ruth 1:16-17 were our wedding vows and there are vastly different translations:<br /><br />New International Version<br />"Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me."<br /><br />New Living Translation<br />"Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!"<br /><br />Now -- one of those implies that "only death" should separate. But the other implies that "even death" separating them would merit severe punishment. I know that is an off the wall example of how simple translation differences can result in opposite results, but it was the first one that came to my mind. There is also evidence to suggest that the ancient words ultimately translated into "homosexual" or the like have root meanings that more closely resemble a forced, pedophilia type relationship between a rich man and a slave boy. But now I'm getting off topic... <br /><br />To sum up --last year, the pastor at my nondenominational church gave a sermon on the topic. I loved the way he framed the issue. He said that we each have a t-shirt on that declares our "weaknesses" our "sins" our "troubles" our "worries" and our "insecurities"... but most of us get to wear that shirt inside out so that the rest of the world doesn't get to read it. But gay people have to wear that shirt normally and everyone gets to read it and know the details of their lives. The rest of us are lucky enough to keep those details private between us and God. He advised everyone to consider what their own t-shirts would say before we balked at the ones that others wore.<br /><br />Thank you for approaching this topic as you did. It was respectful and kind. And as someone who doesn't always see that in these types of conversations, I commend you.<br /><br />-Kate<br />www.theflorkens.com<br />the Florkenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916792843117696002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-85560581303611445812014-01-15T14:53:04.019-07:002014-01-15T14:53:04.019-07:00I have students who are gay or support gay marriag...I have students who are gay or support gay marriage and my tightest cousin is gay and getting married this fall. Sometimes I feel like I HAVE to choose a side and alienate people. I don't. Thank you for your thought "Sometimes it's best to keep quiet." Because that's usually what I do and I don't like being a fence-sitter. But if God is watching our reactions, I'd rather feel fence-sitting love for both sides than frustration, anger and bitterness for choosing one side or another too early. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08108321150258357413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-28806886342961068702014-01-15T14:22:19.962-07:002014-01-15T14:22:19.962-07:00Thank you Wendy! I am always flattered when you c...Thank you Wendy! I am always flattered when you comment on my blog!bonbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13580532603443802313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-42066240300992187092014-01-15T14:21:37.634-07:002014-01-15T14:21:37.634-07:00EXCELLENT comment Whitney. I agree with you compl...EXCELLENT comment Whitney. I agree with you completely. A big part of the argument I have heard is that we need to protect the sanctity of marriage and I can't help but think "what sanctity?!" Maybe we should focus our efforts on extramarital affairs, pornography, alcoholism... these are the things that really seem to me to be destroying the family.bonbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13580532603443802313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22472965.post-30043303067746332602014-01-15T14:17:42.446-07:002014-01-15T14:17:42.446-07:00Thank you for sharing this perspective. I love ho...Thank you for sharing this perspective. I love how many different view points we are getting on the subject.bonbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13580532603443802313noreply@blogger.com