Why I Hate Same Sex Marriage Protests

Wanna know why I hate protests against gay marriage? Aside from ridiculous reason that it should not be a reason to discriminate or hate anyone? Aside from the fact that most people who protest quote Leviticus 18:22 but care nothing about Leviticus 11:12 that says eating shellfish is also an abomination...but I digress...

Even if I agreed that same sex marriage was wrong (which I don't), the world is bigger than same sex marriage.

In 20 years of church attendance...guess how many times I have heard molestation mentioned?

NEVER

Guess how many times I have heard child abuse mentioned?

NEVER

And my girls, they are so sick from both they can never really let me love them.

They are so broken, Jesus and healing are a dream never dreamed about.

But nobody marches for them.

No one protests.

And no one makes signs about this one time your dad gave you herpes.

And I hate them.

I hate them for ignoring victims and protesting consenting adults.

My girls never consented and I am so sorry.

The church should be ashamed.

Jesus never said this was ok, and He is flipping tables at their gay marriage protest, because His children are dying.

And to my girls, to every victim of child abuse, sexual abuse, or rape I need to say...

I am so sorry, I am so deeply sorry because Sunday after Sunday I used to sit and hope someone would say something, anything to please tell your story....but it never came...because the gays are getting married and no one gives a damn that your face hurts from your latest breakout or that you have once again pushed your mother away because being alone is better than hoping God would protect you. I'm sorry you can't let your boyfriend hold you or stand the smell of ivory soap because it reminds you of your dad...

I'm sorry. I'm so very deeply sorry.

I won't be back. Not anytime soon, not until I find a place that sees past the same sex couple to the child suffering mental illness after years of physical and sexual abuse. I won't, my heart can't take being ignored anymore, but I am not the only mother of a broken child, and I pray you pause and see them, because they are being lost forever and it won't be long before they leave too. 

It's Just a Flag and Other Lies We Believe

The Nazi symbol was never made to symbolize the death of millions of Jews...but when seen it is what it brings to mind. Thousands of Germans died fighting for their cause, but it did not make their cause right, though I am sure their families grieved their loss heavily.                                                               

I will post here what I posted somewhere else earlier. I actually am quite familiar with what the confederate flag actually was, but I am glad you posted it because I think a lot of people get all excited and don’t know why and for those who wish to support what the flag represents, this is a great informational piece. While the rectangular version of the battle flag that is most well known and frequently hung was not the officially adopted confederate flag, the battle flag WAS very much part of the confederate flag as the website you got the above information from stated.

Though to be quite honest, that point is mute in my opinion... I don't really think it matters whether it was a battle flag or the adopted confederate flag,

I've pretty much left the confederate flag issue alone that erupted after the murder of nine precious people in Charleston, SC by a racist and hateful human being alone because I have my hands full with too much other stuff, but my stepdaughter shared something earlier and it did two things; one, it pointed out to me how very much people in my own home were being hurt by post like this one and the flag being flown and two, I think it is a really telling photo that is worthy of discussion.

I have distant relatives who were confederate soldiers and while I understand the need some people may have to honor those people (I don't), there is also a big difference in honor and celebration. There is also a difference in a private person choosing to honor what they believe were the admirable actions of their ancestors (again, I don't) and the state or government choosing to display a symbol that is the cause of such heartache for so many.

No, it won't change ignorance or racist attitudes and I agree that it is a matter of the heart, but to semi quote Jon Stewart there has got to be something incredibly hurtful and demoralizing to drive on roads named after generals who fought to keep you from driving or walking into a courthouse expecting justice with the flag representative of the battle to keep you from having rights flying above it. It’s just not ok.

As Christians we are called to love others. We are called to make their burden less. I can't find anywhere that it says if its convenient or if it makes sense to you or if the burden you are easing is a burden to you too...it simply says...bear one another's burdens.

I’ve seen some friends posting about how they are not racist and they are right, everyone isn't a racist, and everyone may not be offended, but many are hurt and offended. I know my Stephen is, I know his children are, I know many of my black friends and family find that symbol hurtful the same way Jewish people find the Nazi symbol hurtful.

I’ve also had many friends saying all of this is merely political and please know that I do understand that there are people grandstanding and using an act by a racist man to promote their own agendas, but I also think it is an excellent opportunity for the Christian community to show up and use what Satan meant for evil for good...

It is an opportunity for healing and to show those behind the loudness of politics that may be being used by political leaders that we love and care about them enough to stop doing something or displaying something we know is a symbol of great hurt and pain much the same as we as Christians would fight like hell if the White House decided to fly a Nazi flag because of what it symbolizes to our Jewish brothers and sisters. I'm not Jewish, technically its not even any of my business, and the Jewish people are frequently used for political purposes, but the Christian community is quick to defend and support them. Why is it so hard to do for our black brothers and sisters?

Those within the black community are hurting and they have been hurting for a very long time. We can't change history but we can do the very simple thing that they have been asking for since the civil war ended.

Why I am always in trouble in class...

In one of my most recent classes a student responded to one of my posts and said something to the effect of 

"I think it is paramount that everyone has a chance to gain an understanding of what God has in store for them and the plan that he has in mind for their life."

And you know me, I agree, but I don't. So once again I send classmates into a tizzy and professors trying to figure out what to do with me and I have resigned myself to being ok with that. I have had the blessing this last semester with a professor who has a past broken enough to get it, so she is atleast not punishing me for being honest. My response to my classmate was this.... I absolutely agree with you that people need to gain an understanding that God has a plan and purpose for their life. However, what I know that most Christians don't seem to understand is that if basic needs are not met, that plan and purpose is irrelevant to the unbeliever. Even Jesus demonstrated the importance of meeting basic needs when He fed the 5000 in Matthew 14:13-21 (New International Version). If God’s Word were enough, why would Jesus stop and feed people? Why would He interrupt His teaching to make sure that people were not hungry? I, as one who has been hungry, will tell you, He did it because He knew that until their basic needs were met they could think of nothing else. There is this really life changing episode of South Park, which is a particularly crass and terrible adult cartoon show, that I am honestly embarrassed to say I watch, but in this one episode that I saw, my God I wish that every single Christian had to watch it! In the episode the Christians were handing out bibles to the children in this African village and the children were EATING them. Wow. So very life changing, if you actually stop and think about it. We are trying to share God’s word and people are hungry, lonely, angry, sad, tired, without the most basic of needs…they can’t see our God if they are worried about the basics. We hand them a bible and they will eat it out of hunger. That is why Jesus stopped, why He chose to feed the 5000. That is why we must stop. Why we must meet the needs of the 5000. They need us. That is why we must stop trying to share Jesus while denying humans basic rights…they will NEVER hear us.FHL,Jessica