Chicken, Christian, or Both?

This whole gay marriage debate has me nauseous.  In response to all the media coverage of Chick-fil-a's position on the matter, facebook is all abuzz and it seems everyone wants to voice their opinions and feelings on the matter...including me.  It's exhausting.

What bothers me the most is seeing my Christian friends in support of it, but to make the matter worse, to question my heart because of my differing view.  To be called unloving and intolerant by the world is one thing, but to be told by those claiming to be Christians that "people like you are the reason Christians have a bad name" is just heartbreaking.

I hear Christian friends saying things like, "It's not our job to legalize morality or push our beliefs on other people."  Or they might say, "We are called to love.  Where is your compassion and empathy?"  As if Jesus would somehow approve of gay marriage and I am the cold-hearted snake for thinking otherwise.  Really??  Is this what our nation and CHURCH has come to?  I try to have a respectful debate about the issue, raising what I believe to be valid concerns and rather than get any answers, my Christian character is attacked, I'm compared to those who were against slavery and women's rights, accused of suppressing the rights of others (or out-and-out hating them) and labeled "insecure".

Is there anyone out there willing to critically think through the implications of this issue and have a respectful dialogue without resorting to name calling and attacking the individual (or company, in Chick-fil-a's case)?

I plan to blog another post explaining why I believe legalizing gay marriage is bad for America.  At least this way, whenever the subject comes up online I can just post a link to my thoughts without regurgitating them over and over and over again.  We, as Christians, really cannot remain silent on this issue.  Brothers and sisters, it is time to get involved.  Take a lesson from Chick-fil-a and don't be a Christian chicken.  ;)  Speak out.  More on that later.  Right now, I need to recharge.

Sister Syndrome

We were cleaning Sadie's room when she started this conversation:

Sadie:  "When I have a baby sister, I will get her a flower bed and share my room and you can call her Molly."

Josiah: "I want a baby sister, too, and we'll call her Adasher."

Jackson: "Yeah.  And I will name my sister Pinky Pie!"

Later, I gave Josiah a consequence for disobeying.  He starts to cry and says,

"But Mommy, then you won't have a baby!"

Me: "Huh?"

Josiah (through tears):  "You said we were going to have a baby sister tomorrow and now you won't because of my consequence!"

Oh, dear.  Remind me to enunciate from now on.  BabySITTER.  I said babySITTER.  I also said "maybe".

My Really Random Week

**I've literally spent hours on this post.  I even posted it late last night only to remove it hours later because it just didn't sit well with me.  I'm not sure it's worth all this effort but despite my issues with my "father", I'm still called by God to honor him.  I often talk too much (or type) and I don't wish to gossip or slander anyone.  We all make mistakes.  My father is a part of my testimony so I want to share that, but I also wish to honor God in doing so.  It's been a tough balancing act for me in figuring out how to accomplish that goal.  With that said, here is the post.  I hope I've succeeded in speaking truth when necessary and holding my tongue (or fingers) when unnecessary.


I don't even know where to begin in describing this past week.  It was a real doozy, that's for sure.  Imagine finding out that your biological father was arrested and charged with shooting with intent to kill.  You haven't seen him in over 30 years and the last time you spoke to him on the phone was at least 5 years ago.  He never paid a dime in child support and was basically MIA for your entire childhood.  He wrote you a letter (more like a novel) nearly 20 years ago, just before you graduated from high school, while incarcerated for armed bank robbery and check kiting and for which he still claims his innocence.  He never initiated contact with your younger brother, who is now deceased, and you aren't even sure whether or not he knows that his son is dead...or if he even cares.

RIP, Andy Griffith

I just learned that Andy Griffith passed away today at the age of 86.  This has brought on a plethora of childhood memories surrounding reruns of his popular self-titled show.  I grew up in the days of color-everything from television, nail polish and eye shadow to neon pants.  In an age of "latchkey kids", increasing immorality, and fast-paced living, "The Andy Griffith Show" was a warm welcome into the relaxing life of down home country living despite its black and white screen.  In fact, the early years of its lack of color seemed to add to its appeal and authenticity.  Watching Opie kneel to pray (among many other moral lessons from the show) was a refreshing change from other secular shows like "Married with Children", "The Simpsons", or even "My Two Dads".  Granted, these shows sometimes had moral lessons of their own and are far better alternatives to most of what is available in today's day and age but still, at the expense of demonstrating respect for authority and/or acknowledging God as the center of morality...and that's a pretty big difference.  They just don't measure up to "The Andy Griffith Show" standards and ideals.  Of course, at the time I didn't recognize that I was learning these lessons as much as I was just enjoying the antics and mishaps of its characters and the delightful humor they offered.  It was also a time for me and my brother to sit and laugh together while waiting for mom to get home from work or supper to be prepared.  (As I got older, I was able to help more with the latter. ;))

On beginning this post, my persistent 4 year old daughter started chanting, "Tel-e-vis-ion...Tel-e-vis-ion..." so I decided to just check and see if Netflix carried my beloved show and thankfully, it did not disappoint.  So, guess what we're watching right now.  :)  Thanks to syndication and modern technology, my kids have the opportunity to meet Opie, Gomer, Barney, Andy and Aunt Bee.  Hopefully, they will grow to love them as much as I did.  We all long for a simpler life, don't we?  I think that's part of what made Andy's show so popular.  Granted, I wasn't around when it started in the sixties, but the longing for a simpler life seems to be a timeless desire among most people, isn't it?  Besides that, how can you not love Opie and Aunt Bee, Gomer or Barney? ;)

Yes, Andy Griffith will certainly be missed.  I'm thankful for the television legacy he's left behind and all the memories from my childhood that came as a result.  How many actors can say that their show has been on-air for fifty-plus years?  Rest in peace, Andy Griffith.  Thanks for all the laughs and lessons!