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the 50 most recent comments posted to the site

Sister Marie
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
Comment
"The Christian Yellow Pages"
Tue December 08, 2009, 15:53:06
We used to receive a phone directory called the Christian Yellow Pages complete with those little fish. The implication was that by selecting a business or contractor from these pages ensured that you would receive good work at a reasonable price. Alas, we learned much to our chagrin that Christian businesses will screw you just like anyone else.
Sister Marie
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Winning football
Tue December 08, 2009, 15:46:23
If God can create the entire universe in just 6 days or call Oral Roberts home for his failure to raise sufficient funds, His intervention in a football game is just small potatoes.
Rich Bradford
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Faith and Football - Bring Glory to God
Tue December 08, 2009, 11:31:38
I have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow, because I believe that he is sincere about his faith (or in slang terms, "the real deal").

Most people will disagree with me on this, but in my view, God did not put Tim Tebow here to play football. He gave Tim (and others) the ability to play the game and play it well. In my humble opinion, God put Tim here, to bring glory to him. Col. 3:23.

Likewise, in my profession as an attorney, God did not put me here to practice law. I believe that he gave me the legal talents and abilities to bring glory to his name.

Thus, I have no problem with football players (or other athletes) thanking God. I do have problems with those who believe that God will let their team win because they have a Christian coach or a Christian QB or we have more Christians than the other team. I also have problems with football players quoting Bible verses and then making it no secret that their favorite hobby is womanizing. See generally Matt. 5:28.

I think God cares about football, but in a way that you and I may not understand. I humbly believe that God wants to see whether the football player represents the Kingdom of God well in victory or defeat.

This post is longer than planned, but I suppose I am pretty passionate about this issue.
qwtvonru
recently commented on: 400
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qwtvonru
Tue December 08, 2009, 08:46:17
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lcokrcqm
recently commented on: booktitle2
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lcokrcqm
Tue December 08, 2009, 04:24:13
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Julianne
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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Hero!
Mon December 07, 2009, 22:11:33
Rachel Held Evans, you are my hero!

This cracks me up because we went to the lighting of the Christmas tree in downtown Cleveland on Friday night. It was a great celebration, complete with the arrival of Santa and reverse caroling at some of the downtown churches. The Mayor did a speech and made a huge stink about how "they" (I assume the ACLU, of course) are trying to take away Christmas from the good Christians of America and then proceeded to pass out buttons to "take a stand" for Christmas. Killed me a little. Anyway, it cracked me up.

As a parent, I am constantly faced with which "battles" to pick. Focus on the Family has picked a battle that doesn't even exist. No one is persecuting anyone when they say Happy Holidays. There are no victims here.
Mike
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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Re: I Stood Up For Christmas. Have You?
Mon December 07, 2009, 21:04:26
One comment above referred to the word "stupidity" in referring to Focus on the Family's efforts.

What is really stupid is some corporate executive coming up with the idea that the word "Christmas" will actually offend Americans during the Christmas season. All 2 percent of them. Stupider yet is the idea that employees need to be trained on not to say that word and to substitute a different word. Stupider even than that is all the money likely spent on revising signs and mailings to reflect the new marketing campaign.

I know Focus on the Family is the usual whipping boy around here, but I have no problem with a stupid campaign in response to the original stupid campaign.
Rachel H. Evans
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Tebow quote
Mon December 07, 2009, 21:00:09
Found this in an AP article by Jaime Aron.

After the game, Tebow said, "Obviously, I'm emotional after games and it means a lot to me. But at the end of the day it's not really what matters. We're playing a game--and although it's extremely important and it's fun, it's still just a game. It's not life and death, and it's not the most important thing in the world."

Well said. I can respect that attitude.
Anonymous
recently commented on: faith-and-football
Comment
Re: On Faith and Football
Mon December 07, 2009, 20:53:43
"Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father"

Why NOT give Him credit and praise?
John
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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faith and football
Mon December 07, 2009, 20:14:16
Rachel: Thanks for the great post. You echo many of the concerns I have about prayer and sporting events. And I can't recall an athlete ever giving thanks, even in retrospect, for defeat, although many have talked about lessons learned and so on. I would be glad to be proven wrong on that! Among many athletes there seems to be an almost simplistic Deuteronomist (if that's the correct word) theology that God rewards the good (their team) and punishes the evil (the opponent). They need to read Job.

I do feel compelled to take issue with you on one point in your post. I'm predicting that you will have a chance very soon to compose a prayer for losers when the Longhorns thrash Alabama in the bowl championship game. Sackcloth and ashes could also be used! ;) I'm sure you know that Texans would unfortunately give Alabamans a run for their money on football mania.

January 7
Gabriel
recently commented on: faith-and-football
Comment
Re: On Faith and Football
Mon December 07, 2009, 19:41:52
It seems that they are assuming that God stands in a causal relationship to the victory, while denying the causal effects of own their effort.

I think it is wrongheaded and it overlooks the ability for a person to do something with excellence to honor God. Since God caused it, they should in the same way and same sense, thank God for the victory of the other team if they have at one point lost. But I don't think that is how they would think about it.

The implication is, God is behind absolutely all things (responsibly that is), including the things they don't really want to thank Him for.

It seems that they should rather thank Him for the ability to play the game the best they could.

-Gabriel
Last Edit: December 07, 2009, 19:45:01 by Gabriel  
Keith
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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mixed up
Mon December 07, 2009, 19:37:40
"If what a 19 year-old does with a ball can affect your whole week, you have some priorities mixed up."

Some evidence that many are far too effected by what NFL players do with a ball on Sundays:
http://www.slate.com/id/2236426/
Amy MacCready
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
Comment
Re: I Stood Up For Christmas. Have You?
Mon December 07, 2009, 18:01:54
It reminds me of those Christian retail directories where you can make sure you shop only at stores owned by Christians. Why do we feel such a necessity to put everything in boxes? If a store sells good products at fair prices in a friendly way, then what does it matter if they say "Merry Christmas" or something else? After all, wasn't it the religious retailers selling in the temple that Jesus horsewhipped out?
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: testexport4
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@Rachel Held Evans
Mon December 07, 2009, 17:32:20
Test Comment

That has multiple lines

and some <br /> html </tags> that don't do anything.

http://www.google.com/asdfadf/asdfasdaf/asdfasdf
Lydia Parison
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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aaahhaa!
Mon December 07, 2009, 17:15:29
Wow, first i read the blog entry, which was pretty funny, got a good chuckle out of me... then read the first reply... and was like, ok that guy didn't get it... then the second... third.... fourth... and started to think I was the only one who realized you were being sarcastic!!! haha, the funniest part is, in the end, a bunch of people have commented on here with the same kind of comments you were making light of in your blog. Thanks for finally clearing it up in a later comment before I thought I was the only crazy one here. hahahahaha
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: testexport4
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Re: Test Export and Import 4
Mon December 07, 2009, 17:07:33
A third comment on Test Export and Import 4, made after initial upload of comments
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: testexport4
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Re: Test Export and Import 4
Mon December 07, 2009, 16:53:34
Second comment on Test Export and Import 4
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: testexport4
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Re: Test Export and Import 4
Mon December 07, 2009, 16:53:10
First comment on Test Export and Import 4
Liz
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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FotF
Mon December 07, 2009, 16:23:19
Rachel - This was brilliant! Thanks for pointing out how ridiculous these sorts of campaigns are. I became disinterested in what Focus On The Family had to say many years ago when it became evident that they are an organization that is mostly "against" stuff instead of "for" stuff.
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: 457
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Re: Test Export and Import 3
Mon December 07, 2009, 16:10:39
First test comment on export 3 page.
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: 456
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Re: Test Export Comments 2
Mon December 07, 2009, 15:28:47
This is the second comment on the second test export page.
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: 456
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HI!
Mon December 07, 2009, 15:28:23
This is the first comment on the second test export page.
Sister Marie
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Does God Bet On The Horses?
Mon December 07, 2009, 15:16:28
I've witnessed many Kentucky Derbies on TV, but have yet to see the winning jockey drop and bend a knee. Maybe God doesn't play the horses - He'd have an unfair advantage.
Michael Brown
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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Re: Stood up for Christmas
Mon December 07, 2009, 14:21:57
Oh how I have missed the adventures of Christie Christianson. Fantastic, Rachel.
Rachel H. Evans
recently commented on: faith-and-football
Comment
an expert...
Mon December 07, 2009, 14:20:32
Y'all check out Chad's Web site: http://www.chadgibbs.com/Site/Home.html

He's an expert on faith and football!
Danny
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
Comment
Yeah...
Mon December 07, 2009, 14:16:54
I feel the same way. Rachel this is great. FotF is only breeding an "US vs. them" mentality in the way that they ask people to be. They are demanding people to be judgmental, not loving, just by undertaking this "great pro-sham". Of course...who better to put MENTAL in judgMENTAL than Focus on the Family.
Chad Gibbs
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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LOL!
Mon December 07, 2009, 14:11:10
“I guess that pass was intended for the Holy Spirit.”

I'm going to steal that line. Just you try and stop me!
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: 455
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Bye!
Mon December 07, 2009, 13:53:36
This is the second comment posted on this page, testing for import capabilities.
Rachel Held Evans
recently commented on: 455
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Hi!
Mon December 07, 2009, 13:53:07
This is the first comment posted on this page, testing for import capabilities.
Karl
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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Re: I Stood Up For Christmas. Have You?
Mon December 07, 2009, 12:43:35
That's funny. There are far better ways than FoF's to react to the silliness (or worse) of some over-the-top PC attempts to remove anything explicitly Christian from public holidays.

Kind of gets back to the discussion in a previous thread re. the different "meanings" of Christmas - a religious festival/observance vs. a public holiday with complicated roots many of which are related to the Christian festival vs. "the commercial racket" that seems to have taken over and dominated the first two meanings.

When the local public kindergarten taught our daughter one Thanksgiving that the answer to the question: "Why is it called Thanksgiving - to whom were the Pilgrims giving thanks?" is "They wanted to say thanks to the Indians [period]" we rolled our eyes. And we talked to our daughter about the Pilgrims' proclamation of a day - actually 3 days - set aside to thank God for providing for them and allowing them to survive a harsh winter, their invitation to the Indians (who had helped them) to join in that celebration, and we read the (later) presidential proclamation re. Thanksgiving. But we didn't feel the need to picket, boycott or protest the public school even though we were sad that they let PC ideology cloud historical accuracy.
Kristie Jackson
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Tebow
Mon December 07, 2009, 11:45:47
I am hoping that one day Tebow will thank God for the loss to BAMA Saturday night. I have no doubt that his character grew more through this disappointment than all those victories. I think the real issue is trusting God through all circumstances, and our trust isn't worth much if everything always goes our way.
Rachel H. Evans
recently commented on: faith-and-football
Comment
God is good
Mon December 07, 2009, 11:30:49
Karl - You make a great point. I've always felt that if God's goodness is measured by how much stuff he doles out, then He's not particularly good - at least not to the poor, the suffering, and the hungry. But Jesus seems to teach the exact opposite, that "blessed are the poor," "blessed are the meek," "blessed are those who mourn."

I'm not saying we shouldn't be thankful for the good things in our life. I just don't think those THINGS are what make God good.

Good comments, guys. I like this conversation!
Karl
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Re: On Faith and Football
Mon December 07, 2009, 11:15:14
It's the perhaps unintended "I won, so therefore that proves God is good" message that kind of bugs me. It's similar to the "I made lots of money/my book sold lots of copies/my business is booming/I tithed and now I'm rich so therefore that proves God is good" message we often hear in middle and upper middle class American Christian circles.

Yes, God is good. And we should thank him for the good things that happen to us. But hopefully not in a way that seems to suggest that those things happening to us (and not to others) are what prove his goodness to us. He causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
Kyle Reed
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Gods true Team
Mon December 07, 2009, 11:10:49
Well we all know that God is a Mizzou fan, that is obvious.
But it is funny to see people relying on God to get them a victory. I have never heard God thanked in a loss, usually it follows something that you want, a victory, that is when it is easy to give thanks to God.
Billy Coffey
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Faith and Football
Mon December 07, 2009, 11:04:53
“I guess that pass was intended for the Holy Spirit.” Now that's funny!

I suppose I don't really mind it when athletes express their thanks to God and Jesus, as long as that thanks is sincere. Just once I'd like to hear someone on the losing side say the same thing, though.
Peter P
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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You're not worthy of praise, God
Mon December 07, 2009, 10:59:35
If we DON'T praise God and give him the glory when we win, then we are essentially saying:

"I did this without God. The gifts and abilities I have were not given by him and he is not worthy of praise in this situation."

I think that God is worthy of praise in ALL situations. Yes, your average athlete probably doesn't know how to word "I lost the game, praise the Lord" but I think to not give him the glory when we win would be to deny him.
Dayna
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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Re: I Stood Up For Christmas. Have You?
Mon December 07, 2009, 10:58:33
Haha, you are too funny. Good response. I do agree that FotF has gone overboard with their rate the store thing. The good news is that you can still shop at Target. They have a Merry Christmas window decals posted on their doors and their cashiers wish you "Merry Christmas".
Karl
recently commented on: faith-and-football
Comment
Re: On Faith and Football
Mon December 07, 2009, 10:13:23
I'm a huge college football fan, so have to keep reminding myself of the perspective-check provided by Josh S's pastor. Still, I think it kind of trivializes God and spirituality when a player gives credit to God for a win. As if (for one thing) there weren't (probably) some equally devout players/fans on the other side of the game, who wanted to win just as badly.

But I find lots of Christian kitsch to cheapen God - yet God still seems to use it to genuinely touch hearts that are less snobbish than mine. So maybe God uses players in these situations too, in spite of themselves.
Sister Marie
recently commented on: faith-and-football
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Jesus Favorite Team
Mon December 07, 2009, 06:29:43
I think Jesus is an equal opportunity football fan and since He allowed Florida to win last year, then this was Alabama's year.

But on the other hand, there's a lot of us who would maintain that since all these things were preordained before the world was formed, the players on both teams were simply conforming to the script.
Josh S
recently commented on: faith-and-football
Comment
Some other perspective
Mon December 07, 2009, 02:44:49
The past couple weeks, our pastor has mentioned something along the following:
"If what a 19 year-old does with a ball can affect your whole week, you have some priorities mixed up." He was referring to sports in general, and Americans' propensity to elevate sports teams and personalities to 'god-like' positions. I think he has a point--consider what 60,000 fans are doing in stadiums across the country each Sunday afternoon...

In any case, I deeply respect athletes who credit God for their talent and ability, and for gifting them with the opportunity to play a game they love. Likewise, I respect star athletes when they say 'I couldn't do it without my team'--it's a sense of humility and connectedness despite their talent. But the moment that God becomes (as you say) a good luck charm for winning a game or making a play, then His real power is diminished, and it makes me wonder if that person believes in a God worth worshiping at all...
Gabriel
recently commented on: links-comments-rants
Comment
@ "doubters"
Mon December 07, 2009, 00:32:53
Doubters,

This is not criticism for anyone necessarily, but I want to mention that anyone who has a limited intellect and finite mind, will find themself dealing with some other level of certainty than absolute. I think this thereby makes them potentially able to question their own human reason. Though I am having a hard time seeing how this should be labeled as doubt. And what does it have to do with faith?

I don't know what sense it makes for anyone to label themself a doubter, as the ability to doubt(the lack of absolute certainty) is already a property of their finite human nature. It, and I might be mistaken, seems to me that when someone label's themself "a doubter," they see their approach to life a little more skeptical than most folks. Though, most folks can have justified beliefs without arguments, therefor making them rational.¹ Respect and honesty is the only way a human should approach their limited knowledge. Are they saying any more than, "I am being responsible and asking questions?" I am not quite convinced of this. It reminds me more of the doubt that was praised in upper academia, back around the sixties. At that point, anyone who wasn't doubting their faith, had something wrong with them.

I think this guilty until proven innocent mentality is wrong headed and more of a product of the enlightenment skepticism than honest inquiry. I think it amounts to little more or less than Descartes' quest for absolute certainty. His conclusion; "Cogito ergo sum"(I think, therefor I am). The only thing Rene Descartes resolved an evil genius could not deceive him of, was his own existence! How absurd! It is possible that I am misdiagnosing this label folks are preferring to run under, but I don't understand the sentiment.

I honestly can't think of any other person I know that asks more questions than I do. But, I do not think this quest of inquiry is related to doubt. I am rather convinced that quality communication happens less often than many are willing to admit and this requires clarity. I also think the amount of honest learning and inquiry that is appropriate for limited human reason has not been encouraged in the society we live in as much as it aught.

This may have been addressed already, but why is the handle "doubter" a preferred title among folks who are questioning orthodoxy? I am not convinced that I am not asking the same questions of my faith, yet I still don't see it amounting to doubt. Anyone?

Respectfully,
Gabriel

_________________________

¹See Alvin Plantinga’s work on reformed epistemology. Not to be confused with reformed theology.
Last Edit: December 07, 2009, 00:35:21 by Gabriel  
Comment
thanks, Janet
Sun December 06, 2009, 23:47:27
...for the kind words. They mean a lot coming from you - a fellow writer!

It's amazing how something like a blog can *evolve* into such a cool community. I'm so glad you feel at home here.
Comment
Happy to find you!
Sun December 06, 2009, 19:47:33
Help ... I'm addicted to reading your blog and can't quit!
I found you around Thanksgiving, but just this weekend read more of it. OMG ... I feel like I've come to a home I didn't know I have.
I am a doubter. I ask questions (many). I rarely like being called a evangelical christian. Reading some of your posts is comforting - it so nice to know that I'm not alone with these thoughts of mine.
Now back to more reading ...
Gabriel
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
Comment
@ Rachel
Sat December 05, 2009, 22:15:27
I guess it was only a matter of time when that was to come out! The things you will do...:0)

What does the reign of Christ have to do with point you were driving at with your story?
Last Edit: December 05, 2009, 22:39:28 by Gabriel  
Rachel H. Evans
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
Comment
Just in case...
Sat December 05, 2009, 22:08:44
Wanted to make sure everyone knows that my trip to Lowes was completely fictional! (In fact, I hear that they DO have inflatable nativity scenes there!) Just poking fun at Focus on the Family for wasting time and money on this project, which, in my opinion, only encourages folks to be entitled and rude. Just a bit of satire! I would never be so rude to a cashier!

PVK: My alter-ego is a good dispensationalist who thinks the reign of Christ has yet to come. :-)
Gabriel
recently commented on: links-comments-rants
Comment
Re: Comment Platform, Rant and Micheal, in order.
Sat December 05, 2009, 21:35:43
I like the ability to look at some background information about the folks I am interacting with. Often times, depending on how much of a context a person will communicate, I am left having to spell out an issue to the "T". This is not against the lay person(as I consider myself), but I think while a person's background info will not give absolute insight about where they are coming from, it might help one communicate with them more effectively. I also think it would help other folks see the same aspect (if they are interested in such) of information. That way they are not left on their own to draw together a context to make since of what kind of person they are writing to.

All in all, context determines meaning and the more we can have of a person's context, the better I think we will communicate with one another.

On rants;

I really don't mind rants. But I should qualify my view. I don't mind the rants of folks who do not demand a sacred view of their opinions. As long as folks approach a subject with the reality of their limited intellect, I find thinking through their reasoning more insightful, even if I disagree with them. Such folks, I find, tend to lay out reason for why they have drawn a certain conclusion. I have also found that I am more apt to assume their patience with constructive criticism.

On the other hand, when I read the work of a person who elevates their opinions as fact and as if it were a sin to disagree, I find myself easily passing on at some point no matter how willing I was to attempt to understand views other than my own. They tend to confuse the meaning of tolerance , and I am obliged to as them to look it up somewhere other than Wikipedia!

I think what Micheal had to say was quite appropriate. I think many people (most people) do not know how to distinguish passion, emotions and feelings from reason. I think this tends to be the case because of the intellectual neutral (idle, like a car in idle) that most of america (Christian and non-Christian alike)exists in. Good work Michael! I mean that!

Sincerely,
Gabriel
Last Edit: December 06, 2009, 09:40:43 by Gabriel  
Devin Rose
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
Comment
Re: I Stood Up For Christmas. Have You?
Sat December 05, 2009, 19:36:15
Hi Rachel and commenters,

I think the spirit behind what they are doing is good, so I give them the benefit of the doubt. We have a big Macy's in a posh shopping center by our home, and every year they set up a huge Christmas tree outside the store and have a big lighting event, which is neat, but this year I actually saw the add for it, and it said "Come to the lighting of the Great Tree!" "Great" tree? Gimme a break. I think that is what Focus on the Family is trying to combat: the cowardly politically correctness which eventually makes people afraid of calling something what it is, like, a "Christmas" tree.

The recent Gap commercial I watched with young hipsters dancing around shouting Happy Kwanzaa/Solstice/Christmas/Hanukkah/Whatever was another example.

That being said, I agree that you don't need to shove a Merry Christmas down someone's throat whether they like it or not or black-list a company because someone feels like they were offended by someone who works there not telling them Merry Christmas.

Blessed Advent to you all!
Anon1
recently commented on: doubts-immersiontherapy
Comment
Gabriel
Sat December 05, 2009, 16:24:35
I think Keith I am pretty much agree as to what Mr. MacDonald held
* the Bible contains errors some of which are he believes were substantial errors or misrepresentations of God
* He believed that was evil to believe in that the Scriptures are without error
* every one will eventually go to heaven -- some right after they die and some after suffering in hell for a period of time.

I believe that Keith may agree with MacDonald and I disagree.

I think we disagree as to whether or not MacDonald's understanding of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ is the same as what the Scripture teaches -- with Keith agreeing and I disagreeing.
Heather Sunseri
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
Comment
Re: I Stood Up For Christmas. Have You?
Sat December 05, 2009, 16:12:59
Rachel, that was hilarious! Does anyone carry an inflatable baby Jesus? I try to ignore inflatables. I think I'm offended if an inflatable Jesus or a baby Jesus in an inflatable snow globe actually exists. Please tell me those two things don't REALLY exist!!!
Melissa
recently commented on: stand-up-christmas
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Re: I Stood Up For Christmas. Have You?
Sat December 05, 2009, 16:09:39
*giggle*
Love it!