Everywhere I look, these days, I see something about same sex marriage and/or equality. Since everyone has an opinion, I thought I would go ahead and put my two cents worth in.
Should same sex partners be allowed to marry? -- yes
Should same sex husbands/wives receive the same benefits as married couples? -- yes
Should Preachers, florist, shop owners of all types and people in general, be forced to perform weddings or cater to those who are homosexual? -- no
Is homosexuality a sin? -- yes
So now that I've lost all my christian/conservative readers, let me explain my thoughts.
I say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry in every state in America. The reason is quite simple. They deserve the say rights as straight couples according to the Constitution. That seems to have been the question in the first place. Should they be allowed to marry. Not, if it was right or wrong. Simply, do they have a Constitutional right to do it. Every citizen in the United States has the same rights...not just straight people. Everyone. Plain and simple.
Should they receive the same benefits as straight married couples? Of course! If those who are in a same sex marriage have to follow the same rules that straight couples do, then why wouldn't they be allowed the benefits? If they are tax paying, hard working, and law abiding legal citizens of the United States, then why on earth would they not get the same benefits? Aren't they humans, too?I do not believe anyone should be forced to do something they feel goes against they morals or beliefs. If a preacher does not want to marry a homosexual couple, then they should be able to decline just as they do with straight couples. I am a massage therapist. I have the right to refuse treatment to anyone -- gay, straight, white, black, rich, or poor. That is my right. I will not ever treat someone who I feel is a threat to me or my beliefs. I will not be forced to do so. If a florist does not want to provide flowers for a gay wedding, then she/he should not feel threatened if they don't. That's ridiculous. That's over the line.
Is homosexuality a sin? Yes, indeed. It is most definitely spoken about in the Bible, as being a sin...but so is getting drunk, lying, cheating, anger, divorce, adultery, taking the Lord's name in vain, women praying without a head covering, murder, not honoring our parents... the list goes on and on. Technically there are 613 commands in the Old Testament alone. Even more in the New Testament! I can guarantee every one of us has failed in keeping them all! I certainly have. Do I believe being gay will keep a person out of Heaven. I don't think so. Only denying God will keep a person from going to Heaven. If you have confessed your sins and accepted Jesus as your Savior...truly accepted...then, I believe you will go to Heaven. Do I think everyone...including homosexuals...will answer for their sins? Absolutely!!! I believe we will be held accountable for each one but I know God is a loving God and forgives our sins. Jesus said, "Those without sin -- cast the first stone". I can't do that, can you? I didn't think so. Matthew 22:34-40, says this...
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus said "Love your neighbor as yourself". He didn't mean to love them only if they were straight/gay, black/white, rich/poor, or only if we feel like it , look the way we think they should, or do what we think is right. He said to LOVE THEM ALL. Do I condone homosexuality? Absolutely not, however, it is not my place to judge others. I think we should do what Jesus said to do and leave the judging up to God.
In case you didn't notice, I've renamed this blog! The F.O.R.D. House -- The FIX OR REPAIR DAILY House. Sometimes I feel like this old house is simply going to give up, one day. We are in a constant state of re-construction, repair, or replace, around here and I am pulling my hair out! Well, no, my hair is falling out on it's own since I had surgery, but there are days I want to walk away and leave it all behind -- hair, house, and all! I am so thankful that I have a place to live but I get so frustrated! It's a never-ending money pit project and we still have twenty years left to pay on it. I'm not going to lie, I have been looking at other houses. I'm getting older and I don't have the energy or desire to work on this one anymore! Praying for either a blessing of enough money to fix and pay off this house or another home, altogether!
We found out yesterday! Bless her heart, she's been telling everyone for about two years, now, that she is going to have a baby brother! LoL... Of course, it is too early to know if she is going to have a baby brother or baby sister but, either way, she will be an amazing Big Sister and I get another wonderful gift from God, to spoil and love!
Somebody posted the album cover of "Tapestry" by Carole King. That is one of my all time favorite albums. Love all of her music but there is something special about that particular album. I guess, it represents a time in my life when I was between the innocence of childhood and the reality of adulthood. I don't know, but I get reminiscent, every time I listen to it. I listen to it the way I did back then...on a record player. Yes, I do have the old vinyl album.
The only way to go back in time, when listening to music, is by playing a vinyl record! Something about the scratchy sound will whisk one back to a simpler time, don't you think? Carole, isn't the only one I have the old albums, for. I also have Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, and a few others. I could sit for hours and listen to them but, some how, I forget to do that. I think, soon, I will take a small trip... to a time of peaceful ballads and innocence... if only in my memories.
Man, it's been hot in this neck of the woods! We went straight into summer, after all that rain stopped! We've spent a lot of time taking the grand daughter to the splash park and eating snow cones.
I went out to sit in the porch swing earlier and our big boy, Roy, came up and looked to be saying, "I'm old, fat, and HOT! High time we went into the house, don't ya think?". I couldn't have agreed more so we went to that magical land of air conditioning and drank a lot of water...then Roy needed to go back out! Poor old boy.
So, how long has it been since you colored?
Grace & Peace.
Oh my yard is in such a sad state! The torrential rains, combined with the extreme winds, have left it a complete mess! I have a ton of rose bushes which bloom beautifully but this is what's left of them. I hope they perk up, as the sun comes out, and perhaps bloom again.
These Begonias are from last summer. I kept them in the house over the winter and they were so pretty but now they look just horrible...and sad. Look closely and you will see a spider web on the pink one. I suspect the poor little spider was trying to find a dry spot, too. Looks like I will have to re-pot these and maybe move them back in the house.
Seems the only thing that appreciate the floods are the Asiatic Lilies. They are so big and beautiful! I guess I will be puttering around the yard, this week, and hopefully get everything looking better... Just in time for the next wave of storms coming in! *sigh*
