Disqus - Latest Comments for linda_marie

Re: For Those Who Don’t Belong

linda_marie — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 22:03:31 -0000

Feeling like this breaks my heart, but what is the answer? (It feels like the answer is to grow up ad get over it...)

I hate "church faces"... but I'm afraid vulnerability and openness just feels too dangerous. https://media2.giphy.com/me...

Re: The Year of My Undoing

linda_marie — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 15:18:02 -0000

Thank you for speaking my heart...

Re: Why The Patriarchy Lies About Reproductive Health: And No, New York Is Not Killing Babies

linda_marie — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 22:59:52 -0000

Did you grow up without a mother? Mine died when I was 3... IMO, there are worse things than being sent to heaven as an infant...

Re: Women Should NOT Remain Silent

linda_marie — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 13:41:40 -0000

Speaking out when there are those around who do not wish to hear is often very costly. Thank you, Kathy, for continuing to encourage us and remind us that do so is worthy the expense. I love you!

Re: LOVE LOUDER: Anger Is The First Step Towards Healing

linda_marie — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 22:42:14 -0000

Excellent thoughts. Thank you for sharing this. It confirms many of the "conflicting" feelings I am having right now. And thank you for living out your purpose as a healer.

Re: What Is Honorable About Your Honor Brett Kavanaugh?

linda_marie — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 12:30:26 -0000

@ChristyThomas - I am praying for you. It is not easy being a prophet. Here are some words from God to Jeremiah. May they take residence in your heart. "...they will all give you trouble, but you will be safe. They will fight you, but they will not win. Remember, I am with you. I promise I will always deliver you."

Re: 4 Ways Christian Conferences Exclude

linda_marie — Thu, 03 May 2018 14:33:33 -0000

Very good article... Something else comes to mind that has affected me personally -- I find it hurtful the way many Christians often defend their exclusivity. I have a sister who has been treated the same way every woman in the country has been treated, but she denies it and basically labels me a malcontent because I want better...

Re: President Trump, Racism and the Immigration Debate - Charisma Magazine

linda_marie — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:10:32 -0000

I've noticed the verbal attacks on here and they make me very sad. Lee Grady has voiced what many other white people in our country need to admit. And what do I see? Not many white people being repentant or searching their souls, but I do see a few white people who seem to be taking this time to speak in tones of derision and superiority.

Thank you, Lee, for saying this even though I believe you probably knew there would be some backlash... It is so difficult to watch as when we, as Christians, project our own problems onto the backs of those who appear to be "weaker"...

Re: Is Evangelical Worship Headed for a Huge Crash?

linda_marie — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 13:42:05 -0000

I am so thankful that I "enjoy" almost any style of music -- and I have a verybroad definition of worship since I believe that worship comes from the heart -- not the music. It also makes life easier for me when I get invited to "someone else's church"! (P.S. Our UMC choir is doing a work in Latin by John Rutter for Christmas...)

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 21:53:16 -0000

Thank you for the apology. I can understand why the disparity in economics bothers you. And I believe it is natural to look at those who have more as somehow unable to understand those who have less. We look at the outside of peoples' lives and too often believe what they project.

Re: Ask the Bullet Journalist: Ep. 3

linda_marie — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 21:56:19 -0000

That looks like a pretty good book. I may try to listen to it on audio. Thanks!

Re: Ask the Bullet Journalist: Ep. 3

linda_marie — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 14:51:12 -0000

Bless your heart, Anita. I don't know what your life situation is, but some of us never seem to have a quiet, thoughtful minute. There are constant interruptions and life moves at the craziest pace imaginable. I think it would help if I could stay off of the computer, telephone, etc., but when it's necessary for one's job, it's very difficult. How long have you been using a BJ?

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:44:00 -0000

I wrote a long explanation of what I meant -- however, you nor very many other people seemed to read it -- or understand. I apologized for offending anyone, but "who's got it worse" is not static. It is fluid. It is also not a contest (or shouldn't be). Sorry to break it to you, but chauvinism and sexism are alive and well -- as is hate. I did not mean to take away from the horror that many non-white people experience in this country everyday. However, may I remind you that other people can be discriminated against, too... (BTW, I am highly offended at being called a racist and a liar for pointing out that a black man was elected president before a woman was elected...)

Re: Ask the Bullet Journalist: Ep. 3

linda_marie — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 21:46:36 -0000

Thank you so much for your post. You've mentioned so many things I hadn't considered. I'm not sure there are doctors in our town who would consider any of this -- not to mention if Medicare would pay. I do go to an acupuncturist when I can afford it and she has prescribed some Chinese herbs to help with my IBS...

I've followed you on disqus. I hope you don't mind. I'd love to look some of this up and maybe talk to you again.

God bless you, too!

Re: Ask the Bullet Journalist: Ep. 3

linda_marie — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 14:38:09 -0000

There were a couple of things you mentioned that grabbed my attention today. I am working on my second or third bullet journal... As you could guess from that statement, I am having memory issues big time. At this point I think (and hope) they are stress related. I also believe that technology is "fuzzying-up" my brain and I am becoming overwhelmed. I truly believe the bullet journal can help this, but I am having trouble staying focused on using it... Maybe threading will help, since my earlier years at bulleting have been much more successful... At any rate, I am toying with the idea the threading might help...

The other thing is "falling off the wagon"... I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a support group to help with keeping me focused. In addition to "memory problems", I suffer from ADHD and get sidetracked quite a bit. I keep trying different strategies, but all that seems to have accomplished is not remembering how they worked out... (I know keeping this things in my journal would help -- but I get busy and don't write it down.)

LOL I know psychological counseling is not what this group is for! I do need some practical ideas, though! Thanks!

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 14:44:29 -0000

Sorry. Couldn't help myself...

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 14:44:14 -0000

Missionary?

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 14:38:54 -0000

Thank you for pointing that out, Dom.

I did not make it clear that I was discussing generalities that seem to play out in politics...

I know that white people of all genders are, in reality, are much more “privileged” than people of color. And I apologize for saying what I said in such an offensive manner. I hope you will forgive me for sounding like I thought otherwise.

I am personally embarrassed that after all these years since the Civil War -- not to mention the years since women were given the right to vote -- there is still not equality. But I do feel like white MEN in the U.S. are still considered "the most likely" to be a good leader. In fact, in many fundamentalist churches, women are taught to submit to men – and not just their husbands. Very little push-back that the Bible also tells men to submit is very rarely mention – especially in the South, where I live.

I think that maybe in SOME situations (such as religion and politics), black men "rank" next after white men. This is no big “privilege” because white supremacy still lives in the hearts of so many who would never voice that opinion. The “pecking order” is borne out in history along political lines with black men being given the right to vote before women were allowed that same right. It currently continues, IMO, still shows its ugly face.

If you take a slate of candidates who are similar in their intelligence, abilities, social standing, etc. , Americans as a group will often prefer a white man. After that, all sorts of biases click in, including gender, how one wears their hair, sexual identification... on-and-on ad infinitum. If those sorts of had not been part of the decision process, I believe Secretary Clinton may have won the democratic nomination in 2008 instead of President Obama.

Again, I apologize. I have written this overly long post to try to help you see that I am not “blatantly ignorant”, but possibly a poor wordsmith.

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:18:43 -0000

Aborted babies don't go to hell -- but a woman aborting a baby??? You'd think they'd see "God's Justice" in that...

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:17:02 -0000

"They" forgot that white women were lower on the pecking order than black men...

Re: Shocker: White Evangelicals No Longer Care About a President’s Private Morality

linda_marie — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:13:45 -0000

Can you say "consistency"? I don't think many evangelical conservative Christians can... Nothing's wrong with our current president -- or they don't care. But a woman who WANTED to be president -- she's evil incarnate and they can't quit "caring" enough to shut up about her...

Re: Christians and Atheists Speak a Different Language on Facebook

linda_marie — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 18:06:28 -0000

This was my best laugh of the day! The comments are pretty good, too.

Viva vocabulary!!!!

Re: Why Churches Can't Get (and Keep) Volunteers

linda_marie — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:45:27 -0000

I agree with what you say regarding CEO's, personally -- but I still think most successful organizations plan a way to make employees and volunteers feel appreciated. Your example of Ronald McDonald House is excellent! Unfortunately, your example of many churches is also very telling...

Re: Why Churches Can't Get (and Keep) Volunteers

linda_marie — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:38:19 -0000

Thank you for your comment, Julie. Given any day of the week, I might not be so "classy"... hahaha

People are being driven from the church in huge numbers and many Christians cannot see how they could possibly be a part of the cause. We take the parts of the scripture -- and parts of conventional "wisdom" -- that we like and explain away the rest.

In Jesus' parable about the Good Samaritan, a man who has been robbed and beaten is lying in the road (as many in our churches may figuratively find themselves). The very first person to walk by and ignore the wounded man is a PRIEST... People can think what they will, but I believe pastors and leaders have a special responsibility to those they "serve". I don't believe they should disregard themselves, their family or their health. However, I believe the Western church has a way of interpreting scripture from far on one side to far on the other.

I find this whole scenario heartbreaking, to tell the truth. Yet to others observing it, it just makes them want to get as far from the church as they are able. There is enough hardship in the world without joining a group who seems to have so little compassion.

Shalom, sweet Julie. And thank you for some encouragement I am not always able to find in "my church"...

Re: Why Churches Can't Get (and Keep) Volunteers

linda_marie — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 22:42:31 -0000

Thank you for reaching out to me and being willing to stand with me as I share my opinions. The church could be a much kinder and loving place if we all remembered that those attending have value outside of being a "good soldier"...