DISQUS

I'm sorry, but my very first thought was "what drugs is he on?"

When I was a senior in high school, my dad took me to see Tony Campolo preach. He captured my attention and continues to do so today. I count him as one of my spiritual mentors.

When I was a senior in high school, my dad took me to see Tony Campolo preach. He captured my attention and continues to do so today. I count him as one of my spiritual mentors.

HUH?
Someday I'll have to meet you in person. I asked a question that was logical and made no mention of "hateful conservatives" (which is the circle I grew up in btw). I seriously wonder, why some conservative Christians carry so much animosity towards environmentalism.
And by the way, I agree that this "green" building is insane.

HUH?

Someday I'll have to meet you in person. I asked a question that was logical and made no mention of "hateful conservatives" (which is the circle I grew up in btw). I seriously wonder, why some conservative Christians carry so much animosity towards environmentalism.

And by the way, I agree that this "green" building is insane.

I don't see that this ruling is a bad thing. Doesn't it just reinforce a 1950s law that states that children in the State of California (my home state) must have their children enrolled in (i) public school; (ii) an accredited private school or (iii) with an accredited tutor? What's the problem?
I am the product of homeschooling. I had an amazing teacher - my mother. Of course, she also has a degree in education (and at the time was an accredited teacher in the State we lived in). Seriously, the combination of a teacher who profoundly cared about me and my siblings and who took education seriously helped produce three adults who cherish learning. Unfortunately, my experience within the homeschooling movement has shown that there are a bunch of parents who are uneducated and unskilled and acting as if, simply because they had the ability to give birth to children, that they can somehow teach them all they need to know to excel in this life. It's like saying that one is a good parent simply because they gave birth to a child. It just isn't so. I should also note that my father was the principle of a Christian school for many years as well before entering the pastorate. Education, Christian education, was a big deal in my home.
My little guy is 9 years old and in the 4th grade. He attends a blue-ribbon public elementary school here in the State of California. He's receiving a great education. I know, because we monitor it actively. Were we to perceive that his educational experience was not up to what we consider par, we would pull him from said school and put him into a private school that placed a strong emphasis on education. He would not be homeschooled though because (i) I am not a teacher and (ii) I am smart enough to realize I am not a teacher.
j.

This building does seem a bit on the insane part. A good idea gone bad...as all too often happens when there is too much government interference. I would like to know though, why is there such animosity within conservative Christian circles to environmentalism?

I don't see that this ruling is a bad thing. Doesn't it just reinforce a 1950s law that states that children in the State of California (my home state) must have their children enrolled in (i) public school; (ii) an accredited private school or (iii) with an accredited tutor? What's the problem?

I am the product of homeschooling. I had an amazing teacher - my mother. Of course, she also has a degree in education (and at the time was an accredited teacher in the State we lived in). Seriously, the combination of a teacher who profoundly cared about me and my siblings and who took education seriously helped produce three adults who cherish learning. Unfortunately, my experience within the homeschooling movement has shown that there are a bunch of parents who are uneducated and unskilled and acting as if, simply because they had the ability to give birth to children, that they can somehow teach them all they need to know to excel in this life. It's like saying that one is a good parent simply because they gave birth to a child. It just isn't so. I should also note that my father was the principle of a Christian school for many years as well before entering the pastorate. Education, Christian education, was a big deal in my home.

My little guy is 9 years old and in the 4th grade. He attends a blue-ribbon public elementary school here in the State of California. He's receiving a great education. I know, because we monitor it actively. Were we to perceive that his educational experience was not up to what we consider par, we would pull him from said school and put him into a private school that placed a strong emphasis on education. He would not be homeschooled though because (i) I am not a teacher and (ii) I am smart enough to realize I am not a teacher.

j.

This building does seem a bit on the insane part. A good idea gone bad...as all too often happens when there is too much government interference. I would like to know though, why is there such animosity within conservative Christian circles to environmentalism?

I don't think there are all kinds of ways to report this story. Just one. He is alleged to have broken the trust in his relationship. If I were his partner, I would stand by his side publicly because they are just allegations. Privately, I would question the heck out of him and pray that he was honest. If the allegations proved to be true, I would be devastated because he broke the trust we had and, he took the commitment we made and deemed it as unimportant.
If I were his partner, I don't know what I would do should the allegations prove true. If you've ever been in a long-term, committed relationship (including marriage), you understand that you are sometimes faced with really difficult decisions. What do you do when you've been betrayed? What do you do when the person you've committed your life to screws everything up (and that includes criminal behavior)? Where does forgiveness enter into the picture or does it?
Whether gay or straight, our society tells us that relationships need last only as long as our feelings (and lord knows, those are notoriously unstable). As for the 15 year old in question...I don't know him and won't pronounce judgment on him. I do know some 15 year olds in my neighborhood and they are far from innocent. Of course, neither was I at that age.
j.

Given Hutcherson's comments and rather hard-lined stand on homosexuality this is not shocking. Sad, but not shocking.
j.

I don't think there are all kinds of ways to report this story. Just one. He is alleged to have broken the trust in his relationship. If I were his partner, I would stand by his side publicly because they are just allegations. Privately, I would question the heck out of him and pray that he was honest. If the allegations proved to be true, I would be devastated because he broke the trust we had and, he took the commitment we made and deemed it as unimportant.

If I were his partner, I don't know what I would do should the allegations prove true. If you've ever been in a long-term, committed relationship (including marriage), you understand that you are sometimes faced with really difficult decisions. What do you do when you've been betrayed? What do you do when the person you've committed your life to screws everything up (and that includes criminal behavior)? Where does forgiveness enter into the picture or does it?

Whether gay or straight, our society tells us that relationships need last only as long as our feelings (and lord knows, those are notoriously unstable). As for the 15 year old in question...I don't know him and won't pronounce judgment on him. I do know some 15 year olds in my neighborhood and they are far from innocent. Of course, neither was I at that age.

j.

Given Hutcherson's comments and rather hard-lined stand on homosexuality this is not shocking. Sad, but not shocking.

j.

Hey Randy~
This would provide a nightmare for me because I really like both McCain and Obama. For me, the issue of McCain being a maverick is a positive not a negative as, at least for me, it indicates that he isn't beholden to one particular group of people and could effectively govern for all...not just the "chosen few."
Personally, I don't get why we've gotten so riled up about immigration in recent years. Putting that aside, I read your response to no. 3 and immediately wondered if you would be willing to apply your immigration policy to Cubans as well.
j.

Hey Randy~

This would provide a nightmare for me because I really like both McCain and Obama. For me, the issue of McCain being a maverick is a positive not a negative as, at least for me, it indicates that he isn't beholden to one particular group of people and could effectively govern for all...not just the "chosen few."

Personally, I don't get why we've gotten so riled up about immigration in recent years. Putting that aside, I read your response to no. 3 and immediately wondered if you would be willing to apply your immigration policy to Cubans as well.

j.

Interesting observations Randy. I guess I'll wait for your related post to see a more thorough argument laid out for your three criteria.
We're a family of three. Our combined income is well above the median income listed for gay men. Of course, what this report doesn't seem to factor in is the cost of living in certain areas. Think about this, I would bet that you have a higher percentage of gay males living on the coasts (NY, LA, SF). I think it's probably safe to assume that a high percentage of the respondants to these surveys live in these geographic areas that are significantly more expensive to live in and as such pay significantly greater salaries. That would skew the results wouldn't it? The median white family is culled from all parts of the US. You wouldn't have the same reporting for gay people...just wouldn't happen.
My family of three has a combined income that is rather revolting...on paper. And yet, we don't live large. In fact, we can't afford to buy a home and combined, we make well over $100K a year. Why? Because it costs a lot of money to live where we do. Is that taken into account in these studies do you think?
Thanks for posting this! It's interesting!
j.

Interesting observations Randy. I guess I'll wait for your related post to see a more thorough argument laid out for your three criteria.

We're a family of three. Our combined income is well above the median income listed for gay men. Of course, what this report doesn't seem to factor in is the cost of living in certain areas. Think about this, I would bet that you have a higher percentage of gay males living on the coasts (NY, LA, SF). I think it's probably safe to assume that a high percentage of the respondants to these surveys live in these geographic areas that are significantly more expensive to live in and as such pay significantly greater salaries. That would skew the results wouldn't it? The median white family is culled from all parts of the US. You wouldn't have the same reporting for gay people...just wouldn't happen.

My family of three has a combined income that is rather revolting...on paper. And yet, we don't live large. In fact, we can't afford to buy a home and combined, we make well over $100K a year. Why? Because it costs a lot of money to live where we do. Is that taken into account in these studies do you think?

Thanks for posting this! It's interesting!

j.

Paris is currently on a shrimp kick and I've been trying to incorporate them more into our diet. I already have a great recipe for Shrimp Creole and Linguini with Shrimp and Pesto. Well, a lady handed me a magazine yesterday with a recipe I tried last night. It was a hit! Relatively healthy (and easy).
Shrimp-Pesto Pizza
1/2 lb large shrimp (uncooked)
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
All purpose flour
Yellow corn meal
1 lb bakery pizza dough
1/3 cup refrigerated pesto
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Peel shrimp and slice in half lengthwise; devein if desired.
Saute onion, bell pepper, salt and pepper in 1 Tbsp hot olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until tender. Transfer to large bowl. Saute shrimp in remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil for 3 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Add to onion mixture and toss.
Lightly sprinkle flour/cornmeal on large surface. Place dough on surface and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Transfer pizza dough to baking stone (or baking sheet) sprinkled with flour/cornmeal.
Spread pesto evenly over crust and top with shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Place in 350 degree preheated oven for appx 8 min or until pizza crust is cooked to desired crispness. Serve immediately.
************
Being the primary cook in my house means I've got a ton of stuff. I'll hit you up with some more stuff soon. Get yourself a nice three ring binder and start organizing your recipes.
j.

Paris is currently on a shrimp kick and I've been trying to incorporate them more into our diet. I already have a great recipe for Shrimp Creole and Linguini with Shrimp and Pesto. Well, a lady handed me a magazine yesterday with a recipe I tried last night. It was a hit! Relatively healthy (and easy).

Shrimp-Pesto Pizza

1/2 lb large shrimp (uncooked)
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
All purpose flour
Yellow corn meal
1 lb bakery pizza dough
1/3 cup refrigerated pesto
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Peel shrimp and slice in half lengthwise; devein if desired.

Saute onion, bell pepper, salt and pepper in 1 Tbsp hot olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until tender. Transfer to large bowl. Saute shrimp in remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil for 3 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Add to onion mixture and toss.

Lightly sprinkle flour/cornmeal on large surface. Place dough on surface and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Transfer pizza dough to baking stone (or baking sheet) sprinkled with flour/cornmeal.

Spread pesto evenly over crust and top with shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Place in 350 degree preheated oven for appx 8 min or until pizza crust is cooked to desired crispness. Serve immediately.
************

Being the primary cook in my house means I've got a ton of stuff. I'll hit you up with some more stuff soon. Get yourself a nice three ring binder and start organizing your recipes.

j.

LOL! :-)
I guess I just haven't had to deal with the topic of human sexuality in the school setting with Paris. I am hopeful that we won't have to deal for a couple of years. At 9, he's just too young to be exposed...in my opinion. While he truly understands that we are his "parents", at the same time, what he sees at home isn't some activism kind of stuff. He's sheltered, and I like that. I want him to be able to grow up organically. Mostly, I want him to grow up to love God first because it's really through those lens that everything falls into place.
j.

LOL! :-)

I guess I just haven't had to deal with the topic of human sexuality in the school setting with Paris. I am hopeful that we won't have to deal for a couple of years. At 9, he's just too young to be exposed...in my opinion. While he truly understands that we are his "parents", at the same time, what he sees at home isn't some activism kind of stuff. He's sheltered, and I like that. I want him to be able to grow up organically. Mostly, I want him to grow up to love God first because it's really through those lens that everything falls into place.

j.

Didn't mean that to sound as snarky as it does when reading it back. LOL. I find it fascinating in my correspondence with some of my more conservative friends who tell me about how horrid it is what goes on in CA schools. Then I find out their information is not from any direct interaction with the school system.
Look, my kid goes to school in one of the most "progressive" cities in the state. I also understand though that public education is just that...public. Which means that in some ways, my kid is going to be exposed to things that could run very much counter to our family beliefs. The only effective way to counter-balance what he is taught in school is to be active at home. Whatever he's taught in school is viewed through the lenses of his home life. Which, in my opinion, is as it should be.
j.

Didn't mean that to sound as snarky as it does when reading it back. LOL. I find it fascinating in my correspondence with some of my more conservative friends who tell me about how horrid it is what goes on in CA schools. Then I find out their information is not from any direct interaction with the school system.

Look, my kid goes to school in one of the most "progressive" cities in the state. I also understand though that public education is just that...public. Which means that in some ways, my kid is going to be exposed to things that could run very much counter to our family beliefs. The only effective way to counter-balance what he is taught in school is to be active at home. Whatever he's taught in school is viewed through the lenses of his home life. Which, in my opinion, is as it should be.

j.

Let's just say homework is not my only involvement (or solely source of understanding) when it comes to knowing what my son is being taught in school. Do you have a kid enrolled in public school in CA?
j.

Let's just say homework is not my only involvement (or solely source of understanding) when it comes to knowing what my son is being taught in school. Do you have a kid enrolled in public school in CA?

j.