Disqus - Latest Comments for skooks777

Re: Naked Emperors and a Call to Repentance

sds — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:18:16 -0000

And yet, "God made me this way" (or some other variation, like "I was born this way") is a terrible foundation to argue something is (or isn't) wrong. What if I'm born with a proclivity to forcefully take from others that which isn't mine? Should I be allowed to steal because I was born that way, because it comes naturally to me? If you think so, I hope we don't live in the same neighborhood.

The Bible "condemns" all people, because all have sinned.

Re: heart in a cage

sds — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 14:22:44 -0000

Yep, that was my other favorite line.

Re: The False Gospel of Gender Binaries

sds — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:52:03 -0000

This is absolutely DELICIOUS. http://dougwils.com/s7-enga...

Re: Financial Mistakes We Made and Avoided

sds — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:16:22 -0000

Dave Ramsey has some really fantastic advice about budgeting, discipline, and living within one's means. But he's absolutely dead-wrong about life insurance. Whole Life insurance probably the most maligned and misunderstood financial product/tool of the last 50 years, but it wasn't very long ago that it was the primary vehicle for financial security by middle class families. It's been around in various forms for over 200 years and, with the correct understanding and application, it can provide the path out of financial slavery.

Re: Financial Mistakes We Made and Avoided

sds — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 23:36:42 -0000

Not true, beth. I'm not trying to sell anything at all. I don't sell insurance in any capacity, nor do I work for or have any direct relationship (beyond personal friendship) with anyone who does. There's a reason I'm not posting a link anywhere. I genuinely believe in the concept, and I think it's the solution to financial freedom for those disciplined enough to play the long game. This concept is definitely no get rich quick scheme. It's definitely worth researching.

Re: Financial Mistakes We Made and Avoided

sds — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:12:29 -0000

Don't think of it as an investment opportunity, primarily. It's a financing tool that allows your money to work twice as hard for you, grow at guaranteed minimums and no losses, and many other tax-related benefits.

Re: Financial Mistakes We Made and Avoided

sds — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:45:49 -0000

Don't use 401ks (or similar programs) to house the money you will depend on for retirement! Mutual funds, the stock market, etc--those are places you put money you can afford to lose.

I highly recommend checking into the Infinite Banking concept, which is simply a very powerful and creative way to utilize the unique benefits of dividend-paying Whole Life Insurance as a financing tool for an entire life's worth of purchases. This system makes your money work for you twice. I won't provide a URL because I don't want you to think I'm selling anything. I have no financial interest here; I just have studied this topic over the last 7 years or so and it's revolutionary. Google it if you want more info.

Re: Adventures in Missing Jesus, Volume XXV

sds — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 22:07:17 -0000

So tell me, have you denied the resurrection yet?

Re: How Photos From the Winter Olympics Get to You

sds — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:55:12 -0000

Ha! I hadn't thought about it that way :)

Re: Contest: Win a Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2

sds — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 17:09:36 -0000

From left to right: Sony PRS-T3S, Sony PRS-T3, Sony PRS-T2, Kindle Paperwhite 2, Kindle Paperwhite, Nook ST, Kobo Aura Kobo Arc 7 HD, Kobo Arc 7, Kindle Fire HDX 7, Apple iPad Mini

Re: heart in a cage

sds — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 18:09:10 -0000

I'm guessing the repetition he's arguing for is of song choice and overall liturgy rather than repetitive lyrics within one song...

Re: In The People's Republic of San Francisco: Dog Walkers Must Now Be Licensed

sds — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 00:14:54 -0000

Ha!

Re: heart in a cage

sds — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:04:28 -0000

Downtown Columbia, not KC :(

Re: heart in a cage

sds — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:33:17 -0000

Ha! Their selection is limited in that regard....

Re: Citing Douglas Wilson on Marriage Equality is Like Asking Mel Gibson About Judaism

sds — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:01:28 -0000

I'm going to assume you haven't actually read Wilson, but just his detractors. The rape the female subordination thing is totally bogus, and the Civil War and slavery topic has recently been hashed out in an impressively respectful and engaging manner just in the last few weeks. Highly edifying reading for anyone on either side of the issue (and I'm not saying I agree with Wilson on it, but it's pretty clear he's been tarred and feathered rather than being engaged in his arguments--until now): http://thegospelcoalition.o...

Re: The phrases “I’m pro-life because of reason and science” and “I believe life begins at conception” are totally incompatible, 100% diametrically opposed.

sds — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:22:12 -0000

You are "comfortable prioritizing the competing rights of the living beings involved" in the situation of a rape. This seems incredibly callous, to argue that the right to be alive should be superseded by the right to not be pregnant. This is a pretty basic ethical issue, and I don't see how you can justify that.

These pages have excellent, logical, straightforward explanations of the real ethical issues at hand. http://www.abort73.com/abor... http://www.abort73.com/abor...

Re: http://sds.tumblr.com/post/33775920674

sds — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:57:33 -0000

I'd have considered it if I actually washed and dried my own clothes :)

Re: The phrases “I’m pro-life because of reason and science” and “I believe life begins at conception” are totally incompatible, 100% diametrically opposed.

sds — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:13:12 -0000

No, it doesn't clear it up at all.

(I used the term "effectively pro-life" to see if you would affirm certain principles posited by the pro-life crowd without having to associate with or agree with them as a political group. Anyways, that's not the main point. Moving on...)

If the fetus is a human life, does it have the same human rights as any other human, or not? Are you really going to prioritize a person's (supposedly inalienable!) rights based on size, or brain activity, or maturity? Why are the fetus' rights less fundamental than the mother's? Is this just another "might makes right" argument? More specifically, why is the right to be ALIVE superseded by the right of a woman over her own body? If the fetus was the equivalent of a fingernail, this argument would make sense.

Finally, if it is true that humans have inalienable rights that cannot be granted or taken away by man or government, and if it is also true that unborn children are humans, than it follows that they should be protected from murder. Opposing abortion in the case of rape or incest is not "hard-line"; it's PRINCIPLED.

Re: The phrases “I’m pro-life because of reason and science” and “I believe life begins at conception” are totally incompatible, 100% diametrically opposed.

sds — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:21:16 -0000

OK, that clarifies my understanding of your point now. Thanks.

But I still am confused. You indicated that you agree human life begins at conception. So is your position effectively "pro-life," even if you don't align with ALL of the reasons associated with that position (i.e. the ones centered on the soul)?

Re: The phrases “I’m pro-life because of reason and science” and “I believe life begins at conception” are totally incompatible, 100% diametrically opposed.

sds — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:09:18 -0000

Could you elaborate on this? The basic argument (as I understand it) goes that if you believe in the human right to be alive (which I think that you do), and if human life begins at conception, then the right to not be killed is more fundamental than a woman's right over her own body. The idea isn't to disparage or deny a woman's rights, but simply to affirm the proper priority of rights with regard to all parties involved when said rights conflict. You stated last night that you DO believe human life begins at conception. So why do you assert that the "pro-life" (i.e anti-abortion in this context) position is necessarily incompatible with reason and science?

Re: http://sds.tumblr.com/post/32475357584

sds — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:56:43 -0000

You've never heard of them?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Re: Apoplectic Skeptic • younglionyounglover: Mind sharing? TCY Benefit...

sds — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:39:57 -0000

That's really cool. I have been listening to her newest record a LOT lately. Great stuff.

Re: Apoplectic Skeptic • younglionyounglover: Mind sharing? TCY Benefit...

sds — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:59:20 -0000

Are you an Audrey Assad fan?

Re: http://sds.tumblr.com/post/31861940025

sds — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:13:41 -0000

I recommend "A Shot of Faith to the Head" by Mitch Stokes ( http://sds.tumblr.com/post/.... It's a popular-level presentation of Alvin Plantinga's philosophy. Great stuff. You might still be able to get a free blogger-review copy from Book Sneeze....

Re: http://christianity.tumblr.com/post/29963438531

sds — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 21:01:45 -0000

http://www.thegoodbook.co.u...