A caller to the Stand To Reason radio program Sunday, who ran out of time before he got on the air, asked a very good question. Since Prop. 8 sought to clarify the definition of marriage and the judge struck it down, did he replace it with a new definition? What is the definition of marriage now in California? Is there one?

While the ruling declared that the definition California has used since the beginning of statehood was unconstitutional, did it put a new definition in place? A definition is merely a description or limitation of what a marriage is. Is there any limitation, albeit a newly expanded?

Certainly, the judge’s ruling made definition …

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On Sunday (2.14.10), I gave a gentle warning regarding the prominence of our heart (a.k.a feelings) in regard to how we live our lives. Jesus would not have bought into the ridiculous “listen to your heart” counsel that is rampant today. As an example of how this heart-over-head mentality has taken root, I cited the core concept from the book: The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I took issue with the general thesis of the book that goes something like this: If a spouse learns to act on the “love language” of their marriage partner then their “love-tank” will be full. When each person in the relationship focuses on speaking the “love language” of …

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This morning my incredible wife, Vicki, led the family in a devotion related to how we will use our time in 2010. It served as fertile soil for me to process some thoughts regarding how things we desire may affect the upcoming year. While I know that sinful desires will inhibit my ability to grow stronger in my faith this year, I do not think that sinful desires are the primary inhibitor in the potentiality of my spiritual growth in 2010. While it is true that the object of my desire can be evil: to kill someone, to steal, etc. I more often find that my real struggle is when the object of my desire …

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Have you ever been told that those who struggle with homosexuality cannot change, it’s just the way they were born. Therefore, it is not a choice, but a genetic disposition that we must accept (and not even question) or we are guilty of being bigoted or even prejudice. Functionally, this argument has even been used to begin to distinguish homosexuals as a type of people-group that should have all the rights as any other people-group (e.g. the right to marry and be accepted legally with the same standing and rights as a heterosexual couple). Well, new research indicates that homosexuality, like any other behavior that is harmful to a person or society in general, should not …

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In our Community

Get involved in counseling, serving or giving to Whispering Hope. Our very own Carita Parks (call the Church office for her contact information – (770) 888-6461), who serves at the center (located in Cumming), can give you more information or you can contact Whispering Hope directly. Some of the services you could help in providing are:

Medical and Counseling
* Pregnancy testing and ultrasound
* Prenatal care information
* Breast feeding information and supplies
* Referrals for Medical, Education and Housing
* Compassionate, confidential and nonjudgmental support
* Post Abortion Counseling
…

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Being in politics is difficult in today’s media-saturated, options-oriented world. This can be especially true if you have strong beliefs that you won’t compromise on regardless of the polls. However, this type of politician will, almost assuredly, never rise to any significant level of power without a large dose of compromise.

However, those politicians who find compromise easy and fashion themselves as political chameleons (like Barack Obama) will face a day when specific measurable decisions need to be made (BTW. Both parties are guilty of this. In other words, I am not being partisan toward a candidate or party, but trying to evaluate the role truth and courage play in politics. I simply use Barack Obama …

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Speaking on CNN’s “Late Edition”, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed disappointment at Proposition 8’s passage.

“It is unfortunate,” Schwarzenegger said. “But it is not the end because I think this will go back into the courts. … It’s the same as in the 1948 case when blacks and whites were not allowed to marry.
This falls into the same category.”

So, this woman (see video below) is a bigot harboring a racist viewpoint? How about you? Are you promoting racial inequality in the same way that “blacks and whites” were hindered from being able to not marry in the 1940’s? Why or why not?

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While many were focused on the big prize of the Presidential election, there was a pivotal vote on a referendum called “Proposition 8″ in California. Proposition 8 is a amendment to the Constitution of California that would define marriage exclusively between a man and a woman.

What does this mean? Since California voters have approved the amendment, this effectively outlaws some 18,000 same-sex marriage that have taken place over the last 4 1/2 months. The voters have overturned the California State Supreme Court decision that gave gay couples the right to marry.

The passage of Proposition 8 represents a crushing political defeat for gay rights activists. They had hoped public opinion on the contentious issue had shifted enough …

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In her new book, “Love Your Life,” Victoria Osteen tells the following story. When she and her husband, Joel, were courting, he came over to her house for dinner. She knew he was the son of a prominent Houston pastor and she, a nice Christian girl, was hoping they could talk about Scripture while she prepared the meal. “Joel began flipping through the pages, but before long, he put the Bible down,” she wrote. Victoria was disappointed and complained, “I thought you’d be a spiritual giant.”

“Joel said nothing and just grinned at me as we carried on with the evening.”

Victoria defines her Christian belief this way. Religion “is about appreciating what God’s given us. He’s given us this …

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