I like to write humorously about my life as a dad, a husband, having a child with autism, and other unrelated non-sequitors. So that pretty much covers everything. Hope that inspires you to, you know, subscribe.
American Idol runner up, Blake Lewis, is the center of the plot of this new short by the Kevin and Kyle Cease. The video (available exclusively at FunnyorDie.com) takes place during party and as guests arrive, they notice a suspicious yet familiar beat boxing sound emanating from the bathroom. What could it be?
Check out the video below and be prepared to laugh.
Directed by: Kevin Cease Written by: Blake Lewis, Kevin Cease, and Kyle Cease Starring: Blake Lewis, Kyle Cease, Kevin Cease, Bob Bledsoe, Gena Shaw, Anne Troup, Tony Moser, and introducing Tracy Tuffs and Meagan Adele Lopez
Normally, I write about irreverent subjects or make fun of things going on in the news. I've decided to scratch that in this post and instead share something from the heart. You know, get real. This weekend my wife and I had a talk with our oldest son. Two people in our family are gay. I'll keep the conversation to myself, but it was at that time I had finally reconciled the "homosexual dilemma" within Christianity. I realized that there isn't one.
Should a gay man or woman be allowed to get married? I don't see any reason why not. A very strong argument is the debate over whether banning gay marriage is constitutional or not, but there is always an even stronger presence that over weighs the argument. The "Christian Right." You hear things like, "defending family values," "protecting the sanctity of marriage," and that "God detests homosexuality." I've never really agreed with those statements and I wrestle with the last.
Can't gay parents instill strong family values and morals into their children? Am I really supposed to protect the sanctity of marriage? Are straight couples sanctifying the marriage bed with an average 50% divorce rate? You know, its true that in the Old Testament(Leviticus 18), the act of two men sleeping together is called detestable, but there are so many other commands listed that make little sense in this day and age that it becomes clear that context is important when studying that scripture. It isn't meant to be taken purely word for word. What's funny though, is that the New Testament mentions that God hates divorce. Not divorced people, or gay marriages; divorce. What is James Dobson doing about that?
The truth is that I am not called as a Christian ( and neither are you if you are one) to protect the sanctity of marriage against homosexuals. I can't find anything in the bible that alludes to such a command. In fact, I'm not called or required to defend or protect gays, marriage, straights, Christian parenting, or God. Instead, I believe that everyone was created to have a deep relationship with God, to follow Jesus' every step and learn to live a life like his, to have real meaningful relationships with others, to serve and love others and put them before themselves, and to share the desire God has to reconcile with his children with others. Most importantly, I'm commanded to do all these things in love.
Can a gay person actually become Christian while still being gay? The Apostle Paul wrote that through Jesus Christ, everyone was made equal. Take a look at that word - everyone. Notice there aren't any exceptions at the end? It doesn't matter what sin you are wrestling with in your life. Jesus followers are seen as holy and perfect in God's eyes. Every one of them. In Christian theology, the Old Testament times were a time when men and women were constantly setting themselves apart from God and His presence by their actions (sin). They had to get right with God through a series of rituals and life disciplines that lasted for thousands of years. By coming to us as Jesus, living a perfect (sinless) life, dying on the cross, and raising from the dead, God was able to offer Himself up as a final sacrifice to end that ritualistic way of life. Finally, an end was put to the animal sacrifices, the food rituals, the extremely strict guidelines that helped to preserve His chosen people. Real freedom and real equality for everyone.
Jesus never spoke about ending slavery or giving women equal rights as men. The reason, was because He knew that when people listened and lived the way He and the Father taught us to live both in words and in actions, we would understand that owning people as slaves is wrong, treating women as less then men is wrong, decimating Native Americans for land is wrong, and not allowing homosexuals the same basic human rights that we were created for - getting married, adopting children, being Christians, or priests, or whatever - is wrong. You want to know what I think God is thinking?
Forty-Two, one of my longtime regular readers, has always been an advocate for the idea of licensing parents. That is that couples would have to somehow obtain a license before being allowed to have children. With recent headline such as these and with parents like Britney Spears and Kevin Federline in the world, its easy to see where an idea like this becomes appealing. So what about it? Should we seek to require licenses for parents? Here's how I see it:
On the Good Hand
People with known drug/substance addictions would not be allowed to bring children into this world that will most likely abuse and/or neglect.
We could properly address and handle the growing problem of teen pregnancy.
People who belong who crazy religious sects involved with polygamy, pedophilia, etc - no more kids.
Registered sex offender in your family? Move away, get a restraining order, or NO KIDS.
What am I missing on the good list? Let me know.
On the Bad Hand (which is the left hand (sorry lefties))
Who determines the requirements for the lisense?
How would this liscence be issues/enforced?
What if a person becomes pregnant but does not have a lescence to be? Would she be forced to terminate or give up the child for adoption?
Get the idea? This notion sounds great on the surface, but when you ask just a handful of deeper questions, its easy to see that this license presents a whole host of larger moral dilemmas. I want to know what you think. How do you propose a Parenting License should work? Or would it at all?
Many of my Christian friends along with people in online forums I follow are talking a lot about which Republican candidate they think is the best one to become president. Specifically, one person had written something up about why Ron Paul was the candidate for Christians to vote for. I didn't realize I was supposed to wait for the group consensus.
If I ask them, "Do you think Christians are supposed to vote Republican?" I'll often be told that they feel that most Republicans will uphold the same values and morals as theirs so that is who they want working in the government. Usually, this falls on The Issues. Abortion, Gay Marriage, Stem Cell Research. Did something seem out of place with one of those last sentences? You're right. I mentioned a person affiliated with a political party and upholding values and morals in the same sentence.
Let's be honest here. Wouldn't you agree that most of the people running for office want what is best for everybody? I feel that basically they have the same intentions. Keep our country safe, balance a budget, make sure people have access affordable health care, etc. Nobody has the intention of creating fake wars for oil, socializing health care, ruining lives, or turning our nation into a morally decrepit country unsuitable for life. Do you want to know what kind of person I would like to see leading this country? A Leader.
Here the basic qualities that make up a Leader qualified to run this nation:
Compassion - if the leader of our country is lacking in Compassion, the world is in trouble.
Selflessness - a true leaders lead from their desire to serve others around them. Not to serve their own ambitious goals.
Communication - this really is key for everything. Parenting, marriages, running a business, etc. A leader must be able to communicate their goals, feelings, ideas, and messages to those around them.
Can Effectively Equip Others - A leader cannot simply assign someone to a task without first being sure that person is properly equipped to the job. Our leader needs to place people in positions and be able to equip them with authority and ability - seniority doesn't make the grade.
Exhortation - verb. to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.
Able to Prioritize - I give my kids a bath after dinner, not before. Otherwise, they'll need two baths. Prioritize.
Make Decisions on their Own - So many people get into a position of leadership and cannot make decisions on their own. They need approval, affirmation that they are making the safest decision (the one that won't get them into the most trouble AND if something fails they have people around them to pass the blame on to.) This is passivity at its best (or worse.) A Leader cannot be passive. Leaders need to make decisions based on the information they have and own the outcome whether good or bad.
I'm going to end with two questions to my readers and I encourage you to answer one or both of the them in the comments sections below.
1. Do you think Christians are supposed to vote Republican?
and
2. Which political part do you feel best encompasses those leadership traits listed above?
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