Luke and Hannah ... Wow!

I don't watch The Bachelor or The Bachelorette.  And I don't read Cosmo magazine.  But I had to click on this article to see this Twitter "war" between Luke and Hannah.  (Of course, an article from a godless magazine is going to be anti-Luke and anti-godly-morals, FYI.) 

And all I can say is "Wow!  I am amazed at Hannah's ability to twist Scripture for her defense and to attack Luke.  It's almost demonically-inspired!"  (For more on how society does this, see "God is love, but love is NOT a god!")  

To Luke: Thank you for being faithful to the Lord in the midst of such a godless atmosphere and in the face of such opposition.  That's not easy to do, I'm sure.  And hang in there.  You'll find the godly woman you deserve!

And to Hannah: Well, lots of luck defending your theology and your choices when you stand before God!  You're gonna need it!

(And here's a link to a longer clip of their interaction over this issue.)

Rapinoe Really Bugs Me. Why?

Rapinoe really bugs me.  Even just looking at pictures of her bug me.

Why?

This article neatly sums it up: her arrogance.

The arrogant, in-your-face, I'm-the-best, bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you attitude that oozes from her, even in pictures.

I think those who hate America so much should just leave.  They should go spend some time in countries where you have almost no rights.  Where women are forced to cover from head to toe.  Where they can't drive.  Where acid is thrown on them when they offend some man.  Where homosexuals are executed.  Where you don't get to vote for your leaders.  Where you are not allowed to speak out in the media.  Where you are prosecuted for saying anything against your country or leader.

Go visit those countries for awhile ... and see if you don't come crawling back on your hands and knees, begging America to let you back in again, kissing the ground of the country that treated you so well.  That pays you so well.

If you don't like America ... then leave!

And, Rapinoe, try to remember that you aren't out there saving lives like doctors are.  You aren't serving on the front lines, risking your life for our country like our brave military men and women.  You aren't rushing into burning buildings like heroic fire fighters.  You aren't taking in homeless children like the many adoptive parents out there.  You aren't protecting and defending the citizens like the police do.  You aren't helping to fix broken people and broken families like the compassionate counselors among us. 

You're just playing soccer.  

And this isn't the "Rapinoe Show."  

You're playing soccer for America!  

You might not like our country or our President.  But you'd better darn well be thankful for what this country has given you and start treating us with a little more respect, especially since you're supposed to be representing us.  Stop disrespecting this country that's given you so many rights and privileges, so many freedoms that others died for and that people in other countries would kill for. 

Either start representing America with some more respect, dignity, and class ... or move to another country and represent them.  That is, if they'll even want someone who spits on the country they're supposed to represent.


[I never clicked on this site before and never heard this guy before, but he says a lot of truth here: "Jon Miller: Megan Rapinoe, no one wants an 'anti-American hobbit'".  Love it!  Also see (warning: lots of bad language) "Women's Soccer Player F-Bomb Videos."  In my opinion, this very disgraceful, un-sportsman-like behavior - along with Rapinoe's disrespect for America and her arrogant self-worshipping attitude - will ultimately be what costs them the respect they want, which will affect the sport they play.  It's hard to have respect for people who shove their agendas in your face, insult your country, demand to be respected, and yet who act this way.  If that's how they represent America, we ought to be ashamed of them, not cheering them on!]      

Burn the Ships ... Again

I posted this song before, but I am loving this song right now!  So are my kids!

Burn the Ships by For King and Country  

(For the backstory, along with the song, click here.)

This song is about the wife of one of the singers struggling to break free from an addiction to anti-nausea medication following pregnancy.  About starting over and leaving the past behind.

But it can fit for so many people and the things we struggle with.

How I long to see people freed from the things that hold them hostage!  

My mom from her alcoholism.  My brothers from their atheism and agnosticism.  Friends and acquaintances from their damaged self-esteems, emotional struggles, health concerns, and broken relationships.  Me from my anxiety and fears about everything.  My church from the Calvinism that's taking over.  This country from its insanity, lack of decency, and lack of commonsense.  The world from its faithlessness.

How I wish we could all find the strength to "burn the ships," to leave the destructive and painful and sinful things behind, to start over again, filled with hope and peace and joy.  No shame about the past.  No fear of the future.  Eyes forward.  One day at a time.  Walking forward with the Lord in faith, regardless of how dark the path, how difficult the journey, and how many obstacles and setbacks we face.

Eyes forward.  Always forward.  Leaving the past behind, walking into a new day!

Since When Did This "Drag Queen" Stuff Become Acceptable For Children?

I don't really like to link to this "Christian discernment" website, because I think they are quite ... how shall I say it? ... rude.  Overly critical of anyone and everyone.  (Not that they don't expose some things worth exposing.)  But I found this article here so disturbing that I couldn't help but share it, to show parents what they're supporting and encouraging when they bring their kids to these drag queen shows.

Honestly, it makes me sick.  And it makes my skin crawl.  And I honestly have no idea why it doesn't make other rational, decent people feel the same.  How can any parent think this is okay for children!?!

Drag Queen Story Time Video: This Is What Demonic Possession Looks Like

So ... we can't have the kids looking at the Ten Commandments, but that drag queen stuff is okay!?!

Parents, what in the world are you allowing into your children's lives, hearts, and minds!?!  What are you encouraging!?!  In the name of ... what? ... "progress"?

If this is what you call "progressive" then you need to rethink the direction you're headed in.  What are you progressing towards!?!  What are you turning into!?!

See also "They ought to be ashamed of themselves!" and "The Adults Ought to be Prosecuted!" and "Is that really a school's responsibility!?!" 

Links to Anti-Calvinism Sites/Posts

For anyone who's interested in knowing more about Calvinism and why I HATE it so much ...

I started a new blog solely for my Anti-Calvinism posts:  The Anti-Calvinist Rant.  For reference, here are links to my Anti-Calvinism posts and some links for other people's Anti-Calvinism posts.

Some of my thoughts and research on Calvinism (Why I believe it's not Scriptural!):

Why is Calvinism So Dangerous?

If Calvinism is true, then God is a liar!

What's The Best Way To Make People Agree With Your Calvinist Views?

Letter To Our Elders Regarding Calvinism Growing In Our Church

Acts 13:48: Not As "Predestination" As It Sounds

Sovereignty and Free-Will Working Together

Anti-Calvinism Memes and Links

Why Is It So Hard For Calvinists To Get Free From Calvinism?

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Problems in John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

Are We Only Here For God's Glory? What About God's Love?

So Job was a dimwit, huh?

"Defend Your Calvinism" Challenge

More Anti-Calvinism Memes.  Just for fun!

Some of John Calvin's Contradicting Nonsense!

Do Babies Go To Heaven If They Die?  A Critique of Calvinism's Answer

How to tell if a Church, Pastor, or Website is Calvinist (extended version) and the (simplified version)

You know what happens when you assume things!  A look at John Calvin's theological assumptions

Why you'll never win a debate against a dogmatic Calvinist!

Do Calvinists really believe God causes sin?  Let them speak for themselves!

Calvinists, Altar Calls, and Evangelism

Calvinism: Abusing God's Sovereignty to Defend Its Heresy

Is God Only Concerned About His Glory and Being Famous?

How can Calvinists say "God causes ALL things, but He's not the cause of sin"?

Calvinism's Misconception about God's Love and Salvation

When Calvinists say "Of course we can make choices"

Bible Verses that support an "Age of Accountability"

"Are Calvinists Saved?"

When Calvinism's 'Bad Logic' Traps Good Christians

Intro to the "Calvinist 'Bad Logic' Series

We Left Our Church Because of Calvinism (Things My Calvinist Pastor Said)  (Also, I broke this long post up into smaller ones, and you can find links to those posts here)

A Random Verse That Destroys Calvinism (Is the ESV a Calvinist Bible?)

A Quick Study of Calvinism's Favorite Words

My Problem With Calvinism Is Not Really About Free-Will, But It's About ...

Why I Hate Calvinism So Much!

How Do Calvinists Find Comfort In Hard Times?

The Calvinist's Big Ugly "But"

To Seek or Not To Seek? That Is The Question

List of Calvinist Preachers, Authors, and Theologians

Is Calvinism's TULIP Biblical?

12 tips on how to think critically about Calvinism

Calvinism 101: "Free-will choice" is not really "free-will" or "choice"

A Crash Course in Calvinism (A letter to pastors)

A Crash Course in Calvinism (Calvinist quotes)

MacArthur on Calvinism's (lack of) Assurance of Salvation

The 9 Marks of a Calvinist Cult

The "Calvinist Hogwash" series (quotes from Calvinists)

When Calvinists say "But Romans 9"

When Calvinists say "But Sovereignty"

Piper's problematic perspective on Proverbs

God's Greatest Priority (and why there's a hell)

When Calvinists say "But predestination!" (my pastor's sermons)

And my comments on the "But predestination!" sermons: 1-4 (election) and 5-6 (Romans and sovereignty) and 7-9 (depravity, Book of Life, predestine) and 10-11 (shaming tactics, Feb. 2015) and 12-14 (dead, regeneration, born again) and 15 (total depravity, manipulation) and 16 (God's Will, babies, evil/suffering)  

When Calvinists say "But predestination!" (shorter, basic version)

"But Calvinists don't say God causes sin and evil!"

Alana L. on how to recognize (and defeat) Calvinism

Snippets to ponder, part 1 (#1-8: manipulation, ESV, evangelism, the gospel)

Snippets to ponder, part 2 (#9-13: PTSD; sin/injustice)

Snippets to ponder, part 3 (#14-19: total depravity/parables)

As evil as it gets: Calvinism on babies and the unreached (a.k.a Snippets to ponder, part 4, #20-21)

Quick Answers to Calvinism, part 1 (#1-8: proverbs, the gift, Rev. 13:8)

Quick Answers to Calvinism, part 2 (#9-13: blinded eyes, Lydia, creation)

Quick Answers to Calvinism, part 3 (#14-18: "born again")

Here are some posts where I examine what Calvinist themselves say and expose what they really mean:  

"Sin Nature, Free Will, and Foreknowledge"

"Sin, Abuse, and God's 'Sovereignty'"

"Born Again, then the Gospel, then Faith?"

"Calvi-god, Calvi-Jesus, and Calvi-faith"

"Causing Evil isn't sin for God"

"My Comment about Sin and God's Will"

"I love my grandchild, but God might not"

"My Comment about the order of 'Born again, Hear the gospel, Have faith'"

"MacArthur's Manipulations"

"My Comment on Calvinist Twists"

"My Reply to Roland" 

"'Saint' PJ's Deceptions and Manipulations"

Calvinism 101: "Free-Will Choices" is not really "Free-Will" or "Choices"

Hallelujah Christmas

Wow!  Just ... wow!

Hallelujah Christmas (Cloverton)

Bowing down right now with the shepherds and the wise men at the feet of my Lord and Savior 

I Highly Recommend Soteriology 101

If you want to know what Calvinism is and what's wrong with it, I highly recommend this blog - Soteriology 101 - written by a former 5-point Calvinist who is now speaking out against Calvinism.

And I particularly recommend reading the comments section of each post if you really want to see how Calvinists think (and if you want to read some horrible quotes from Calvinist authors and theologians).  

Dr. Flowers allows Calvinists, non-Calvinists, and anti-Calvinist to add comments to the comment section.  And these people are very educated and thoughtful.  All of them.  Calvinists, non-Calvinists, and anti-Calvinists alike.  So you get a really interesting, thoughtful, complex, eye-opening look at Calvinism.  And at Calvinist logic nonlogic in action.  

When you read the comments by the Calvinist commenters (you can clearly identify them after awhile), you can see how they spin things, reword things, redefine things, ignore certain truths and logic, and take Bible verses out of context.  You can see the assumptions they make about God and the verses they take out of context to support their assumptions, which they then build their whole theology on, never caring that it turns God into an illogical, unjust monster.  (And you can see how they fiercely defend Calvi-god's right to be that illogical, unjust monster.)  

One commentator, FROMOVERHERE, likes to phrase the Calvinist motto this way: "Never waste a chance to take a half-verse out of context!"  Love it!  So true! 

Some recommended posts and comment sections from that blog:

Born Again by God's Will, not Free-Will?

Does God Love or Hate His Enemies?

Why John Piper is Wrong About John 6

Rebuttal of John Piper's Article: "A Beginner's Guide to Free Will"

Factors Beyond The Agent's Control?  (These comments are definitely worth reading.  Especially look for the comment from TSOO starting with "Calvinism declares that God alone is the sovereign determining force in whatever comes to pass in his creation."  It's long, but it's very well-written and very worth reading!  It's somewhere in the middle of the list of comments.)

What You Meant For Evil, God Meant For Good.

Choice Meat & Bad Form  (I particularly like the comment by Graceadict starting with "Hi 5Alive, Great to have you here on this site ..."  A great summary of Calvinism and its dangers.)

Well, it's final. We left our church because of Calvinism.

To get to this post, click here.  I recently reposted it, and so I decided to delete this one and redirect you to the other one.  That way, if I have corrections to make, I only have to correct one post instead of two.

Some Articles Worth Reading

Love this, Kevin!  Way to go!  Glad to see someone in Hollywood still has a brain and the guts to use it:  Actor Kevin Sorbo's Three Tweets About Sex, Abortion,  and Immigration Set Internet Ablaze

This made me smile, to see a family enjoying life and learning together:

Kirk Cameron Has No Regrets About Homeschooling His 6 Kids

Amen to this, and well-written:  Why I Do Not Celebrate Gay Pride

If only all politicians could be like him:  "God Giving Me Strength to Believe the Impossible" Rep. Dan Crenshaw on the Miracle that Saved His Sight

If only NO politicians would be like her:  Kirsten Gillibrand Says Christian Beliefs Not Allowed, and Pro-Lifers Are Like Racists and Anti-Semites  (Horrifying!  The most ironic part is that she basically makes a comment about the dangers of appointing someone who will take away basic human rights ... right after saying that there are certain issues where society can say the views of "the other side" are "unacceptable."  She's basically saying that those who see these issues differently than her shouldn't be allowed to have their own opinions on it.  Talk about taking away basic human rights!  So it's okay for her side to have their views, but not the other side!?!  And it's okay for liberals to push their views and agendas on the public for years now, but not for conservative religious people to push for or fight for theirs!?!)

Best Perfume For Those Who Hate Perfume!

I have a super-sensitive sense of smell.  I can't stand candles.  I can't walk down the cleaning supply aisle.  And I am not a big fan of wearing perfume, simply because I know it's just a bunch of chemicals.  

But I do want to still smell decent when I am out and about.  And so I discovered what - for me - is the best "perfume" to use.

Vanilla Essential Oil 

I don't think it's technically an essential oil, but more like an essence of vanilla in jojoba oil.  But it is a natural product.  And so it doesn't have an overwhelming or chemical smell.  It's light and sweet.  I simply drop a couple drops of the prediluted oil onto my forearms and rub it in.  And if I am desperate for deodorant, I'll even rub a couple drops under my arms.  (Mine is from the NOW brand of essential oils.)

Every time I wear it, my kids ask "What smells like sugar cookies?" or "What smells like marshmallows?"

I will even lightly rub it into my hair so that my hair smells like vanilla.  (FYI, it's a very light scent that doesn't last long.  But I'd rather have a hint of vanilla for a little while than an overwhelming chemical smell for a long time.)

Another good idea is to use the prediluted flower essential oils.  Dilute a couple drops of a flower oil with a carrier oil, and rub on your body.  I particularly like the neroli, rose, and jasmine essential oils.  It's a very uncomplicated smell, just light, floral, and sweet.  Not too shabby!