A defense for the family

Today I will make a 5 brief comments in defense of traditional marriage.  The first three of these rebuttals can be studied in further detail from Sherif Girgis and Ryan Anderson.  I watched them both make presentations at the Wheatley Institution which can be viewed online.  The last two are aimed at the LDS and Christian communities.

1.  Arguement- Marriage is good, so it should not be exclusive.  Marriage IS an emotional union & domestic life
Rebuttal- There are 3 inherent qualities of marriage that are accepted by Americans to counter this argument... 1) marriage pledges permenance, its not based on until emotional union dies. 2) Marriage IS exclusive, emotion can be shared with many (including things and animals).
Conclusion- To redefine marriage as an emotional union weakens the commitment. An emotional union has nothing to do with the 2 core qualities of marriage.

2.  Arguement- Government has no reason to restrict marriage
Rebuttal- 1) the government's involvment in marriage is the least intrusive way to help children. Studies show that children need a mother and father because they offer unique gifts.  2) Marriage unites children to parents in a way that might otherwise be fragmented. 3) gay marriage is about desires of adults and weakens child rearing institution.
Conclusion- Government involvment affects the development of children which affects everyone.

3.  Argument- Why not just let the gays live how they want.  live and let live.
Rebuttal- 1) Gays are already permitted to live a gay life if they choose.  2) A new definition of marriage doesn't let others 'live and let live'. Churches, businesses, & freedoms of others are diminished.
Conclusion- New legislation is not necessary and will have the opposite affect of live & let live.

4.  Argument- Homosexuality doesn't affect others
Rebuttal- read rebuttals for #2 and #3 above.  Read Genesis 19:1-13. Read The Family: A Proclamation to the World "The disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."
Conclusion- God destroys the communities and nations that support the disintegration of the family

5.  Argument- God does not condemn homosexuality
Rebuttal- read Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13, 1 Cor 6:9-10, Rom 1:26-28, Gen 19:4-13
Conclusion- God in the Bible does speak against homosexuality very clearly both in the New and Old Testaments

Much more could be said on this issue, but these are just some 'notes'.  A whole other can of worms opens up when arguments about how this affects our freedoms, but I will save that for a future post.  I do believe that more can be done to help homosexual couples with hospital visits and estate transfer upon death, however I don't agree that redefining marriage is the answer for these minor issues.

Over the past three years or so I have become fascinated by current events and news that is happening each day.  I follow politics fairly closely, or at least more than the average person, so I consider myself informed of many issues, but I also consider myself much less informed than many people.  I'm really not interested in politics, in fact I dislike them very much.  But I love seeing how current events are shaping the world as we move closer to the second coming of Jesus Christ, so in that sense politics is interesting to me. 

Christie hates politics.  She hates that people disagree and people take offense to things, and explaining one's viewpoint doesn't do anyone any good anyway, so she would rather that we not bring up controversial issues.  I believe that there is a lot at stake here (remember the second coming), so I think that we should do all we can to prepare others for this great event. 

I don't think that my views are well represented in the media, or social media, or most anywhere.  It seems that most people that I know don't like to dig into the details on critical social issues.  It's much easier to say that if my heart feels that such and such is right then that is what I will support, but if all the facts were understood then maybe your heart would feel differently.  Many times the facts don't fit on a meme, or tweet, or facebook status.  Sometimes relevant arguments take time to understand.  And that is where the difficulty is, most people do not want to attend seminars or read boring articles. 

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I have taken the name of Christ upon myself, meaning I TRY to do what He would do and say what He would say.  I believe that prophets live on the earth, and they have instructed to promote Liberty and Freedom which is what I intend to do in whatever small way I can.  I love the United States of America and maybe I can do some good with the freedoms that I have.  For these reason I want to post some simple and concise notes about some fundamental beliefs so that whether others agree or disagree they will at least understand why I believe what I believe.

Cactus Revival

The blog is back! At least I have decided to post after my five year hiatus.  A lot has happened in 5 years! I have owned a couple of homes, I have changed jobs a couple of times, I got married!  In some ways life is the same, but in most ways it is way way better than ever before.

Some things that are the same are that still wear some of the same clothes that I wore 5 years ago, I still enjoy going to church, and I still drive the same car. 

Some things that are way way better include me being madly in love with a beautiful wife, I own a super warm winter coat (finally!), and the quality of the food I eat is so much better (see www.cuisinealachristie.wordpress.com for more on that).

I'm probably not going to post very often for one main reason:

1.  I feel like I don't have as many adventures these days though. I feel like I'm not still trying to figure out life anymore. Most days are pretty routine. I go to work at 7:15, I get back around 5 or 6, I have dinner, and then Christie and I spend the rest of the evening reading in bed, eating treats in bed, watching Netflix in bed, and snuggling in bed.  Its a really really good life :) but there really isn't much to say about the day to day.

I think joy and entertainment are best found in the simple things and so that is where I would like to leave off on this post and pick up at for the next several posts.  This is going to be fun!  I can't wait to share more.