healingoil

I agree to some extent that this is much ado about nothing yet we've seen other countries now make it illegal to homeschool so when any little situation like this comes up it is good to be informed about it and to remember these families in prayer and to also stay active if you can. Also, academically statistics prove kids who are homeschooled are far better off. It is not my opinion but fact. Socially, it depends on the parents. You can homeschool your child yet keep them actively involved in social situations like church, and also there are extra-curricular activities like band, sports, etc. etc. etc. through the city. Anyone with a fifth grade reading level can homeschool their kids; the curriculum is already provided for the parents. It has more to do with whether or not it fits into a families lifestyle.

A couple of points 1. Using the New York Times' opinion in this thread is like using an opinion piece from Al-Jezeera to defend the motives of terrorists. It is an aganda-driven, anti-Bush liberal rag. Period. 2. Just because wikipedia is of the opinion that waterboarding is torture does not make it so.

Whose goal? Those guys who've been sitting in Quatanamo for 5 or more years? How many of those guys have inside knowledge of stuff anyway ! It would be just as ludicrous to justify torturing a US serviceman taken prisoner thinking he has inside CIA information. Besides nowhere in the Bible do I see that one is to return evil for evil. Its curious. - As has been pointed out, waterboarding as actual "torture" is still in question. It's also been referred to as a method of interrigation and has been around for quite some time. As far as you questioning its affects, it seems to have been very useful, so far: Waterboarding has its benefits

So, you dismiss it because you don't like what it represents? Do you do that with all of scripture? It's not an "odd way to look at it" - it's how pastors and teachers who've been to seminary and done a lot of studying of the Bible have learned to interpret it. If you don't like it then you'll have to take it up with God. That is why I said this: To top it off, you have complaints about our system now? Just think how corrupt the Roman Government was at the time when all of this was written! This was the same government that crucified Christ, for pete's sake! Even still, his point in those verses were a lesson to the Romans then just as they are a lesson for us today. Because of people and attitudes like yours... I'm sorry you've had some personal experiences that haven't shed the best light on those in law enforcement but you are letting your emotions dictate rational thought once again. Though they may seem "cold" they have to have order in situations that are already chaotic and some people are just never going to understand that unless they are actually in their shoes, doing their job. When we have fires or mudslides my husband sometimes has the job of blocking off certain areas where people live because the it isn't safe and they have to keep order even though it may not seem necessary. Most people understand and abide by their rules but there are those few that pitch a fit. Thing is, those are probably the same people that would be all too quick to sue if something happened to them if the officer did allow them back up to their house.

You're welcome. I know there are good people in California. As a truck driver, I have spent a great deal of time there. That is why I said that conservatives should consider leaving and moving to another part of the country. I am not wishing you into the ocean, though I know of some that have gone that far. I just know that the government in California is wicked, and getting worse. I agree with you about Minnesota, and think they should consider leaving the union as well and perhaps joining with that new nation I envision in New England. Of course, I am saying some of this in jest, but at the same time, if things do get too bad, perhaps as the result of the election of someone like Barak Hussein Obama or Hillary Clinton, I would be open to hooking up with Christian Exodus in an effort to start a state by state pull out of the union. I already support them in principle, but have not completely given up on America. If we get stuck with a wicked leader like Obama or Hillary, and if they get the chance to appoint anymore judges to the Supreme Court, I would support a secession movement. In case you are not familiar with them, here is a link. http://www.christianexodus.org Very interesting idea and link - I'll have to look into it more when I find the time. Thanks. It is unfortunate that California's government has to wreck an otherwise very beautiful state. I was raised in Michigan and have found this place to be better in terms of raising my kids simply because there are so many constructive things for them to do that keeps them out of trouble. It's also very family-oriented and camping at the beautiful state parks, etc. have been a great experience for us and kept us close. That is why I hate the idea of "giving up" and letting these people run us over with their twisted idealogies and ask people who live here to please get involved as much as you can and to remain faithful in prayer.

Whoa! Hold on you guys! First, there are some wonderful Christian people out here, especially in the Southern section of Caliifornia. I have family out in Minnesota and it's a far worse liberal haven than what I've seen out here, so, please don't wish us all in to the ocean just yet... Second, you guys need to read the article. It is nothing that is "set in stone." They are even asking people to not contact members of our legislature at this point - all of the major advocacy groups have pulled together on this and they are doing their part to try and see if they can resolve it without having to go that far. Just please keep this specific situation in your prayers as well as the homeschooling community as a whole. An attack on this method of education is happening all over the world, unfortunately.

I appreciate where you seem to be honestly coming from, bts. That being said, are you aware of Romans 13: 1-7? Yes, God is the only authority, but, he still believed in establishing a government. The people of Rome were subject to the governing authorities and the Roman soldiers were on the front lines helping to maintain that just as there are police officers doing the same today. He explained back then that there would be consequences if citizens resisted the authorities and that in order to protect those who were good, the authorities would have to defeat those who did evil by whatever means necessary - ("bear the sword"). So you see? It is no different today. Police Officers answer to their government and that countries government answers to God, but it is a Biblical call on all fronts and God recognizes them as people who carry out his authority as people of authority. To top it off, you have complaints about our system now? Just think how corrupt the Roman Government was at the time when all of this was written! This was the same government that crucified Christ, for pete's sake! In their defense, there are many different reasons why people change social patterns in life. That being said, have you ever considered the scrutiny police officers are dealing with today? In most respects, they simply can't win. In times of trouble where people need their help they are always there to do just that, sometimes at the risk of their own lives. On the other hand, because they are in a position of such authority, unless you are truly the victim they rarely get any respect. And so you have to wonder why they stick together now more than ever? I really believe it.

Healingoil why don't you get arrested for public drunkeness? Then you might find out! It doesn't matter if you get arrested for picking your nose...or murder. If you obey the rules and do what you are told then you won't have any problems. However, if you come in arrogant, rude and trying to pull away from officers...things won't go quite as smoothly. Sounds like a threat! "If you don't toe the line we will treat you like dirt, because we can, and we can get away with it, we always do!" I was always under the impression that someone was sent to jail as a punishment, the jail IS the punishment. Not to be tortured in prison, that is a whole different thing. Who's being tortured? She was wrong to dump him out of the chair and is dealing with the consequences and rightly so, but, like with any job there are always going to be a few bad apples. Like Axxman simply stated, if you follow the authorities orders everything will go smoothly. It's just like an immature, rebellious teen dealing with its parents when people act the way you are towards the police as a whole, buckthesystem. My husband is a police officer so I hear plenty of stories and you wouldn't believe some of the things He's had to put up with. People resisting arrest to the point where he has had to chase them down majorly scraping up his legs because of rose bushes, stitches in his arm, having to hog tie an out of control drunk because he wouldn't get in the car and he had crapped his pants on top of it (not my husband), people puking in his cruiser - he once had a drunk who had just had colon surgery and was wearing a catheter but didn't bother to tell my husband so when he had to pat him down, my husband ended up getting the mans crap all over his hands and uniform, etc., and I haven't even mentioned the more seriously dangerous aspects of the job...

What's even more funny is people like O'Reilly and a lot of other talking heads have been bringing up Rush and what he's been saying on his talk show (even though they aren't directly encouraging it themselves) so then it gets out to even more people. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens in the states that can vote across party lines...

Now we can add to the other problems with Barak Hussein Obama that he is a false teacher, because the sermon on the mount in no wise says anything that would evenly remotely justify same sex unions, and he can dismiss Romans chapter 1 all he wants, but it still stands as a testimony against his false doctrine. In addition, I couldn't care less if he wants to claim that his support for abortion rights doesn't make him less Christian. It obviously does. The fact he has felt the need to respond to these criticisms makes it evident he is having a hard time winning over evangelicals, and is fearful of what will happen as his radical views become more widely known. Not only does he try to justify his position on abortion as a Christian but he also voted against banning partial-birth abortion.

Good idea. (Hopefully one that I'll never need to use.) Yeah, those big, bad policemen and security guards whose job requires them to risk their lives to serve and protect the rest of you... If you are going to claim it "happens all the time" then please provide some back-up proving your statement.

We listen to Christian rock/rap because our allegiance is to the Lord.

What is your grievance? I've been listening (reading) everything you've said and still am... Do you or do you not think that what they did was inexcusable regardless of their culture, etc.? A simple yes or no will suffice.

And what others, or at least *I* am having a hard time understanding is how anyone (you) can excuse an action like this no matter what the circumstances, culture, etc. are...

I found this pretty interesting - from the article:

So, again, if I were to totally understand the situation I would then understand the justification for this action? You are just going around in circles, peaches. You obviously see nothing wrong with what they did, then. I get that. Did I say that? No, though studies show very few people are ever found guilty and locked away when they are tried through our system; especially with today's technology. But, to compare hanging a woman from a tree who is with child and then make her give birth in that position because her neighbor died is beyond ludacris and to then compare it to our system is even more so and very telling.

So, basically what you are saying is if you do understand their "entire social structure" it then justifies their actions? Holy apples and oranges, batman! Ummm, then they obviously were found guilty of a crime and so their being locked up is indeed justified. Not only was this woman not found guilty of something, but, the way they handled it is nothing like how we handle those who are found guilty - it was nothing less then barbaric.

PC = politically correct. Uncivilized = hanging a man and woman from a tree for "sorcery" just because their neighbor died. ha! My guess was that it meant Presidents Choice. maybe if I italicize and bold it, someone might answer. Uncivilized by whose standards? Hmmm, to answer your first question .... how much time do you have? and yes, this story seems accurate to the practices of some folks in PNG. If you think this is "weird", wait till you find out about their other rituals concerning passing into adulthood. highly highly fascinating! but i guess thats the problem with these kinds of news articles, they just grab a snippet of an otherwise highly complex societal structure that its hard for an average reader who knows nothing about the society to comprehend exactly whats going on. meh, the shock factor is the intended effect i guess Just because a culture happens to practice its beliefs does not mean those actions are justified. Certain cultures believe burying a woman three-fourths the way down in dirt and then stoning them to death is a civilized way to "punish" her. Should we excuse it simply because they obviously have very little standards?

You're welcome. Awkward position or not this man is asking the American people as a whole to trust him as their leader. This could've been an opportunity for him to show just how strong his leadership skills really are but he simply did not do that.

His (Obama's) own pastor gave Farrakhan an award for epitomizing

Exactly. Here is an interesting article not only explaining this very thing, but, it also lays out a plan on how we can make things better; another case to put industries like this in the hands of the state instead of at a federal level. Healthcare Reform

Unfortunately, with the choice of candidates we have - Several us are still selecting by the "Eeny-meeny-miney-mo" method . . . If you catch my drift. I certainly understand your frustration, but, the more I read about Huckabee the more I realize there are much better options out there.

Not sure. What I do know is Romney is. Why? My gripe regarding Huckabee goes way beyond any "religious" affiliation.