Tag Archives: tolerance

Bless the Pets Who Forgive Us Our Trespasses

I am no saint and I fully admit it. Even though most people who know me say I’m one of the most upbeat, cheerful people they’ve ever run across, I’m chalk full of faults. I’m often stubborn, selfish, critical (of both myself and others), jealous, possessive, and lazy. Physically I’m no prize either: I’m overweight, my poor legs are covered in cellulite (yes, the back and front of my thighs), I have yellowing teeth, blow my nose obnoxiously loudly, snore, my morning breath’s so ghastly it lingers well after I brush my teeth, and I’m still battling acne even into … Continue reading →

Seeking Out Diversity

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I wanted to write a little about diversity–not in lofty, wouldn’t-it-be-nice way–but in a more ordinary, every day, reality way. I was having coffee earlier this week with an old friend who has two small preschool age children. It just so happens that his children are in the same child care program at our local YMCA that my own children attended more than a decade ago. I was surprised and excited to find that he and his wife appreciated many of the same things that I had loved about it–mainly, the diversity. … Continue reading →

Are Christians called to be Tolerant?

What do you think? When I read about Jesus I see a man that accepted those who wanted Him. Though He did accept them where they were, He did not condone their sin. Take for example John 8:1-11. The scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who was engaging in adultery. Jesus told them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Of course the accusers left. None of us are without sin. Jesus followed up saying to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Jesus acknowledged … Continue reading →

Sharing One View on Homosexual Marriage

I have heard people say that homosexual marriage is not hurting anyone, and that those who are gay deserve to be happy having the same rights as heterosexual couples have. I have been very reluctant to write about this because it is such a heated topic. I would just like to share my thoughts on homosexual marriage and why I believe the acceptance of it to be part of the subtle decay of morality which was foretold in the Bible. I do not support gay marriage, the marriage of more than 2 people, marriage to animals, adults marrying children, or … Continue reading →

When to Say Enough is Enough

Being the loving Christian that you are, you take concern for an acquaintance or loved one. They are going through a dark time in their life and it looks like they really could use some help. As you put aside your own needs to help this other out, you become flustered from within. Though this person really appreciates your help and says they’re doing better since you came, they are still extremely needy of you. You are feeling drained, depleted. Your own chores and pleasures are on the back burner and all of the sudden you realize you need a … Continue reading →

Learning About Other Cultures and Religions Through Children’s Television

Sometimes we have a tendency to think of TV as just entertainment, when it can be much more. One episode of “Blue’s Clues” we particularly enjoyed was one where Steve and Blue were making the rounds of the neighborhood, wishing their friends a happy holiday season. They went to a home where Kwanzaa was being celebrated, with corn and goblets set on a mat, and learned that Kwanzaa commemorates the strength of community and togetherness. Then they went to a Jewish home and learned about the miracle that began the tradition of Hanukah. Their last stop was at a Christian … Continue reading →

Why “Special Needs” Applies to You, Too

Alright, I’m going to be brutally honest. Before I became a parent of a special needs child, people with disabilities made me feel uncomfortable. For example, if I saw a mentally handicapped person in an elevator, I might wait for the next one. It wasn’t out of revulsion, but some kind of inexplicable fear. What was I afraid of? At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure. Inexplicable Fears I remember when an old friend from high school met my son Kyle. At the time, I believe he was seven or eight, and I explained to my friend that he was … Continue reading →