@ Carmelita (#11)- I was just wondering if your Pastor asctually preaches that you should not love people who are in relationships with others of the same sex? I have heard that so many times, and even though I personally don’t agree with same sex marriage or homosexuality in gerneral, I found myself arguing with the pastor about loving the sinner but hating the sin. I believe that God loves all of us all of the time, however he does not love everything that we do all of the time. We will all be judged on our own merits which include loving one another as we love ourselves, regardless of sexual orientation. ^5 to you for standing up for your beliefs!

My grandfather was a Methodist preacher and actually founded the chirch that me and my family are currently members of. I consider myself Christian, I believe strongly in God and I pray everyday, not at a certain time or ritualistically. I call on the Lord when I need Him,, no matter where I am, who I’m with, where I’m going, what I’m wearing, what I’m doing, etc. I believe that organized religion has become one of the biggest jokes of our time. I have actually not been to church since July. The last time I went I heard the pastor in a heated argument with a parishoner when we walked in the door. We had service and at fellowship meeting planned afterwards, we once again found ourselves greeting the pastor who was once again in a heated discussion with yet another longterm church member. It was thwn that I realized that I needed to seek a better way to approach my religion and still practice what has been instilled in me by biblical teachings. Now on our Sabbath, we prefer to spend it donating our times to charitable causes that we feel God would want us to do. We donate clothing to the homeless, read to the elderly, give our tithes to people we know are struggling to pay a bill or put food on the table. my children assist in making blankets to pass out to the homeless during the winter months, we have adopted families at Thanksgiving and Christmas and try our best to make it to shelters for battered women and homeless to make sure they have eaten before we open presents on Christmas or eat at Thanksgiving. We do this quietly, and for the love of God and our fellow man, not for accolades or reward. We know where our rewards lie. God and Christianity do not live in any certain building or with one group more so than another on any day of the week. True Christians know that the Lord lives in your heart and mind, and you must conduct yourself as such, not just on Saturdays or Sundays or whatever day you choose for worship, you must live it and make it a part of your everyday lifestyle. I may never set foot in the fashion show (our pastor actually put cards in the tithe envelopes telling us how we should dress, which would have made my grandpapa roll in his grave) building, that has fronted as a church for my family since the day I was born again, but I know in my heart that the Lord knows that I am trying to train up my children in the way that they should go, according to the commandments that he set out before me, and I do not believe that he will hold against me the fact that I did not follow the traditional idealistic forms of religion. We do not know what the Obamas do for the sake of others in the name of Christ, so I would say in this instance, judge not lest ye be judged. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are doing what God would want you to do. Are you working for the Lord, or for the almighty dollar which is the root of all evil? You really don’t need a man to stand before you to tell you the word of God, get out the book and read it for yourself.

he can turn to any channel and hear church. hell, that’s what i do, and dont feel bad when it goes off. i feel great, considering i still have all my money in my pocket….