"Opponents of gay marriage often cite Scripture. But what the Bible teaches about love argues for the other side,

(The above was in an article from Newsweek  written by Lisa Miller.  It was in the December 15, 2008 issue.Read more below.)

Let's try for a minute to take the religious conservatives at their word and define marriage as the Bible does. Shall we look to Abraham, the great patriarch, who slept with his servant when he discovered his beloved wife Sarah was infertile? Or to Jacob, who fathered children with four different women (two sisters and their servants)? Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon and the kings of Judah and Israel—all these fathers and heroes were polygamists. The New Testament model of marriage is hardly better. Jesus himself was single and preached an indifference to earthly attachments—especially family. The apostle Paul (also single) regarded marriage as an act of last resort for those unable to contain their animal lust. "It is better to marry than to burn with passion," says the apostle, in one of the most lukewarm endorsements of a treasured institution ever uttered. Would any contemporary heterosexual married couple—who likely woke up on their wedding day harboring some optimistic and newfangled ideas about gender equality and romantic love—turn to the Bible as a how-to script?

The battle over gay marriage has been waged for more than a decade, but within the last six months—since California legalized gay marriage and then, with a ballot initiative in November, amended its Constitution to prohibit it—the debate has grown into a full-scale war, with religious-rhetoric slinging to match. Not since 1860, when the country's pulpits were full of preachers pronouncing on slavery, pro and con, has one of our basic social (and economic) institutions been so subject to biblical scrutiny. But whereas in the Civil War the traditionalists had their James Henley Thornwell—and the advocates for change, their Henry Ward Beecher—this time the sides are unevenly matched. All the religious rhetoric, it seems, has been on the side of the gay-marriage opponents, who use Scripture as the foundation for their objections.

The argument goes something like this statement, which the Rev. Richard A. Hunter, a United Methodist minister, gave to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in June: "The Bible and Jesus define marriage as between one man and one woman. The church cannot condone or bless same-sex marriages because this stands in opposition to Scripture and our tradition."

In the Christian story, the message of acceptance for all is codified. Jesus reaches out to everyone, especially those on the margins, and brings the whole Christian community into his embrace. The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author, cites the story of Jesus revealing himself to the woman at the well— no matter that she had five former husbands and a current boyfriend—as evidence of Christ's all-encompassing love. The great Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann, emeritus professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, quotes the apostle Paul when he looks for biblical support of gay marriage: "There is neither Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ." The religious argument for gay marriage, he adds, "is not generally made with reference to particular texts, but with the general conviction that the Bible is bent toward inclusiveness."

( Lisa Miller   does not put one verse in the above article from the Bible that says God will bless same sex marriage. Far as the lady at the well yes Jesus did love her and  He loves everyone in the world. Yes He does love gay people but He calls all people including those struggling in the gay life to leave their life of sin. In John chapter 8 the lady at the well  in verse 11 Jesus says leave your life of sin. There also many verses in the Bible which the Lord says the gay life is sin. Far as only picking parts of the  Bible out.Read this 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitab. If you want read the story from Newsweek click on this  Gay Marriage: Our Mutual Joy but I would not waste too much time reading it.)

 (Ted Turner talked  politics, Fidel Castro and Jane Fonda  with Bill O'Reilly on Fox News. Part of that interview I am posting below. Ted doesn't think Castro is a killer.)
O'Reilly: Fidel Castro do you admire the man.

Yes.

O'Reilly: Now he is murdered people he's in prison people heard political prisoners now he won't let"...

"  That that that that I was buddy buddies with Fidel. Castro while I just said that I respect is certain things that he's done but we always we -- you respect the man."...

(Perhaps Ted needs to spend time with those who have had love ones killed or spend time in a Cuba prison. Ted's thoughts on people liking Castro in Cuba would be very funny if it wasn't true. In a nation like Cuba you only speak up when you agree with the leader. To express your views could mean time in prison or that your body will be found in a box. Fidel Castro  is not a man to respect. He is man we should pray is convicted by the Holy Spirit of the wrong he has done to other humans. And we for sure should pray for the people of Cuba  who have suffered so much under this man. Ted might also check out this web site for find out the truth about Cuba , The Real Cuba. Also watch the whole video, No Spin Zone Debut.     Pray for Ted Turner too.)

 I am troubled by how the media helped elect our new President. One example that troubled me was on WGN  TV  one the news cast the morning after the election they had wine and toasted their glasses in honor of Obama winning. Now I can understand them being happy because he is from their state but  him winning is not like the Cubs or the Bears winning this is about what was best for the nation. How cna we believe these news people when they report anything about Obama.

WGN and most of the news media should be ashamed. This election they didn't report the news but became part of  the news.

 (Below is part of report which was posted on the Drudge Report.)

OPRAH'S STATEMENT: "The item in today's Drudge Report is categorically untrue. There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the beginning of this Presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."

Oprah Winfrey may have introduced Democrat Barack Obama to the women of America -- but the talkshow queen is not rushing to embrace the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket!

Oprah's staff is sharply divided on the merits of booking Sarah Palin, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

"Half of her staff really wants Sarah Palin on," an insider explains. "Oprah's website is getting tons of requests to put her on, but Oprah and a couple of her top people are adamantly against it because of Obama."

(Oprah has a right to put on her show whoever she wants to. However I had to laugh at her remark that  she was not  going to  let her show be used   as a platform for any of the candidates. What did she do when she had Obama on? Did they give sport scores?  Does this mean she will fight the fairness doctrine with those of us from the right? Don't bank on it.Read more on this news item   right here.)

 

 

 There’s a huge concern among conservative talk radio hosts that reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine would all-but destroy the industry due to equal time constraints. But speech limits might not stop at radio. They could even be extended to include the Internet and “government dictating content policy.”

     FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell raised that as a possibility after talking with bloggers at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. McDowell spoke about a recent FCC vote to bar Comcast from engaging in certain Internet practices – expanding the federal agency’s oversight of Internet networks.

(Every soul on the right and even those not on the right needs to read and hear this information because if the left gets power the information network we go to could be changed. Then where will we go to NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC. In other words the only ones which will have freedom are the ones already run by the left and those on the left yell about how they are so pro freedom. Read more of the above story right here.)

The Associated Press wire service's obituary on Tony Snow was little more than a platform to insult the former Fox News anchor and ex-presidential press secretary. Read the AP story yourself and then let its boss know how you feel.
(The above statement was made by Mr.  BillOReilly  Part of the story I am posting below. Read it and see if you agree with Mr. OReilly.)

Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.

Snow was working for Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio when he replaced Scott McClellan as press secretary in May 2006 during a White House shake-up. Unlike McClellan, who came to define caution and bland delivery from the White House podium, Snow was never shy about playing to the cameras.

With a quick-from-the-lip repartee, broadcaster's good looks and a relentlessly bright outlook - if not always a command of the facts - he became a popular figure around the country to the delight of his White House bosses.

As press secretary, Snow brought partisan zeal and the skills of a seasoned performer to the task of explaining and defending the president's policies. During daily briefings, he challenged reporters, scolded them and questioned their motives as if he were starring in a TV show broadcast live from the West Wing.

Critics suggested that Snow was turning the traditionally informational daily briefing into a personality-driven media event short on facts and long on confrontation. He was the first press secretary, by his own accounting, to travel the country raising money for Republican candidates.
(To read more on this issue and to get all the information on how to email , phone, and or write the President  of AP.Click on this link AP wire service insults Tony Snow.

If you do contact AP please don't be rude or mean but if you are outrage like yours truly do let them know.)

 Delivering the commencement address Sunday at Ohio State University in Columbus, where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Journalism degree, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams implied America is broken as he told the graduates: “We need you to fix the country.” (   NBC's Williams Tells Grads U.S. Broken, 'Need You to Fix the Country'  )

That clip, squeezed in between Al Gore at Carnegie Mellon and Martin Sheen at Notre Dame, aired as part of an annual compilation of commencement advice run at the end of Monday's NBC Nightly News. NBC also aired this from Williams: “We need you all now to step up. And every adult in this place has every faith that you're up to the job.”

Video of a commencement story on the Web site of NBC's Columbus affiliate, WCMH-TV, featured a longer version of the line from Williams: “We need you to fix the country -- and I'm sorry to ask this of you.” In another soundbite aired by the local station, Williams paraphrased Bill Clinton: “There is nothing wrong with America that someone from Ohio State can't fix. Go get them OH!”

(Yes. there are things wrong with this great nation. However something Brian won't admit along with others from the  so called main line media is there are many things right with America. Yes, lets fix what is wrong  but lets also be thankful for waht is right. Perhaps this is why Fox news has such large numbers watching because they do report the bad stuff but they also point out the good things.)

MADBillyD@aol.com