Jul 26, 2012 |
It’s been quite the growth spurt this week at Frankly, My Dear…
If you weren’t able to check in recently, here’s this week’s most popular posts:
What’s the Word? Wednesday [Blog Hop]. Lots of great links to other blogs.
Alienation. My take on the Chick-fil-A “issue” that’s circling the social media world. My third most popular post ever. Thank you!
Recipe & Giveaway. Enter for your chance to win a 6-Cup Rice Cooker sponsored by Aroma Housewares.
HOW TO WRITE A BETTER BLOG: I Have Questions. You Have Answers. An ongoing Blog Hop designed to collect ideas, suggestions, and information on what makes a Better Blog. Feel free to add your comments and link up your posts.
Happy reading!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jul 25, 2012 |
I had Jury Duty today. At least, I was summoned. I tried to talk my way out of it but because I had inadvertently failed to show up last month, I was definitely on the books for this month with a “Failure to Appear” notice. By the time the groups were selected, I was actually looking forward to it.
I’ve sort of always wanted to serve on a jury. Maybe I watched too much “Law & Order” in the past. Maybe I’ve read too many detective books. I’m the kind of person that likes to get behind the scenes and really figure things out. I watch Director’s commentaries every chance I get. I like seeing what makes things tick. I’d love to be a part of the discovery process during a trial… as long as the trial was something like a traffic accident or simple robbery. I can’t stomach anything where people get hurt or maimed. Especially children.
During the waiting period, I struck up a conversation with a nice woman. We discovered we had a lot in common and exchanged contact information. And then my group was dismissed: The parties settled just before jury selection started.
I was at once relieved and disappointed. I’ve recently set up a routine at home. I’ve gotten into the swing of cleaning, cooking, writing, and weeding. I have a pattern. Jury would have convoluted that fine calendaring. And yet… being on a jury would have been a remarkable experience.
Ah, well. I’ll just have to wait another year until they call me back.
In the meantime, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about justice and the horrific crimes being reported from around the world. And I have a lot to say about it all. So stay tuned. Because Frankly, My Dear…
I DO GIVE A DAMN!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jul 25, 2012 |
I don’t care if Chick-fil-A supports Biblical marriage. I don’t care if Henson Productions supports homosexuality. I don’t care.
I do care that people are being legalistic instead of loving, and people are being bullies. I do care that social media is jumping all over it as if we’re sending Earth’s orbit straight into the Sun.
I don’t care if someone is gay any more than I care what color their eyes are. If they aren’t willfully hurting someone, or if they aren’t blindly acting out of ignorance, I don’t care. Why? Because they don’t care who I do (or don’t) sleep with. I do care if someone is being abused or taken advantage of. I do care that too many people find a reason to say someone else hates them instead of taking the High Road and just letting everyone get along peacefully.
Call it sin, lifestyle choice, or what-you-will. Nobody’s perfect.
Nobody.
And I’m okay with that. I don’t want people judging my entire existence based on one aspect of my life. I’ve been served enough mercy and grace to share! Haven’t you?
Why does one person’s belief have to alienate another’s? If someone wins the Big Lotto some people are happy, some say he’s a gambler. If someone drinks too much some say he’s an addict, some say he’s a party dude. There are two sides to every story. And I don’t believe that just because someone is gay, they’re going to hell any more than I would believe that just because a person says he/she is a Christian that means they’re going to Heaven.
I’m a Christian, and I know my views are controversial. The liberals will say I’m too conservative, and the Conservatives will say I’m too liberal. But here’s my take on the whole social situation.
IT DOESN’T MATTER.
It’s not my place to judge anyone. It is my place to love them, no matter who they are or what they do. Christ didn’t set Himself up in the Courts. He ate and talked and stayed with prostitutes and [gasp!] tax collectors.
My Church teaches us to love the sinner but hate the sin. And we are all sinners. Period. There is but one way to Heaven: Salvation through Jesus Christ.
And it’s not up to me to decide for anyone else what that salvation looks like or acts like or what it is. I know what my salvation is. And I know how I’m supposed to act.
Matthew 22:37-40 [NIV] states
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
So Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A, says his company supports Biblical marriage. Why is that “hate-mongering”? He didn’t say, “We refuse to serve gays.” He didn’t say, “Let them starve.” He said, “Hey, this is what we believe.”
So why are supporters of the Gay/Lesbian community not considered hate-mongers for bashing Chick-fil-A? Why couldn’t they just agree to disagree, instead of starting a social free-for-all?
How is it okay for one group of people to loudly voice their opinions and beliefs nearly everywhere they can, but when others do the same, it’s “wrong”?
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
It should be as simple as that. Some people think homosexuality is okay. Others don’t. I’m not going to condemn anyone for their beliefs, unless they’re abhorrently evil. Some people think even one sip of wine is one sip too many. That wearing any kind of jewelry is excessive. That owning two cars in a five person family is greed.
It still tastes like Chicken.
Chick-fil-A made a statement. It doesn’t change the restaurant recipe. They didn’t suddenly add pepper instead of bread crumbs. It’s not a political statement. It wasn’t a challenge or an ultimatum. Cathy simply voiced his belief. Now, Chick-fil-A is a Christian company. Why does it suddenly surprise anyone that their beliefs are dictated by the Bible? I’d be more surprised if the head of Chick-fil-A was a Wiccan.
I’m sad at the condition of the world. I’m sad not because there are Gays and Lesbians. But because there are
Bullies!
In all communities.
And I’m sad because people just don’t listen to each other any more. They’re too busy trying to be recognized. Trying to be right. Trying to point out how the other side is intolerant. But in doing so, aren’t they just as intolerant?
My name is Molly Jo. I am a Christian. I am also a Sinner. And I love you.
Because you are a Person. Period.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
This post is linked up with Frankly, My Dear…’s “What’s the Word?” Wednesday
and Pour Your Heart Out With Things I Can’t Say
Jul 24, 2012 |
Michele D., I hope you’re reading this because due to lack of response from our first winner, YOU ARE THE NEW WINNER OF THE ROUTE 66 GIFT PACK GIVEAWAY!
Remember, folks, you can win but the prize is only good if you contact me with a proper mailing address.
Michele, I look forward to hearing from you and hope you’ll stick around for upcoming giveaways!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also like:
Rice Cooker Giveaway
Jul 23, 2012 |
Dot and I spent nearly three hours trimming just one of our backyard trees and cleaning off the back patio.
This is my third summer in my “new” house. I’ve devoted three summers to the front yard: Tree Trimming, gardening, cleaning. Little by little… well, you’ve seen past pictures. It’s still a lot of desert dirt. But at least now it’s organized dirt, with a few budding flowers for decoration.
And since I’m such a linear thinker, I’ve subconsciously put off working in the back yard until the front yard is done. Why have too many projects, right? Unfortunately, as any Great Homesteader will tell you, yard work is never done. Which means the front yard will never be finished. Which means, I must step into the jungle of overgrown Mulberry trees that darken my windows with their long-reaching leafy branches. And conquer them!
And that’s what I set out to do this morning. A few minutes later, Dot came out to help. I swept, hosed, and cleaned the patio including walls, furniture and grill. Dot cut the extra ground growth from the tree. And together we pruned and cut and even sawed off some solid branches!
It’s not done yet, but three hours later, we have a patio we’re proud to relax on, and a yard we can see better than before.
There’s still four trees to trim and three to cut down altogether. But for now, it’s a start. A very happy, fulfilling, job-well-done start.
Refreshments, anyone?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
