Good suggestion! I believe we have it taken care of. Thank you for helping us get better.

U. Keith

How did you get so well connected? ;o)
Thank you. That lends a lot of credibility to the author in my mind. Any friend of Heritage…

You are welcome Hannah. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Wish I could get more traffic on the site. :o)

Thanks! You are always so encouraging. :o)

Thanks for the comment A. Lynda. Actually, in my broader definition, feminism has existed much longer than 40-50 years. Calling it “feminism” might be something new to the past hundred years, but the idea that men and women are the same, and that we should abolish any distinction between the sexes, has been around pretty much since Genesis.
Feminism takes advantage of an already present character flaw, the desire for power. This woman’s relationship with her husband, and in many ways everyone else, is a picture of the end result of feminist teachings. I’m not talking about the valuing of femininity or the Scriptural teachings on womanhood. I’m speaking of typical feminist mumbo jumbo.

No Ranting, I haven’t seen those. Who produced/directed them? It’s worth a “check-into-that” I reckon. Thanks!

I hope that too. :o)

These are good points. However, the person expressing this position used the words “possibly” or “might be” several times. This doesn’t sound very convincing. Also, I would say in response that we must also consider the context of the word, not simply it’s definition, in properly interpreting Scripture. If the definition mentioned is all we go by, then Jesus was giving “permission” for divorce when any man looked with lust at any woman, for any length of time. This seems to be a standard that no husband would ever live up to, and does not sound like something Christ would say.

And I’m still not convinced that remarriage is permissable, regardless of any “exception” Jesus might allow. Again, my friend, I don’t say this to offend you, but to simply state the truth.

“The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase “except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage. Many interpreters understand this “exception clause” as referring to “marital unfaithfulness” during the “betrothal” period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or “betrothed.” According to this view, immorality during this “betrothal” period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.

However, the Greek word translated “marital unfaithfulness” is a word which can mean any form of sexual immorality. It can mean fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: “the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage. The phrase “and marries another” (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. “

“I don’t know whether you wrote this yourself or not, Jarod. I agree with most of it. I’m a very conservative person and do not agree with most everything this current administration is doing. I do feel that our country’s destruction is because we have kicked God out of our country so to speak. Our own president states that we are not a Christian nation, which was news to me when he said that.

However, there were a few statements in there that bothered me. First of all, my husband was married to another woman. His wife of 10 years cheated on him and left him. I understand that a lot of people marry and divorce and get remarried again and then divorced and think nothing of it. However, I think that when one person commits adultry and walks out on another person, why is it sinful for the other person to move on and find happiness with someone else. Not all divorced people are sinful…some of them were just caught in a bad situation. Secondly, I resent the statement about how Christian woman don’t keep from having children for selfish reasons. So because I’m on the pill….I’m selfish? I’m on the pill because with our economy being as bad as it is at the moment, we couldn’t afford to pay for another child even if we wanted one. To bring a child into the world without the means to financially take care of a child is, in my opinion, neglect. I’m not saying abortion is okay because I’m against abortion, but for someone to take the steps to keep from having more children, i.e. tubal ligation, birth control, etc. is not sinful nor is it selfish. Not everyone was meant to have 10 kids in each family.”

Thanks Michelle. I did write this myself. Let me explain what I said in a little more detail, but I also want to make clear that I know we have a lot in common and I feel like we are on the same side. Also, remember that I was ranting and sort of blowing off steam.

Divorce – Michelle, it is not my intention to offend you, but I’m afraid I may. You have asked about this, essentially, and so I am trying to answer. It is my hope that the Lord will use what I say somehow to glorify himself. Just remember that I am presenting the truth as I understand it.
Divorce is not the unforgivable sin, and I have many good friends that have this in their past. But I do believe it is a sin. This is why. Jesus said that if anyone “puts away” his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery. So, saying it a little differently, unless she is already an adulteress, you are causing her to commit adultery. The interpretation of this passage that says “As long as one of the marriage partners has been unfaithful, then divorce is OK” is a misinterpretation.
There are several things I could say but one of the biggest things is that I believe Jesus was talking about a situation in which the husband found out that his wife wasn’t a virgin when they got married, when he was under the impression that she was. That is why Jesus said “fornication” and not “adultery.” (If one is married and has sex with another, that is adultery. If one is single and has sex, that is fornication.) Jesus was speaking to a middle-eastern audience and they understood what he meant, but in our western mindset, this is lost.
But let us say, for the sake of argument, that Jesus was giving an exception for divorce. Jesus follows this by saying “Whosoever marries her that is divorced commiteth adultery.” That seems to be pretty clear against remarriage even if divorce is allowed. And if that isn’t clear enough, we can go to Mark chapter 10: “And he said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.'” This seems very clear to me and I don’t know how any argument for remarriage can stand against this clear teaching.
(Also, I do believe there are times for a seperation between husband and wife, and in no way am I suggesting that God reqires a woman to stay with an abusive husband or something like that. She just should not divorce him.)

Birth Control – I was not trying to say that all birth control, in all situations, is wrong. Indeed, I do not believe that it is. I was pointing out that many Christians (I did not say all) choose to limit God’s blessings because of selfish reasons. Lots of parents decide not to have children because they don’t want to give up certain things in their lives that take money. It would require them to give up golf, or movies, or fancy cars, and lots of time, in order to have children or more children. Certain types of birth control in certain situations are not wrong, but neither is it ALWAYS right to do so.
I was speaking against a wrong spirit and view of children as a burden instead of the Biblical teaching that they are blessings. All the time. Regardless of the circumstances of their birth.

There is probably more I could say Michelle but I hope this helps you to understand what I meant to say. (Which, btw, is the original sub-title of my blog.) :o)

LOVE,
Katie

My blog I, Pandora has just passed it’s 3rd birthday of relatively consistent updating.

While at HQ and before and after I started 3 other blogs which each died from lack of interest (my own) and dedication (also my own).

I haven’t spent too much time trying to make money from my blog. Aside from brief attempts at AdWords which proved more annoying than I like, I’ve really not tried at all.

The best advice I’ve heard regarding blogging and building up a base capable of supporting a reasonable blog is consistency. Do not post every day, you’ll wear yourself out. But set a schedule and keep to it. Use the timed post features of your blog to write articles as you think of them, and then post them on a specific day.

Start with one or two posts a week, get comfortable and consistent doing that. Then as you feel up to it, add another post each week.

Consistency gives your readers an expectation. And it frees you from the constant “Should I write today?”

Best of luck on this endeavor. The one other bit of info I’ve found rather discouraging is the number of blogs versus the number of blogs that actually make an income for their writers. Keep up the work and perhaps you’ll make it in the big leagues. 🙂

Aunt Donna

Thanks Randy, for pointing out my procrastination. 😉 But seriously, I have a question. Do you know how to keep the main front page to keep from displaying the entire post, but only an excerpt? Kind of like your blog does. In fact, exactly that. 😉

Congratulations on your beautiful little daughter! She is so precious and your little boy is adorable! He is sure growing up!  Please pass on our best wishes to Anna!

God bless you as you raise your family for His glory!

-Missy

We know a few different Lily Beths and all are beautiful little girls 🙂

God bless you all !!

Sincerely,
Tim & Marilyn

Also, I loved his presetation and all the graphics, sets, and lifts!!

 H

  That was a very nice post. I don’t think I knew you had that nick name for Anna. 

Yay for the new baby!

 H 

And…yeah.  We’re super excited for another baby.  🙂  (duh)

-Katie

Congrats on two years and the new addition.

Based on how much I know you, you can always fall back on your acting career….  

You would be good in a customer service position, sales possibly. Start networking and making contacts with people. I know there are a lot of solid Christian business owners that are looking for help- and willing to train. There are many jobs in the political arena right now because of new terms, new offices being set up, etc.

Praying for you to find the right job!!

Wishing you well!

This was the second time I watched it so I can’t remember my first reaction.
But, I know that I liked it.  I giggled and it made me happy (well, happier).  🙂
-Katie

You know, I want to retract my statement about our government not being “Bible-based.” That is not what I meant.

Our representative government draws many of its principles from the Bible, but from my reading and understanding of the early days of our democracy it becomes very clear that though many of these men were moral, there were great conflicts as to how the government was to function. It doesn’t seem that many of these arguments were based on biblical arguments, but on rationalism and logic (i.e. the Federalist Papers). After the Revolutionary War, our government was barely more than a confederacy for necessity that had very little power and influence on American society. This worked for the time, but more structure was needed to keep the union intact and healthy. Madison and his associates later succeeded in drafting the US Constitution which gave us the groundwork for the Republic we see today.  Disagreements between Federalists and Democrats caused great upheaval in our government during the first three presidential administrations (America’s infancy). When one studies the personal lives of men like Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and  Hamilton it is truly amazing that our form of government turned out so well. Each of these men had a form of outward morality, but had little time for Church or Christianity. For example, Jefferson reportedly owned a Bible, but cut out references that he judged to be incompatible with his view of Christ. It must also be noted that black slavery and suppression was still an acceptable practice and a blatant hypocrisy that a government condoned to keep peace rather than to honor the Creator. Only the mercy of God in the two Great Awakenings kept America from drifting away from Christ and biblical thinking. True that the churches did play a major role in grafting Biblical thinking into the hearts of the population. There were a good number of Christians among the founders, too, but this did not make the US government “Christian.”

The tendency is for Christians to glorify our government into a Christian institution that was hijacked (i.e. David Barton). That is just not true to reality. Our government originally acknowledged God, but has always been imperfect and ever changing because it was drafted by men. Too many Christians are distracted with the notion that if we only installed Christians in office all our problems would melt away. God has been gracious to our people in His preservation of our land and freedoms under the protection of government in spite of us. Our security lies in the state of the church in this country. A few of our founding fathers correctly stated that without [biblical] morality, the US government would crumble. That is why the battle for America is not really in government (though we still need to vote and influence our representatives to maintain our freedoms), but in the spiritual lives of our population.

Thanks for pointing out my error in communication. I would be interested to hear your response to my thoughts.

“haha” – Krissy

stay tuned for Katie’s reaction

~ Krissy

As to the Founders being deists, you are right that many of them did follow that type of doctrine. But at that time the deists were not what they are now. Deism is now very much a cult/false religon. At the time of the founding of our nation it was not a conflict to be a Christian (believing Christ was the only way to heaven, inerrancy of Scripture, etc.) and also a deist. In our day now it would be nearly impossible to reconcile the two positions. (Deism and Christianity.)

I appreciated your comment my friend, but you are incorrect in this one area. Our government is actually very much based on Biblcal principles.

amen.

What a wonderful secret gift you were given!  You are right about the trashy ads!   God bless the giver, as well as the recipient!

Have a wonderful day in the Lord!

~Kim Cali

ps….your post about Pres. Bush was interesting.  I think you are correct in your observations although I have always “hoped” that it was not the case.  I recently ordered “The Reagan Diaries” (audio book) for my older girls and look forward to what he wrote when he thought no one was looking.  I hope my opinions of him are just as high (or higher) when I am done reading (listening). I will let you know.

-Katie

I enjoyed reading your post Jarod. 🙂

Welcome back! 

Great post!

Your little boy is soooo cute! Happy Birthday to him!

God bless you!

~Kim Cali

@daughter80 – Doing the best I can darling!

Uncle Jim

Now what was the sort of ‘hole’ man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement, he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry to God, realizing you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor–that is the only way out of our “hole.” This process of surrender is what Christians call repentance. Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means killing a part of yourself, undergoing a kind of death. In fact, it needs a good man to repent. And here comes the catch. Only a bad person needs to repent: only a good person can repent perfectly. The worse you are the more you need it and the less you can do it. The only person who could do it perfectly would be a perfect person–and he would not need it.
Remember, this repentance, this willing submission to humiliation and a kind of death, is not something God demands of you before He will take you back and which he would not let you off if He chose: it is simply a description of what going back to Him is like. If you ask God to take you back without it, you are really asking Him to let you go back without going back. It cannot happen. Very well, then, we must go through with it. But the same badness which makes us need it, makes us unable to do it. Can we do it if God helps us? Yes, but what does it mean when we talk of God helping us? We mean God putting into us a little bit of Himself, so to speak. He lends us a little of His reasoning powers and that is how we think: He puts a little of His love into us and that is how we love one another. When you teach a child writing, you hold its hand while it forms the letters: that is, it forms the letters because you are forming them. We love and reason because God loves and reasons and holds our hands when we do it.
But unfortunately we now need God’s help to do something which God, in His own nature, never does at all–to surrender, to suffer, to submit, to die. Nothing in God’s nature corresponds to this process at all. So that the one road for which we now need God’s leadership most of all is a road God, in His own nature, has never walked. God can share only what He has: this thing in His own nature, He has not.
But supposing God became a man–suppose our human nature which can suffer and die was amalgamated with God’s nature in one person–then that person could help us. He could surrender His will, and suffer and die, because He was a man; and he could do it perfectly because He was God. You and I can go through this process only if God does it in us; but God can do it only if He becomes man. Our attempts at this dying will succeed only if we men share in God’s dying, just as our thinking can succeed only because it is a drop out of the ocean of His intelligence: but we cannot share God’s dying unless God dies; and he cannot die except by being a man. That is the sense in which He pays our debt, and suffers for us what He Himself need not suffer at all.
~ CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

He is so cute!

-KT JO

~ Krissy

He is such a sweet little guy!  What a blessing!

God bless you all!

~ The Cali-Crew

Glad to see you all are doing well!  God bless you!!

~Tiph

  Love you all,

        Nasia

Love you guys,

Katie and Krissy

I will go to the link and read the article you posted.  I love stories like that!

Hope you and your family are doing good! God bless you all!

-Katie

If that is taken seriously, and carried out in earnestness; this promise is yours:

“…the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple.” Mal. 3:1

The presence of the Lord is revealed to all those who seek Him.

Acts 17:27-28  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being…

Jeremiah 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jer 18:2  Arise, and go down to [the place that I ordain to meet with you], and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Blessings to you brother.

Oh btw, that was a dead-on state of the church address. Great way to express that dilemmatic personal/corporate spiritual conundrum. I so wish God’s people would quit compartmentalizing and start Godmentalizing–including him in every aspect of their…er, our…lives. I think we’d see a pretty big jump on the mercury.

Ok, talk to ya tomorrow, bro…Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise. Wait, we’re not in Missouri. Scratch that. 🙂

Edly

Hope you and your family have a wonderful vacation!

I suspect the Lord knew all about this tendency we have and that is why he gave us the third commandment–that we shall not take the name of the Lord our God in vain.  I do not believe that was a command not to use His name as a curse word (though certainly we should not), but that we should not take on Christ’s name as His follower and then not follow Him.

I need some good ‘closet’ time… thanks for the encouragement.

May you have a time of precious memories with your family!

😉

Enough rambling…. Have a great vacation!

Oh! Thanks for sharing from your heart…you are right on target and what you said is very convicting as it should be.

 love ya & your little family SO much!!

             Nasia

dk

Psalms 34.

May God continue to provide for your every need!

 ~ Kim

And thanks for the reminder to be a servant as Jesus was!  It’s definitely something I need to work on!

~ Krissy

P.S.  You could post a few new pictures now and then….

Good points…I
hope to remember them as I go throughout the day…and speakin g of
priorities, I better get downstairs to make breakfast!

May God continue to bless you and yours and I’ll pray for your church and other little churches whom God is wroking in!

~Sarah

Uncle Jim

Also, I love the Scripture you pointed out – “Love covereth…”  So, so true, and if our thoughts and behavior really and truly were always motivated by love (for God and for others), vs. pride/selfishness, I wonder how much it would diminish strife and division in churches?!

I can also identify with some of that soul conversation.  Thanks for sharing it! 

Tell Anna her ‘old boyfriend’ could really use a shave….and a bra….  “-)

@PreacherBoy80 – You have no idea how feverish I was today.  Kaden’s body temperature was low, so they had the hospital room about ninety degrees…

~ Krissy

Katie

p.s.  i prayed for you and the fam today.  just to let you guys know.

~Random Surfer

I just read the veto list. Send my condolences to your father about SB 345.  Our wonderful governor also got HB 1129, which was one of my babies, for the second time no less.  It was the second version of a bill I worked on while I was an intern…

Great to read to what depths the Father is plunging you during this transiton. Nice new look on here, too…I bet Anna helped with the redecorating. 🙂 Love ya, bro!

Ed

And to Angie and Stephanie: I don’t believe we’ve met, but great replies!

Thanks for the post Jarod!

During this time, we were blessed with our sixth child, James, who is extra special, with Down syndrome who needed a number of medical interventions and who, just after our house finally sold, was diagnosed with leukemia!  Through it all, God was incredibly faithful to us, meeting EVERY need we had and more.  We never incurred any debt and now, four years after Vern’s layoff, we are moved and, by God’s mercy and provision all the way (through the generosity of his saints, who are his visible hands and feet), we don’t even have a mortgage.  Our family is closer (though not perfect), our faith is deeper and surer (though not perfect).

Some of the children and I were talking just the other day about how incredible the Lord’s provision was during that time to be able to make the trip to GA for your wedding and how different things might have been had you and Anna decided to marry in March instead of January (I know you and Anna have talked about that too).

So, in hindsight, I wouldn’t trade a day of the last four years, the Lord has used them all for our good and his  glory.  And, as you have already said, he will certainly do the same for you!

You and your family are often in our thoughts and our prayers!

-Laura

Can’t wait ’till we can see everyone again…

-Katie

~ Krissy

Oh, Terry and I know so well how you feel – we really do!  A few days before our wedding last year he ended up in the hospital and had to cancel his summer internship, leaving us with no income (except for the sale of my car), yet continuing medical bills,  for nearly four months.  For various reasons, including our location, it was also impossible for me to teach piano during that time.  Following that, we had a VERY modest (scholarship) stipend on which to live until the year, and moving 1000 miles from home immediately afterward required us to pay thousands of dollars up front for moving expenses, first month apartment rental plus deposit (the same amount as the $1300 monthly rental!), and many other unexpected fees and expenses such as our $80 state inspection sticker.  Just getting to the end of last year without a major emergency surgery, with Terry’s condition, was a miracle and huge answer to prayer, though!  We felt as you do – not having income and completely uncertain as to whether or when we would have any in the future, because of Terry’s health.  I was fully preparing myself for the possibility of using my newly-acquired teaching degree to pay the bills.

Sorry about the long comment, but this post struck so close to home, and Terry and I can attest to the fact that God takes care of His own.  We are reminding ourselves that, even with a regular income now, we are STILL very dependent on HIM!  May yours and Anna’s faith be strengthened during this time, and may your hearts be encouraged in Him.  Know that you are in our prayers!

Yes, folks, all those “waves” were baby created and though we only bath him in about 3 – 4 inches of water, he can already splash it over the side!!  I can already imagine the future…  LOL!  Well, one bonus – I’ll always have a clean bathroom floor! 

–Janette (Hughes) Castle

“Sam, we sent you a message!”  

Aunt Hannah

~ Krissy

You are blessed to have such a cute wee lil man!

Thank you for your sweet comment on our site!  We are so excited about adding another precious baby to our family!  What a blessing!

God bless you, Jarod, and your dear family.

Wow!  That is really cool Jarod!!!  I want to see my little nephew right now!