The Emporia Gazette

glarson (anonymous) says...

More comment on the original letter to the editor:

http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/20...

February 13, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

LifeGoesOn

Said
"I never said being gay meant you are not worthy, What I did say is that yes you will be judged by God for that lifestyle. As we all will be judged for our Lifestyles. So to use your words "Let's get serious""

First let me say the whole "serious" thing is kinda my thing so............

But seriously, LifeGoesOn you hit the nail on the head with this one. We are ALL unworthy. Let me say that again, ALL. ALL of our lifestyles fall short of the standard of God which is perfection. That is why he sent Christ to live the life we can not. And because of His self sacrifice we can by faith be reconciled to God by His Grace.
Daniel has a very good point though in the fact that we Christians can be obscure in our speech and need to consider our audience. My wife points out to me times when I am using "big theological words" that people may not know. Trust me when I say that theology is the only subject that anyone will be hearing big words come from this mouth.;)
Hopefully we can convey a message of hope to these kids and anyone else listening for that matter. In another forum I said that my prayer in this is that all would be protected from these horrible people(Phelps' people) and that everyone would know that they(Phelps' people) don't represent God.
Daniel
I in fact do know what it's like to be shunned by my family and labeled an outsider and fool, ironically it is for my Christianity.

February 13, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Happiness09 (anonymous) says...

That "centuries old book" you referred to will in fact determine both of our eternities. I obviously am not going to be able to preach you into changing your lifestyle. I will leave that up to you and God. May he be mericiful.

February 13, 2009 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

Since when did saying that giving in to temptations is sinning was hateful. When did we start despising sinners for being sinners? If a teen is disrespectful to their parents it is a sin. That was a statement of fact--whether or not you believe the Bible is true. What we choose to believe or not doesn't change the Truth. Sin is sin is sin. If I am am being hateful by calling someone a sinner, then that means I am hateful to all teens who have had a rebellious heart. If I felt that way, then I would have no concerns about Phelp's group coming here and I DO.
Daniel, why is it that I know your sexual temptation? I don't know anyone else's on here, but I know many other things about them--occupations, education, age range, etc. Why did you feel the need to identify yourself by that one element? Surely there is more to you than that one thing. I don't like when people define themselves by their sex life--no matter which kind. It reduces them to just one function and everything else is a by-product of that. I don't like that this was brought up about the high schoolers when it wasn't even the issue.

February 13, 2009 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Happiness09 (anonymous) says...

Which makes me wonder if you date high school boys while you're "mentoring" them.

February 13, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

josiesbar (anonymous) says...

Break, Break, Break!

I think this is going a little too far. If you want to judge people on their lifestyles, thats fine. But charging someone with statutory rape is taking this thing to a level that it definitely doesn't need to go to.

I don't care if someone's gay. As long as they're not trying to push their beliefs on me, and it doesn't affect me, so what. It's not my cup of tea. Live and let live. This is one of the main reasons I am so against the smoking ban.

Yes, I understand that the bible says that being gay is bad. It also says eating seafood and pork is bad. Live and let live, its too easy.

Matt

February 13, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

you are right matt, judging by the tone here i hope no-one goes out to the school. someone is likely to get shot.
Steve

February 13, 2009 at 12:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

glarson (anonymous) says...

The issue is whether or not to visibly protest the Phelps' visit to Emporia. It is not the morality of sexual orientation.

Let's get back to the original topic.

February 13, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

Thanks Gwen. I was wondering how and who got this so far off topic. I apologize for getting caught up in it.

February 13, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Happiness09 (anonymous) says...

If you read the entire blog it was daniellaughs who keeps turning this into a gay teenage boy issue. I agree. Enough is enough already. I'm not willing to just live and let live, but I am definately moving on to something else. What a waste of time and energy. Thanks Gwen for calling a cease fire.

February 13, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...

Gwen I can agree we are off topic, ( I'll move on) but it got off topic with the SECOND Post when "daniellaughs" brought up GLBT's , now with 50 plus posts, its time for you to tell us we are of topic?
I would also point out that there are MANY articles the gazette has put out that have gotten off topic, Will you now be pointing this out on all future articles? just wondering...

February 13, 2009 at 2:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

On the facebook thing, one teen brought up an interesting point. She implied that Phelps real cause is atheism by stating that he does more to advance it than most others and that he is an excellent atheism advocate.

February 13, 2009 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MelissaE (anonymous) says...

I'm completely disgusted. Those of you who think an "alternate" lifestyle is a choice are so far gone it's redundant to keep the argument going. Why is it that if someone disagrees with your (that's all-inclusive, btw) beliefs, you think they are wrong? You can vote, read, watch, and do pretty-much whatever you choose to do and yet your religion allows you to condemn. Shameful. And not at all Christian-like.

BTW--I'm pretty sure God will remember these posts.

Oh and PPS,
Some of my greatest friends are GLBT. I have learned so much more from them than I have with hanging out with regular Emporians (yawn). Because regular Emporians seem to hate venturing outside their own damn city limits.

For any person who is GLBT: It is just fine. REALLY it is. Give yourself time to find your "niche". You will find it. My GLBT friends have....and you can too.

Happiness 09, I'll see you in hell. You are a worthless "religious" person (otherwise known as POS, but I digress).

Sleep well. God is watching.

Melissa

February 13, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

Melissa
You must have missed this, so here you go.

"Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on February 13, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The issue is whether or not to visibly protest the Phelps' visit to Emporia. It is not the morality of sexual orientation.

Let's get back to the original topic."

You're welcome.

February 13, 2009 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

WILLIAM_A (anonymous) says...

I have been around his protest before in Topeka. I for one will not subject myself to it again. It is a very UNHEALTHY thing to be around (Stess and blood pressure go off the chart). So since I know that his actions are unhealthy for me to be around, I will not go and expose myself to it.

Hey cracknsack and all smoking ban people, you could learn something from this practice.

February 14, 2009 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

josiesbar (anonymous) says...

WILLIAM_A,

That was pretty much awesome.

February 14, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MelissaE (anonymous) says...

Love it!

February 15, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Happiness09 (anonymous) says...

josie'sbar: I find it interesting that you instantly thought I was accusing daniellaughs of statuatory rape. When is the defination of dating automatically sex? And MelissaE: Don't wait up for me.

February 16, 2009 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Happiness09 (anonymous) says...

and daniellaughs: I must respond to your question about "the day I decided" to be normal. I never did decide. It came naturally. This should tell you that homosexuality is not natural or God given. Otherwise, you wouldn't have to decide to be that way. This is the last post I will make on this site. As I've said before....what a waste of time and energy.

February 16, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

allintogether (anonymous) says...

I was pleased to hear (and not the least bit surprised) that level headed Emporians mounted a smoothly run, civil counter protest to the anti reverend Chucklehead's gaggle of clown shoed (sic) lackeys. From what I understand, Emporians out numbered lackeys 10:1!

I think Mr. Heim and the Emporians that protested were both right. This is America and we have the right to speak our mind and its important to speak up when a kook fringe group chooses to abuse their right by spewing hatred and using a perverse view of God as their inspiration. However, in our country, liability is a large concern. Mr. Heim has a responsibility to keep the kids and young adults in his charge free from nuts like Rev. Chucklehead and his ilk. I think what happened Monday was a very optimal compromise. Emporians showed they would not be intimidated and thank God nobody let emotion rule the day.

I am as proud of Emporia as I have been for the last 3 decades.

Now, where is the Gazette on all of this? Are they going to report on the successful counter protest? I hope Gwen and/or Bobbi are on this.

February 17, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

While I am happy to hear that the counter protest was successful, I honestly believe that reporting on it would only serve as an "in-your-face" response. Before long they'd be back to challenge our patience because that's their m o.

February 19, 2009 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )