prisonchaplain

Are these not the kinds of stories that make us so fearful about where the Afordable Care Act will take us?

Therapy may or may not be needed.  Perhaps adjusting the goals would be enough.  First, I'd suggest carrying out your proscribed consequences--with the "lightest" interpretation possible.  In other words, follow through with them so that it is clear that you meant what you said.  On the other hand, whenever a consequence can be made easier (especially for the rest of the family), go with that interpretation.  Why?  At this point, dd needs to know that you are the parent, and you will follow through with your promises.  That gives her consistency and stability.
 
BUT THEN, what to do with the strong-willed teen?  Perhaps it is time to begin the transition from director to coach?  She is smart, but inexperienced.  Ask her more questions, give her options, seek out her thoughts.  You still control the environment and over-all game plan, but let her have increasing say about the details.
 
Yours is a faith tradition that holds "agency" (what we call free will) in high regard.  It is obviously time for dd to start owning her own faith.  If that means not going to temple, it may be best for her not to do so for now.  If that means sometimes ask pointed, seemingly disrespectful questions, then help her explore, while guiding her towards more polite and intelligent approaches to her questions.
 
And console yourself.  In about 10 years, she'll wake up, look in the mirror, and ask, "How come dad was so smart about things????"  (Usually after dd has her own dd/s)

Are these not the kinds of stories that make us so fearful about where the Afordable Care Act will take us?

I feel appropriately small, but not in a bad way.  I feel awe and reverence because of God's great power, holiness and love.  It amazes me to think that the Creator of all things loves me so much that He sent His Son to to pay for my sin. I feel special and loved beyond measure to know that this great God knows the number of hairs on my head and has my name graven in His hands. (LK 12:7, IS 49:16).
 
God can have anything He wants.  Yet, for some reason He desired me!  I see all my imperfections, my limited understanding, etc... and yet He loves ME!  (Rom 5:8).  It makes me feel loved, cherished, protected, secure... It is the most amazing feeling!
 
Read this Psalm.
Psalm 139King James Version (KJV)
139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jane, you are thinking theologically.  In other words you are thinking intellgently and deeply about God.  That's good.  Do I feel small before God.  Yes--and no.  Like Isaiah, I might be tempted to fall down before God, and cry out for mercy.  Yet, the Apostle Paul says we may go boldy now to the throne of grace. 
 
God loves me.  His image is in me.  I sometimes feel his presence.  We are told we will see what he sees and know what he knows.  We shall rule and reign with him.  We'll no longer know sorrow, death, sickness or regret in the Kingdom.  God's presence will provide light.  In other words, we'll know him directly, whereas today we know him by the reflection of his created things.
 
It is heady stuff.  The short answer to your question is that the unredeemed me is small indeed.  The born-again, Spirit-filled, heaven-bound me feels quite big.  I am a friend of God, and a child of God.  There will be no regrets.

I like this post, because it is authentic.  You ask questions, yet state the flaw you see in our thinking.  Thank you.  The answer I can give you is that the imagio dei--the image of God in us, is what makes us special.  Besides, I suspect that even in LDS theology, that after exaltation, the very fact that God has been God much longer than the exalted one has been exalted, suggests that there will always me a measure of difference.  Many here have told me that they will always worship God, even while they speculate on what the glory of their exaltation will be.
 
It is enough for us traditionalists that we will be with God forever, that will will experience unfathomable intimacy with him, and that we will be glorified by him.  How that all ends up looking is a matter we trust him with.  Still, please know, that I understand the appeal of the LDS teaching on this. 
 
 

I'll confess to being somewhat guilty.  When Christians I discriminated against I am quicker to notice.  However, I have enough confidence in myself to say that, at the end of the day, I come down on the side of individual freedom of association.  That is, the government should not prohibit gay or Christian lawyers from practice.  However, individuals would, in my world, be able to choose who they serve, who rents from them, and who they do business with.  For example, it was not so long ago that many landlords (especially amongst those who owned one or two rentals) would refuse to rent out to couples who were obviously "living in sin."  They lose a customer, but why shouldn't they have that discretion.  Likewise, a homosexual should be able to choose a homosexual attorney, if they believed that such a lawyer would be more understanding.
 
Obviously, it is not my world.  Those days are gone.  Still, I side with individual freedom--even the freedom to be foolishly prejudiced.  Governments, on the other hand, should remain strictly neutral.

I have a basic question--especially for those who believe that we religionists have gotten the whole LBGT thing wrong:  Do you believe that our views about marriage are so damning that we should not be allowed to practice law?  In other words, are the barristers right in this action?

Jane, you are thinking theologically.  In other words you are thinking intellgently and deeply about God.  That's good.  Do I feel small before God.  Yes--and no.  Like Isaiah, I might be tempted to fall down before God, and cry out for mercy.  Yet, the Apostle Paul says we may go boldy now to the throne of grace. 
 
God loves me.  His image is in me.  I sometimes feel his presence.  We are told we will see what he sees and know what he knows.  We shall rule and reign with him.  We'll no longer know sorrow, death, sickness or regret in the Kingdom.  God's presence will provide light.  In other words, we'll know him directly, whereas today we know him by the reflection of his created things.
 
It is heady stuff.  The short answer to your question is that the unredeemed me is small indeed.  The born-again, Spirit-filled, heaven-bound me feels quite big.  I am a friend of God, and a child of God.  There will be no regrets.

I like this post, because it is authentic.  You ask questions, yet state the flaw you see in our thinking.  Thank you.  The answer I can give you is that the imagio dei--the image of God in us, is what makes us special.  Besides, I suspect that even in LDS theology, that after exaltation, the very fact that God has been God much longer than the exalted one has been exalted, suggests that there will always me a measure of difference.  Many here have told me that they will always worship God, even while they speculate on what the glory of their exaltation will be.
 
It is enough for us traditionalists that we will be with God forever, that will will experience unfathomable intimacy with him, and that we will be glorified by him.  How that all ends up looking is a matter we trust him with.  Still, please know, that I understand the appeal of the LDS teaching on this. 
 
 

Besides the three "omnis" (knowledge, power, presence), it is helpful to know that traditional Christians of nearly all denominations believe that humans were created in time.  We did not pre-exist, nor is their an eternal back-story for us--not even as some kind of intelligence.  Yes, our future is eternal.  However, we believe God made us "out of nothing."  Okay--maybe he used dirt--but the dirt, he made from nothing.
 
So...God is always above us.  He is always Creator.  We are always created.  We do expect a glorification of our existance.  We shall become godlike in many ways.  However, we do not expect to become what He is.  And, as the others have indicated, we do not believe God was ever what we are now.
 
Trinity is tough to explain.  Suffice to say, we believe God is one and alone in his ultimate deity.  However, he is also three persons.  There is no speculation here.  No mother God, and no prior gods.
 
To some LDS, it seems we are forever restricted, limited, and subservient. Traditional Christians have never felt that way.  We are grateful for God's blessings, the promise of Heaven, the future roles we'll play.  We expect no regrets whatsoever in heaven.

How about as a kid being scared of hippie teenagers...

I was gifted an '06 Kia Spectre.  The vehicle is stripped--power nothing!  So, we're out on a family ride in the new car, and my oldest says, "Dad, could you unlock the window so I can roll it down?"  I tell her it's not locked, and she insists it is--that it won't open.  I tell her to turn the crank, and to put a little energy into it.  She starts turning it, and exclaims, "WOW!  This is so cool!"

Besides the three "omnis" (knowledge, power, presence), it is helpful to know that traditional Christians of nearly all denominations believe that humans were created in time.  We did not pre-exist, nor is their an eternal back-story for us--not even as some kind of intelligence.  Yes, our future is eternal.  However, we believe God made us "out of nothing."  Okay--maybe he used dirt--but the dirt, he made from nothing.
 
So...God is always above us.  He is always Creator.  We are always created.  We do expect a glorification of our existance.  We shall become godlike in many ways.  However, we do not expect to become what He is.  And, as the others have indicated, we do not believe God was ever what we are now.
 
Trinity is tough to explain.  Suffice to say, we believe God is one and alone in his ultimate deity.  However, he is also three persons.  There is no speculation here.  No mother God, and no prior gods.
 
To some LDS, it seems we are forever restricted, limited, and subservient. Traditional Christians have never felt that way.  We are grateful for God's blessings, the promise of Heaven, the future roles we'll play.  We expect no regrets whatsoever in heaven.

I admit, coming from an LDS perspective, I do find this view to be restrictive.  If God just created us, and there's a huge line between creator and created, if we're never be like Him; if He just created us to Love us....
 
The situation you describe  reminds me of a child with his toys: created just to be loved (and indeed are cherished) but a toy will never be more than a toy--- it's only role is to be played with by the kid.   Am I off base?  
 
Admittedly, I am trying to understand by struggling to.   How does the above view make us God's children?   

Besides the three "omnis" (knowledge, power, presence), it is helpful to know that traditional Christians of nearly all denominations believe that humans were created in time.  We did not pre-exist, nor is their an eternal back-story for us--not even as some kind of intelligence.  Yes, our future is eternal.  However, we believe God made us "out of nothing."  Okay--maybe he used dirt--but the dirt, he made from nothing.
 
So...God is always above us.  He is always Creator.  We are always created.  We do expect a glorification of our existance.  We shall become godlike in many ways.  However, we do not expect to become what He is.  And, as the others have indicated, we do not believe God was ever what we are now.
 
Trinity is tough to explain.  Suffice to say, we believe God is one and alone in his ultimate deity.  However, he is also three persons.  There is no speculation here.  No mother God, and no prior gods.
 
To some LDS, it seems we are forever restricted, limited, and subservient. Traditional Christians have never felt that way.  We are grateful for God's blessings, the promise of Heaven, the future roles we'll play.  We expect no regrets whatsoever in heaven.

From a born again Christian perspective:
 
1. There is only one God.  He has always been God, there are no gods before Him and there will be none after Him.
2. He is and has always been omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent.
3.He created all things by His power.
4. He is and has always been holy, merciful, just, and loving.
5. He is faithful, He is unchanging
6. He created us for His pleasure- He wanted to create and love us. (4:11)
 
Ok, that is some basic theology.  If you like I can post the supporting verses later.  You also need to know that as  Christian, God is everything.  He strengthens me.  He is with me always.  He loves me always.  He gives me security and hope.  I can always go to Him.  He is a perfect Father. He desires my love and worship.  His Word tells me that no one or nothing can separate Him from His love.  He is my constant.  Even when I have been through unbelievably hard trials I have had hope because I know that He is there and will always be who He says He is. 
 
I look forward to being in His presence in heaven.  He has been preparing a place for me.  He took 6 days to create the earth-a pretty cool place.  But, He has spent more than 2000 years preparing a place for those who love Him.  I can't even imagine how amazing it will be.

I'll give you the view of God from my Catholic background (and it's a very hard view to overcome, btw):
God is the unmoved mover who created the entire universe and everything in it. He always was and always will be, and is omniscient in every way. Now if you're wondering about the Trinity, I can give you a simple explanation: God is a being, made up of three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Like I said, they are different persons, but of the same substance (consubstantial). No one can say for certain why God did what he did, but we assume he created humans to have something to share his love with that knew right from wrong (created in his image: Free will love, a sense of good and evil).

I was gifted an '06 Kia Spectre.  The vehicle is stripped--power nothing!  So, we're out on a family ride in the new car, and my oldest says, "Dad, could you unlock the window so I can roll it down?"  I tell her it's not locked, and she insists it is--that it won't open.  I tell her to turn the crank, and to put a little energy into it.  She starts turning it, and exclaims, "WOW!  This is so cool!"

I was gifted an '06 Kia Spectre.  The vehicle is stripped--power nothing!  So, we're out on a family ride in the new car, and my oldest says, "Dad, could you unlock the window so I can roll it down?"  I tell her it's not locked, and she insists it is--that it won't open.  I tell her to turn the crank, and to put a little energy into it.  She starts turning it, and exclaims, "WOW!  This is so cool!"

No, there's a difference between simple belief and bigotry.
Just because someone doesn't believe in same sex marriage doesn't mean they're gonna be all "god hates gays" thing.
If these people were dedicated to pracitising the law fairly for all, then by all means they should.
It is only if they do not should they be punished.

God can judge our hearts.  We can't--not even our own.  We give ourselves and our trusted loved ones far too much leeway.  Our opponents?  Not so much.
 
Solomon said it best.  The purpose of life is to fear God and obey his commands.  Any protestations of meaning well, or of having a good heart, despite appearances--well, take that up with the only one who can judge hearts.  :-)

Well, aside from ribbing you earlier, I agree with your points about there not being enough TRUTH being taught in the world that there is GOOD and there is EVIL. Therefore there is RIGHT and there is WRONG.
Lucky for all of us,
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

My 11-year old tells me her sixth-grade friends sometiems say, "Why should I care about the Bible?  It's so old!"  She responds that it being old is what makes her want to believe it.
 
It hit me this Sunday.  Our passage was Judges 5--the Song of Deborah.  The Israelites face a great battle, and the tribes are called upon to send soldiers.  The song details each tribe's response.  That of Reuben hit me as oh-so 2014:
 
15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.  (KJV)
 
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
    yes, Issachar was with Barak,
    sent under his command into the valley.
In the districts of Reuben
    there was much searching of heart. (NIV)
 
We say this all the time.  Can you help?  Oh, I have to search my heart on that.  Really, it is usually just so much psychobabble.  We don't want to do it, but want to appear to be giving it serious consideration.
 
3000 years ago--roughly 2800 years before the discipline of psychology even developed, here is the tribe of Reuben "searching their hearts."
 
Mind you--the song is taunting and mocking Reuben.  The battle is raging brothers, and you are pondering in your hearts what to do???  Really?
 
I find myself wanting to tell people that "50 shades of gray" is not a world view.  It's not philosophy.  It's soft porn!  Yet, when we face choices, and know what is right and wrong, we suddenly babble on about gray areas, asking, "Who's to judge?" 
 
To be a bit harsh, wasn't it Pilate who asked, "What is veritas (truth)?"
 
There is right and wrong, black and white, up and down, good and bad, God and Satan, heaven and hell.  The truly gray area is small and thin indeed.
 
And the Bible got it 3000 years ago!  Old indeed!  Well...give me that old time religion, amen.
 

My 11-year old tells me her sixth-grade friends sometiems say, "Why should I care about the Bible?  It's so old!"  She responds that it being old is what makes her want to believe it.
 
It hit me this Sunday.  Our passage was Judges 5--the Song of Deborah.  The Israelites face a great battle, and the tribes are called upon to send soldiers.  The song details each tribe's response.  That of Reuben hit me as oh-so 2014:
 
15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.  (KJV)
 
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
    yes, Issachar was with Barak,
    sent under his command into the valley.
In the districts of Reuben
    there was much searching of heart. (NIV)
 
We say this all the time.  Can you help?  Oh, I have to search my heart on that.  Really, it is usually just so much psychobabble.  We don't want to do it, but want to appear to be giving it serious consideration.
 
3000 years ago--roughly 2800 years before the discipline of psychology even developed, here is the tribe of Reuben "searching their hearts."
 
Mind you--the song is taunting and mocking Reuben.  The battle is raging brothers, and you are pondering in your hearts what to do???  Really?
 
I find myself wanting to tell people that "50 shades of gray" is not a world view.  It's not philosophy.  It's soft porn!  Yet, when we face choices, and know what is right and wrong, we suddenly babble on about gray areas, asking, "Who's to judge?" 
 
To be a bit harsh, wasn't it Pilate who asked, "What is veritas (truth)?"
 
There is right and wrong, black and white, up and down, good and bad, God and Satan, heaven and hell.  The truly gray area is small and thin indeed.
 
And the Bible got it 3000 years ago!  Old indeed!  Well...give me that old time religion, amen.