Ron Cusano

No, you are not alone! The problem is that many people identify themselves as "Christian" who, by Biblical Standards, are anything but. The word "Christian" means "follower of Christ" by definition. So many who claim to be Christians do not use the Bible as their spiritual foundation, although Jesus clearly said that is exactly what we ought to be doing. He said "search the scriptures for in them you think ye have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me". Jesus also said the the "path to destruction if wide, and the road to Heaven is narrow", and that in the judgement "many will say Lord, Lord, and He will say, depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you"! Yes, there are many, may who claim to be Christians but are anything but which is why there is such a gap in the polls. Real Christians who believe the Word of God take a stand for what it teaches. I am not pointing the finger at you specificially because I don't really know what you believe.

Christians lead there lives (or at least ought to) according to the teaching of scripture, and the, principals, ethics and morals contained in the Bible, in every aspect of our lives . . . even in our politics! Our first obligation is to obey God rather that men. The Apostle Peter and the other apostles were brought before the council of the high priest which commanded them to stop teaching about Jesus. Peter's answer to them was "we ought to obey God rather that men"! Likewise, in all areas of life, we need to teach and support all that is contained in the Word of God, even if it's not 'politically correct'!! The Bible clearly speaks out against such things as same sex marriage and abortion, and therefore as Christians, we should also speak out against there abomiable practices.

My daughter used Dr. Geiss and was very happy with him. Everything went off without a hitch. The pre-op testing can be overwelming but it's for your protection. Just start and focus on one thing at a time and before you know it, it will be over. We have all been through it so we know what it feels like. Here's wishing you the best on your "Band" journey!:clap2:

Tommy, There is nothing in the Bible to justify owning guns. I would never try to make that claim. You asked an important question when you asked "how can you tell the good guys from the bad guys", or how can you tell a real Christian from someone who just claims to be one. Jesus said "by their fruit will you know that they are mine"! Christians are by no means perfect and we screw up sometimes, but real Christians try to live their lives by their beliefs. We don't murder, rape, steal, and we try to love all people even if we disagree with them or "hate their sin"! You don't tell a real Christian by what he says, you tell by what he DOES!! I can't speak for all of "right wing conservatives", but my values are shaped by my beliefs and not the other way around.

There are a lot more components to the murder ratio that just gun ownership. You are failing to take into consideration that most homicides are committed by criminals and not honest citizens that own guns. Of the deaths attributed to guns in legal private ownership, many are justified in protect one's self during to commission of a crime, and most are used wild committing suicide. If there were not guns available, other means would be employed by those seeking to end their lives. As far as your statement " I guess Jesus said somewhere "Feel free to shoot people and don't worry about destroying the planet" , I am trying real hard to keep my discussions civil, so I am not even going to grace that with a comment. I don't think that was apporiate, do you?

Actually, Livitical Law was incumbent upon all of Israel, and not just the preisthood. Is you read the first chapter on the Book of Romans in the New Testament, you will find that God has not changed His view of homosexuality.

It is not this Wed., it is NEXT Wed., 2/21 Forgive the error!! Wednesday, Feb. 21th, 2007 Is the next meeting of the "Long Island Lap Band Support Group"! Time: 7:00PM Place: Samantha's Lil Bit of Heaven, 283 Larkfield Rd., East Northport, NY Cost: FREE If you have already been banded, are waiting for your band or just considering getting a band, this meeting is for you! Please join us! For more information, please send me a personal eMail. If you are on our eMail List, you will be notified in thr event of a cancellation! Ron

I don't think so! women's equality and racial equality were never biblical issues. They may have been preceived as wrong during that period of history but they were never opposed because the Bible spoke against them Homosexuality, sam sex marriage and aboution are clearly in a different class by Christian standards. There are direct prohibitions against them in scripture.

I thought it was quite obvious! I don't think things can ever just "be" as you say, when we are talking about things that are so obviously against what the majority believe, or are in opposition to Judeo-Christian ethics and beliefs. I don't think I'm a dreamer either.

You are right! The difference from my vantage point is that their causes were not immoral by Christian standards and beliefs, so I don't see them as a valid argument. We are not against change, as long as it is n ot against our beliefs.

I wouldn't expect you to.

And the laws being created based upon Christian principals are held by the majority! What I said about you changing your views was said "tongue in cheek"! I don't think anyone should change their views bacause they are in the minority. I think views should be formed based upon information and investigation.

I know the kind of anti semitism and hatred that your Dad must have experienced and my heart goes out to him. And I believe that ALL people, including homosexuals deserve to be treated equal and with respect. But, that does not apply to their lifestyle which I believe is immoral. It is best described as "love the sinner but hate the sin"! My wife's cousin is a lesbian living with another women. We love her and consider her part of the family, but believe her lifestyle is immoral and wrong based upon our beliefs as Christians. We can't and won't compromise our faith which we sincerely believe if right.

In the Us, the vast majority of violent crime is also committed by young black men for many of the same reasons that you mentioned. They are also responsible for most of the violent crime against whites too, based upon what I see on TV and in the newspapers. I suspect the same might be true in Canada. If I walk down a street in my home town, I feel my chance of being shot is close to zero as well. Unfortunately, I can't stay just in my own town, and the percentage changes depending on where you travel. I suspect the same is true if you wander into bad areas in Canada. I lived in upstate New York for about 10 years in a rural area where everyone owned firearms of one kind or another. We never locked our homes or our cars, and your NEVER heard of a violet crime or break in. Why? because everyone owned a gun and if you broke into someone's home or assulted them, you stood a very good chance of being shot!!:clap2:

That is great! I hope you can make the meeting Wed. night! It would be nice to meet you!

So by granting these rights to the minorities, you deprive the majority of their choice in matters of morals and ehtics. I am glad we don't have that here.

Regarding health care, since I do not have any first hand knowledge, and only know what I have read, I will take your word for it. I own guns because I used to like to hunt, and for protection when I owned a business and handled a lot of cash. I know Canade has supermarkets, and yet it is one of the best hunting area's in North America. I assume the hunters use guns! If you criminals have a lot of guns, and crime is usually committed against every day people, I would feel a lot safer having a gun also. I don't buy that criminals only shoot each other or the police. I believe that the death penalty is consistant with the teaching of scripture. Life in prison does not work because thses killers continue to kill in prison and/or escape or go free and kill again. Either way innocent people die. It's a terrible thing, but far less innocent people die because of being wrongly convicted that die from allowing these killers to escape the death penalty.

The Bible does teach that we should obey the laws of the land and those who are above us, as long as they do not go against the laws and commandments of God. The scriptures make it plain that abortion and same sex marriage go against the commandments of God and in the case of gay marriage, against the laws of nature as well. According to the scriptures, the foundation for our beliefs (a Christians) is supposed to be the Word of God and not our own reasoning. There is a serious issue if a Christian puts his own reasoning and understanding above what God says. As I said before, I can't force anyone to believe anything. That is a personal matter. But I have an obligation according to the faith to take a stand for what I believe and know the Word of God says and to share my beliefs with others. They are then free to accept to reject them. They have free will.

Since it takes a majority of votes to elect officials and make laws! It's been that way since we became a country.

According to this survey it up to 61% http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/19/opinion/polls/main589551.shtml I guess it depend on which poll you are looking at on which day. The bottom line is there are NO polls showing that the majority in if favor of gay marriage.

You are entitled to believe what you choose. All I can say is that your position of gay marriage seems to be based upon you own feelings and reasoning, whereas the Christian opposition to gay marriage is based upon the clear teaching of scripture. I find it hard to understand how as a Christian you would put aside scriptural teaching in favor of your own reasoning, but you are free to do so.

Gay marriage is by far opposed by the vast majority of people in the US. According to statistics, it's not even close to being close. You may not agree that our laws are based upon Judeo-Christian ehtics, nevertheless, it's a proven fact. From attorneys that I know, it's a basic fundermental in law school. What make it right? From a Judeo-Christian perspective, it the biblical foundation of what marriage is that make gay marriage wrong. One of the criteria of a biblical marriage is that the couple "go forth and multiply" which, you must concede, is not about to happen in a gay marriage.

But laws are supposed to be based upon what is right according to the beliefs of those making and voting for the laws!! That is how government works! Of course I am going to support laws that prevent what I consider and believe to be immoral and wrong. Do you really expect people not to support laws that oppose what they consider wrong and immoral???

The problem lies with the fact that these laws which are based upon Judeo-Christian morals and ethics, are supported by the vast majority of people in this country. Why should the majority have to change their laws and morality to accomodate the minority? Maybe you should change your views to accomodate the majority?? Christians oppose gay marriage because be believe that marriage is to be only between an man and a women, according to biblical teaching. How then could we in good conscience just accept what we consider to be immoral, unnatural and against our spiritual beliefs?

I do try to live my life based upon what I consider right, therefore I can not be supportive of others doing what I believe to be wrong and evil. I have no authority to make anyone do anything, but I can not pretend it does not exist and ignore it. I believe it is wrong and immoral by Christian standards, therefore I must oppose it. I feel the same about abortion.