Sweat Lodge Charlatan -- A "Self-Help Guru"??

http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/backpage/article_652ba590-a370-5c0c-be3d-b0ae0da5c8f2.html

This is disgusting on so many levels, that I don't know where to start.

This man, James Arthur Ray, took it upon himself to fraudulently use the sacred ceremonies of the sweat lodge and managed to kill three people. Why?

The Bible says that "The love of money is the root of all evil."

According to the news article, "His attorneys have said his Carlsbad-based company, James Ray International, hasn't been bringing in revenue for months."

Well, I don't know about you, but it's pretty clear to me -- it's all about the money.

His attempts at restarting his career at fleecing those people seeking spiritual enlightenment is disgusting. He built his empire on the backs of the lost, and now, after killing three of them, he's trying to get it going again?

My friends, there is nothing wrong with seeking Truth. In fact, you should seek Truth. But don't listen to charlatans who are stealing from other cultures, other peoples, from the Great Spirit, from God.

Have respect for the Great Spirit, Jehovah Jirah, God. Your God who loves you as a parent loves a child. He gave you a handbook to guide you through this life.

It's called the Bible.

Don't listen to disgusting thieves who warp the sacred ways, desecrate the sacred places, perform ceremonies without proper safeguards, without guidence from the Elders.

Take it back where you belong, back to the Word.

And for Heaven's sake, don't give this "self-help guru" your hard earned money! He's NOT looking to help you, he's looking to help himself to your checkbook.

It's About Darn Time People Can Get Married!

I was amazed and pleased with the Court decision that gays and lesbians should be able to marry.

Yes, I know, some would be surprised at my thoughts regarding this.

But let me express some ideas, as a Christian.

• God never says "oops", so if a person is hardwired into being attracted to the same sex, who am I to question how the Lord knit them together?
• Jesus told the crowd that whoever was without sin could throw the first stone at the adulteress, and when he looked up from writing in the sand, they were all gone. So he told the woman to go and sin no more. Hmmm... John 8:3-11
• All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blaspemies wherewith soever they shall blasheme: But he that shall blasheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation? Mark 3:18
• Judge not, that ye be not judged. Mathew 7:1

OK, so the way I see it:

• It's not my bed, nor is it my business who loves who.
• It's not my job to decide if God made a mistake, God determines the Path, not me.
• Better to be wed than to be out fornicating.

Now, I should make this a little clearer. I believe that we should follow Jesus' words about Caesar and God. The current state of a "marriage" in America is really a business relationship recognized by the government, often formalized by a religious ceremony.

We need to change our definition of terms. We need to separate the state definition from the church definition.

I think everybody should go to the courthouse and get their Certificate of Civil Union, swear in front of the clerk, get it done. Bang, you're officially, in the eyes of the government, a couple entitled to your tax deductions, health coverage, etc.

You'll also have equal protections under the law if you split up. Child support, separating the property, bills, credit, etc -- just like the current state of divorce for hetro couples.

Anyway, after you've had your Civil Union, then if you want to get "married", then you go over to your church and have your wedding according to your own faith system.

One advantage to this sort of arrangement is that such entities as the FDLS, now notorious for forcing young girls into marriages with older men and other wives, will clearly be in the wrong (legally) no matter how they try to spin it.

All laws regarding underage weddings would apply whether they were Civil Unions or within that church's belief systems. Civil law wouldn't allow it. Period. (Yes, I know it doesn't now, but somehow this cult has tried to spin it so the government is in the wrong.)

Whether it's Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve, it's a civil matter with the government.

If your church isn't cool with it, then your church is under no obligation to recognise your relationship in their religious dogma.

So that's my take on it.

It's about darn time people can get married!