Government Current Expenditures by Selected Functions
SOURCE: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce National Income and Product Accounts, Table 3.16
BY SHADOWS, LIGHT People watched candles float by in paper lanterns Thursday at Hiroshima, Japan’s, Peace Memorial Park to commemorate the anniversary of the nuclear bombing 64 years ago. Another bomb was dropped in Nagasaki. (Junko Kimura/Getty Images via the Wall St. Journal)
The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.
In a resolution adopted by the association’s governing council, and in an accompanying report, the association issued its most comprehensive repudiation of so-called reparative therapy, a concept espoused by a small but persistent group of therapists, often allied with religious conservatives, who maintain that gay men and lesbians can change.
No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution, adopted by a 125-to-4 vote. The association said some research suggested that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.
Instead of seeking such change, the association urged therapists to consider multiple options, which could include celibacy and switching churches, for helping clients live spiritually rewarding lives in instances where their sexual orientation and religious faith conflict.
Damn straight.
I was recently featured in a magazine article for the Christian and Missionary Alliance. They talk about our work on the Vegas strip and the ministry of XXXchurch. I have met some great people in the Alliance church. We got plugged into a great Alliance church in Vegas as soon as we moved to Vegas. I even got ordained under the Alliance and hoped to partner with them with The Strip Church.
So, a few months ago, my pastor fell. He resigned as he was in no shape to lead the congregation. He started the church almost 9 years ago and has a family that is all connected at the church.
Churches don’t know how to respond in situations like this. We have seen a bunch just do crazy stuff when in crisis. I always think the truth is best and honesty is key. For some reason larger organizations and denominations don’t always see it like this.
The pastor was told that he could not even attend the church. My question is why? I understand you can’t lead. But isn’t the church for the sick not the healthy? Didn’t I bring Ron Jeremy to this church on Easter Sunday? So, Ron Jeremy is welcome but the pastor who fell has to go another church in town to be restored. Makes a lot of sense to me. Not really.
All that made me question, is this the type of organization that me and my ministry want to me associated with. I loved the people in the church but the denomination folks coming down like this scared me away. So, I wrote an email to the leaders of the district with the Alliance.
From: Craig Gross
Date: June 5, 2009 3:12:32 PM PDT
Subject: situation
Hey guys. *&^^% showed up to church on Sunday. I think it is a great thing. Where else should he go to church? The church is for the sick not healthy. He can’t lead as the pastor but shouldn’t the church be the place to restore him and support him. He was told by alliance people to never do that again. That is complete bull shit. He stepped down but anyone should be able to attend. If he can’t attend what message does that send to the church. Don’t let people in the alliance screw this up. I can’t be a part of a church or alliance that does this kind of thing. Please tell me this is not the policy any of you are aware of.________
They have agreed to disagree and think I am nuts. They had agreed to give us $20,000 for the work we are doing. I turned in my ordination certificate and can not work with a denomination that treats people like this. It is not worth the money.
I don’t write this to blast the organization all together. I have met some great people within the denomination and their are some great churches and wish them well. I write this to detach my name and ministry from a denomination that we had started to journey with and we have decide to end that journey.
which will do for fans of yodeling what “Guitar Hero” did for rock music
I work with a ministry that is taking unconditional love to the ladies that work in the Las Vegas Strip Clubs. Here’s the synopsis of how last night went. Amazing!
Last night we made another trip to the strip. Everyone was really excited to go back, and we even had a new gal tagging along!
The first club was a repeat from the time before. Originally we had only been able to the get as far as the house mom who promised to take our gifts to the girls. Hoping to get a little further this time, we each arrived with a case of water (mom at different club told us that clubs don’t always supply girls with water). Although they were a little confused about our motives, the bouncers took us right to the dressing room!! There we were greeted by a super-friendly house mom, “L”, who was delighted to see us! Eventually we met “K”, who was going off shift. She chatted with us for quite a while. “K” seemed bewildered by our presence and kept pressing us about why we were really there. After a great conversation with her about love and acceptance, it was time to go. “L” saw us out and said we were welcome back anytime! She even introduced us to the back door manager and told us not to worry with the bouncers out front anymore! Things couldn’t have got smoother and we had high hopes for club #2!
We had a lengthy list of clubs to hit next, planning to work our way through it until one of them let us in. Rach and I were in the back, each carrying on about places we saw last time, but didn’t know the names, or where they were exactly. As we passed a dimly lit club with only a few cars in the lot, we both hollered, then realizing we had been talking about the same place! We gathered our Sephora gifts and a case of water and made our way to the door. It was different. You couldn’t hear the music from outside like before and it looked like they might be closed, except for the flashing “Open” sign in the window. When we reached their manager, he introduced himself, shook our hands, and tried to carry things for us. Guess he didn’t get the memo that he’s supposed to be intimidating and hard to get along with. I think he thought we were trying to sell something, but he let us back anyway.
All five of the girls were lined up at the counter getting dolled-up for work. We told them we had gifts and water, with no strings attached. I could hear one of them murmuring about the Christians that were there to preach to them. Undeterred, we broke the ice with talk of hair and make-up, whatever/whenever you guys need…..etc. Once someone opened the Sephora bag, they spent the rest of our visit digging through it. What girl doesn’t love make-up, right? They all seemed at ease when they realized it wasn’t full of negative propaganda about their job. One of them said she was glad we weren’t Christians coming to condemn them. Phylicia quickly explained that we are Christians, but not there to preach or judge. Just for them. We would have stayed longer, but they had new customers and the manager was anxious for them to get back to work. On our way out, he told us that he still didn’t know what that was all about, but he was cool with it.
The four of us were beside ourselves! Two clubs we KNOW we can return to and begin to serve these girls! The rest of the night we brainstormed about the next step for each, how we can be available to them, and what they might need. God is blessing this ministry and we are blessed to do it! I pray for wisdom of witty ideas and more doors to be opened to us, literally.
(via fuckyeahpuppies)
Just received my copies of Batman Cacophony 1-3 each autographed by illustrator Walt Flanagan & KEVIN SMITH!!! Yes THE KEVIN SMITH!!!
My Husband
