Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[NY Times]

The online hangout Facebook is getting more serious about grammar. No more should users see jarringly incorrect declarations such as ”Debbie changed their profile picture.”

Users who haven’t specified their gender in their Facebook profiles will be asked to do so in the coming weeks. That way, Facebook doesn’t have to default to ”their” or the made-up word ”themself,” as it had been doing.

Read about it here.

[From me]

What does this mean for transgender people?  I want my “IS” back!

What do you think?

[Christian Post]

Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest provider of surgical abortions, won’t be hosting an advertising event this week that would have promoted its services among youth outside a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Washington State, thanks to the prompt reaction and grassroots efforts of pro-life groups.

According to the American Life League (ALL), a large Richland Wal-Mart Supercenter dropped its association with the pro-choice group after a statement sent out by ALL called on pro-life advocates to bombard the retailer with hundreds of protesting e-mails and phone calls.

“They’re pushing pornography and contraception onto young children – beginning in kindergarten. Now parents aren’t even safe to go shopping without worrying Planned Parenthood will pressure their kids into promiscuous lifestyles that will increase their bloated birth control and abortion profits,” said Marie Hahnenberg, a researcher for American Life League, in the statement.

“Planned Parenthood is now in such desperate need of customers it’s willing to do anything – even stand outside shopping centers to lure young people into its clinics,” she added.

While claiming victory against the pro-choice organization, Hahnenberg stressed that pro-life groups would do good in continuing to oppose efforts by the organization in promoting its harmful agenda.

“It’s hard enough for parents to safeguard their children from Planned Parenthood’s pervasive sexualized propaganda,” she said.

“They shouldn’t have to worry about exposing their kids to Planned Parenthood’s aggressive agenda even in Wal-Mart’s parking lot,” she added.

Pro-life groups say that the recent move by Planned Parenthood is proof of its new desperation that has emerged after the organization has been increasingly challenged in lawsuits regarding its use of taxpayer funding in promoting its “comprehensive” sex education programs.

According to a report released by Planned Parenthood this year, the organization recorded record profits and the highest number of abortions on record. During the 2006-2007 period, the group performed 289,570 abortions and registered over $1 billion in profits.

Read more here.

[From me]

First, I don’t like any group hitting me up when I shop at Wal-Mart.  2nd, Why is un-Planned Parenthood resorting to marketing at Wal-Mart in the first place? I don’t want my children exposed to their propaganda when I shop for groceries and stuff.  Why do they need to advertise anyway–they are tax payer supported.  I can’t believe Wal-Mart would have even considered this.  I’m glad they changed their mind.

What do you think?

One of our worship leaders gave me a mandolin today.  Does anyone know any good websites that can show me how to tune and play it?  Thanks in advance!

[CBS11]

Workers at a marble company in Dallas say they have a slab of natural granite that has the image of Jesus in it. Verona Marble Company Inc. takes pictures of every slab of stone in their inventory and posts them on their website. Wednesday, the owners say a customer in West Texas spotted the image among dozens of pictures and called to tell them about it.

Those who look at the 6×10 foot slab say they can see the head and arms of Jesus, along with either a belt, sword or glowing book. The company has pulled the slab from its inventory and put it on display.

Read about it here.

[From me]

Well they do call Jesus the “Solid Rock!”  It looks like a Greyhound to me.  They pulled it from display–can you say E-bay.

What do you think? 

[HT] Steve Thompson

[The Evening Sun]

The last people on Earth untouched by the scourge of high gas prices. That horse-drawn lifestyle must make for easy living in times such as these.

Nonsense.

The idea that the Amish don’t notice the price at the pump is a fable for tourists and Sunday drivers.

Just ask the Amish.

“It’s getting high,” one Amish farmer said as he took a break from working in an alfalfa field in Lower Chanceford Township. The farmer would not give his name.

“I hope the price comes down soon,” he said.

The price of gas? From a bearded man sitting on a tractor pulled by two horses?

As the man spoke, the sputtering hum of a gas engine sounded in the field behind him. Another farmer led a team of horses.

They dragged a tractor with a gas-powered engine that mowed a 4-foot-wide stretch of alfalfa.

The Amish can operate gas engines, so long as they don’t propel a vehicle, the farmer by the road said.

That $3.97-a-gallon gas costs him the same as you.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I didn’t realize they could use any engines.  What is the difference between having an engine power a vehicle vs. farm machinery?  I wonder if they can use a generator to power their Alpine stereos on their horse and buggies? 

What do you think?