tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post3595359875473427654..comments2023-10-11T10:08:09.664-05:00Comments on Willful Grace: Thoughts on Divorce (updated)gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16353719852472577554noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-69825285470372603972007-11-27T10:16:00.000-06:002007-11-27T10:16:00.000-06:00Tin Man,Thanks for your input. I'd love to learn ...Tin Man,<BR/>Thanks for your input. I'd love to learn more and I personally wish you'd spend more time writing/teaching about these things. While a person shouldn't have to have a degree in theology to live a Christian life, it would be helpful for those of us less learned about such subjects to hear your take on things as we try and apply this stuff to our daily walk. If you aren't going to write your own post about it...I'd love a "guest post" here....what ya think?<BR/><BR/>(for real)gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16353719852472577554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-91899585165532134032007-11-27T09:33:00.000-06:002007-11-27T09:33:00.000-06:00I was thinking about Jesus' comments on divorce in...I was thinking about Jesus' comments on divorce in Matthew 19. I do think that he is opposed to divorce. However, I don't think the main point of this conversation was divorce. I also don't think he was making a statement about timeless ethics applied to any and all cultures/relationships. I think he was talking about Israel. I think he is speaking directly to those who were testing him. <BR/><BR/>Tin ManAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-22347959032861038862007-10-05T10:40:00.000-05:002007-10-05T10:40:00.000-05:00Christianity Today's October issue Cover Story is ...Christianity Today's October issue Cover Story is about Divorce. It's good.Carole Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01665334842192702554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-27705788710467630262007-10-05T09:14:00.000-05:002007-10-05T09:14:00.000-05:00Hi PamI've been on a hiatus all summer....it was a...Hi Pam<BR/><BR/>I've been on a hiatus all summer....it was a busy one for us; lots of transition.<BR/><BR/>I found myself back on your site the other day. I admire you; I appreciate your honesty in sharing your personal thoughts and experiences. I feel a kinship with you, though we've never met and I only know about you what I read!<BR/><BR/>I've not experienced divorce myself, but my sister is going through it right now. My first thought when I read your thoughts on divorce was that I'd like to send her the link to your blog....and maybe I still will; she lives on a small, secluded Island in Norther Ontario (Canada). The folks there are good people (mostly related to us, very conservative Christians) who view these things as black and white and unfortunately are quick to label....she's hurting terribly, yet sitting in judgment does not bring restoration; neither does it bring healing to a wounded soul.<BR/><BR/>ANYWAY glad to see you're still blogging. I'll be sure to drop in more regularly.<BR/><BR/>blessings,<BR/><BR/>DebbieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04363722256108787785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-47098139346603564772007-10-03T07:15:00.000-05:002007-10-03T07:15:00.000-05:00Norm!: I couldn't agree more.Kurt: Wow. I love ...Norm!: I couldn't agree more.<BR/><BR/>Kurt: Wow. I love it that you knew all that!! Television works as a sort of mirror of our cultural values...which is a horrific thought when watching some of the stuff put out there....thinking MTV, specifically. <BR/><BR/>Anonymous: Having parents who have it all "nailed down" is not necessarily a "lucky" thing. While I wouldn't take for my "raisin"....my personal preference is much more inline with your dad's approach. It can be really difficult sometimes for parents who have everything all figured out, to put forth this child that questions all of that. Difficult on both sides....but, I think more difficult for them than me since answers, for them, are more valuable than questions.gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16353719852472577554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-53997179664400976102007-10-02T20:01:00.000-05:002007-10-02T20:01:00.000-05:00Pam,Your parents had it nailed down?? Lucky you. ...Pam,<BR/>Your parents had it nailed down?? Lucky you. I remember asking my father for advice once and the first time he said "Honey, I don't know. God does it differently for each."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-36146558710950429762007-10-02T08:10:00.000-05:002007-10-02T08:10:00.000-05:00Wow. I just can't get over the fact that people a...Wow. I just can't get over the fact that people are paying attention to what I said.<BR/><BR/>I have a four-year-old at home. I'm not used to that.<BR/><BR/>Did you know that the Florence Henderson character in the Brady Bunch was supposed to have been divorced? That was Sherwood Schwartz's vision of that character. But they could never say she was divorced on the show. That was just too controversial.<BR/><BR/>And Mary Richards on the Mary Tyler Moore Show was originally supposed to be a divorcee, but the producers changed her back story at the last minute because they thought that audiences would confuse Mary Richards with Laura Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke Show, and America just wasn't ready for Rob and Laura Petrie going Splitsville.<BR/><BR/>As far as I have been able to discern, the first divorced character on prime time TV was Vivian Vance's character on "Here's Lucy," but there was only ever one very off-hand mention of her marital status on the show.<BR/><BR/>And I'm actually kind of ashamed that I know that.kurt_thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11976326822025517963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381314.post-49341308148537546132007-10-02T01:17:00.000-05:002007-10-02T01:17:00.000-05:00Thank you for sharing, Pam! I almost commented th...Thank you for sharing, Pam! I almost commented this morning after reading the first part, but I'm glad I held my tongue. <BR/><BR/>I've also witnessed the change in conservative Christian culture's attitude about divorce. My mother stayed in an unhealthy marriage to my father because, in part, she didn't want my sister and I to carry the stigma of divorce. It wasn't until her old fashion, conservative pastor actually asked, "Why don't you get a divorce?", that she seriously pursued it. <BR/><BR/>One thing (well, one of many things) that really irked me about the ex-gay experience was the implication that my family was a "broken home". I'm actually proud of the tough decision my mother made and know I'm better off than in the chaos of a unhealthy marriage. Sure divorce is not ideal, but even the Bible makes exceptions for divorce.<BR/><BR/>While Jesus did speak out about divorce, above-all he taught that we are not to blindly apply biblical rules to condemn or stigmatize others. By example, he showed that it is more important know people personally. As more conservative Christians have been personally affected by divorce, it has been much harder to blindly stigmatize and condemn divorced people. (Similarly, I hope more Christians may be a little more open minded as they know more open LGBT friends and family.)<BR/><BR/>[Well, I could go on, but I better stop. Sorry for the rant. Thanks again.]Norm!https://www.blogger.com/profile/10925789885737585791noreply@blogger.com