Lottie Moon

So this Sunday I'm going to tell the story of the Mother of Modern Missions, the Cookie Lady Lottie Moon as the text assigned for Children's Time at church.

Lottie Moon certainly is an interesting historical figure. I question why we are teaching her to the kids, and I doubly question why we are teaching it in terms of Chirst's Love.

Okay, before I share what I have learned this week about Lottie Moon with you I want to first say.... I am the only person that cares about this, I know. Nobody but me would ever even raise an eyebrow about this. So this is very much a non-issue, however, its been in my craw for a few days so I thought I would at least share it.

Oh... and let me say again that I intend to share none of what I am about to share with you to the kids.

Lottie Moon was born on a slave-plantation in Virginia in 1840. She was not a slave. At the age of 13 her father died and her mother sold the plantation and moved to Oxford, Ohio. In Lottie's own words she was "appalled" to learn that they would not have negro servants in Ohio. When Lottie was 18 she attended school in Viriginia. She used her status as a citizen of Ohio and a student in Virginia to become a Confederate Spy. In 1863 her sister was arrested and Lottie attempted to seduce a Union General (and former suitor, Ambrose Burnside) into releasing her sister. When the attempt failed she was also incarcerated.

She was released to her mother's custody in Ohio until after the war (it is worth noting that while she was under house arrest in Ohio she travelled to Canada to give a speech to the Canadian Confederate Sypathizers) and in 1873 when she joined the missions (a year after her sister did) it is speculated that she did so because there was talk of charging Confederate sympathizers with treason. She was, quite literally, running from America.

In China she believed that if she didn't baptize the chinese people they would burn in hell. And she told them so. She was openly racist toward the Chinese and attempted to convert them into wearing "christian" clothing.

Now is the good part.... After about 8 years in China she started to become understanding of the chinese. She began wearing chinese clothing. She began having respect for the chinese people and she became a beloved and endeared woman in China. She became known as the Cookie Lady for giving western style chocolate chip cookies to the people who would convert.

Lottie Moon has become a "Paul Bunyon" or "Davey Crockett" style of American Legend as the Missions Cookie Lady... but the truth of Lottie Moon isn't as peachy as the legend. Luckily, come Monday Morning, I am certain none of the kids will remember who she is :)

Carrie Prejean is an idiot. But she's allowed to be, back off the girl!

Carrie Prejean, Miss California, has received noted celebrity due to her answer when questioned as to whether or not every state should allow same-sex marriages.

First I want to say that her answer was convoluted, it was awkward "we live in a land where you can choose, same-sex marriage or opposite marriage." She appears to awkwardly be in support of same-sex marriage. But she follows it up with "You know what? In my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there..." she goes on to repeat herself a little bit.

My first thought is that my marriage isn't defined by my, or my wife's sex. It is rather defined by the love we have for one another. I think this world needs more love, not less.

My second thought was that Perez Hilton, who achieved fame as a celebrity rumor-monger and blogger (its a living) used the Miss USA pageant to further his own political agenda. I don't have a problem with that. Except. Miss California is now being targeted based on the views she shared in the same Miss USA pageant. Miss Prejean wasn't using it as a political platform, she was answering the question of a person who was.

She was attacked by those of my brethren in the pro-gay stance as if they forgot she was entitled to her opinion. The other thing they forgot was that by attacking a sympathetic opponent they make themselves look petty and do more harm than good to their cause by swaying the fence-sitters away from them. Have they learned no lessens from the failure of the GOP?

Recently some topless photos of Miss California have risen. They were taken when she was a 17 year old aspiring model. First I would like to state that these are tantamount to child porn. I understand age of consent, but I'm saying that as a parent, I don't care. I don't fault the 17 year old for wanting to pose for sexy pictures. What 17 year old girl doesn't want to feel sexy and pretty? However, that decision should have been intercepted by her parents.

Apparently she signed a contract stating there were no partially nude photos of her... when in fact there were. So the pageant cops are certainly within their rights to strip her of her tiara. Its a shame that she would lose her title because she received infamy for her remarks. She shared her legitimate and , thanfully unpopular, opinion. Its a shame she has been demonized for her opinion. This sort of thing is expected from the grossly behaved GOP. I'm embarassed that members of the political left have engaged in it.

I can't help but to remember that the only pageant winner of any sort who'se name I remember without having to look it up is Vanessa Williams. Oh God! She's nude.

She turned out pretty well.

By the way.... the attached photo was stolen from perezhilton.com and used without permission. The faux "milk" stain on her lip was placed there, presumably, by Mr. Hilton. I used that particular picture because it was relevant to what I wrote about. And also because it allows me to address Mr. Hilton. Placing a picture on your website of Ms. Prejean with a stain on her mouth is tacky and it makes you look like a negative, shallow, queen. You do a disservice to gay society by appearing so petty.