Oprah

[Janet]

How exciting that would be Tink...I had it on, but had seen it before so didn't pay close attention. I wish I would have know your neice was gonna be on theire I would have at least watched that segment closer. I really would like to be in her audience at least one time.

[Marilyn]

Oprah does a lot of good, that we really cannot question. Personally, I believe that her motives are pure, and I, too can understand her frustration with the inner city situation. It's her money and she has the right to do whatever she wishes with it. That she is doing good with much of it is wonderful.

Now, the big HOWEVER. I had a big problem with all the hooha over the store that she went to a couple of years ago that was closed and would not open for her because she is OPRAH. Celebrities that demand special treatment just because of who they are just erks me.

And, I have a huge problem with people who are living with someone who they are not married to being considered a roll model for our youth. Oprah is in this situation and so was Lance Armstrong, and both were hearlded as roll models for our youth. I'm sorry, but people who do this type of thing are being very irresponsible. I pray for them because they will answer for their decisions some day as will we all.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

Oprah does a lot of good, that we really cannot question. Personally, I believe that her motives are pure, and I, too can understand her frustration with the inner city situation. It's her money and she has the right to do whatever she wishes with it. That she is doing good with much of it is wonderful.

Now, the big HOWEVER. I had a big problem with all the hooha over the store that she went to a couple of years ago that was closed and would not open for her because she is OPRAH. Celebrities that demand special treatment just because of who they are just erks me.

And, I have a huge problem with people who are living with someone who they are not married to being considered a roll model for our youth. Oprah is in this situation and so was Lance Armstrong, and both were hearlded as roll models for our youth. I'm sorry, but people who do this type of thing are being very irresponsible. I pray for them because they will answer for their decisions some day as will we all.

Good morning Marilyn!!! Seems to be quite a few of the regulars on this morning...yeah!!! I did want to say that concerning the store thing...she didn't want them to open the store because she was "Oprah"...she wasn't sure whether the store was open or closed, she was upset because they didn't even want to explain it to her and she thought it was because she was black.

Also, I feel like you do on marriage and living together, BUT since I don't know I was hoping you could tell me or show me.......does it actually say "marriage" in terms of a ceremony and legal document or the "committment" in a relationship. I guess I could ask my Pastor, but I won't see him till tomorrow.

[Marilyn]

Janet, I'm writing this to answer you question, and my intent is sincere and to speak as I believe is proper. The "marriages" in the Bible were what were recognized by the culture of the time as "marriages". To desolve the union required a divorce. There is a lot of scripture to back this up. They took unto them a wife. Whether or not there were legal documents or a ceremony, I'm not sure, but they were recognized by the society as being "married". In our society, the requirement to be considered "married" varies by our laws & can vary state to state, country to country, but most cultures know what a "marriage" is and when one is "married" and not just "living together".

An example of Christ knowing the difference can be found in John 4: 16-18. The Samaritan woman was apparently in a relationship with someone who was not her husband. ' Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."
Jesus said to her, "You have well said, "I have no husband," for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." '


Oprah and others know what marriage is. If you are in a committed long term relationship, and "marriage" is so important that you choose not to be married, what are you doing?

I have a friend who is in a long term relationship with a man she has chosen not to marry. She is "comfortable" with him, but admits that if someone better came along, she would end the relationship and move on. I ask her a few days ago what she is doing? Why is she with him if he's not Mr. Right? She stopped and said to me that I had a really good point, and she did not know, she would have to really thing about that. She attends church and considers herself a Christian, and yet, she has this in her life. She's a self supporting, very capable lady. The guy she's with is a loser, and if she would end the relationship, she could do so much better.

I know I'm a little off topic here, but what is a "committed" relationship with out marriage. I believe with all my heart that God wants us to be happy. He wants us to do what is right and if we do, we will have a better life. There will be trials in our life even if we do the best we can, but the trials are there to make us stronger if we keep our focus on Him.

Here are a few scriptures to consider. The Bible says it much better than I do. We don't have to try to explain things when God has already done so for us:

Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge."

The apostle Paul said in his letter to the church at Corinth in words inspired by God in 1 Corinthians 7:6-9, " But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion." He does not suggest that they find someone to have a committed relationship with. He says that they should marry.

Again, marriage must be important, or so many people would not be avoiding it and remaining in their "committed" relationships.

I'll probably be blasted for this post, but bring it on. The criticism we receive when we state the truth are some of the trials that we must expect. By the way, I do believe that our God is loving and forgiving, as any parent would be, but He expects us to follow His instructions to receive His blessings as any good parent would. None of us can be perfect, but we have to strive to study God's Word and do our best to do His will to be a recipient of his grace.

[RLC12345678]

I agree with Marilyn that I don't approve of her and Stedman's relationship. But I cannot judge her. I do things every single day of my life that God says I am not supposed to do and God views these things in the same light as he does Oprah's relationship with Steddy. But that is why God sent Jesus to die for us...to save us from our very many sins. Oprah has hinted several times on her show to the fact that she is a Christian and John 3:16 says, "Those who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." While her relationship with Steadman is not ideal, at least she is in a monogomous relationship and she is otherwise setting a good example for our youth.

[Lissa]

I don't have much time to reply, but I wanted to throw in my two cents.

James 2:19 "You believe that God is one, you do well, even the demons believe and shudder!" Faith and belief are not enough, you must have the works to back it up. If you are going against even the basic principles of Christianity, then your faith is useless. ("Faith apart from works is useless" -James 2:20) That's why we must strive daily to live better lives and use Christ as an example as to how we should live. We can't say that God will jsut take pity on us and we'll be okay. Look what he did in Genesis to the people, only Noah and his family survived the Great Flood, everyone else perished.

That said, I don't have a problem with her openning a school in Africa. Organizations and people that promote education and a better life for the people of Africa and even Southeast Asia are alright in my book as long as what they're doing is truly helping and not hurting. I've got something in the works myself to help people combat malaria in Subsaharan Africa and Asia, I jsut need to work out the logistics and legal aspects and get some financial backing before I can put it through.

[Janet]

Thank you so much!!!! All of you. I do want you, Marilyn, Rebecca and Lissa to know I was not debating....I truely wanted to know the truth and wasn't able to find as easily in my Bible. I appreciate you all finding the verses for me, it really helped me to understand it better. I honestly didn't understand if marriage and committment were looked at as one and the same. I do know now. You ladies are the greatest....thank you!!!


Okay...how about this one? Maybe I should start another thread!! Look for the Homosexual thread!