Internet Monk gets it

All I can say is: my sentiments exactly.

Check out a great post by Internet Monk on what gays and lesbians hear when they listen to evangelicals. A sample of just one of his many good points:

One of the inevitable results of the information age is that anyone who wants to know the worst behavior of any group can gather that information easily. If one chooses not to be judicious and cautious with such information, it is possible to make every member of a group guilty by association . . . For example, saying that some gays somewhere have hundreds of sexual partners has little to do with the behavior of gays that I might know. As a statement of statistical truth, it cannot be applied in a determinative way to any individual. The average preacher is well aware of the extremes of sexual sin that probably occur among heterosexuals, but few would find it as easy to speak about internet porn addiction as promiscuity in the gay community.

What this says to the gay community is simple: evangelicals aren’t interested in the truth as much as they are interested in an emotional response. There is an agenda to how we process such facts and stories into communication.

But don't stop there. Be sure to read the whole post.

Unfit to homeschool

This is a bit off the subject, but most of you regular readers know that I'm a homeschooler. And you've probably heard by now that according to a Los Angeles County Appellate Court, I'm not fit to teach my kids at home.

I got my B.A. at UCLA and my Master's degree at Westminster Seminary. I've taught English in Japan, done some public speaking and currently teach a women's Bible study at my church. I've published numerous articles over the years in magazines, papers, theological journals and, of course, the Internet. Ironically, I even served as a math tutor for Cal State University San Marcos students who were trying earn their teaching credential but were failing basic math. Yet I guess I'm not fit to teach my own kids unless I go back to school and get a teaching credential myself.

I have nothing against public schools, just the ones that aren't giving kids a decent education. They are usually located in non-ritzy neighborhoods like the one we just moved out of. For low to middle income families who can't afford private school, homeschooling is the most affordable option you have to help your kid get ahead educationally. And now that's going to be taken from us too? Why should only the rich have all the best educational opportunities?