Homosexuality and Christian Marriage

Whenever an issue of political importance is discussed on a national scale, there will always be those, Christian and non-Christian, who will point to the Bible as the final authority. Being of the Christian faith, I believe the Bible contains all the instruction needed for a Christian to live in a nation filled with chaos.

Paul wrote a majority of the New Testament and addressed many issues plaguing Christians as they tried to live in communities which had pagan religions. Paul did not lead protests or call for an overthrow of the government at the time. He rigorously asked the Christian to make sure their behavior was in accordance with what God would have them to do. In my upcoming book "The Politics of Prayer" I ask the Christian to look at their own actions while being the voice of God for a nation in tormoil. Of the many issues bantered around in the news today, homosexual marriage is one that causes contention on both sides of the polarized issue.

Marriage was a big concern in Corinth at the time Paul visited. Prostitution was rampant, immorality was pervasive, and marriages were in shambles. Paul gives practical answers to the Christians of Corinth(7:1-40). Today, with marriage under attack by same sex couples petitioning for the same rights in marriage as heterosexuals, the Christian community has come out with a strong voice against such policies. The Bible declares with certainty that homosexuality is an act God does not sanction. But the Christian must also take a look at the state of their own marriages.

Divorce rates among Christians rival if not exceed those of non-Christians. The Christian voice regarding the sanctity of marriage has become impotent due largely to the fact the Christian does not subscribe to what they say about the sanctification of marriage between a man and a woman.

“An Associated Press article reports a national average divorce rate of 4.2 per thousand. The highest divorce rates, excluding Nevada’s drive-thru divorces, are in Tennessee (6.4), Arkansas (6.1), Oklahoma (6.0) and Alabama (6.0), where Christian fundamentalism dominates society and culture [Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics data.]”

Rebecca Chase of ABCNEWS.com writes Oklahoma City, Dec.15 — “For couples who decide to tie the knot in Oklahoma, their chances of spending their lives together are among the worst in the country. Oklahoma’s high divorce rate is particularly embarrassing for a state that is mostly Christian, in which 70 percent of people go to church at least twice a month.

"It’s not good," says Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, "and it’s embarrassing and it’s inexcusable and it certainly should not survive." Religious leaders agree. "Our faith certainly teaches that divorce is not a good thing," says Anthony Jordon, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, "that marriage ought to be held sacred. And there is a wide gap between faith and practice. And, yes, I take some responsibility for that."

Christians call for the immediate halt to sin. Homosexuals are told that once they accept Christ they will no longer have a desire to be in a relationship with a same sex partner. Yet, the termination of their sins have not manisfested within the sanctaty of their marriage. Mercy, grace, and forgiveness is limitless it seems for the Christian without an ounce of mercy, grace, and love for those considered to be sinners.

One may believe that I am a Christian basher. This could not be further from the truth. I also suffer from imperfections and cannot claim to be sin free. But, I am one who does not advocate the persecution of others using the Bible as a weapon. I just believe caution should be used when we point at the sins of others. We should look at ourselves first and constantly strive for correction with the help of God. It is only after then can we be a true example and representation of the power of God.

Abortion and the Christian denial

many Christians object to a democratic president based on the fact "they kill babies." If I've said it once I've said it twice--women kill babies and yes, Christian women kill babies.

Of those withthe loudest voices it is the Christian male I have seen shed tears for aborted babies. Men in general lead the charge in regards to outlawing abortion. They seem to be warring against more than the secular masses. If we are a Christian nation as we believe, then why do so many Christians have such small families? We know it is against God's will for the wife to with hold her body sexually from her husband, so where are the babies from God's command to be fruitful and multiply?

Many Christians explain that homosexual marriage is against the sanctity of marriage because the devil is trying to decrease the population through same-sex marriages. Well, Christians do not seem to be populating the earth either. There is somehow a two fold assault against reproduction. Consider the statistics below and start to question exactly "who is killing babies?"

It would be truly wonderful to live in a Christian nation that practiced what was preached, but this is not the case. Roman Catholic women have abortions at a significantly higher rate than Protestants. In 1996, about 57% of women who received legal abortions were white. The abortion rate was 55.5 per 100 live births for black women, 20.2 for white women, and 36 for women of other races.
In the Alan Guttmacher Institute it was reported in 2001 – July, 37.4% of all abortions are performed on Protestant women; 18% of all abortions are done on born-again Protestants. The survey goes on to say “born-again” believers constitute about 30% of the American adult population. The abortion index by religion during 1994-1995 was found to be: Protestants 0.69, followers of a non-Judeo-Christian religion 0.78, Catholics 1.01%, Jews 1.08, and persons who do not follow an organized religion 4.02. This information was prepared by Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, Storrs, CT, in 1995 from five Gallop polls. By these statistics alone, it is evident the limitation of conception is practiced by many Christians.

Continuing a 12-year decline, the U.S birth rate has dropped to the lowest level since national data has been available, according to statistics released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The birth rate among women of peak childbearing age has been declining. Birth rates for women in their 20’s and early 30’s were generally down while births to older mothers (35-44) were still on the rise. Rates were stable for women over 45.

In 2002, there were 4,019,280 births in the U.S., down slightly from 2001 (4, 025,933). More than one-third of all births were to unmarried women. WebMD reports there is now a new baby boom. The birth rate increased by 3% to 4.26 million between 2005 and 2006, the largest single-year increase since 1989 and the largest total number of births since 1961 which was one of the last years of the baby boom. Birth rates rose by 4% among women between the ages of 20 and 24, to 105 births per 1,000 and by 3% among those aged 40-44, to 9.4 births per 1,000. Families are now made up of more than one or two children; the ideal number of children per family seems to be three. The 1.6 million births among unmarried women represent an 8% increase over 2005 and is 20% higher than the recent low point for births in the group seen in 2002
Exerpt from "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?"

Republicans Clinging to Guns and Religion Aiming at Women

                                                 Exerpts from my book: "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?"

War On Women Ends With Women, Not the GOP. Taking charge of a woman's choice and her decision about her body has roots that run long and deep through history, a history that is continually misused to causing confusion in a woman knowing her worth or being labeled a feminist for wanting freedoms endowed to her by God and state. Be informed, read my book - available on Amazon.com and share this with sisters, daughters, and other women before you cast your vote in 2012. Now is the time for women to know their true value and worth and fight back against the WAR ON WOMEN.
http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Wannabe-Gardener-Dorothy-Guyton/dp/0741441543/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345907405&sr=1-1&keywords=dorothy+guyton
Sexy, curvaceous, deceitful, and wanton; these are the words one may use to describe Eve in the Garden of Eden. Paintings depict her standing nude by a tree with a serpent encircling her body leaving creamy flesh exposed to every eye. All is uncovered except her tools of power and manipulation; her breasts and genital area. There is not a doubt left to man’s imagination what lady Eve stands for – sin.

To this day, there still can be heard accusatory phrases from many Christians and non-Christians as well, stating it is Eve’s fault things are so bad today. I have heard while teaching youth Sunday school, a child, usually a pubescent girl, state how much she hates Eve for messing things up for her. Anger mingled with shame could be seen in the young female’s eyes at Eve for causing all of the evils in the world. The young boys, prone to do what young boys do, would begin to laugh and pick at the girls and echo how terrible Eve was for destroying the Garden of Eden and how evil all girls are till this day.

This book looks at various women of the Bible and their role in the unfolding of Christianity. Lesser known women will be introduced and their contributions to Christianity will be discussed. The role of goddess worship in Ephesus and the importance it played in the expansion of Christianity will be addressed. And finally, I hope to offer encouragement to all women, Christian and non-Christian, in their position of woman within their community. And, yes, sex, birth control, and child bearing statistics of the Christian community will be examined with amazing facts how little most Christian men do not adhere to the teachings set forth for them, but insist women follow every letter of the Bible.

Within the chapters of this book several questions will be posed. The questions are: What do the words ‘woman’, ‘Eve’ and ‘image of God’ really mean? What actually happened in the Garden of Eden? What have Christian men of the first and second century said about women? Was Paul sexist towards women in general? Is the biblical definition of a woman and what the Bible says about her demeanor still a taboo subject destined to divide the two sexes in the 21st century? Does reluctance to discuss fulfilling female Christian service have anything to do with sexism? Has the totality of the Scripture been applied to the understanding of who a woman is in God? Did Jesus' birth, ministry, death, and resurrection remove the guilt of sin from woman?”

The Bible contains several women who can be named for their outstanding Christian character. Search the Scriptures to find: Anna who used her strength in prayer and fasting (Luke 2:37), Hannah prayed fervently (I Samuel 1:10), Junia who was a missionary (Romans 16:7), Tabitha was a disciple who had a ministry making coats for widows (Acts 9:36-39), Tryphena and Tryphosa, labored for the Lord (Romans 16:12), the woman at the well helped win a city to Jesus (John 4:39), Philip’s daughters preached the gospel (Acts 21:8-9), and multiple women named Mary who supported Jesus’ ministry (John 12:3, Roman 16:6, Luke 10:39).

There may not be many documents, in regards to doctrine, in Christian history written by women, but there are several accounts of Christian woman contributing to the continuation and success of Christianity, even to the point of giving their lives. Pomponia Graecina, a woman willing to give her life, comes before a more gruesome and well known account of the Martyrdom of Polycarp. There are several more influential “mothers” of the church such as Macrina, Perpetua, Caecilia of Rome, Agatha of Sicily, Margaret of Antioch, Paula, Eustochium, and Amma Theodora to name a few.

The Apostle Paul gives the reader a glimpse of how he views women in his writings to Timothy. In his writings he cautions Timothy that a woman is someone to be carefully watched. He instructs his pupil by telling him a woman should learn in silence and never teach or have any authority over a man. The question must be asked and answered: Why did Paul write what he did about women in I Timothy 2:11-15 (NIV), “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But woman will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety.”

Christianity is one of the few religions which does not glorify sexual gratification. Sex was strictly for procreation within the bonds of marriage. Many other pagan religions used sexuality as the symbol of agricultural fertility and rejuvenation. In many of the religions of the early centuries, the woman’s sexuality was the key to the insurance of rebirth and life in the world at large. This deification of woman as the holder of the origin of life in nature had to be dealt with. The Church Fathers did not run from such an enormous challenge.

Chapter after chapter there is a strong foundation for all the daughters of Eve to build upon. Your creation was not a mistake. The essence of womanhood God endowed each woman with is central to the being of a woman. Just as man, woman has stumbled in her relationship with God. Just as man, woman has the opportunity to be free of the guilt of sin.

The greatest enemy of woman is not the words penned about her in the Bible and other writings of antiquity, but the finger pointing of Satan towards woman for all of the ills of the world. We are all wise because we are created in the image of God. It is time for us to be wise in our handling of our depiction of women in relationship to Christianity.

Allow yourself to be free of the past. Paul let go of his criminal past when he met God on the Damascus road. He moved forward in his purpose God had created. Daughters of Eve, meet God and assume your divine purpose.

SEXY SASSY SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE

There have been several women throughout history who had what is known as the IT FACTOR. Their desired beauty is legendary. Some of them were not even considered beautiful but had men falling at their feet. What was their secret and how can the every day woman possess it?

The Sirens of Greek mythology were special sea nymphs who sung in a seductive way. They had the body of a bird with a human head, yet they were able to lure sailors to their death with their intoxicating voices. Later, the sirens would become known as the mermaid and by the 4th century they would become a symbol for the dangerous temptation embodied by women regularly depicted in Christian art.

The goddess Venus is associated with love, beauty and fertility. Her name means love and sexual desire in Latin. Julius Ceasar adopted the goddess as his protector. It was believed by one group of her cult followers that her hair was her most important instrument of feminine charm.

Lady Delilah of the Bible is known as a dangerous temptress from the book of Judges. She was a cunning and treacherous femme fatale. Her name in Hebrew actually means, [One who] weakened or uprooted or impoverished. Armies of men tried to take down the strongest man on earth; Samson, with weapons made of steel. But, the beauty and cunning of one woman was able to accomplish what a legion of men were not able.

Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator seduced two powerful men. She is considered sensual and beautiful because she was intelligent, charming, with amazing convincing powers even though coins found during the time of her reign (depicting her) had an image of a woman with a hooked nose and masculine features. She was no dummy. She spoke over nine languages.

Mata Hari was a courtesan, artist, free-spirited Bohemian known as a promiscuous, flirtatious dancer who openly flaunted her body. She would progressively shed her clothes until she wore only a jeweled bra and some ornaments upon her arms and head. She was a mystery to everyone she was adored by. She created the person she wanted to be leaving behind a checkered past. She would be assasinated for being a double agent (spy), but she had bedded the most famous and wealthy men of society and died as one who was desired and worshipped by many.

The list of seductresses would not be complete without the blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe. It has been said that she had an intoxicating quality of volcanic sexuality wrapped in an aura of childlike innocence.


WHAT IS IT THAT THESE INFAMOUS WOMEN POSSESSED THAT DROVE MEN CRAZY?

Jane Ganahl stated it best:(Looks are not the key)
Far more important is the gift of wit, brains, empathy and self-sufficiency, along with great verbal skills; words are potent, erotic, and powerful.

Men are drawn to women they think they can never quite possess. Betsy Prioleau, author of "Seductress" profiled 50 of the world's most famous seductresses and found " "All they need is a tiny bit of resistence, a little demonstration of their independence, some of their superior personhood, and the next thing you know, they will be worshipped."

Mystery solved. It is an inner beauty of confidence and a healthy attitude (not that hard hearted type of I don't need anyone) of "I love myself whether you do or not" that is the love potion number nine.

It has been a while

So sorry I have neglected my blog, but I am in the final stages of publishing "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?"


I am so excited about this project. Many women have been waiting with baited breath for the release of this book and it's finally time to be held in my new mother's hands.

Each work is so cherished by an author. In this book I have tried to answer questions many Christian and non-Christian women have about their place in religion. I believe this will be a liberating read for those confused about the role of women in society as God and man sees it.

I am really going to push for sales of 1,000 books in its first year and I need the help of all of my blog and face book buddies. Help me to get the word out to women's groups and other people interested in a logical explaination of the mythical seductive nature of woman.

Throughout history the most seductive women we labled as such no so much for their looks or curves but for their intelligence. In upcoming blogs I will discuss some of the most sexy alluring irresistable women of history such as Venus, Mati Hari, the Sirens, Marilyn Monroe and others. I will let women and men alike into the secrets of their seductive powers.

Keep your eyes on this site and be a part of helping me change the attitude of society from one of suspicion towards women to one of appreciation and encouragement.

I hope you all are as excited as I am on the release of my new book. It was written for women and their daughters. It is timely with the significant move of women in the political sphere. Change is occuring and women are at the forefront.

The Talented Miss Ray (my middle baby)

When my daughter was about five years old, she informed me that when she grew up, she wanted to sell lemonade for her career. Even though I was alarmed at her career of choice, I told her if that is what she wanted to do and be when she grew up, I would be proud of her.

As she grew she drew. If my house was to catch afire, her room would flame up the fastest because of all of the paper of drawings in her room. Her room is a fire hazard. But through her drawings you can see the growth of an artist. She has matured in her talent through the years without any formal training. And this fall when she heads off to college, majoring in art, the world will have another talent to acknowledge. I can't wait to see what she will create.

Here is some of her doodling. Major work is too large for uploading. Hopefully the public will soon see her work in galleries or wherever she chooses to work. Enjoy her wimsy.








INTERVIEW WITH AN ARTIST
What is it about drawing you like?
I like being able to imagine stuff and put it down on paper.

Do you think you can have a career in drawing?
Why not. It's not about money. It's about being creative.

What would you say is your style?
Animated with lots of color. I like creating characters in which a story can be written around.

Are youR characters day to day people?
They are based on fantasy with supernatural powers with love intersts. The world will never tire of a good love story.

What age group do you see drawn to your art?
It depends on the story line, but mostly young adults and teenagers.

Do you think your characters and art will change as you age?
Yes. As I learn more in college, I will incorporate what I learn in my art, but I want my work to remain fun and youthful.

What do you think about serious artists such as Pacaso, Monea etc.?
Why do you separate them as serious artists? All artists are serious. They have their own style and I have my own. I consider myself as a serious artist. I work hard on my work. I have THE same frustrations, self disappointments and struggles. All artists understand this creative process.

How do you feel about the starving artist phenomenon?
It's not fair. I'm not going to starve. People should love and appreciate artists before they die. I plan to have money. That's my dream.

Would you advise other artists to follow their dream?
Yes. Even though there may be rejection, you just have to keep at it. Doing what you love is important. That's the success; Being true to who you are. We need creativity and color to make life enjoyable. Artists add imagination to the routines of life.

Desarea Guyton, artist

Not Enough Hours In A Day

Ever seem like you have so much to do until there are not enough hours in the day? Welcome to my month.

The month of May is starting off in high speed. I have two graduates this year and preparation for graduation day has begun. I will need two new outfits that make me look slimmer and shoes to match. I get to attend my first wedding where the groom is from India. I am looking forward to that. There are farewell dinners and award ceremonies to sit through and least we forget; my garden where weeds take every chance to get a drop on me and grow.

I am tired before I begin. Thoughts of dieting cross my mind but I need those extra calories to keep me going. I have recently made friends with McDonald's Mocha Frappe.

I have to say there is something exciting about the graduation season. People heading off to new beginnings just like my garden and its newness each year. I walk out each day witnessing the unexpected mingled with the expected. It is those surprises that make me smile.

Even though it is human nature to fear the unknown, it is sometimes the unknown that brings us the most joy.

I had, amonst all of the downpours, two new roses to bloom for the first time in my garden. No mater the picture on the label of the dormant bareroot plant, the actuall blooming of the rose bush is surprising and unique the first time you see the rose in bloom. Most of the time, the bloom is not what I was expecting. But as I gaze at it for the first time, it is beautiful just the way it is.

I hope all of those graduating, leaving what they know and have become accustomed to and comfortable with, face the newness of change in the same way with the same novelty. Your future may not be exactly what you expected or the picture people have painted for you, but after a long gaze I hope you find it beautiful because you are a part of it.