Vacation Testimony!
 

Want to share something that good happened this weekend.

We decided to go on a short family vacation, as we have done some extended ministry trips, now it was family time. We didn't have a lot of money, but I was able to put aside some extra cash. I took some time off work, arranged the church to be cared for and then we finalized the trip arrangements.

Then all went wrong.

We discovered Disneyland was hosting Gay, Lesbian Weekend the weekend we decided to go.

Who wants to go there with a family this weekend.

So we elected to go on Friday instead of Sat. and Sunday.

I made Hotel Arrangements through Hotels.com, we arrive at the Embassy Suites and discover they didn't transmit our reservation to the Hotel, so we are sitting there at 12:30am trying to figure out what to do. The guy finally said that he can accommodate us for one night, but they can't do Friday night. So at that point we take them up on the one night, believing that we will find something the next day.

Testimony Time, we wake up with word that they are able to find another room, but he AC doesn't work good for $99 instead of $188, (didn't matter it was cool). The lady who helped us, arranged for her Husband who works with Disneyland gave us his employee tickets, one-day hopper passes for $60.

Also the Hotel ended up being $150 cheaper than Hotels.com

So we ended up saving over $350 for the weekend trip.

The answer is when things go wrong outside your control, look for God to do something great. Even on trivial (not to me) things like family vacations.

Oh by the way, we got a contact now for discount hotel rates and employee discount tickets for disneyland.

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

Disney does the...? Texas Granny doesn't have cowgirl boots? I'm circling the drain here.

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Glad it work out, but personally, I'd welcome the opportunity to go to Disneyland during the Gay/Lesbian weekend.

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Keith--God does care about the littlest things in our lives. Glad to hear you ended up with a good trip at a great cost. I'm all about the travel bargains!!!

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:girlnails

But I have a gun, and a horse. :D

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Just how many, % wise, of the customers during gay and lesbian week are actually gay and lesbians?

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Who wants their children around that kind of gutter trash?

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I know exactly what you are talking about, and I have a couple of things that happened to me on a missions trip to the Philippines.
1. Going thru immigration in Manila. I was in a long line and could tell the lady in the booth was tired overworked and just ready to cause someone some trouble. I knew my paperwork was in order so I was not fearful...but I had a dread approaching this angry looking woman. There were several people in line in front of me but a supervisor in the line next to mine motioned for me to come to his line. It was a line exclusive to those who had special electronic ID cards issued by Manila to frequent travelers. He stamped my passport. I was cleared in less than 30 seconds.
2. My bags were misplaced by Asaian airlines. I spoke to the agent and met my first Philippino christian. He was most helpful and was the first encouraging face I met.
3. Cebu air received my missing bags. John, their manager, spent hours helping track my luggage, even loaning me his personal cell phone to call Manila.
4. I had to spend an extra night in Cagayan De Oro whiile waiting on my bags, and met a nice family who when I told them my story about the bage, invited me to spend the night in their home, a mansion by Philippine standards. Nick, the family son-in-law, cooked me one of the best dinners I had in Philippines.
5. I did open air crusades and was supposed to preach at a local outreach church, but I felt checked about going. The pastor almost begged me with tears to go preach at his church. But I left anyway and traveled by bus to a heavily muslim area. Out of the thousands of people who could have sat by me, an apostolic boy choose that seat! As we talked he went to an apostolic church in a town I had just preached in. I really questioned him to see if he was really "one God" or was catholic. He said, "trust me, I am baptise in the name of Jesus Christ'!

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This self-righteous, spiritually-arrogant, moronic comment is EXACTLY why I said that I'd have no problem attending on Gay & Lesbian Day.

Unfortunately, when we steer our families away from events like this, we are calling them "gutter trash" by our avoidance. How incredibly sad. Everyone loves to wear the WWJD bracelets, but when we ask, "Would Jesus have gone to Disneyland that weekend?", I think we get a very, very easy answer.

If this weren't such an idiotic post that perfectly illustrates how awful Christians can be, I'd love for it to be deleted.

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So Christians are awefull? Gays say they are. Is it intollerant if Christians say they don't want to be around gays? I read about Lot's wife.

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I understand what you are saying about "WWJD" - etc. and you may be right.... Jesus may have gone to the G/L Day at Disneyland, SF or anyplace else.

However, not for one minute do I believe that he would have taken children into that environment. These people are so blatant and 'in your face' with their unGodly behavior that it would sicken you.

I personally know of more than one family who visited Disney on such a day and they were absolutely sickened by the behavior their children were exposed to. In fact, they left the premises and therefore, pretty much lost the money they paid for the tickets because their children were exposed to so much lewd behavior.

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

I understand what you're saying but I disagree. I love them and I'm teaching my children to love them.

I wonder what the behavior was that was "sickening"? I've been "sickened" by a lot of the behavior of heterosexuals. I can't how imagine how Disney would tolerate behavior by gay OR straight that would be vulgar.

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I would assume the lewd behavior would have been same sex kissing, holding hands, etc. Excessive PDA is unacceptable from any couples, but I can understand the disdain for same-sex PDA.

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Not that you WANTED that horse!

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Yeah, but she is better than the last one we had. :) Don't tell anyone but, I like her. :D

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Well, pin a big red rose on your nose.:ursofunny

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That's what I'm assuming as well. It would be uncomfortable, I'll admit, but I'm trying to get to the place where I'm comfortable with being uncomfortable. I've heard it said that "God desires to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable", and I've been asking God to put me in places where I can be a light in dark places...and that's almost always uncomfortable. I've heard Bill Hybels say, "A ship is never at risk in the harbor, but that's not what ships are for."

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I have to agree. There is a time and place for everything. And the scripture that comes to my mind is don't cast your pearls before swine.

Yes, the gays need God. And yes they need to see the light, but I seriously doubt they are interested when they are together with the peer pressure to be what they are protraying to be.

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With this kind of a response to a fellow christian you want us to believe you want to do what Jesus would do?

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I tried to post this earlier, I guess it didn't post. But I believe in outreach and loving Gays or sinners for that matter, but I wouldn't go to Gay Pride Week in San Francisco planting my sons on the curb to watch the lewdness and call that a Healthy Family Vacation.

As far as uncomfortable, I would invite you to go to India with me next time I go and eat and drink what is set before you with Joy, then would would truly learn the meaning of uncomfortable, LOL!

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We can go around and around on this, but first, I'm glad you've gone to India. However, it sounds like you're assuming I haven't been to places internationally that are extremely uncomfortable, and if so, you're incorrect. You probably didn't mean it this way, but you're not the only one that's been to a foreign country in tough circumstances.

And secondly, who said anything about "lewdness"? Are you assuming that a Gay weekend at Disney is going to be "lewd"?? What kind of presuppositions have you made of the gay community? I've witnessed public lewdness with my family present, but it was heterosexuals. Why does Christianity feel the need to brand the gay community "Lewd"?

But I'm glad your vacation worked out to your satisfaction. I'm just trying to offer another perspective to a community that's taken hits it doesn't deserve.

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When any person who labels themselves a "Christian", calls another person, "Gutter Trash", there's a very serious problem. There's no way to sugarcoat a response to that kind of spiritual arrogance. Jesus never spoke harshly to anyone who society would have called "gutter trash." But he always spoke viciously to those doing the labeling. I see plenty of precedent for what I said, but if you don't, you're welcome to dislike what I said. I stand by it.

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Are Gays worse sinners than any other, no. But because their behaviors at times is in your face, I didn't want to spend the family time explaining to my boys why what they are doing is inappropriate.

I didn't assume that you haven't been overseas, that is why I put the LOL at the end of statement. I don't believe that Disney would have tolerated Lewd behavior, but anyone is blind or in denial to think that Gay Pride week in SF is anything but lewd. For the Record, I love Gays as does Jesus, I just don't seek out to be around their behavior to think that to be Healthy Family Event.

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Yes, I understand. I avoid going to our local Wal-Mart occasionally because the Republican activists desiring me to sign their petition against gay marriage are very "In Your Face." That kind of behavior isn't any fun. Personally, I've never had a gay person do that to me, but I'm sure it does happen.

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How do you feel about gays, are the sinners? Is Homosexuality a deviant behavior or just confused people that God will overlook? Will someone who is practicing same sex behaviors (not just feelings) but practicing are they consider saved? Just curious.:nah

By the way I would feel the same if Disney was hosting Fornicators Day!

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Why would you ask that?

You may just wanna stay away from Disneyland in general. I would suspect that everyday there are many thousands of people who are far from God and their bad spirits could be dangerous. :)

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I am sorry but where do you get off? I am so offended that other man that would call himself a christian one at that who has shown himself in a very pleasant and friendly manner- to another christian would talk to and question him on what he chooses to do with HIS family-

Would you like us to question you about what you do with your family??

Isn't it up to us on how we raise on children especially when we are wanting them to be God fearing, decent human beings? Especially in this time where every act of decently is openly questioned.

Look, we have to answer for our children, NOT YOU!

All we wanted to do was share how God blessed this week-end and turned around attacked us about it.

All we are trying to is our best to live for God, that is what many of us are trying to do-
but whatever we do or say is NEVER GOOD ENOUGH for you.

You are just as guilty as the in your face judgmental crowd you have tried to distance yourself from.

I am sorry, you hit a nerve with me tonight, and I had to let you know it.

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Uh oh, I'm being ganged up on!! :sadBut do you seriously think you're being "attacked?" Surely not. As Lloyd Bentsen would say, "I've been attacked, I've seen attacked, I've watched attacks. Sister, this ain't an attack!"

But to answer your question, which was "where do you get off", I'll just say,

If you all want to testify about a provision for a vacation, I support you. In fact, I pitched in with my gladness you were provided for. However, when the testimony includes derogatory statements about a "kind" of people....and I quote, "Who wants to go there with a family this weekend"......one of MY nerves is hit. I've poured myself into the hurts and heartaches of many gay people, their struggle against feelings they don't want, the continual rejection and scorn aimed their way, and when I see yet again what appears to be the prevailing attitude of "Eww...we don't want to be around you", I just figured I'd say, "Well, I'd go."

You all happen to have, evidently, a very soft spot in your heart for the people of India. If I were to say things that sound demeaning of the people of India, you'd probably let me know. If I said, "I sure didn't want my family around those Indian people" you may have had a negative reaction to that. I feel the same way about the gay community. I have a soft spot in my heart for them.

I could have just skipped the thread, and maybe I should have, but I happen to be close to a few people, who are gay who check out this forum regularly. I could just imagine their pain as they say, "See, the Christians don't even want to be around us.

And in saying I would go, the true feelings of some folks appeared, such as "They're Gutter Trash." As well, I see the assumption that "lewdness" would be taking place. I don't think that's fair.

If you're offended that I expressed that, I'm truly sorry and offer my apologies. You're right...we each have to answer for our children and you're free to handle yours in the way you best see fit. But since it was expressed publicly, I responded. But evidently it was offensive which was not my intent. I apologize again.

Yes, I have shown myself to be pleasant and friendly....because I am, or at least I try to be.

I re-read everything I wrote and tried to see where there was any appearance of attacking you. And like I said, I don't see it. But if that's your perception, again, my apologies.

As far as "In your face".....that was Keith that labeled the gay community that way. I attempted to point out that people who are NOT gay tend to also be "In your face" in their opposition to the gay community. I believe it's unfair to label the gay community as "in your face" and I expressed my opinion. I feel like I have the right to do that.

I'll always stand up for those who daily hurt and ache deeply because of a giant they can't seem to kill. I hope to see the day when we can see the gay community as less of a threat and more of just real people.

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

We're heading to the South rim of the Grand Canyon this coming weekend to hike down in it.
Personally, the edge of the trail is far more terrifying then any gays or lesbians I would encounter.

Keep repeating to self: "The mules on the trail ALWAYS have the right-a-way!"

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

I would not take one of my children into a cage of lions if I was a lion tamer or into a burning building with me to save someoneif I was a fire fighter. As Christians we need to use common sense. Lot lost most of his family under the same conditions. The gays are not going to accept our message on their grounds and Jesus told his followers to shake the dust from their feet if they were not accepted.

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

notworking,

What you did was turn a praise thread into a debate thread. We continually get complaints that all AFF does is fuss. This is a perfect example. Someone was trying to express their thanks of what God provided for them to enjoy time with their family and it had to be turned into a debate.

Just 'splaining.

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

"Notworking". That's funny!:ursofunny

Not my intention, but I understand the complaint and take responsibility. I enjoyed the story, expressed gladness for the provision, but took exception to a short, but to me significant slight, in the middle of the story. I'm very, very aware of some dear people who read the forum and wanted to say, "Not everyone would avoid you."

I said my piece...possibly in an offensive way which I didn't intend....and now I'll move on!

I have expressed and repeat my apologies to Elizabeth & Keith.

(actually, if the "gutter trash" guy was offended, that's fine with me) :)

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Thanks! See, you've come a long way!

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Just thought I'd add this:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-gay-days.htm

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

Thanks for sharing that, Subdued!

Re: Vacation Testimony!
 

I love people who are gay, and have dealt with many of them over the years - trying to help them find their way to God. But these "Gay Days" are not just a day when many gay people come together and have a good time riding rides, etc. at Disney. They are usually a time of open lewd behavior, not caring who is around or who sees.

They just had a "leather day" in San Francisco - there was open sex in the streets, sidewalks, etc. It was all about whips, chains, etc. The police couldn't begin to control it if they had wanted to, and so it's just ignored. San Francisco is a nice place at times, and a beautiful city, but there's no way I would raise kids there, having to expose them to this kind of behavior.

I think that's what Keith & Elizabeth were saying - love the sinners, but you don't have to expose your young children to more than they can understand.