Yet another gay Christian "scandal"

Well it seems Ted Haggard, President of the 30-million member National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and pastor of a 14,000 member church, is stepping down amid gay affair allegations. Of course I have no clue if it's true or not, but it's not like he's being accused of some one-night fling; his accuser says they had sex about once a month for three years. That's 36 encounters.

Here's an article from the Seattle Post Intelligencer

Now my little post here isn't about homosexuality being wrong. I honestly don't know where I stand on that. I'm more struck by two things:

(1) A Christian world that often times provides shaming rather than healing and support to homosexuals or people struggling with homosexuality, however you want to put it. *

(2) A Christian leader who practices the very sin he so passionately speaks against. If the allegations are true, they are appalling especially because he is such an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage. I don't care really if you are for it or you're against it, but don't rally millions of Christians against it and then practice it in secret.

I really don't have any judgements here... in fact, my lack of having a strong opinion about homosexuality is probably seems wrong to some. But I guess I'm more just commenting on the brokenness of the whole situation. It's messed up on many levels.

Of course there is the political dimension of it, too. What timing! As my Dad joked, this is nothing compared to the Foley incident. lol

* As an afterthought, I do want to note that this environment is changing slowly and many gay people are receiving a better welcome and better treatment from the Church. So that's good.

$2,500 eggs

I wish I didn't have an ethical problem with this, or maybe it's an emotional problem, but if I were just willing to donate my eggs to a Raleigh couple who is trying to have a child, I would get $2,500. Per successful donation! lol I'm not even that hard up for money but I could do that once per month and then chill all the time. Haha.

Why is it that I have a problem with that? I mean everyone does... but why? Because we don't want to have a child that we never know, I guess. Which should be reason enough, but it seems like there should be more... maybe this is one of those things that will soon be subject to a vast cultural attitude shift. Maybe in our kids' generation, it will be extremely common (or even somehow unnecessary?) to donate your eggs to infertile couples. Hah. Anyway it's just a random thought.... Now I need to get to work. I'm at Royal Bean which is one of my Raleigh hotspotttttttts - yeah!! However they've made a big change since I was here last. The back half of the shop used to be these desks along the wall, and it was the greatest workspace ever... but now they've converted it to square tables. Apparently it seats 40 rather than 16 people now. But still!

PS. Jordan almonds? Sooooo good. What is in these things? They taste so vanilla-y and wonderful.

Organ theft

Yesterday at the gym, I watched (well, read the closed captioning for) a CNN special on human organ trafficking in China. Basically, people who can afford it and need replacement organs such as a liver or kidney, go to China. They don't realize it but their new parts are coming from Chinese prisoners. Often times these prisoners are in captivity for simple things such as tax-related crimes. Other times they are there for their political beliefs. And many have testified before the U.S. Congress that they've seen organs extracted from Chinese prisoners while they are still alive. While they are still bleeding and breathing.

Words can't express how sick and sad this report made me. You should have seen some of the images...

Anyway, I don't have time right now to research this and write an informed post, but here are a few links.

Sale of Human Organs in China

Harvesting and sale of body parts