Tagged with current events …

Aug 15 2010
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Faith

Prop 8 Proves Homosexual Lifestyle Acceptable to God

Of course this is utter ridiculousness, but, that severely flawed logic seems to be what is prevailing in our culture today. This topic, which I usually just tend to leave alone, is overpowering the news, blogs, and culture lately (and is certainly nothing new under the sun, gay’s have been trying to justify their actions for millennia, see Why is Being Gay a Sin? for a civil discussion, Does Romans 1:26 Condemn Lesbians? for the absurd justification, and then an honest “Christian Perspective”, not forgetting to throw in Anne Rice who recently “quit” Christianity on Facebook [comments in pdf,] with Mark Driscoll’s response for the Washington Post, because she didn’t want to be “anti-gay anymore”, and the countless trash talk about Proposition 8 in California).

With Proposition 8 being overturned by the California courts, this seems destined for the Supreme Court (where they probably don’t want to deal with it either). The Boston Globe did a huge photo spread called Same Sex Marriage about a week ago and the responses to that article show why this, unfortunately, is THE topic of our day for Christians and the church.  This discussion really wasn’t intended to launch into whether being gay is a sin or not, but to show the absurd arguments on both sides, which lack any careful thought.

This comment below is typical when reading trash talk on the news sites, and was made by someone who used the title “I Feel Drawn Towards Christianity, But I’m Gay”, which then received very complimentary responses, with little question for the lifestyle itself, or with sound argument for or against Christians and the homosexual lifestyle, and what scripture has to say about it’s effects and consequences.

I was surprised in a few ways, one by how openly acceptable the Christian responses were to this person.  Not that they were accepting of the person, that’s great, but accepting of all aspects of the persons lifestyle, with not much need for contemplation (although some did suggest the person generically seek God’s direction). The other surprise was how utterly weak the reasoning and arguments were that were used on both sides.

I am certainly no expert on this topic whatsoever, and there are many who can soundly argue, on both sides, but those seem to be few and far between.  No gay person I talk to (and many Christians for that matter) can give a sound theological argument, backed and based on scripture (since this person “feels drawn to Christianity”).  The majority of the arguments put forth are emotional arguments, which are impossible to argue against in a rational manner.  This is the argument that was given in this particular case:

The Bible also condemns divorce, the eating of pork and shrimp, and says that men shouldn’t sit on the same chairs as women who are menstruating.

The argument seems to lack even a surface level study of scripture, but most Christians responded with nothing other than an emotional response.  As with much of Scripture in our culture today, these verses are taken so much out of context for the use of the argument for a homosexual lifestyle I am surprised they were made? I am not being mean or hateful in spirit here, but seriously, if you are gay, this is your argument?

  • The Bible condemns the eating of pork.
  • We eat pork today.
  • Therefore, homosexuality is ok in the sight of the Lord.

There are so many things that could be addressed but at the basic level, in Mark 7:18-19 Jesus declared all foods to be clean, he didn’t declare all forms of sex to be clean. A better argument that perhaps shows a little more clearly why scripture says that the homosexual lifestyle is sinful in God’s eyes (and there are many things that are actually still seen as sinful in God’s eyes today, besides homosexuality), would be:

Point 1 on Sin:

  • The Bible says sin is detestable in God’s eye’s.
  • Therefore any continuous sinful act is not honoring to God.

Point 2 on Marriage:

  • The Bible defines sex outside of marriage as sin.
  • The Bible defines marriage as a monogamous union between a man and a woman.
  • Therefore any nonrepentant sexual relationship of any kind outside marriage is sin in God’s eyes.
  • Therefore a nonrepentant homosexual lifestyle is sin.
  • Therefore a nonrepentant adulterous relationship is sin.
  • Therefore any sexual relationship before marriage is sin.

I rarely see those “hateful” Christians everyone seems to refer to today that will acknowledge that the last three are equally sin, and equally condemned by scripture, but, that doesn’t mean that either is less or more acceptable to God as a way to live that honor’s God. I do not say that in a hateful manner but in an examination of scripture.  I also recognize that many, or most, “gay Christians” will take issues with my argument above and defend it away in some manner.  The statements above are all based on scripture and can all be backed theologically with sound argument.

Our culture as a whole is continually refusing to see objective truths in the Bible today. Whether we like to ignore them in our day or not, they still exist, there are still things that God says are good, and those things God says are bad, we just seem to have so much knowledge in everything that we have no knowledge in the actual truth anymore.

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Sep 16 2008
3 Comments
Faith

Jill Greenberg Photos of The Manipulator Political Pornography?

Sometimes it really amazes me who is called a photographer and who isn’t. Photography takes on many many forms from journalist to fine artist and everything in between.  When one photographer is able to garner the spotlight of the news for political purposes, such as what Jill Greenberg has done this week with her photo shoot with John McCain, purposely misleading her client, has done harm to the profession of photography for all photographers.

Outside of that, for someone to manipulate an image to the extent that Jill Greenberg has done, takes photography out of the work and inserts something else.  One person put it on the news last night, what Jill Greeberg has done is political pornography, which is an insult to pornographers.  I was so disgusted by the images she posted on her website and that were shown on Fox News and CNN that I don’t know how anyone can call her a photographer.  In the end, at least the Atlantic Monthly has apologized for her representing their magazine, but they shouldn’t have to do that, a photographer should work in a professional manner, no matter what the subject.

The editor of The Atlantic Monthly said Monday he is sending a letter of apology to John McCain after a woman the magazine hired to photograph the Republican presidential nominee posted manipulated pictures from the photo shoot on her Web site. Photographer Jill Greenberg, who is vehemently anti-Republican and expressed glee that the photos would stir up conservative ire, took pictures of McCain for the cover of The Atlantic’s October issue.

Did anyone even notice that this woman is Canadian?  There seem to be so many non-U.S. citizens that seem to want to influence the election, and these are the tactics I guess are needed to do just what she has done, but she has done a true dis-service to all photographers at this point. If you look at it from a blogging perspective or google, she has accomplished exactly what she wanted… to create a fire storm of media attention (and bloggers, see Jill Greenberg Is Not Afraid To Dump All Her Clients At Once, Low blow, The Atlantic should have Googled Jill Greenberg before hiring her, and Fallout From Jill Greenberg’s McCain Images just to name a few) to her disgusting manipulations of the photography profession.

What new mountains of paper work will form from her stunt that will have to be signed, released, political backgrounds checked and so on.  Most photographers I have met would never behave in this manner at all, and I am glad she doesn’t represent me or any photographers that I know.  So that is my rant on the business of photography.  I have yet to find someone on either side of the political isle that is willing to defend her actions, I hope none arise.

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Sep 02 2008
6 Comments
Tech

Internet Smear Campaign Against Sarah Palin is Crazy

Sarah Palin is currently undergoing a smear campaign on the Internet like I have never seen before.  It is really just incredible to see how sharp the attacks on Palin are and how baseless these smears are in real facts.  Is there a good reason for this?  Is the left, far left, democrats, independents, people in general really that scared of this woman?

I will have to agree with a recent blog post I read (see Politics and… by Fluidity) that this all shows our divisions, but they can’t be expected to just go away with someone like Palin, she stands for something, she isn’t luke-warm.  I just hope Palin doesn’t read blogs like bloggers do.

Still, I have not seen any of the hatred being spewed out over Joe Biden, no one is just killing themselves to be the first to get nude photos of Obama or McCain only Palin of course since she is a woman.  Are these people disappointed that she is not some homely looking feminist woman that only wears a pants suit while telling everyone to just get along?  To these bloggers I say, you really don’t get it.  This is what middle America wants.  A smart woman that can buck the system, raise her children, have a moral basis, doesn’t look like some butch tree hugger, and can relate to the “regular” person who deals with life’s problems just like she does.  And while we may not all be a part of middle America, it encompasses a lot of people in this country.

Find the dirt, the naked photos, the illegitimate children, the affair, the miserable part of Palin’s life if it exists.  You know what, maybe it actually doesn’t?  People today are so quick at trying to pull out all the skeletons from the other person’s closet, who cares about the ones piled up in their own house.

A total and complete denial, disregard, ignorance of Matthew 7:2-4 when dealing with those in public view and even those who are not.  Yes, she should be ready for this, this is politics in America in 2008, but how much defamation of character, libel, slander, and vilification should one person expect to be able to handle?

Matthew7:2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

At least Obama yesterday came out and said to back off, that her family should be off limits as is the case with most candidates.  Blogs today can give any nut job a voice, which actually is great, that just means that I have the same freedom to post whatever I want on my own blog (of course I may be one of those nut jobs too).  I at least make an attempt to post verified facts, and if it is an opinion, I try to say so, or at least make it obvious.  The bloggers are on an all out smear campaign of Palin based in totally false statements and no basis of fact.  I hope people who read these “news” stories or blog posts realize that and try to look at her candidacy objectively for what it is, a down to earth person who is now knee deep in the dirt of politics, at least that is how I see it here on this blog.

The real funny thing to me is that all these people that keep posting all these terrible things about Sarah Palin are really just helping her cause and ultimately her campaign. The graph from Google Trends above is just the start (look at the bottom graph, flat line to a straight line up).  “They” are all talking about her.  Blogs, news, radio, tv, commercials, the coffee house, the water cooler, they are talking about her as the possible VP, and this just empowers her in today’s media.

sarah-palin-graph

Not totally the same thing but I can’t imagine people doing this to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis?  I understand she was not running for VP, but she was a woman in politics?  What about the two democratic woman that came before Palin?  I have respect for them just the same, but it doesn’t seem to go both ways on the Internet today. So if you want to empower her in the media, just keep talking about Palin.  I don’t see it helping Biden?  What do you think, how much slander should one politician have to handle? All of it I guess.

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Aug 19 2008
3 Comments
Tech

Results of Rick Warren Interview With Obama and McCain?

Sure, this is old news by now since the interview was a few days ago, but I am still thinking about the how and why of it all. From Saddleback Church in Lake Forrest, CA on Aug. 16, 2008, pastor Rick Warren interviewed the two Presidential candidates (AP Photo/Alex Brandon of McCain, Warren, and Obama left) on live, nationally broadcast television.

On a night that had just about nothing on other than the Olympics, Fox News and CNN both carried the interview live from Saddleback Church (see full written transcripts from the interview here). From other fellow faith based blogs, I knew the interview was coming, but I think it ended up being larger than anyone originally thought. So what was the result?

Prior to the interview, Warren contacted many of his fellow pastors to ask their opinion of what questions he should ask the candidates. Those pastors then blogged about it, asking their readers what they thought Warren should ask. I read a ton of blogs (see my faith based blogroll here), so watching this progress through the Internet was interesting.

I have read everything from pandering from the evangelical far far right to blasting of corruption of everything by Rick Warren from who knows what side, to down right condemnation of Warren and his life (see Rick Warren warranted). [The only reason I actually referenced that post is to show a point of view that is how some feel in the "mainstream", from outside a faith based circle. His statements are by no means backed up by fact and basically is just a dig at Warren, but he isn't alone.]

Did We Learn Anything from the Warren Interview?

So, did we learn anything from this. Was your vote changed? You still had two choices before and two choices after, and I have to admit, I was flipping on the commercials over to the rip roaring woman’s marathon (shown in its entirety). I have to say, the questions were not the typical stump speech softballs. There were some softballs thrown, but the questions were different, as they should have been, but I don’t know if I really gained any insight into McCain or Obama that I couldn’t have already guessed.

The initial results show that evangelicals were favorable of McCain’s answers. Well that is hard hitting news there. I did like several of his answers to questions I probably wouldn’t have heard without the interview, but does that change a person’s vote, or was it even supposed to?

So, What’s The Point? Did We Change Our Minds?

Constantina Diá-Tomescu of Romania I guess what I am trying to figure out is, what is or what was the point? I know Warren said to be able to fairly show the sides of two people running for the most powerful office in the world that we don’t normally get to see… but is it going to change your vote?

I have a lot of respect for Warren, and I don’t always agree with him or some of the other super-star pastors of our time, but he did get a commanding audience, he pulled at least a solid few hours of prime time news, his church got a lot of publicity, he probably sold a few more books, and Constantina Diá-Tomescu of Romania became the oldest woman to ever win the gold in the woman’s marathon.

Rick Warren has done something that many churches are just unable to do, reach an audience capacity on a nation wide level, even internationally on this venue, and for that, I think his work with this interview and other avenues he has followed are well worth it.  There are many people that have a smaller reach, but a reach that I couldn’t possibly have (one example being Ragamuffinsoul, he just does things I couldn’t do in the faith).

But… did anyone make a meaningful commitment to Jesus Christ? Well, I guess that wasn’t the point.

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Jul 12 2008
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Journal

Tony Snow Dead at the Age of 53

After a battle with colon cancer that had spread to his liver, Tony Snow died today at the age of 53. He was someone my family watched and followed for many years through the news and at the White House.

Although I did not know him or his family, our prayer are extended to them this morning.

You can read the full story in the news here, but if you are not familiar with what this man did in his life you can also read the Tony Snow Wikipedia file which has some interesting information about his life as well.

He was a punch bag and a punch line for the left, but just as with the loss of Tim Russert, you can see how much of their lives were spent engaged with the well being of this country. I was no less saddened to see Tim Russert pass on as Snow, you can’t have one side without the other.

This has been a strange year of loss at and around our household, and the country, (Michael Debakey also died this morning), and although I wouldn’t begin to say this is a loss for us over what his family has now lost, it is a loss for the nation as a whole. Regardless of what political side you are on, he was a man of courage and integrity and our house will miss seeing him.

It only reinforces the importance of our relationship with our Lord, and the fact that no, none of us are long for this side of eternity.

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Jul 06 2008
41 Comments
Faith

Christian Photographer Who Refused Gay Wedding Lost Lawsuit

In January 2008 Elane, a freelance photographer who owns Elane Photography, refused to shoot a gay wedding between two woman and was later sued by Vanessa Willock for discrimination against a person’s sexual orientation.  Elane has now lost the lawsuit and is appealing the ruling by the New Mexico State Human Rights Commission.

So, anything goes now, it’s official. Now I understand from the start of this article that I live in Alabama, where I would probably be sued if I did take wedding photography of a gay marriage, but this is just over the edge. This article is not about gay marriage, really. It is about the freedoms you have as a small business owner, and citizen of this country called America. Today, most of you are almost automatically bias and on a “side” depending on your current life situation, but still, this is really out of hand.

Vanessa Willock vs Elane Photography [HRD# 06-12-20-0685]

This morning while getting ready for service, I started reading my usual list of blogs and news articles when I came across the most ridiculous story I have seen in quite some time. In New Mexico there is a woman who has a wedding photography business called Elane Photography.

She was asked to shoot a wedding between two woman (one being Vanessa Willock, a professor at UNM) in New Mexico. When she refused to take the job saying she only shoots “traditional” weddings, she was sued.

Ok, nothing new here in this day and time I guess. Sad, but typical. In this country now, anyone can sue anyone for any reason at all, but one big difference in this case, she lost. The NM Human Rights Division found her guilty and required to pay damages.  (See now also the Elaine Photography Case before the Human Rights Commission in the State of New Mexico, and their Final Ruling, see also the Alliance Defense Fund Fact Sheet for Elane Photography.)

Vanessa Willock Was Laying in Wait, it Seems

The gay couple who wanted Elane’s photography services, filed this complaint, but it looks like she was just waiting for someone to turn her down. Turns out of course that along with working for UNM, Ms. Vanessa Willock is also an EEO Compliance Representative with the Office of Equal Opportunity.

What does she do there? She investigates claims of discrimination and sexual harassment for the state, and to top it off, she is also a member of the Diversity Committee at the University of New Mexico. All that begs the question of the motives Willock has or had when trying to hire this photographer and a case could be made that she was just waiting for someone to say no!

New Mexico Now Picking Your Clients?

Last time I checked we still lived in a free country? This is not some big organization under equal opportunity laws, this is a two person husband and wife photography business. I don’t know anyone that does freelance work that is required to take a job, but now the state of New Mexico is telling this couple what business clients they have to accept!

News West 9: The state Human Rights Commission ruled in April that Elane Photography violated the Human Rights Act by discriminating against Vanessa Willock on the basis of sexual orientation.

Willock contended Albuquerque photographer Elaine Huguenin told her that she photographed only traditional marriages.

I don’t really care what the issue is pertaining to, how in the world can the state tell a two person business what clients they can and can’t take. I know there are a ton of photographers who have refused certain jobs for one reason or another. What happened if the “minister” refused to marry them (unlikely I know, they would have hand picked her) on the basis of Paul’s letter to the Romans or something. Is the state going to “force” religious institutions now to marry people just because the state says it is ok?

we reserve the right to refuse

Any small business can be sued for any reason if they refuse their services to anyone now I guess. What ever happened to “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone”? Guess those days are long gone and the only thing that remains is the actual sign on the business door.

A free marketplace dictates that if one business refuses, another will receive that business. You know, Supply and demand, expenses, profit, all that business type stuff. Obviously the money is less important to Elane Photography than the issue, so just take your business somewhere else. Do we have to sue EVERYONE now?

New Mexico Getting Slammed for Good Reason

I guess this is where New Mexico wants to be. Apparently there are also 20 others states that have these types of refusal laws in place. You take one tiny, and I mean TINY minority (the gay population is said to be around 2%) of any kind, doesn’t matter what it is, their rights supersede those of everyone else. There are so many issues with this particular case it is hard to know what to pick on, but leave it up to the bloggers and they will do a good job as always. So, blogs and news sites galore are slamming New Mexico for good reason. Just to name a few, we have:

and it really just goes on and on. I am sorry, but how stupid are these people on the New Mexico commission or the state in total for putting these ridiculous laws in place and for telling a two person business what clients they have to take. Not only is the state telling me how to run my business but they are requiring someone to do something that is against their religious principles in favor of something that most people in this country are against in the first place.

Have You as a Photographer Ever Refused a Job?

So, I know there are tons of Christian Wedding photographers out there. Are you going to do a wedding because the state tells you to? I really don’t care what the issue is, gay marriage, the intelligence level of the bride/groom, green men from mars, who cares, you own your own business so you can take the clients you want to take, right?

Well, the suit is now up for appeal and The Alliance Defense Fund‘s appeal asks the state district court to reverse the commission’s decision and dismiss Willock’s complaint.” Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and Ms Willock will have to pay for her own expenses and this won’t set a precedent across the states, making it illegal to not work, if that is the choice you make.

Update :: You can also see additional information at Willock vs Elane Photography Refusing Gay Wedding Update

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Jun 18 2008
7 Comments
Faith

Fred Phelps Hiding Under the Walls of the Church

I couldn’t decide to title this post what I did, or Yes, We Should Pray for Tim Russert, but I had to post something because this just made me mad. I did a post a while back called Why Pray for Senator Ted Kennedy, and Tim Russert (and his family) is no different.

I don’t want to give this “church” (I say that in quotes because they have never represented my faith and belief in Christ) any more publicity (links) than they have been given on other blogs, but this organization (Westboro Baptist “Church”) claims all the same Baptist traditions that any other church here in the south claims, they are just hiding under the label of the denomination, and the banter of God’s sacred Church Body.

Not only do they run many many hate filled website, but they have a hate driven blog (which does not allow any comments or discussion on their posts, at least as far as I know), and their “pastor” Fred Phelps is well know for his God Hates American and God hates [fill in the blank]. I am sorry to say, but organizations like these and what Fred Phelps has done over the years using the Christian faith disgusts me. Their group is not new to me at all, they make the news all the time (that is their purpose really), but they are so filled with hate that I really find no difference in this organization and the terrorist who hide under Islam.

This was their “press release” on the death of Tim Russert.

Tim Russert Death

I didn’t even personally care for Russert’s show, but neither did I care for much of what Ted Kennedy has done in his life, but that has nothing to do with our faith and who we are as Christians. Tim Russert’s fate has been decided, and I certainly in no way would ever try to play God and decide what that is, but his family, and many of those who loved him are still here.

These morons were to picket a whole host of events (they do this all the time) that had to do with his death. This is not the love of Christ, this is not representative of the Church Body, and I am appalled that they claim to be the same. To me, they belong where I put them in my category structure, under World Religions (i.e. false religions of our society today).

How much damage has this one church done over the years? It is, to me, a shame to see the great Gospel message of love treated in this manner. If you are a fellow blogger… PLEASE… do not link to anything on their website or blog. As tempting as it may be, anyone can Google these people and find their information, but linking to these groups only gives them more presence on the Internet. If you want to link to a story like this, do a fellow blogger a favor and link to them instead.

So, what about it? Do you find this upsetting as a Believer? Do you just figure there are always people like this so who cares? Leave a comment and discuss it here, you know how I feel about it.

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Jun 02 2008
3 Comments
Faith

Why Should We Pray for Senator Ted Kennedy?

I didn’t think this would ever become a topic for my particular blog but I felt compelled to write a quick post about his situation (and this is not in any way a political post, so don’t tune out quite yet). I think the terms enemy and hate are a little strong for people who live int he same country, but it is spoken that way on both sides of the aisle.

But in that same context as above. Why should we pray for Senator Kennedy who now has a brain tumor and is going to undergo surgery today? Well at the very least, it’s simple, Matthew 5:44 tells us to (like I said, I would not translate a dislike for someone political position for a personal hate or enemy status, but some do, so that is the context here).

43 You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

What this is saying to me to even those whom we disagree with, mildly or strongly, we should sincerely pray for their wellbeing. Especially when God through a situation or circumstance reaches out to us and says, pray for this person. I remember when Tony Snow was diagnosed with cancer and there were people everyone, especially on the Internet, saying the most vile and despicable things and wishing he was dead or would die from the terrible fight he was going through.

I have watched Ted Kennedy’s career during the time I was old enough to follow politics, but I have also read many historical reports about his career prior to my understanding as an adult, and although I may disagree with his political career, I think it is important to remember to pray for people like this, just as we did for Steven Curtis Chapman’s family last month.

So what go me going on this today? Well, my mother in-law, Georgia Christal, was diagnosed with a brain tumor similar to Ted Kennedy’s and she just died a few months ago. Watching and praying for her over the last three years as she battled this cancer was by far the most difficult thing she had ever done, but I can remember at one point thinking I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.

So here is a sincere pray for you Mr Ted Kennedy. I hope the surgery goes well, they remove all traces of the cancer, the treatment is quick and successful, and that you don’t have to go through any of it again, but most of all, I pray for God’s will to be done, whatever that may be.

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May 22 2008
5 Comments
Journal

Prayers for Steven Curtis Chapman and His Family

I am sure by now just about everyone who knows who Steven Curtis Chapman is knows what happened in the news with his daughter being killed on Wednesday.

One of those tragic accidents that reminds me very much of the situation with the Burgess family back in January (see Attacks on the Burgess Family). Both of these “events” came to see the tragic loss of a child by a Believing family.  It is not something that makes any sense or any of us can put a reason or explanation on it. It is only the understanding that we (as a people) are not in control down here, nor should we be I think.  In God, all things work for His good.

One thing that comes to mind to me is Psalm 147:5

5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.

Although it is not under our own understanding, I am sure the Chapman family will turn to God during this tragic even, and we should as well. I know I don’t speak alone when I say many people are praying for you Steven Curtis Chapman.

Update: The Chapman family has setup a blog for their daughter Maria Sue Chapman and the post for the condolences are located at Maria Sue Chapman (2003-2008) (be aware, the page loads slow with more than 14,000 comments so far)

Here is also a post that was part of the memorial service for Maria Sue Chapman. Maria’s Memorial Service

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