SpongeBob checks into Exodus International

I thought this was so funny I had to share. It can orginally be fround at Larknews.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Cartoon actor SpongeBob Squarepants checked into an Exodus International program Wednesday, hoping to leave behind a life of homosexuality he now dubs "duplicitous and shameful." The celebrity sponge said through a spokesman that he intends to immerse himself in the Christ-centered program. "For years, SpongeBob has struggled with his sexual identity," said his spokesman, reading from a prepared statement. "He hopes to emerge from this program cleansed." Other gay children's characters expressed disappointment. Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street told reporters SpongeBob is "denying who he is." "He's setting us back fifty years," Ernie said from his and Bert's Upper West Side penthouse. SpongeBob has said in past interviews that his sexual confusion began when he learned his parents were, like all sponges, hermaphroditic, switching gender roles throughout their life cycle. "It was traumatizing," he says. "It tore a big hole in my personality." The beloved yellow children's character, who has gained fans because of his guilelessness, hopes to settle down with another sea creature once his show runs its course. "When syndication kicks in, I can retire and start spawning, like a normal sponge," he told Entertainment Weekly last April. •

Should Christians Go Out To Eat On Sundays?

One of the things I have been reflecting on is whether Christians should go to stores, restaurant, and businesses on Sunday.
Let me tell you a quick a little story why this has been on my mind.

A little while ago I got a hired at a certain restaurant that is just opening. When they hired me they knew I was only available 20 hours and was completely and totally unavailable to work on Sundays. Well, anyway, this restaurant was not open at the time of my hiring but just setting up and they asked if I could come in and help them set up as they brought in dishes on a Saturday. This was not scheduled hours just something I could do to help them out and earn a little extra money even before I had orientation. I worked that Saturday and as I was leaving I was told (not asked) to come in tomorrow morning as well (that being Sunday). Keep in mind what I was doing was extra and there was no orientation yet. I then responded by saying I am not available on Sundays. Then I was told I had to be available at nights or the mornings on Sunday. Then (with grace) I informed them I was hired with the understanding that I would not work any time on Sunday and I made this clear up front during my time of hiring and I was hired. Well I was then instructed that I needed to talk to a certain manager about that. I did and then he said I was right. Then they tried to schedule me 40 hours! During my orientation week. I protested (kindly, and with grace, I obviously can not put school on hold because its their training week) and my response was its ok the 40 hour is only for the two training weeks. So two weeks of 40 hours. Making 80 hours combined. I decided to quit (again with grace ) and then got a job with Chick-fil-A a Christian owned restaurant, which is not open on Sundays and is flexible with Seminary students.

This got me thinking why is it that working a Sunday can be an expectation of a an employer. It was at the former place I was working even they knew I was unavailable. Obviously, to the world Sunday is the second day of the weekend. A time to sleep in or do whatever. But still, does it bother anyone else how most employers think that it is unreasonable that some one would want Sunday off? Obviously, the reason employers want people to work on Sundays is economic it is another day to make money.

So anyway, a couple Sundays ago I was feeling thankful that I did not have to work on Sundays and glad that would never be a problem with my new job at Chick-fil-A, then I went out to eat after service (like ever good Baptist) and enjoyed my meal but also realized other people were working. Not for me only obviously but I was part of the reason someone else had to work on Sunday. This bugged me. Honestly right now I do not know whether it is right or not go out to eat or do other business on a Sunday.

Having said that, let me first clarify a few things: my concern is NOT trying to obey 4th commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days you shall labor, and do all your work," Exodus 20:8,9 (ESV) because Col 2:16 says:Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath, but I am concerned about obeying Heb 10:25 says :Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing... So I am not saying that we should not do stuff because it breaks the Sabbath, but that we as Christians doing things on Sundays may prevent other from obeying Heb 10:25 or will reinforce the world's idea that its ok to work on Sundays since its ok for us to be served by workers on Sunday. So what are your thoughts? I would love to have them since my mind is far from made up on this one. What do you think should Christian not go out to eat or to stores on Sunday? Or is ok and why? Let me say I can’t think of a time where I did not go out to lunch immediately after service. Is there anything wrong with that? Are you someone who does not go out on Sundays? Or do you go and have no problem with it? Let me know what you think. I am still undecided on where my convictions are on this issue, so help me out.

P.S. Oh and please come up with something better than "places will be open anyway, so you might as well" that does not mean you have to support it just because it will keep on going without your support. Its like saying you might as well vote for the incumbent even if you disagree with him because he is going to win anyway. Anyway let me know what you think.