Jun 23 2006, 12:14 pm - By bojangles

All era's seem to have some kind of label: the Fashion Era, the Music Era, Metal Era, Religous Era, Punk Era, and much more. But I like to call the Era we live in today as the "Label Era." It seems like everyone tries to label each other such as: * Punk * G.o.t.h *Skater * Prep * Athlete * Preacher * Nerd * h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l * p.i.m.p Do you know which one you are? Personally, I don't know what I am, I've been called all of the, except Skater, Athlete, H.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l, and p.i.m.p. But do we truly know much about any of them? If you look them up on www.dictionary.com, here's what the definitions you get: * Punk = n. Dry decayed wood, used as tinder. Any of various substances that smolder when ignited, used to light fireworks. Chinese incense. adj. Slang Of poor quality; worthless. Weak in spirits or health. Slang. A young person, especially a member of a rebellious counterculture group. An inexperienced young man. Music. Punk rock. A punk rocker. Slang. A young man who is the partner of an older man. Archaic. A . adj : of very poor quality [syn: bum, cheap, cheesy, chintzy, crummy, , tinny] n 1: an aggressive and violent young criminal [syn: hood, hoodlum, goon, thug, tough, toughie, strong-armer] 2: substance that smolders when ignited; used to light fuses (especially fireworks) 3: material for starting a fire [syn: kindling, tinder, touchwood, spunk] 4: a teenager or young who is a performer (or enthusiast) of punk rock and a member of the punk youth subculture [syn: punk rocker] 5: rock music with deliberately offensive lyrics expressing anger and social alienation; in part a reaction against progressive rock [syn: punk rock] * G.o.t.h = n. A style of rock music that often evokes bleak, lugubrious imagery. A performer or follower of this style of music. n. A member of a Germanic people who invaded the Roman Empire in the early centuries of the Christian era. adj. Of or relating to the s or their language. Germanic; Teutonic. Of or relating to the Middle Ages; medieval. Of or relating to an architectural style prevalent in western Europe from the 12th through the 15th century and characterized by pointed arches, rib vaulting, and a developing emphasis on verticality and the impression of height. Of or relating to an architectural style derived from medieval ic. Of or relating to painting, sculpture, or other art forms prevalent in northern Europe from the 12th through the 15th century. often ic Of or relating to a style of fiction that emphasizes the grotesque, mysterious, and desolate. gothic Barbarous; crude. n. The extinct East Germanic language of the s. Gothic art or architecture. often ic Printing. See black letter. See sans serif. A novel in a style emphasizing the grotesque, mysterious, and desolate. The combination ic romance represents a union of two of the major influences in the development of European ure, the Roman Empire and the Germanic tribes that invaded it. The Roman origins of romance must be sought in the etymology of that word, but we can see clearly that ic is related to the name used for one of those invading Germanic tribes. The word ic, first recorded in 1611 in a reference to the language of the s, was extended in sense in several ways, meaning “Germanic,” “medieval, not classical,” “barbarous,” and also an architectural style that was not Greek or Roman. Horace Walpole applied the word ic to his novel The Castle of Otranto, a ic Story (1765) in the sense “medieval, not classical.” From this novel filled with scenes of and gloom in a medieval setting descended a literary genre still popular today; from its subtitle descended the name for it. Part of Speech: noun Definition: a genre of rock music with droning instruments and al lyrics and whose performers dress in black with heavy jewelry; also called , punk n 1: a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking ure or refinement [syn: peasant, barbarian, boor, churl, , tyke, tike] 2: one of the Teutonic people who invaded the Roman Empire in the 3rd to 5th centuries [syn: ] *Skater = n. One who skates, as on ice. One who skateboards. See water strider. n : someone who skates * Prep = Preparatory: a college prep course; did extensive prep work for the interview. n. Informal. A preparatory school. Informal. Preparation: Daily practices are the best prep for the upcoming track meet. Chiefly British. The preparing of lessons; homework. Informal. A preppie. v. intr. To be enrolled in and attend a preparatory school. To study or train in preparation for something. v. tr. To prepare (someone) for a medical examination or surgical procedure. To prepare or prime: prep a surface for painting. abbr. preposition1. To prepare for a medical examination or surgical procedure. Function: noun : the act or an instance of preparing a patient for a surgical operation : to prepare for a surgical operation or examination n : preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home) * Athlete = n. A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts. n : a person trained to compete in sports [syn: jock] * Preacher = n. One who preaches, especially one who publicly proclaims the gospel for an occupation. Alaska. A fallen tree or log submerged in a river and creating a hazard for boats. River navigation in America has its own lexicon, including words for hazards encountered in riverboat travel. Large uprooted trees that had drifted down the river and become stuck in the riverbed were sometimes known by their peculiar and dangerous characteristics. John McPhee writes for the New Yorker: “One kind... known as a sawyer, sawed up and down with the vagaries of the current... In the Yukon River, such logseternally bowingare known as preachers. In the Mississippi... they were all snags.” n : someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel * Nerd = n. Slang A foolish, inept, or unattractive person. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept. The word nerd, undefined but illustrated, first appeared in 1950 in Dr. Seuss's If I Ran the Zoo: “And then, just to show them, I'll sail to Ka-Troo And Bring Back an It-Kutch a Preep and a Proo A Nerkle a Nerd and a Seersucker, too!” (The nerd is a small humanoid creature looking comically angry, like a thin, cross Chester A. Arthur.) Nerd next appears, with a gloss, in the February 10, 1957, issue of the Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Mail in a regular column entitled “ABC for SQUARES”: “Nerda square, any explanation needed?” Many of the terms defined in this “ABC” are unmistakable Americanisms, such as hep, ick, and jazzy, as is the gloss “square,” the current meaning of nerd. The third appearance of nerd in print is back in the United States in 1970 in Current Slang: “Nurd [sic], someone with objectionable habits or traits.... An uninteresting person, a ‘dud.’” Authorities disagree on whether the two nerdsDr. Seuss's small creature and the teenage slang term in the Glasgow Sunday Mailare the same word. Some experts claim there is no semantic connection and the identity of the words is fortuitous. Others maintain that Dr. Seuss is the true originator of nerd and that the word nerd (“comically unpleasant creature”) was picked up by the five- and six-year-olds of 1950 and passed on to their older siblings, who by 1957, as teenagers, had restricted and specified the meaning to the most comically obnoxious creature of their own class, a “square.” Part of Speech: noun Definition: a person who is extremely interested and knowledgeable about computers, electronics, technology, and gadgets; also called nerd, geek Usage: derogatory slang n : an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or studying excessively n. 1. [mainstream slang] Pejorative applied to anyone with an above-average IQ and few gifts at small talk and ordinary social rituals. 2. [jargon] Term of praise applied (in conscious ironic reference to sense 1) to someone who knows what's really important and interesting and doesn't care to be distracted by trivial chatter and silly status games. Compare the two senses of computer geek. The word itself appears to derive from the lines "And then, just to show them, I'll sail to Ka-Troo / And Bring Back an It-Kutch, a Preep and a Proo, / A Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker, too!" in the Dr. Seuss book "If I Ran the Zoo" (1950). (The spellings `nurd' and `gnurd' also used to be current at MIT.) How it developed its mainstream meaning is unclear, but sense 1 seems to have entered mass ure in the early 1970s (there are reports that in the mid-1960s it meant roughly "annoying misfit" without the connotation of intelligence). An IEEE Spectrum article (4/95, page 16) once derived `nerd' in its variant form `knurd' from the word `drunk' backwards, but this bears all the hallmarks of a bogus folk etymology. Hackers developed sense 2 in self-defense perhaps ten years later, and some actually wear "Nerd Pride" buttons, only half as a joke. At MIT one can find not only buttons but (what else?) pocket protectors bearing the slogan and the MIT seal. * h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l = Some one in love with the same . *p.i.m.p = Someone who pays s to do his dirty work. Did you know ALL of these? Sure maybe most of them, but most likely not ALL of them. So, what is the point in labeling each other anyway? It's the same thing as forming clicks which is not good at all!! Now, there's a word I absolutely love called "Diversity." You might say, "Well, there are different groups, isn't that diversity?" Yes, there are different groups and clicks, but those in the clicks, only want to hang out with "their people." I think a lot of Christians have the problem of no diversity more than those who are not followers of Christ and here's why. Take these quotes for an example, do any of them sound familiar? "Ew, that person is h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l or b.i.s.e.x.u.a.l!! They're goin' to h.e.l.l because they can't possibly follow Christ!" "Woa! That person is scary, they're g.o.t.h so they worship S.a.t.a.n!" "Gross! That person is a p.i.m.p! They can't possibly follow Christ with what they're doing!" I've heard this a lot, and unfortunately, some of them I've thought before. Sure some things they may do aren't right, but does that necissarily make them not a follower of Christ? We all make mistakes and there is no greater sin than not loving the Lord Jesus Christ. All the others are the same! Someone who is a h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l.i.t.y and p.i.m.p is the same as ery, ery = the same kind of sin as lieing. And people judge people who are g.o.t.h usually by how they look. But get this, if you took a survey of how many g.o.t.h.'s were S.a.t.a.n.i.c, you would find most of them not. Infact, out of twenty, you may find two that are S.a.t.a.n.i.c! But people see their dark, metalic colors and h.a.r.d.c.o.r.e music to be frightenin' and think of it as S.a.t.a.n.i.c. I love listenin' to Heavy Metal Music, I don't always like the lyrics but I love the music. I have a poster of one of my favorite Christian rock bands "Skillet" on my door and when my grandparents came to visit, my Grandad saw the poster and just gave this face of disgust. I told him they're a Christian band but he grunted, "They can't possibly be Christian! Look at them! They look evil! Do they sing rock music?" I answered, "Yes, I do listen to rock music." He replied with grunts still, "That's terrible, they can't be Christians if they're singing that junk! You can't be worshiping God by screaming!" "Yes you can. It doesn't matter if you worship God in your head or aloud. It doesn't matter if you worship God by raising your hands up or having them in your pockets. It doesn't matter if you worship God by dancing or sitting in a chair. It doesn't matter if you worship God by singing or pray or read God's Word. It doesn't matter what the beat the music is, it's the words and your heart. Everyone has different ways of worsiping God, none of them are sinful if they're sincere." Of course, my Grandad didn't agree with me, we both always stand firm in what we believe in our opinions, we never give up, and I guess that makes us hard-headed. But we both spoke for ourselves and moved on. But where I'n trying to get is, different people, different ethnics, different personailties, different ways of worship, diversity!! Luke 5:27-31 The Calling of Levi 27After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 31Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. In the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:4-9 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " 8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. This are only a couple of verses about diversity. There are TONS of verses on diversity. Jesus makes it clear to in John 4:19-24 about the Samaritan Woman by the Well. 19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." 21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." Jesus is absolutely clear on this! Jesus also forgives us for ALL of our sins!! That's the beauty of His agape love. I took a Greek Class course and there are four types of love: Agape - Unconditional Love Eros - E.r.o.t.i.c/Romantic Love Phillos - Brotherly/Friendship Love Staoros - Family Love Jesus Christ is THE ONLY one who gives us agape love. He always forgives us if we ask Him, now, when we sin, we are to ASK for forgiveness and really try to break the habit of that sin. We are to ask God to help us to flee from that sin and have accountibility partners too so they can help us:) But we so many times judge peoples' hearts which is in the first place not our place nor job to be judging, only God can judge someone's heart. But we not only judge people by their heart, we take it a step further by judging their heart by appearance or actions. But if we judge someones heart by those, how can we judge ourselves? We are commiting the same exact sin as they are! We are to love everyone! In the Bible the Jews said to be a Jew, you had to associate with certain people, you had to eat certain foods, you had to attend certain ceremonies. But none of those were/are how to get to heaven. In fact, the Apostle Peter began to follow their "requirements" and Paul confronted him. I imagine it like this: Paul: Dude, Pete my man, we've got to talk. Peter: Hey man what's up? Paul: What are you doing? Peter: Well, I was just about to eat some fried fish because today is not the day for pork because pork is unclean with my homies as since the other guys are weird, I mean, hey, they aren't even Jewish! They don't even follow the requrements! Then I was going to go to the Synagogue and pray as since that's the only place I can go to pray and this is the time I'm supposed to pray, and then go kill a sheep to make my sacrifice. Why what about you? Paul: Dude, what the heck! There is no need for that! Sure prayin' is a good thing but you can pray anywhere at anytime! And for your information, fried pork is great! You used to love friend pork! Jesus revealed to me not too long ago that we are to call nothing of his creation "unclean." Fried Pork is clean! And the whole sacrifice thing, dude, you need to pray more about that and get your act straight. Did you totally forget about Jesus? Our REAL homie? He already sacrificed himself and rose again! And dude, by the way, just because peeps don't worship the same way you do doesn't mean they're weird. I mean seriously dude, you aren't even Jewish! Dang dude, I will definately be prayin' for you. Peter began to act like the Jewish leaders, but Paul confronted him. We are to do the same thing.

Jun 23 2006, 1:28 pm - Replied by: bojangles

Se7enth_Cross wrote: Interesting post, but did u know ick is a kind of dark religion? Also, u left out gangsta :P

I couldn't think of the word gangsta, so I just put the word p.i.m.p. The G.o.t.h.i.c isn't it's own religion, trust me, I used to be g.o.t.h.i.c. There are g.o.t.h Athiests, Christians, W.i.c.c.a.n.s, anyone could be g.o.t.h.i.c. I used to be a g.o.t.h athiest, sorta, like, I believed God existed but I h8ed Him but that's another story. You can see that story in my testimony on here and a blog, both called "Open Wounds Healed." Most g.o.t.h.s are W.i.c.c.a.n, which is pretty much like Neo-P.a.g.a.n.i.s.m. They don't worship S.a.t.a.n, but they believe there is either one God and , or many God's and es. It reminds me a lot of Greek and Roman Mythology. They have God and of Fire, God and of Earth, etc. etc. I've done research as well as being a former g.o.t.h on it. I personally have never been W.i.c.c.a.n but studying it fascinates me. But from what I have researched on W.i.c.c.a, it does not seem too dark, sure they talk of spells, but they can't cast spells on people. Even if they could, they wouldn't be able to on followers of Christ and thse who had a spell, if later on in life they came to follow Christ, Jesus would take most likely take that spell away. Like a d.e.m.o.n-possession. People who are possessed by d.e.m.o.n.s, they can follow Christ. And d.e.m.o.n.s can no longer possess them. Although it also in the Bible talks about Thorn of the Flesh so a spell could be that as well. But I personally don't fear P.a.g.a.n.s and W.i.c.c.a.ns because I know what I believe in and they can't cast spells on me because they are human.

Jun 23 2006, 2:17 pm - Replied by: bojangles

Se7enth_Cross wrote: Yeah, i know ICS aren't a religion, but IC(K)S are. I saw it somewhere before, it was some medevil dark religion or something.

Notice the word "Medieval." It's past, unless it's still goin' on, I haven't heard of that.

Jun 24 2006, 3:43 pm - Replied by: wabbit268

It is unfortunate that we judge people so many times simply by what we see. We can have unity without uniformity. Be patient with your grandparents and others that react the same way. They were brought up differently and have had time to experience things in life. That doesn't mean that they are right, but don't judge them harshly, just try to understand them and love them. Some times people have a hard time seperating sin from something that is in itself enjoyable and good. For instance techno. My sis and bor-in-law were into drugs in the rave scene. They became christians and even thought they don't do rugs anymore or even go to raves, they still really enjoy techno. Steve still mixes. But some might say techno = drug abuse which one could make a logical argument for. Remember it's not the thing that you like they hate/repulsed by/don't like, it is what has corrupted it. And until they can see the truth they will not understand. A man who lived over 1000 years ago said this: "In the essentials unity, the non-essentials liberty, but in all things charity." We may not agree on everything, but if we can agree on Christ than the rest can be forgiven on both sides. And I do agree with you about the !@#$ condemnation. And yet just as over time I would expect someone who professes to treasure Christ to at least make an attempt to change their behavior. Not just being gay, but any destructive behavior. And there is also this to consider: while every sin is equally grievous to God, there are different physical and emotional consequences to the actions we take. If I lie to someone i hurt their feelings. If I kill someone I go to jail. Both terrible to God, but different outcomes in the end. If we treasure Christ, our behavior and life should reflect that, something must be different. Not to fit some cookie-cutter mold, but a life that reflects the glory of God in our actions and how treat other people. Because Jesus did not die so that we could stay the same. He died to bring us into communion with God and no man or woman stays the smae when in constant contact with the living God. Those are my thoughts anyway. Glad to see that you have not fallen into labeling.

Jun 24 2006, 5:04 pm - Replied by: bojangles

wabbit268 wrote: It is unfortunate that we judge people so many times simply by what we see. We can have unity without uniformity. Be patient with your grandparents and others that react the same way. They were brought up differently and have had time to experience things in life. That doesn't mean that they are right, but don't judge them harshly, just try to understand them and love them. Some times people have a hard time seperating sin from something that is in itself enjoyable and good. For instance techno. My sis and bor-in-law were into drugs in the rave scene. They became christians and even thought they don't do rugs anymore or even go to raves, they still really enjoy techno. Steve still mixes. But some might say techno = drug abuse which one could make a logical argument for. Remember it's not the thing that you like they hate/repulsed by/don't like, it is what has corrupted it. And until they can see the truth they will not understand. A man who lived over 1000 years ago said this: "In the essentials unity, the non-essentials liberty, but in all things charity." We may not agree on everything, but if we can agree on Christ than the rest can be forgiven on both sides. And I do agree with you about the !@#$ condemnation. And yet just as over time I would expect someone who professes to treasure Christ to at least make an attempt to change their behavior. Not just being gay, but any destructive behavior. And there is also this to consider: while every sin is equally grievous to God, there are different physical and emotional consequences to the actions we take. If I lie to someone i hurt their feelings. If I kill someone I go to jail. Both terrible to God, but different outcomes in the end. If we treasure Christ, our behavior and life should reflect that, something must be different. Not to fit some cookie-cutter mold, but a life that reflects the glory of God in our actions and how treat other people. Because Jesus did not die so that we could stay the same. He died to bring us into communion with God and no man or woman stays the smae when in constant contact with the living God. Those are my thoughts anyway. Glad to see that you have not fallen into labeling.

I agree, I mean, I love my grandparents:) I don't h8 anyone, I'll dislike but I won't h8. I do enjoy Techno music too:) Um, I agree that someone who is living in sin should really try to not keep it up. Yes, we do always sin because we are human, but at the same time, as followers of Christ, we should strive to be like Him and should strive for perfection. We won't reach perfection, but we should try to be perfect in all we can, because we are also representatives of God. People who continue to sin and are open to it and take advantage of God's grace I don't dissagree they are followers, but I think they need a Spiritual Check-up. I mean, things such as h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l.i.t.y are very clear in the Bible that it is wrong. One verse that especially makes this clear I think is Romans 1:25-27: 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. This post thingy is supposed to be a reminder to everyone including myself. For me, putting down people who are h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l.s is something I do and it's wrong. H.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l.i.t.y makes me sick. But I have to remember, they're human, they make mistakes just like I do, I'm not to jusge their heart because of their actions. Jesus would hang out with them. Jesus hung out with the h.o.o.k.e.r.s in his time. Jesus hung out with the drunks his time. Jesus would probably hang out with the "d.r.u.g.g.i.e.s" and the smokers. He knew what diversity was all about, and in the Great Commission He tells us to go ALL over the world and tell EVERYONE about the good news. That can't get anymore clear! So many times I think we don't realize it's true meaning. Many times we'll teach on it, but won't follow it. We won't talk to someone because of their actions, their looks, their smells, their poverty or richness. We are to represent God and God chooses EVERYONE!!

Jun 24 2006, 7:04 pm - Replied by: wabbit268

Right on sister! Great perspective.

Jun 25 2006, 11:00 am - Replied by: bojangles

wabbit268 wrote: Right on sister! Great perspective.

Thank you:)

Jun 25 2006, 3:44 pm - Replied by: hemholder

This is a very interesting thread you have started here bojangles. i had no idea of the dictionary meanings of some of our present day terms!! After reading some of them, I dont think I would call myself those things.LOL From all I have read in the Word to date, I'd say God finds division displeasing other than making a difference between the worlds stuff, and His stuff. Thats a division that He made, and everything He made is good! There are no homsexuals in the kingdom of God, but there surely are saints who in tmes past repented from homosexuality, were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and are now made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus eh? We are to represent God and God chooses EVERYONE!! With this statement I would have to disagree, because the Word says many are called, but few are chosen. Few is not the same as everyone. Peace & love, Hemholder

Jun 26 2006, 4:49 pm - Replied by: bojangles

hemholder wrote: This is a very interesting thread you have started here bojangles. i had no idea of the dictionary meanings of some of our present day terms!! After reading some of them, I dont think I would call myself those things.LOL From all I have read in the Word to date, I'd say God finds division displeasing other than making a difference between the worlds stuff, and His stuff. Thats a division that He made, and everything He made is good! There are no homsexuals in the kingdom of God, but there surely are saints who in tmes past repented from homosexuality, were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and are now made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus eh? We are to represent God and God chooses EVERYONE!! With this statement I would have to disagree, because the Word says many are called, but few are chosen. Few is not the same as everyone. Peace & love, Hemholder

I'm sorry, I'm not exactly a quick person, I'm kind of slow. I don't quite understand what you mean. Could you try to explain it to me differently please? Thanks:)

Jun 27 2006, 12:02 am - Replied by: hemholder

Dear Bojangles, Im not sure what you want me to explain?? About few being chosen, homosexuality & the church, or about the division between the world and the kingdom of God?? Peace & love, Michelle

Jun 27 2006, 7:33 am - Replied by: bojangles

Both, but mainly the homosexuality thing. Thanks:)