How do you avoid an US against THEM attitude when there are so many people who think you are backwards?

I was recently involved in a discussion about overpopulation. Boy, large families really offend some people. See the comments on http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102005062. Careful though. If you've made the decision to have a large family for whatever reason, you may be offended. I was. I am.

Now, no one likes their choices attacked or described as "whack", but perhaps we can help dispel some of the conflict by walking in love rather than taking on a battle attitude. The truth is we're all in the same boat. We're not at war with those who disagree with us or even those who think we are crazy - not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers. It's important to pray for those who despitefully use us.

If you're out there having kids to build a militia for God, you're asking for the kinds of comments posted on this story. God isn't building an army. He's building a family. He's Father, remember?

Now commenters bring up the issue of overpopulation (Read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpopulation) which is laughable. Overpopulation is a micro issue (Can you sustain your family? Can your community resources sustain your family?), not a macro issue (Can the world sustain the population?). Overpopulationists have been with us forever. We're not going to convince anyone who is bent on blaming everyone else for their woes - real and imagined.

The bottom line for me is that whatever the reason someone has a child - each individual has value and potential and a destiny. I don't like some of the reasons people have kids. I don't like the lifestyles some kids are born into, but I would never negate the validity of a life to be born and lived.

It's arrogant to do so. (I wonder if overpopulationists would commit suicide to alleviate the burden they are so concerned about). The slippery slope is to eliminate those who put a strain on resources rather than add to them. It's a silly argument really, yet some intellectuals extol the concern.

I would love to get your thoughts on this. I'm aware that this topic can cause some highly flammable emotions, but try to keep it respectful please - whichever way you lean. Do you regret having a large family? Do you feel guilty for having lots of children? Do you feel guilty if you use birth control?

I must admit that sometimes I feel sorry for people who can't get past their own stuff, and choose to only have one or two kids. I don't think less of them, but I wish they could have as much fun and fulfillment from lots of kids in the house.

What kinds of benefits do you see in your large family that you didn't have before all the kids?

How can anyone say the rich don't pay their fair share? Some statistics for you: 1% of the wealthiest Americans pay 40% of all taxes. The richest 10% of American citizens pay 80% of ALL taxes. 40% of the population don't pay ANY taxes at all. Think of illegal immigrants, people who live on beer and cigarettes, and people who just stink at their jobs!

Look, my husband and I are small business owners and in the ministry as well. We've used our businesses to hire people in need. We LOVE helping people, but one thing we have learned is that there are many needy people out there who WILL NOT WORK! I don't say that lightly. We have tried and tried and tried with many people. Some people take the hand up, and run with it. They own it, and they move on. Some of them even move on to run their own companies. We are so proud of them and happy for them. Others do nothing but complain from the beginning, and we have learned that unless they can overcome that attitude they will end up quitting, and will remain in the state they're in. The only help they could accept was free hand outs. And we did that too. In the end it didn't really help them. It's a sad situation, but it's a truth that has hit us int he face more than once. We didn't believe it for a long time. We thought, given enough help, anyone could better their lives. It's simply not true. There is a great percentage of people out there who despite any skills they may have, don't want to earn a good living. They are lazy in their mind. And believe me, I don't like saying that. I want to believe everyone has potential. I want to believe that we can save the world. You know what though? Jesus couldn't even help some people. Some people just don't want it. They want the free lunch - the easy way out. If it looks like something will put them out, they opt for the path of least resistance, and even though poverty causes so much pain, if you get used to it, then it becomes a rut that is easier to stay in than fight your way out.

Fair is an illusion. It's an idealogy that only works to the best of our ability. God is not fair. If He was He wouldn't have had His Son pay the price we owed for sin. I don't expect fair. I expect not to have my legs tied up as I try to better my life. The rest is up to me. That's freedom.

There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a communist government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'