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Above all, though, I know God is fair. I know there are methods provided so people who died without knowing stuff like this or people who never got the chance won't just be condemned by default. And I trust that He will deal fairly with things that seem to be too difficult or don't make sense. I'm sure there are special cases that make things seem unfair, but I trust Him to deal with those in a way that doesn't unfairly condemn anyone who wasn't being sinful with the intent to defy Him.

Alright. So some of this might be specific to my religion and some might apply to all Christians, but here's what I believe. Marriage is special to God. It is intended to be a special bond between a man and a woman that goes beyond anything else. Sex is also supposed to only be performed between a married man and woman to bring children into the world. Marriage is sacred to the point where it is a required ordinance to enter into the highest levels of heaven. Things that pervert this, like adultery or extramarital sex or homosexual marriage, are an affront to something that's sacred. That's what makes it a sin.
As for being homosexual, it's just an extra challenge. Kind of like how someone with kleptomania has to work harder to master themselves and not steal, or someone with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism has a greater struggle to remain addiction-free. Having that trait isn't a sin, but acting on it is.

I'm sorry, I had just been talking to someone else about the difference between refusing to serve at a wedding versus refusing to serve for an everyday thing, so "wedding" was on my mind and I accidentally inserted it when I read the post. So as far as just regular cakes go, the guy who posted that (and you) are 100% correct. My apologies.
(The "sin" I was referring to was homosexual marriage, not just homosexuality. Although I get the feeling that if I elaborated on that, it'd probably bug you too, so I'm not going to go on a huge lecture here. (Unless you're genuinely curious and want me to.))

You're both right. That's why they have people who have whole political careers in trying to figure out the right balance, and then getting it wrong anyway. Money is far more complicated than it seems.

I believe it is carbon fiber coating.

He starts out saying it was four years ago. He might have gotten engaged after the story.

*one

I have a friend like that. Everything she is and does amazes me.

The light is just now reaching us. Those movies are true accounts.

We threw parties like this back at my house during high school. Usually during the daytime instead of at night, but other than that, pretty similar. No crazy sex or alcohol, though, with most everyone being underage. But you don't really need that when you've got a pool, trampoline, soccer goal, tire swing, treehouse, speakers (and lax neighbors who don't mind the noise), and a bunch of soccer teammates/cast members/birthday guests/etc who know how to have a good time no matter where they are. However, I will admit that these parties probably aren't common everywhere. We lived in an area that was probably a bit more wealthy than average, and my family probably makes a little bit more than an average amount of money.

Or it's because they're trying to make the point that your circumstances change how you view things.

Electronic Arts. A game company notorious for selling half a game and then offering the rest as downloadable content for extra money, instead of selling a full game and then coming up with cool optional add-ons as downloadable content for extra money.

As an opponent's sword clashes against it, the wave pattern causes their sword to vibrate as it slides across. A flamberge wielder would be used to it, but their opponent might drop their sword or have their arm numbed by the vibration.

Smart people can say stupid stuff too.

The Icarus Hunt, by Timothy Zahn. It's a space adventure with a Han Solo-type smuggler/criminal protagonist and his partner who find themselves in over their heads as their simple cargo run turns out to be much more important than they thought, as well as mysterious disappearances and a murderous traitor in their midst. And the ending is just...wow. I've never read an ending that came so far out of nowhere but still made sense! My mind was blown.