If you filled in the blank with a four-letter word, it expresses the sentiment I felt the first time I heard of people choosing celibacy over same-sex relationships. Former gay-identified Dr. Christopher Yuan calls this a holy sexuality: pursuing a relationship with Christ through surrendering our desires and attractions to Him daily and living in sexual … Continue reading Holy ________!
Betrayal has been a thread woven in and out of my life. Nowhere has it been more evident than in matters of the Christian faith. From my late teen years to my mid–twenties I spent the majority of my time connected to a para–church organization. Admittedly, my motivation for being a part of this group … Continue reading When Faith Feels Like Betrayal
In part two of Examining the Lines, we looked at how gay-identified Christians view sexuality, gender and marriage. In this post, we look at the traditional Christian view of these subjects. The traditional Christian sexual ethic sees sexuality, gender and marriage as God’s good gift to humanity. Marriage is to be between one man and … Continue reading Examining the Lines that divide (3)
In Power of Perceptions, we discussed how one’s internal perceptions can help shape one’s identity. Today, we will explore the power of external messaging, which has influenced the broad acceptance of gay-identified people and gay rights. In a recent interview, Erin Brownback, on Communicating God’s Design for Family, talks about the power of messaging and how it impacts … Continue reading Love is a Verb: Power of Messaging (1)
In Use your God Tools I stated that “investing in relationship is the most valued emotional real estate for postmoderns.” I would add that the same is true for LGBT people. In today’s post, I want to explore some of the needs of those who fully embrace their sexual or gender identity. Consider this thought from my friend … Continue reading Love is a Verb: Invest
Thank you friends who have joined me in prayer over the last two weeks for Orlando and the LGBT community and people worldwide. For the last prayer focus I want to direct our attention towards the church, individuals and ministries who reach out to the LGBT community and walk beside those wishing to resolve … Continue reading Love is a Verb: Stand With
How does one make sense out of horrific events such as the recent Orlando shootings? To be honest I don’t have the answer to that question. What is ever-present for me is a familiar sense of a grief and sorrow that I experienced after 9/11. Like many other people, I am trying to come to … Continue reading A Call to Mourn and Pray
Throughout my post-gay experience, I have wrestled with the correlation between orientation (my attraction, desire and draw to other women) and identity in relationship to my faith. I also believe it is one of the hardest and most important issues for “gay identified Christians” and Christians who struggle with same sex attractions (SSA) to come … Continue reading What’s Your Orientation
One needs to go no further than Facebook’s 58 options for gender to recognize our world is rapidly moving towards a gender-neutral world. Based on my last post, we see that God did indeed create two distinctive genders with different form and roles (and pronounced His creation as “Very Good.”) As we embark on this … Continue reading Men and Women What’s the Difference
Please take some time to consider your own story and the ways gender has influenced your own understanding of men and women in relationship to one another and to God. In my own story I grew up with the strong message that I was supposed to have been a boy from my foster parents. … Continue reading Is Gender a Gift?
Hopes Place at the Table 