I Believe My God Can Handle It ALL!

I learned yesterday that World Vision has made the decision to allow same-sex married couples to work for this Christian Charity. In an article I was reading Richard Stearns, who is the president of World Vision stated in a letter, "I want to be clear that we have not endorsed same-sex marriage, but we have chosen to defer to the authority of local churches on this issue. We have chosen not to exclude someone from employment at World Vision U.S. on this issue alone."

Well, Hallelujah! Finally, someone who is in a leadership roles within a Christian Organization promotes equality, fairness, and treats ALL employees the same. Wow...hang on, I need to catch my breathe as I am so overwhelmed with joy.

There is also another part of this story that I like as it is something my spouse and I have often said needs to happen but it is hard to get to the second hurdle if you can't jump the first.

Here is another quote from Richard Sterns letter, " However, now World Vision is allowing gay Christians in legal same-sex marriages to be hired as well as gay Christians who follow their policy of abstinence outside of marriage."

Well, Hallelujah on that decision also! Being gay has mostly been viewed by others as a promiscuous leading life. The media has been so helpful in this area as to portray us as wild, insane, partying creatures of the night. This is not the case at all and Richard Sterns expects (wait here is that word again) ALL to abide by the same expectations. Married gay couples are to be committed to one another and single gay people are to be abstinent until they decide to marry. These are exceptions that are set forth due to the nature of the Christian organization and the expectations of ALL employees.

My hat's off to you, Mr. Sterns! Congratulations on taking a giant leap for equality within the Christian Community!










Now...there is a downside you know. Nothing good is ever done without a struggle and not everyone is going to agree with World Vision. Let's talk about those people...

In the course of Christian history there have been numerous times when Christian groups have used their muscle to get what they want. Even today some Christians continue to boycott companies because their money should not be used for those businesses that believe in Equality. If you are promoting fairness, kindness, respect for all, and non work place discrimination then believe me there are some Christians who would chose to pull their money as there is no "Good" in that list of qualities.

I found an interesting list located at: http://www.usanewsfirst.com/2013/02/05/list-of-companies-christians-boycott-grows-haters-of-god/#sthash.Zq4vjU8Q.dpbs
I will warn you this is uncensored news! You may be shocked at how far "they" are willing to go.

Okay, sorry for the curvy road, now back to World Vision and the current issue at hand. Starving children. Children that are in need of monetary support every month in order to have the basic necessities of life met. Children that without this support would die. I am not being extreme or being sarcastic in any way on this issue. This is so very serious.

Starving Children Need Your Monthly Support To Live!

Is there any clearer way of making this statement? 

Here is the real question. At what point do you say' "Self, I no longer believe what this organization is doing. Therefore, I am pulling my monthly donation and so what if this child I was supporting dies?"

Stop. Think. Re-read the question above.

Regardless of whether you agree with World Visions decision to support equality in the workplace you have made a commitment. You made a commitment to this child to help them every month so they may have the basic necessities they need. You made a commitment to yourself as you believe it is the right action do. Most importantly you have made a commitment to your God. You know the one you are supposed to be honoring? The God who says, 

Matthew 25:35 

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

But wait a minute, you say...I am honoring God by not giving any more. Since World Vision is supporting those "gays" now I am not giving of my money to help the poor starving children in need. Do you hear yourself yet? Do you hear how that sounds?

Wait! I found these verses...

1 John 3:17-18 

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Deuteronomy 15:7 

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.

Do you see any scripture in the Bible that tells you if you suddenly don't agree with the choices a Christian organization makes that you are to withhold your good? Do you truly believe that in your heart you are to withhold good? Then I am going to be brave and step out on a limb and venture to say that you don't know the heart of God. Yes, I said it. Normally I would not make this statement because what is between you and God is just that. However, I am a living, breathing, testimony of God's love and how He can motivate you into loving those you don't agree with, loving those who are not like you, and loving those who would kill you if given the opportunity. I am not exaggerating on that point either.

If God really is the motivator of your choices then you will continue to support World Vision. Period.

The real question here is; How BIG is your GOD?

Do you think He is big enough to handle World Vision's decisions? Do you think God would promote equality, love, and helping others? Even though you may disagree with the decisions that have been made, do you think God is big enough to handle ALL personal relationships with Him? I am talking about straight Christians, gay Christians, married Christians, single Christians? Do you see where I am going? I thought so.

So get down off of your soapbox and onto your knees. Pray about things you do or do not agree with and let God do His job. Regardless of whether you agree or not. I believe that God can handle it.

I also believe that these children of World Vision still need your monthly support and still need your love in whatever form that may be. Get back to the business of God! Help those in need, comfort those in pain, and be a friend to ALL. You are not allowed to pick and chose who you do good for in Jesus Christ name.

I believe My God can handle it ALL!

If you would like to sponsor a child at World Vision please click on the link below. Thank you.
http://www.worldvision.org/m/sponsor-a-child/?campaign=1193512&gclid=CI-d9f2err0CFVKFfgodSjIAig

Knock Knock Who's There?: The Reality of Your Reflection

Knock Knock Who's There?: The Reality of Your Reflection: Recently I have been seeing a lot of post from various sources concerning Fred Phelps being close to death. While the content of these post...

Life Lessons from My Cat

I was cleaning our home this morning and I always save vacuuming the stairs for last. The cat-tree we have for our feline friends is at the top of the stairs. They are terrified of the vacuum as they should be. I can’t imagine not understanding why this thing comes alive in the home once a week, make scary noises, and causes them undo stress. As I am backing down the stairs I look up at the top of the cat-tree where one of our cats is. I see him looking down at me. His ears are pressed backwards; his eyes are wide, wild with fear. Even though he is ready to leap at any moment to escape to safety, he holds his ground to watch. At this moment I said to my feline friend, “I am proud of you because even though you are scared to death you chose to stand your ground.” “I could learn a lot from you.” I am referring to my over-whelming fear of Christians. 

As I continue to finish vacuuming the stairs my mind is flooded with thoughts of how this example parallels with what I am experiencing within my life right now. Whether it be validated or not in my mind or in reality is not the issue. The issue is that it exists.

As I have decided to be authentic in who I am, mentally I am finding this to be challenging. I began this journey in 2004 by telling family, friends, co-workers that I am gay. I was prompted to do this as I had fallen in love plus my relationship with God was growing. I thought, “Why can’t I have it all like everyone else?” Little did I know the toll it would take on my psyche for years to come. 

Being true to myself has affected me in several ways both positive and negative. The one most important to me though is my spiritual self. It is my relationship with God along how the outside world views me. I believe I give too much consideration to how other Christians view me so this is causing many issues as to how I function on a day to day basis.  

It has not been an easy journey losing family and friends because of who I am. At first when I became open with my authentic self I was a force of nature to be reckoned with. With the support of God and my spouse I was going to make it in this life no matter what. Now however, ten years later, I find myself tired. I am tired of always feeling like I need to reconcile myself to prove to others that I can truly be Christian and Gay. My spouse tells me often to “just be you.” Maybe for her and for others that is easier for them to do. However, for me it is a constant mental battle. I am so scarred and scared of the Christian community that I am finding it hard to be a part of it. I am frozen in this fear.

Over the last ten years I have slowly evolved discovering how it feels to look on the outside as I feel on the inside. Recently, I decided to drastically cut my hair very short. I have always hid behind my long auburn locks for many reasons; never quite realizing how deceiving they were to others of who I really am. I know, it sounds silly but your perception of a person when you meet them sometimes comes with how they walk, talk, & look. Here, let me show you:

Before                                                                      

                                      

After

Before I cut my hair it was easy for me to blend into crowd, hide that I was gay even though I had told myself I had come out. Since I have cut my hair it is impossible to hide my sexual orientation. However, I do look on the outside how I feel on the inside. I thought that once this process was complete I would feel whole. I do in so many aspects, feel whole, complete. It is only within the Christian Community that I feel disjointed. 

I recently went to a Toby Mac concert. I totally love Toby Mac’s music and how his message of Gods’ Love reaches people who may have never come to Christ except thru his music. I have always found myself uncomfortable in a “Church/Christian” environment. This feeling is due to a lot of different factors like experiences growing up. It is not just because I was born gay. Now though, more than ever, it is because I am gay. At this concert even though no one said anything to me I felt extremely uncomfortable and out of place. I am on edge, nervous, and paranoid. I am always waiting for the “scary” thing to happen such as someone saying something to me along the lines of; “You don’t belong here, you Lesbian Dyke.” The list in my mind goes on forever. To perpetuate this feeling we are at the concert and Brandon Heath takes the stage. He proceeds on stating how he is from the East Coast and he along with his team are country hicks who look like Duck Dynasty. While anyone who watch the news or reads online knows how Duck Dynasty feels about gay people a large part of the audience starts to cheer and clap. I immediately feel like running out of the stadium to hide. I am thinking all the while if they know I am gay that my spouse and I may be in danger. I even went as far prior to the concert to try and change my hair style to look more like a girl so others wouldn’t know I am gay. I also was uncomfortable holding my wife’s hand. I feel like a traitor to myself, my wife, along with my gay family.

I am praying a lot and receiving a lot of support from my spouse but I don’t know how to navigate through this. I see on a daily basis Christian’s voting to ban gay people from businesses, Russia beating gay people in the streets, Uganda arresting, even killing people for being gay. Right under our very noses here in the United Stated people are beaten, even killed for being gay.  Just when I think with Gods’ strength, my spouse’s love, and the encouragement of people around me I will be alright, I see another headline. I am propelled backwards into the dark places in my mind. Paralyzed by the realty of how real hate is and how scary it is the one to be hated.

So as I go back to vacuuming the steps I see my cat frozen in dread at the top of his cat-tree. I believe I can learn several valuable lessons from my feline friend. 

I can learn to not run away immediately when I hear the loud noise I don’t understand simply use caution.

I can learn to observe and not react every time I hear the loud noise.

I can learn that sometimes the noise seems louder than it really is.

I can learn the noise will eventually stop.

I can also learn to love the person who is making the loud noise. Maybe they are oblivious to how loud they are and what they are doing to me.

As I struggle through this piece of my life I have to learn to trust God that I am serving my purpose in His Will no matter what the end result. My prayer is that before I leave this Earth I can find peace along with comfort within the Christian Community. I pray that one day I can pray together with others and be able to close my eyes while surrounded my Christians, knowing I am safe within God’s family of believers.