Posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tim's Testimony
So, recently I read the very powerful and inspirational testimony of a man named Tim and I feel that it has a lot to say about the Church, the broader GLBT community and the issue of homosexuality.
Tim opens with this statement.
"The opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality. It's wholeness.
Silence kills -- secrets aren't kept forever. There are some things you can say and there are other things you can't, especially inside the church.
You can mention pornography, masturbation, drug addiction and everything in between and find some sort of hope of forgiveness and acceptance from the church (not acceptance as if it's OK, but acceptance that there is hope). But, -- and it's a big but -- there's one word that turns people red in the face and shuts their mouths. I'm talking about being gay.
By the time I was seven, I had heard fag, homo and sissy spoken my direction too often. I was always very active at church, and in my heart I thought the more I do the more likely this will go away.
...In a place where you think you could talk to someone and be real with what was going on, the only feeling I got when I'd even think that I could muster up the courage to talk about my life was one of fear.
...How, as a kid in high school, do you go to your youth pastor and tell him you are attracted to people of the same sex when he does such a great "gay" impersonation that everyone seems to think is hilarious?
You don't. So I just kept quiet. I never said a word as I thought at some point it would pass...."
"The opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality. It's wholeness.
Silence kills -- secrets aren't kept forever. There are some things you can say and there are other things you can't, especially inside the church.
You can mention pornography, masturbation, drug addiction and everything in between and find some sort of hope of forgiveness and acceptance from the church (not acceptance as if it's OK, but acceptance that there is hope). But, -- and it's a big but -- there's one word that turns people red in the face and shuts their mouths. I'm talking about being gay.
By the time I was seven, I had heard fag, homo and sissy spoken my direction too often. I was always very active at church, and in my heart I thought the more I do the more likely this will go away.
...In a place where you think you could talk to someone and be real with what was going on, the only feeling I got when I'd even think that I could muster up the courage to talk about my life was one of fear.
...How, as a kid in high school, do you go to your youth pastor and tell him you are attracted to people of the same sex when he does such a great "gay" impersonation that everyone seems to think is hilarious?
You don't. So I just kept quiet. I never said a word as I thought at some point it would pass...."
You can read the rest of Tim's testimony and how God used him, in Andrew Marin's book, Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation With the Gay Community.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Passion
I watched Passion of the Christ tonight and hadn't seen it since it first came out.
I had forgotten how powerful the film is in putting a visual and quite graphic image to what Scripture tells us.
I had forgotten how powerful the film is in putting a visual and quite graphic image to what Scripture tells us.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Normal.
a photo of Ximena Sariñana"Normal"
This is by far my favorite foreign song ever. It's beautiful.
It is sung by young Latin star on the rise, Ximena Sariñana.
and
it's called 'Normal'
here are the lyrics.
La soledad es un paso firme
Que no he podido obligarme a dar.
El corazón no tiene remedio
Con la vejez deja de funcionar.
Oh y qué felicidad hacerte la cena
Y qué seguridad saber que me esperas
Y el tiempo pasará
El sol se apagará
Y todo lo que sentiste fue
Normal.
Todo el amor es desasosiego
De lo que termina por desaparecer.
Y todo lo que me dijiste a medias
Son el lenguaje que no aprenderé.
Oh y qué felicidad hacerte la cena
Y qué seguridad saber que me esperas
Y el tiempo pasará
El sol se apagará
Y todo lo que sentiste fue
Normal.
Y qué felicidad hacerte la cena
Y qué seguridad saber que me esperas
Y qué tranquilidad el "siempre felices"
Y qué facilidad creer lo que dices.
Y el tiempo pasará
El sol se apagará
Y todo lo que sentiste fue
Normal
Normal...
a ROUGH translation in english
The solitude is a step sign
That I have not been able to oblige to give.
The heart does not have remedy
With the old age to stops functioning.
Oh and what happiness to do you the supper
AND what security to know that you expect me
AND the time will pass
The sun will be put out
AND everything that you felt was Normal.
All the love is uneasiness
Of what finishes for disappearing.
And everything that you told me averages
they are the language that will not learn.
Oh and what happiness to do you the supper
AND what security to know that you expect me
AND the time will pass
The sun will be put out
AND everything that you felt was Normal.
And what happiness to do you the supper
AND what security to know that you expect me
AND what tranquility the "always happy"
AND what facility to believe what say.
And the time will pass
The sun will be put out
AND everything that you felt was Normal Normal...
what do you think she means by this? is there a deeper meaning to the song or no?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Why change?
I'm going out on a limb with this one but I'd like to say that not alot of people like change.
They want to feel comfortable with what they've got going on.
New? eh, no thanks.
um... how about new? uh, no thanks.
Out with the New, Stay with the Old!
This is a mindset that has always bugged me whether it deals with the church or just people in general. It's one of the few things that aggravates me.
But...
I hate change too! So now what?
What made me realize this is the fact that Facebook just changed it's layout and I freaked out about it and I currently hate it. And when it was changed a couple months ago, I hated that because it was different.
So, I have to say that I can somewhat see where people are coming from with being comfortable with the way things are in life whether it be school, work, church, etc.
It's strange because while I really love change, I detest it. I guess it just depends on the situation.
They want to feel comfortable with what they've got going on.
New? eh, no thanks.
um... how about new? uh, no thanks.
Out with the New, Stay with the Old!
This is a mindset that has always bugged me whether it deals with the church or just people in general. It's one of the few things that aggravates me.
But...
I hate change too! So now what?
What made me realize this is the fact that Facebook just changed it's layout and I freaked out about it and I currently hate it. And when it was changed a couple months ago, I hated that because it was different.
So, I have to say that I can somewhat see where people are coming from with being comfortable with the way things are in life whether it be school, work, church, etc.
It's strange because while I really love change, I detest it. I guess it just depends on the situation.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
hmm.
here is something I came across the other day:
"...I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's law and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may posses slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not to Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is: how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor to the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are their degrees of abomination?
7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton-polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging."
Garry Wills, What Jesus Really Meant (New York: Penguin, 2006). 34-35.
"...I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's law and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may posses slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not to Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is: how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor to the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are their degrees of abomination?
7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton-polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging."
Garry Wills, What Jesus Really Meant (New York: Penguin, 2006). 34-35.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Civilization began with fratricide
fratricide: one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister
I'm starting to do more reading (finally!) and I came across an eye opening statement today.
Shane Claiborne, the author of Jesus for President writes that "The inaugural act of civilization, of life outside the garden, was murder."
I had never thought about that fact before or realized how ugly the beginning of time was after Eden.
The beginning of civilization began with death; specifically the murder of a brother by his brother.
what are your thoughts?
I'm starting to do more reading (finally!) and I came across an eye opening statement today.
Shane Claiborne, the author of Jesus for President writes that "The inaugural act of civilization, of life outside the garden, was murder."
I had never thought about that fact before or realized how ugly the beginning of time was after Eden.
The beginning of civilization began with death; specifically the murder of a brother by his brother.
what are your thoughts?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
greed
I want to read more books.
I want to paint a self-portrait.
I want to join the Peace Corps.
I want to be covered in tattoos.
I want to be satisfied with myself.
I want people to laugh at my jokes.
I want to make a difference in the world.
I want to live in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I want to go to Moody Bible Institute for grad school.
I want to write a song that I'm truly proud of and don't end up hating eventually.
Am I a greedy man?
I want to paint a self-portrait.
I want to join the Peace Corps.
I want to be covered in tattoos.
I want to be satisfied with myself.
I want people to laugh at my jokes.
I want to make a difference in the world.
I want to live in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I want to go to Moody Bible Institute for grad school.
I want to write a song that I'm truly proud of and don't end up hating eventually.
Am I a greedy man?
Friday, March 6, 2009
i'm not some boy that you can sway
is it possible to be so inspired about something but at the same time not do anything about that certain something? I tend to be really interested in something but then when the opportunity comes to enhance it, I choose not to.
I have soo many great and inspiring books that are just screaming for me to read them, and I own them, and I've started to read them, but they just sit on my desk because I haven't pursued finishing them.
[list of books I've "recently" started but never finished]
Mere Christianity
The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot
UnChristian
Hello, I'm Special: How Individualism Became the New Conformity
Jesus For President
[end of list]
I seem to keep recently talking (blogging) about time
and I don't know why that is such a vital issue to me, but I honestly have so much free time these days and I have sadly been wasting it all. Not just hypothetically, but literally I have been wasting precious time.
Although it's one of my favourite hobbies (and something I've been doing for too many years), I've been spending waay too much time lingering on the internet and posting blogs, and updating my MySpace and Twitter, and 'creeping' people on Facebook.
I could be accomplishing such greater things; more knowledgeable things instead, but I choose to lurk online.
Now that I've finished writing this, I'm going to attempt to read.
Wish me luck!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
do we pass the time? spend time? lose time?
yikes do i wish that we didn't have to wait for things!
not petty things but like answers from people. mainly important things.
I know that things always tend to work out but it's really bugging me that I don't know what to do about this summer.
I'll be a senior in college next semester.
I have a great opportunity to do an internship this summer. (but that's what I'm waiting on...)
I could also make a shipload of money this summer instead. (which is always a good thing.)
that's all i have to say for now.
not petty things but like answers from people. mainly important things.
I know that things always tend to work out but it's really bugging me that I don't know what to do about this summer.
I'll be a senior in college next semester.
I have a great opportunity to do an internship this summer. (but that's what I'm waiting on...)
I could also make a shipload of money this summer instead. (which is always a good thing.)
that's all i have to say for now.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
It should be the other way around...
About a week ago, I sent a very heartfelt apology to someone who I haven't seen in awhile and don't get time to talk to.
I admitted to being angry at them and holding a grudge and apologized for that because I no longer wanted to be mad at this person.
This person never responded back at all and I know that they have read my apology.
So, now I feel even more like an a-hole because I have no idea what they think about the whole thing and I'm fearing the day that I will run into them because I don't know how I should act.
The apology was supposed to clear my conscience but all it did was dig me deeper into a hole w/ the situation regarding this fellow.
I admitted to being angry at them and holding a grudge and apologized for that because I no longer wanted to be mad at this person.
This person never responded back at all and I know that they have read my apology.
So, now I feel even more like an a-hole because I have no idea what they think about the whole thing and I'm fearing the day that I will run into them because I don't know how I should act.
The apology was supposed to clear my conscience but all it did was dig me deeper into a hole w/ the situation regarding this fellow.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
my time
3 years in college. Isn't this supposed to be the time in my life where I "find myself" or discover what maybe my passion is or something along those lines?
well, i havent.
I still have no idea what God's will is for my life.
Well, wait. yeah. I still don't.
I spent a weekend in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a wonderful city who won't stop boasting the fact that they have something like 6 superbowl wins. I really don't care too much for football. But anyway, I was attending a conference for college kids and the aim was to tell us that as students in college and also as Christians, that we can and should make a difference in today's culture.
Listening to the keynote speakers was enjoyable because they spoke of "culture-making" and that has always been something I've been an advocate of as a Christian in today's generation.
I attended 2 "breakout sessions" over the weekend and was truly inspired and as a result I have a more clearer picture of what direction I would like to move in but there are so many questions that I have that are almost holding me back.
I'll elaborate on this on a later date.
well, i havent.
I still have no idea what God's will is for my life.
Well, wait. yeah. I still don't.
I spent a weekend in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a wonderful city who won't stop boasting the fact that they have something like 6 superbowl wins. I really don't care too much for football. But anyway, I was attending a conference for college kids and the aim was to tell us that as students in college and also as Christians, that we can and should make a difference in today's culture.
Listening to the keynote speakers was enjoyable because they spoke of "culture-making" and that has always been something I've been an advocate of as a Christian in today's generation.
I attended 2 "breakout sessions" over the weekend and was truly inspired and as a result I have a more clearer picture of what direction I would like to move in but there are so many questions that I have that are almost holding me back.
I'll elaborate on this on a later date.
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