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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...."

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?