Have you ever had someone come at you – judging and condemning your gay children? Maybe trying to “set you straight”? Even saying you and your child are going to hell using words like abomination and apostate? Both Rob & I have. Friends (I guess it would be former friends), strangers online, church leaders, and even close family members. All judging and condemning us because of our love for our own children, and because of our advocacy for human beings... Read more
This is a message for all the women weighed down by the Proverbs 31 Woman. Well, she stopped by to clear the record on the book written about her. 🙂 Here she is… in her own words… For heaven’s sake! What have you done to my story? Here it is, a beautiful poem, and it’s been used as a noose around your neck. It was never meant to be that. You’re cooking and canning, washing and scrubbing, up before the crack of... Read more
“My heart is heavy. My daughter’s friend killed himself on Thursday. No one knows why yet, but in conversation I’ve heard over and over he was lonely. I think about the pain he was feeling. It must have hurt so deep for him to take his life. ALL life matters! You wrote about people not understanding the fullness and completeness of God’s love. If he only new he would be here. I want to be an extension of God’s love... Read more
The Jesus Blog. A word from Jesus to you… I get it. I understand why you would want nothing to do with me and why you would feel so much pain when you even hear the word Christian. I understand. And to be totally honest, I often feel the same way. So much of the church has become nothing like I intended. Church is supposed to be a simple, intimate, wonderful, relationship-focused community helping those who are hurting. A community... Read more
Remember Princess Bride, when Vizzini keeps saying things are “inconceivable” just before they happen? Montoyo finally says, “That word – I do not think it means what you think it means.” I hear many people say they are welcoming of LGBTQ in their churches. But that word, I do not think it means what they think it means. They think they are loving and warm and genuine at a heart level, but instead they are being correctly read as just... Read more
There was that time when Jesus cleansed the temple – kicking over chairs, upturning tables, and driving out the money changers. You’re going to have to do this for yourself. Living inside your head are all those religious lies and deceptions that have enslaved you and are a power in your mind. They are constantly doing business in your head – controlling you, limiting you, sabotaging you, and stopping you. Kick them out! Upturn those tables! Toss those chairs! Drive... Read more
Mitchell had fought back the growing awareness that deep down, despite all outward appearances, he was really a she. His family—well, everyone—had always called him a “he,” had always called him Mitchell… but deep down, where no one could see, “he” was a “she.” And she wanted to be Marisa. But he had no idea how he would tell his father. No idea what to do, where to go. No help. So Mitchell wrote a note: “Dear Dad, I cannot live this... Read more
“Today, millions of people learned that someone they know is transgender.” Bruce Jenner has come out as a transgender woman, on national TV. What a story. Rob & I sat, riveted, often in tears, watching the show while social media buzzed about the story and Bruce’s courage. A friend said that watching Bruce’s story brought back her own story—all the pain and challenges and joys. Transgender seems to be harder for people to grasp than lesbian or gay. Even many... Read more
This may reach down and touch deep places in the hearts and souls of many of you struggling with the whether or not to come out. At risk of losing parents who might reject you for being gay. Longing to experience the human right of being able to simply live true to yourself. Terrified of what may happen if you come out of the closet — or if you stay in. All too common. Sad. Very sad. Difficult. Very difficult.... Read more
My heart is heavy. I cannot help thinking of our kids—all of our kids. Another suicide, another life lost. Blake Brockington, a transgender homecoming king – recently took his life. What a horror. And you remember Leelah Alcorn. Tragic. And so many others. Several years back, as my kids were finishing high school, one of their classmates killed herself. Her mother found her hanging in the closet. Can you imagine? The mother was hospitalized with a nervous breakdown. My heart... Read more
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