“I regret that I can only celebrate with you from a distance and this is a celebration that I may never experience in my lifetime in my church.” The Presbyterian Church has responded in truth and love, but what will others do? Hearts and lives are at stake. I am overwhelmingly grateful for the Presbyterian Church’s stand in solidarity and affirmation with our brothers and sisters who are gay, and the entire LGBTQ community. They chose to take a loving... Read more
“Sex with you is so good, we should celebrate it by having sex.” Do LGBTQ people have better sex than straight people? Maybe they do. Just maybe they do. 🙂 This is Rob, Susan’s husband, writing today. Great sex has nothing to do with whether or not you are gay or straight, but think about it… I think one of the keys to great, intimate, passionate, wild, tender, beautiful sex is freedom. Being free to just be yourself, to love... Read more
“Sadomasochism, child abuse, human trafficking, rape, murder, genocide, greed, corruption… and homosexuality.” What does it feel like to be included in that list simply because you love someone of the same gender? In one of Susan’s recent posts we had a reader make a comment that included homosexuality in a list like this. Ignorance? Yes. Bigotry? Probably. Hate? Maybe. This is Rob Cottrell, Susan’s husband. That comment was made to another reader here on FreedHearts and the reader responded. His... Read more
More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… There is nothing you can do to disappoint God, and there is nothing you can do to make God love you more. God loves you. Regardless of how well you think you are behaving. Regardless of how well others think you are behaving. If you ever wonder, if you ever ask yourself the question: “Does God love me?” The answer is always, “Yes!” Always. When I... Read more
What?? I know, I know, I had the same reaction… Is she serious?? But she is, and many others wonder the same thing. Is it blindness, ignorance, just following the false teaching about gays she has heard on Sunday morning for decades, genuine hate? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. It depends on the person. Sometimes I have great compassion, sometimes I get angry and frustrated. But you know, regardless of the reasons, there does come a time – when presented with... Read more
A mom from a small, conservative town said to her son: “There aren’t any gays in this town.” Her son laughed and said, “Yes there are, Mom. They’re just deep in the closet… or they’ve moved away.” I know it’s easier to imagine that gays are some other people, some other place, not here, not anyone you know. Then your child comes out. Meanwhile, all those things you said, or the church said about “those gays” are ringing in your... Read more
We recently talked about how “Hate the sin, love the sinner” is NOT a Biblical concept. It is NOT part of a Gospel (truth)–which IS about unconditional love and grace, and commands us to love our neighbor. Something else is “missing” from the Gospel. This past weekend, I sat through my all-time favorite musical: Godspell. I was in tears pretty much immediately, as I knew I would be! The love and beauty and joy… it moves me every time. But the... Read more
“One of the best parts about being a gay Christian is that I feel like I am part of a minority of the oppressed and marginalized that hold a very special place in Jesus’ heart.” More today from my weekend “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… Much has been written about me, much has been said and done in my name – and much of that is not truth, not my heart. In all that you read... Read more
A pastor, his newly-out LGBTQ child, his wife, family members, his daughter’s future family – heated arguments, perceived disrespect, ultimatums… it is difficult and stressful for everyone involved. I hear from parents, and their kids, every day here on the blog, in emails, and in personal phone calls and meetings. My heart goes out to all of them and my hope is to remind them how much God loves them, and remind them of how much they love each other.... Read more
At a dinner party Winston Churchill says to his dinner companion, “Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?” The woman responds, “My goodness, Mr. Churchill. I suppose I would.” Churchill replies, “Would you sleep with me for five pounds?” She answers, “Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?” Churchill answers, “Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price.” Okay, let’s tell a similar story but with a completely different... Read more
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