You are a Christian, and your child comes out as gay. Where is the first place you turn? Often it is your Pastor. If your Pastor is not affirming, turning to them when your child comes out could be a tragically bad decision. Imagine following a Bible-wielding Pastor into your home to “talk” (i.e. fix) your precious child! So many parents feel lost, alone, confused and scared. They feel they have nowhere to turn, no place to even ask questions.... Read more
Did you ever watch The Wizard of Oz as a kid? Were you TERRIFIED of the Wicked Witch of the West? O! M! G!! “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too! A-hahahah” – turn to camera – “A-HAHAHAHA!” OH MY GOSH! How many NIGHTMARES did that witch inspire?!? Well, I recovered from my Wicked Witch fear “all in good time, all in good time!” In fact, I have rarely thought of the Wicked Witch, or Margaret Hamilton... Read more
Madeline was expressing all of her (perceived) failures, saying she felt unable to make God happy. It was years of misguided perceptions, the kind that many women, and men, subject themselves to when they live with people who demand perfection. I recalled to her the story of the father who runs out to embrace his son who returned after making a mess of his life. This father saw him at a distance because he’d been watching for him, and even though... Read more
“Don’t take “no” from someone who can’t give you ‘yes.'” – Eleanor Roosevelt. Picture a corporate assistant whose job it is to screen the big CEO’s calls. They were hired to say ‘No’ and saying ‘Yes’ is not really an option. If yes is not an option, then no doesn’t really mean anything, does it? It’s what everybody gets. If you want to reach the big CEO, you have to find a way around that assistant. For many people –... Read more
More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… God may be leading you to love like you have never loved before. To love people you have been taught to reject and even hate. That’s a wonderful thing. God is love. But many people – in my name – have programmed you with fear. They use fear to keep control over you, to keep you full of shame, guilt, and confusion. They use fear to... Read more
Normally, I answer a Dear Susan question every Friday, but with this being Thanksgiving weekend, I wanted to share something special. Dear Susan will return next week. Did you give thanks yesterday? For your life as defined by you and others? Or for your life defined as being radically beloved by God? Here’s a new twist on an old story from Luke. Jesus told this story to religious leaders who were quite confident in their own abilities. I hope you... Read more
Do you still have a place at your family’s Thanksgiving table? For those of you who are spending this Thanksgiving with friends or new family, I understand how you feel. Many of us have been rejected by family because of being LGBTQ, or because of our love, affirmation and acceptance of those who are. This is a poem I wrote this morning and I wanted to share with you… You welcomed me into the world in joy and laughter You... Read more
We have never written a post like this before. It’s important and I want to thank you for reading. 🙂 When my daughter, Annie, came out 4 1/2 years ago, all hell broke loose. Actually, all heaven broke loose, and being the Mom of a gay child (UPDATE: I have actually been blessed with TWO gay children!) and a passionate, committed ally and advocate has been one of life’s great blessings. When circumstances in your life lead you to have... Read more
When anti-gay Christians say the phrase “my interpretation of the Bible” – they are really saying “God’s word.” When they say “my views on gays” – they are really saying “God’s way.” They are wrong. To have anti-gay views is inconsistent with the message of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus. It is time to take a high view of ‘God’s word’. It is time to reclaim the real meaning of unconditional love. It is time to stand up... Read more
I love answering this question… ‘How does God really feel about gays?’ It is an issue that many in the church still struggle with. But more and more people are discovering the truth that how the non-affirming church feels is very different than how God feels. I write Dear Susan posts every Friday. Sometimes they are poignant, sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes tender, sometimes funny… but hopefully always worth the read. 🙂 Here we go… Dear Susan: Is this a joke? More... Read more
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