I don’t understand being in an intimate, loving relationship with a woman. If I did, would it be difficult for me to tell others? Today I want to share with you one woman’s story… in her own words… I know for certain, without any doubt, that if it were the norm for people to have intimate relationships regardless of gender (as in anyone could do it and people embraced it as a general rule), I would have no issue at... Read more
Several close family members no longer speak to me because I write this blog. Don’t feel bad for me – I am honored to taste what many of you have endured for as long as you can remember. But the irony is delicious. In fact, this is so irrational, I want to make sure I understand it correctly. I’ll write it out, and you – my family, or others – who think I’m wrong and maybe ‘not really a Christian’, you... Read more
“When Columbus lived, people thought that the earth was flat. They believed the Atlantic Ocean to be filled with monsters large enough to devour their ships, and with fearful waterfalls over which their frail vessels would plunge to destruction. Columbus had to fight these foolish beliefs in order to get men to sail with him. He felt sure the earth was round.” - Emma Miler Bolenius, American Schoolbook Author, 1919 In the Medieval cultural mindset, the world was flat. Period.... Read more
Okay, I grew up in a crazy household. We had seven kids altogether, but far enough apart in age out that we never all lived there at once. We had little supervision and a lot of fighting. Whatever good we may have had, it was still a dysfunctional family. My younger brother Matt was always kindhearted, creative and full of love. Kind of trampled through life, as our mother (when Matt was five), plus three other brothers, and our Dad,... Read more
Karen is from a legalistic, fundamental, literalistic denomination that believes gays are bound for hell. She never questioned it or had to give it any thought personally. Then her son came out as gay. In the months since then, she’s found unexpected peace as she is discovering the truth about the Bible and about God’s heart. She has completely embraced her son. She knows he didn’t choose to be gay, nor did their parenting cause it. Those “clobber” verses still... Read more
More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… Beloved child, let your heart be at rest. Trust me. Stop concerning yourself with sorting it all out, but listen for my voice and trust that I will speak. Surrender your angst, your quest to sort out what’s right and what’s wrong, a job I never gave you. Hand over your fear to me, and I will care for you. Know these few simple truths, and... Read more
“Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be. It’s easy. All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.”- The Beatles Today is a very emotional and tender post for me as I answer the last part of the letter from a Dad… I want to understand the true message in your ministry, because I NEED to find my own peace in your message, and many who suffer with this need to find the salvation... Read more
“In all of mankind’s history, there has never been more damage done than by people who ‘thought they were doing the right thing.’ Five cents, please.” – Peanuts’ Lucy Van Pelt All week we have been reading a letter I received from a father struggling with his son being gay. His struggle is based on what he has heard on Sunday morning for years. That does not make it right. That does not make it the truth. I know this... Read more
“Beyond that, we absolutely, definitely, completely have no place to demand someone else (our gay son) be crucified!” We continue with a dad’s letter about balancing unconditional love with expectations for behavior. Here is the Dad’s letter, Part 3… “The immediate gift of salvation is free to all regardless of condition, but the sustained life of salvation and the subsequent gift of eternal life with our Lord and Savior constitutes entirely from a complete change of behavior/condition; a changing of the mind.... Read more
“Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors.” – The Beatles’ Help A father wrote me a letter with an open heart and a cry for help. It is a sincere request to understand the ongoing FreedHearts message. He is drawn to the love he finds here, but afraid to ‘take it too far.’ Perhaps you too are wondering how to embrace this love but fear going too far ‘off-road.’ No need to be afraid! We can go off-road, because we... Read more
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