Forgiveness

The pastor at my church had a sermon that really spoke to me today. He preached about the need for us as christians to forgive those who have hurt us or made us angry or that for whatever reason we have some issue of anger or envy toward.

I have not always practiced that in the posts I have added to this blog. I have allowed my anger at those who practice exclusion or other narrow-minded acts to pour out toward these groups or individuals. It would be easy for someone to read what I have written about people like Pat Robertson or groups like Repent America and categorize me as judgemental. By practicing one of the acts I an quick to criticize them and others for, I am not raising the level of dialogue, which is the primary goal of this blog.

I am asking God to forgive me for, at times, writing as if I had the right to judge others. I don't, nor does anyone have the right to judge me. That is something God reserves for himself and I'm mighty glad he does. That being said, however, I will continue to speak out about intolerant acts or anything that I have learned goes against God's word and the very essence of who He is.

Condemning the messenger is what people usually do when they can't argue against his message. It's important to keep focused on the issues and how God wants His people to handle them in their lives. Anything thing else just gets in the way of his will.

Loaning a lesbian

I usually don't stray outside the U.S. for my posts, but this one was just too good to pass up. As reported in the USA Today, a library in Stockholm, Sweden has set up a sitatuion where people can literally come in and check out a person. People with different backgrounds, including homosexual, will be available for library patrons to reserve a 45-minute one-on-discussion to find out how they tick.

I know the best way for me to begin understanding the differences and similarities between myself and gay men was to spend some time sitting with them and asking questions. I have been fortunate to forge good relationships over the years that have been very illuminating, and the gay and lesbian members of my church continue to teach me a LOT about their lives and how we're not nearly as different as some right-wing zealots would have us think.

Of course, I had to be willing to listen. Sadly, that is becoming a lost art in our country. If you haven't done so in a while, try really listening to someone you disagree with and try to understand them. Then, see if they will return the favor. We can all learn something by doing that more often.

On the other side of the ledger.....

One of the more outspoken, bigoted, narrow-minded organizations around, Repent America, issued a statement directly tying in the Katrina disaster to the fact that New Orleans was preparing to host the 34th annual "Southern Decadence" gathering, a major party for the GLBT community. They point out that "this act of God destroyed a wicked city."

While New Orleans has a well earned reputation for decadence involving both straight and gays, this argument is severely flawed because:

o That presumes God created the conditions for the hurricane and steered it's path. Is he supposed to have picked this one out to do some special work, or is he in charge of all hurricanes and therefore responsible for all destruction they cause?

o This was the 34th "Southern Decadence." Why do you suppose God let the first 33 go without punishment?

0 If this storm was to punish New Orleans, then what are the thousands of people in Mississippi whose lives were torn apart supposed to think?

Then again, there wasn't a whole lot of rational thinking that went into this proclamation, was there?

Another way to help Katrina victims

Sadly, one situation when people are truly treated equally is during a natural disaster. Hurricanes don't differentiate between straight and gay people, they just destroy whatever is in its way. Few have done so more than the recent storm Katrina, which brought a nearly unimagineable amount of descturction to Louisiana and Mississippi. There is an organization representing LGBT people that is trying to help called the Rainbow World Fund. Check them out and consider offering any assistance you can afford.

Also, please join me in prayer for those who have lost loved ones as well as those who survived but saw their entire way of life destroyed.