Volume 7: Issue 5
March/April 2003
Being Present
Table Of Contents
Cover
Story: Being Present:
This is the power of being present.
When we truly are living in the present moment there is not need for
anger, irritation or unhappiness. The present moment does not know such
emotions or problems – it only knows the joy and ease of being
fully alive.
... the simple truth is that salvation,
enlightenment and inner peace can only be found by going inward, and
never by rummaging through whatís outside.
What methods should we employ to draw
so closely to God that we are ever ready, evert alert, for Godís presence
in our lives? Surely we need to hear and obey the precepts already laid
down for us. We have not been encompassed with regulations impossible
to obey; instead God asks for our love to be demonstrated in all we
say and do.
But one
of the great mysteries of life is that although we can take precautions
and live as thoughtfully and as carefully as we can, with purpose, we
never know for certain when we will cross into what awaits beyond this
life. What we can know, is in this very moment we are in life as we know
it, and we never know at what moment we will pass on; I see Jesus saying
in His teachings, to value and cherish each moment of this part of our
existence, as well.
Homospirituality
 Dear Pastors
--By: Glenn Fosdick and Wally Kostick
We are writing you this letter in hopes that you will understand our thoughts on same-sex marriages and gay rights. In no way are we going to haunt you because of your opinion. We pray that this note will open you eyes to the truth of reality that we gays and lesbians are human and have needs like the traditional heterosexual marriage and rights. We are a part of the society that you live in no matter where we may be. We deserve those rights just like you do.
The last bastion of the civil rights movement is the stigma and exclusion
of gay people from our churches and from our secular society. Yet, they
can be seen to be a gift to us from God in that, despite their terrible
persecution, many remain steadfast in their loving relationships.
It is my belief that fundamentalist (or any anti-gay) upbringings are
the direct cause of many cases of suicide committed by homosexuals, and
itís certainly the direct cause of a multitude of depression cases, not
just for homosexuals. Anti-gay teachings found in most fundamentalist
communities are perversions of portions of a book that was never meant
to be a rulebook to be followed letter by letter.
I
know that there are times, especially in the lives of young
homosexuals, that a terrible sense of loneliness can come over you,
a feeling that you have no one to turn to. But if you can feel the
presence of God in your life, I promise that you will know that
life can be truly wonderful.
Yet, all I know, and can know, is that the love of God is for all.
Yet the given freedom of love is gravely hampered and blocked by a church
and society which seems to have no love for itself or for the people
in their care.
If you know that God has a plan for you; if you have experienced His hand
pulling you from destruction; if you have reached the undeniable conclusion
that God continues to bless and demonstrate His love for you; then I urge
you to obey that calling to serve. Ignore every other negative voice.
From
out of their isolation and stumbling in the glare of the sun they came,
those deemed unclean and therefore unable to live within ordinary society.
The authorities had condemned each of them to death, the slow death of
physical and spiritual separation.
Features:
The story of David and the Philistines
is deeply troubling, but even more troubling is the lack of attention
it receives among churchgoers who rage against the American Taliban.
None
of us were really surprised when the judge said that she had to find us
guilty, given that even we acknowledged we'd heard the warnings to leave.
But when it came time for the sentencing, none of us expected to hear
the judge say what she did.
From the Pulpit:
In the midst of our Emmaus road experiences, those times when the Lord
seems so remote, it feels like He is dead, the Lord searches for us, finds
us and gives us strength and comfort. When your longed for sexual orientation,
your career goals, your dreams for a lover, your marriage, your family
or your spiritual success feel threatened, you are not alone. The Lord
walks with us when our hopes are dashed and helps us discover the meaning
of the resurrection.
Bible Study and Inspiration:
Jesus wanted to be known on his own terms and accepted for who he really was, not by some identity that was forced upon him by others. Gay and lesbian folk should be able to tap into this with little or no problem.
...if you are not only a long time Christian but also a gay, lesbian, bisexual
or transgender Christian, or a friend or family member of a GLBT Christian,
you have also plenty of images of these earthly shepherds that may not
quite match all those shepherd ideals we have been taught. I know I have.
Although given the calling to be shepherds of the flock, they have turned
against portions of that flock. They have sent some of Godís sheep out
in the cold, and have not tended to their needs.
Holy Humor!
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