Pastor Pedophile, Part 2

When Nameless Ned forwarded Part 2 of "Pastor Pedophile" to be posted,(be sure to scroll down and read Part 1 first) my first thoughts were: "I can't post this! Or he is going to have to clean this up, this is a Christian blogsite!" Then I came to myself :) Nameless Ned is writing about a real and truthful part of his life and who am I and why would I try to stop or whitewash this reality. Truth and reality is the sole purpose of this blogsite.

As you continue to read Part 2 of "Pastor Pedophile" you will see how Nameless Ned graphically explained how this Pastor(a respected leader in the community) totally took advantage of an innocent young boy who obviously already had an attraction for the same gender. However, it infuriates me anytime that an adult decides to involve themselves sexually with a heterosexual or homosexual minor in order to fulfill their sick, selfish, perverted control-issues that has not been properly dealt with from their childhood. The same thing or something similar probably happened to them as a child and then the madness becomes a cycle into their adulthood. Unfortunately, the innocent victim sometimes think and feel that they are in love, not realizing that a serious crime has been committed against them.

Samuel

My First Love, (Continued)

I became nervous as we were pulling up to the hotel thinking to myself, what have I got myself into. I was asked to wait in the car while he got the room, so I did.
When he came back with the room number Mr. B said I'm hungry lets order room service.

The room was nice Mr. B liked to stay is some of the best places in town he said. We sat at a little round table and ate our breakfast when he looked up at me and said, I like your eyes, you have bedroom eyes, I smiled and thanked him thinking to myself, what are bedroom eyes? They must be nice because he likes them. Mr. B layed on the King sized bed and beckoned me with a hand motion to come join him. I laid there next to him as still as a rock, not knowing what to do when all of a sudden he rolled on top of me.

As we laid there he asked me a question, do you like me man? I said sure, but he said but what? I asked him what time it was and he said what time do you have to be home I said 10:00 o'clock, he said its ten now!!! As he began to grind up and down on me.
I wondered to myself what time does he need to be at church he has to preach this morning.

One thing led to another and before I knew it I was naked. he reached in his bag which he always has with him and brought out a small jar of Vaseline, I whispered what are you going to do with that? He said I'll show you if you trust me, do you trust me? I said yea, then relax.
He put the Vaseline on his member and slid it between my legs and started pounding, he told me to squeeze my legs tight so that he could feel it which I did, he pumped and pumped until he started sweating over me, then the force became harder and harder and until I felt something wet in between my legs. He said, damn that was good, you alright? until next time.

Nameless Ned

Stay tuned for Part 3.

I know that you may have some thoughts and concerns, please share them by clicking on comments, just below this line. If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.

Pastor Pedophile, Part 1

I asked a friend of mine who has a wonderful way of telling stories about his life experiences; I asked him to submit one of his stories for the blogsite. I am quite humbled that he decided to share such a coming of age, traumatic personal story that he's never shared with anyone. We will call my friend Nameless Ned. Hopefully Nameless Ned's story will be helpful to someone as it was very cathartic for him as he "put pen to paper" to share this truth about his life.

My First Love

Our pastor had been promoted if you will to bishop and was moving to
Philadelphia, so he searched for months and found an attractive preacher that
was married with 2 kids. Our church instantly fell in love with this young
man showering him with all that he needed to take over for the bishop.

He was about 6 feet tall with sandy brown hair and green eyes. he was slim when
he first moved to our small town but began to get a little bit of a belly as
the years went along, he could thank the church mothers for that.

He seemed to take a liking to the young people in our church and encouraged
us to sing in the choir and take over some of the responsibilities of the
older deacons, we liked him for that. one Sunday after church he asked me if
I would like to work with him at the radio station. (Lets stop right here and give this dynamic new pastor a name, I'll call him Mr. B) OK, I said sure Mr. B. Mr. B ran a short Christian program from 6:00 am to 9:00 am and I was over the moon that he asked me to work there.

I emptied trash cans and ran errands while he was on the air and I was happy
to do it. He gave me fourteen dollars a week and to me it felt like a
hundred. Mr. B was always an affectionate man, but one particular morning on the way home from the station he started to tell me a story and at the same time he was patting my thigh.
Like any fourteen year old I could not help but to become aroused by his touch, but I didn't move, instead I moved closer so he would not have to reach so far over. Each week it was the same thing, he would tell me a story and now he was
rubbing my thigh. Every other week he would treat me for doing a good job and take me out to eat. He said one day that we will go to a room and have breakfast and just relax. I liked him so much that I never gave it a second thought, I just gestured sure. As the weeks turned into months the rubbing went further and further up my thigh until he got to my member.

I now knew he liked me in a way that was not natural as my mother would say,
but I did not stop him.
Just as he promised, one day we skipped our normal breakfast and went straight to a hotel.

I will continue the story of my first love next post.

Nameless Ned

So brace yourself for at least the next 1 or 2 postings of Nameless Ned's traumatic drama with Pastor Pedophile who should have been institutionalized.

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun. Feel free to comment just below this line.

A Breathe of Fresh Air

A World of Good With Desmond Tutu

With all of the turmoil and the fighting against homosexuality and gay rights coming from the traditional American church and from other churched homosexual people as a matter of fact; I found this article on Keith Boykin’s web site to be quite refreshing. When I read this article I knew that I had to post it. I certainly hope that you enjoy this article as much as I did.

Samuel

There is something about Archbishop Desmond Tutu that you just have to like. With his disarming smile, diminutive stature and avuncular appearance, Tutu looks more like the grandfather at a family reunion than an international leader. But when he speaks, volumes of truth and knowledge flow from his mouth.Over the weekend, the 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner spoke forcefully about American foreign policy and the sensitive issue of homophobia in the church. In a speech at Harvard University titled “Goodness Triumphs Ultimately,” Tutu offered hope to those who yearn for justice both here and abroad. And in an interview with BBC Radio, Tutu flatly denounced homophobia. "If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God."

In the midst of an ongoing controversy with the Anglican Church that has been divided over the issue of homosexuality, Tutu criticized the church for losing its focus. He said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had failed to use his power to demonstrate that God is "welcoming" and questioned why the church was "obsessed" with the issue of gay priests instead of focusing on global problems such as the AIDS pandemic.

"Our world is facing problems - poverty, HIV and AIDS - a devastating pandemic, and conflict," Tutu told the BBC. "God must be weeping looking at some of the atrocities that we commit against one another. In the face of all of that, our Church, especially the Anglican Church, at this time is almost obsessed with questions of human sexuality."

In a direct reference to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Tutu asked: "Why doesn't he demonstrate a particular attribute of God's which is that God is a welcoming God?" The Anglican Church has been divided over the appointment of Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, as the bishop of New Hampshire in the United States. But Tutu said his church had been "extraordinarily homophobic" in handling the issue and said he felt "saddened" and "ashamed" by it.

But Tutu didn't stop there. He also rebuked religious conservatives who claim that homosexuality is a choice. Although some evangelicals argue that homosexuality is a perversion, Tutu turned the language on them and argued that homophobia is a perversion. "It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual. You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred. It's like saying you choose to be black in a race-infected society."

Tutu is right on the money. The real problems facing the world are fear and hatred, not love. Homophobia is a true threat to our society, not homosexuality. And gays and lesbians do not choose to be homosexual any more than blacks choose to be black.

I'm tired of all the religious conservatives twisting the Bible to justify their hatred and fears. I'm tired of all the evangelicals who claim to be Christian but seem unwilling to follow the teachings of Christ. And I'm tired of all the cowards who fail to speak up in the face of obvious injustice and inequality in the world.Edmund Burke told us: All that is necessary for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing. But Desmond Tutu teaches us hope. Change happens when people who want change decide to make it happen. Goodness, he says, triumphs ultimately.

What are your questions and concerns?
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Homosexuality is Not a Sin...

The Summation of this Blogsite

You can live a happy, peaceful, pleasurable, Christ centered, victorious and holy-spirit filled (having a God-conscience) life being a Same Gender Loving person. How is that possible? I have been sharing with you each month for the last several months some of my own personal experiences and commentary of stories/articles from other people. I have been sharing how the challenges and the judgment from the traditional American religious community can destroy your faith and belief in a loving and faithful God who created and made you in his image. He knew and loved you before you entered into your mother’s womb; Read the 139th chapter of Psalm, I guarantee you this will lift you UP! http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139%20;&version=31;

I am challenging everyone in the Same Gender Loving Community to take accountability for your spiritual being, by empowering yourself and showing the rest of society that being a Same Gender Loving person is not about sex. We are intelligent, spiritual individuals that has been grossly misunderstood and treated as society’s outcast; because of that we sometimes act-out as if we really are castoffs. When you learn to embrace the love of Christ and walk with a God- conscience you will not feel and have the need to play-yourself into the hands of sexual promiscuity which seems to perpetuate itself in our community.

My intent is to dispel the prejudicial rhetoric of the traditional, homophobic, antiquated interpretations of the scriptures that is being taught as a staple in this society as the way that God thinks. When you read those few scriptures in the bible that are used so divisively, if you read them historically correct and in the proper context of the subject matter (I implore you to scroll down and thoroughly read the postings entitled “Is There Really Scriptural Validity in calling Homosexuality a Sin?”) you will clearly see how the interpretations of the bible has been skewed to inflict an undue burden on some of God’s favored children. I really believe that this is our life’s challenge; to weather the storm of being ostracized and scandalized and still rise above and see God’s uncommon steadfast love.

Are you up for the challenge? What are your questions and concerns?

Click on comments just below this line. If you you have something that you would like to share or profile on this site, please email me @ son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com

Homophobia or Prejudice?

Reverend Professor Peter John Gomes was the guest speaker at the Public Forum of the American Psychoanalytic Association Meeting.

After reading the introduction and a few excerpts from his speech which I included in this posting, you will be compelled to read the speech and it’s entirety by clicking on the link at the end of this posting.

Reverend Professor Peter John Gomes. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1942, the Reverend Professor Gomes is an American Baptist Minister ordained to the Christian Ministry by the First Baptist Church of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Since 1970, he has served in the Memorial Church, Harvard University and since 1974, as Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church. A member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Faculty of Divinity of Harvard University, Professor Gomes holds degrees from Bates College and from Harvard Divinity School and honorary degrees from nine American colleges. He is an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, the University of Cambridge, England.Widely regarded as one of America’s most distinguished preachers, Professor Gomes has fulfilled preaching and lecturing engagements throughout this country and the British Isles. He was named Clergy of the Year in 1998 by Religion and American Life. His New York Times and National Best-selling books, The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart and Sermons, the Book of Wisdom for Daily Living, were published by William Morrow and Company. He has published four additional volumes of sermons as well as numerous articles and papers.

It falls to me as a Christian minister and a practitioner of religion to indicate that in the matter of sexual prejudice, religion is fundamentally a part of the problem and one can only hope that by acknowledging that, it may well indeed become part of the solution as well.

I have to revert to that wonderful Christian Sunday School hymn with which most Protestants at least were brought up: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me! How do I know? The Bible tells me so." Well, Protestantism is based on the conviction that the Bible tells me all that I need to know, and only what I need to know. When anyone looks at the record of our religious treatment of the other in the culture, we find that the first and the last resort used to justify a prejudice is the fact that the Bible tells me so.

Most people had no idea that Professor Gomes was gay before he came out (1991), and so when he did, he shook up the university, the church, and all those in the community who paid attention when he did come out.

http://cyberpsych.org/homophobia/noframes/gomes.htm

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.I would love to hear your comments. Click on comments just below this line.

Should True Men of God Really Fear This Legislation?

The Gospel and hate crimes
By Geoffrey R. Stone August 23, 2007

On May 3, the House voted to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. The Senate will take up a companion bill, known as the Matthew Shepard Act, when it returns from its summer recess. If enacted, this law would authorize the Justice Department, in certain narrowly defined circumstances, to criminally prosecute an individual who "willfully" causes bodily injury to another person or "through the use of fire, a firearm or an explosive . . . attempts to cause bodily injury" to another person because of that person's race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

A coalition of conservative African American pastors has aggressively lobbied against this legislation on the premise that it would make it unlawful for them to preach that homosexuality is a sin. Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., pastor of the Hope Christian Church in College Park, Md., for example, has asserted that the act would "keep the church from preaching the Gospel."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-oe-stone23aug23,0,4801727.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

Geoffrey R. Stone


Should True Men of God Really Fear This Legislation?

Here is my observation:

I will start out with this scripture that talk about God’s Love and Ours:

1st John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

The above article was forwarded to me by two different individuals within minutes of each other. After reading the article; Initially I became offended and then embarrassed for the body of Christ (the church) and at the same time my heart went out to the victims of violence. I thought to myself:” what a poor display of God’s Love coming from a group of his own soldiers.” I have great concern for the Body of Christ (the church) especially the leaders when they say that they are promoting God’s agenda.
Is it really God’s agenda or the popular, religious, traditional agenda of fighting homosexuality and the gay community?
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

I am carrying a heavy burden for our traditional religious leaders and their church congregant’s callous judgment and rebuke for an entire misunderstood population of God’s children. Has it not occurred to the leaders and their congregants that their traditional blind-sided interpretations of the scriptures may be erroneous to the way that God sees his “same gender loving children?” I strongly urge you to stop the judgment and the divisive use of the scriptures; where is the Love? Where is the Compassion? Where are the principles of the love and the life of Christ?

I again ask the question from a 2 part earlier posting from this site entitled:
“Is There Really Scriptural Validity In Calling Homosexuality a Sin?”
Scroll down this site and read those postings with love and compassion along with your bible and see if God will speak to your heart.

From someone who truly loves the Lord,

Samuel

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.I would love to hear your comments. Click on comments just below this line.

Church Policy or Prejudice

Lutherans seek ouster of gay Atlanta pastor

By Bruce Tomaso

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has defrocked the openly gay pastor of Atlanta's oldest Lutheran church.
But the Rev. Bradley Schmeling said he's going nowhere -- and members of the church, St. John's Lutheran, are standing behind their pastor. The president of the congregation said of the ECLA's action, “For us, it means nothing.” A showdown between the Atlanta church and the national denomination is likely.

Bruce Tomaso

Alright, here is my observation:

It seem as though this organization's national leadership is contradicting itself. They were fully aware of Rev. Schmeling's homosexuality (perhaps the organization has a deeper revelation on the subject matter than most) at the same time knowing that this man is an effective minister of God's word, they still entrusted him with a wonderful congregation that is displaying uncommon love and dedication towards their leader since the year of 2000. Now that he has evolved and has has come into a new truth and reality about himself and has taken on a lifetime companion; the national leadership of this organization chooses to abandon and persecute their appointee mainly due to the reasons of man-made church policy and public image.

If Hillary Clinton were elected President of the United States of America in spite of the traditional interpretations of the bible and the religious customs in America that clearly undermine women; would this country abandon and persecute her if she displayed impeccable leadership at the same time her appointed staff and cabinet consisted of her friends & colleagues, mostly women?

What a befitting scripture: Take time and read the entire 12th chapter of John

John 12:42 And yet [in spite of all this] many even of the leading men (the authorities and the nobles) believed and trusted in Him (Jesus). But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that [if they should acknowledge Him] they would be expelled from the synagogue;
43For they loved the approval and the praise and the glory that come from men [instead of and] more than the glory that comes from God. [They valued their credit with men more than their credit with God.]

Samuel

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.
I would love to hear your comments. Click on comments just below this line.

Preachers and Leaders, Are They Facing Reality?

Gay Pastor Confession May Draw More Compassion
By
Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter

Congregants of the mega church Grace Chapel are broken yet standing firm after their lead pastor confessed to homosexual struggles. Much like evangelical pastor Ted Haggard, the Rev. Paul Barnes will be led through counseling, which had failed him in earlier attempts.

"I have struggled with homosexuality since I was a 5-year-old boy," Barnes said in the 32- minute video, which church leaders permitted The Denver Post to view. "... I can't tell you the number of nights I have cried myself to sleep, begging God to take this away."
His wife, Char, cradled his hand. Barnes declined an interview request through the church.
Related
Mega church Pastor Confesses to Gay Encounters
Ted Haggard Begins 'Restoration'
Barnes, 54, started Grace Chapel 28 years ago in his basement as he carried homosexual feelings, which he described as "my thorn in the flesh." He was in counseling three times before he made his public confession.

Lillian Kwon

Preachers and Leaders, Are They Facing Reality?

OK, Here is my observation:

Have our pastors and church leaders become consumed with the popular traditional, religious and political views of banning gay marriages and preaching the unadulterated gospel of condemning homosexual "sin" and damnation to all who are blameworthy? Could it be that they are ignoring the possibility that their interpretations of the scriptures on the subject matter of homosexuality may be erroneous. Could it be that it is their pride and prejudice that raises their "holy indignation" preventing them from reconsidering the traditional literal interpretations of the bible instead of investigating the scriptures for illumination and clarity on a subject matter that is so- real in the hearts and minds of many people in society and a numerous amount of their congregants.

Why does the subject matter of homosexuality bring about such great debate; I'm sure that this same type of great debate occurred many years ago on the controversial subject matters of slavery, civil rights, the silence of women in the church, voting rights for women and etc.

Preaching at people and telling them that they were not born with natural homosexual desires, convincing people that homosexuality is an evil spirit that they must be delivered from does not serve an individual's soul and spiritual needs. Encouraging individuals to suppress their natural homosexual desires and to follow the path of traditional heterosexual dating and marriage which sometimes leads to living a lifestyle of passive-deception; Whatever happened to the quote:

"To thine self be true".

Has the traditional religious community totally missed the mark?

Samuel

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.

I would love to hear your comments. Click on comments just below this line.

Is There Really Scriptural Validity in Calling Homosexuality a Sin? "Part 2"

Surely God knows what he is doing. I always knew within myself that homosexuality was not to be compared to bearing false witness, stealing, killing, committing adultery etc; you know the 10 commandments in the book of Exodus, chapter 20. Some people like to compare homosexuality to drug addiction; I strongly disagree, there is no comparison. Drugs and alcohol are acquired and in most cases homosexuality is innate. Homosexuality certainly was not included in that list of commandments. I’ve often wondered why.

In the old testament of the bible there were many Mosaic/Leviticus Laws and rituals of sacrificing animals to cover sin/offences of the law. If you were an offender or sinned against one of the many laws (a man lying with another man as with a woman was certainly one of the dozens of offences), it was considered an abomination.

The people lived by the laws and the orders that God gave his servants before God sent his own son Jesus Christ to walk this earth and to become the ultimate sacrifice for sin by his crucifixion on the cross at Calvary to fulfill those laws and rituals. After Christ walked this earth and became the ultimate sacrifice, rose again and ascended to heaven; Jesus Christ then fulfilled all of those laws and rituals and thus there was a new covenant. Becoming believers that Jesus Christ and his sacrifice is the answer for this world today.
Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and now sits on the right hand side of God the father interceding for sinful mankind. So I encourage you to develop a relationship with Christ and live by his principles and standards. Here is the proof:
Galatians 3:10 Indeed, it is impossible to keep the whole Law of Moses anyway, for should one of the most insignificant laws be breached then the whole of the Law of Moses was breached: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them"
(Gal. 3:13). Something else was needed and that was Christ Himself and a New Covenant establishing the Law of the Spirit: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law"
Please don’t disrespect the sacrifice and accomplishment of Jesus by selecting quotes from the Mosaic/Leviticus laws in order to persecute others.

I can also remember sitting at my home church as a child in Harrisburg, PA listening to our pastor preach against homosexuality; using the book of Romans the 1st chapter, lambasting any hope that I may have had of remaining in right standing with God and not being delivered from those “unnatural mental-emotions” that I so desperately wanted to be delivered from. If you can keep this in mind that for me until adulthood, this battle was purely spiritual, emotional and mental.

The physical and sexual emotions are a by-product or manifestation of the spiritual and mental emotions (just like with heterosexuals). If those spiritual and mental emotions are not handled with proper guidance, love and care, those misguided sexual emotions may lead to unhealthy sexual liaisons which becomes a way of life and develops into a decadent lifestyle that takes the life and joy out of your soul (just like with heterosexuals). Unfortunately with our youth, those physical and sexual emotions are oftentimes taken advantage of by adult sexual predators (just like with heterosexuals) which causes great mental disturbance and the victims sometimes become sexual predators themselves (just like with heterosexuals).

Was Jesus Christ the Son of God aware of “God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender”? Matthew 19:12
(The words of Jesus) For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. What are eunuchs? http://www.well.com/user/aquarius/contents.htm An interesting study by Malik Faris.


It is so important to read and study the bible in context of the historical climate and the actual story that is occurring. (Please take out the time to read the entire 1st chapter of Romans) The initial part of this letter is written to the saints at Rome, Paul was longing to see and speak with them in order to impart spiritual gifts to make them strong. Paul also proclaimed the wrath of God on the people who knew God for all-of-his wonderful works and miracles that were manifested before them however; they made a concerted decision to snub God and not to worship him. They wanted instant gratification and decided to worship graven images that they shaped with their hands; they began to worship animals and reptiles. So therefore God turned them over to themselves; they lusted after each other and had sex with each other, their genders did not matter. They also lusted after all of the materials things of this world and they received the mentality that goes along with God -haters. Some bible scholars advise that; what Paul was referring to was homosexual temple prostitution. This scripture does not apply to God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender.

Please read 1st Timothy 1:8 and 1st Corinthians 6:9, these scriptures are also used as divisive tools against God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender. Both passages contain lists of persons to be excluded from the Realm of God. The interpretation of these passages depends on two Greek words which have always presented a problem for translators. In the King James Version, they are translated "effeminate" and "abusers of themselves with mankind." In the Revised Standard Version, they were combined and rendered homosexuals; however, these are not the Greek words for homosexual, so that translations reflects the scholars' bias. The New International Version illustrates the difference in these two words by translating them "male prostitute" and "homosexual offenders". The Jerusalem Bible uses the terms "catamites and "sodomites". Catamites were youth kept especially for sexual purpose; they were usually paid large sums of money. Neither passage refers to persons of same-sex orientation, but to people who used their sexuality for personal gain.
(Quotes in italics are referenced from http://www.firstmcc.com/sexuality_bible.htm )
Do you see the trend? The problem is not homosexuality; it is sexual abuse and sexuality used for personal gain.

The bible should not be used as a divisive tool to demonize God’s people who in most cases were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender. Trying to change those emotions myself are like changing my brown eyes to be blue with man-made contact lenses, they remain brown. Did God make a mistake? Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

God-fearing people who are born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender, are they to live-out all of their days on this earth without expressing their physical emotions? No, I am not talking about having sex with multiple partners and living a decadent life of sex due to not having the capacity to legally marry/state certificate anyone of the same gender, or just being promiscuous. Should that person marry a heterosexual person and ignore their natural, spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender in hopes that God will change their desire (unfortunately, if God chooses not to change your desire, that scenario sometimes leads to living a life of lies and deceit)? God is able to do anything! God knows what he is doing? We sometimes don't trust that he does.

One final scenario, will God honor a commitment of monogamy between 2 God fearing people who were born naturally with spiritual, mental and physical emotions for the same gender? Fornication is sex between unmarried persons that is distinguished from adultery. Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a vow between God and two individuals. A vow is defined as a promise made to God. A promise to God is the key point; not the legalistic matters and the other traditions. The promise is binding, and so differs from a simple resolution which is a present purpose to do or omit certain things in the future. The examples of marriage in the bible are between a man and a woman, however the bible does not speak against or prohibit same gender monogamous vows or commitments. Fornication does not exist with these ingredients.

Ponder these scenarios and sincerely pray to the Living God of this universe for divine answers and divine peace for your soul through his son Jesus Christ. Jesus had just admonished the people in these certain towns; they witnessed many miracles and still did not believe. These are the words that he spoke: Matthew 11:28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 30This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

Samuel

I would love to hear your comments. If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.

Is There Really Scriptural Validity in Calling Homosexuality a Sin?

Is There Scriptural Validity in Calling Homosexuality a Sin?

Being raised in a Christian home with parents who were and are teachers of the word of God; I don’t ever recall specifically studying the subject matter of homosexuality in our family bible study sessions. Although, I heard my dad preach about being delivered from the spirit of homosexuality and I also heard my mother express her disdain for gays and gay rights and its negative affects in this country. Can you imagine the turmoil that I was experiencing when I would here these strong convictions coming from my parents who I love and adore?

I remember as a child sitting in one of my dad’s revival services, he was preaching about being delivered from the strong-holds of the devil and having the determination to stay delivered. He gave an example of this young man in Little Rock, AR who was the church’s organist; my dad was there in Little Rock conducting one of his revival services holding a prayer line for people who wanted to be delivered from various evil spirits. He told us about this particular young man who was obviously effeminate who stepped into the prayer line for deliverance. My dad said that he prayed and prayed for this young man and finally that evil spirit was cast out of him; he straightened-up and started to strut very masculine like and started talking with bass in his voice and testified “Thank God for Delivering Me, I am a Man, I am a Man! My dad and the congregation rejoiced. Then my dad told us of how he went back to Little Rock the very next year and asked that same young man if he was holding on to his testimony; my dad said that he responded very soft and effeminate like with a “broken like wrist”; Yes, I am. Did he lose the faith or was he just being his authentic self?

“I must be delivered” I said to myself. I did not have the issue of being effeminate. After many, many years of praying, fasting and asking God to deliver me from this “unnatural homosexual spirit;” I began to ponder and wonder why was it just not that simple of asking God to deliver me from this “evil”. The scriptures said: Psalm 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. John 14:13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. So my search began of asking God to give me guidance and clarity to understand the so-called “sin of homosexuality”.
I have one question for you to ponder in closing.
Is homosexuality sex or is it emotional, mental, and spiritual?
Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of “Is There Scriptural Validity of Calling Homosexuality a Sin?” I would love to hear your comments so far.

Samuel

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.

LIVING OUT LOUD

This week's posting features a young ordained minister by the name of Rev. Tommie Watkins, Jr. in whom I am privileged to call a new friend. After reading this posting and an excerpt from his book entitled "Living Out Loud" you will understand why I am impressed by this young man and why I am featuring him on this blog spot.

The Foreword to Rev. Tommie's book reads:

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Living Out Loud is a Black ordained Baptist minister's story of discrimination he experienced from the U.S. Government and his own religious community because of his sexual orientation. Rev. Watkins' life shows by case and example that equality for "non-heterosexuals" IS a civil rights/human rights issue.

Genesis 1:27, 2:25, 3:8-11a (New Revised Standard Version-NRSV-The Bible)

"So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them(1:27). And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (2:25). They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, Where are you? He said, 'I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. He said, Who told you that you were naked?' (3:8-11a).

This story was the most influential in helping me recognize, accept, and negotiate with various matters in my life, particularly my sexual orientation. The fall of humankind was, as I was taught, a story of original sin, the invention of shame, and how the serpent the Devil, tempted the woman, Eve, to eat the fruit, give it to Adam and they became to know good and evil. They then became ashamed of who they were because before this incident, as the story goes, they existed in the garden totally exposed, naked and felt no shame.

This story also came to have new meaning for me in light of my failed attempt to live without acknowledging my sexual orientation.

"Damn,"I thought, "How can I be gay (the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual attraction for someone of the same gender) and have a relationship with God, be a faithful member of a congregation and be an ordained minister?"

For me, like Adam and Eve, I was made uniquely and authentically by the Divine Creator, to be and to live a healthy life just the way God made me. Like Adam and Eve, I allowed the logos, or words and opinions of other people to become gods and and superlative to the Logos or Word of God, allowing certain circumstances and people to convince me that I was naked. I believed that I could not be my true authentic self. And again like Adam and Eve, I hid myself among the trees of unhealthy pretentious relationships and friendships, self-righteousness and alcoholism because I was so AFRAID to be who God created me to be: totally exposed, naked, true, open and feeling no shame, never realizing that "playing the game" and manipulation was not required of me.

God said, "Tommie, do you think you can hide from me in the trees? I made the trees and can see through them. Do you think I do not know who you are? Before you were born I created you as well."

Thus began the process of accepting my sexual orientation-the Divinely orchestrated, natural, emotional, mental, physical, sexual and spiritual connection I have with persons of the same gender.

The following story articulates my plight of not allowing society to force me to live my life silently, secretively, deceptively and manipulatively because I am gay and black. The prayer that has been the most liberating and effective for me: "God, please deliver me from the opinion of other people, Amen," has also broadened my relationship with God for now I no longer live by the word or opinions of others, but by the will of God for me. So when I behave in certain ways, I frequently go back to this fundamental request for God's openness and ask myself, "Am I acting out of fear, shame, and/or denial because of other? Am I afraid to be naked and totally exposed? Am I fooling God or trying to fool humankind?

If you would like to read more about Rev. Tommie Watkins, Jr. and perhaps purchase his book, just click on Living Out Loud, by Rev. Tommie under My Favorite Links.

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun. Please let me know your thoughts about this new blog spot by leaving a comment below; I will appreciate your feedback.

WHY ME?

WHY ME?

"One of my sisters started to attend and joined this one particular church in the Allison Hill section of the city of Harrisburg, PA. The membership and attendance of young adults were high in numbers. They were “on fire for the Lord”. For some reason this very apparel conscience, conservative congregation really appealed to my sister. The women could not wear pants (she was use to that) no make-up, no jewelry, they could not expose their elbows or toes, they wore these little white laced tapestries on the top of their hair as a covering for their heads. I was 17 or 18 when I attended this church with my sister for approximately over a year.

I enjoyed praising the Lord with so many other young people around my age. The pastor of this church was very charismatic, clever and just a comical individual who really knew and understood people. He made me laugh. I thought that he was very wise. The same man had the ability to charm you and in the same breathe he would prophesy, rebuke and scare the devil out of you. One Friday night he called out these 2 particular guys who were visiting, he had them to come up-front for what I called an “Open Rebuke Session” He told them that God told him that they were homosexuals… the audience gasped and so did I… I knew that I was next. He did not bother me.

Another time he called-out and stood-up each young adult individually and declared that God told him that they all had lustful spirits. The only 2 individuals that he did not call-out were his future son-in-law and I. I just knew that this would be the moment of truth and that I would be exposed of this homosexual spirit that was nagging at me…

I could not figure out and no one could explain to me why was I given this type of cross to bear. I was never molested by anyone; I did not have any homosexual influences from any of my relatives or friends. I had a good relationship with my mother and my father…as a matter of fact they both declared that I was a blessed child and that God would use me.

I would sometimes get into the special prayer lines during revival services and hope that God would reveal my secret to the evangelist or the preacher. Perhaps they would cast that devil out of me."

This weeks posting are excerpts from the chapter "Why Me?" from (Son of a Bishop, My Testimony) I chose these excerpts to show how desperate one can be to change their sexuality, what is in most cases innate. I also chose these excerpts to display how those intimidating, dogmatic practices from the traditional church can damage your psyche.

Samuel

These scriptures really blesses my heart:

Psalm 139:13, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15, My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17, How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!How vast is the sum of them!

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun. Please let me know your thoughts about this new blogspot by leaving a comment below; I will appreciate your feedback.

Does God Condemn or Love Homosexuals?

This week's posting features an excerpt from DISSENT AT THE ROCK: A Gospel Musical. The playwright Ajamu is someone of whom I had the pleasure of meeting at one of my book signings in New York City, NY.
I think that you will find this quite interesting.

Does God Condemn or Love Homosexuals???

The answer is contingent on who is answering the question. Normally, their answer is based on what they got from their ministerial or personal interpretation of the Bible. What does the “Good Book” really say???

The Bible really doesn’t really say much about homosexuality. Jesus, Himself, said absolutely nothing- about it- which many unenlightened people would find quite remarkable. The subject of homosexuality is not mentioned in the Ten Commandments and there is no prophetic discourse on the subject. Why does the Bible say so little about homosexuality??? Why is this such a controversial subject???

Regarding the Sodom and Gomorrah story. Sodom was destroyed because of the inhospitality of its citizens, idolatry, and injustice. Jesus, Himself, referred to Sodom’s’ inhospitality in the Gospel of Luke the tenth chapter, verses ten through thirteen. He said absolutely nothing about homosexuality when he commented about Sodom.

Amazingly, many don’t realize that prior to the 1946 Revised Standard of the Bible; the word homosexual was never, I repeat NEVER printed in the Bible until then. In addition, NO word for homosexual ever existed in either Greek or Hebrew languages. In fact, the word for homosexual did not come into existence until around the 19th century. When reading, through Genesis, Leviticus, Romans, First Timothy, and other loosely interpreted scriptures it is VERY important to note NONE of these scriptures address same gender romantic love, affection and unions. However, what’s being addressed are certain sinful behaviors associated with both heterosexuality and homosexuality during that time, but NOT in the context of Same Gender love and affection. The so-called homosexuality in Leviticus is biblically condemned as ritually impure. The key to this is that the word abomination does not usually describe something that is intrinsically evil, such as rape or theft; but ritually impure, like eating pork or engaging intercourse during menstruation. The verse is – if a man lies with a man as with a women, both have committed an abomination and they be put to death, but this is not because it is evil; but because the Gentiles do it, and therefore is ritually impure. These were from the Jewish Holiness Codes; under these codes, adultery, incest, round haircuts, tattoos, consulting mediums, dishonoring one’s parents or not keeping the Sabbath holy were all abominations punishable by death. While Christians ignore most of the Holiness Codes, they cite the codes against so-called homosexuality to support their moral position. One is lead to wonder what’s behind the adoption of this probation and casting others away. It’s like those who used the Bible to justify slavery and the repression of women.

I will close by stating that we must learn to worship God and no church leader and no one else, nothing else. I am not suggesting that we throw our Bibles away, but I an encouraging us to take the time to understand the Bible and to embrace it not worship it or read it in a literal sense. In other words, spiritual Christians study beyond the black and white print of the King James Version. The Bible doesn’t take 21st century minds into account-, which is why 14th and 15th century translations cannot be applied to our everyday lives. The Bible is a product of man, not God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. History never had a definitive version of the book. So worship God not the Bible.

Simply put, it does not matter if you’re rich, poor, young, old, male, female, educated, illiterate, black, white, gay, and lesbian or straight, God sees no difference in us as his children.

Remember: God is Love and Love is for Everyone.

This is an excerpt from my new play - DISSENT AT THE ROCK: A GOSPEL MUSICAL.

Ajamu

TO RESPOND: Ajamu10@yahoo.com. .

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted/featured on this site, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun. Please let me know your thoughts about this new blogspot by leaving a comment below; I will appreciate your feedback.

Son of A Bishop, My Testimony

A copy of my short book "Son of a Bishop, My Testimony" will make a wonderful & inspiring inexpensive Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for that very special friend or relative for only $10.00

I was inspired by God to share my very short personal testimony in order to reach out and encourage my brothers and sisters about the uncommon love and acceptance of Christ. Hopefully we will enlighten and sensitize the parents and religious leaders of the damage that has been done in the name of religion.

Son of a Bishop tells the emotionally powerful personal story of Samuel Marcus Brown’s childhood and how he overcame the shame of his sexual orientation in a deeply religious family. Samuel was very much aware that he was different from his siblings from an early age. As he became older, he began to question his own sexuality. With his strict upbringing in the church, he worried about it constantly. Throughout his life, he began to accept his sexuality. He began to question whether or not Christians should continue their disapproval of homosexuals. Although he has come to terms with his sexuality, he continues to search for God and use the Bible in order to find answers in his life. It is his intent to write in truthful and relatable language and hopefully his openness allows the reader to gain a better understanding of his life and the life of others.

If you have an experience that you would like to share and you would like to have it posted, email son_of_a_bishop3000@yahoo.com This should be healing and a lot of fun.
Please let me know your thoughts about this new blogspot by leaving a comment below; I will appreciate your feedback.

If you would like to purchase a copy of "Son of a Bishop, My Testimony" for only $10.00, just click on the the title under My Favorite Links.

Be Blessed,

Samuel Marcus Brown