What My Mom Did When She Learned I Was Gay.. the 'Miracle' That Occurred

The First Thing My Mom Did When She Learned I Was Gay... and the 'Miracle' That Occurred After

Posted: 01/09/2014 

Lance Bass Singer, actor, producer, writer, entrepreneur and philanthropist

Growing up as a gay kid in the south was not easy. The constant fear of people discovering who you really were and the inevitable shame that would fall upon you and your family dictated how you lived your life everyday. Luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to move to places where it wasn't a constant daily reminder that I was an abomination. For my family, however, they still live in ground zero of intolerance for the LGBT community and have the unique pressure of having a well-known gay relative. When I came out, they came out. For years they have had to deal with the judgmental looks and constant condolences from friends and strangers as if I had died. "I'm so sorry, you are in our thoughts."

Now, my parents aren't very outspoken and shy away from any type of attention. For years they have quietly educated themselves about their son and the LGBT community like responsible adults. My mom read the Bible four times in a row and bought every book written about Christianity and the subject of homosexuality. When she saw things were not getting any easier at her church regarding this issue, she decided to go against her passive character and let her community know exactly how they were making her feel.

In a very open and honest letter to the church, she suggested how true Christians should act towards the LGBT community. Her letter was so well received that another local church invited her to speak to their congregation, as it believed it was finally time to start a dialogue within the church. The following is the transcript from that speech. I am extremely proud of my family and especially my mother for the way she has handled herself in this confusing time in her life. To me, she represents a true Christian and what the majority of Christians believe today in the country.

"Let me start out by saying that I am not a public speaker. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I have ever spoken publicly on this topic and I hope you will bear with me. Ever since I agreed to speak to you, I have asked for courage and I hope you will pray for me as I try to tell you what is in my heart.

I am here to share my testimony. Please know that I am NOT here to debate the issue of homosexuality. I would never do that because I do not have all the answers and will probably never have them in this life. The Bible warns of false teachers and I would never say anything that might possibly be considered false teaching. However there are some things I feel led to share that I know beyond a doubt are true and I will share those with you tonight.

First, I need to let you know that I have been a Southern Baptist all my life. I attended Sunday School and church as a child. I married a man with the same Christian principles as me and we raised our two children in the church as well. My husband is an ordained deacon, I taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, taught vacation Bible School, attended Bible studies and revivals just like most of you. Both my children were saved and baptized at an early age and two of my three small grandchildren have already been baptized. We are a Christian family with deep roots in the church and the teachings of the Bible.

Seven years ago, we found out that Lance is gay. We were totally blindsided and devastated because never in a million years would we have guessed it. Also, because it was such a public thing, the situation was so much worse on the family. I do not want to go into the personal details of that revelation, but I will tell you that the first thing I did was fall to my knees and ask, "What would Jesus do?" I almost immediately knew the answer... love my son. And that is what I have done. Never once did I ever think about turning my back on him. Never once was I ashamed or embarrassed. My feelings were more of sadness and just sheer disappointment in life.

If you believe that being gay is a choice, then the rest of what I say will not matter. I do not know why, but even as a staunch Christian, I personally never believed that being gay was a choice. I never knew a lot of gay people, but the ones I did meet I felt compassion for because I could feel their pain of being rejected and my heart always went out to them. Even though I never did believe Lance chose to be gay, I did not accept it as quickly as my husband did. His attitude was "It is what it is." My attitude was "Yes, it is what it is but my God can perform miracles so I'm going to beg for a miracle to zap Lance and change him to straight!" And I did just that. I continued to love my son, stand beside him, and defend him, but for several years I continued to pray relentlessly for a miracle.

Well, Lance is still gay. However, I did get a miracle. It is just not the miracle I prayed for. You are looking at the miracle tonight. The miracle is that I learned to have unconditional love and compassion for my son and others in the gay community. I haven't marched in parades or spoken at conventions, but I do feel that God has led me to speak out concerning the church's role. My son is a Christian and wants to be able to worship, but he does not feel that the church cares about him and has pretty much disowned him as a fellow believer. There is something terribly wrong with that and I have to speak up on behalf of my son and others who find themselves in the same situation. 

When I was a little girl, I went to a celebration with my grandparents on the courthouse lawn in Laurel. I was thirsty and ran to drink some water from one of the water fountains. My grandmother screamed at me to stop. When I looked at the fountain it had the word "Colored" on it and she told me I had to drink out of another one. I was only 6 years old but I knew something was just not right about that. Just as my heart told me something was wrong that day on the courthouse lawn, my heart is telling me that something is wrong with the way the church treats those who are gay.

I could tell you many stories that gay young people have told me about how so-called Christian people have treated them but I will only share one. One of the young men told me that he was searching for God and visited a large church one Easter Sunday. He was enjoying the beautiful service and feeling so drawn to what he was experiencing. 

Everyone was standing singing a hymn and when he sat down there was a note in his chair. It said, "You know you are going to hell." He told me that he never went to church again. I don't blame him, but to my knowledge, he has not accepted Christ and is lost. 

When I found out Lance was gay, I dove into the scriptures looking for answers. The scriptures that kept jumping out to me were Jesus's warnings about judgment. The person who wrote that note should heed those warnings. Jesus says in Luke  6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven." Jesus is telling us that we cannot lead others to him if we are judging and condemning them.

When I hear fellow Sunday School members, co-workers, politicians, and Christian people on TV and radio say negative, judgmental things about gays, I just cringe and it breaks my heart. Not only are the Christian community pushing away gays who are Christians, we are alienating those who are lost.

I believe with all my heart that Jesus would say to all Christians who are gay that they belong to him and that he loves them unconditionally. Jesus says in John 10:27-28, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."  

I feel like I am on a journey and it just continues on each day. I would like to share one final revelation on this journey. Because I am such a tenderhearted person, sometimes my broken heart felt unbearable so I asked God to take away my tender heart. I don't know why I did this, but I looked up the word "tenderhearted" in the dictionary and it meant "having compassion". One day after that I read this scripture: "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any TENDERNESS and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love... Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ." (Phillippians 2:1-5) God's message to me was clear. If he took away my tender heart, I would no longer have compassion for others. If I did not have compassion for others, I would not have the attitude of Christ. I never prayed that God take away my tender heart again. I believe the church needs to show that some compassion for everyone regardless of gender, regardless of race, and regardless of sexual orientation.  

My favorite scripture has always been, "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) I truly have found refuge in my Lord but I have to sadly tell you that I have not found refuge in my church. And neither has Lance and so many other Christians like him who want to be loved and accepted in a world that can be very cruel and hateful. I still attend church but admittedly with a heavy heart and with much anxiety. If I feel that way as the mother of a gay child, can you imagine the anxiety that a gay person sitting in my church feels? Once again, there is just something wrong with that.

It would take a book to tell you every little detail of my journey and all that I have experienced and learned along the way. I have tried to briefly give you a testimony of the things God has laid on my heart. It is my prayer that we can all try to have a Christ-like attitude while on this earth. We, as Christians, must let the Holy Spirit lead us to find ways to reach out to all people regardless of our differences because I truly believe it is the right thing to do. I am convinced that is what Jesus would do.

Thank you for allowing me to share with you and God bless you."

Diane Bass

Is Affirming Christianity Still Relevant?

12/27/2013

By now, anyone who doesn't live in a monastery knows Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson made anti-gay and racially insensitive remarks in an interview with GQ, and that the religious right has leapt to his defense.

Much has been written about it, but my lessons learned are a bit different.

First, this is a disaster of our own making. His racist remarks were frequently ignored or left out in articles by progressive media, even though some bloggers noted the issue. This allowed the religious right to frame the issue as "Bullying gays vs. good, God-Fearing Christians." They succeeded beyond their wildest expectations as a result of this journalistic incompetence, so much so that conservative pundits like Neal Boortz wondered out loud on national radio why Jesse Jackson was getting involved in a gay rights issue.

However, media ineptitude wasn't the most shocking thing I observed.

It was that affirming Christianity as a cultural influencer is more or less dead.

The religious right has managed to completely own the relationship between Christians and gays, and that relationship is one of disgust and condemnation. Any message of acceptance has been lost, and the influence of affirming denominations has waned to irrelevance in the debate. It is taken as a given by decision makers (like the CEO at A&E Network), independents and young people that Phil's view is the Christian view.

While affirming churches are trying to get their message out, it is no longer being received by either the public or decision makers. Conservatives have made opposition to gays, in every form, the paragon of freedom of religion and speech. Republicans have managed to brand Christianity as homophobic as effectively as Coke has made red with a white swoosh synonymous with their product. As a result, liberal, affirming Christianity is no longer a voice in the culture wars, and is in sharper decline than any other religious group, according to Pew Research. Thus, when Christian organizations and individuals try to speak up to say "We're not all like that," the typical reaction they get reminds me of a quote from Harry Potter: "Yeah, well, yeh get weirdos in every breed."

In other words, don't make any judgments based on statistical outliers. And affirming Christians are seen as an outlier.

Nate Silver reminds us not to make any decisions based on a single data point though. Unfortunately, the data, both empirical and anecdotal, all points in the same direction. Affirming churches were smaller than those hostile to LGBT people to begin with, and are declining even faster churches where the most outspoken opposition has come from. This is in part due to the higher birth rates and insularity of conservative faiths. The top down leadership structure of some ensures that officials (and often members) do not stray too far from the party line on LGBT issues. In other cases (Evangelicals), the pressure from other members not to accept LGBT people is just as intense.

In short, hoping that organizations opposed to LGBT issues will change isn't going to happen for a long time.

However, the "graying" of progressive churches is a vicious cycle. With each passing day it becomes harder to get new people in the door. The question is, why would someone who is young and socially liberal want to embrace the label of Christian? Sarah Palin, Phil Robertson, and others have managed to successfully "brand" their faith as rural, homophobic, racist, ignorant, and intolerant of anyone who tries to contradict their interpretation of their faith. If you reject any of these, then you're not a real Christian.

Or at least not one whose opinion matters in the culture wars.

The growth of the "nones" is greatest in the Northeast corridor, and it comes at the expense of progressive churches, which have seen the worst declines in the same region. A few years ago, Ada Calhoun wrote at Salon how being a Christian in New York was a source of shame. Since then, matters have only gotten worse as the right wing ownership of Christianity has been so spectacularly successful.

This is not to say that there is no value in the affirming denominations. They are of great benefit to many people. For many they provide community, hope, and a chance to reconnect with beliefs that are important to them. They are undoubtedly of a net benefit to us. However, I cannot help but conclude that they have lost whatever ability they may have had to influence the narrative of how Christianity and the LGBT community intersect.

When I arrived at the conclusion that the battle had swept past affirming denominations as a factor in our cultural discourse, I reached out to a number of deeply religious LGBT individuals I knew, hoping somehow that one of them would tell me I was missing something, or looking at the issue from the wrong angle. That somehow affirming Christian denominations are relevant to the national fight for LGBT equality and acceptance.

They couldn't.

After I laid out what I was seeing, one of them wrote back to me, "I wish you were wrong."

I wish I was wrong, too.

Brynn Tannehill

Director of Advocacy, SPART*A

Oral sex ? - “Just have fun, explore and be yourself.”

January 6, 2014

The Girl Scouts believe in a “values-neutral” agenda

By Tom Quiner

More than half of teens have engaged in oral sex.

There are 750,000 teen pregnancies each year. 81% are unmarried.

The USA Today reports that 1 in 4 teens have a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

A common STD, gonorrhea, is now becoming resistant to antibiotics.

 Here’s the solution, says the Girl Scouts of America:

“Youth development, education, health, out-of-school time, social services, and government organizations can have a positive effect on girls and boys as they face decisions related to sexual activity and pregnancy.”

Guess who’s missing from this equation? The family.

The Girl Scouts look down on the family unit, because it is ill-prepared to impart “values-neutral” information regarding the intricacies of sexual expression. Translation: the family may not agree with liberal doctrine regarding sexuality, birth control, promiscuity, and abortion.

The Girl Scouts partnered with Planned Parenthood back in 2008 and have actively taken a leadership roll in influencing our kids’ values regarding sexuality.

They distributed a Planned Parenthood brochure to girls titled “Healthy, Happy and Hot.” It touted oral sex as a pleasurable alternative to vaginal and anal sex. It encourages girls to “just have fun, explore and be yourself.”

Many families don’t realize what has happened to Girl Scouts.

I have been a huge supporter of Girl Scout cookies my entire adult life. This is the time of year the girls come knocking. Interestingly, none came to my door last year. Many are church friends who discovered what I discovered, that the Girl Scouts of America support values that are destructive to our kids, and they’re doing it behind parents’ backs. These friends are pulling their kids from Girl Scouts.

I will not be purchasing Girl Scout cookies again.

7 MINUTES ON HOMOSEXUALITY - A METHODIST PERSPECTIVE

I'm done with "Love the sinner, but hate the sin."

 

Micah J. Murray

Why I Can't Say 'Love the Sinner/Hate the Sin' Anymore

Posted: 12/31/2013

I'm done.

I can't look my gay brother in the eye anymore and say "I love the sinner but hate the sin." I can't keep drawing circles in the sand.

I thought I just needed to try harder. Maybe I needed to focus more on loving the sinner, and less on protesting the sin. But even if I was able to fully live up to that "ideal," I'd still be wrong. I'd still be viewing him as something other, something different.

Not human. Not friend. Not Christian. Not brother.

Sinner.

And despite all my theological disclaimers about how I'm just as much a sinner too, it's not the same. We don't use that phrase for everybody else. Only them. Only "the gays." That's the only place where we make "sinner" the all-encompassing identity.

Then we try to reach them, to evangelize them. We speak of "the gays" in words reminiscent of the "savages" from those old missionary stories -- foreign and different and far away, the ultimate conquest for the church to tame and colonize and save.

Maybe we accept them in our midst. But even then, it's sinners in our midst -- branded with a rainbow-colored scarlet letter. They aren't truly part of us.

Even that word "them" makes me cringe as I speak it, as if my brothers and sisters are somehow other, different from me.

It's a special sort of condescending love we've reserved for the gay community. We'll agree to love them, accept them, welcome them -- but we reserve the right to see them as different. We reserve the right to say "them" instead of "us." We embrace them with arms full of disclaimers about how all the sinners are welcome here. And yet, they're the only ones we constantly remind of their status as sinners, welcome sinners.

In all this, we turn our backs on all the gay brothers and sisters already in our church, already following Jesus. Our "us vs. them" narrative leaves little space for those who didn't choose to be gay, but did choose to follow Jesus. Using "gay" and "sinner" interchangeably, we force them away from the Table and into the shadows.

They say Jesus was a friend of sinners, but he didn't describe himself that way.

His motto wasn't "eating and drinking with prostitutes and tax collectors." Those were the labels used by the religious community, by the disapproving onlookers. What's amazing about Jesus is that when he hung out with sinners, he didn't act like they were sinners. They weren't a "project," a "mission field." They were his friends. People with names. Defined as beloved children of the Creator, not defied by their sins. Icons of God's image. His brothers and sisters.

It was the Pharisees who looked at them and scrawled "sinner" on their foreheads. It was the accusers who drew circles in the sand with themselves on the inside and "those sinners" on the outside.

Those words -- "a friend of sinners" -- were spoken with an upturned nose and a self-righteous sneer. And that's the same phrase the church has adopted to speak of our own brothers and sisters -- "Love the sinner, hate the sin."

It's the same self-righteous sneer heard in the words of those who dragged the woman caught in adultery to Jesus: "What should we do with such a woman?" They defined her by a moment. She was "one of those." Not a sister. Not a human. Just a pawn in a political debate. A sinner.

But Jesus knelt with her in the sand. Unafraid to get dirty. Unafraid to affirm her humanity. "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."

He could have said "You're a sinner, but I love you anyways." But she knew she was a sinner. Those voices were loud and near and they held rocks above her head.

Jesus refused to let his voice join theirs. By telling her "go and sin no more," he affirmed that sin is not her deepest identity. It's not how he saw her. It's not who she was at the core of the being.

I am a sinner.

But before I was a sinner, I was created in the image of God. While sin has twisted and smudged that image, it can't erase it. Sin is so terrible that it killed Jesus. But it doesn't define me any longer. I am a new creation.

Because of Jesus, "sinner" is not how God sees me. It's not how I see myself. And it shouldn't be how I see my brothers and sisters in the church.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus. To look at my gay Christian brother and say "God loves the sinner" is to set myself against Jesus and bring condemnation again to those he's already redeemed.

So I'm done.

I'm done with "Love the sinner, but hate the sin."

I won't say it anymore.

I'm done with speaking as if I'm different, better than you.

We are icons. We are children of the Creator, redeemed by Jesus. We are brothers and sisters.

And today, that's enough.

Debrecen - Hungary's 2nd largest city shares their faith in this Flash mob 2014

Lazy, Slothful or Overly Self-Indulgent.

FIT TO FIGHT?

Any casual review of Salvation Army photo journalism in the USA Western Territory reveals a rather alarming incidence of obesity amongst uniformed Salvationists. It would require extensive research, unlikely to be conducted, to determine if the rates of obesity among Salvationists differs significantly from USA norms. There is no doubt that obesity is a growing health hazard in the USA and in all developed nations with related health issues of diabetes, heart disease, earlier onset of Alzheimers disease and other costly impairments.

For this observer this obesity phenomenon raises several questions:

- Are candidates for officership screened for health concerns, including obesity?  Since TSA is self-insured as an employer providing health insurance, what fiduciary responsibility does the Candidates Board have  to consider the long term financial burden that obesity and it's health impact imposes on SA funds?

- Are officers already serving who are medically obese counseled concerning this extreme health risk?  Do periodic personnel reviews and evaluations address the delicate issue of "are you too fat"? Are incentives offered to encourage improved physical fitness?

- Do officers and uniformed soldiers have a moral obligation to be physically fit and to give the appearance of fitness? Society, fairly or not, judges people on appearance. Grossly overweight persons in SA uniform create an institutional image of sloth and indolence. Try your best, it is impossible to convey a convincing image of industry, activity and energy when burdened with obesity.

- I am not suggesting that the many uniformed Salvationists who are obese are either lazy, slothful or overly self-indulgent.  I am, however, recognizing that public image is exceedingly important and wondering whether part of the cost of Salvationism is the responsibility to look "fit to fight".

Art Johnstone
Former Officer

USA Western Territory 

Changes I would like to see in the Army in 2014

THE FSAOF LGBT SERIES WILL RESUME ON MONDAY, 6 JANUARY.

I read with appreciation Major Stephen Court’s post enumerating some changes he would like to see in the Army (this year), and it prompted me to jot down some of my thoughts on that subject. I write from the perspective of someone raised in The Army, saved in the Army, commissioned as an officer, and who--after twelve years of ministry--resigned my commission at the Lord's leading. Now, it seems impossible that I have served God for nearly twice as long SINCE officership as I did AS an officer. But such is the case. Nonetheless, I retain a deep and active love for the Army. I treasure not only the memory of my years in its fellowship but also enduring friendships with so many in its ranks. I return as often as possible to that fellowship, and support it with my prayers and my gifts.

I dedicated my book, Quit Going to Church, to The Salvation Army, in acknowledgment of the debt I owe to it, and I proudly boast of the Army's ministry and promote it to everyone I can. So it is in that context I offer the following, three things I'd like to see change in the years ahead:

1. Its modernization The Salvation Army (in the English-speaking world that constitutes my experience, at least) is a marvelously preserved expression of life, faith, and witness in Victorian England. Of course, we no longer live in Victorian England, but things that made perfect sense in that milieu are often defined and defended as marks of "Salvationism" today. Uniforms. Brass bands. Perhaps even its military structure, terminology, and management style. I'm not suggesting that these expressions have no utility at all in many places, but that their utility is nowhere near as widespread as it once was, and that many in the movement have turned these means into ends. 

As a result, the means (brass banding, etc.) have survived while the ends ("go for souls!") have suffered. I know I am certain to be misunderstood on this point; it won't be the first time. For example, I love the uniform, and hope it will always have a witness, but serious and courageous thought must be given to when and where it is no longer useful. 

I love the Army's musical heritage, and I know there are more and more contemporary uses of the great storehouse of talent still alive in the Army world; however, with a few exceptions, a brass band is not nearly the practical and adaptable worship resource it was in the Army's early years. I could go on. 

Unfortunately, as with all worthy traditions, greathearts who are in the best position to initiate such discussions are most attached to the traditions. Though some "Good Old Army" ways may be outdated, they meant much to many who owe the most to the Army, which makes change unlikely...and all the more urgent, as more and more souls who could be touched by new means are left by the wayside.

2. Its approach to personnel matters In my experience, The Salvation Army has the best human resources in the world--big-hearted, hard-working, self-sacrificing, God-loving men and women. And it seems to me that great strides have been made in recent years in giving attention to pastoral care of officers, improving communication up and down the chain of command, etc. But it also seems safe to say that the Army AND its personnel suffer greatly from the lack of a cohesive Human Resources philosophy and approach. This may be due to differing challenges from one territory to another, and frequent changes from one administration to another. I get that. But both as an officer and a former officer, I have often shaken my head at policies and actions that seem likely--even, at times, designed--to lose good people, alienate them, and keep former officers from being returned to the ranks.

It is not only a coherent, cohesive philosophy and policy that must be developed, but also a culture that must change. Army leadership must lead the way in reversing the stigma and suspicion that is sometimes directed at former officers. Active steps must be taken to retain the service of good officers, and strategies for sensitive cultivation of former officers--as soldiers, employees, or officers--must be adopted.

3. Its adoption of multi-site thinking The "multi-site" phenomenon has been around for awhile now in many churches--in which a single church worships in multiple locations. For example, Crossroads Community Church in Cincinnati, located in the central Cincinnati community of Oakley, has in the last few years opened "campuses" in a northern suburb and a southern suburb (across the river in Kentucky). Each campus has a campus pastor and various staff and volunteers, but many of the church's functions are combined with other campuses (the weekly sermon, for instance, is recorded or simulcast for playing on large video screens in the other two locations). Some "multi-site" churches simulcast worship music sets while featuring live preaching on site. This approach saves much duplication of effort from one site to another, and allows campuses of relatively meager means to benefit from the resources of other campuses. I have long thought there is no better place for this model to thrive than in the Army. Various corps in a region or division could link with other corps and share resources electronically on Sundays, such as a thriving music ministry or a gifted graphic artist.

Divisional leaders could designate strategic corps to receive certain advantages—financial or otherwise—in order to resource other corps. Corps officers could rotate preaching and some of the labor-intensive work of getting a fresh, meaningful worship experience off the ground every week. A divisional or territorial leader who visits a corps could enlarge his or her ministry by “remotely” visiting the other “corps campuses” in that area. The already-rich Army fellowship would be enriched even more as people in one location share parts of a worship experience with their fellow soldiers in other locations. And that is just the beginning of the benefits. I realize, of course, that big changes like these could be painful to many, and would certainly invite disagreement and opposition. But I also believe that the Army has some of the greatest minds in the Church—minds that are capable of bringing about such things--and that progress in these areas would reap a rich and abundant harvest for generations to come.

Robert Hostetler
Former Officer
USA National Headquarters
USA Eastern Territory

Bob Hostetler is an award-winning writer, editor, pastor and speaker from southwestern Ohio. Bob was ordained to the ministry in 1980 by The Salvation Army. He and his wife, the lovely Robin, served in The Salvation Army from 1980-1992. In addition to his training for ministry with The Salvation Army, he earned degrees in English Bible from Cincinnati Christian University and English Communications from Bloomfield College.

In 2000, Bob (with his wife) helped to co-found Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. He has served that church in leadership and teaching pastor roles.

LGBT SDERIES 2014-1 Will run Monday - Friday weekly

Eighteen months ago today I wrote:  The 'conclusion' (posted below) refers to the series of 6 articles focusing on the GLBT population’s issues.... 

The series' intent was to encourage further discussion on equality and inclusivity. I also sought to challenge people to move beyond the 'same old' thinking and arguments. To that end I'll have to wait and see what transpires beyond 2011. We welcome articles on this sensitive subject for publication. 

There have been a score or more of thoughtful responses and I encourage you to expand on them, adding resources; please send them to selmoscow@aol.com .

____________________________________________

Is it wishful thinking in January 2014 to say, ‘we’ve come a long way’?  The FSAOF will return today to the LGBT (I’ve been instructed that PC requires that L – be the first letter, not G, as was my habit - ladies first?) to determine just where we are as we enter this new year; 2014. Is there greater equality, inclusivity, tolerance, acceptance and less homophobia, discrimination and gay-bashing?

It’s clear that many have lost interest in the LGBT concerns: ‘too much in-your-face’ according to those who prefer a more conservative and graceful exchange.
IN YOUR FACE FACEBOOK PHOTO - LGBT equality site… 

Do I want to try and explain this photo to my 8 grandchildren under 7 years of age? Or urge their parents to leave their laptops open and unattended... 

Has there been a preponderance of argument about a person's sexual orientation being predestined but not anywhere near as much about celibacy… and how about exaggerated claims of the overall percentage of homosexual persons? And the non-stop, repeated, ad nauseam, claims of discrimination, and twisting truth into false narratives? The arguments too often employ eisegesis; no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. There are few whole truths, only narratives. - 

But that is the direction and tactics of many fringe groups - those who feel betrayed, disenfranchised and without a voice. Immigrants, religious, racial minorities, those receiving social assistance, and even the disabled come to mind. My 5 year old wheelchair is falling apart and I'm housebound - who will speak up for me?! 

Comments received the last 3 years. “If they keep shoving it in our faces every day many will grow tired of it and give in to accepting it.” –“They are getting their kind into congress/ political seats and lobbying everyone so they can get their agenda passed and their sinful lifestyle accepted by everyone.” – “Unfortunately many Christians do not stand up and speak against it so the homosexuals and their supporters are winning this battle.” -  “The homosexual community has coined benign words to describe what in essence is abhorrent behavior to somehow make it seem less than it is.”  - “I don't argue the right to homosexual activities but I do object to it being forced on the general population as a normal alliterative lifestyle, it ain't and never will be.” – “I believe the gay agenda is to pressure governments to legalize their sin and perversion so they won't feel guilty. After all, if the government says it's okay then it's not considered a sin, right?”

The above quotes are all from unique Christian sites, and in my view, appear well entrenched. Is there any hope of their shifting even minutely to the center? And if not, can the increasing chasm, church divisiveness and congregational splits be averted?

THE FSAOF BLOG

Friday, 01 July, 2011

If I lust after a woman, picture her in my head while self-gratifying, meet her, date her and sleep with her it is a sin right up to the point where we might eventually wed.

As a young man I slept with my future wife before marriage - I believe our failure to reconcile ourselves with this as 'sin' right throughout our marriage impacted the whole relationship to the extent that, eventually, my ex-wife and I lost our love for each other completely.


There is NO situation in which such behaviour can be considered righteous and acceptable within a church. (The SA)

Can this be argued at all? And, if that is so, then how can similar acts between same sex Christians be condoned?

 There is no Biblical consent or encouragement of same-sex marriage or even a hint at acceptability for the same - regardless of how convenient it might be to try to manufacture such a thing in a modern day, 'enlightened' and pluralistic society'!
… advances in 'Scientific thinking' since 1974 have seen the status of homosexuality altered from a mental illness to a genetic inheritance - so what? Since when have Science and Christianity been happy bedfellows (if that is not too trite an expression in this debate)?

The fact is, that to be able to preach or even speak in public what have been long-held, Christian (church) principles is now, effectively illegal. Does not the Bible warn us that this will happen as we get nearer the end times? Does it not imply that merely being a Christian will be made almost impossible by the demands and expectations of society (law!) at that time?



I have no problem at all with people with homosexual natures or tendencies or genetic inheritance or whatever one may wish to call it being a fully active and welcome member of my SA corps or any other! But they MUST, by the nature of sin itself be celibate.

I know several very active and high-profile Salvationists in this very situation. They may personally feel it a unfair - that cannot be helped in the same way I feel it unfair that I have had to be celibate for almost a decade myself now - and in the same way I expect my children to be celibate until marriage.



I must also add that I also know several other Salvationist men who, both in the way they spoke and acted as well as having their natural tendencies, were 'homosexual' yet, in order to honour God, they married women and lived happy, productive lives. I can think of one current, highly successful officer born from such a union right now as I type.

There is plenty more in this debate, let alone a 'conclusion' - but it still all boils down to the one question - a question of sinful behaviour, hetero or homosexual!

(name on file)

FUNDS NEEDED TODAY!

PRESCRIPTION: 4 SHOTS VODKA - INSERT PLIERS - YANK!
Ukraine Farm Worker

The 2014 FSAOF mission focus is three-fold; a Bible – Music and Arts Camp in the Crimea, a young people’s band recently formed in Kiev’s Light House Corps. Both projects are under the direction of Salvationist recruited and trained by me 20 years ago. One is a SA officer and the other two musicians product of the SA’s very first music camp in Ukraine, and now successful professionals in their own right, and soldiers of the corps. Both hold Master's degrees in brass instrument performance.

Our third mission focus is on a very different activity, it’s on two unsung heroes in the Simferopol Corps, Ukraine. We met these very special SA soldiers, Doctors Igor, his wife Elena and their eldest son, all registered practicing dentists, but with a unique list of patients.

 

FREE DENTAL SERVICE
CITY SQUARE

About eighteen months ago Igor’s and Elena’s youngest son developed a form of cancer. In order for him to receive the very costly USA prescriptions and treatment needed they sold everything; their home, their dental practice, their car in order to maintain the very expensive treatment. Sadly, in spite of the treatment, their boy died six months later, and they had lost everything. They still grieve over the loss of their son. Nevertheless they continue to move forward resolutely seeking to learn from the cruel lessons the death of their son presented. They asked God to help them understand and respond to His leading them through their tragedy.

Faith in Christ infused their grief with the hope Jesus promised. It was God’s sign that He has called them to care for others in a way they had not ever anticipated. They believe God has told them that He does not want them to return to their earlier relatively comfortable lifestyle but to move to a new calling. They now work four days a week voluntarily providing free dental care particularly for children and the elderly, and also for others who urgently require dental care but can’t afford it.

Both Igor and Elena travel about the Crimea and beyond in a seriously dilapidated car, hauling their dental tools and medications with them, in full SA uniform. And they wear a Salvation Army badge on their dentist lab coats to encourage conversation as they repair the teeth of people in need.

Glad and I traveled with Igor in his 1991 Lada, and the crunching of gears could be heard well in advance of the car’s arrival. The car has had 4 major overhauls and the odometer reads 719000 km. (420,000 miles) and its reliability is in question. They receive no SA or other funding and rely totally on donations, mostly the FSAOF’s, hence our focus on their ministry.

Ruslan Zuev Commander, Crimea

“Sven, December 3, Igor Repyakh received your money in the bank in the amount of U.S. $ 470, in 3760 Ukrainian hryvnias.”

Let God's blessings on you be generous.

Once again, Thanks for your help.

Blessings to you. Captain Ruslan Zuev

_________________________________

DONATIONS: (Sven & Glad Ljungholm)

August, 2013 given to Dr. Igor in August $150.00

Dec 3 300.00 GBP Pounds $480.00 includes WU fee

Jan 2, 2014 $370.00

Total: $1,000.00

The FSAOF has begun receiving donations but we are at the moment in the red and need your help. All donations will be acknowledged weekly beginning January 5^th.

My hope is that the FSAOF will support Drs. Igor and Elena Repyakh in the amount of $400.00 per month via WU beginning Feb 1, 2014. None of the funds will be diverted to the SA or any other activity or project. And no solicitations have been made in the name of the Salvation Army.

The FSAOF has also begun purchasing and soliciting dental equipment. (see photos)

If you would like to join in supporting this unique ministry please consider a one time or monthly recurring gift. All gifts will be acknowledged publically in the blog and in the FB forum and a monthly financial statement made available from the FSAOF Treasurer.

Please send your donation to Paypal at selmoscow@aol.com. The Paypal address displayed will be FSAOF – FORMER SALVATION ARMY OFFICERS FELLOWSHIP.

Or you may donate by check to:

Sven Ljungholm

202 South

1100 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

Clearwater, Fl. 33756

USA

Sven Ljungholm

21 Bonchurch Dr

Liverpool L15 4PW

OUR MISSION IS TO SECURE FUNDING TO PURCHASE THIS CAR AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE CURRENT RUSTING LADA - SEE BELOW