Sunday, August 05, 2012


Homosexuality and the Christian:  Coming out of the Closet

This week's media chatter has inspired me to write a couple of blogposts regarding homosexuality and the Christian.  These are just some thoughts rolling around in my head, not a complete look at the topic. 

As a intro, I have found there are a few basic things that unless agreed upon, prevent the Christian from having a meaningful conversation with the gay community and its supporters:
1.  The complete authority of the Word of God
2.  The sinfulness of homosexual activity (actually, of all extramarital sexual activity)
3.  The role of human feelings being subjected to the Word of God when determining God's Will

The first two are self-explanatory; the third is a sneaky thing that creeps into the lives of many professing Christians.  Many a person has sat in a pastor's office and has said, "I believe God is calling me to divorce my husband.  See, I wasn't looking for love with anyone else, but it just dropped into my lap.  It must be of God since I wasn't pursuing it."   More 'tame' versions of this logic abound in the church.  I like to remind myself that Satan is allowed to open doors, too.  Just because something occurs out of the blue does NOT mean that God is behind it. 

That being said, I'd like to scribble out some of my thoughts on two big questions:  1.  Are people BORN gay? (this post) 2.  Can a gay person be a Christian at the same time? (next post)

People seem to carry within them individual weaknesses toward certain sins.  I'm pretty sure this has to do with the spiritual "DNA" we receive from our ancestors.  The sins of the fathers DO affect the children.  So do those of the mother, and those of the grandparents, and those of those before.  I know a man whose first alcoholic drink was HARD liquor (ick!) and his immediate reaction was, "Where has this been my whole life?!"  Immediate addiction.  This is seen in chemical addictions obviously, but in other areas, too.  We pick up all kinds of stuff through the genetic code.  Talking with my friend, Joy Budensiek a few years ago, she told me upon meeting her biological mother for the first time, she was stunned by how many of her personal quirks, strengths and weaknesses were reflected in her mother.  I suspect that certain weaknesses can skip generations, and I pray often that God will remove any 'curse' of previous generational sins from the lives of my children.  This should make us run like mad from sin!  Our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren are touched by that foray into pornography, that hypocrisy, that 'you-name-it!'  God, please help us to allow You to place blessings into our children's lives, not curses!!

Now a little anecdotal reference to the above.  I have told this story to the amusement of my friends over the years, but I assure you, it was not only not amusing, but frightening at the time.  About 9 years ago, Nathan and I were sent to Las Vegas for a business conference.  Just getting off the plane in Vegas, we could feel the deep and heavy sinfulness of that American favorite.  The atmosphere was downright oppressive.  Our company placed us in the Venetian, a gorgeous hotel/casino on the Strip.  Now a hotel in Vegas is very intentionally laid out.  You must WALK THROUGH the casino to get to the elevators to take you to your room.  Dear reader, I cannot truly express how I felt the first time I walked into that casino.  My heart pounded!  I felt alive!  There was an incredible pull in my heart toward the risk-taking, the gambling.  (Not the slot machines, people- I'm not an automaton ;o)  I had never, ever in my whole life felt a temptation like this.  The days there were torture.  I hated walking through that huge room.  I drowned myself in the Word, and prayed to get OUT of Vegas!  I never touched a card.  I know nothing about poker, blackjack or roulette.  But I was born with some kind of strange pull to it that I never knew about until I was exposed. 

Was there a gambler in my family history?  I don't know.  Possibly.  All I know is I was born into this twisted and fallen world with a propensity for risk taking and thus gambling is very attractive to me.  In the same way, I think that some people are born with a tremendous sexual attraction to members of the same sex. But that should not be used to justify a gay lifestyle anymore than my innate love of risk taking should justify gambling. People are not born gay any more than I was born a gambler.    

My little anecdote may strike some as silly, as funny.  I think it's a bit bizarre myself.  But it's given me a compassion for my homosexual friends.  So many Christians blow them off, and say, "Well, that's just sick!"  Yep.  So is all sin.  It's really sick to trample the gift of the Gospel to want to do our own thing.  Our good friend Greg Makcen used to say, "What do you have that's so great about your life that you won't leave it for Christ?"  The answer:  nothing.  All sin is sick.  All sin is paid for by our great Savior!

I don't think God is going to grill us at the Judgment on what our temptations were, rather what we yielded to and embraced in our lives.  I DO know He demands our HOLINESS.  There is so much that His holiness demands of us that is simply impossible on our own.  Anyone struggle with the sin of pride this week?  How about bringing those thoughts captive?  How about fear?  How about ...?  How'd that go for you?  It is only as we are in Christ, surrendered to His will and leadership, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit that we can overcome temptation.

Friday, August 03, 2012

July is Finally Over!  (Woohoo!)

My absentia from blog-ville has been full to bursting of special things.  A trip to Hobe Sound, FL for the 20th High School Class Reunion (Nathan) with time spent with sweet family and friends!    We had such an awesome time.  As you will see, Kathryn was very excited to hang out with Brent and Sam, too.  (shh- I think the word "crush" is appropriate)

I would love to share in detail what it's like to drive to Hobe Sound with two children in the backseat, but as I have so much to accomplish today, I'll let all your parental experience fill in the gaps.  In Jacksonville, we stayed at a hotel, and I got to have supper with a dear friend (Sasha) I haven't seen in 20 years!  (FYI:  Nathan may have been turning the tassel 20 years ago, but we were sweet 6th graders.  He sooo robbed the cradle ;o)  Sasha's family, a lovely Puerto Rican US Military fam, introduced me to the world of Spanish.  A good thing, too, since I've used it so much since :o)  I just left off some translation work to do this blog post.

On the 4th, Harold Martin took the kids and me (Nathan wasn't there yet) up in a teeny-tiny plane, and Alex steered us out over the ocean.  Needless to say, he was DELIGHTED, and I was NERVOUS.  Not many kids his age can say they have driven a plane.  Harold said when Alex saw the ocean, he said, "WOW!  That's a big lake!!!" into the headset ;o)  

When we finally got home, our schnauzer was pretty bitter at having been left in boarding for 10 days.  Just yesterday, I couldn't find her around the house.  Eventually I found her sleeping in my car.  She goes and jumps in it whenever the door is opened b/c she's afraid of being left. 

Then my baby sister and her fiancee Michael Mimier got married.  Yay!  So happy for her!  Oh, that weekend would make a great blogpost, too.  Anyhoo, suffice it to say my prayers asking for a calm spirit were answered.  I'll let all your experience with family weddings outdoor on a rainy July day fill in the gaps here.

So!  Here are some pics!  I'm in the crunch of prep-work for Homeschool Year 2012-2013, as are many of you.  Besides I'm busily forming a blogpost on something more controversial in my head at the moment.  Hopefully it won't take me a month to get it up and rolling. 

A Fun Night At Toojays!
THEIR very goofy kids and OUR freaked out kids - haha!
Kathryn illustrates for the illustrator
A trip with Hickman kids to a sea turtle rehab center- fun!
Mi amiguita, Sasha Melendez and I

Alex would run from the waves and then dash right back in- silly!

Kathryn says, "This looks classy!"  (means classic?)

Harold Martin about to take munchkins and me up and unknown child who wanted to be in pic (Loper maybe?)

Watch the road, honey (my view from inside)

My view outside!

Full Snorkeling Gear- yep!  They are Browns

Our bitter dog
Zee beautiful bride and groom!
From L to R:  Cocky, tired, sick (and having a great time! :o)