“When I get flogged, I go into a trance state. That’s the only thing I know to call it. Outside stimuli are simply not present.” A newcomer looks intently at the heavyset man speaking from the corner. Another voice breaks in, “It’s like locking onto
Coauthored with James Raymer “On behalf of Jim and Larry, I welcome you to this celebration of their commitment to each other.” I listened to our Pastor, Jill Edens, make this statement during the opening of our covenant ceremony. The long awaited day was finally
Have you ever seen the Application for Permission to Date My Daughter? It’s a girl’s worst nightmare that includes questions such as: Do you have an earring, nose ring, or belly button ring? When would be the best time to interview your father, mother, and
I’ve always loved the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. So many things he said resonate with truth in my spirit. The timelessness of his cries for freedom and his insights into the nature of oppression give me strength for my own journey as
Legalism is an idolatrous religion. Legalistic judgmental religion is based on absolute commitment to biblical literalism, which is the conviction that every word of the Bible is literally true and every statement in the Bible has equal authority as the word of God. This approach
There is a spirit of sadness rampant in the community of black gay / homosexual / same-gender-loving men. It can be recognized underneath the many beautiful faces and wonderfully sculpted bodies of brothers in bars and clubs. It was evident in the August 1998 issue
After twenty years of marriage, I left home, at my wife’s request, because of my being “mentally homosexual.” There had been few homosexual experiences — only a couple of encounters during my younger years. I was 53 years old, very much a believer in the
I was listening to a Christian radio station the other day. A song came on saying “I will not be ashamed of the message of Jesus.” It was one of those proselytizing justification songs. As I listened to it I wondered what is the true
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8) Can I ever relate to this passage! At 8 p.m. on
There have been times in my life when, what felt like an unsolvable problem turned out to be a beautiful gift – something wonderful and special. It has been my experience that that what I have feared the most has been what was different. But,