Emancipation Day Message

Dear All:

As I sat here in my office I recall the then PM of Jamaica P.J. Paterson and what was suggested by him about the constitution of Jamaica not being a shackle. Please forgive me but I was not able to find his exact words. I recall this as I sat down and realized that August 1st will be Emancipation Day. I started to also recall Bob Marley's words of wisdom as he said in his song "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery".

Immediately I begin to wonder what were PJ and Bob talking about and who were they really directing their thoughts to. Ironically PJ was in power when the country decided to celebrate Emancipation Day. I remember asking myself what the hell we are celebrating Emancipation for when in fact as LGBT Jamaicans we were not really allowed to be truly emancipated.

How could he declare such a day? However as Bob said in his words that it is more about our mental state of mind and where we hope to see ourselves several days, months and years. Let us project ourselves into the future.

As a member of the LGBT community of Jamaica I soon realize that they both gave us something to celebrate about. It is not so much about the national holiday as it so much about moving forward and seeking the truth and being steadfast in our doings. No one said that the road would be an easy one. Do you remember those roads that we refer to as "pass" or "tracks". As a child growing up

I walked many of those "tracks' but in the end I have been able to survive. I came out with a few bruises on my feet and scratches on my thighs but who said it was going to be easy. My fellow Jamaicans just keep the faith be strong and think on the words of Bob in a positive manner and in the end you will reap your rewards.

Peace & love to you all.

Linford Cunningham

“When bull ole, him feed a fence side”(Caution comes with age)

In thinking about this commentary, I remembered the frequency with which my grandmother used to use it and felt that I could re work it to be more directed to my younger brothers and sisters within the gay, lesbian ,bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community.

For the record, although I am only 30 years old, as a teenager I was deeply involved in the GLBT movement in Jamaica. I often times resented older folks sharing their knowledge with me. They were always quick and ready to tell me to do this, avoid that, listen to this message, take this into consideration etc. I often felt that all they wanted to do was to take sexual advantage of me and so many times I would brush off their suggestions by muttering under mi breath or thinking to myself “Gallang yah, you old, yu can say anything”
As I got older and more experienced I found myself wanting to give advice to every GLBT youth that I came across. Yes, some of them were very cute and sexy but my main objective was to impart some of my knowledge to them so that they would not also make the mistakes or bad judgments that I made. I genuinely wanted to save them from falling into any pot holes into which I had dropped. But they made me taste some of the same medicine that I would give to elders when I was younger. They too did not want to hear what was being said by me(the older person) because in the back of their heads might have lingered the thought “him waan tek advantage a mi”. Some might even have said behind my back, “Gallang yah, you old, yu can say anything”. One effect of this is that the older person therefore becomes reserved and refrains from giving any advice and becomes very measured in what is shared and the risk taken. This is what the proverb means by the convenience of the fence side in old age as opposed to exploring the unlimited and untamed pastures in youth.

The reality is that with age comes wisdom and clearly the words of the wise and foolish should be listened to. The moral is that older folks have wisdom and experience to share and can provide you with some suggestions. They must be cautious about what they do and how they go about doing it. Youth, you have the strength, the energy, and the skills of the 21st century and are destined to do a good job and to change the world. The challenge is that both the ole bull (older persons) with all their experience and maturity; and the young bull (younger persons) with all their energy and vigor have to work together to achieve the ultimate of building better lives and developing the GLBT community. One cannot do without the other.

Stay well, be strong, have faith, and work together.

Prayer
Father Mother, God in your eyes you do not see the divisions of young and old. Therefore help us all to feast on the wealth of knowledge and experience that you have for us as GLBT persons. Help us to come together in love and learn one from the other as we thank you for this beautiful gift of life.

Written by Linford Cunningham (porkkie3@yahoo.co.uk)

Rev Says

Colleagues,

Greetings. I will be away for two weeks but hopefully we will be able to keep in touch. What testimony do you bare with your life and the activities that you are involved in? What experiences of God do you have? I believe it is important to always remember that Scripture serves to confirm and comfort us but also to unsettle and dislocate us. So often we interpret the biblical text in ways that confirm our beliefs. Sometimes, we might need to talk back to Scripture and mine from it alternative interpretations and understandings. This is important because we all have our own individual experience of God and we all bear testimony. According to Chopp, (1997)"Testimony is not just confession of what something meant- that is what it means to me- though it is that to a limited degree. In its fullest sense, the person who gives testimony articulates the truth of what she has heard, experience, and endured." We also realise that "To bear witness, to testify, is to give an account through ones life to that which both fills and moves beyond one's life." This understanding of testimony might be considered risky business and in the minds of some traditionalists sacrilege or perhaps blasphemy. At the Kingston SCJ MCC, I trust that we would dare to be different and dare to experience God's goodness and grace in new and different ways. We can also dare to talk back to Scripture and God, not in rancorous ways but in a quest for deeper understanding. May you have experience God's Grace and Goodness in new and different ways today and always and then be prepared to communicate to other. A blessed and holy weekend, sabbath or Lord's Day whichever is applicable.

Peace,
Rev

A God sen you come, mi dear. God sen you come

Grandma Bunchie did not see the physical food that she was to cook for dinner for her four children who would be arriving home from school any time now. Although she had no idea where a suitable meal was going to come from for them, she refused to sit back and lament about that fact. What she did instead was to pull up her faith-faculties. She went outside, got dry wood, got kerosene oil, got matches and proceeded to light a fire.

Then she got her largest cooking pot, filled it with water, put salt and other seasonings in it and allowed the water to start boiling. As she did this she focused more and more on her faith faculties knowing that she did not have the answers, she did not see physical food but that God would deliver. She knew that if she had to explain to someone what she was doing, they would think of her as a raas mad woman. But she was resolute in her faith and continued as she hummed “All to Spirit I surrender”” She was therefore not surprised when Miss Cherry her next door neighbour came over and offered her a huge bag of grocery items, cautiously explaining that she had received more than she would be able to use and “...seeing as how you have the children, something just whisper and tell mi to come and share wid you. I hope that you do not mind.”

As Grandma Bunchie graciously accepted them, she assured Miss. Cherry that she did not mind at all because “Is God send you come Miss Cherry, God Send you come”. As they parted, Grandma Bunchie lifted her eyes to God, thankful that again He had delivered but also more and more aware that the faith-faculty cannot go wrong. She was therefore not in the least perturbed when her four children arrived home with four other children because she had more than enough to share.There are many different lessons in this story for us as bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender Jamaicans. In our own personal lives and as a community we have had to rely purely on the grace of God to keep us going.

It is only our belief in God that protects us and makes life liveable from day to day.As we dream of achieving certain things that seem too big (meal for four children)to happen in our life time, the answer is to take the small first steps (light the fire, set on the pot), take the lead in one way or another and leave the rest for the Spirit (All to Spirit I surrender) to achieve.Focus not on what the popular culture is saying (raas mad woman). Most will see us unnatural, weird etc. But place instead your energy and attention on the goals to be achieved. What others think of or say about us is none of your business.The facts are the facts (no food in the cupboard) but you do not have to live by them. Instead live beyond them not pretending to have all the answersExpect big things to happen (large cooking pot)Celebrate small victories (groceries arrived)Acknowledge the source (God send you come)Share with others (I decide to share wid you)Think about others (arrived home with four other children)Move to the promptings of the Spirit (something just whisper and tell mi to come and share wid you)Prayer TreatmentHoly Spirit, I believe in you and know that with you on our side, we are a majority. I therefore take the small first steps to achieving success in my personal and communal lives.

Thank you Spirit. Thank You Spirit!!!!!!!

Written by IGM (jamaicanbattyman@hotmail.com)

So do not fear, for I am with you

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."- Isaiah 41:10 Its a good idea to Live Your Life For Christ. To Live a Good Life just to Hear God say "Enter In My Heavenly Kingdom" and " Well Done"

There are some people out there reading this that have been Living a good life Looking out for others and speaking Life. God is smiling Today upon you! Do not fear, nor worry. "Keep on Keeping on" as the older Saints say. Knowing today that God is with you and hears your cry for Help Look up to the hills help is on the way today in the name Of Jesus! Lets help others Do good, do not tempt others to do wrong but be a Blessing and allow God to use you to minister to them. I love you!

Jay M

If we say that we have no sin

(KJV)1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Lets just be honest with God! Confess your sins to the Father. We all have sinned. We often talk about being real but whom do you be real with. Please, let it be God first. Fear no man for we all are wrapped in flesh and fall short of the Glory. Don't be fooled and think what you do behind your four walls is a secret.

God can see all you do. Fear God not man. It would be wise to walk in the Light Of God, if you are walking in the dark that is first no place to be and second God is not there! Lets all start today with this prayer! Heavenly Father I come to you seeking your word like never before. Forgive me God for I have sinned. Have mercy on me.
In Jesus Name I pray Amen. Love you all!

contributed by Jay

Psalm 51(KJV)

Psalm 51(KJV)

1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow

The high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth

"The high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall." (Acts 23:2,3)

Brought before the Council, the apostle begins by declaring his innocence. "And the high priest Ananias, commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth." This undoubtedly was violence; yet produced not by testimony borne to Christ, but by self-justification. Paul replies with an insult, calling the high priest a "whited wall." He had merited this, it is true; but such an answer did not display the meekness of Christ. Being reproved, Paul owns his fault; but his defense tells us of the absence of the power and of the knowledge of the Holy Spirit. "I knew not," is not what the Holy Spirit would say. All is true; but we do not find the energy of the Spirit of God. Moreover, he is not now merely a Jew and a Roman, but also a Pharisee. Such a title he counts no longer dross and dung, it has become once more a gain. (JND - Meditations on the Acts of the Apostles)

The Ethiopian Eunuch - When God Saved A Gay Man In Acts 8:26-40

The Ethiopian Eunuch.
Is It Possible You Missed A Gay Man Getting Saved In This Incredible True Story?
When evangelicals and fundamentalists share the gospel with gay men and lesbians, it is standard practice to tell the new believer he or she must stop being gay.
Gays who get saved are encouraged to join Exodus International, Love Won Out, Love In Action or another Ex-Gay ministry. We now examine a famous eunuch in scripture to see if a Spirit-led preacher in the Bible exhorted a saved eunuch to change his sexual orientation.
Acts 8:26-40 tells the story of the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip, a deacon of the Jerusalem Church, 6:5, fled Jerusalem after the stoning of Stephen, 8:1-5, to evangelize Samaria. This is God’s clue that He is interested in evangelizing the outcasts. God wants Samaritan outcasts to be saved as much as He wants Jews to be saved.

MORE HERE

"Look from the top." (Song of Solomon 4:8)

"Look from the top." (Song of Solomon 4:8)

This is a splendid word for a busy day with its crush of work of all sorts. If we get caught in the crush and pushed down, so to speak, the next thing we know is that we are groveling in the dust. Things are on the top of us, we are not on the top of anything. So the word comes, "Look from the top". Come with Me from all that, come up the mountain with Me, "look from the top". In every-day life this simply means, look from everything up to the Lord Jesus, Who is our Peace, our Victory and our Joy, for we are where we look. From below, things feel impossible, people seem impossible (some people at least), and we ourselves feel most impossible of all. From the top we see as our Lord sees; He sees not what is only, but what shall be. He is not discouraged, and as we look with Him, our discouragement vanishes, and we can sing a new song. (Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)

But when from mountain top,
My Lord, I look with Thee,
My cares and burdens drop
Like pebbles in the sea.
The air is clear,
I fear no fear,
In this far view
All things are new.

"Therefore we labour (make it our aim)... that we may be accepted (well pleasing to) of HIM."

"Therefore we labour (make it our aim)... that we may be accepted (well pleasing to) of HIM." (2 Corinthians 5:9)

A brilliant young concert pianist was performing for the first time in public. The audience sat enthralled as beautiful music flowed from his disciplined fingers. The people could hardly take their eyes off this young virtuoso. As the final note faded, the audience burst into applause. Everyone was standing - except one old man up front. The pianist walked off the stage crestfallen. The stage manager praised the performance, but the young man said, "I was no good, it was a failure." The manager replied, "Look out there, everyone is on his feet except one old man!" "Yes," said the youth dejectedly, "but that one old man is my teacher."

Do we have the same desire for God's approval as that pianist had for his teacher's praise? Our Lord's approving smile is what really matters. But what is it that delights His heart? First, there is faith (Hebrews 11:6). Then, there are two special sacrifices: "the sacrifice of praise," and remembering "to do good and to communicate (share)" (Hebrews 13:15,16). Such sacrifices please God.
Let's make it our goal as we enter each day to please the heavenly Father as Jesus did (John 8:29). Whether we work in the limelight or labor unnoticed behind the scenes, when we do our task with faith, diligence, thankfulness, and caring, God is pleased. But more wonderful still, He helps us by "Working in you that which is well pleasing in HIS sight, through Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 13:21). (D.J.D.)

Just live your life before your Lord,
Rise to that higher, nobler plane -
With single eye His glory seek,
And you shall His approval gain. (Rae)

When you do what you please, does what you do please God?

To obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams."

(1 Samuel 15:22)
The first and most important point in the training of children is to teach them the blessedness of obedience. They must learn obedience to properly constituted authority, which is the foundation of all moral excellency, not only in childhood, but all through life. If a child never learns to be obedient at home to the God-given authority of its parents, it will be disobedient to authorities of the Government.

Obedience to God is the very essence of a happy Christian life and if we would desire our children to be converted and be obedient Christians, we must teach them obedience at home from the very beginning. A child that has never learned obedience to its parents will seldom be an obedient Christian, if ever converted. Obedience to parental authority is essential to subjection to God's authority.
The parent's will should be supreme with a child, because the parent stands in the place of God in relation to the child. It is self-will, the inborn tendency of every child of Adam, that is the very essence of sin, and this will need to be brought into subjection to God. Upon parents, mothers especially, God has laid the task of beginning the work in childhood. Children should be trained to implicit and unquestioning obedience to their parents and to all authorities. We are living in the last days described in 2 Timothy 3, when disobedience to parents and all the various forms of self-will and rebellion are rampant everywhere, therefore it is all the more necessary that parents train their children in obedience.
(The Christian Home - R.K. Campbell)

If I could grab your hand

If I could grab your hand in this storm that you are going through I would join hands with you and tell you have FAITH! “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 So I bring this word to tell you Since I can not grab your hand as I set behind my PC My God and His Faithfulness His Grace and His peace is Holding Your hand Right Now! Trust God He is working on the inside of your mind ask Him to take out all unclean things and Replace it with the Holy Ghost right now! Love you all !

Contributed by Jay M

SCJ Summer Camp

Couples & Singles Camp 2008

It is here for the first time

~ When ~

Sunshine
Cathedral
Jamaica

~Presents ~

Summer Camp 2008

Date: August 29-31 2008

Cost: $JA3500.00/$US50 per person

Come and enjoy a wide range of fun filled activities for the
weekend

Contact your Chapter coordinator(s) at:

8538271(Kingston) 8897617(Ocho Rios),

853-9303 (Montego Bay),

853-9280 (Mandeville)

adminassistantscj@gmail.com

sunshinecathedraljamaica@gmail.com

Cayman Islands to ban gay marriage

by Tony Grew

An amendment to legislation in the Cayman Islands defining marriage as between a man and a woman is expected to get support from the government and opposition.
However, the proposed change to the law does not mention civil partnerships.
Recent UK government regulations allow the partners of citizens of British Overseas Territories that have passed civil partnership legislation to apply for citizenship.
However, the UK has not extended partnership legislation across the 14 territories, which include Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands and the Cayman Islands, and none of them have moved to legalise same-sex partnerships.
"The concern that everyone seems to have that somehow this is going to force the recognition of civil unions in the Cayman Islands - that fear needs to be addressed," Education Minister Alden McLaughlin told the Cay Compass.
"When we talk about the need to get the United Kingdom to restrict its ability….to extend legislation to the Cayman Islands, this is a perfect example of what can happen if we do not achieve that objective."
The UK and the Caymans are due to begin talks about constitutional reform later this year.
Homosexual acts between consenting adults were decriminalised in the Caymans by a UK Order in Council in December 2000.
In the wake of an incident in which a gay man was detained by police on the Cayman Islands after kissing his boyfriend in public, there has been much discussion of gay rights in the territory and concern the UK may move to introduce civil partnerships.
The Director of Tourism apologised to Aaron Chandler, the American visitor who was targeted and held by police for kissing his boyfriend.
Mr Chandler said that the apology was appreciated but also made sense from a business point of view 70% of the Caribbean nation's GDP comes from tourism.
The 23 year old American, on holiday with his partner, was detained by an off duty police officer and taken to a police station but not arrested. He was later released without charge.
Complaints about the couple kissing were reportedly made by fellow customers at the Royal Palms resort.
They deny that they behaved any differently from other straight guests.
Mr Chandler was told by the off duty police officer to not kiss his partner in public.
The couple decided to ignore the instruction and when later in the evening they kissed again Mr Chandler was physically taken away from the nightclub where they were drinking with friends and detained at the local station.

"Gay rights don't trump religious rights" says Christian Institute

by Tony Grew

A Christian group opposed to gay rights has welcomed an employment tribunal ruling that Islington council discriminated against a registrar who wanted to opt out of performing civil partnership ceremonies on religious grounds.
The Christian Institute financed Lillian Ladele's case. The tribunal ruled that she was unlawfully discriminated against because of her religion.

It also found that Islington council failed to apply its anti-discrimination policies to gay colleagues who were mistreating her, failed to stop bullying against her and labelled her homophobic.
"This important ruling confirms that gay rights should not be treated as trumping religious rights," said Mike Judge, the head of communications at the Christian Institute.
"If we really believe in equality before the law, that means respecting people who have sincerely held religious beliefs on sexual ethics.
"The witch hunt against those who disagree with homosexual practice has to stop."
Last year the Christian Institute claimed that the new offence of incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation restricts free speech, targets Christians and will stifle debate about homosexuality.

The fundamentalist group previously failed to stop the introduction of the Sexual Orientation Regulations which protect LGB people from discrimination in goods and services.
It objected to the extension of incitement to racial hatred laws to sexual orientation as "homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle. Many 'gay rights' activists would say that their sexual orientation is a choice, not a genetic characteristic."
Mark Jones, solicitor for Miss Ladele, said that today's ruling may "encourage other employers to balance competing rights where they conflict."
"In standing up for her faith, Lillian Ladele found herself vilified by various people, including some holding themselves out as protectors of the rights and freedoms of others," he said.
"She faced this with a quiet dignity. I hope that those who were quick to criticise Lillian - including those holding political and clerical office - will now swiftly express their support for her (and others like her) now she has been revealed as the victim, and not the perpetrator, of the discrimination they purport to oppose."

The tribunal also accepted that Islington Council had been able to deliver a "first-class" service to homosexual couples seeking civil partnerships, without Miss Ladele's involvement.
Therefore, the Council's decision to require Miss Ladele to perform civil partnership registrations, contrary to her conscience, was an unlawful act of indirect religious discrimination.
The Council's actions also amounted to unlawful harassment. The judgment found that the Council "disregarded and displayed no respect for Ms Ladele's genuinely held religious belief," and it created an "intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for her on grounds of her religion on belief."

Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him

"...let my brother Ammon go with us. And the king (David) said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Ammon and all the sons go with him. Now Absalom had commanded... smite Ammon; then kill him... David mourned... Absalom fled... the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom... bring the young man Absalom again.... Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel... David said... let us flee for we shall not else escape from Absalom." (2 Samuel 14,15)

David's inordinate tenderness only paved the way for Absalom's open rebellion. Terrible warning! Deal tenderly with evil, and it will assuredly rise to a head, and crush you in the end. On the other hand, meet evil with a face of flint, and your victory is sure. Sport not with the serpent, but at once crush it beneath your foot. Plain, unflinching decision is, after all, the safest and happiest path. It may be trying at first, but the end is peaceful. (C.H.Mackintosh)

Take my yoke upon you

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 29,30)
Is the Christian life after all, what its enemies take it for - an additional weight to the already great woe of life, some extra punctiliousness about duty, some painful devotion to observances, some heavy restriction and trammelling of all that is joyous and free in the world? ...Did you ever stop to ask what a yoke is really for? Is it to be a burden to the animal which wears it? It is just the opposite. It is to make its burden light.

A yoke is not an instrument of torture; it is an instrument of mercy. It is not a malicious contrivance for making work hard; it is a gentle device to make hard labour light. It is not meant to give pain, but to save pain. And yet men speak of the yoke of Christ as if it were a slavery, and look upon those who wear it as objects of compassion?
... The mistake has arisen from taking the word "yoke" here in the same sense as in the expressions "under the yoke." ... in Christ's illustration it is not the jugrum of the Roman soldier, but the simple "harness" or "ox-collar" of the Eastern peasant. (Henry Drummond)

What man knoweth the things of a man

"What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:11)

I remember looking at a busy ant colony on a broiling summer day in Australia. My thoughts ran as follows. The distance between a man and an ant is very great, but after all it is but a finite distance. You can weigh the substance of a man and that of an ant, and you can find out how much heavier a man is that an ant. But can an ant understand what is passing through a man's mind? Can an ant understand the achievements of men? We know it cannot. But the distance between God and man is infinitely greater than that between man and ant. God is the Creator. Man is the creature. The distance between them is infinite. No arithmetic is of any use here. Is it possible that the mind of man can understand and comprehend God? "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find our the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measures thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." (Job 11:7-9) (A.J. Pollock - Why I Believe the Bible)

Great is our God

With Celta Kirkland
Wednesday, July 09, 2008

2 CHRONICLES 2:5b and 6a: "For great is our God above all gods; but who is able to build Him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him?" Solomon had been commissioned to build a temple for God; however, he was humbled when he realised that the God he served could not be contained in a building made by men's hands.
Although no expense was spared on materials and the most skilled workmen in their various specialties were employed, Solomon, being king, still lamented: "Who am I that I should build Him a house?" Are we guilty of believing that God's presence can only be confined to the building we erect, no matter how humble or grand?
The truth is God is omnipresent. He is everywhere simultaneously, He can be found in the hearts of those who sincerely seek Him, whether in the remotest part of the earth or in the busiest city. Not only is God omnipresent but He is also omnipotent, all-powerful. God is Elohim, the Creator of us all and all of creation. God is omniscient, all knowledge and wisdom is contained in Him. Psalm 105:7 tells us that He is God, our God in charge of the whole earth.
If then God is omnipresent, omnipotent, Elohim and omniscient, how can we relegate Him to a mere building, denomination or culture? His eyes continue to go to and from over the whole earth that He may be strong on behalf of those whose hearts diligently and sincerely seek Him. The keys to unleashing God's presence and power are: (1) to seek Him with all our hearts (prayer). (2) To worship Him in spirit and in truth (holy lifestyle). (3) To obey His commandments (submission).
Eternal Father, today as a nation we declare Your greatness and we acknowledge You as the God above all gods. We patiently wait for the manifestation of Your glory and deliverance.In Jesus' name,Amen.

celtakirk@yahoo.com

Sorry fi mawga dawg… dem turn round and bite you (Help someone in need and they turn around to hurt you)

The Love we seek

Lesbians and gay men all over the world know what it’s like to trust someone who seems to need their help and be bitten by that same someone because of their sexual orientation. That’s the basic meaning of this Jamaican proverb: sometimes we help people who seemingly need us and those are the same ones who happen to hurt us. This of course doesn’t mean that we must not help others, but that we must be discerning and careful. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to believe that just because we have the good sense to rise above issues of sexual orientation and accept people as they are, that all people are that accepting or sensible.

Truthfully though, the main lesson to be learnt here is one of self respect and self-love. One of the main reasons that gay men become caught in situations like this and get ‘bitten’, is often an issue of seeking love and acceptance. Some people think that the love you give, returns to you and this is true… within reason. There is a greater truth that we must all observe though, and that is “All love begins with love of self.” We can’t give what we don’t have and so if you don’t love yourself- you don’t have enough love in you to give anyone else. This means that we must build up that sense of self and develop enough self respect and love to prevent ourselves from giving other people the power to hurt us in the name of love.

In other words, there is no virtue in continuously trying to prove yourselves worthy of anyone’s love and respect. You already are worthy of it. Anyone who doesn’t shower you with it or at least give it to you in a decent way does not in turn deserve your time and energy. Or as it says in the Bible, “Cast not your pearls before swine.”
So if you are giving what you think is love and not receiving back, love then maybe what you are giving is not really love. And you may not love yourself enough to realize that what you are calling love is really ‘emotional neediness’ or ‘lack of self-worth’ or ‘be somebody-itis.’ If it’s love, then it feels good to give it and it feels good to receive it. As long as you feel that you are twisting up yourself in a cycle of painful giving and receiving and questioning whether or not you are appreciated or valued, you really need to check yourself with this love thing. Start a love party with yourself. Ask, “If I loved myself, would I really do this or put up with that?” If the answer is no then just stop doing what you’re doing and find some other mawga dog to shower your love on – and by the way, let that new mawga dog be you!

Nicholas Stephen Bruce
nicholasstephenbruce@gmail.com

Couples & Singles Camp 2008

Couples & Singles Camp 2008

It is here for the first time

~ When ~

Sunshine
Cathedral
Jamaica

~Presents ~

Summer Camp 2008

Date: August 29-31 2008

Cost: $JA3500.00/$US50 per person

Come and enjoy a wide range of fun filled activities for the
weekend

Contact your Chapter coordinator(s) at:

8538271(Kingston) 8897617(Ocho Rios),

853-9303 (Montego Bay),

853-9280 (Mandeville)

adminassistantscj@gmail.com

sunshinecathedraljamaica@gmail.com

The sea enters the rivers

The sea enters the rivers before the rivers can run into the sea. In like manner, God comes to us before we go to Him; and heaven enters into our souls before we can enter into heaven.

contributed by A

A Prayer, Where there is

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

contributed

A new pastor

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it
seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated
knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the
back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card
had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10."
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of
laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I
was naked."

Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones?
They still are!
"A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Prov. 17:22)

Contributed by Anthony

Nanny Goat neva cratch him back till him si wall

This proverb means that we should always wait for the perfect timing to do something. Most times that is easier said than done especially when in the meanwhile we go through twitching, itching and major discomforts. Today we ware reminded that there is a Perfect Time for any and everything. That Perfect Time is God’s Time. Too many times we do things and not wait for that Perfect Timing causing massive delays, nervous moments and unnecessary anxieties in all our lives.

If we take notice of the trees, fruits and even animals, they too have their individual times. Take for instance the ackee that we as Jamaicans love so very much. If that is eaten before it naturally and fully opens up, it can be poisonous. Trees too have a time when they bring forth fruit, flowers and or just simply mature. All done in Perfect Timing.
We know that there are many things to be done and we want them to be accomplished soon, especially when it will make life better for us gays and lesbians in Jamaica. But if we don’t wait for the Perfect Time to move towards such things, then years of planning and years of accomplishment would be gone and then lost forever.

We’ve always heard that for everything there is a time and a season, for everything there is a place under the sun. We need to be patient and not do anything to stop our progress. It may seem long but we will get there. Yes, it is hard to be gay or lesbian in Jamaica but we can’t get ahead of our selves and ignore Perfect Time, God’s Time in which to move forward with our ultimate plans of making Jamaica a safer place for the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Nanny Goat neva cratch him back till him si wall. Wait, I say on Perfect Time.

Prayer
God, help us to see when it’s your time, Perfect Time. Open our eyes, ears and mind so we may be able to use them to our advantage and in harmony with this Perfect Time. Help us to never to miss out on our opportunities. In Christ name I pray amen!

Lorenzo Martin
Lorenzo262003@yahoo.com

Let your light so shine before men......

"Ye are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14)
"Let your light so shine before men, . . ." (Matthew 5:16)

Twenty-two planes from a naval air station were aloft at dusk participating in manoeuvres when the fog swept in unexpectedly. Eight of them raced immediately to landing fields, but the others were caught in a swiftly forming impenetrable blanket. Four planes crashed, one of them bursting into flames, as twelve pilots dived blindly through the fog.
Two hours later only two planes were aloft. Suddenly there went out over the radio this message, "all automobile owners go to the field outside the city. Two fliers are lost in the fog and you are going to help them to land." Soon the roads approaching the field were crowded with cars creeping through the inky blackness, hardly able to see with their feeble lights. As the cars arrived the authorities lined them up with the cars facing inward around the field. More than 2500 completely surrounded the landing strip. The word was passed around, "All lights on!"
The lights on no single car made much impression upon that night and fog, but the lights of 2500 of them lighted the field so brightly that a transport pilot could go aloft and guide the two aviators down to safety.

Oh, let it not in any port be said
By watchful pilots that some light of thine
Failed on a certain stormy night to shine
Beside the harbor head.

Life's seamen, by whatever coast they fare,
Call out to one another passing by;
"Trim, firm the lamps, raise every beacon light.
There are no lights to spare." (Frank Walcott Hutt)

(Streams in the Desert - Vol. 2)

Knowing that tribulation worketh patience

"Knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:3-5)

What could have been more dismal than the plight of Paul and Silas at Philippi? Thrust into the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks; and what were they doing? They "prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25). They were exercising their holy and their royal priesthood in that prison. When they sang praises they were holy priests; when they said to the terrified jailer, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here," they were royal priests. It is a charming picture! They are as full of joy as they can be, and they get that jailer converted. There was the wonderful result of their bleeding, wounded backs; this sol was saved. Tribulation will come in various ways, but you must make up your minds to it while here - knowing Romans 5:3-5. (Christian Truth - Vol. 13)

forget not all His benefits

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed." (Psalms 103:2-5)
Whether an atheist denying the existence of God, or a believer overlooking the blessings of God, the contradiction is obvious, even as it is unabashedly ignored. To overlook the good in our lives is to state that there is no one to thank. To grumble is to emphatically declare that there is someone to hold responsible. But which will it be?
The countless hints or kindness that surround us in moments of beauty, glimpses of order, and felt provision are rumors that tell us we are not alone. We are not orphans or nomads roaming the earth. A grateful soul is widened to wonder as it follows the sunbeam up to the sun. It is possible, with practice, to see only the beam of light and not the source that offers it.
Matthew Henry who at an old age was mugged on the street corner wrote in his diary, "Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed."

Luke 11:1

"Mary . . . sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word." (Luke 10:39)
"Lord, teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1)
God and Father, we Thy children
Would in meekness hear Thy word;
Undistracted, hearts responsive,
As Thy Spirit strikes the chord.
All Thy mind we would be learning,
As the desert path we trace;
Thine we are, and would be leaning,
Ever on Thy boundless grace.

Philippians 3:13

"I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." (Philippians 3:13)
It has been said that if we look at ourselves, we shall become discouraged; if we look at others, we shall be perplexed; But if we look at Christ, we shall walk in the light of victory.

Forgetting, and remembering! "Forgetting the things which are behind!" Reaching forward to the prize before us! Remembering that in mercy He has buried our sins in the sea of His forgetfulness! "Forget not all His benefits."

(Matthew 24:12)

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
(Matthew 24:12)

"The love of many shall wax cold," and no wonder when self-love waxeth so hot. It was foretold also by the apostle (2 Timothy 3:1,2), "In the last days . . . men shall be lovers of their own selves"; and what a regiment follows this captain, sin! If once a man makes self the whole of his aim, farewell loving or praying for others: charity cannot dwell in so narrow a house as the self-lovers heart; yea, it is opposed to it: "Love seeketh not her own." (1 Corinthians 13:5)

LGBT Christians must toughen up says Bishop Robinson

The only openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion has said that people who want to change the church to become more accepting should "expect suffering."
Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire, was addressing a congregation at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Sacramento, California.
"We want to change the world without paying the price for it," he said, according to kcra.com
"Most of what I've learned about our movement I've learned from the African-American civil rights movement in this country.
"And those people went out and paid their dues for civil rights, knowing there's going to be dogs and fire hoses and tear gas and maybe death.
"And so you and I, especially if you are in the LGBT community, you and I need to toughen up. And we need to expect suffering."

On Sunday a group of senior Anglican clergy announced the formation of a breakaway group that rejects the acceptance of gay relationships and the ordination of gay clergy, called the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FOCA).
Since Bishop Robinson's installation, there has been civil war over gay issues among the Anglican Communion.
The breakaway group, backed by 300 of the 800 or so bishops in the Church, intend to snub the Archbishop of Canterbury by not attending the Lambeth Conference later this month.
It claims God’s blessing for same-sex unions is against the biblical teaching on holy matrimony.

"In 2003 this false gospel led to the consecration of a bishop living in a homosexual relationship," the group said in a statement.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, criticised the formation of the new "global network," and said it was not enough to just dismiss the existing structures of the worldwide Communion.
"If they are not working effectively, the challenge is to renew them rather than to improvise solutions that may seem to be effective for some in the short term but will continue to create more problems than they solve," said Dr Williams.
A spokesman for the Archbishop was more forthright, telling the Daily Telegraph:
"It is ludicrous to say you do not recognise the Archbishop of Canterbury or the see of Canterbury; they are the defining characteristics of Anglicanism. By doing away with the role and the place, these people are becoming a Protestant sect."

Transgender man gives birth to baby girl

Thomas Beatie, who was born a woman but after a combination of surgery and hormones lives as a man, has given birth to a girl at a hospital in Oregon. Mr Beatie's story was first featured on Oprah Winfrey's talk show in April.
Although Mr Beatie, 34, has been legally defined as a man since the age of 24, he kept his female reproductive organs. Through artificial insemination using donor sperm and his own eggs, he gave birth on Sunday.
Speaking to People Magazine, Mr Beatie said: "The only thing different about me is that I can't breast-feed my baby. But a lot of mothers don't." 'This is because he has had his breasts surgically removed.

His wife of five years, Nancy, is unable to conceive and this prompted Mr Beatie to suspend his hormone treatment and resume menstruating two years ago.
"I actually opted not to do anything to my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day. I see pregnancy as a process and it doesn’t define who I am,” Mr Beatie told TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey in April.

In a letter to The Advocate that ran in late March, Beattie wrote, "I am transgender, legally male, and legally married to Nancy. Unlike those in same-sex marriages, domestic partnerships, or civil unions, Nancy and I are afforded the more than 1,100 federal rights of marriage. Sterilization is not a requirement for sex reassignment, so I decided to have chest reconstruction and testosterone therapy but kept my reproductive rights. Wanting to have a biological child is neither a male nor female desire, but a human desire."
He also told The Advocate's readers: "Our situation sparks legal, political, and social unknowns. We have only begun experiencing opposition from people who are upset by our situation. Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs. Health care professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife. Receptionists have laughed at us. Friends and family have been unsupportive; most of Nancy’s family doesn’t even know I’m transgender."

REMEMBER TO CLICK THE POST TITLES FOR DIRECT LINKS

“One one coco full baaskit” (Every little bit adds up. Easy does it; a little at a time)

As we develop spiritually, we often wonder why our wishes and desires are not granted with fuller speed than sometimes is the case. We tend to question the universe and sometimes even think that it is failing us. As members of the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community we see this in our struggles for the rights that make human existence worthwhile as well as in our journey of self discovery.

Today the proverb above offers us encouragement on this journey leading us to consider the small miracles that have been wrought in our lives – the loved ones who share with us, the friends, the small but hard won gains in rights and freedoms; being alive; being with the man/woman we love; being loved by someone who knows that we belong to the LGBT community; having organizations that lobby on our behalf; having public discussions about LGBT rights; having allies who are fearless in their support; having a safe worship space of our own etc
Today we celebrate the “small” yet significant miracles which when taken together reflects an abundance of God’s abiding love grace and truth. Indeed one one coco does full baaskit”

Prayer of faith:
Father/Mother, thanks for the mercies that you have bestowed upon us your people. We patiently wait on you to work in your good time to fulfill all your promises to us. We celebrate your truth and grace and commit to walk with you one step at a time
by Ian C
ian900@hotmail.com

Heal me, O LORD

Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. 15Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.Bless all those who read and speak this word of God The Word of God is All Ready Blessed!

Last night in the midst of earthly angels my mother who sat in her living room in Ohio said a prayer on my cell phone that was set on speaker phone and reached all the way to North Carolina Glory be to God. In the prayer of this women of Great Faith spoke words of Healing and of Protection in Jesus Name.

So to you all don't worry about how far you are from your family and friends. Step Out On Faith and pray with me today! O Heavenly Farther we come to you in the name of Jesus. We ask today for healing and Protection!

Contributed

My Spiritual Journey - A Testimony

It was a warm Saturday afternoon when I made that step towards the “Lord” that evening I was so over zealous of my new walk with the lord after growing up in the church for more than 11years this was a move I also made as a means of escaping my sexuality. Oh I was in for a surprise, about 3 weeks of been sexually in-active and been able to not think of any man wow I have over come. Then I hit me my then boyfriend (no pressure) was there and all that feeling that I wanted so badly to go just showed it ugly face, and there I was committing the worst sin ever. Each Saturday morning my boyfriend and I would have sex and I would go to church feeling all dirty, but as not to be look on as a backslider I would quickly prayed for forgiveness and then would go into deep concentration so as to feel the spirit moving all over me. That was for that moment that day and then as the Sabbath end I would be back at my boyfriend’s house and that sin is been committed again.

For more than 19 years I lived in a state of confession condemnation and worthlessness I hated myself very much and prayed fro more than three years about the situation but this thing wouldn’t go away. I prayed for everything else and saw them come through but just this one thing. In 2007 I was told of the gay church and I was taken aback about this whole gay church thing. Each time I was invited there I would say yes but wouldn’t turn up church was all I knew as a child in to my adult life and all these years I was told that been gay was nasty and they made it sounded as if there wasn’t any forgiveness for this sin, it was worse than blasphemy I was doomed. I started questing the God I have come to trust for all these years weather he would make me into some thing that was condemn and why he even bother to allow me to live . Anger took control of me hate was the order of the day.

Low self esteem carried me. Tears were what put me to bed, yet here I was serving a God who knew all things and he knew before I was born what would have happen why did he allow this evil to take over my life. I hated life and became rebellious no one could talk to me in any particular way without me retaliating and one of the ways of me doing this was to just leave home for some un know place as a student in high school dad and I got into an argument and I took the lunch money and headed for Negril some where I didn’t know but there I was in this place for more than 3 days parents not knowing what had happen to me. I was at a work shop put on by the ministry of health and JASL and the Sunday of that workshop would be on f these services. I was no confronted with a decision as to weather to go or to go home. I chose to go the night before the service I prayed and asked the lord to do something. If this is a place of worship let me feel your presence here in this place. That Sunday morning one of the coordinator who was on the verge of migrating called me to say to me that there is a need for a new coordinator for the Ocho Rios chapter and he saw that I would be a perfect candidate for the job. Without second guessing I said yes.

That Sunday I walked into SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL JAMAICA and there for the very first time I was in a church that had all gay people there. That worship service I proved that almighty God was present there and from that day I started searching for the truth and thanks be to the Almighty One, I can boldly say there is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus ……. For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. This is a promise of God and the word of God states that before God goes back on his word Heaven and earth pass away. That is the new found promise that I have come to and accept as my source of strength. To date I am the Administrative Assistant of the JAMAICA SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL national body.

Contributed by Anthony

No one chooses to be homosexual

Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Dear Editor,

I write in response to a letter written by Lorna Walker in the Observer of June 24. She states that no other animals in the animal kingdom practise homosexuality. That is untrue. There have been documented cases of various mammals, birds and even fish exhibiting this behaviour.
I had chosen to keep out of this debate because I cannot comprehend why Jamaica and conservative America find being homosexual so perverse, but I now want to add my two cents.
It is my belief that no one chooses to be homosexual: because who would really choose to live a life where you can get killed because of the partner you have? Added to that is the fact that homosexuality is not a recent development. It predates Christianity.
Of course, since most people use Leviticus 18, which also predates Christianity, as their justification for the persecution of homosexuals, let me ask this: Shouldn't adulterers be treated in the same way since they are also mentioned in this chapter?
Then, in Leviticus 19, it speaks about liars, thieves, slanderers and cheats, yet they do not receive anything close to the same censure.
Psychologists have often theorised that those who persecute homosexuals do so because they are insecure in their own sexuality, so it makes me wonder if the reason there is so much violence against homosexuals and endless discussion of their rights or lack thereof, is that it is coming from a place of insecurity.
Some proponents have taken to comparing the current situation to that of the civil rights movement. However, I prefer to compare it to Nazi Germany. As with homosexuals, Jews were not easily identified and some could actually "pass" for non-Jews which many did to try to save their lives and those of their families, although some chose to and were allowed to convert to other religions. Not that homosexuals weren't persecuted by the Nazis as well. In fact, Nazi Germany shared many of the same views about homosexuality as conservative America today, but the number persecuted or killed, or both, wasn't as great as with the Jews.
It seems that we're making up for that lack now.But remember Galatians 5:14 (NIV): "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbour as yourself'."

Debi Scribe

thescribeslair@gmail.com