'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?' And he said 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest."

'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?' And he said 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest."



"And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?' And he said 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest."(Acts 9:4,5)


Just as He said to Saul,



"Why persecutest thou Me?" He felt Himself one with His afflicted members on earth. Just as He will say at the last day, "In as much as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40).



We are all God's children. Yes gays and straights alike. The Lord loves us all despite our imperfections.



He reckons believers a part of Himself; what is done to them is done to Him. So when He carries them to His Father, this is all His argument: "Thou lovedst Me." If Thou lovest Me, love them, for they are part of Me.


See how surely Christ's prayer will be answered for you. He does not plead that you are good and holy; He does not plead that you are worthy; He only pleads His own loveliness in the eyes of the Father. 'Look not on them, He says, but look on Me'.

"Thou lovedst Me before the foundations of the world" (John 17:24).

God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good

"God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)

"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches." (Psalm 104:24)

All the living things in creation are here described by God as being very good. We can still see how true that was in areas where the changes produced by man are minimal.

God created nature in balance - everything is recycled! But man has disturbed that balance - Yellow Stone National Park in the USA had that balance - it was created by setting aside an area larger than some nations to preserve nature as it was.

Then something happened! The abundant willow trees and aspen trees stopped regenerating, beavers disappeared, food for scavenger birds like eagles and ravens became extremely scarce, and so on.
What had happened? Man had decided that he could improve on Yellowstone as God had originally created it - he killed all the wolves! What was good about the wolves? Their predation had kept the elk population in check.

But now the elk were eating all the young trees and the vegetation needed by the other species of animals. The balance had been destroyed! Finally the Park Service decide that letting "nature take its course" in what was a decidedly unnatural situation should not be allowed to continue. Wolves were good! Wolves were reintroduced from Canada and we are now seeing changes that seem to indicate that the reintroduction is achieving its objective.
What is the lesson in all this?

Man in his arrogance should not think that he can improve on what God has pronounced "very good"! Man also, to his destruction, tries to "improve" on the Scriptures! God says, "All the day long they wrest My words" (Psalm 56:5) and they also "wrest . . . the Scriptures to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16).

Meditations, Thoughts & Prayer

Prayer can be as simple as, “Oh Lord, help me…” We can also pray specifically for our children, asking God to help us guide them into the people He’s set apart for Himself.

• that we and our children would grow in the fear of the Lord (Prov. 16:6).

• that we’d be constantly mindful of the fact that we are aliens and strangers here and all of our circumstances are only temporary (1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11; James 4:13-15).

• that You would enable us to speak Your Word with great boldness (Acts 4:29,30).

• that we would contend for the faith against a license for immorality (Jude 3,4).

• that Christians would be encouraged in heart and united in love (Col. 2:1,2).

• that Christians would never sacrifice truth for the sake of unity (Gal. 2:5-21).

• that our love would increase more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (Phil. 1:9).

• that we would endure hatred and persecution to the end of our lives (Mt. 10:22).

• that we would not love our physical lives so much as to shrink from death for the cause of Christ (Rev. 12:11).

• for all those with governmental authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Tim. 2:1,2).

• that we would not drift away, become lukewarm or neglect such a great salvation (Heb. 2:1-4; Rev. 3:15,16).

• that we would set our hearts and minds on things in Heaven, not on things here on Earth (Col. 3:1-4).

• that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts would be pleasing to You (Psa. 19:14).

• that we would be both godly and content with our unchangable circumstances (1 Tim. 6:6).

• that we would not be eager for money or deceived by it in any way (1 Tim. 6:10; Mk. 4:19).

• that You would give us neither poverty nor riches, but only our daily bread (Prov. 30:8).

• that You would keep falsehood and lies far from us (Prov. 30:8).

• that our faith would not fail (Lk. 22:32).

• that we would serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psa. 2:11).

• that we would be humble, contrite in spirit and tremble at God’s Word (Isa. 66:2).

• that we would grow in fruitfulness and make the most of every opportunity (Jn. 15:1-8; Eph. 5:15).

• that we’d be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (Jam. 1:19).

• that we’d keep a tight rein on our tongues, so that we won’t deceive ourselves and make our religion worthless (Jam. 1:26).

• that we’d not fall into temptation (Lk. 22:40).

• that we’d guard our hearts from the anxieties of this life (Prov. 4:23; Lk. 21:34).

• that we would crave God’s Word constantly and have our minds opened to understand it (1 Pet. 2:2; Lk. 24:45).

• that we would consider Jesus, who endured great opposition from the sinful, so we won’t grow weary and lose heart (Heb. 12:3).

• that we would love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray forgiveness and blessings for those who mistreat us (Lk. 6:27,28).

• that You would deliver us from the evil one and incline our hearts toward Your statutes (Psa. 119:36; Mt. 6:13).

• that You would open up doors for the gospel message and that it would be proclaimed clearly (Col. 4:3,4).

• that You would grant us wisdom, health and deliverance from trouble (2 Chron. 1:10; 3 Jn. 2; Jam. 5:13).

• that we may glorify always the name of the Lord Jesus (2 Thes. 1:12).

• that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints and Your incomparably great power for us who believe (Eph. 1:18,19).

• that we would be filled with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Col. 1:9).

• that we would not fear those who kill our bodies, but instead You who can throw our souls and bodies into Hell (Mt. 10:28).

• that we would never forsake our first love (Rev. 2:4).

• that we’d be faithful until death so that Jesus will give us the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

• that You would give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we would know Him better (Eph. 1:17).

• that we’d be rooted and established in love (Eph. 3:17).

• that You would strengthen our inner being (Eph. 3:16).

• that You would teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psa. 90:12).

• that You will give us an undivided heart, that we may fear Your name (Ps. 86:11).

• that we’d never be lacking in zeal, but that we’d keep our spiritual fervor serving the Lord (Rom. 12:11).

• that we’d run the race to win first prize (1 Cor. 9:24).

• that we’d throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and run our race with perseverance (Heb. 12:1).

that we’d never look back now that we’ve put our hands to the plow (Lk. 9:62).

(originally from biblegems)

In whom (Him) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins

"In whom (Him) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Ephesians 1:7)

A missionary in West Africa was trying to convey the meaning of the word redeem in the Bambara language. So he asked his African assistant to express it in his native tongue. "We say," the assistant replied, "That God took our heads out." But how does that explain redemption?" the perplexed missionary asked.

The man told him that many years ago some of his ancestors had been captured by slave-traders, chained together, and driven to the seacoast. Each prisoner had a heavy iron collar around his neck. As the slaves passed through a village, a chief might notice a friend of his among the captives and offer to pay the slave-traders in gold, ivory, silver, or brass.

The prisoner would be redeemed by the payment. His head then would be taken out of his iron collar.

What an unusual and graphic illustration of the word redeem! Ephesians 1:7 states. "In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Jesus died on the cross to purchase our freedom from the bondage of sin.

Have you put your trust in Jesus as your Redeemer? Let Him take your head our of the enslaving collar of sin and set you free. (VCG)

Redeemed - how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy -
His child, and forever I am.
(Crosby)

Gay Killers trial continues

The two men charged with the murder of a man whose decomposing body was recently found in Havendale, St Andrew, and who are accused of killing the man because it was believed that he was gay, will have to return to court on May 8 for the case to be continued.

Dwayne Gordon, 23, and Andy Williams, are charged with murder.

Allegations are that Gordon was being interviewed by the police as a possible witness to the crime. His statement, however, turned into a confession. He reportedly told the police that on February 23, he and Williams stabbed Dane Harris several times.

It is alleged that Harris had made sexual advances towards Gordon, who told Williams about it. The two reportedly devised a plan where Gordon would agree to meet with Harris, so they both could 'beat' him.

The court was told, however, that on February 23, when all three met up, Williams reportedly began stabbing Harris. Gordon reportedly told the police that he took the knife from Williams and also inflicted injuries.

The body of the deceased was found on February 26. Gordon told the court that Williams was just a contractor he had met through a relative. When asked if the statement he gave to the police was false, he told the court that the police told him to sign a document and then he saw them writing.

When the matter was mentioned in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday, the court was told that the post-mortem report was not yet ready and the case was put off. Gordon was remanded while Williams' bail was extended.

Intolerable intolerance (Gleaner)

Andre Wright,

The modern world's lust for political correctness has so relativised every concept that nearly every commentator tiptoes daintily for fear of stepping on anyone's corns. Nothing is absolute - except for relativism, of course. Yet, with all the talk there seems only to be tolerance for the tolerable. The ability to offend - even intellectually - is blunted by the desire not to hurt anyone's feelings.

This burgeoning culture of wimpishness has trespassed on the fundamentals of freedom of expression, where every person who defends marriage as a union between a man and a woman is caricatured by the gay lobby and their sympathisers as an oafish neanderthal, a dim-witted dweeb whose opinions must be disregarded, swept aside as anti-intellectual excreta. As a former colleague of mine often said, "let's call a spade a shovel".

Carrie Prejean, a finalist in the Miss United States of America beauty pageant, learnt that the hard way on Sunday. On the final lap of the contest, her opinion was sought on gay marriage. Prejean, who represented the state of California - which last November voted for Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage - did what in many circles was deemed the unthinkable. She said, quite respectfully, that she disagreed with gay marriage, believing that union to be the sole domain of a man and woman. In one fell swoop she became the archetypal dumb blonde.

Politically correct

Everyone knows that the kosher comment would have been to hail the right of gays to marry and consummate their union as man and wife (or man and man or wife and wife, or whatever). That politically correct comment would have been the home run that won her the crown. Yet, Prejean spoke her mind. And speaking your mind gets you in trouble. Speaking your mind costs you the crown.

Freedom of speech has always been an endangered species. And even in these so-called more civilised times, such freedom is still the victim of whichever group has greater sway in the pendulous swing of power and influence.

However, despite the unpopularity of MP Ernie Smith's rants against homosexuality or Iranian President Mohammed Ahmadinejad's fusillade of anti-Semitic rhetoric, civil society, if it is to live up to its snuff, should facilitate the airing of such views. Ideas, no matter how objectionable, must be confronted at round tables and in debate halls. They should not be censored or stifled by those who believe they exclusively have the right of right.

Promulgators of gay rights have, wittingly or unwittingly, become the very bigots they have decried, launching every weapon in their arsenal - whether through economic arm-twisting or abject scorn. Instead of trying to eyeball proponents of heterosexual marriage, they have taken the easy route - labelling all opponents brainless, antediluvian Bible-thumpers. Maybe some are. But the knee-jerk willingness to broadbrush must be checked. Those detractors, just as the homosexual lobby, have a right (without being overwhelmingly offensive) to reject the gathering storm of opinion. What is abhorrent is the clamorous crescendo for newspeak - a language, as in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which all have a unidimensional viewpoint: Conservatism be damned! Long live liberalism!

Contending ideas and arguments are still the most potent tools for changing mindsets - not censorship, not brutality, not the bludgeoning silence from those who think they are winning wars by not 'dignifying' comments with a response. The US boycott and subsequent walkout by delegates at the United Nations conference on racism on Monday during Ahmadinejad's usual anti-Israel bombast achieved one thing. Nothing.

Proponents and opponents

Like it or not, our world will always have racists and sexists. There will be proponents and opponents of gay marriage. Atheists and religious adherents will have to co-exist. Either we talk to each other or torture each other.

If persons are proud to call themselves neo-Nazi 'nigger haters' (Oh my gosh, I used the N-word. Boo hoo.), let them spew their hatred. But let it be countered with facts and images of a victorious Jesse Owens or Joe Louis, not simply howls of protest for protest sake, or flying fists of fury. There is no such thing as absolute freedom of speech or expression, as our foul-mouthed deejays have found out. But there must be some space - though certainly not on free-to-air radio - where even the Kartels and Mavados are unshackled to air their opinions.

Feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.

A Prayer for Jamaica - National Anthem

While our national anthem is a prayer in and of itself it seems we do not fully comprehend the words, our motto says out of many one people but we beat mame and even kill others who do not fit the perfect mold of who we should be namely gays and lesbians. We have a long way to go man, when we can plan to attack a house that allegedly has gays living there when we can devote our minds to more creative and fulfilling means.

When we feel that rape of a lesbian is the way to "straighten out" a sista so we break into their home at gunpoint and do the deed and feel good. Just as guilty are those who witness the act and are complicit in keeping quiet and not speaking out.

We Pray: Words by Hugh Sherlock, music by Robert Lightbourne,
Say it like you mean it

Eternal Father, Bless our Land,

Guard us with thy mighty hand,

Keep us free from evil powers,

Be our light through countless hours,

To our leaders, great defender,

Grant true wisdom from above,

Justice, truth be ours forever,

Jamaica, land we love,

Jamaica, Jamaica,

Jamaica, land we love

Teach us true respect for all,

Stir response to duty's call,

Strengthen us the weak to cherish,

Give us vision lest we perish,

Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,

Grant true wisdom from above,

Justice, truth be ours forever,

Jamaica, land we love,

Jamaica, Jamaica,

Jamaica, land we love

To boycott or not to boycott

With the present San Franciscan boycott of Red Stripe Beer, Myers Rum and Blue Mountain coffee on in earnest without abatement any time soon tempers are flaring as to how to proceed with the issue on one hand JFLAG the nation's second and only operating LGBT rights advocacy group says "NO" to any argument of a boycott at this time.

They believe it may have serious implications on the ground for suspected LGBT persons safety and security. There is proof that confirms so, the EAGALE boycott which was well publicised last year was said to be the cause of an increase in attacks on gays and lesbians here, more so on lesbians, as before most victims of homophobic violence on record were gay men. A reported 9 lesbians in all came formally through JFLAG's crisis intervention system to seek help and to rebuild their lives. One couple in particular had to flee their home following threats and a subsequent breakin from a group of persons living in their area. There were anecdotal reports of several more who however chose to privately handle their respective issues.

See JFLAG's blog for more on those reports: http://www.jflag.blogspot.com/

There have been some debate as to how to proceed, some argue we should go ahead with the boycott and support it fully while JFLAG on the other hand says we shouldn't as there maybe awful outcomes. They claim that a reversal of a major milestone may be forthcoming by this boycott action as Red Stripe Beer one of the targets of the ban had refused to fund Jamaican dancehall artists and events that host them that promote violence of any sort, a decision they did not take lightly as they make millions from these same artists sponsorship and events.
Many artist though upset at the time of the decision literally changed their tunes.

A commendable move probably but were the organizers of the boycott aware of this and did JFLAG do enough to publicise this "achievement?"
I guess maybe everything can't be made public knowing our caustic environment here on homosexuality and the attendant issues.

The rest of the country in the meantime are up in arms about it, saying that foreigners are dictating how we should handle our affairs and that gays are imposing their "dirty lifestyle" on us according to one radio talkshow host.

The organizers mainly one Michael Petrelis says he did contact JFLAG before making the decision to proceed with the boycott according to his blog: http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/ the "Rum Dump" as it is nicknamed was said to be a success in the two public events that took place



I don't think a boycott is the way to go at this time what other backative can the organizers give us here in Jamaica in case it goes out of control? and seeing our tense our political and social climate is right now anything is possible. People are angry at the political system, worried about bread and butter issues such as jobs and bills etc. To plant a lighted match in an oilfield is not a wise move.

The organizers in my view are too far removed from the reality to greatly grasp and appreciate how explosive this can get, with politicians as well looking for any item that can greatly accrue popularity unto themselves well this could be one of them as we have seen before, Prime Minister Golding's remarks both here and abroad.

Maybe we as in all the potential players ought to meet and carefully examine this issue while it is early days yet.

Just my two cents

M

(views are not neccesarily those of SCJ and its team)

Vatican launches investigation over nuns' teachings on homosexuality

The Vatican is investigating the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, allegedly because it has not towed the official line sufficiently on teachings on homosexuality and other issues.

The nuns' organisation said in a statement this week that the "doctrinal assessment" will investigate its activities and initiatives.

Reports suggest that Vatican officials will investigate the sisters' activities in promoting the church's teachings on the exclusively male status of the priesthood, the primacy of the Catholic Church over other Christian denominations, and the "problem of homosexuality."

In December Pope Benedict XVI claimed that the existence of gay people is as great a threat to humanity as the destruction of the rainforest.

He also attacked trans people and claimed that a "blurring" of genders would lead to the extinction of the human race.

The pontiff made his remarks in an "end of year" address to the Vatican's central administration, the Curia.

The Pope said behaviour beyond traditional heterosexual relations is "a destruction of God's work."

Benedict also said man must be protected "from the destruction of himself" and urged respect for the "nature of the human being as man and woman."

"The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less."

JFLAG's Press Release - No to Boycott in San Francisco 12.04.09

Please see letter sent to our international allies, friends and supporters below indicating that we do not support the boycott in San Francisco.

April 12, 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters:

We thank our international allies for their continued interest in the state of LGBT affairs in Jamaica. Your support over the years has strengthened our voice and made it possible for us to make progress where we hardly thought it possible. One of the most significant ventures in which our international allies have collaborated with us was the SMM campaign that started in 2004, and which culminated in a local debate about the appropriateness of violence and hate in Jamaican music played in public places. Despite the occasionally homophobic rant by rogue deejays, we have seen a general decline in the level of homophobia coming from new Jamaican artistes and in new music from Jamaica. We have also seen corporate sponsors withdrawing their support from music that promotes violence or discrimination against any group.

It is with this in mind that we find it unfortunate that a campaign has been launched calling for the boycott of two Jamaican products, one marketed by a company that unequivocally distanced itself from the hostility and violence typical of Jamaican music towards members of the LGBT community. In April 2008, Red Stripe took the brave and principled stance to cease sponsorship of music festivals that promoted hate and intolerance, including that against members of the LGBT community. The naming of Red Stripe, therefore, as a target of this boycott is extremely damaging to the cause of LGBT activists in Jamaica.

In the global arena in which we operate today, events in one place can and do have repercussions in another. Concomitantly, information about occurrences in different places across the globe is easily accessible everywhere. We believe that any overseas entity or organisation seeking to agitate for change in a context with which it has only passing familiarity should first do its homework to ensure that it does not do harm to its credibility and ultimately to the cause of the local community whose interest it seeks to defend.

It is unfortunate that the organisers of the current campaign to boycott Jamaica have failed in the key area of fact finding. The misguided targeting of Red Stripe does tremendous damage to a process of change that we began almost 11 years ago. The boycott call has now left us not only with our persistent day to day challenges but with a need to engage Red Stripe and attempt damage control as a result of actions that we did not take. Against this background, we would like to reiterate that while we appreciate the support given by our international allies, and understand their impatience for change, we who live in Jamaica best know and understand the dynamics of our situation. We also know that change is a slow and tedious process and those who engage in it must be patient.

Jamaica’s deeply ingrained antipathy towards homosexuality and homosexuals is a social phenomenon that will not be undone by boycott campaigns or government dictate. It requires the painstaking effort of confronting the society and talking to social actors who can bring change in the way society sees LGBT people. We have been doing this through a small but growing group of increasingly aware opinion leaders who are concerned about the damage homophobia does to our society. We need those ears to continue being open to us and we need the relative safety that some of us have been given to speak to them.

It is important that our international allies understand the nature of our struggle and engage us in a respectful way about it. Unless they are willing and able to lead the struggle in the trenches as we have done, it is important that they be guided by us. To do otherwise would be to act in a manner that destroys the space for dialogue that we have managed to create over the past decade and to set back our struggle. It is for this reason that we urge those in the international arena who seek to act in our name and on our behalf to do so not only with the utmost care and responsibility but also with due consideration for our efforts and concerns as members of the local activist community.

Sincerely,

Jason McFarlane
Programmes Manager
Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays - J-FLAG
Tel: (876)754-8704
Website: www.jflag.org
Blog: http://jflag.blogspot.com/
email: http://www.blogger.com/jflagoffice@gmail.com, admin@jflag.org

Study shows Jamaican girls encounter violent sexual relationships

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) -A survey on sexual violence in Jamaica has found that as much as 49 per cent of girls aged 15-17 have experienced sexual coercion or violence.

The study, published in last month's issue of the International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, also shows that a significant number of these girls were either persuaded or forced to participate in their first sexual experience.

Data for the study, entitled The Influence of Early Sexual Debut and Sexual Violence on Adolescent Pregnancy: A Matched Case-Control Study in Jamaica, was primarily obtained from interviews with teenagers, aged 15 to 17, 250 of whom were pregnant and 500 others who were sexually experienced but never pregnant.

The results showed that 49 per cent of them had reported experiencing sexual coercion or violence while one-third stated that they had been persuaded or forced to participate in their first sexual experience.

The authors of the study, including Maxine Wedderburn, executive director of Hope Enterprises in Jamaica, said that while young women who had experienced sexual violence were not more likely than those who had not to become pregnant, the numbers reflect the widespread prevalence of gender-based violence in Jamaica.

The researchers also found that 94 per cent of the pregnant teens interviewed reported that their pregnancies were unintended.

These findings demonstrate a strong need for increased education and services for young people in Jamaica to help reduce the country's high rates of unplanned teen pregnancy and gender-based violence, the researchers added.

They warned that the key to addressing these problems was the empowerment of women.

The study also found a significant link between unequal relationships and pregnancy risk.

Compared with their peers who had never been pregnant, adolescents who were pregnant were more likely to have had a first sexual partner who was at least five years older, the researchers said, adding that these adolescents also tend to have low self-esteem and believe contraception is solely a woman's responsibility.

The results of the survey are similar to data released during the launch of the Caribbean Coalition on Women, Girls and AIDS (CCWA) in Trinidad last month.

One study found that for nearly 50 per cent of adolescent girls their first sexual experience was forced.

Official statistics show that in countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic, one in six women between the ages of 15 and 24 became sexually active before the age of 15.

A 2000 survey conducted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) revealed that nearly half of all young girls reported that their first sexual encounter was forced or coerced.

Christianity and homosexuality

Posted by Sharon Ferguson (click image for more)

In the third of our series on faith and homosexuality, we take a look at how Christians continue to be divided in the their response and Christ's teachings of love and acceptance

It is never a simple thing to write about faith and homosexuality from a Christian perspective because there is no one Christian perspective. The acceptance or otherwise of homosexuality as a valid expression of human sexuality differs according to the view of the different denominations and even within those denominations, groups and individuals may hold opposing beliefs. Even when people share a belief on homosexuality, how individuals should be treated and what the response of the Church should be to those claiming a homosexual orientation may not be shared.

Many denominations now accept that homosexuality is not simply a lifestyle choice and therefore advocate acceptance and pastoral care towards gay men and lesbians. However, this is usually only as long as they don’t ‘practice’ their homosexuality. In other words, it’s okay to be a homosexual but not to express your love physically or sexually with the person you love. This is quite ironic when most Christian denominations believe that celibacy is a higher state that not many are called to and yet they expect all gay men and lesbians to live their lives in this way.

At the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement we believe that all sexuality is a gift from God and therefore the expression of our sexuality in loving, mutual same gender relationships is just as honourable and blessed by God as are loving, mutual heterosexual relationships.

The Biblical debate rests on 6 verses, 3 in the Old Testament and 3 in the New Testament, but many scholars have shown clearly that these texts are not referring to the type of relationship we label as homosexual today. In fact, some of the verses aren’t even referring to sexual relationships at all but concern the Jewish laws of hospitality.

The fact is that the debate on homosexuality will never be resolved by reference to Scripture alone as both sides of the argument can use Scripture to support their particular viewpoint in the same way as it can and has been done on many other issues over the years, such as, the treatment and acceptance of women, children, and ethnic minorities.

We are told that to be a Christian all we need to do is accept Jesus as God’s son and proclaim him with our lips. Naturally, when a person does this then they try to follow Christ’s teachings. As Christ never said anything about homosexuality we have to look at how he treated people and how he expected us to treat each other. Christ welcomed people from the margins, people who had been excluded and rejected by mainstream society. However, when he called these people he didn’t then say they had to start behaving like the Pharisees and Sadducees. All he asked for was that we treat each other with love as he loved us. Confirmation of his acceptance of loving relationships regardless of the gender of those involved is the story of the healing of the Centurions servant. Christ had no hesitation in healing the male servant even though the Centurion referred to him as his beloved. The servant certainly must have been greatly loved for a Roman soldier to beg a Jewish teacher for help, especially as servants were generally valued no more than any other possession.

I have had a personal relationship with Christ ever since I can remember. When I realised my sexual orientation, the love I felt both for and from God didn’t change. God is concerned about the quality of my relationships, not the gender of who they’re with. Unfortunately, a lot of lesbians and gay men encounter so much homophobia and discrimination within their Church that they start believing that God can’t love them as they are.

It’s no good telling someone that you ‘hate the sin but love the sinner’ when the sin you’re referring to is integral to who they are. It’s like telling someone that you understand that they can’t help being born with blue eyes so it’s okay as long they don’t look out of them!

What is even more distressing is that the religious view on homosexuality often informs the implementation of laws. Consequently there are still far too many countries where homosexuality is not just considered a sin but is also illegal and punishable with life imprisonment and even the death penalty. This treatment is often justified by religious beliefs. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement continues to campaign against such laws and against any form of homophobia within faith.

Rev Sharon Ferguson is the Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement that will be holding their second conference on Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Human Rights on Saturday 16th May, to raise awareness around these issues. For more information and booking form go to Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement

Look from the top

"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)...

"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?

The Power of Positive Speech

"Say positive affirmations each morning to open the gates of manifestation."

Doreen Virtue, PhD

Notice how often you verbalize defeat, failure, or despair: "We'll never be that good," or "I just can't lose weight," or "It will never work," or "I'm too old to dream." Have you said any of these depressing phrases? Have you said one of them today?

Even one of these negative thoughts can be like a poisonous dart in the heart of enthusiasm. Of course we know that failure happens, but if we don't even believe success is possible, then we are actually making failure more likely! Of course we know that not every wish comes true, but the ones we believe can come true are more likely to.

We have the ability and the right to hope for the best, and if we will speak words of encouragement rather than words of defeat, then the best will
actually show up for us more often. Let's intentionally affirm the best:
"I deserve Good in my life! I know how to have fun! I can and I will succeed! I am blessed! I still have dreams to dream, and I can make many of my dreams come true!"

Don't these statements feel better? And that alone justifies our starting each day with positive affirmations. In fact, we can keep our affirmations going all day long.


Rev. Durrell Watkins, M.A., M.Div.
Sunshine Cathedral
http://www.kweerspirit.blogspot.com/