I overheard a conversation between a guy and girl at Chick-fil-A today. I thought they were classmates, reminiscing about school. The guy facing me and did all the talking. The girl was seated with her back to me. Sometimes entire conversations sound like inherent mumbles from far away, but then one word rises up and is heard for miles. For example, when the guy said, “BOOBS”. Mother’s clasped their hands over children’s ears, old ladies stared and I…I listened more intently. He was describing the perfect woman; in detail. Then I heard the phrase that caused I-4 traffic to screech to a halt. “You know what I’m saying...MOM,” he said.
“MOM?” “Eww!” As my friend Garrett would say, “Well there you go!” Visual confirmation later proved he was indeed talking to his mom. And I had a hard time letting my mom buy me underwear as a kid.
Trying to tune this guy out was like placing a phone call trackside at the Daytona 500. It wasn’t happening. The conversation turned to old, high school friends. One of his friends close friends was acting different. Mr. Loud talker, who talks to his mom about boobs and butts, had a theory. " I’ll take ‘Disturbing Conversations’ for $1000 Alex.”
“He’s a Christian,” the guy said, “He’s just not jokey and fun anymore,”. I am all too familiar with being dissed by friends for being a Christian. Matthew 5:11-12 “11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven..."
When I walked away from homosexuality and renewed my relationship with Jesus, I experienced huge rejection. “Friends” I’d had for years accused me of denying my 'true' feelings or disowned me altogether. At the time I was writing a newsletter to over 200 people and decided to share my revelation. It went over like a fart in a crowded elevator. Yet after 10 years of aimless wandering in the gay community, the God I learned about, as a kid, helped me make sense of my life. I lived most of my life trying to impress boyfriends and please others, but now I was focused on an audience of One.
I took great effort to humbly convey my personal experience. I knew it wasn’t a popular topic, but I had lived as a gay man, a Christian and a gay Christian. I had done my research. The gay community had been my home for ten years. There was acceptance as long as I lived according to the “code”. My gay friends saw Christians as the enemy. I knew some friends would see my turn to ‘religion’ as a betrayal, but I wasn’t living for people any more. I received a letter from an Ex I dated for a year. He said that my letters had lost their humor and that I had given up a vital part of myself. We were as intimate as two people can be. I couldn’t flip a switch and pretend his words didn’t hurt. I believed in what I was doing and Jesus gave me strength to write him back. Even in the midst of being stuck in Oklahoma, confused, angry, sad and beat up by my past, I shared my life joyfully. Jesus’ healing at that point was a simple walk in faith. The true evidence of his redemption in my life would be tangible much later.
Here I am, standing on the edge of another spiritual cliff. God has called me start another chapter and step out in faith. An all out rescue effort to men of the gay community who believe God is calling them to a new life as well. The message of hope and freedom from homosexuality is not welcome in the world today, but it is desperately needed. Most Christians are vilified for speaking out against any sin. Willful sin is both celebrated and encouraged in our modern day Babylon. Jesus Christ has called me to first share the Impact of His life with the world and secondly to share how His life rescued mine. If you’ve wandered across my blog and are struggling in any area of your life, please hear the message of the gospel in these 4, simple, bible passages.
"…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."- Romans 6:23
"…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." – Romans 6:23
"…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that
"for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
Jesus died so that every person on the planet could have eternal life and forgiveness of sins. He rescued me. I owe Him my life. I lived my life believing that God was mad at me. I realize now, He was never mad. We just had very different ideas of the truth. Turns out He was right, I was wrong. That’s another blog. God is aware of everything you have ever done. He still loves you and desires you like no other.
Scriptures used today were gleaned from the writings on the Roman Road at the following website. http://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html#ixzz2WJ82FeNs