six11ministries

i am GOD’S dandelion.

i miss his touch
i miss his arms
i miss his kiss
i miss his love
i miss his embrace

but its not him

its not man that i need
its not man that i desire
its not man that i cherish
its not man that i long for

but its one Man

one that completes
one that satisfies
one that truly loves
one that fully embraces;

for its YOU:

touch me gently
wrap me in strong arms
kiss me passionately
love me unconditionally
embrace me, Amazing Love

Below I posted a link about the Day of Silence that’s coming up on the 25.  Also added to that post is a link about the Golden Rule, which comes along side of the Day of Silence, asking Christians alike to help end the senseless attacks on homosexuals teens by carrying out the words of JESUS - love your neighbor.

The Golden Rule isn’t asking to embrace the lifestyle of homosexuality, rather to embrace the person - just as JESUS would.  It’s simple.  Profound.  Greatly needed.  Affirmative.

While I was google-ing around the net, I came accross another Christian campaign, called the Day of Truth, which will be hosted on April 28.  The entire premise of this campaign is to expose the lies of the Day of Silence:

The Day of Truth was established to counter the promotion of the homosexual agenda and express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective.

The Day of Truth is scheduled for April 28, 2008. This is three days after GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) will sponsor the “Day of Silence.” GLSEN’s Day of Silence encourages students to remain silent throughout the day. It is part of their overall strategy to change how our society perceives homosexual behavior. But the Day of Silence is a misnomer, because what is truly being silenced is the Truth

Something is wrong.  I don’t understand.

I think every campaign - Christian or non-Christian - has an agenda.  And yes, I am sure that many will participate in the Day of Silence and come away thinking some kosher thoughts about homosexuality.  Will the day be slanted?  Maybe.  But does that mean our Christian society has to blacklist the main point of this day?  All agenda’s aside, I think one of the main points of the Day of Silence is to bring awareness that students are getting killed, attacked, threatened in school because of their sexual orientation.  This campaign is asking for action to stop the negative/costly reaction against homosexual teens.

As a former teen who was ‘out and about’ in my high school, and as one who has received death threats from other students, I applaud this action.  I know what it feels like to be harassed at school - especially by ‘Bible-thumping-Christians’ who sooner condemn me to hell than speak about GOD’S salvation.  I know what it feels like to be called ‘Faggot’ instead of using your real name.  I know what it feels like to be the blunt of jokes, to have things be thrown at you because you walk weird, to have people imitate you’re ‘gayish-voice’ so dramatically that you’re afraid to speak in front of the class some days.  I know what students go through … and I’m sick of it.  I missed too many school days because of ignorance, and I experienced too many suicide attempts because of the suppressed pain.  ‘Safe places’ are hard to find when you’re a gay teenager - if home and school are dangerous places, where else can they go to be safe … the streets?

As I’m writing this, the question that keeps coming up within me is this: where’s the churches ‘day of silence’?  Where’s the churches response to the hate going on in schools, especially towards gay students?  Granite there’s the Golden Rule … but why has it taken so long for the Golden Rule of CHRIST to peek it’s head?  Why weren’t Christians the first to respond to this crisis … why are we always the last ones to show up?

For a day, can we look past our differences and respond in love?  Can we, for one day, be the church that upholds the identity of CHRIST, and not a people that hold up protest signs?

Here’s a post I found from another brother walking this journey. It’s a great read - and a testimony of how GOD is working within students.

read it here.

I was reading on the Ex-gay site today about the Day of Silence that’s coming up on April 25. They had an interesting link to a Christian site that is ‘hosting’ a coexisting campaign to bring an end to senseless harm towards homosexuals.

I totally agree with both of these ‘campaigns’. The senseless attacks of homosexuals - no matter how one agrees or disagrees with their lifestyle - needs to stop. I remember in high school receiving death threats from ‘jocks’ who thought their deeds were fun and entertainment. Instead I was kept watching my back and hoping their jokes were just that, stupid jokes.

Though, I must admit that homosexuals have come a long way after all these years, going from a joke around the office cooler to a lifestyle to be lavished on prime time tv. Still the jokes linger and the death threats are posted, and even acted upon.

What I can’t understand though is why so much harassment still comes from the Christian circles. I wonder at times if GOD’S Church will ever head the words of CHRIST, when HE says, “Love your neighbors as yourself”. In this commandment, and in the one greater than this, to love GOD with everything, you would think that fulfilling the gospel message would be pretty easy. Sadly, this isn’t the case. We Christians tend to make it a lot harder than it actually is.

I am writing to accept homosexual behavior? No at all, because that would totally discredit what six11 is all about, and worse, what the message of GOD is all about. Instead, I am calling on us, as the body of CHRIST, to take a minute and think (with our hearts) do we take the message of the gospel and live it out? Do we take the two greatest commandments and live them out - no matter who passes in front of us or beside us?

On April 25, the homosexual community is asking for all to take a day and set it aside for silence; and may the Christian community respond without protest.

The apostle Paul is not shy about telling people what he thinks, especially to those who are doing wrong. Needless to say, Paul is not gentle about stating conviction, nor is he ‘low-key’ on speaking the truth in love. And I do believe, that while Paul is bold and brash sometimes, he speaks the truth in love. Let’s face it, sometimes truth hurts … and I think truth is supposed to hurt … especially when it’s coming from the Spirit.

And Paul knew this. He knew this all too well.

1 Corinthians 6, Paul is talking about Christians behaving badly, about starting lawsuits and passing judgments around people within the church. From there, he goes on to talk about those who are not going to inherit the kingdom of GOD (vs. 9-10); and here’s where things getting a little uncomfortable for most people.

If we were to look at the provided list of sins, here’s what we’ll find:

• sexually immorality
• idolatry
• adultery
• homosexuality
• prostitution
• stealing
• greed
• alcoholism
• slander
• deception

A pretty hefty list. Some would read that list above and focus only on the sins that are sexual; while others would try to justify why some of those sins aren’t really ‘that bad’. Still others would even go as far as removing some of those sins, stating that through research they have found that how we interpret this passage isn’t how it’s really written. This mainly is the case when the pro-gay theorist and churches try to justify homosexuality. For some great teachings on this subject, check out Articles.

Where I want to go with this passage is somewhere different. I want to look at verse 11, because frankly when most pastors preach on this passage or reference this passage, either verse 11 is not included or passed over way too quickly. I have find, and personally believe, that verse 11 holds a lot more weight than what most give it credit for. I believe that verse 11 is just as important as other weighty verses, like John 3:16 and Matthew 28:18-20. Why? Because verse 11 is one of the scriptures that holds the power of JESUS’ death and resurrection, the very foundations of our Christian belief.

Paul starts off verse 11 by stating that verses 9-10 are what we used to be, but that now we’re different. We’ve been changed. We’ve been wiped clean, and given a fresh start. Paul uses the word wash, as in being made clean from our ugliness and shame. In comparison, we are no longer considered to be lepers - who were the major outcast back in JESUS’ day.

But Paul doesn’t just tell us that we’re now clean. He goes on to say that not only are we clean, but we are also sanctified - positionally in CHRIST. Furthermore, we are justified by GOD - which means that when HE looks upon us, HE looks upon us as children and not orphans. How? Because through the name of JESUS and by the Spirit we have been adopted into the family of GOD - we have been taken back into a family that we were kidnapped from so long ago.

You are no longer Greedy Joe; rather you are now GOD’S son Joe. You are no longer Sleazy Sally; rather you are now GOD’S daughter Sally. You are not longer Proud Mary … no longer Adulterous Pete … no longer Homosexual Shawn … rather, all in CHRIST are a new creation: the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This isn’t cheesy theology. Though it may sound that way, many people do not believe these truths. Many live in their sin not because they can’t leave it but because they don’t want to leave it. For some people, their ‘family’ is a sin that has provided security for them - false security - and it’s all they’ve ever known and trusted. Many people believe that for GOD to forgive them for what they’ve done, is too much of a chore for even GOD to accomplish. Many live within the lies of deception and bondage that not only is there no hope for them, but even if they did escape they would be back in the same rut before the end of the week.

Paul offers this testament of truth not as a ‘nice saying’ to hang on the wall of your house, rather this truth is intended to offer freedom to those who pursue it.

Is change possible? Yes.

For every sin? Yes.

For homosexuality? Most definitely.

The only way this truth is not going to work, is if we don’t apply it to our daily lives. Notice I said DAILY lives. I firmly believe that because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Christians have all the power they need to get through the day every morning. Look at Lamentations 3:21-23

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for HIS compassions [mercies] never fail. They are new every morning; great is YOUR faithfulness.

Each morning when we arise, we have a new portion of mercy from GOD to get us through the next 24-hours. We have what it will take to walk in HIM instead of our old ways, if we tap into it. The more we ignore it, the less effective it becomes throughout the day. Each choice we make has a consequence attached to it - good or bad. This isn’t a magic formula, rather it’s simply scripture being put to use.

Each day when we awake, we need to remind ourselves of two key things: we are no longer enslaved to our past (1 Corinthians 6:11), and GOD’S portion of mercy is enough for us to survive the day at hand (Lam 3:22-23).

Where Does Sexual Identity Come From: Scientists try to determine if there is a genetic link to sexual orientation.

On March 28, ABC’s 20/20 ran a story that looked into the origins of sexual identity. Before I comment on this feature, I want to hear what you have to say about it.

Here’s the video.

Here’s another article about gay teens within a youth ministry. Below is just me summary of the article that I had to write for a college class. As one who works within youth ministry, I struggle with students and their reactions to those who are ‘different’ - especially teens who struggle with homosexuality. As you may tell, I’m quite passionate about reaching out to gay teens and youth ministry in general. What can I say, it’s been laid on my heart … ignore it not.

Anyways, here’s my sum of the article:

Whether we want to admit it or not, by now our students have faced homosexuality in three ways: they know someone who is gay, they’re ‘out of the closet’, or peers have called them gay. Regardless which situation best fits our students, as youth pastors we need to accept the truth that within our youth ministries homosexuality is an issue – one that is most often overlooked and/or ignored by us as ministers. Kelli Trujillo calls us all out on the carpet how we are and how we’re not ministering to the issue of homosexuality within our youth ministries. She states, “Christian teens are battered by messages about sexuality every day … that any sexual lifestyle is okay”, yet on the opposite end “they hear that homosexuality is a sin … they also hear jokes [about gays] from their Christian friends, families”. It’s no wonder that our students have a mixed message about this issue.

While we promote the truth that “the grace of JESUS can change any life … gays and lesbians are the church’s modern-day lepers” hearing a different message being communicated through words and actions: “GOD’S love is unconditional … but not for you”. I know what that message feels like, because I’ve had that message ‘spoken’ to me over and over again throughout my years of struggling with homosexuality. It sucks; and it’s a message that drives a deep wedge between a Father and HIS child.

Trujillo calls us to a higher standard of youth ministry by asking us to mimic how JESUS responded to the sinful woman in John 8, and applying HIS approach to how we approach gay teens in our youth ministries: preventing the attack of others, granting the student dignity and respect, and provide hope of new life. Likewise, Trujillo calls us to re-evaluate our ministries by revamping student’s vocabulary, downsizing the sin spectrum, and modeling radical love.

Youth Specialties received an anonymous letter on their message boards one day, and instead of responding with a single reply, they opened it up to others. Below is a summary of how other youth pastors responded.

One youth pastor stated that he knows exactly how the boy feels, as he himself was one who came out of the homosexual lifestyle. He notes that, “After coming to CHRIST, I thought my homosexual feelings would take care of themselves. They didn’t”. He goes on to say, “After a few years of suffering in silence … real healing didn’t start until I received pastoral counseling, and GOD began to reveal the roots of homosexuality in my life”. These roots, he explains, may be different for everyone but nonetheless they deal with rejection from parents and peers, sexual abuse, and unhealthy ‘same-sex’ relationships. I agree with the writer when he says, “GOD did not create you gay. It only feels that way”. He urges the teen that while GOD will heal him, he is going to need support. He then goes on to list some areas of support to contact.

Another youth pastor states that while we have questions about life “we don’t always get to figure out the whys in this life”. Where another pastor affirms the truth, “You can’t be a Christian and live a gay lifestyle. It’s like saying to a friend, ‘Yeah, I’m married – but I have a girlfriend, too’”. Going off of that, another youth pastor comments, “But whether you believe you were born with homosexual desires or not, it doesn’t change the fact that GOD gives us the ability, through HIS power and grace, to choose the right way”.

All the responses were great to read and affirming to the teen. Though, as in every ‘debate’, there was one who made a push for the pro-gay agenda, stating that we don’t really know what the Bible says about homosexuality.

The teen never responded back as far as I know.

this past week i came across a facebook group for a kid named Larry. in california, a middle school student, Larry, came out of the closet to his class mates. it was around valentines day. Larry asked a kid named Brandon to be his valentine. Brandon’s response was shooting Larry, and killing him.

here’s the news story. and here’s another story - with a news vid.

i don’t know how to respond. i’m left with too many questions.