Click here to see "PinkLinks"
web site of resources from the United Kindgom. "Steps to Recovery
from Bible Abuse" received "Best of the Web" award September 8, 2001. See new web site for International
Christian Community Churches led by Rev. Jay Neely
(added 9/7/03) Click here for a new helpful encouraging web site by my friend, Mary Lou
Wallner: TEACH
. Click here to see web site of my friend, Gay Psychotherapist Rik Isensee
in San Francisco. His 5 books have been helpful to me and to many
GLBT people. Learn about his special "Life Coaching" approach to
helping gay men and lesbians.
See a new helpful web site by Renee Evans: ANOTHER VIEWPOINT. Another helpful site is "Reflections on the Bible". Includes a message board. (added 7/12/04) See a delightful web site by Bill Harley,
whom I met on the flight to North Carolina last weekend. Bill has
a special ministry of songs and stories with special emphasis on the
kids of same-sex couples. See a new supportive web site by Mary Pearson: ChristianGays.com. See "First Light"
led by Lawrence A. Reh as "first aid for soul-bashing and
homophobia". Lawrence is a good friend who lives in Alameda, CA,
and maintains the "FirstLight e-group". I just learned about the world-wide
GLBT Support ministry of Jehovah's Witnesses from Brian Hartig in Minneapolis: "A Common Bond" (which includes a link to this site). CLICK HERE for an eloquent powerful description of religious terrorism and abuse.
A new site for Gay Youth: YOUNGGAYAMERICA See site for OUTRIGHT LIBERTARIANS. See the Music Ministry of Jason Warner
. See an important new article about THE STRUGGLES OF A BLACK GAY MINISTER. Added Nov. 5, 2000. See a very good MCC church web site:
SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL
(Click here for additional valuable links.) RECENT BOOKS: See excellent recent book by Wayne Besen: ANYTHING BUT STRAIGHT: UNMASKING THE SCANDALS AND LIES BEHIND THE EX-GAY MYTH. Published 2003 by Harrington Park
Press. Click here for related update and
click here for web site about the book and author. Handbook of Counseling and Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients
is an important new resource published by the American Psychological
Association in 2000, edited by Ruperto M. Perez, Kurt A. DeBord,
Kathleen J. Bieschke. This 484 page "handbook" answers a lot of
questions and gives much needed information. Can be ordered from
APA Order Department, P. O. Box 92984, Washington, DC 20090-2984.
(See web site of American Psychological Association and web site of American Psychiatric Association
.)
Take Back the Word:
"a queer reading of the Bible" is edited by Robert E. Goss and Mona
West, published by Pilgrim Press, 2000, with chapters by many MCC
pastors and other leaders.
Hazel, Dann. Witness: "Gay
and Lesbian Clergy Report from the Front."
Westminster John Knox Press, 2000. Contains stories of Gay and
Lesbian clergy activists including Dr. Rembert Truluck, pages 38-44
Recent book by Dr. Karol L. Jensen, MPH, Ph.D, whom I met in Minneapolis and shared in book signing at the Pride Festival:
Lesbian Epiphanies: Women Coming Out in Later Life.
Harrington Park Press, 1999. An excellent book written by a delightful
person, who has served as Professor in School of Public Health at
University of Texas, Houston. Two new books of special interest: Coming Out: a handbook for men, by Orland Outland. Alyson Books, June, 2000.
and Gay Spirituality: The Role of Gay Identity in the
Transformation of Human Consciousness, by Toby Johnson (editor of White Crane Journal). Alyson Books, July, 2000. New Book by my friend, Darren John Main: Spiritual Journeys along the
Yellow Brick Road.
Findhorn Press, 2000. Darren explores the spiritual lessons in the
Wizard of Oz with great insight and much love and joy. Darren is
director of Castro Yoga in San Francisco.
New book by Cleve Jones, founder of The AIDS Memorial Quilt: Stitching a Revolution: The Making of An Activist. HarperSanFrancisco, Publishers, 2000. This book is the very moving personal story
of Cleve Jones and his long time mission of bringing recognition and dignity to people with AIDS. Thanks to Dotti Berry for recommending the web site for Roberta Kreider,
who edited From Wounded Hearts -- Faith Stories of Gays, Lesbians, Bi-Sexuals, Transgendered and Those Who Love Them, published by Chi Rho Press; and the site of Mary Lou Wallner, whose daughter,
Anna, committed suicide three years ago. See Celebrating the Rainbow--From Tragedy to Transformation and click on "A Mother's Story." IMPORTANT TRANSGENDER WEB SITES
SUGGESTED TO ME BY MY FRIEND MARTHA: Transsexual.org Web Site of a Bay Area
Therapist who has a lot of information.
Christian Transsexuals web site.
Web Site of Jade Devlin, who started TG Christian webring. TSChristians:
A very good site ministering to Christian Transsexuals. Martha's Web Site:
MarthaJoy. See also a recent letter (2/4/01):
A Powerful Letter from a Transsexual Friend
Here is another helpful Trans Site: Cheryl's World.
_____________________________________________ New Web Site by "George" Hugs of Love Ministry"
: Great
site contatining personal testimony related to being Gay and Christian
and overcoming the attacks of the "Ex-Gay" ministries. See a new Internet Ministry at Soulfoodministry
. Click here for
A Different Light Book Store web site. Click here for The Other Side magazine web site. See the web site and ministry of MARSHA STEVENS.
See the Internet magazine "Whosoever", edited and published by Candace Chellew. See BAYBC Radio Netwok
for current interviews and GLBT programs. Hosted by Christian de la Huerta. . For support, education and advocacy for gay and lesbian Baptists and for links to other gay/lesbian spiritual support
groups, visit web site of "HONESTY/TEXAS" or write to Just As I Am, The Newsletter Of Honesty, Texas, P.O. Box 190869, Dallas, TX 75219. Phone: (214) 521-5342, ext. 233.
E-mail: honesty@geocities.com. See RAINBOW BAPTISTS,
for "American Baptists Concerned, a suport and advocacy group for
sexual minority Baptists." Their newlsetter is "Voice of the
Turtle", edited by Chris Boisvert. For detailed information on the historical
development of the Bible and the many translations, see The Cambridge History of the Bible
(in three volumes): Cambridge University Press, 1970. This
standard work contains articles by many of the best informed and most
reliable biblical historians and specialists. Ritley, M. R.,
God's Gay Tribe,
Beloved Disciple Press, 1994, 5504 Yale Station, New Haven CT
06520. This brief book helped me in dealing with my own
understanding of "wilderness" wanderings. visit web site of Beloved Disciple Press
or e-mail: BelDsPress@aol.com. Melody Beattie wrote books that deal with codependency in a simple and easy to read form. I have been helped by her first two books:
Codependent No More and Beyond Codependency, both by Harper, 1987 & 1989. I have been helped by her, The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents,
Harper, 1990. See also her helpful and practical book: CODEPENDENTS'
GUIDE TO THE TWELVE STEPS: "How to find the right program for you and
apply each of the twelve steps to your own issues."
A Fireside Book, 1998. For help with small group dialogue and dynamics, see Ruel Howe, The Miracle of Dialogue, Seabury Press, 1963, and Neal F. McBride, How To Lead Small Groups
, Navpress, 1990, P.O. Box 305001, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80935. See my first brochure on how to become a Christian, The Bible As Your Friend: A Guide for Lesbians and Gays, published in 1991 by Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Churches ("UFMCC"). CURRENT UPDATES AND ARTICLES ON GIVING ADVICE "JESUS AND FAMILY VALUES"
HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN (This material has been of great help to people from an evangelical tradition.)
PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR COMING OUT (includes "The Bible Basis for Coming Out") STAND BY ME: Your Ministry of Encouragement (added to WHY THIS SITE IS HERE on October 29, 1998) LOVE NEVER GIVES UP July 26, 1998
WHEN LOVE IS DEMONIZED August 1, 1998 BIBLICAL LITERALISM VS. THE TRUTH
August 20, 1998 "THE TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALS" (Statistics) DANGER TO GAYS AND LESBIANS IS REAL 8/29/98 LIBERATION FROM SICK RELIGION 9/10/98 TRANSLATING THE GOSPELS
9/15/98 THE POWER OF PREJUDICE 9/18/98 THINK FOR YOURSELF 9/26/98 NEW DIRECTIONS (update 11/6/98) "WHAT BIBLE TO READ?" (added 11/14/98) "JOHN PAULK IN WONDERLAND"
Book Review of Not Afraid to Change
(update 11/22/98) A Personal Testimony by "EXODUS" SURVIVOR
(11/22/98) A RESPONSE TO THE "EX-GAY" FRAUD
Book Review of A Strong Delusion
(update 11/29/98) RESPONSE TO REVIEW OF DALLAS BOOK
(12/1/98) CHALLENGING RELIGIOUS EXPLOITATION
(12/3/98) WHERE TO GO FOR HELP? (HOW TO HELP YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES)
12/8/98 IT'S ABOUT TIME!
12/13/98
(American Psychiatric Association rejects "ex-gay" therapy) HOW TO HANDLE HOLIDAY STRESS
12/15/98 YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GAY
TO BE ABUSED BY RELIGION
12/19/98
HOW I VIEW THE BIBLE:
"GIVE YOURSELF A NEW BIBLE" 12/26/98 TRUTH THAT RESTORES HOPE 12/30/98 MARRIED WITH CHILDREN
Help for GLBT people who are "married with children" 1/2/99 HOMOPHOBIC LITERATURE 1/5/99 "GOD IS HEALING HOMOPHOBIA"
(Baptist GLBT Retreat in Austin, Texas, September, 1999) EATING WITH SINNERS
11/5/99 YOU ARE NOT ALONE
11/14/99 VICTIMS OF MISINFORMATION
11/22/99 THE BIBLE AND SPIRITUAL TYRANNY 1/14/00
"THINK" 1/18/00 "SPIRITUAL RESOURCES" 2/3/00
"UNACCEPTABLE DELAY" 2/14/00 "TONY CALLED ME"
2/25/00 "TEN COMMANDMENTS"
2/29/00 "DID JESUS SPEAK GREEK?"
7/1/00 "WHO ARE YOU?" 9/7/00 "SCOUT'S HONOR" 9/9/00 "INSPIRATION" 9/15/00 "WHEN IN DANGER, WHEN IN DOUBT,
BLAME GOD"
9/20/00 "WHEN TO TURN AROUND"
"CREDIBILITY"(John Paulk) 9/22/00 and 9/26/00 "WHO IS JESUS?" 10/5/00 "FACE-TO-FACE" 10/8/00 "THE REAL JESUS" 10/21/00 "GOOD NEWS" 10/23/00 "TAKE NO PRISONERS" 10/26/00 "TRICK OR TREAT RELIGION" Halloween, 2000 "TEXAS BAPTIST REVOLT" 10/31/00 "WE WILL WORK HARDER"
(Response to the Presidential Election) 11/8/00 "US VS. THEM"
11/17/00 "HOW WE GOT THIS WAY"
11/19/00 "WHY RELIGION?"
12/1/00 "A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE" 12/8/00
"CHANGE THE WORLD" 12/14/00
(Response to the recent U.S. Presidential Election) "WHO UMPIRES YOUR GAME?"
12/24/00 "YOU HAVE TRIUMPHED!"
12/25/00 "IN THE BEGINNING GOD" 12/29/00
"MOVING ON" (trip to Houston) 1/12/01
"HEALING POWER OF LISTENING" 1/14/01
"CELEBRATE FREEDOM" 1/15/01
(Martin Luther King Day)
"FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND ANGER" 1/18/01 "
SOULFORCE LAUNCHES PHASE 2" 1/18/01 "THE FIRST STEP"
1/22/01 "WHAT IS GAY PRIDE?"
1/27/01
"AN INTRODUCTION TO JESUS" 1/28/01 "WHITE PRIVILEGE" 2/3/01
(See also: "A
POWERFUL LETTER FROM TRANSSEXUAL) added 2/4/01
(See also
"HUMAN STATISTICS" added 2/4/01 "FAITH-BASED PREJUDICE" 2/5/01
"WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?" 2/9/01
"THANK YOU FOR WRITING" 2/15/01 "WHAT IS YOUR HISTORY?"
2/19/01
(How to Learn from Yourself) "CAN GAY CHRISTIANS BE SURE?"
2/23/01 "WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?"
3/3/01 "HIDDEN DRAGON" 3/12/01
"HOW JESUS CAME OUT" 3/24/01 "SECOND PRINTING" 4/3/01 "ACCEPT YOURSELF" 4/6/01 "EXPLOSIVE RELIGION" 4/12/01 "IMAGINING JESUS" 4/16/01
"JOY IN HEAVEN" 4/18/01 "SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE"
4/21/01 "SPIRITUAL BEAUTY"
4/22/01 "WHAT TO DO ABOUT RELIGION?"
4/25/01
(including letters from South Africa and Hong Kong)
"SOUTHERN BAPTIST AUTHORITY" 4/30/01 "BREAK THE OTHER LEG"
5/4/01 "FOLLOWING THE WRONG JESUS" 5/15/01 "JESUS FOR DUMMIES" 5/18/01
"MOTHER'S DAY" 5/19/01 "BULLYING HURTS" 5/23/01 "CONFRONTING RELIGIONISM" 5/31/01 "LIFE OR DEATH"
(Report on Soulforce in New Orleans
) 6/17/01 "AMA RESOLUTION AND
GAYBC INTERVIEW"
6/20/01 "THE REVOLUTION CONTINUES" 6/23/01 "ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM" 7/2/01 "TOUGH LOVE" 7/5/01 "FAITH BASED DECEPTION" 7/10/01 "LIVING IN THE LOVE OF GOD" 7/17/01 "RELIGIOUS HATE CRIMES" 7/19/01 "BE YOURSELF" 7/22/01 "IDENTIFYING WITH JESUS" 7/26/01 "LEARNING FROM PEOPLE" 7/28/01 "WORD OF GOD" 8/14/01
(report on my mother's ninetieth birthday) "WHAT IS TRUTH?"
8/20/01 "MORE THAN WE REALIZE"
8/24/01 "FLORIDA SODOMITES WIN!" 9/1/01
"GOOD PARENTS" 9/3/01 "SPIRITUAL LIBERATION" 9/10/01 "PRAY TODAY" 9/14/01 "DISCREDITED" 9/16/01
STATEMENT BY TROY PERRY
"FEAR AND HOPE" 9/23/01
"WHERE TO GO FOR HELP" 9/28/01
"RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION
& THE LAW" 10/8/01 "RELIGIOUS TERRORISM" 10/12/01 "OTHER PEOPLE'S CRAZINESS"
10/14/01 "GOD IS IN"
10/18/01 "SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP"
10/23/01 "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE" 10/26/01
("GROWING UP IN LOVE" Lesson 51) "WE DO NOT LOSE HEART"
10/28/01
Click also to see "Blessings Unforeseen"
by Dr. Mahan Siler "LET GOD HANDLE IT" 11/3/01 "HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY" 11/8/01 "ALL IN YOUR MIND" 11/15/01 "LIVING WITH THANKSGIVING" 11/22/01 "STARTING OVER" 11/27/01 "THINGS CAN CHANGE" 12/2/01 "JESUS CONTINUES TO CHANGE THE WORLD" 12/7/01 "TRUST GOD" 12/10/01 "NEW INFORMATION ABOUT SAME-SEX DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS" 12/10/01
"COURAGE TO LOVE"
12/18/01 "LIFT ME UP SO I CAN SEE TOO" 12/20/01
"SINGING IN THE RAIN" 12/29/01 "GOD IS AT WORK" 1/13/02 "LEARNING FROM YOURSELF" 1/20/02 "YOUR PERSONAL WORLD" 1/25/02 "THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS" 1/27/02 "LET'S ROLL" 2/1/02
"JESUS FOR DUMMIES" 2/9/02
"BIBLICAL LITERALISM IS DEAD" 2/21/02 "THE JESUS WITHIN"
3/10/02 "ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS"
3/19/02 "STATISTICS AND COMMANDMENTS" 3/26/02
Special new material on THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 3/26/02
"THE FIRST DAY" Easter 2002 "EXPLORING THE JESUS WORLD" 4/3/02 "THE ENEMY WITHIN" 4/13/02
"WHERE IS THE TRUTH?" 4/14/02
"VARIETIES OF MINISTRIES" 4/23/02
(a report on ministry at Broadway Baptist Church in Kansas City) "TRANSGENDERED GOSPEL CHOIR" 4/28/02 "CHANGING OTHER PEOPLE" 5/03/02
"MY ANGEL MOTHER" 5/10/02
"PROTECTING MARRIAGE OR BIGOTRY?" 5/17/02
THE "ME" AND THE "NOT ME" 5/21/02
"REMEMBERING YOUR HEROES" 5/27/02 "MORE HEROES" 6/01/02 "THE TRUTH ABOUT CHURCHES" 6/07/02 "IMMOVABLE OBJECT" 6/14/02 "MEANWHILE, BACK TO JESUS" 6/21/02 "THE NEXT STEP" 6/28/02 "OVERCOMING THE FORCES" 7/8/02 "SPIRIT AND BAPTISM" 7/22/02 "RELATING TO PEOPLE" 7/29/02 "THE PERSISTENCE OF RELIGION" 8/01/02 "RAGING AGAINST THE STORM"
8/04/02 "WHAT ABOUT YOU?"
8/17/02 "DISCOVER YOUR TRUTH"
9/1/02 "FIVE YEARS LATER" 9/14/02
"ARE WE THERE YET? NO!"
("The Journey is Our Home") 9/21/02
"LIVING IN EXILE" 10/01/02 "REMEMBER, REBUILD, RENEW"
10/06/02 "LIVE TODAY" 10/16/02 "WHAT MANDATE?" 11/13/02
"FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE"
11/24/02
(A "Thanksgiving" spiritual feast) "TOTALLY BLIND"
12/21/02 "INTERPRETATION"
1/26/03 "BIBLE ABUSE RECOVERY"
2/28/03 "EQUAL VALUE"
3/3/03 "KEEP SEARCHING" 3/16/03 "VIOLENCE AND DECEIT" 3/26/03 "THE SODOMY MYTH" 4/2/03 "CHANGE YOURSELF"
4/9/03
(Indludes letter from CINDY HADDEN) "KEEP OUT!" 4/26/03
"WHY HATE HURTS" 5/4/03 "YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW" 5/18/03 "IRRESISTABLE FORCES OF THE FUTURE" 5/31/03 "FETUS RIGHTS" 6/7/03 "CURE FOR THE COMMON BIGOT" 6/18/03 "EXTERMINATION BY SUICIDE" 6/20/03 "LYING FOR JESUS" 6/26/03 "BONDAGE AND FREEDOM" 7/4/03 "GOD BLESS AMERICA" 7/5/03 "THE GATHERING STORM" 7/8/03 "PRAYER AS IDOLATRY" 7/16/03 "HOW JESUS HELPS" 7/19-20/03 "WALLOWING IN MEDIEVAL MYTHOLOGY" 8/1/03 "THE HOMOPHOBIC AGENDA" 8/22/03 "SPAM, VIRUSES & RELIGION" 9/7/03 "RESCUING MARRIAGE" 9/11/03 "FEAR OF FREEDOM" 10/5/03 "GLBT REJECTION WEEK" 10/7/03 "THE EX-GAY WARS" 10/26/03
INDEX OF BIBLE PASSAGES
USED IN 52 LESSONS LISTED IN TWELVE STEPS SECTION You can read explanations, background studies and applications of these Bible
passages to GLBT spiritual issues in the 52 Lessons included in Dr. Truluck's book: Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse, available from Chi Rho Press. Click on the Bible Reference to see the
full text (After you read the text, click on (BACK TO BIBLE LIST) to return to this list.) Genesis 4:2-16
Lesson # 14
Genesis 19:1-11 Lesson # 21
Genesis 38:1-26
Lesson # 21 Exodus 3:13-15 Lesson # 27
Leviticus 18:19-22; 20:9-13 Lesson # 22
Ruth 1:15-18 Lesson # 25
Ruth 4:13-17 Lesson # 25 1 Samuel 18:1-5 Lesson # 26
1 Samuel 20:16-17, 23, 30-35, 40-42 Lesson # 26
2 Samuel 1:19-27 Lesson # 26 Psalm 23 Lesson # 50 Proverbs 6:16-19 Lesson # 22 Jeremiah 13:23 Lesson # 8
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Lesson # 47
Amos 5:21-24 Lesson # 47
Micah 6:6-8 Lesson # 47 Matthew 5:14-16 Lesson # 33
Matthew 10:7-31 Lesson # 36
Matthew 10:16-20 Lesson # 18
Matthew 11:28-30 Lesson # 50
Matthew 16:13-26 Lesson # 20
Matthew 20:17-34 Lesson # 40
Matthew 21:44-45; 22:15-22 Lesson # 3
Matthew 23:1-39 Lesson # 1
Matthew 25:34-36, 40 Lesson # 29
Matthew 26:31-39 Lesson # 16
Matthew 27:39-50 Lesson # 31
Matthew 28:18-20 Lesson # 46 Mark 3:1-6 Lesson # 2
Mark 3:20-21, 31-35 Lesson # 17
Mark 4:35-41; 5:1-20
Lesson # 45
Mark 8:14-21 Lesson # 31
Mark 16:14 Lesson # 30 Luke 2:39-52 Lesson # 49
Luke 4:17-30
Lesson # 29
Luke 5:1-11
Lesson # 42
Luke 8:1-3 Lesson # 30
Luke 10:25-37 Lesson # 51
Luke 10:38-42 Lesson # 30
Luke 12:25-26 Lesson # 8
Luke 18:1-14 Lesson # 7
Luke 19:28-48
Lesson # 35
Luke 23:49, 55-56 Lesson # 30
Luke 24:1-11 Lesson # 30
Luke 24:44-54 Lesson # 44 John 3:16-17 Lesson # 9
John 4:3-35
Lesson # 41
John 6:15-21
Lesson # 15
John 8:12-59 Lesson # 10
John 9:1-38
Lesson # 32
John 10:1-18 Lesson # 52
John 11:25-53 Lesson # 50
John 12:1-8 Lesson # 28
John 13:1-17, 34-35 Lesson # 28
John 14:27 Lesson # 15
John 15:1-27 Lesson # 38
John 15:11-12 Lesson # 20
John 17:20-23 Lesson # 39 Acts 1:1-8 Lesson # 44
Acts 4:31-37 Lesson # 37
Acts 6:1-7 Lesson # 39
Acts 8:26-40
Lesson # 43
Acts 9:26-28 Lesson # 37
Acts 11:22-30 Lesson # 37 Romans 1:16‒2:1 Lesson # 23
Romans 5:6-11
Lesson # 11
Romans 6:4
Lesson # 12
Romans 8:15-39 Lesson # 48
Romans 10:9-13 Lesson # 9
Romans 15:1-7 Lesson # 29
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Lesson # 24
1 Corinthians 9:16-27 Lesson # 52
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Lesson # 51
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Lesson # 18 Galatians 5:1, 13-26 Lesson # 19
Galatians 5:22-23 Lesson # 52 Ephesians 2:8-22 Lesson # 46
Ephesians 4:11-15 Lesson # 49
Ephesians 4:15, 22-25 Lesson # 33
Ephesians 4:22-32 Lesson # 8
Ephesians 6:10-20 Lesson # 18 Philippians 2:1-11 Lesson # 27
Philippians 3:1-14 Lesson # 4
Philippians 4:1-23 Lesson # 34 1 Timothy 1:9-10 Lesson # 24 Hebrews 5:1-14 Lesson # 49
Hebrews 6:18 Lesson # 33
Hebrews 13:1-3 Lesson # 47 1 Peter 1:3-9 Lesson # 12
2 Peter 3:1-18 Lesson # 6 SPECIAL UPDATE ON USING THESE BIBLE PASSAGES AS A RESOURCE FOR THOUGHT AND STUDY ADDED ON JANUARY 18, 2000: "THINK" RESOURCES The
purpose of my web site and book is to provide resources to help you
think for yourself. I have added to my web site the full text all
of the Bible references that form the basis for the 52 Lessons in my
book. The Bible Reference List in the "Resources and References"
section of my site includes the Lesson number and a link to the full
text of each Bible passage. My
aim is to give to you the Bible material that you can read and study
for yourself. You can make up your own mind and think through the
issues for yourself. You have to decide for yourself what you
think and how you handle your own spiritual issues and options. For
detailed explanations, background material and applications of biblical
material, you can read and study the 52 Lessons in my book. I
encourage you, however, to read and think through the issues for
yourself. The web site and book also encourage you to form some
kind of connection with other people to share regularly in dialogue and
discussion as part of your growing, learning, healing and recovery. THINK AND BE FREE There
is no shortcut to your own personal truth. Learning what you need
to know in order to make your own decisions takes time and
energy. My purpose in translations and paraphrases and in the
choice of texts is simply to make the basic material more available and
readable to you. You have to do the work for yourself.
Nobody else can grasp, digest and feed to you the inexhaustible riches
of the glory of God. To experience the Life Force of the
Universe, you have to think for yourself. The
Bible references do include the six "clobber passages" used against
GLBT people, but they also include large sections of the Four Gospels
that give a clear picture of the life and attitudes of Jesus. To
imagine that the energy and life of the universe can be reduced to a
set of propositions, doctrines, rules or laws is unrealistic and out of
touch with the Spirit of Jesus as set forth in the Gospels. Jesus
did not say that he would send the answers to you. Jesus said: "I
will come to you." Jesus never promised to speak through a
book. Jesus said instead: "I am with you always." Jesus did
not say that a book can or will teach you. Jesus said: "The
Spirit will teach you and remind you of everything that I have taught
you." The
Gospels and the accompanying letters and other writings in the New
Testament are our primary written sources. Your personal
experience with Jesus Christ is your one dependable guide through the
2000 years of history, tradition, religious distortions and confusion
that stand between you and the original message of the Bible. The
Bible passages that I have used are highly selective. They are
the passages that have been of the most help to me. There are 90
passages listed with the 52 Lessons. Twenty-five of the passages
are most or all of an entire chapter. I have tried to retain the
basic context of the passages as much as possible. Archaic
punctuation gets in the way of the flow of ideas; so I have removed
most of it. In
my writings I express a lot of conclusions and opinions about what the
Bible seems to say to me. This is in no sense a demand or even a
suggestion that you have to agree with me! If what I say does not
ring true for you, then challenge what I write. Study the
material for yourself. Invite the Spirit and Wisdom and Power of
the presence of Jesus Christ to be your ultimate Teacher and Friend. You
have to face your life situation, not mine. You are unlike any
other human on earth. You are a unique child of God with a
mission in life that God has planned for you and through you.
What you are called to be and to do is not exactly the same as for
anybody else. You cannot imitate what you see in others.
Neither can you impose your solutions and your truth on others. You
do not have the calling or the ability to tell others what they should
do in their spiritual life, but you have the same obligation that I
have to pass on to others whatever you can that will help them to
learn, grow, study and decide for themselves. You either think for yourself, or you don't think. Rembert Truluck "As you think in your heart, so are you."
"I think, therefore I am."
"You are whatever you think about all the time." This material was added February 19, 2001
"WHAT IS YOUR HISTORY?"
(How to Learn from Yourself)
What
are your roots? Where did you come from? All of us came
from God but by many different paths. Does it matter? Of
course it does! Knowing your own history and the history of your
people is part of your identity and your basis for self-acceptance and
self-esteem. "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" February
is Black History Month. This annual recognition and celebration
of the history of African American people and their individual and
collective contributions to our world is a great time for learning
about yourself and others. It should be an encouragement for you
to think of your own history and your place in the ongoing life of your
people, whoever they are. Racism,
sexism, homophobia, and other prejudices are built largely on ignorance
and misinformation. Learning the truth and learning to separate
face from fiction about yourself and other people is a great leap
forward in your growth to maturity and wholeness. Increasingly
in our world, the lives of all races, orientations, national origins
and cultures are mingled and interactive. There really is no
place to hide. But who wants to! The wonderful world of
people all around us is our best source of truth and beauty, if we can
get past the stereotypes and misinformation and communicate with each
other and learn from each other. WE ARE EVERYWHERE Whoever
you are, you are everywhere! I looked up "homosexuals" on my
Internet browser this morning, and there were over a half a million web
sites related to "homosexuals". The Internet superhighway is as
crowded as a San Francisco freeway in rush hour in the rain. We
learn to insulate ourselves from the crowds of other people that we
know are crowded into our world. We cannot see them all, but we
know they are out there. GLBT
history is more available now than ever before. Whatever your
self-identification might be, you can find the history of your people
somewhere on the Internet and in bookstores. "Roots" was one of
the most popular television programs ever because it told the well
researched and powerfully acted history of African Americans. YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY Your
family is part of your personal history. Several years ago my
mother put together the story of our family, tracing the family history
as far back as she could. My family history is part of who I am. You
have to be selective in your study of history. History was my
college major, and I had to be selective and study only a small
fraction of the available history courses. My first college
history teacher taught many principles of history, but one stands out
most: "All history is written from somebody's point of view," and you
need to know that point of view when you read any history. An
essential part learning anything is knowing your own point of view,
because that will color how you see everything you read. YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY
Our memories are
always selective and often elusive. Write your experiences and
ideas in a daily journal, and you will be better equipped to learn from
yourself and from your personal history. Remember that you are
the world's authority on your own experience. Intentionally
record and learn from it. Learn
from the past, but don't try to live in the past. What in your
own experiences has most determined how you see yourself and how you
view your own family, race, friends, sexuality, etc.? Learning
and understanding your own history and the history of your people is a
giant step towards being able to "let go and move on." The
old saying that "those who refuse to learn from the mistakes of history
are doomed to repeat them" is true also of your own personal and family
history. You carry within your own memory great resources for
learning, understanding, growing and recovering from religious and
other abuses. You have a lot to offer yourself from your own
history and from the history of your people. LEARNING TO LISTEN TO YOURSELF
Writing out your own
record of your life and experiences teaches you to listen to yourself
and learn from you. We engage in a lot of idle conversation in
which we do not really listen to others or to ourselves.
Sometimes a sensitive listener will repeat what you said, and your
response will be: "Did I really say that! I didn't mean to say
that!" Listen to yourself. You will learn a lot about
yourself. When Peter denied Jesus in Matthew 26:69-75, bystanders
came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for the way
you talk gives you away ("betrays you")." Hear yourself.
Listen to your tone of voice. Learn to hear what other people are
hearing when you speak. Words
can conceal as well as reveal what you really think. Sometimes
your facial expressions, posture and tone of voice say a lot more than
the words. Make a cassette tape of you talking and then listen to
it. Sometimes that is a real shock! It is even more of a
shock if you do a videotape to see and hear yourself. I always
dread looking at myself and hearing myself on tape! Sometimes it
is a startling revelation of how I must look and sound to others. STUDY HISTORY Learn
the basics of the history of the human race, of which you are the
result and a representative. To know yourself you need to know
your ancestors and from whence you came. It is not always a
pretty picture, but a lot of it is. Events shape people, and
people shape events. Knowing and understanding your own roots and
how you are indeed "fearfully and wonderfully made" equips you better
to be in charge of your own life and resist becoming the victim of
circumstances. "Black
History Month" is your history month also, no matter what your race,
national origin, orientation, age, rank or identity might be. All
of us have been a part of Black history, Asian history, Hispanic
history, European history and all other histories. We are
connected with all people of all time. No person is an island,
and to imagine that we really are independent of each other is to live
in an unrealistic world of self-deception and waste. Human
life has survived and triumphed over incredible disasters, including
many that are self-imposed. You are part of a unique and
extraordinary chain of events called history. Be aware of who you
really are. SELF-ACCEPTANCE Self-acceptance
and self-esteem develop from knowing and accepting your true
identity. It takes work and time to discover your true
self. Start with the basic truth that you are a child of God and
that you already have the image of God within you along with God's
unconditional all-inclusive love, acceptance and affirmation. The following material was added April 18, 2001:
"JOY IN HEAVEN" Tonight
just after 10:00 PM I watched television as Barry Bonds of San
Francisco hit his home run number 500. A great celebration
happened. At about the same time I got an e-mail letter from a
young gay man who wrote: "I want to say thank you first. I
haven't read your book because I'm 16 years old and I live in a
conservative household. I did use the information on your website
to finally accept myself and for that I am so thankful." Then he
continued to tell me his story. The
young man's name is David. I celebrated with David far more than
with Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants team, which went on to
win the game. David has won the game of self- acceptance, which
is far more important than any other game around. We
are winning a lot of self-acceptance games. I am excited about
how God is using my web site and book and the loving ministries of many
of you to bring joy and peace and the elusive goal of self-acceptance
and self-esteem to GLBT people. My main purpose in life continues
to be to help LGBT people feel good about themselves and to quit
hurting themselves and each other. I
am convinced that the there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels
of heaven whenever marginalized persons accept and affirm themselves as
the children of God. We also join in that heavenly celebration
and joy. Glory! Hallelujah! Praise Jesus for his powerful clear demonstration
of God's unconditional inclusive love for all people!
_________________________________ Here is a description of the Minneapolis "A COMMON BOND"
support ministry for GLBT people connected with Jehovah's
Witnesses: (See also the web site for the
San Francisco "A Common Bond." What is Common Bond? Our
Group's mission is to reach out to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered persons who are active, inactive, disfellowshipped or
dissassociated Jehovah's Witnesses. As gays or lesbians, we are
aware of the "outcast" feelings brought on by disfellowshipped or
disassociated status and by the effects of loss of parents, children,
and life long friends. We become cut-off unjustly due to our sexual
orientation. We
are religious neutral and are not seeking religious alternatives.
Everyone's beliefs are respected, and criticizing others beliefs is
discouraged. Group meetings are not an opportunity to preach or
teach religious beliefs. We
do not represent nor are we in any way affiliated with the Watchtower
Bible & Tract Society or Jehovah's Witnesses. Most
GLBT people who "come out" are dismissed from the organization in order
to "keep the congregation clean". This leaves us as an outcast of the
organization. Leaving us demoralized and emotionally wounded.
Because of this fear of loss many Jehovah's Witnesses hide their true
feelings. Disfellowshipping from the organization can eliminate
all contact with friends and relatives. Families and friendships are
torn apart. The organization states the Witnesses shouldn't even say
hello to these persons. Because this organization teaches that
homosexuality is "detestable" and "an abomination", members suffer from
deep-closeted guilt and utter destruction by God. Our meetings will
provide a safe space to talk with others who have similar experiences.
Many of us have begun other spiritual journeys; we plan on maintaining
a religious-free atmosphere where we can concentrate on how this
organization has affected each of our lives. Our meetings are
informal, friendly, and always lively. We are here to help support each
other and exchange stories that will strengthen our inner-selves. We
currently are meeting the 3rd Sunday of each Month. If you would like
to get in touch with us please call Brian at 612-825-0487 or Craig at
612-879-8010. To e-mail for more information Click Here. (This local group is located in Minneapolis, MN. See their web site for other groups
in the U.S. and other countries.) |
