Inclusive
Orthodoxy Newsletter
February
2008
To
the saints of Cyberspace who are also faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Updates:
So,
this afternoon I was walking home from having had lunch with my boyfriend and
took a route home which I have walked at least a thousand times before. It was
all so familiar—the same stores, the same people asking for change in
their usual spots, nothing was out of the ordinary. Today, however, I felt led
to give a dollar to this gentlemen who lives there on the street. I see him
every time I walk that route, and heÕs never doing anything but sitting there silent
and still, a sharp contrast beside the rest of us who are walking by as if our
destination is more important than anything. I have always wondered about him—he
looks healthy, seems entirely Ôwith itÕ, and I always get a good feeling when I
pass by him. HeÕs one of those people who looks like a stereotypical Disney-channel
grandfather figure—heÕs got a big beard and a gentle demeanor. I share
this with you only because of the profound experience I had after our
encounter. As I walked away, I found myself overcome with tears as I thought
about how lonely he must be—nobody to dine with, nobody to hug, and nobody
to laugh with. I was then overcome with a feeling of how blessed I am, and how
little right I have to complain about the stupid things that I allow to annoy
me. This man sits day after day beside a super-sized plastic McDonalds cup,
possibly waiting for enough change to go buy a meal. And here I am complaining
about how my shower doesnÕt get as warm as I want it to, or how about how much
I bicker with my loved ones, or an overcharge on my VISA or whatnot.
It
is easy to take what we have for granted. We have all heard that a million
times, but throughout my life there have been little windows like that which
remind me how truly fortunate I am. The homosexual community complains a lot. I
say that not as a judgment, but simply as a mere fact. Come on, itÕs true, and
itÕs true because we DO have a lot we can complain about: being denied the many
rights married couples have, being denied in many states the right to adopt,
not being included in hate crime laws, etc. All this is true, but I want to
invite you to step back with me and take a moment to be thankful for the
blessings we do have. Often I think we become so distracted by the negative,
and the fight for that which is ideal and fair, that we forget to Òcount our blessings.Ó There are 323
subscribers to this newsletter right now. I want to ask each of you, as you
consider your blessings to think about this gentleman I met on the street today,
and hold him in your prayers. I believe that a flood of prayers is truly
powerful.
As
you can tell God has really put this man on my heart. In addition to praying
for him, this afternoon IÕve been praying of how I can reach out to him in
Gospel-oriented way. I am continually reminded of James 2:15-17 which says, ÒSuppose
a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to
him, ÔGo, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,Õ but does nothing about his
physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not
accompanied by action, is dead.Ó
In
addition to praying for him, a part of me wants to invite him to a Tuesday
night church service that is followed by dinner, though, I sense he may be
hesitant. As I discern that, maybe all of us can do something special for him
in the spirit of James 2. Any donations I receive online (http://www.truthsetsfree.net/support.htm) between now and the
end of the month (Feb. 29th) I will collect and bring to him as a gift, and
tell him it is from over 300 gay and lesbian Christians who send him their love
and prayers. For me as a student alone, a significant financial gift to him
would be hard, but if we each put in $5, just think of that! I know this sounds
weird, but I thought IÕd put the idea out there and see what comes of it.
LGBT
News:
2/14/2008 ~ Openly gay bishop
provides speech of hope – Openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson, 60, spoke
about what he called "a bunch of 'H' words." They included honor,
history, humility, heroes, and chutzpah, which Robinson jokingly acknowledged
was a "'CH' word." http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=29213
2/15/08 ~ Presbyterian court:
Gays can't be ordained - The top court in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has
issued an unexpectedly early and decisive ruling upholding the Louisville-based
denominationÕs ban on ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians. http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/NEWS01/80215027
2/16/08 ~ Jesus Gives Politics
a Different Perspective - He walked on water; he turned water to wine; and now
he wants to be your candidate for president. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/15/AR2008021503273.html?hpid=sec-religion
For
more LGBT Christian news visit http://religion.gaynewsblog.net
LGBT
Christian Books/Movies:
A
portion from purchases made from these links goes to support Inclusive OrthodoxyÕs
ministry
For
The Bible Tells Me So
(New
DVD from First Run Features)
ÒWinner
of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film
Festival, Dan Karslake's provocative, entertaining documentary brilliantly
reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture, and in the process reveals
that Church-sanctioned anti-gay bias is based solely upon a significant (and
often malicious) misinterpretation of the BibleÓ (Amazon listing)
Pre-order
your copy today at http://astore.amazon.com/truthsetsfree-20/detail/B000YHQNCI/105-4345433-7886067
Each
month I am also adding new LGBT Christian books to my online store at http://www.Cross.2Freedom.com. Titles added to the
store this month include:
Quote
for Reflection:
ÒGod
has given you one face, and you make yourself another.Ó —William
Shakespeare
It
is my prayer that day-by-day we might gently peel away the false faces we have
created for ourselves to hide behind, and embrace more fully the person, the
image who God created us to be.
Love
in Christ,
Justin
R. Cannon, Founder/Director
http://www.InclusiveOrthodoxy.org