Thanks

[baldness_65]

To those people who responded to my initial submission I wanted to give everyone of you a huge "Thanks" as well as a sizable "cyber-hug" (I just made that word up...I hoping it catches on. I was actually emotionally shaken by the love and acceptance. This is the way everyone should feel when meeting people of God...absolutely accepted. Im sure the irony is not lost on anyone that I, as a straight Christ follower, was worried about how I would be recieved in a predomantly Gay community. It has taken a few days (a week?) to process things. Honestly I am still processing things...lots of things. It's hard, even now, not to have a knee jerk internal response to some issues. Im sure that this is true on both sides of the rainbow. The best way to get past it, in my opinion is to A) talk about it and B) be willing to accept people as they are. This community seems to have figured both of these things out. I commend you. Not so much in my neck-o-the-woods. It is my intention to model change. So I look forward to the interaction with everyone.
L.
PS. The send button is getting less and less scary.

[Daniel]

Evangel huh? I graduated from Evangel in 1981.

It's so great- and I mean this from the bottom of my heart- to see you back here again. Sorry I missed you the first time (It looks like I was away on vacation then).

From my experience, the wonderful thing about the gay community, or I might say GLBTQ persons (don't worry- you'll pick up the lingo in no time flat- even I'm getting used to it: like the Q- it took me a while to realize that the younger members like the word Queer- a head-turner even for me) is that there is room for everyone- straight people included. So the rainbow, as you note, is pretty inclusive.

And I think you've zoned in on the key matter which make any relationship work: talk and acceptance. Hard to have one without the other. Or course, this goes both ways.

Would welcome hearing more about your Evangel experience. And how you came to be so accepting yourself.

Welcome.

[Zerbie]

. I was actually emotionally shaken by the love and acceptance. This is the way everyone should feel when meeting people of God...absolutely accepted. Im sure the irony is not lost on anyone that I, as a straight Christ follower, was worried about how I would be recieved in a predomantly Gay community. It has taken a few days (a week?) to process things. Honestly I am still processing things...lots of things. It's hard, even now, not to have a knee jerk internal response to some issues. Im sure that this is true on both sides of the rainbow.L.
PS. The send button is getting less and less scary.

(((Baldness))) - Huge cyber hugs back atcha! :D :love: Glad the send button isn't so fierce and menacing anymore. ;) :)

Oh my, oh my, these "gay issues" raise all kinds of weird emotional spin-offs, don't they? As a bisexual person, I've spent time identifying with "both sides of the rainbow" as you so marvellously put it (I am going to take that phrase into my regular parlance from now on, I love it that much). Well and I've also spent time hovering underneath, overtop of, hiding from, and climbing around on the rainbow trying to figure out where I belonged. The answer is I belong wherever life takes me, we all do. We're all here sharing this earth and we make it hell or heaven for one another.

I am glad you feel accepted here. You *are.* We're happy to welcome you into our small but ever growing cyber-family. :)

I remember being ashamed of myself when I was a young girl (10, 12 years old) because with everything I was learning amiss about homosexuals, I somehow assumed that all gay people were in need of protection. Then when I met numerous gay adults in my late childhood/early teens, what happened was that they, being strong mature adult people, spread warm protective wings over me and looked after me, both literally in some instances, and above all, emotionally. I remember I felt so foolish for having gotten it all backward. :rolleyes:

The reality is that we share this world, and as friends/family/community members, there are times when we are weak or scared and that's when those who love us take us under their care. And a day comes when the roles are reversed. Life is like that, it's part of relating as fellow beings. You're here for us, we are here for you. Push/Pull. Leads to balance.

You're welcome, Baldness. I hope you will come back and share some more. :love:

[baldness_65]

Thanks for the Love Daniel. Evangel College class of 87. I don't get to talk to former EC (EU...whatever) students. My son's name is Daniel so you can't be all bad.:) As to how I became so accepting...Im not so good at doing things that i am told I have to do without an explanation. Nor am i very good at hating people. Both of which were expected of me given my Texas/ AG upbringing. Constant questioning and study of what Jesus's life was and is all about have brought me to the place i am at now. It;s not perfect but then neither am I. Its been a long strange trip but Im now a Children's Pastor in California. My job is not only to oversee the various programs for kids but also to do my best to model God's love to every kid/grownup who darkens the door. A friend of mine calls this being Jesus with skin. So that is the deal with me. I look forward to further interaction with you and everyone else.
L.