God loves you.

You’d think by now I’d have come up with something new to write about; something with a little more sparkle and glam. Edgy. Catchy. Fresh. Not only to keep you coming back for more but I have an ego and occasionally that ego wants to impress and dazzle.

Oh Anita, you are sooooo clever.
Oh girlfriend, how you weave those words.
That last post was brilliant. Really. I stand in awe.

Hearing such praise from the woman in the mirror is nice but not all that satisfying since she tends to say what I want to hear.

And it doesn’t help my ego one little bit that there are so many incredible bloggers out there writing really amazing posts nearly everyday. I don’t know how they do it but however they do it, I admire them like crazy for doing it. And I’m green with envy. Just a pale shade of green. Not grass green. More like the green on an unripened lemon. Like the way too cutesy pastel green on my iPhone 4 bumper that makes it look like a baby’s chewy toy rather than a serious high tech mobile communication device for adults only.

But getting back to other bloggers who blog frequently and proficiently, I’ve seriously considered stealing their ideas, the only problem being that some of them actually read my blog in the seconds they have to spare between writing one post and uploading another one and being guilty accused of plagiarism isn’t something I find particularly endearing.

So instead I guess I’ll just keep pounding out the same old message.

God loves you.

And when my next post ends up sounding a lot like my last post I’ll try to take some satisfaction in knowing that some things are really worth repeating. After all, can any toddler ever get their fill of being read to from “Goodnight Moon?” Now there’s a plot that keeps you coming back for more. But then, so does God’s love.

What got me to thinking about all this today is reading an online announcement this morning that Whosoever, the online magazine for GLBTQ Christians is also celebrating their 15th anniversary.  Whosoever has consistently provided a wealth of spiritual encouragement and support for GLBTQ people all these years and so I send heartfelt kudos to Candace Chewell-Hodge and all those who have contributed their writing to keeping it a thriving and life-affirming ministry. They  were and continue to be on the frontlines of shaping the vibrant online community of GLBTQ Christians we all are fortunate enough to participate in.

I only have one little question. My original start up date (housed in the now defunct online gay neighborhood of Geocities West Hollywood) was the summer of 1995. Whosoever Magazine has a start up of the summer of 1996.

2010 minus 1996 equals 15 years….

Am I missing out on some kind of newfangled math or have I inadvertently time-traveled into the future?

Regardless, no matter how we each arrived at 15 years, it’s nice to know that along the way Candace and I were both blessed with a hyphen of our own, and oh, do I love my hyphen.

I also want to say how moved I was by the emails from others of you who said you weren’t writing for a copy of the book for yourself but to simply thank me for offering the book to those it might encourage and letting me know you were praying for those women who would be receiving copies.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….you people are all that and then some!

Which obviously explains my first year in therapy.

Anyway, the other night while browsing through the Kindle store on my iPad (a shameless mention of my newest bright and shiny object), I downloaded the free sample of her book, “Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer,” and by the time I finished the freebie pages, she had me roped in. I’ve only read the first quarter of the book but I’m telling you, if the rest is anything like I’ve already read, it’s good.

How good? Let me tell you. I believe in time Chely Wright’s “Like Me” will stand shoulder to shoulder with Mel White’s “Stranger at the Gate: Being Gay and Christian in America” on the impact it will have on the lives of GLBTQ Christians. I would bet my entire change jar that most of you have read “Stranger at the Gate” and that it took nearly as many of you a step further in your personal journey to reconcile your faith and sexuality. I know of people who said reading White’s book saved their lives and one day, if not already, others will say the same thing about Wright’s book. While the specific details of her life are different from the many of us who’ve never had a number 1 hit on the Top 40 Country Chart, there are places in her story where it’s hard not to wonder if someone crawled inside your head and heart and wrote a chapter from your own life.

Dear God, please don’t let me be gay. I promise to be a good person. I promise not to lie. I promise not to steal. I promise to always believe in you. I promise to do all the things you ask me to do. Please take it away. In your name I pray. Amen.

Does Chely’s hidden prayer that began in her youth sound at all familiar to the secret prayer you prayed over and over again? Did you know you were somehow different from all the other girls in school but not know why? Was everything you knew about homosexuals limited to what you heard from the pulpit on Sunday morning and so you knew you couldn’t be one of them? Before coming out did you ever confront a Christian friend out of love when you learned they were gay? Did you date the opposite sex in an effort to do the right thing (or become a right person) then wonder what was wrong with you when you didn’t have any of the feelings you thought you were suppose to have? Did you ever feel so much despair and hopelessness living with your secret that you considered taking your life? Like I said, there are times when the stories and feelings she shares are so similar to mine (and possibly to yours) that we should band together and demand a percentage of the book royalties.

So here’s the giveaway. I’m going to give five new copies of “Like Me” to the first five people who email me at anita@sisterfriends-together.org but before you dash off an email, keep reading because I want to ask a favor. If you’re straight, don’t send an email. If you’re gay or lesbian and live in the assurance of who you are before God don’t send an email. If you can only read one language and that language happens to be Lithuanian don’t send an email.

Instead please let these five copies go to five people who right now are standing in that uncertain place where so many of us stood at one time and who need so much to be encouraged in their journey to truly know they are God’s beloved just as they are and fully as they are. So if you’re cool beans being a GLBTQ Christian then put the brakes on your send button and those of you who are in need of a little hope right now send me an email and be sure to include your name and mailing address. The first five emails I receive will be sent copies of the book. No questions asked.

And it’s good for us all to be reminded now and again that the power of story isn’t that it’s told by a celebrity or hardbound under a full-color glossy cover jacket. The power of story is in the story itself and just like White and Wright you have a story to tell…spoken across a table, written in an email, posted on a blog, told over the phone, shared with a friend, revealed to a stranger…and telling your story has everything it needs to save a life.

Maybe two or three.

Whatever you do, never underestimate the power of your story.

I regularly follow Carol Brammer Blotz’s blog My Heart Goes Out, and I continue to listen and be touched by the music of Ray Boltz. It’s been ten years since I heard Thank you the first time and dog gone if it still doesn’t get me. On her blog today, Carol explained why she’s willing to promote Ray’s new CD, True. Be sure to jump over to her blog and read what she has to say in her own words. Words spoken by a woman of honesty, compassion, and understanding.

After reading that Ray had released a new CD I fast tracked over to Amazon to order a copy, and upon arrival I found rather interesting and certainly amusing. At the top of the order page for True is this photo of the CD’s cover with a ruggedly handsome Ray Bear. Personally, I think he’s looking way more adorable than in his mustached and fuzzy perm days but then, aren’t we all? I’m referring of course to the fuzzy perms. The mustache, not so much.

Now this is where it gets both interesting and amusing. At the bottom of the Amazon page for True in the usual section highlighted “Customers Who Bought Related Item Also Bought…” were recommendations for 5 different fingernail polishes ranging in color from barbados blue to neon whimsical, and an easy dozen knitting books including Fairy Tale Knits: 32 Projects to Knit Happily Ever After and Son of Stitch ‘n Bitch: 45 Projects to Knit and Crochet for Men.

Okay, so I thought it was funny anyway.

My intention to spend today blogging in the glow of my laptop with a Bible on one side and a cup of coffee on the other was superseded by happenings that were never in my plan book.

God must have been guffawing himself silly.

So here’s hoping for Friday, but shhhhhh….don’t tell you know who.

Spread the Word!

]]> http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/chuckles-in-heaven/feed/ 1 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/iswear-isin-ipad/ http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/iswear-isin-ipad/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:59:28 +0000 anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4853 Today I decided to take my bright and shiny iPad out for it’s first blogging test drive to see what this baby could do besides beat me beyond humiliation in Scrabble.

And so for the past two hours I’ve been contently sitting here at Starbucks tapping lightly on my glistening little tech toy on my post Sin, Salvation and a Savior when….taking a deep cleansing breathe….the internet connection dropped and everything was lost into the irretrievable abyss of thin air. Don’t ask for the details of how such a thing could have happened. Any answer I could give would be rated R for strong language and violence.

And here I was, blogging just the other day that I didn’t believe in hell. Sigh.

It seems apparent that iPaininthebutt and I need a little time of separation from each other for the ongoing health of our relationship which means today’s intended post probably won’t be happening. I apologize for that because I know the past two weeks have been a blog black hole around here while I’ve been catching back up on life (i.e. washing, dusting, scrubbing the toilet bowl, making undistracted eye contact with my wife…) following the joyful chaos of Lent and Easter.

Expect a new post on Monday however there’s a chance that if iPaddy behaves we could put our differences behind us and try again later today, and letting me win just one game of Scrabble would be a good start on the road to reconciliation. I’m just saying.

And still, I’m only just realizing how much it’s taken from me in terms of my energy and my attention. Every day I miss my mom. Every day my thoughts and prayers turn toward my brother. Every day I’m a little more physically tired than I’m use to being. And because of all these changes in my little corner of the world; the losses that have already come and the potential losses that lay ahead sooner than I would ever care to imagine, I’m finding it a little more difficult to focus on my writing and as I’ve done in the past, I only ask that you be patient with me through this time and that you continue to stay connected to SisterFriends until I can find my breath again. I think I’m getting there.

That’s one of my personal reasons why over the past couple posts I’ve moved into a blogalogue about God’s love and why I don’t plan to go in another direction any time soon. After all, when you’re weary and worn, when the past has left you brokenhearted and the future appears paved with further hardship and loss, what else is there to do but lean fully into God who is able to keep you grounded in a hope that calms all fear and a joy that surpasses all grief? (You do realize I’m not just referring to my life but yours as well, right? Okay. Just checking.) I don’t know about you but when that’s how life looks to me, then hanging out in God’s love is the only place I want to be. It’s not that pitching our tent here changes the past, makes the future any more certain, or answers all the questions that continue to cloud our hearts, but at least we know this; that when we anchor ourselves into God’s love we stand in a truth and reality that is unchangeable, absolutely certain, and unquestionable. God is Love.

For my benefit and I hope and pray for yours as well, I’m going to be spend the next week or more blogging a series of random reflections on the love of God. That’s all they’re going to be too, just random reflections. They’ll be concise (if you can believe that any where within me lays the ability to be concise), in no particular order and with no particular structure. Just your basic stream of consciousness kind of ruminations. Care to join me? I hope so. I really do.

May this modern translation by Daniel Ladinsky of an ancient poem by Kabir get your own ruminations ruminating.

WHAT KIND OF GOD?

What kind of God would He be
if He did not hear the
bangles ring on
an ant’s
wrist
as they move the earth
in their sweet
dance?

And what kind of God would He be
if a leaf’s prayer was not as precious to creation
as the prayer His own son sang
from the glorious depth
of his soul -
for us.

And what kind of God would He be
if the vote of millions in this world could sway Him
to change the divine
law of
love
that speaks so clearly with compassion’s elegant tongue,
saying, eternally saying:
all are forgiven – moreover, dears,
no one has ever been found
guilty.

What
kind of God would He be
if He did not count the blinks
of your
eyes
and is in absolute awe of their movements?

What a God – what a God we
have.

As you can tell in looking at the comments, Salt was the first to turn the right answer around and so congrats to you Oh Mighty Salty One! The retractable back scratcher (would I be revealing too much to say I have one and use it on a regular basis?) and the 50 dollar Target gift card will be whisking their way to your mailbox as soon as you send the necessary info to anita@sisterfriends-together.org.

I’ve had a blast putting the contests together for you and I hope the last seven days of play and prizes was equally fun for you. I especially loved the wishes and hopes that were contributed on Day Five and the wonderfully entertaining stories of Christmas gifts you’ve received on Day Six. Great stuff.

I’ll be back tomorrow with thoughts turned toward the true wonder of Christmas, but right now I have to hurry off and correct the typos because they’re driving me crazy!

But first, let’s put our hands together and give a hearty dose of applause magic to Susan, yesterday’s lucky draw contest winner. Susan, I can see it now. You at Starbucks with your venti mocha extra-hot half-caf/decaf latte in one hand and a wad of purple silly putty in the other. Does life get any sweeter than that? I think not either. So congratulations to you! Now hurry up and send off your mailing address to anita@sisterfriends-together.org and in a couple days the miracle of java world domination will be yours. [And Lisa, I'm still waiting to hear from you. Your box is packed and ready for shipping!]

And just to prove I actually mean it when I say I’m writing your names on scraps of paper and pulling them out of a hat, here you go….Scraps of paper. Your names. A hat. I don’t make this stuff up people! “But I don’t see my name! You didn’t put my name in the hat! That’s not fair!” Oh. Calm. Down. Your name was in the hat this morning when the official drawing was conducted, witnessed, and deemed valid by me. I merely staged the photo last night with the names that had come in at that point since Sunday morning tends to notoriously be a little whack in getting out of the door in time to get to church before the opening prayer and call of “Play ball!” and photo-taking would have had me missing the opening swing of the bat. So let’s summarize. Legit drawing. Staged photo. Only believe.

Today’s Contest: Oh my pretties, this is a good one. You need to find the Mystery Word. Here’s how to do it. There is at least one typo in each of the recent posts on the Christmas Contest, Day One through Day Six. (Can I even tell you how painful it was for me to make intentional typos?!) There are a total of eight typos. Each typo has a missing letter. Your task is to find the missing letters from the eight typos and arrange them into an order that reveals the Mystery Word. Post what you believe the Mystery Word is along with the list of the eight words that were missing the letters you used to solve the puzzle. The first person to submit the correct answer will win a retractable back scratcher and a 50.00 Target gift card. I know these are great prizes but please, don’t even consider skipping church to get the jump on everyone! A lump of coal for you if you do.

Okay, there you have it. Now go find it!

And the winner of 100 temporary tattoos and 50 Target buckarooni’s is commenter number 17, Lisa! Lisa, your timing was perfection so congratulations dear girl! Now get your mailing address off to me at anita@sisterfriends-together.org so you can begin the new year bedecked in some significantly cool tats.

Today’s Contest: It’s the Saturday before Christmas and a whole lot of folks are out there rushing around today like crazy monkeys finishing up the last of their shopping but not you and me. Nope, not us. Here we are with all the time in the world to make up games and play them. What a life, eh? Well, it seems the least we can do is join in solitary with the frenzy of hurried holiday shoppers and post the funniest (or most fun) Christmas present we ever received whether as a child or adult. Tomorrow morning I’ll take all the entries received, write each name on a scrap of paper and randomly pull one out and the name of the person drawn will be the happy little elf who wins a container of Silly Putty and a 20.00 Starbucks gift card.

Ready. Set. Post.

Spread the Word!

]]> http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/christmas-contest-day-six/feed/ 14