Comments on: Don’t Mess Up the Message http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/ An online community sharing our lives and faith within a place of grace Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:36:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: HeadacheSlayer http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13984 HeadacheSlayer Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:25:11 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13984 I understand about diversifying the blogs LOL I have my "me" blog, my "private" blog, my "craft" blog and my "Hurricane" blog (we live in FL). The comment you said about being queer not just meaning GLBT really hit home for me. In the 17 years I've been married, we are looking for our 4th church. I have chronic illness & pain. And we are definitely not a member of "the haves". So as long as I was contributing physically to the church by singing, teaching choir, etc, I was visible. But when my illnesses worsened, I disappeared. Our last church, we were there for the school but once my daughter finished (they go up to 8th) we were done. When you nearly get run over by a Hummer trying to get a close spot for Sunday services and no one notices that you've not been to a service for 2 years, it's time to leave ;) We are tentatively attending the Christmas Eve service at a Unitarian Universalist congregation that proclaims it is a GLBT friendly place. They are doing a traditional Christian Christmas Eve service. I feel God's nudge to go. I am hoping beyond hope that I won't feel queer or queer there. Church families have hurt us just as much as our human families, and I need a spiritual place to call home. I understand about diversifying the blogs LOL I have my “me” blog, my “private” blog, my “craft” blog and my “Hurricane” blog (we live in FL).

The comment you said about being queer not just meaning GLBT really hit home for me. In the 17 years I’ve been married, we are looking for our 4th church. I have chronic illness & pain. And we are definitely not a member of “the haves”. So as long as I was contributing physically to the church by singing, teaching choir, etc, I was visible. But when my illnesses worsened, I disappeared. Our last church, we were there for the school but once my daughter finished (they go up to 8th) we were done. When you nearly get run over by a Hummer trying to get a close spot for Sunday services and no one notices that you’ve not been to a service for 2 years, it’s time to leave ;)

We are tentatively attending the Christmas Eve service at a Unitarian Universalist congregation that proclaims it is a GLBT friendly place. They are doing a traditional Christian Christmas Eve service. I feel God’s nudge to go. I am hoping beyond hope that I won’t feel queer or queer there. Church families have hurt us just as much as our human families, and I need a spiritual place to call home.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13847 anita Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:19:56 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13847 Erin--->What a failure on the part of Christianity that the love of God would EVER be spoken of in a way that would make a person feel less than or that such love only included them <em>if they only did this or thought that or became this or denied that</em>. And yes, it's absolutely true. When we say God loves you, the sentence ends there. God loves you. And if anything is added to that let it be something along the lines of God loves you...completely, unconditionally, passionately, forever, relentlessly.... Erin—>What a failure on the part of Christianity that the love of God would EVER be spoken of in a way that would make a person feel less than or that such love only included them if they only did this or thought that or became this or denied that. And yes, it’s absolutely true. When we say God loves you, the sentence ends there. God loves you. And if anything is added to that let it be something along the lines of God loves you…completely, unconditionally, passionately, forever, relentlessly….

]]> By: Erin http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13836 Erin Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:23:10 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13836 <i>yes, you can be GLBTQ and a Christian and you can be assured that God’s love for you is unchanging and unending no matter what your race, gender, sexual orientation, past mistakes, present circumstances, or whatever</i> Yes! How absolutely true. Christ's blood cleanses us all. Your site here is so refreshing and wonderful. It's good for those of us 'on the fringe' to hear about the love of God for us without being clobbered. Thank you! yes, you can be GLBTQ and a Christian and you can be assured that God’s love for you is unchanging and unending no matter what your race, gender, sexual orientation, past mistakes, present circumstances, or whatever

Yes! How absolutely true. Christ’s blood cleanses us all. Your site here is so refreshing and wonderful. It’s good for those of us ‘on the fringe’ to hear about the love of God for us without being clobbered. Thank you!

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13408 anita Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:08:14 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13408 JRC--> My guess is that being in a "pretty good place" has been a long haul for you to arrive at JRC and I pray that a "great" place is where you find yourself one day! :) JRC–> My guess is that being in a “pretty good place” has been a long haul for you to arrive at JRC and I pray that a “great” place is where you find yourself one day! :)

]]> By: jrc http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13404 jrc Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:55:10 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13404 thanks so much Anita!! You have helped so much!!! I look forward to reading your words. I am in a pretty good place in my life right now - not great, but I give thanks to God for what I have. Happy Thanksgiving to you and ALL thanks so much Anita!! You have helped so much!!! I look forward to reading your words. I am in a pretty good place in my life right now – not great, but I give thanks to God for what I have.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and ALL

]]> By: Karstayko http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13347 Karstayko Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:09:36 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13347 Dear Anita, I am very glad you are here. I can not believe everything you say about coming out about the losses of peoples and familys. But I do see you and you are a hope to me to keep looking for a way to live my life real. And this places is amazing to me, even if I am only reading. Yes, I think that God is loving me, and that through all the peoples here I will find everything and more than for what I looking for. Thank you so much! So yes, this is like a great feast to my soul. Dear Anita, I am very glad you are here. I can not believe everything you say about coming out about the losses of peoples and familys. But I do see you and you are a hope to me to keep looking for a way to live my life real. And this places is amazing to me, even if I am only reading. Yes, I think that God is loving me, and that through all the peoples here I will find everything and more than for what I looking for. Thank you so much! So yes, this is like a great feast to my soul.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13335 anita Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:05:41 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13335 Paperskater---> Wow, I only wish you could be just a little more supportive and encouraging! :) I'm so glad you're found us here and at the same time I pray that in the coming days, weeks, months, or however long it takes you experience newness of life in your soul and spirit. It's never too late. NEVER too late to experience the balm of Gilead. NEVER too late for God to restore what human institutions and brokenness has beat down. Can you not see your heart is already un-thawing? Paperskater—> Wow, I only wish you could be just a little more supportive and encouraging! :) I’m so glad you’re found us here and at the same time I pray that in the coming days, weeks, months, or however long it takes you experience newness of life in your soul and spirit. It’s never too late. NEVER too late to experience the balm of Gilead. NEVER too late for God to restore what human institutions and brokenness has beat down. Can you not see your heart is already un-thawing?

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13334 anita Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:58:43 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13334 e---> Yes, I have you pegged. All the signs are there of yet another round peg who has grown weary, worn and slightly agitated from past attempts to be forced into a square hole. The recipes will keep coming over at The Passionate Plate and I have enough <em>joie de vivre </em>for here, Passionate Plate, <em>and</em> Facebook. Glad you're at the table too....keep on sipping! e—> Yes, I have you pegged. All the signs are there of yet another round peg who has grown weary, worn and slightly agitated from past attempts to be forced into a square hole. The recipes will keep coming over at The Passionate Plate and I have enough joie de vivre for here, Passionate Plate, and Facebook. Glad you’re at the table too….keep on sipping!

]]> By: e2c http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13316 e2c Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:43:22 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13316 <i>...and when I say “queer” I’m not limiting that word to folks of the rainbow persuasion but to anyone, whatever their orientation, who feels in some way different, outcast or on the edges of mainstream Christianity. Those who have been wounded by the church, judged harshly by other Christians, or had their personal faith development move them to reflect on God and what it means to be Christian in the world that doesn’t always square with the status quo.</i> Well, you got *me* pegged, now don't you?! ;) I think the world beyond Facebook needs your recipes and your <i>joie de vivre</i>. (Now if only I knew the Italian for that last bit...) Thank you for keeping a few extra places set at the table, here and elsewhere. It's always wonderful to pull up a chair and have a cuppa with you and all the rest of the SF gals. :) …and when I say “queer” I’m not limiting that word to folks of the rainbow persuasion but to anyone, whatever their orientation, who feels in some way different, outcast or on the edges of mainstream Christianity. Those who have been wounded by the church, judged harshly by other Christians, or had their personal faith development move them to reflect on God and what it means to be Christian in the world that doesn’t always square with the status quo.

Well, you got *me* pegged, now don’t you?! ;)

I think the world beyond Facebook needs your recipes and your joie de vivre. (Now if only I knew the Italian for that last bit…)

Thank you for keeping a few extra places set at the table, here and elsewhere. It’s always wonderful to pull up a chair and have a cuppa with you and all the rest of the SF gals. :)

]]> By: Paperskater-CDB http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/dont-mess-up-the-message/comment-page-1/#comment-13236 Paperskater-CDB Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:51:11 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4359#comment-13236 Anita, I'm so-o looking forward to what you share in the days, weeks, months ahead. And where that takes each of us in a variety of directions & experiences as we share and seek God, His love, & abundant faithfulness, that upholds us, covers us and keeps us in good times & hard. What a refuge SFT is, gathering with others of similar heart--simply seeking God, and desiring to be all He calls each of us to be in a world so desperate for genuine love, hope & joy. Standing shoulder to shoulder, in weakness & in strength, sharing laughter & tears, may we cheer & uphold each other on in this holy, wonderous journey called LIFE! Here, I've finally found a place where I can freely share the intense struggles of trying to find my place in Christ's church as a women. My deepest hurts regarding my femaleness came from within the Church, (beyond being gay) to the point where I hated being a woman & wished God had created me a man. For only in that did I see any hope or reality of being able to fulfill my call, so often ignored, questioned & nullified by church leadership. As the years pile up, you quit trying to find your place and quietly walk away. That's where I find myself, dead inside, emotionally, spiritually--wondering if it's just too late. God has generously brought SisterFriends across my path, and glimmers of hope appear. Like the crisp Autumn mornings, when the heavy frost on roof-tops begins to melt in the noon time sun, maybe my heart will thaw! Thanks. Anita,
I’m so-o looking forward to what you share in the days, weeks, months ahead. And where that takes each of us in a variety of directions & experiences as we share and seek God, His love, & abundant faithfulness, that upholds us, covers us and keeps us in good times & hard.

What a refuge SFT is, gathering with others of similar heart–simply seeking God, and desiring to be all He calls each of us to be in a world so desperate for genuine love, hope & joy. Standing shoulder to shoulder, in weakness & in strength, sharing laughter & tears, may we cheer & uphold each other on in this holy, wonderous journey called LIFE!

Here, I’ve finally found a place where I can freely share the intense struggles of trying to find my place in Christ’s church as a women. My deepest hurts regarding my femaleness came from within the Church, (beyond being gay) to the point where I hated being a woman & wished God had created me a man. For only in that did I see any hope or reality of being able to fulfill my call, so often ignored, questioned & nullified by church leadership. As the years pile up, you quit trying to find your place and quietly walk away. That’s where I find myself, dead inside, emotionally, spiritually–wondering if it’s just too late.

God has generously brought SisterFriends across my path, and glimmers of hope appear. Like the crisp Autumn mornings, when the heavy frost on roof-tops begins to melt in the noon time sun, maybe my heart will thaw! Thanks.

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