Comments on: The Wretched Sinner That I Am http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/wretched-sinner-that-i-am/ An online community sharing our lives and faith within a place of grace Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:21:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/wretched-sinner-that-i-am/comment-page-1/#comment-723 anita Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:15:26 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=273#comment-723 Kelli --> Did you know that an iced latte stings when it comes back up through the nostrils? You wouldn't think so, what with no carbonation but now we know better. Funny image. Funny Funny. Along with giving me a great laugh it was also a very sweet note. Thank you SisterFriend :) Kelli –> Did you know that an iced latte stings when it comes back up through the nostrils? You wouldn’t think so, what with no carbonation but now we know better. Funny image. Funny Funny. Along with giving me a great laugh it was also a very sweet note. Thank you SisterFriend :)

]]> By: wvhillcountry http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/wretched-sinner-that-i-am/comment-page-1/#comment-722 wvhillcountry Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:45:08 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=273#comment-722 Anita, I am so shocked! You are a mere mortal? Dang now I have to get rid of this mental image in my head. I can just picture it, a queer calls out in distress and you run into the nearest Starbuck's and twirl in flashing lights and run out in your super hero uniform. Purple cape a flying and the large LP (lesbian pastor) emblazed upon your chest. You fly to the nearest sandbox and see the poor queer mother being pushed around. You roll up your sleeves and place the ever important tooth pick in your teeth and say, "Not in my sandbox and not on my watch." The mere mortals cower in fear. Forgive the flight of fancy, but I do want to say, in all seriousness, that you have done a great service to the GLBTQ community. And I for one, am glad that you are human like the rest of us. And I am glad that you have D there to support you when those emails come in and those sites go up. And yes, it is important to not return like for like. But in no way does that mean you can't rant and rave about it in your own home. Vent, yell, scream, and then go and act out of God's love. Thank you for all you have done and will do to let us know we can be great with God. Anita, I am so shocked! You are a mere mortal? Dang now I have to get rid of this mental image in my head. I can just picture it, a queer calls out in distress and you run into the nearest Starbuck’s and twirl in flashing lights and run out in your super hero uniform. Purple cape a flying and the large LP (lesbian pastor) emblazed upon your chest. You fly to the nearest sandbox and see the poor queer mother being pushed around. You roll up your sleeves and place the ever important tooth pick in your teeth and say, “Not in my sandbox and not on my watch.” The mere mortals cower in fear.

Forgive the flight of fancy, but I do want to say, in all seriousness, that you have done a great service to the GLBTQ community. And I for one, am glad that you are human like the rest of us. And I am glad that you have D there to support you when those emails come in and those sites go up. And yes, it is important to not return like for like. But in no way does that mean you can’t rant and rave about it in your own home. Vent, yell, scream, and then go and act out of God’s love. Thank you for all you have done and will do to let us know we can be great with God.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/wretched-sinner-that-i-am/comment-page-1/#comment-711 anita Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:35:41 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=273#comment-711 Susan--> Greetings SisterRanter. Wow, could I ever relate to your situation! I've been a part of two congregations in the past where the pastors were gay-affirming and yet were resistant to be more vocal about our welcome around the community. The last senior pastor said that if a specific welcome was made to gay people, then a specific welcome would need to be made to every special interest group; single mothers with children, divorced people, African-Americans, etc., so that we didn't appear to favor one group over another. I tried to explain that if any of those groups were being oppressed and marginalized in society, if pastors were preaching against them in the pulpit and there were laws that treated them unjustly then yes, it would only be right for us to proclaim a special welcome for them. I also mentioned that while our congregation was as gay-friendly as any I'd ever known, GLBTQ people in the community had no way of knowing that and that we needed to provide an affirming voice coming from the church other than the condemning one they were use to hearing. The pastor listened, seemed to agree, but yet nothing changed. Sigh. I couldn't agree more with what you said, that we have to meet people where they're at and not where we think they should be, and each time they take a tiny step forward we look to the heavens and whisper "Thank you!" Susan–> Greetings SisterRanter. Wow, could I ever relate to your situation! I’ve been a part of two congregations in the past where the pastors were gay-affirming and yet were resistant to be more vocal about our welcome around the community. The last senior pastor said that if a specific welcome was made to gay people, then a specific welcome would need to be made to every special interest group; single mothers with children, divorced people, African-Americans, etc., so that we didn’t appear to favor one group over another. I tried to explain that if any of those groups were being oppressed and marginalized in society, if pastors were preaching against them in the pulpit and there were laws that treated them unjustly then yes, it would only be right for us to proclaim a special welcome for them. I also mentioned that while our congregation was as gay-friendly as any I’d ever known, GLBTQ people in the community had no way of knowing that and that we needed to provide an affirming voice coming from the church other than the condemning one they were use to hearing. The pastor listened, seemed to agree, but yet nothing changed. Sigh. I couldn’t agree more with what you said, that we have to meet people where they’re at and not where we think they should be, and each time they take a tiny step forward we look to the heavens and whisper “Thank you!”

]]> By: Susan http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/wretched-sinner-that-i-am/comment-page-1/#comment-710 Susan Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:10:56 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=273#comment-710 OK, I'm laughing at this post not because it is humorous (although I like the description of ranting...and D reminding you to go to your happy place). I'm laughing because I was just out in my kitchen ranting about the hurt I felt this week when I received an email that showed me I *still* had some education to do about the LGBT community within my own church. It's not that anyone is <i>opposed</i> to gay people being in the pews; they just don't like me asking that there be more outreach to show that the gay community is welcomed to come inside and hear the Word of God. I found myself repeating the words of Jesus from the cross: "Forgive them for they know not what they do!" In this case, what they do by *not* doing anything and thinking that's OK. So, I take a deep breath, and remember that, for me, the thing to focus on is God, God's Word as I hear it and experience it, and...as you've noted...the grace of God that delivers me from the anger, the hurt, the frustration, the wanting to punch somebody's lights out...and guides me to simply stand still and tall and instead of reacting to words that hurt from those who generally don't mean me ill...find that place in which I can meet people where they're at...not where I think they ought to be...and go from there. Gosh, being human is hard stuff, isn't it :-)!! OK, I’m laughing at this post not because it is humorous (although I like the description of ranting…and D reminding you to go to your happy place). I’m laughing because I was just out in my kitchen ranting about the hurt I felt this week when I received an email that showed me I *still* had some education to do about the LGBT community within my own church. It’s not that anyone is opposed to gay people being in the pews; they just don’t like me asking that there be more outreach to show that the gay community is welcomed to come inside and hear the Word of God. I found myself repeating the words of Jesus from the cross: “Forgive them for they know not what they do!” In this case, what they do by *not* doing anything and thinking that’s OK. So, I take a deep breath, and remember that, for me, the thing to focus on is God, God’s Word as I hear it and experience it, and…as you’ve noted…the grace of God that delivers me from the anger, the hurt, the frustration, the wanting to punch somebody’s lights out…and guides me to simply stand still and tall and instead of reacting to words that hurt from those who generally don’t mean me ill…find that place in which I can meet people where they’re at…not where I think they ought to be…and go from there.
Gosh, being human is hard stuff, isn’t it :-) !!

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