And trust your own judgment; no one's advice is more reliable.    14 Sometimes your own intuition can tell you more than seven watchman on a high tower.  15 Above all, pray to the Most High that he will show you the right thing to do.  - Ecclesiasticus 37

Not recognized by some, there is more to His word than we’ve learned through our faith traditions.  He still speaks today, through us, within us.  ~ For I say it again, language is a conventional art of mortality; it is limited in the physical.  Thousands of different tongues no longer exist, and thousands and thousands more exist today in the physical yet there are universal barriers between these languages.  Words exist in one culture that do not in another; there is much that exists in today’s world that’s never been known before by earlier times.  And yet wars have started and cultivation of hatred continues over inerrancy and linguistics.  As I sit at the left hand of God, hear me when I say there has been more loneliness, bloodshed, and judgment in His name over any other.   ~

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. – Matthew 7

I could quote the Bible all day long.  I can speak in depth on the seven, depending upon one's study, however seven major passages that may speak to homosexuality.  My gay brothers and sisters in response to Christians’ use of these passages or the Bble to condemn our evil ways, often paraphrase the passage from Matthew “judge not.”  In truth, there is more to Matthew 7 than these simple words.  In truth, the Bible speaks a great deal about judging and judgment throughout the old and new testaments, including that there is a righteous kind of judgment Christians' ought exercise—with careful discernment.   Just as they are guilty of taking words out of context from the Bible, we too need to be careful.   Now before you go and get your panties in a bunch; I do believe that not judging others was one of Christ's greatest teachings.  The way he lived His life was all about love, forgiveness and compassion.  Even upon His death, He set an example for all the world to follow; one can even draw meaning, great lessons, from His last words on the cross.

Now don't worry, I'm not getting up on any pulpit or soapbox; I haven't gone completely gaga for Jesus.  Well, not in a Robertson sort of way.  I've always been a man of deep faith.  My parochial schooling is as much a part of the man I am today as the artist.  I'm just trying a different; okay, I admit, a more mature approach.  Rather than go all 'Gerrans on the latest of attacks by the conservative, Bible thumping hypocrites, e.g., Google any last named Robertson, like I've done in the past here or here (I’m sure I’ll have future lapses) No.  I'm trying to remind myself and perhaps let others know with these words, that the Robertson's of the world are never going to "get it."   They're not going to see, hear, or let go of their self-righteous-condemning ways for the Bible tells them so according to their interpretation.  In most of these cases, people like Phil- Willie- Pat- Gordon- Robertson haven’t had a life altering, life-defining moment to make them question everything they’ve ever been taught to believe.  In many cases, people like me have had a life defining moment that only concludes a complete childhood of questioning.  Praying.  Negotiating or begging with God.  Masquerading.  Self-loathing.  Self-destruction.   Walking in darkness.  For some like me, an entire childhood and young adulthood spent searching—the asking, seeking, and knocking concludes years later when we hear, see and open the door to truth.  Our truth, God’s truth.   A child of God can be gay by God.  We can no more change the innate part of ourselves than any other being in His creation can will a change in their own nature.

With today’s Pope, answering with the words “who am I to judge,” in response to a question about his thoughts on gay priests in the church, we see the thawing of this man’s own ideology and an opening, perhaps, to his own divine intuition—intuition or the faith Christ often spoke of.

Greg and I have been in the full planning mode for our upcoming wedding ceremony this coming June.  This will be a true celebratory event commemorating our marriage to one another surrounded by the love and support of friends and family.  A true love of companionship ought to be celebrated, honored, supported, and blessed.  I’m grateful. I’ve dreamed of great things, but I have to remind myself that I never once thought I’d see in my lifetime full marriage equality recognized by a country of people, let alone our very own among many others.  Those that cling to their religious ideology when it comes to marriage, do so out of a deep-rooted fear.  A fear I’m not even certain they themselves recognize.  When some say, “well, it’s just not normal" or "it makes me uncomfortable,” I say well divorce wasn’t “normal” a hundred years ago.  Interracial marriage wasn’t “normal” and often made people uncomfortable.  People had different ideologies throughout time and history around marriage and often used the Bible to deny and oppress others’ freedoms.  During Jesus’ time, men often had several wives; this was "normal."  People owned other people; this was normal.  Same-sex marriage is a “new normal” for all of us.  I often struggle myself with the use of “husband” when referring to my own outside of some social circles, but it’s getting easier.  This came easiest for our son.  He immediately replaced the term “partner” with husband.  It’s very normal to him.  Our family IS normal.

What an amazing opportunity and time for us all, our youth in particular; to be a part of history, our nation’s history.  Oh you better believe that kids are listening, seeing, watching, and talking and I guarantee these times will be recorded in our children’s future history books.  As parent’s we are the example for our children.  We can choose to cling to ideology, side with fear, with oppression.  Or we can pray for guidance and go with our intuition, choosing love, honor, and blessing for our loved ones.  We can be on the right side of history and set this example for our children out of love.  Children look to you first and that possibly may include gay children; what message do you want to give your children?

Christ won’t judge you but your children might.