Just Sayn'

My conservative Christian friends hate it when I bring this up, but it's true.  Jesus never said anything about homosexuality, yet they live by the word of God in it's entirety.  Well... supposedly, because you know they break the law by speeding, drinking, dancing, cursing, smoking, and divorcing.   

Oh BTW, I'm Gay and a Christian.

Quoted - Pastor Jay Bakker on Churches Refusal to Support Gays and Welcome Them Into Their Flock Is a Sin

“This is sin on a level that most churches ignore. This is sin; meaning, that which destroys. That which is destructive, which causes hurt in other people and perhaps even in your own life. When people lose their jobs, aren’t promoted, are discriminated against, are treated differently, are described as `gay’ as an insult, get kicked out of churches, and are disowned by their families, that is sin.” 

– Pastor Jay Bakker, from his book,  
Faith and Doubt and Other Lines I’ve Crossed: Walking with the Unknown God,
available at Amazon.com

My Christian Thoughts - Issue #6 - The History Channel and The Bible

I'm not going to say much in today's segment, just a short opinionated statement.  Ryan and I have watched the most acclaimed, most critiqued story of the Bible since The Ten Commandments and The Passion of The Christ - The History Channel's, "The Bible".  We have been watching it for over a month now, and we've thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now, I know most of you straight folks are asking, "Why are these two gays, "Ryan and I" watching a series that condemns homosexuality?"  But ye of little faith, behold your judgement.  Need I remind you that the Bible contains 6 admonishments to Homosexuals and 362 to Heterosexuals? But that's besides the point - Roma Downey (Touched by Angel) and Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice, Celebrity Apprentice) have done a decent job with the show.

Sure, they could have chosen another actor to play Satan instead of someone that looked like our President, and used someone a little darker to play Jesus, instead of the hot, Abercrombie model they chose to use; But then conservatives wouldn't have watched it, and liberals would have shunned it.  And just so you know - while The History Channel has garnered the most viewers it has ever collected in it's lifetime, the producers of the show love our President, are Christian and have contributed to the Democratic Party.  Now that I've clarified that, run, hypocritcal Christians, run!!!!

The Bible, covers as much as it can in such a short span. It's almost impossible to make a movie or series that would cover every aspect of the Bible, but you could obviously tell Burnett and Downey were trying to link the story of Jesus from the very Beginning.  Tonight we watch the series Finale, as our savior will die for all your sins.  

Oh and mine and Ryan's too. :-)
 

My Christian Thoughts - Issue #5 - The Bible Never Changes, Science Does

Honesty, thank God, Lord Jesus, this man was never elected.  OMG, what an idiot.  I'm sorry, but people like Joe infuriate me, especially those who claim to be God-fearing, God-loving Christians.

It's a Sunday and it's My Christian Thoughts!

So apparently, Joe the plumber can't stop reminiscing about those glory days when he and his football buddies would play "Smear the Queer" - because that was normal.  I'm going to say he was probably one of those that also beat up on the smaller boys.  But today isn't about smearing us gay men, it's about this video.

In it, Joe talks about when he became a Christian and his youth pastor showed him the light.  That unlike our Science books that keep being revised, because we humans are still trying to figure things out, The Holy Bible never changes.  Oh, I love how pastors like to use analogies when trying to explain things - it makes them so much smarter.

I'm going to refer you to an earlier  post, "Isn't This The Truth? How Many More Versions?", where I explained the reasoning behind "versions" and "translations" of the Bible.  So yes, The Holy Bible has been revised several times, and it's because "Humans are still trying to figure things out".

Has it ever occurred to Mr. Wurzelbacher that Science books change because answers are found, discoveries are being made, and Polio is 99% gone from the world?  That the car he drives to work, the pill he swallows for a headache, and the chair he is sitting on, are all owed to science.

I can go on and on, but I'm going to close with this.  Joe, if you're going to say something, do a little research on it before you speak your mind.  And for those who feel I'm wrong for saying the things I say, I'm sorry, but the truth may hurt a little.  These are My Christian Thoughts after all.

My Christian Thoughts - Issue #3 - 13 Things The Bible Forbids (That You're Probably Guilty of Doing)

You mean apart from speeding? Because you know everyone does it.  LOL.  

I grew up as a Christian - still am.  My own father baptized me, because our Pastor was ill that particular Wednesday night.  But being Christian is more than just believing in a higher being.  Being Christian is loving your neighbor as thyself.  And I can name a few who proclaim to say they love me, but it's more like "I love you, that's why I'm telling you you're living in sin and are going to hell.  This thing you are, 'Gay' is an abomination!".  Kinda funny since Jesus never mentioned anything about homosexuality.

Courtesy of the Huffington Post, I am using these images as part of today's "My Christian Thoughts".  So if you're getting a haircut today, or going to work - I'm sorry, but you're damned to hell!

It's probably not a good idea to get any Tattoos.  If you have some, get them removed.

Leviticus 19:28 states:
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

Thinking about getting a haircut?  It better be certain kind or else.

Leviticus 19:27 states:
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

If there's ever been a time where you've cursed your parents, I'm sorry but you should have been killed a long time ago.

Exodus 21:17 states:
"And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death."

I sure hope your marriage lasts, because getting remarried after divorcing is not a good thing.

Mark 10:11-12 states:
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Sorry men, but if you're private parts are injured or removed in some terrible accident.  You're not allowed in the building of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 23:1 states:
He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

If your husband gets into a fight, I recommend you wives better stay out of it.  If you still want your hands!

Deuteronomy 25:11-12 states:
When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets

Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.

Ahhh, for those who love to eat ham sandwiches, pork skins, or bacon!!!

Leviticus 11:7-8 reads:
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

You women need to keep your mouths shut.  No, really.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 states:
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Ohhh gossipers!  None exist. LIE!!!!

Leviticus 19:16 states:
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD.

If you're going to work today - you better not.  This is no time for typing, shoveling, or trying to support a family.

Exodus 31:14-15 states:
"Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

I'm not even going to go here, because the likelihood that you're a virgin before getting married is slim to none, and a lot of you women - men included - should have been put to death a long time ago.

Deuteronomy 22:20-21 states:
But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:

Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you

And don't go talking to a Psychic, much less look for Harry Potter.

Leviticus 19:31 reads:
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Finally, for those who love their shrimp, lobster and many other types of seafood.  You're Screwed!!!!  See you in hell.

Leviticus 10-11 states:
And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

"Ain't No Homos Gonna Make It To Heaven"

C'mon, join me now... "I know the Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong...ain't no homos gonna make it to heaven."  A little louder... "I know the Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong...ain't no homos gonna make it to heaven." 

Yep, those are the words sung by a mere child in front of a congregation in Greensberg, Indiana.  


Isn't that just lovely?  And to think that all along I thought our preachers and pastors were men of God and all they cared about was love. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing that everyone is not like that, but as more and more churches are declaring death to us gays, and spewing hatred month after month, what else are we to believe?

I believe in a loving God.  A building is not a church.  What makes up a church are its people, and if there is but more than 1 that condones this hatred and death towards myself and my partner, then you are part of a bigger problem.  You are, in part, congregating with them, singing and worshiping with them.  The bible states where two are more are gathered in his name, He is there with them.

You don't have to go to a building to worship with people who hate your son or your daughter.  Get together with those you love and worship together, at a park, in your home, at a school - worship with them - they are your church.

My "flesh" Is Intrigued By The Idea of Killing Homosexuals and Adulterers!

Lovely. Just Lovely.

Curtis Knapp

Oh, I just love Baptist churches!  Don't you?  Hell, when all they do is condemn homosexuality and force God down our throats, what makes them think we want to worship with them?  Seriously?  Don't they think we love God just as much, if not, more than all of them!!!!

Two more Baptist pastors have come out in support of killing your brother, sister, mother, father, uncle, aunt, grandmother, grandfather, cousins, friends, co-workers, the list goes on.  All because... well... a straight couple bore a gay child.

Dennis Leatherman

Two pastors, Curtis Knapp of the New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, Kansas, and Dennis Leatherman, pastor at the Mountain Lake Baptist Church in Oakland, Md spoke from the pulpit at two of their recent Sunday sermons.  While Knapp suggested that the government should put gay people to death, Leatherman said that his “flesh” is intrigued by the idea of killing homosexuals.

You can read more about this ridiculous nonsense here and even listen to clips of their sermons.

Thanks to Shane Montgomery for sharing this on his news feed on Facebook!

Detain Them In Electrified Camps Until They're All Dead!

I was reading Facebook this morning and came across this horrible article... "N.C. pastor calls for "lesbians and queers" to be detained in electrified camps "until they're all dead"" - Full Story

You know that despite the hatred that comes from these religious people, they will be judged for how they were on earth.  Whether you believe in God or not, most of these people who call themselves Christians are the most vile people on earth.

But like Jesus asked his Father on his dying day, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do"

Image courtesy of www.houstonrainbowherald.com

Read Full Article Here: The Raw Story

It Was Never About One Man / One Woman...

"If a man... marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.  If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money." Exodus, Chapter 21 (NIV)

I love how people try to re-write history in order to suit their needs.  Especially Christians.  Did people forget that it wasn't always One Man / One Woman?  Do we have to go back to the Bible "the honor code" of all Christians to show them that men had multiple wives?  Lawrence O'Donnell had the "last word" on his show last week and it was absolutely fantastic.  Check it out...

Since it is a Sunday....

I never thought of the Books of the Bible when coming up with Hipster Baby names or that some of the books are fun to say with a lisp.  Check out this colorful chart, it's actually pretty cool. 

click to enlarge

Have You Accepted Jesus?

I already know I'm going to be saved, but do you?  I'm sorry, this was too funny not to share...

Isn't This The Truth? How Many More Versions?

I don't blog about religion much, because a lot of folks want to get rude and nasty, instead of discussing the issue at hand.  But since I found this great picture I had to say something :-)

I wanted to be a preacher growing up, and well, we all know how that turned out.  But one of the many questions I was asked during High School was why there were so many different versions of the Bible.  In the English language alone there are over 60 or so.  It's a sad reality, but it's true.  Most Christians will tell you that instead of saying versions, you should say "translations".  But I'm going to argue that point, because you can't keep saying there are many translations when the Hebrew and Greek text that it was originally written in has been changed to reflect a different meaning.  That is not a translation, that is a version.  Translation is the taking of a word or sentence and converting it from one language to another, like from Spanish to English or from French to German.  We know there are many translations, because not everyone can read Hebrew or Greek.

For example, here are three different versions of 
1 Corinthians 5:9

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators.

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people

I did write to you in the epistle, not to keep company with whoremongers

Really?  Whoremongers?  I'm sorry, but these do not constitute three different translations, these are three different versions of a verse translated into the English language.  So which version is the right one?  

Yeah... my thoughts exactly.  

And then you wonder why so many people are exhausted over religion.  Its up to you to decide, do some research, but most importantly have faith.  As to why there are so many different versions of the Bible?  I'll leave that up to God to decide which version we should've been using.  Look, I'm gay, I believe in God, and most importantly he made me in his image.  Take with it what you will, because I'll be judged according to Him, not by you.

The Biblical Truth About Marriage...

How many of you know that if I was to rape a virgin, she would be obligated to marry me, and in turn, I'd have to pay her father because she isn't worth anything to him anymore. Yeah, you can read that in Deuteronomy.  Or how about if your husband died and you had yet to bear a child?  Did you know you are required to marry his brother, and submit yourself to his sexual advances? Yep, yep - you can read that in Genesis.  

But you know what they're telling you?  The same thing I was told when I was raised in the church, that the Old Testament doesn't mean a damn thing today, it was replaced with the New Testament when Jesus came to be.  We are only to use the Old Testament as an example.  Oh really?  An example?  And what an exemplary example it is.

Keep in mind, that Jesus never said a single word about gays, but Jesus actually condemns those who condemn others and told us NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS (Matt 7:1-5).

Just Sayn'

An Open Letter to The Pope

Dear Holy Father,

It’s not looking good for you. You’re 84, you’re THE POPE, and you haven’t yet learned what Jesus taught. I expect a little better from someone who had the sense to get the heck out of the Hitler Youth.

Let me make it simple for you, Your Holiness. Gay marriage is not a threat to the family. Snooki is a threat to the family. Kim Kardashian is a threat to the family. Trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and Newt Gingrich are a threat to the family. Faygelehs? Only a threat to bad decor… and not all of them.

Since I have your attention, you might want to talk to your tailor about updating your look. Those glittery robes and pointy hats are so 2nd century.

There are only half a million gay marriages in the US. There are 76 million American Express cardholders. I’d be concerned about that.

When you look at all the things that ail mankind (and I don’t mean Catholicism), the persecution of the legal coupling of people who would like to have privileges that they pay for others to have, and calling it a threat to the familly, seems a bit like saying that dinner mints are a threat to civilization. Okay, maybe the ones with jelly in them.

I’ll try to say it like Jesus did, or better yet, I’ll let Him say it:

I give you a new commandment: Love one another; just as I have loved you,  you also must love one another. (John 13:34)

Thanks for staying awake to read this.

Love,

Your Chexy

P.S. LOVE love luuuuuv the red shoes!

I couldn't have said it any better myself, thank you for sharing Chexy!

Quoted - Ellen DeGeneres on God and Christianity

Prologue by Blade 7184...I wasn't able to blog about the whole Ellen/JC Penny/100 Million Mom Fiasco, but I can quote her in my "Quoted" series.,

“I was raised very, very strictly with Christianity. I didn't have a shot or an aspirin or anything until I was 13 years old. We had to go to church, do testimonies every Wednesday night. I think all religion is based on what happens after this life. You live a certain way so that when you die, things can be good. But why can't things be good now? Why can't you understand that you're in heaven now? That's how I live. I believe in God. I think that God is everywhere. Every morning I look outside, and I say, "Hi, God." Because I think that the trees are God. I think that our whole experience is God.”     - Ellen DeGeneres
    

It's Okay To Be A Bully, So Long As It's For Religious Reasons

Jacob Rogers

Yep, the good 'ol south - you gotta love'em. It hasn't even been a month since a local gay teen in Tennessee was buried that a new law allowing kids to bully is being proposed by the State Legislature.  I know, you're thinking I'm trying to push some liberal agenda, that no conservative would ever do such a thing.  But guess what, it's true!

As local news channel WSMV is reporting, the proposed law change by state lawmakers would allow students to speak out against homosexuality without punishment if that's what their religious beliefs call for. [source]

So in other words... if my child is walking through the halls, minding their own business, and a religious kid comes up and tells him or her they are going to hell, they're a sinner or sodomite, they will have every right to ridicule them and belittle them?  Yes, this new law will allow that.  You mean to tell me, if they tell my child "you're a fag and are going to burn in eternal fire," and my child might not even be gay - that will be okay? YEP.

It's true and it's sad, but this type of behavior is what led many of us to contemplate suicide when we were younger.  I would often find myself praying myself to sleep asking God to make me normal, asking him why would he made me this way if I was his child.  Depression kicks in, and everything you're taught to believe in this world turns out to be a lie. You start to believe that everyone, and every thing is a lie!

In correspondence with the Tennessee Equality Project, the state's main gay rights group, state Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, claimed gay people commit suicide at a higher rate than others and suggested Jacob's sexuality itself drove him to kill himself. Ragan asked whether the suicide could have had "more to do with his own proclivities and behavior than anything to do with schoolmate bullies ..."

Blaming the victim is necessary to prevent Jacob's death from damaging chances for passage of Tennessee's 2012 state legislative priority—a bill to make it easier for young bigots to mistreat gay schoolkids. This legislation brought by conservative Christians who oppose special protections for gay people actually gives special protections to homophobic bullies. [source]

Must Watch: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

The following video was posted 2 days ago, and it will probably reach 3 million views by the end of the day.  It has been causing a firestorm among Republicans and the hardcore Christians, but ironically enough, most of them are siding with the words this young man, Jefferson Bethke has written.  People I thought would never condone this video are stating something positive about it.  Almost every status update on Facebook where I've seen this video posted have said, "Wow".

And "Wow" is right.  The poem Jeff recites in this video is meaningful and downright powerful.  He wrote a masterpiece of a Poem, and the commendation is well deserved.

When you can move people by simply writing and saying something as beautiful as this, you know you've done something right.

A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it's core Jesus' gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can't do your own list of rules and feel "not good enough" for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don't represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God!

Lyrics after the jump...

What a Hot Mess: The Devil is Inside of You!

How this boy's mother didn't know he was gay is beyond me.  Okay, okay, I need to stop stereotyping.  But Really?

"The Devil Is Inside of You!", the mom tells her son.

But wait till you get to the good part. 

"Have you done anything with men?", she asks him.

"Everything... pretty much."  he tells her.

Then it really gets good...

"okay, I want you to repeat some things after me, okay?" she tells him.  "Look up at the sky... Now repeat this words... Jesus, I need you right now.  I need you to forgive me, for I have sinned.  The Devil is coming inside of me.  I need you to come inside of me now. With all your force."

What a Hot Mess!

The expressions are absolutely hilarious, because the son doesn't really know how to react.  He does as she asks, but it's him repeating it that makes it too strange even for him.  This happens way too often.  Once teenagers go off to college or leave home, they decide that this is the best time to tell their parents they're gay.  And who could blame them.  I would be terrified if I had to live at home with someone who hated who I was, and tried to tell me God didn't make me this way.

What If An Atheist Was Running For President of the United States?

Would you vote for him?  Probably not, according to this latest poll posted at The New Republic.  Question is?  Will religion play a role in the 2012 election?  I'm gonna say, yes.

The chart above shows the comfort level of voters who indicated they were somewhat uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with the prospect of an Atheist, Muslim, Mormon or Evangelical taking the oath of office.