Hey everyone-

I would encourage everyone to visit the updated Catalyst Community website at www.gocatalyst.org. This is our fearless leader Eric's non profit organization. The work they did in the Long Beach area in 2009 was phenomenal!! In June, Catalyst began renting a space that has evolved into an important community center. I would encourage those who can to support the group financially. At this point, everyone is donating their time for no pay. Eric and Ryan have been shouldering the bulk of the money themselves. Please consider donating to help the work continue.

Thanks!!!

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I really like your notion of "Journey Christians," and I know that they are indeed out there and would embrace the idea of correcting this problem of acceptance and love toward one another in Christ.

I think, in general, it comes down to actually putting into practice what most all traditional/conservative/evangelical churches already teach and believe - that man (humanity) is essentially in need of Christ for forgiveness. That said, all those in Christ are accepted in fact, yet in practice there is an unecessary disconnect among the church. More light needs to be shined on this for sure, so I am ecstatic that you are working on doing so.

May I take up the cause along side of you as well?

Gianni

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I really liked what Eric had to say here, because as I see it, this is where much of the most beneficial dialog can and should begin.

So many in the church avoid the Hot Zone, even to the extent of ignoring GLBT brothers & sisters in their own communities who need to be accepted or feel comfortable enough to open up and strengthen those church community family ties.

I see absolutely no better way to move forward than to begin to foster those relationships that are already in front of us week by week and day by day. Indeed, I think many Christians would be surprised to know who among them would love to open up and share their life and faith if given the opportunity, if trust can be gained.

I am thankful to Andrew Marin for writing his book "Love Is An Orientation" because it really opened my eyes and my heart, especially to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who feel and/or are being marginalized by their own faith communities.

So, let the dialog begin...let's enter into those Hot Zones and make some true progress in the body of Christ!

Blessings...

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"I tried the same honest approach with them, and it totally blew up in my face. I ended up being removed from the team because people were too uncomfortable with how comfortable I was (and how honest I was)."

Isn't that crazy backwards how this "Side X culture" demands that we conform to their comfort zone at our own expense of authenticity? I can relate with being a little more of an advocate than originally intended after experiencing this kind of thing. I feel like sometimes the church can be in selfish denial about our own imperfection.

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I'm so glad you got to finally tell this part of your story! What a journey it is and you're taking the initial steps of it. It's been so wonderful to know and have met in real life (IRL as you put it) you and your husband and even kids. I love you all!

I'm hardly one to give people conclusions for questions they have - I'm more likely to pose more questions or try to reframe the perspective. That's what the journey is about - asking questions to the Lord as we realize that He indeed is walking with us, giving us direction and giving us perspective.

As you consider the bi-curious questions, I think it's wonderful (and important) that you are seeing through the lens of the wonderful loving marriage that the Lord has blessed you with with your husband. Remember that being aware of some of the bi-curiousness is totally okay because it is just continuing to be authentic about a part of yourself. At the same time, the love (and attraction) that you have for your husband is present too and so the curiousness doesn't need to catalyze any kind of a decision, per se.

In what ever way that we identify ourselves - gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, bi-curious, or whatever - as people of faith, our identity is in Christ. And so that means we are primarily men and women of God. Everything else along the journey just grows us as individuals to love one another better.

I love you.

Hope that helps, my friend!
Eric

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OK, I've seen you both look happier! lol

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"When he moved away at 12, I was very much devastated. I didn't realize how much that that hurt me until I considered it later in life."

I can relate with this. I had a best friend in 5th grade that moved away and it really did impact me. I notice that many of the friends that I allowed to get super close to me always ended up moving away and I found that I kind of internalized that. So it's tough sometimes when a good friend leaves or gets into a relationship (because the time we would spend together is now either shared or redirected) - the end result is a feeling of aloneness, perhaps abandonment. And then there's the parents' divorce after 6th grade too. So yeah, the issues kinda linger and manifest in various forms....even in romantic relationships (or lack, thereof.)

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Oh I love this photo! This was when Andy showed us the very early outline of his upcoming book "Love is an Orientation".

Fun times!

Eric

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Bravo Eric on this "Journey Christians" piece. It is so important that we learn how to live and walk together without trying to strong-arm each other into walking just as we do. This presents practical ways of making this happen. The points about allowing others to experience God on their own terms and the need for empathy over pity are particularly powerful for me. If we Christians could use this model, we would see so much more peace within the Body of Christ.

Earl

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Many times when I talk to people about my story, I share about what it's like to be in the closet. I'll describe it as that place of hiding, defined by rejection and shame that amplifies the sense of insecurity. It's been my belief that the dynamic of being in the closet directly affects our self-esteem, self-confidence, self-image, and our sense of self-worth. And so it affects the decisions we make in our lives - the relationships we choose to enter into (or choose to avoid), our career decisions, and many times our every day decisions.

What I'm wondering is what are some ways that being in the closet (either now or in the past) has affected the decisions you make now?

I'd love your input!

Eric

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