Love and other stuff.

First of all, thank you all for your kind words, your love and support. We all need that sometimes, what a blessing. You are all so beautiful. Thank you for allowing me to vent my frustration with a "church" I love and yet still has a long way to go. I woke up this morning with the sun on my face, I pick up my iPad and turn it on, up pops my Bible verse for the day. Here is what it said. With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of God, confident that nothing you do is a waste of time or effort. (1 Corinthians 15:58 MSG) Really? Some may say coincidence and that's fine. To me it was an answer to prayer. Then my wonderful friend and Pastor Sarah Marsh posts this scripture.  Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; and makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and enables me to tread on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19a NIV) Ok, ok I got it. Sometimes the "church" makes me so damn mad. But OUR work here is not done. Some of what has been done at General Conference is good, but there is a lot I don't agree with, so we have work to do. Honestly, I can't say I'm joyous yet, but I am resolved to carry on. I've been doing this for over 20 years now and can't stop now.  There are several things that carry me forward  1. My family and friends who continue to love and support me. Some I've only known for a short time, some all my life. Thank you! 2. College Hill United Methodist. Simply one of the most amazing churches I know. Time after time people say to me CHUM is the Body of Christ. It is true, we are the Body of Christ. We are broken, we are joyful, we are angry, we laugh, we have good days and bad days. We are all colors, we are gay, straight, bisexual, transgendered, married, single, divorced, widowed, we are physically challenged, mentally challenged, we are rich and we are poor. WE ARE BEAUTIFUL because we are who God created us to be. 3. This I know. God loves me (you) and there ain't nothing we can do about it. It's true there is nothing we can do about it, but there is something we can do with it. Love each other! Share that love and change our world. Share that love and change our "church"! With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of God, confident that nothing you do is a waste of time or effort. May it be so.