Dear Little One, Today, as I ink down these words, marks the fifty-second year of my life—a tapestry woven with joy, struggle, resilience, and love. I’m taking a moment to whisper through the corridors of time to reach out to you, my younger self. There’s much to share, dear heart. […]
Read MoreNavigating Queerness in Heteronormative America: The Art of Code Switching
In a world rich with diverse identities, the experience of being queer in a predominantly heteronormative society, like America, is a unique dance of resilience, camouflage, and authenticity. For many queer Americans, ‘code switching’ has become an essential survival tool in daily life. But what is code switching, and how […]
Read MoreLove Will Begin…
In the light that dances from the dawn, In the soft hymn of a morning song, In the broken spaces, shattered shards, Stood a man, resilient, bearing God’s regards. I’ve known love that’s been tainted and scarred, Wounds that run deep, heart ached and marred. Yet, in the silence, where […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Homosexuality Through First Century Culture: A Pastor’s Perspective
Throughout the centuries, scripture has been interpreted, reinterpreted, and molded to fit the cultural norms and values of each new generation. As we journey through our own understanding of scripture, it’s essential to remember the cultural context in which it was written. In doing so, we can truly grasp the […]
Read MoreThe Rainbow Flag: Celebrating God’s Diverse Creation
Across streets, during pride parades, and fluttering high in many parts of the world, the rainbow flag stands as a vibrant symbol of pride, acceptance, and unity for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a beautiful mosaic of colors, each hue telling its own story. As we delve into the meanings behind […]
Read MoreA Beacon in the Tempest
In the patterned cloths of upbringing, thread by thread, we’re often bound,In the whispers of our households, where unspoken truths resound.As we navigate existence, political views are often found,Yet they never tell the whole of who we are, nor where we’re bound. They ask me, with their puzzled gaze, my […]
Read MoreFaith and Life’s Trials: The Journey of a Pastor
When I reflect upon my faith and my life’s journey – growing up in a middle-class, white, conservative family, transitioning from a life of middle-class comfort to economic struggles, grappling with my LGBTQIA identity, and navigating the harsh realities of incarceration – I often wonder about the roots of my […]
Read MoreThe Heart of the Storm
In the heart of the storm where judgments roar, As a pastor, a shepherd of God’s own core, A beacon of faith, yet so much more, Queer, neurodivergent, once a convict’s score. Emotions rise, like waves upon a shore, Anger surfaces, a lion’s mighty roar, Not the primal beast, but […]
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