Men

So, I walk into the gym tonight …

New Trainer Dude (NTD):  ::: rolls his eyes, mouth agape :::, “WHERE have you been?”

I actually like this guy.  I mean, no one can replace The Benevolent Trainer (aka Chris), but this guy is fun and not a jerk.  He can bust my chops (hold me harshly accountable) and it’s ok.

Me: “I have been in North Carolina doing pre, during and post conference work. Plus a bunch of other stuff.”

NTD: ::: still with the fake incredulous look ::: “For two weeks?”

Me: “Yes.”

NTD: “Have you done any training?”

Me:  ::: without missing a beat, looking him straight in the eyes and a hint of *as a matter of fact* in my own eyes ::: “Oh no… not even once. Nope.”

At that point NTD laughs SO loudly and heartily.  Dude is like nineteen feet tall and shoulders bigger than the mythological figure known as Atlas.  When NTD, hoots … and especially when he laughs … you hear him all the way across into Georgia.  Then, still laughing, he throws an arm around my shoulders and says, “Well, you can’t get more honest than that!”

He is so easily entertained.  It cracks me up.  I like him because, like Chris, he is a genuine trainer and loves what he does.  Not a poser salesman.

Then we talk about working together.  I have the next two weeks already planned out but may work with him for about four weeks starting in August.

The Washington Post reports …

Monday, June 30, 2008; Page A10

A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of HIV-AIDS data from 33 states between 2001 and 2006 revealed a distressing trend: HIV infection in young gay men rose 12 percent a year. For African Americans in that group of 13- to 24-year-olds, the annual increase was 15 percent. The safe-sex lessons that took hold after the loss of a generation of gay men during this epidemic’s two-decade advance appear to be lost on the young. The stunning success of retroviral drugs for those with AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes the disease, has diminished people’s fear of the disease, though it still has no cure…

[From A Persistent Scourge - washingtonpost.com]

This news breaks my heart.

Father’s day is a little interesting for me. I often meditate on where my Bio Dad is and what he is doing. He never was a part of our lives and then completely disappeared when I was 10. I later found him when I was 18. We were only in the semblance of a relationship from then till I was around 24. Then, for various reasons, he took off again.

The picture to the right is Bio Dad, Randy Sr., in his younger days. Last time I saw him he had less hair and what he did have was completely white. He is a lot shorter than I and dresses up as Papa Smurf every Halloween.

Well at least he did the last time I saw him.

Then, there is my Step-Dad James (picture to the left.) We have had our “issues” but I do love him and I know he loves me. He has been a part of our lives since I was in sixth grade. He has always been there and I am glad he became a part of our lives.

We still argue about politics … but get along pretty good otherwise :).

What I love about God the Father is that He has given me the love of a Father in ways that no mortal Father can and fulfills where mortal father’s might fall short. He has been very good to change my perspective of Randy Sr. and balance out my understanding of James. The Lord has also helped me to grow up and mature in these areas so I don’t quit living in a false reality of bitterness and unforgiveness.

Like a good Father, the Lord, calls us into maturity, individuation and personal responsibility. He’s cool like that.

Well, I could go on and on about everything the Lord has taught me with regard to all of this. In fact, I am writing an article with a working title of “Bio Dad” for a Christian magazine about it. I could use your prayers for that project (it, along with two other articles are due by the end of the month!)

There are so many great Dad’s around. I love watching good Dad’s loving on their kids and kids loving on their Dad’s. I hope you all have had a great Father’s day.

… I have totally used up all my grace quotient for cuss words for the year today.

Ok ok… I know. Where sin exists, grace abounds that much more. I am embarrassed over my very carnal reaction today even though my friends have told me not to worry about it. They say that what I did was totally understandable. It’s still embarrassing though.

See, what happened was this. At 8:11 am my alarm goes off. I hit the snooze twice and roll out of bed at 8:29 am. I am not in the best of moods in the am anyway but I saw The Happening last night and got to relive it all night long in my dreams. Not only that, my subconscious must hate me-self because it decided to make up even more horrible ways for people to die.

I hate this PTSD … stuff. <– see …. there I go again with the temptation to have a trash mouth.

Anyway, I had told Perry yesterday,”I have to get the U-Haul at 9 am. I’ll buy you lunch if you help me go and get three pieces of furniture (garage sale kind of situation from a friend) and bring it back. It should take maybe an hour and a half, maybe two.”

We didn’t have lunch until 2:30 pm. Things got bad … quick.

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Halperin posts A Nation Responds to New of Kennedy Brain Tumor.

I find it so humanizing that as bad as American politics can be … as much as I cannot agree with Ted Kennedy on SO many things … I genuinely felt terrible after hearing news of his brain tumor.  I am very glad to see many conservatives and Kennedy’s political opponents sharing good will, respect and civility toward Senator Kennedy.

Please join me in praying for Senator Kennedy’s healing.  Will you do that with me?  Michelle Malkin is praying.

While in DC, at a Pastor’s conference, I did a local debate regarding the APA silencing people holding the “ex-gay” viewpoint from speaking into a symposium they had scheduled and then canceled at the last minute.  Someone forwarded the transcript to me.  I phoned in to the local CBS affiliate there in town because it was *very* last minute and I couldn’t get there and do all the things I had to do for the conference at the same time. I did not alter the transcript at all but it was sent to me by a third party.  After reading it I think it is word for word.

Bruce DePuyt (BD): Organizers say they pulled the plug when one of their participants backed out. Others say it was pressure from gay activists. In a moment, we’ll talk about whether gays and lesbians are born with same sex attractions and whether someone can be, quote, cured of homosexuality.

But first, our Greta Kreuz. [The earlier news report that had been aired on News Channel 8’s sister station, WJLA, can be seen HERE.]

Bruce DePuyt (BD): Joining us now live in the studio is David Fishback of the Metro DC Chapter of PFLAG — Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Good to see you again. With us by phone is Randy Thomas of Exodus International. Thank you for your time today.

Randy Thomas (RT): Thank you.

BD: Your reaction, Mr. Thomas, to the cancellation of the conference.
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La Shawn writes about The Body (of Christ) and asks the following question.

Christians, what, if anything, amazed or surprised you (about yourself and/or others) when you first became a believer?

I thought about changing the title of this post to something else because it is the same as La Shawn’s.  But then I thought better of it … we are one Body so … uniformity actually sends a message of unity.

Now, to answer the question; there have been *many* surprises over the past sixteen years as a Christian.  In the beginning, what surprised me the most was how not weird (but still kind of weird) Christians were.  I had thought they were absolutely bonkers but they weren’t.  Maybe I was lucky but when I showed up with my crazy gay self (I *was* gay identified … I am *still* crazy) nobody freaked out. That was my first surprise (this was in 1992.)

Also, in the beginning, I was very surprised at how much fun The Body of Christ actually had.  Granted it wasn’t, “Let’s all dance half naked at an underground alternative bar!” kind of fun (what I was used to before becoming a Christian.) They were full of joy and always doing something cool or hanging out.  They taught me joy instead of instant gratification.  I had not known that instant gratification often short circuits joy and contentment.

What surprised me about me was that I wasn’t a soloist in how screwed up a life could get.  I loved their humility. They helped me to feel acceptance in a deeper and richer way.  I took my place among the redeemed willingly, eagerly.  This surprised me because at one point in my life I hated Christians.  Again, maybe I was lucky but the humility shown by other Believers turned my heart very quickly.

I travel *all* the time and meet Christians all across North America.  The sense of familiarity and unity among believers is amazing.  Since moving to Orlando almost six years ago, I have said on many speaking engagements, “No matter where you are in the world, if you are in the House of the Lord among the Body of Christ, you are home.”  That’s the biggest surprise since living here.  It is absolutely true.  Having traveled quite a bit I know first hand that The Body does transcend culture.

Well, that’s what came to mind in response to the question … so Christians, it is your turn.

Here is another reprint from an article of mine on Boundless.  It is my testimony and was originally published last May.

***

Same-Sex Struggles
by Randy Thomas

Fifteen years ago I was a very different man from who I am now.

All of my relational, political, and social needs were defined by a worldview that fed my appetites and met my needs, albeit just temporarily. My world was centered around the idea that the unholy trinity of me-myself-and-I was sufficient to provide vision, inspiration, answers … and even legacy.

I was gay.

I didn’t particularly care for Christians 15 years ago. During the 1980s I was an out and proud gay-identified man watching one friend after another die of AIDS. The Church said we deserved the horror. (Of course, if one deserves that kind of horror for their sin, the human race would have been long extinct by now.)

Being gay was the only way I thought possible of knowing and being known. According to everyone around me - both the condemning and condoning crowds - being “gay” was my only option. I had moved out of the closet only to find myself living in a pigeonhole.

Such a me-centric worldview was stifling my true self, the one that’s created to be in relationship with our Creator and His creation.

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Boundless is featuring my article Grace & Gay Men.  This is what Ted Slater wrote in the announcement email.

Before I talk about the articles we published earlier this week, I want to draw your attention to the one we’re publishing tomorrow, “Grace and Gay Men.” It was a difficult article for author Randy Thomas to put to paper. I think, though, that by being so vulnerable about his experience as a gay man, Randy is able to give us more of a heart for those engaging in the gay lifestyle.

Also, my friend Brenna Kate wrote another article for them about cutting.  Both are pretty darn personal.

Welcome Boundless Readers.  Please let me know what you thought of the article.

UPDATE:  The Boundless Line blogged about the article… Denise and the folks leaving comments are very encouraging,  Thanks!