A Sport Event To Follow

Tomorrow night there will be a boxing match for the Welter Weight Championship.  Its between Orlando Cruz and Orlando Salido in Las Vegas.  Now I am not a huge sports fan, I follow scores, but that's about it.  So why am blogging about a boxing match?

Well I am glad you asked that!  Orlando Cruz is the one I will be cheering for, because he is the first pro boxer to come out of the closet.  ABC news did a segment on him the other night.  He would be the first openly gay boxer to win a title!  So I hope he wins! 

 

 

He also has a boyfriend

 

I will be looking for the results of this sporting event!

 

 

Monday Medley: A Song of Faith: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - National Episcopal Cathedral, October...

Today being the Monday following Communion Sunday, I try to share a song or hymn of Faith. Don't always post it but I try.  Today I am sharing an old hymn titled "Love Divine All Loves Excelling" 

Hope you enjoy.  Next week a current song oof choice will be back in its place! 

LOVE ALWAYS WINS

True Love knows no boundaries.  Love does not fail, life ends but love goes on. Sometimes we do unloving things, perhaps on the spur of the moment. Still love is there, be it Agape, Phileo, Eros,

 I believe love will always win in the end. 

1 Corinthians 13

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body ^[a]to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, ⁵ does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, ⁶ does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ^7 [b]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of ^[c]prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I ^[d]became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror ^[e]dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. ¹³ But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the ^[f]greatest of these is love.

Monday Medley: Womanizer - Britney Spears - With Lyrics

Happy Monday, Here is a oldie but a goodie. 

Pray for Congress to get its act together! No government shut down.

Sin or...Something Else?

 

 SIN OR WHAT? The cartoon below was in the paper a few days ago, and I thought I would share it along with some thoughts.  I am always struck by how closed and judgmental some religious groups are. Notice I said religious, not just Christian.  It runs through all religions I think.  Whenever some disaster, disease,  or some other crisis befalls us, there is some person of faith who makes the statement, this happened because YOU did some bad thing.  Its  God's judgment and punishment for something.  Well I say NO. 

 

 God did not make the fire burn down your house, God did not give you cancer, or some other negative thing because you are a bad person, did something bad. I have come to understand, these things happen because we live in an imperfect world. They happen as part of life lived in what a Christian calls a fallen world. True there often is a cause and effect if a person smokes for 60 years it most likely will cause some kind of health issue, but God did not cause it.  60 years of smoking caused it.  You drive 90 miles an hour in a 55 zone you might get arrested.  Now I also believe in God's protection, often times I am protected even though I did something stupid.  god did not cause the storms, tornadoes and such to destroy property because people did bad things.  its a weather pattern.  This is not to say God might not use it to bring about something in one's life. The Biblical principle here runs through the entire Bible.  Something might be evil, or negative, but God brings something good out of it. Sure its hard, but there are many examples in Scripture of the hard things bringing something better about.  Jesus talked of the wine press, Peter talks of trials by fire, James even talks about facing trials with JOY! Knowing the result will be something good, better, and there is a reward.  In the old testament, we see it when Jeremiah, Nehemiah, and others experience trials and end up bringing something good about.  Hence the statement the world means it for evil, but God means it for good.

 

Another point,

Matthew 7:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

 

 

I think these verses say it plainly, the people who like to point out with such judgment the sin of another, should pay more attention to their own problems and sin. Before they try to call attention to others troubles. 

 

To break it down farther:  When anti gay people start judging the gay community and spewing hateful venom, especially in the form of invoking god's judgment, beware!  Think of Matthew 7:3-5.

 

 

Finally, when someone says this happens because of God's judgment, think of the Peanuts cartoon  and smile! 

Monday Medley: Capital Cities - Safe And Sound (Official Video)

Well my birthday weekend is over and its time for another Monday Medley. Today I selected a song I enjoy hearing on the radio, I hope you enjoy.

Report of my birthday celebration, I had a meeting of the Chaplain group I belong to, I don't attend too many of these, I'm usually covering one of the Hospitals, I was able to go.  I went on call and hoped for no calls Friday night, alas I had four.  The highlight is always a birthday dinner, this year a friend went with me to Outback where I had the rack of Lamb, salad, asparagus, and a brownie wit ice-cream YUMMY! I enjoyed it! 

I take a walk for exercise each day, I found an app for my phone by Google called Tracks.  It works very well, measures distance, speed and time. Even provides a map of my route. If you run or walk I suggest you try it.  Next I need to get back to some weight training, been wanting to o that for a while problem is when do I have time to squeeze that in.  Wish my text book came on audio books! 

Happy Monday everyone!

Happy Birthday to this Blogger!

Historically for this blog, I post Happy Birthday in  honor of my family and friends, its a fun thing to do.  Well today is my birthday! So happy birthday to me.  I am old enough, just old enough, no not gonna say how old.

Usually on my birthday I pause and reflect, today is no different. The difference this year is my I am looking more to my future with a positive outlook.  Grief, although still present and will be, does not have the hold it did.  I continue to experience peace with myself about my sexuality, and I am glad where I am with that.  I am still relationship focused which has been a downer, since it does not seem to be happening, and I am not trying as hard as I used to find someone. I am glad for the friendships I have be able to form!

My career is moving in the right direction, I still enjoy my work, although its hard and stressful at times being present in other folks crisis.  ( I say that having just finished a 24 hour plus workday)  I have a renewed vision for where I hope to be in a few years.

My health is good, I am thankful for the example and encouragement of a friend, I am changing some eating habits, and exercising more.  I want to stay as healthy as I can and its my responsibility.

As a person with faith in my life, in fact my career is closely related to my faith. I reflected on some
Scripture I use as life verses, thinking about the early days of my life. Here are a few of them...

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well. Psalm139:13-14

5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 

 

  ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

 

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.  I Corinthians 15:10

 

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

 

These verses are a few that inform me as to who I am. I was born to be me, given the personality I have, formed to be a gay man, born to know and be known by God, called to serve the way I serve.

Thanks for reading!

 

Monday Medley: Jason Derulo "The Other Side" Lyrics

Another week is starting, new opportunities, new challenges.  Hope you enjoy the song!

25 Years Ago Today My Nephew

Twenty-five years ago today, my nephew was born!  Hard to believe Nickarus is 25 years old.  Happy Birthday to Nickarus.   And many many more!

Tonight there will be a good dinner, and a piece of cake, perhaps a glass of wine in your honor!

 

In Memoriam of 9/11/2001

Twelve years ago today our world changed dramatically.  Many lives were lost, those left behind had their lives shattered.  The loss of husbands, fathers, sons, daughters, wives, friends.  Today, Patriots Day, pause to reflect, remember, pray.

 

Fall Convocation!

Today I attended the Fall Convocation for the school I am attending.  it was a nice service of Worship, with music, prayers, and a Homily by the Dean of the Seminary.  During the service the entering students were recognized by receiving a piece of towel, a tradition at the school, it represents the towel which will be received at graduation.  The towel represents the servant hood of the minister. The example Jesus set by washing the Disciples feet.

The Dean's message this morning spoke to me, he has diabetes which he ignored for quite sometime and created a health crisis for him.  This crisis led him to a year of recovery, and reflection culminating in his call to the Seminary as Dean.  I can relate in a number of years ago, I had a health crisis which led me to change course in my life.

Today is the official start of the semester for me, I will be attending my first class tonight. It is Philosophy of Religion. 
Here are a few pictures of the Convocation Setting.

 

 

The above picture is of an electronic calendar outside a classroom, each classroom has one and it shows the classes, meetings for each day in that room. This new facility is high tech! 

 

Please pray for me as I embark on the journey to complete this degree.

 

Monday Medley: Whistle - Flo Rida - Lyrics

Hope you enjoy Nothing much to say. Will write tomorrow

Graduate School: The Adventure Begins!

Today I attended the new student orientation for the Seminary where I will be working toward my Master's degree. It was an interesting day, finding the places I needed to be at the time I need to be there was a challenge at times.  That part was stressful, I got lost once, but made it to the place just in time.

We started out at the Morton Library, with orientation to the Library, kind of boring but information will be useful in the near future. There were introductions to the Seminary President, Dean, Registrar and financial aid representative. There were a lot of pictures taken, one of all the attendees, these pictures are to be used for advertising and promotional material. 

There was a nice lunch, where we met our Academic adviser's, and fellow students. It was a nice time.  Then the drive home! Got stuck in traffic as usual!

This semester I will travel to campus once a week, and I am taking one class this semester to start off. It will be Philosophy of Religion, which should be an interesting subject, and lends itself to the work I am currently engaged in.  

Here are two pictures of the inside of the Library. from the top floor looking down over the main lobby. and the ceiling. 

 

Monday Medley: Maroon 5-Love Somebody (Lyrics) Happy Labor Day

enjoy the music!
Today is Labor Day 2013! A day we celebrate the opportunity to work, earn a living, and  the opportunity to work toward goals and dreams.  Lets Celebrate, I celebrate by working!

 

September Sweet September!

The calendar has rolled around to September again.  I love it!  It means autumn is near, I love autumn as much as spring.  The colors, the coolness in the air, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas all around the corner. Oh and its my birthday month! Yep will be a year older blah! I'm going to think of it as being a fine wine, gets better with age!

Today, I missed going to church all together, I had planned on going, but was not sure where to go, then thought I would just go to my home church.  Then a friend contacted me last night and we made plans for this morning that precluded me going to church. Then this morning, those plans changed again, and I missed out all together.  On the other hand I relaxed, walked three miles and got laundry done. 

Church, I wish I could find a church I can be at home in as a gay Christian.  A church that is affirming of me as gay.  They are out there, just hard to find. So I still want to visit around. Which I will on a regular basis. 

Diet and Exercise My friend is inspiring me to be more regimented in my diet and exercise than I have been,  I need to pay more attention to amounts and what I eat.  Now that I am only on call 2 nights a week and not running back and forth like I was, perhaps I can do better. I hope to be in a better sleep pattern, that is a key to healthy metabolism. My friend Branden is making progress and living healthier and exercising.  He is blogging about it as well, check his blog out and encourage him and perhaps be inspired yourself!  See the link to his blog below, or click the link on the sidebar of this blog.

 http://www.madfatmandiary.blogspot.com/

Happy September to you all!




 

Saturday This and That

Its the last Saturday of the month, its Labor Day weekend.  As usual its truly a Labor weekend for me, I was on call last night and had calls, so I worked.  Monday, Labor Day I will be covering the Trauma Center in our area during the day, at least I won't be on call! Today and tomorrow I am off and going to relax!  Of course church on Sunday, but what church? mine or visit another? Decisions.

The weather has been unusually cool for our area for this time of year. I like it, but I hope we don't pay for it later.

Gay in the news!  Some exciting developments this week:

• First, Wal-Mart is extending benefits to the same sex partners of its employees, that is good news.  Makes me want to shop there more!
• Second, the Treasury Department is going to allow deductions/exemptions for same sex partners (married/civil) no matter whether the state in which they reside has legalized same sex marriage.  This is due to the Supreme Courts overturn of parts of DoMa!

• In addition to this, a California federal Judge has ruled that the Department of Veterans Affairs can not ban married same sex couples from receiving benefits their heterosexual counterparts now receive. Again thanks to the Supreme Court ruling. 

• Lastly, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be the first Justice to officiate at a Gay wedding.  This takes place today in Washington DC, she also hinted that next month there will be another gay wedding she will officiate.  Exciting to me! 

 Progress is being made!

 

A Few Hours at the Zoo

Last weekend I went to the Zoo with my friend, we spent  a few hours wandering around and seeing what there was to see. It was a great day weather wise, not too hot!  I told him he could go in the reptile house alone when we come to it.  What was the first exhibit we went  to?  Yeah the reptile house.  LOL I went in.  BAH Icky!

I was surprised to see a Honey Bee exhibit, but was glad since they are so needed.  Next to their exhibit, is a nice rose and various flower garden.  There are some wonderful flowers in these gardens! Some very old and glorious trees as well.   It was very relaxing!

Here a few pictures. Next time I think I want to take pictures, I must remember to take my regular camera,  the one my phone is not that great for these kind of pictures.

 

Monday Medley: We Can't Stop

Good Morning,  Wow it feels like fall this morning!  I enjoy fall, but its still August!  It was a great weekend, went to the Zoo with my buddy.  I actually relaxed for a change!  I enjoyed going to church yesterday as well.  I was going to go to a church that is gay oriented but did not get up early enough.

I start my class in two weeks, and attend the new student orientation next week!  I am excited to start something new and feel this is  a bigger start for me.  I just feel like its going to be something special.

Today I share We Can't Stop hope you enjoy

 http://youtu.be/eqPfniLJwBI

New Jersey Law!!

There are now two states which have enacted laws banning gay conversion therapy for children. California being the first state to pass such a law.  Its a good thing to protect children, plus the reality is this therapy does more harm than anything and never truly changes anyone. In fact, there is a higher instance depression, and suicide among teens in this kind of therapy.  To tell you, at one time early in my coming out, I looked into this kind of therapy.  I am so glad I decided against it! 

Several significant points I want to make about this New Jersey law are the fact this law was signed by a Republican Governor.  Not only that but Chris Christie attached a note saying he believed people are born gay.  That homosexuality is not the sin it is purported to be by mainstream Christianity.  What a break from his party! What a break with his Catholic background. Perhaps a smart move if you want to run for President? This is a significant event!

Now I hope more states enact similar laws protecting children from this kind of "therapy" or what I consider abuse.  This is progress!
 

Monday Medley : Love and Affection

This was a great weekend, a long weekend, but I did not do half of what I planned.  Partly due to the weather, but mostly due to my being lazy.  Sometimes their is a time to lazy, just relax, this was the first time in a very long time I had three days in a row off.  However, tomorrow its back to the schedule, unless I decide to take a PTO day, but since its supposed to rain, I will go to work.

Todays Monday Medley is a song I have been listening to on the radio. Hope you enjoy it.

http://youtu.be/GXt2wL11uKs
 

A Day At The Garden

My buddy Branden and I went to the local Botanical Garden and walked all over the wonderful grounds.  The weather was perfect, sunshine, low humidity and in the mid 70's, very unusual for August!  The garden is a great place to relax, and enjoy the surroundings, flowers, trees, birds and waterways.  We found a number of tall Redwood trees, I did not think they would grow well here.  They have a membership plan, I think I am going join, and go more often.  Especially for seasonal events, like the Christmas lights, and spring flowers.  It was fun, great place and more enjoyable since I had someone to walk around the place with and talk about whatever.  Also I noticed it is a wonderful bird sanctuary, except for Eagles. They destroyed the Eagles nest because it interfered with the planes at the airport.   We saw a family of Cardinals, such a gorgeous bird!


There was a display of glass flowers scattered about the garden, wish I had thought of taking a picture of them.  Next time I go I will take my regular camera with me since it works better than the one on my phone.  Here are a couple of pictures.

 

 

 

To LOVE "Tis A Fearful Thing

 

 

 

'Tis A Fearful Thing

'Tis a fearful thing

To love

What death can touch.

To love, to hope, to dream,

And oh, to lose.

A thing for fools, this,

Love,

But a holy thing,

To love what death can touch.

For your life has lived in me;

Your laugh once lifted me;

Your word was a gift to me.

To remember this brings painful joy.

‘Tis a human thing, love,

A holy thing,

To love

What death can touch.

(To love is a precious thing FF2013)

Judah Halevi, 11th C., Spain

Poet, Philosopher, Physician 

 

Monday Medley: Moon River

Happy Monday. today I am sharing an old song used in Breakfast at Tiffany's Moon River written by Henry Mancini.  Its a beautiful yet sad song. its done here by Elton John  I hope you enjoy it.



http://youtu.be/RGi5EKPjIvw

Being Outed

Recently I learned that a former manager in my department told the Clincial Pastoral Education (CPE) supervisor shortly after he came to our department that I was gay.  Don't know any details of how or why that conversation occurred. Fortunately this one he told is LGBT friendly! This is interesting to me in the fact that I never came out to this manager, and not sure how he was sure enough to tell someone else.  I am certain he suspected.  Now I am wondering who else he told?

Since this gentleman is no longer employed with the company, this occurred three maybe four years ago now, and so far nothing negative has come from his outing of me.  I don't really have any need for recourse. At least that is my thought at this moment.  I have no need or desire to contact this man and talk about this. No need to.

I will say that I think it is dead wrong for anyone to out another person to anyone.  Its not their business, not their place! The damage that can from the doing this could catastrophic to the one who is outed.  Its up to that person to come out to whom he or she chooses, and it being a workplace makes it more critical in my mind.

As for the CPE Supervisor, he did not ask me to confirm or deny, just that he was uncomfortable with this information and felt it was time for me to know?? My thought What's that all about?  It could be there is a CPE student  this summer who is openly gay.  I am aware it has been an issue with some of the other students.  I don't know why now?  I guess it does not really matter.  At least I think it does not.

Now I have ad conversations with two of my closest friends about different guys and acknowledging they are gay, but it goes no further, and we three understand the importance of that.

If you are ever tempted to out someone for whatever reason, Please don't! Its the wrong thing to do!

I may say more about this in the near future.

Monday Medley,: Song of Faith; God Will Make a Way

Yesterday being the first Sunday of the month, and many churches observe Communion, I make the First Monday after Communion Sunday a song of Faith Monday medley.  Today I am sharing a song by Don Moen, God Will Make a Way.  I hope you enjoy it and that it speaks to you.
 

Monday Medley: : Rihanna - Diamonds

Happy Monday, Well my stint working Sunday's is now complete!  I am glad, relieved, and look forward to having my weekends off! I hope nothing happens to mess that up, I hope not to be on call anymore than I am now!

I hope you all have a great week.
 

My thoughts on the Aquittal

For a week now, I have held back sharing my thoughts on the Zimmerman acquittal.  No particular reason, other than not appearing to give a knee jerk reaction.  I have to say, I was disappointed that he was not found guilty of at least Manslaughter. 

Here are my reasons, first he was told when he called the police NOT to follow this young man. There was no evidence or indication Martin had committed a crime.  Zimmerman provoked the confrontation by following and most likely following too closely.  In my opinion, shared by others I have talked with, Zimmerman most likely was looking for trouble, a confrontation because he was carrying a weapon. He took authority he did not have.

I don't care if he was neighborhood watch, had a permit to carry a weapon, he should NOT have been carrying a deadly weapon on watch.  Neighborhood watch is that...WATCH and REPORT not intervene. Again there was no crime in progress where intervention was needed. When he called police he fulfilled his responsibility.  This was completely preventable!  His not guilty verdict, does not hold him accountable for his negligence in this senseless death.  What a waste!

In my opinion, Stand your ground laws should be re-evaluated, and either repealed, reworked to be more specific and put emphasis on prevention rather than justification. This is or should be a miss use of such a law. Not used to justify deadly force when you are the one provoking the confrontation by your action.  Zimmerman provoked confrontation, and he is not held accountable.

What if the victim was gay? Could this had been considered a hate crime?  Or a stand your ground justification?.
 

Monday Medley: Selena Gomez - Come & Get It

Yesterday was the first Sunday I was not on call since September.  I honestly was not sure what to do last night when I came home from work!  I usually wait for the pager to go off! Normally don't have to wait for long. I was still back up for my replacement. He only needed to call once.   For the next few weeks I will still be working with my replacement, orienting him to the Hospital, and various procedure and such.  My hours will then move to daytime during the week! I will still be on call two nights per week.  Progress!

An historic event for the LGBT community as a whole, last week Queen Elizabeth quietly signed into law the British Bill legalizing  Same Sex Marriage! Progress for our community, there is hope.  Conversely there is a law being strengthened in Russia punishing those who are gay! So sad, the hate continues. 

This weeks song is by Selena, I hope you enjoy!