I have found church's to be clickish!

The dohnuts and coffee after.. or tea where your supposed to talk.. congregate.... wasn't pleasant for me.. but then again ... all my life I havn't been socially accepted anyway.. 'cause I'm different... be it shy.. socially awkward.. but the point here is... Church is supposed to be accepting and loving.. including to everyone!

I grew up United Methodist and people still don't get the Love everyone message. They are still judgemental. After hearing the same sermans over and over year after year.. its like hypacrates.. no one lives it.. a few I suppose.. but no one really gets the big picture. I too could pull out scriptures. I've heard it all. I have my bible hilighted. I don't go to church no more for these reasons. It just seems fake to me.. 'cause no one does it. ... loves .. includes everyone.
Remember when it was bad for a woman to be a preacher... for some it still is. Again they quoted scripture and said.. SEE.. only men can preach! Men over Woman..etc. But people fail to remember the 10 commandemnts and then the addedge If you love then you will keep all commandemnts and need not remember but one.. to love one another.. the greatest of these is love. And the one about judgement. We are not the judge. God is. Also it used to be and church's have changed their tune a little here that no lesbians allowed. Now you see billboards outside chuch's that read, "All are Welcome!" Baby steps I suppose but as we have seen we need more advances. Parables of the blind man/death man. When Jesus said this blind man may be blind but he sees more than you see thee that has sight. SOOO that being said... hence speaking to the choir or falling on death ears...and hardened stubborn hearts.

What someone said on patience once some program I was watching where this woman couldn't understand why GOd put stupid people on this earth. God told her that people do the best that they can with what they got and that they are here to teach patience for those that seem to have more smarts! So me being a lesbian I have to learn to be more patient as I wait for those around me with the mighty pen to come to terms with that equality should be given to all God's children and that the greatest gift they can give is to love undconditionally.. without judgement.(Romans 13:8-10) "Love does NO HARM TO HIS NEIGHBOR!"

Romans 12:12 "Rejoicing in hope,patient in tribulation;continueing instant in prayer."

Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God"

Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from theh dead, thou shalt be saved."

Colossians 1:16

Philippians 2:3-4 & Romans 12:10

2 Corinthians 2:5-10

*** I put scripture here to back up myself only.. no to preach 'cause I myself am not perfect.. I'm a human.. imperfect. I state these here and HEAR ME CLEARLY!!! That I state scriptures here as these scriptures give me compfort. I have more. Like I said. My Bible is highlighted... A LOT... but all I'm trying to say is... we are not the judge... God is. This is America where all are free.. where all have rights. I'll share my reindeer story now! Its something that I think about. I have an analytical mind. I'm not a theologian.. but my uncle who is gay was a very successful United Methodist preacher that hid his gayness.. was ashamed and felt he was damned to hell and lived the life and married a woman and divorced then married another woman and then divorced her and came out to his congregation in the great state of California.. who I pray comes to understanding here and includes everyone in the sanctity of marriage and after coming out to his congregation left the church and is now happily partnered with his partner for 14 years. He knows God loves him and that he is created by God and that he is saved. So here's my story that I came up with in my head. Enjoy!
Rudolph the Reindeer story:

Ellen & Portia!

My Rudolph the Reindeer story: Rudolph wasn't allowed to play reindeer games 'cause he was different, he had a red nose. It saddened Rudolph 'cause he wanted to have the same rights to play the games to be included in reindeer society to be the same..equals so he devised a plan.. to hide it. He hid it and he loved being included but he had a secret that ate at him and was saddened by why they treated him/included him/let him have the right to play with them under the black nose when Rudolph knew he was the same reindeer. Rudolph couldn't understand why he was treated harshly with a red nose. Tragically one day his secret was revealed and again he was laughed at/ridiculed until one wise reindeer said, NO.Stop the hate, and Rudolph found that 'cause one high society reindeer eventually persuaded the others to include.. to love.. reach out and let Rudolph join in their right to play. Rudolph was much happier to be himself and not to hide his red nose and everyone loved Rudolph. Be yourself is the moral of course and also equality is a must.
**LOved your post on Prop 8. So true!!

So that being said. I wrote some other things down as well. I will stop posting as I know Ellen must know where I stand and that I support her without end. This must stop.. discrimination to anyone.

God sees us all the same. ITs man that sets boundaries. I don't think GOd cares who were with only that we love each other.. that goes for kids too.. they don't care only that we love 'em and take care of em. Animals are like that. They don't care what orientation you are.. only that you love 'em and take care of 'em. Children just came from heaven so their more loving. Animals are more connected with the spiritual world and scary know more .. understand more than us humans. GOd gives us choice. Choice means no limits. Anyway you slice it make it ok.. discrimination is wrong. We are all equal in God's eyes. Anyone should have the same marital benefits.

Finally Romans 5:3-5. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.... so bring it on! btw... I will not be reading any hateful attacking responses to my non attacking spirited post. This post again is merely to state my feelings and thoughts on what we American Lesbians all deserve!!! EQUALITY!!!!

Sincerely,
Tonya

hi e i just visited the website of abc 7 in la and what i read migth interest you i know that prop 8 passed which it should not have . abc news in la has not yet called the race because more votes still need to be counted . so as of rigth now you are still married . just thougth you like a little good news to put a smile on your face and spark in those eyes and a dance in your step . hang in everybody the figth is not over just yet . j :)

What a luck that they used a good windmachine for that picture (the one from Hans Klock or Celine Dion?)

Ellen,
Keep voicing your opinion on gay marriage, you have a forum unlike so many others. Remember, two steps forward, one step back. It will happen! A big change did happen today, it's only a matter of time before strong, intelligent voices are heard on the issue of gay marriage. God bless you and Portia, thank you for making me laugh every day! My husband and I are proud to be fans, and to live in MA.