Today at 3:40pm CST I'll be a guest on the John Hall Show on WORD-FM 101.5 in Pittsburgh. You can listen live on line by clicking here.
Much love.
Friday, February 20, 2009
I Have a Radio Interview Today - Revised
**Sorry if you clicked on the site to listen live and I wasn't on the program! I totally got the day wrong for the interview!!! Oops. I feel like an idiot. Although, I'm sure if you listened you did enjoy John and Susan! I'll fill you in when the new date is scheduled again.
Christian One-Liners
I got these in an email, and I thought they were really clever. Not only that, but they sure relate to bridging the Church and the GLBT community!
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
Much love.
www.themarinfoundation.org
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
Much love.
www.themarinfoundation.org
Thursday, February 19, 2009
You Look Good (no homo)
(This is a picture of the beautiful city of Pittsburgh)One of the very interesting things that I realized while being in Pittsburgh last weekend is that there is a saying that runs rapid with straight males—it’s an addendum added onto the end of a complimentary sentence that says “no homo”. Let me explain. When a straight male compliments another straight male with something like,
“Dude, love the shirt” or “That guy has a cool haircut” or “Where did you buy that, it’s awesome”, the caveat “no homo” is always added onto the end of the sentence just to make sure that the other straight male doesn’t somehow mistake the complimenting straight male for gay. So a typical straight male to straight male conversation in Pittsburgh would go something like this:
Straight male #1: “What’s going on brother? You ready to hit the town tonight?”
Straight male #2: “No doubt! It’s been a rough week and I can’t wait to hang with all
of our friends tonight.”
Straight male #1: “Yeah I hear that. By the way, love the new haircut—no homo.”
Straight male #2: “Thanks man! I just got it yesterday. And you’re looking like the
ladies will love you tonight—no homo.”
You get the picture. And in no other city I have ever been to around the country have I ever heard of something like this before! It’s like “no homo” is just an everyday part of the language? I would love to say that I don’t know why they do this, but I do. Let me give you an experience from my own life:
To give some perspective as to what I am talking about, in 2006 I randomly ran into my old high school baseball coach. What was an insignificant chance meeting at a restaurant gave me a clear and painful understanding of were I used to be. I explained that I started a non-profit foundation that works to build bridges between the GLBT and religious communities. He smiled at first, and then started to laugh so hard I thought he had misheard what I said for something funny! When he was done laughing he said to me,
“Do you remember what you used to say in high school?”
I couldn’t remember, but I had a horrible feeling that I could guess what was coming.
“You used to call everyone a fag and every other phrase out of your mouth was that’s so gay! I was a fag, other coaches were fags, teammates were fags, teachers were fags, your parents were fags and your best friends were fags. Everyone was either a fag or gay.”
Hearing what he said crippled my soul because his seemingly harmless memories of who I was really put everything in perspective. My former coach did not remember the school records I broke, nor did he remember that I was the first baseball player from my high school to receive a Division I athletic baseball scholarship to college. No. After almost seven years he only remembered that I called everyone a fag and whenever I was not satisfied with something or someone, I called them gay. I was the biggest Bible-banging homophobic alpha-male I knew; and I was embarrassed to leave that conversation realizing that I left such a horrible reflection as part of my life’s legacy.
At this point I know what you’re thinking, and please don’t make the mistake of coming up with some lame excuse as to why my thoughts or actions were ok; because they weren’t. I failed, and for the first time I had to face that head on.
So there it was, my old life in high school played out in the context of present day culture in Pittsburgh in 2009. Being years removed from where I used to be, intellectually and experientially, all I can say is this:
Just please, please stop using those terms. Take them out of your vocabulary. They might seem normal. They might seem like an everyday part of life. But you have no idea whatsoever who (whether you know the person or they just overhear you) those words might eternally impact—or worse yet, throw deeper into their own closet of pain and isolation. I wish I could take back all of those years, but I can’t. And today I sit here regretting every single time any of those words came out of my mouth; as harmless as I thought they were at that time. So please don’t make the same mistake, and then a decade later have to live with the same regret.
Much love.
www.themarinfoundation.org
“Dude, love the shirt” or “That guy has a cool haircut” or “Where did you buy that, it’s awesome”, the caveat “no homo” is always added onto the end of the sentence just to make sure that the other straight male doesn’t somehow mistake the complimenting straight male for gay. So a typical straight male to straight male conversation in Pittsburgh would go something like this:
Straight male #1: “What’s going on brother? You ready to hit the town tonight?”
Straight male #2: “No doubt! It’s been a rough week and I can’t wait to hang with all
of our friends tonight.”
Straight male #1: “Yeah I hear that. By the way, love the new haircut—no homo.”
Straight male #2: “Thanks man! I just got it yesterday. And you’re looking like the
ladies will love you tonight—no homo.”
You get the picture. And in no other city I have ever been to around the country have I ever heard of something like this before! It’s like “no homo” is just an everyday part of the language? I would love to say that I don’t know why they do this, but I do. Let me give you an experience from my own life:
To give some perspective as to what I am talking about, in 2006 I randomly ran into my old high school baseball coach. What was an insignificant chance meeting at a restaurant gave me a clear and painful understanding of were I used to be. I explained that I started a non-profit foundation that works to build bridges between the GLBT and religious communities. He smiled at first, and then started to laugh so hard I thought he had misheard what I said for something funny! When he was done laughing he said to me,
“Do you remember what you used to say in high school?”
I couldn’t remember, but I had a horrible feeling that I could guess what was coming.
“You used to call everyone a fag and every other phrase out of your mouth was that’s so gay! I was a fag, other coaches were fags, teammates were fags, teachers were fags, your parents were fags and your best friends were fags. Everyone was either a fag or gay.”
Hearing what he said crippled my soul because his seemingly harmless memories of who I was really put everything in perspective. My former coach did not remember the school records I broke, nor did he remember that I was the first baseball player from my high school to receive a Division I athletic baseball scholarship to college. No. After almost seven years he only remembered that I called everyone a fag and whenever I was not satisfied with something or someone, I called them gay. I was the biggest Bible-banging homophobic alpha-male I knew; and I was embarrassed to leave that conversation realizing that I left such a horrible reflection as part of my life’s legacy.
At this point I know what you’re thinking, and please don’t make the mistake of coming up with some lame excuse as to why my thoughts or actions were ok; because they weren’t. I failed, and for the first time I had to face that head on.
So there it was, my old life in high school played out in the context of present day culture in Pittsburgh in 2009. Being years removed from where I used to be, intellectually and experientially, all I can say is this:
Just please, please stop using those terms. Take them out of your vocabulary. They might seem normal. They might seem like an everyday part of life. But you have no idea whatsoever who (whether you know the person or they just overhear you) those words might eternally impact—or worse yet, throw deeper into their own closet of pain and isolation. I wish I could take back all of those years, but I can’t. And today I sit here regretting every single time any of those words came out of my mouth; as harmless as I thought they were at that time. So please don’t make the same mistake, and then a decade later have to live with the same regret.
Much love.
www.themarinfoundation.org
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Toddlers and Tiaras: God is Lost in Sexuality
Due to the shear train-wreck that is the new TLC reality show, Toddlers and Tiaras, my wife loves to watch. I actually think it’s one of those “sad train wrecks” and not the “entertaining train wreck” that I usually enjoy watching; but since my wife and I only have one TV, what we decided to watch we both watch. The show is about the inner-workings of, as the title so eloquently states, toddlers (and their [crazy] parents who try as hard as they can to project normalcy in front of the cameras) that are involved in child beauty pageants.
I have seen two episodes of this show, and both times they have left a tremendous impact on me—socially and theologically. The first show featured the pageant age group of 0-11 months, as well as the 12-23 month age grouping. My favorite part of watching these age groups (and by favorite I mean the part that makes me want to throw up more than anything), is when the parent’s hold up their 0-23 month old kid in the air to show them to the judges like they are an idol of beauty and perfection. Their pose reminds me of another similar picture I seem to remember from my childhood (see below).
No Joke! That is literally what the parent's do...
And it also reminds me of another picture ingrained in my head from childhood—one that was shown in the movie Roots as the slave traders tried their best to make their “cargo” look acceptable so rich white people would give them money. Sound familiar?
Last night’s show just solidified all of this in my mind. It didn’t just show the actions of what these people believe the ideal of what a perfect perception of beauty is; it was also vocalized by the judges. At the end of the show one of the judges was asked,
“Why, and how did you determine the winner?”
The judge’s answer:
“I was looking for the glitz and glamour over natural beauty; it showed me whose parents were willing to go the extra mile and spend the extra money to make their daughter look the best.”
No matter how many times the moms might say "beauty is on the inside" (which one of the girl’s moms reiterated throughout the show), their actions always prove otherwise. And to the girl who won? Her winning response was:
“I’m excited that I won because it makes me feel beautiful.”
That’s coming from a 10-year old girl whose self-identity, worth and sexuality are being indoctrinated into a culture that extols unrealistic ideals that a pageant beauty of big money, fancy clothes and altered features = societal acceptance and love. All I kept thinking about was: Where does this leave the church and how are these kids, and all of the other kids watching this program supposed to know and understand true unconditional love from God?
I believe that these types of pageants are nothing more than child prostitution. And you can quote me on that.
In the first century church the philosophical pagan thought of the day was that the body was inherently evil, and thus the pagans adorned themselves with jewels, fine clothes and loaded themselves with lots and lots of ritual sex that was supposed to bring pleasure in order to cleanse their evil nature (hence Paul’s treatment in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20) that reminds the Corinthians that their body is a temple of the Holy Spirit—countercultural to what modernity (at their time and ours) believes.
The problem is that the Church is not doing anything to reverse the societal trends of what it means to live a distinct, beautiful life in Christ. That type of life is one that is not focused on sexuality (straight or gay) by not having to live in the ideal life that communicates the only acceptable means to existence is to grow up, get married, have kids and reproduce the cycle all over again (whether in a straight life or in a gay life that believes the same).
I believe God’s original intent in creating humans was not for them to exist how we exist today, but rather His creation was to live in relation to the Garden, and live in relationship with Him. Pure. Plain. Simple. The Trinity recreated in real life. And yet overt sexuality has become the dominant trait and characteristic of what is normal and acceptable (Christian, secular and gay communities). Doing my graduate seminary work at Moody Bible Institute—those who attend MBI call it Moody Bridal Institute.
Everyone thinks that is funny. I don’t. It’s sad, and it’s very, very pitiful. That just shows us where the lines have blurred into living with the “ideal mindset of human life” focused on a social and Christian norm that has been reverted back to a first century pagan belief system—not how God originally intended. You can talk to me about the Fall as being the cause of this mess, but with every ounce of my being I believe that we have already won the battle with evil through Christ’s death. And thus, we have an ability today, in 2009, to make countercultural decisions that reclaim God’s goal of an ideal human existence: live in relation to the Garden (or the earth today) while living in relationship with Him. Pure. Plain. Simple. The Trinity recreated in each one of our lives.
Until Churches, parents and leaders start to reorder their, and the younger generation’s priorities of what is to be acceptably mainstream (both mainstream secular as well as mainstream Christian—which has almost been just as deadly), we’ll just keep producing more well intentioned people believing that unconditional love can only be birthed through actions revolving around what is believed (Christian and secular) as an ideal sexuality.
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I'm Back from Off the Grid
Yes, I’m back! I’ve actually, and strangely, missed posting; so I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. I thought I’d throw out some reflections from my most recent 3 State, 8 day trip. Throughout this trip I had the privilege of speaking to the ‘whole’ of what encompasses a majority of the Christian community:
Spoke (and preached) in 2 churches (Lawndale Chicago and Harbor San Diego)
Spoke to 2,000 pastors about what it means to productively build bridges with gays and lesbians in their local communities (National Pastors Convention)
Spoke to a couple hundred college students about making a significant impact on their college campuses by going places they don’t fit in, or belong (Jubilee Conference)
A few major things stuck out to me throughout the past 8 days….
Lawndale is Legitimate
It was one of the major honors of my life to have a chance to speak at both services at Lawndale Community Church. The white, Wayne ‘Coach’ Gordon, founded LCC a few decades ago in the absolute middle of the worst neighborhood in Chicago. 30 years later the Lord has used him to totally change the culture of what it is to live in, and work in Lawndale. Coach founded the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) with Dr. John Perkins, and they have taken their model of the 3Rs: Relocation, Reconciliation and Redistribution, across the world [yes, it’s the same model I have used with The Marin Foundation since our inception]. In working with the Federal Government, Coach has been able to receive millions of dollars in grants in which 100% of that goes directly into the Lawndale community, culminating in one of their most recent projects—a brand new state of the art health center which includes a full hospital (English and Spanish), a brand new workout facility, gyms, pools, etc.—the nicest this world has to offer, all placed in the middle of a neighborhood nobody believed in. The moment I stepped into their sanctuary (no, LCC is not a mega-church, nor does it have any new buildings), the Spirit of the Lord was so clearly present. I didn’t expect to be swept away with such emotion, but as I walked in I realized that each person who enters those doors want to be there, want to love the Lord, want to worship, and have each made a cognizant choice to do so—because everything in their neighborhood goes against those choices. What a powerful pace, LCC and its congregation. And I was just humbled to participate in their history in some small way.
National Pastors Convention (NPC) is Legitimate
Just go to the link of NPC above, and check out the caliber of folks who were apart of this extraordinary event. Everywhere you turned was a “famous” Christian pastor or author just chillin’ in the San Diego sun, open to whatever conversations they might happen upon. Throughout the week I had some of the most mind-blowing, stimulating conversations of my life! On one of the days, I also felt kind of like cattle getting herded around from interview to interview by my publicist (which, by the way, I was totally ok with!!!); from Rev! Magazine to Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal to Outreach Magazine to the LA Times to the Ooze.com. And I got to finally meet and hang out with a man I’m totally obsessed with: AJ Jacobs, who wrote the New York Times bestsellers Year of Living Biblically and the Know It All. If I could just follow him around my whole life, I’d be a happy guy. What an experience! As for my times of speaking, check this out: NPC partnered with the Christian Global Network Television (CGNTV), and CGNTV chose to broadcast (translated into various languages) my Answering the Tough Questions on Sexual Identity workshop on their station—reaching as far as South Korea! Wow…I don’t have much else to say about that! And then during the introduction to my time speaking at the General Session on Thursday evening, Andy Crouch, who is the Senior Editor at Christianity Today International and author of Publisher’s Weekly 2008 Best Religion Books: Culture Making, said in front of 2,000 pastors:
“I just finished reading Love is an Orientation last night, and I have to tell all of you that this book is explosive! And I don’t know where or how the dust will settle … but that is the exciting, yet very scary part. I have never read anything like it before.”
How about that for an introduction—and I just met the man about fifteen minutes before he said that!? I never expected anything like that. In some not-so-small-way, it’s just another reminder of the importance and uniqueness of what the Lord has asked us to faithfully do as a distinct follower of Him; completely backwards to what the Christian community has always done.
Jubilee is Legitimate
The last time I was in Pittsburgh the crowd wasn’t really too excited about my message. But there’s no better way to change that then to get a bunch of hungry and eager college kids riled up about a bridge building message between them and the GLBT community! It was such an exhilarating (and ridiculously refreshing) time to see the undying and raw passion that so many college kids have, yearning to know how to productively build bridges with their gay and lesbian classmates and campus groups. I just wish you all could have been there experiencing the excitement, yells and Spirit-lead passion these kids had—interactively soaking up each of my words with the anticipation of getting back on campus to counterculturally immerse themselves where they all know Christ would have been. No more walls; no more barriers; no more campus directors persuading them not to experience a life different from theirs! We’re moving this thing grass-roots style, and I can’t wait to see how the Lord will continue to work.
Conclusion
All though I was on the road for 8 consecutive days, having 14-16 hour days of non-stop talking, meeting and collaborating (or as Shane Claiborne says: Plotting Goodness), I have returned better off then when I left! Be encouraged as well—because when I go to all of these places I’m going for all of us, representing each and every bridge builder out there who longs to see a new day of reconciliation in this culture war.
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
Spoke (and preached) in 2 churches (Lawndale Chicago and Harbor San Diego)
Spoke to 2,000 pastors about what it means to productively build bridges with gays and lesbians in their local communities (National Pastors Convention)
Spoke to a couple hundred college students about making a significant impact on their college campuses by going places they don’t fit in, or belong (Jubilee Conference)
A few major things stuck out to me throughout the past 8 days….
Lawndale is Legitimate
It was one of the major honors of my life to have a chance to speak at both services at Lawndale Community Church. The white, Wayne ‘Coach’ Gordon, founded LCC a few decades ago in the absolute middle of the worst neighborhood in Chicago. 30 years later the Lord has used him to totally change the culture of what it is to live in, and work in Lawndale. Coach founded the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) with Dr. John Perkins, and they have taken their model of the 3Rs: Relocation, Reconciliation and Redistribution, across the world [yes, it’s the same model I have used with The Marin Foundation since our inception]. In working with the Federal Government, Coach has been able to receive millions of dollars in grants in which 100% of that goes directly into the Lawndale community, culminating in one of their most recent projects—a brand new state of the art health center which includes a full hospital (English and Spanish), a brand new workout facility, gyms, pools, etc.—the nicest this world has to offer, all placed in the middle of a neighborhood nobody believed in. The moment I stepped into their sanctuary (no, LCC is not a mega-church, nor does it have any new buildings), the Spirit of the Lord was so clearly present. I didn’t expect to be swept away with such emotion, but as I walked in I realized that each person who enters those doors want to be there, want to love the Lord, want to worship, and have each made a cognizant choice to do so—because everything in their neighborhood goes against those choices. What a powerful pace, LCC and its congregation. And I was just humbled to participate in their history in some small way.
National Pastors Convention (NPC) is Legitimate
Just go to the link of NPC above, and check out the caliber of folks who were apart of this extraordinary event. Everywhere you turned was a “famous” Christian pastor or author just chillin’ in the San Diego sun, open to whatever conversations they might happen upon. Throughout the week I had some of the most mind-blowing, stimulating conversations of my life! On one of the days, I also felt kind of like cattle getting herded around from interview to interview by my publicist (which, by the way, I was totally ok with!!!); from Rev! Magazine to Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal to Outreach Magazine to the LA Times to the Ooze.com. And I got to finally meet and hang out with a man I’m totally obsessed with: AJ Jacobs, who wrote the New York Times bestsellers Year of Living Biblically and the Know It All. If I could just follow him around my whole life, I’d be a happy guy. What an experience! As for my times of speaking, check this out: NPC partnered with the Christian Global Network Television (CGNTV), and CGNTV chose to broadcast (translated into various languages) my Answering the Tough Questions on Sexual Identity workshop on their station—reaching as far as South Korea! Wow…I don’t have much else to say about that! And then during the introduction to my time speaking at the General Session on Thursday evening, Andy Crouch, who is the Senior Editor at Christianity Today International and author of Publisher’s Weekly 2008 Best Religion Books: Culture Making, said in front of 2,000 pastors:
“I just finished reading Love is an Orientation last night, and I have to tell all of you that this book is explosive! And I don’t know where or how the dust will settle … but that is the exciting, yet very scary part. I have never read anything like it before.”
How about that for an introduction—and I just met the man about fifteen minutes before he said that!? I never expected anything like that. In some not-so-small-way, it’s just another reminder of the importance and uniqueness of what the Lord has asked us to faithfully do as a distinct follower of Him; completely backwards to what the Christian community has always done.
Jubilee is Legitimate
The last time I was in Pittsburgh the crowd wasn’t really too excited about my message. But there’s no better way to change that then to get a bunch of hungry and eager college kids riled up about a bridge building message between them and the GLBT community! It was such an exhilarating (and ridiculously refreshing) time to see the undying and raw passion that so many college kids have, yearning to know how to productively build bridges with their gay and lesbian classmates and campus groups. I just wish you all could have been there experiencing the excitement, yells and Spirit-lead passion these kids had—interactively soaking up each of my words with the anticipation of getting back on campus to counterculturally immerse themselves where they all know Christ would have been. No more walls; no more barriers; no more campus directors persuading them not to experience a life different from theirs! We’re moving this thing grass-roots style, and I can’t wait to see how the Lord will continue to work.
Conclusion
All though I was on the road for 8 consecutive days, having 14-16 hour days of non-stop talking, meeting and collaborating (or as Shane Claiborne says: Plotting Goodness), I have returned better off then when I left! Be encouraged as well—because when I go to all of these places I’m going for all of us, representing each and every bridge builder out there who longs to see a new day of reconciliation in this culture war.
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
Monday, February 9, 2009
Off the Grid
I want to give everyone a fair warning that I might not be posting until next Tuesday. Over the next nine days I’m going to be speaking in three different States, and have a pretty packed schedule in each city. Here are some of the highlights to come:
Sunday Feb. 8th I will be speaking at both services at Lawndale Community Church in Chicago, and then host a 50 minute workshop as well.
Monday Feb. 9th I fly to San Diego to speak at the National Pastors Convention (NPC) until Friday. Some of the special times planned in San Diego include:
-Getting to hang out with my friends at Youth Specialties, who are based in San Diego
-Get to speak to the pastoral staff at Harbor Church
-Have meetings with three different publishing houses to try and figure out where my next book might be published at
-I have already scheduled times to get to go to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and/or hang out with Scot McKnight, Brian McLaren, Gabe Lyons, Dave Kinnaman, Anne Jackson and Cathleen Falsani at different times throughout the week
-Have two interviews—one with Leadership through Christianity Today and the other with Rev! Magazine
And then on Friday after my last workshop at NPC I’m flying to Pittsburgh to speak at Jubilee Conference to a bunch of college students Saturday and Sunday!!!
Please pray for me this next week as I speak the Lord’s words as I continue to try to bridge the gap.
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
Sunday Feb. 8th I will be speaking at both services at Lawndale Community Church in Chicago, and then host a 50 minute workshop as well.
Monday Feb. 9th I fly to San Diego to speak at the National Pastors Convention (NPC) until Friday. Some of the special times planned in San Diego include:
-Getting to hang out with my friends at Youth Specialties, who are based in San Diego
-Get to speak to the pastoral staff at Harbor Church
-Have meetings with three different publishing houses to try and figure out where my next book might be published at
-I have already scheduled times to get to go to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and/or hang out with Scot McKnight, Brian McLaren, Gabe Lyons, Dave Kinnaman, Anne Jackson and Cathleen Falsani at different times throughout the week
-Have two interviews—one with Leadership through Christianity Today and the other with Rev! Magazine
And then on Friday after my last workshop at NPC I’m flying to Pittsburgh to speak at Jubilee Conference to a bunch of college students Saturday and Sunday!!!
Please pray for me this next week as I speak the Lord’s words as I continue to try to bridge the gap.
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Book Endorsement Process—Part 2
These pictures are of the people endorsing Love is an Orientation:
(Top Row from Left to Right: Scot McKnight, Shane Claiborne and Me and Marko)
(Lower Row from Left to Right: David Roberts from Ex-Gay Watch, Michelle Strombeck and Brian McLaren)
*For more information on what they said, see the previous post
The reason I said my endorsers “took a chance” in the last post was because there were a couple people out there who said no to me by giving me the rationale that it is too controversial of a topic and it will “hurt their brand.” Yes, I had some Christians talk to me about “their brand.” I promised my editor, my wife, my family and myself that I would be gracious while taking about Kingdom work and referencing personal “religious brands”, so all I have to say about “religious brands” is that I am sorry those people didn’t want to step out to face head on the most divisive topic in the Church today with a humbled love, grace and forgiveness—both to ourselves and to the GLBT community.
My experience has shown that throughout the endorsement process there were four types of “no’s” I received:
1. The upfront and gracious “no” that is sincere and heartfelt—usually due to not having the full amount of time to read the manuscript and formulate an all encompassing endorsement.
2. The upfront and gracious “I’ll read it and let you know”, and then with their decision to say no, the endorser contacts the author directly to explain why they decided to say no.
3. The not-so-upfront “no” when the endorser tells the author “yes”, and then at the very last minute send an impersonal “no” to the publisher instead of contacting the author directly.
4. The “I’m too important for you” no, when the person doesn’t respond to the initial inquiry; or even the forth, fifth or tenth inquiry either.
On the very positive flip side, my experience has shown that throughout the endorsement process there were three types of “yes’s” I received:
1. The upfront and gracious “yes” in which the endorser loves the author to death and would do anything they could to help the author in any way, shape or form.
2. The upfront and gracious “I’ll read it and let you know”, and then with their decision to say yes, the endorser contacts the author directly to explain why they decided to say yes.
3. The “Man, that was a long shot—I didn’t even know that person knew I existed” yes, who the manuscript was sent to as a best-case-scenario: they read it, loved it, and then decided it worthwhile enough to throw their name and weight behind it.
I had seven “no’s”, of which the breakdown was:
Three #1s
One #2
One #3
Two #4s
And out of the six “yes’s”, the breakdown was:
Three #1s
Two #2s
One #3s
Here is the unique thing that I have found through my book’s endorsements:
Bridge building between the GLBT community and conservative Christians can happen—and it is happening. Just look at the endorsers: they are both gay and straight; and they are both conservative and progressive—all of which are people who believe in this bridge building vision and want to see this culture war change in the immediate future.
I’m not just talking about an idea; I’m talking about an experiential reality.
Thank you Scot, Shane, Marko, David, Michelle and Brian! Let’s continue to make it happen!
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Book Endorsement Process—Part 1
The next phase of the Mysterious Publishing Process that I have recently gone through is the “endorsement” portion of the book—you know, the smarter and more famous people who you go to, to validate you, your work, experiences and thoughts so that other people will know you’re “ok to listen to.”
I totally understand the premise of an endorsement … if a respected person respects your work, it lends much credibility to your words. I’ll tell you two things, give you the first hand look at the endorsements for Love is an Orientation, and then tomorrow in Part 2 I’ll give you what I learned about the process of how people say “yes” or “no” to potential endorsements.
The endorsement process for me was really nerve-wracking. Over the last year or so, yes, I have gotten to know (and even call them friends on a few occasions) with some pretty big name folks. No I’m not going to name drop! But due to the nature of my life’s work and how I both approach and live out God’s call, I think it actually scares a few of them. Throughout my experience over the last year it seems as though some of them like to know me, they like to tell others they know me (which helps me spread the message a great deal!), but then they shy away from making a public statement on my behalf. Why? Because all of a sudden my unique bridge building work surrounding a controversial topic is then thrown on their doorstep as well. And they don’t want to have to answer to anyone on this subject, regardless of how much I’ll always have their back and even answer for them.
I’ve learned that for my book, the whole “have mass amounts of people and all of my friends endorse my book” thing didn’t really pan out like it has for many others. Yet that doesn’t matter to me one ounce because I did have a few very special people who were willing to put themselves out there by articulating their thoughts on peacefully, productively and practically building bridges between the GLBT community and conservative Christians through my book.
Here is the sneak peak at those people who will be endorsing Love is an Orientation, and what they had to say:
Scot McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, North Park University
"Homosexuality is more than a biblical debate about who's right and who's wrong. Everything converges in the pastoral and the personal context, and Andrew Marin--unlike any writer I've seen--deals with real humans in real human contexts. We desperately need this book; it has the potential to shift the evangelical movement in a more compassionate direction."
I totally understand the premise of an endorsement … if a respected person respects your work, it lends much credibility to your words. I’ll tell you two things, give you the first hand look at the endorsements for Love is an Orientation, and then tomorrow in Part 2 I’ll give you what I learned about the process of how people say “yes” or “no” to potential endorsements.
The endorsement process for me was really nerve-wracking. Over the last year or so, yes, I have gotten to know (and even call them friends on a few occasions) with some pretty big name folks. No I’m not going to name drop! But due to the nature of my life’s work and how I both approach and live out God’s call, I think it actually scares a few of them. Throughout my experience over the last year it seems as though some of them like to know me, they like to tell others they know me (which helps me spread the message a great deal!), but then they shy away from making a public statement on my behalf. Why? Because all of a sudden my unique bridge building work surrounding a controversial topic is then thrown on their doorstep as well. And they don’t want to have to answer to anyone on this subject, regardless of how much I’ll always have their back and even answer for them.
I’ve learned that for my book, the whole “have mass amounts of people and all of my friends endorse my book” thing didn’t really pan out like it has for many others. Yet that doesn’t matter to me one ounce because I did have a few very special people who were willing to put themselves out there by articulating their thoughts on peacefully, productively and practically building bridges between the GLBT community and conservative Christians through my book.
Here is the sneak peak at those people who will be endorsing Love is an Orientation, and what they had to say:
Scot McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, North Park University
"Homosexuality is more than a biblical debate about who's right and who's wrong. Everything converges in the pastoral and the personal context, and Andrew Marin--unlike any writer I've seen--deals with real humans in real human contexts. We desperately need this book; it has the potential to shift the evangelical movement in a more compassionate direction."
Shane Claiborne, author, activist, recovering sinner, www.thesimpleway.org
"One of the most important conversations happening in the church. And one of the most divisive. Andrew Marin is a fresh, gracious, innovative voice in the dialogue. For Marin, this is not about a hot-button 'issue'--it is about a face, a friend, a child of God. It is about Jesus, whose love many find hard to grasp because of what they have felt from his followers. Andrew reminds us that, whether conservative or liberal, we can have great ideas and still be mean and self-righteous. And ultimately they will know we are Christians, not by our proof-texting, but by our love."
Michelle Strombeck, Moody Broadcasting Network
"Andrew Marin speaks with a loving, clear voice about an issue that is dividing families, churches and our nation."
Mark Oestreicher, president, Youth Specialties
“The evangelical church, with a few exceptions, has been stuck with three options when it comes to our thinking and action concerning the gay community. Some remain silent because they're fearful and aren't sure what they believe. Others engage in loud and acerbic speech-making, convinced that they must first address 'conclusive' biblical truth on this special sin before any possible conversation could even begin. Still others attempt to adopt a 'love the sinner but hate the sin' perspective that sounds good on paper but seems to play out in reality as distancing from those perceived sinners. Andrew Marin, thankfully, breaks through these three options with the 'Why haven't we been doing this all along?' approach of love and dialogue. Reading this book feels like Marin just called a time-out, and asked us all to sit in a circle and talk turkey."
Brian McLaren, author, speaker and activist (brianmclaren.net)
"One of my mentors once told me, 'The hard thing about being a bridge is that you get walked on from both ends.' Thank God for those big-hearted people willing to be bridges . . . willing to suffer a lot of abuse and misunderstanding in trying to bring others together. Andrew Marin is one of those bridge-people, and he has laid himself across a huge gap to bring together people who need each other."
David Roberts, Editor of the gay organization Ex-Gay Watch www.exgaywatch.com
“This book is unlike any other on the debate of homosexuality in the Church. Andrew establishes a new starting place for us all—a definite “must read.”
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Book of Psalms
When I study the Bible I read it cover to cover, starting in Genesis 1 and end in Revelation 22:21. The Bible is a Story, and there are many stories within the Story that compile the larger message(s) on trying to learn and understand what it means to live a life loving Christ—more to come on this later on a post I will do about Scot McKnight’s book, The Blue Parakeet, which has been extremely influential to me.
Anyway, I hit the Book of Psalms. I love biblical historical context. I love reading historical commentaries and books that help me read the Bible so I can better understand the culture it was not only written in, but also the audience in that culture that it was meant to communicate through. All of this to say that whenever I arrive at a new book in the Bible I take out all of my other commentary books and read all of their introductions to the corresponding book in the Bible I’m at, so I’ll be in the right mind frame to read that particular book.
One of my favorite commentary books is the New Bible Dictionary (Third Edition) by InterVarsity Press. Here is part of what it said about Psalms. I hope this blesses you as much as it blessed me—a not so subtle reminder of who God is and why we work so diligently for His Kingdom:
"The marrow of the religious life of the psalmists was undoubtedly their knowledge of God. They never tire of singing his majesty in creation. In all his works in the heavens, the earth and the sea he has made himself known as the all-powerful, the all-knowing, the everywhere-present God. He is also the God of all history who guides everything towards the final goal which he has purposed to fulfill. But this Ruler of the world, this King of kings, is also Lawgiver and Judge, the Vindicator of all who are oppressed and their Savior. He is therefore merciful and faithful, just and righteous, the Holy One whom men and angels adore. But the God of the psalmists is also, and uniquely, the God of Israel. The God who revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who through Moses delivered Israel from Egypt, entered into covenant with them and gave them the promised land, is the God of Israel still, the Lord and Defender of the chosen people.
With such a high conception of God it is not surprising that the psalmists found their chief delight and privilege in prayer to God. There is a directness, a spontaneity and an immediacy in the prayers of the psalmists that convince us of the reality of prayer for them. The believe in his providence, trust in his presence, rejoice in his righteousness, rest in his faithfulness, confide in this nearness. In their prayers they praise, petition and commune with their God, and find refuge from sickness, want, pestilence and slander, and humble themselves under his might hand. In the progressive life of the community their behavior is marked by fidelity to God, reverent obedience to the law, kindness to the oppressed and joy in the worship of God’s people (pp. 983-984)."
Much love.
www.themarinfoundation.org
Anyway, I hit the Book of Psalms. I love biblical historical context. I love reading historical commentaries and books that help me read the Bible so I can better understand the culture it was not only written in, but also the audience in that culture that it was meant to communicate through. All of this to say that whenever I arrive at a new book in the Bible I take out all of my other commentary books and read all of their introductions to the corresponding book in the Bible I’m at, so I’ll be in the right mind frame to read that particular book.
One of my favorite commentary books is the New Bible Dictionary (Third Edition) by InterVarsity Press. Here is part of what it said about Psalms. I hope this blesses you as much as it blessed me—a not so subtle reminder of who God is and why we work so diligently for His Kingdom:
"The marrow of the religious life of the psalmists was undoubtedly their knowledge of God. They never tire of singing his majesty in creation. In all his works in the heavens, the earth and the sea he has made himself known as the all-powerful, the all-knowing, the everywhere-present God. He is also the God of all history who guides everything towards the final goal which he has purposed to fulfill. But this Ruler of the world, this King of kings, is also Lawgiver and Judge, the Vindicator of all who are oppressed and their Savior. He is therefore merciful and faithful, just and righteous, the Holy One whom men and angels adore. But the God of the psalmists is also, and uniquely, the God of Israel. The God who revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who through Moses delivered Israel from Egypt, entered into covenant with them and gave them the promised land, is the God of Israel still, the Lord and Defender of the chosen people.
With such a high conception of God it is not surprising that the psalmists found their chief delight and privilege in prayer to God. There is a directness, a spontaneity and an immediacy in the prayers of the psalmists that convince us of the reality of prayer for them. The believe in his providence, trust in his presence, rejoice in his righteousness, rest in his faithfulness, confide in this nearness. In their prayers they praise, petition and commune with their God, and find refuge from sickness, want, pestilence and slander, and humble themselves under his might hand. In the progressive life of the community their behavior is marked by fidelity to God, reverent obedience to the law, kindness to the oppressed and joy in the worship of God’s people (pp. 983-984)."
Much love.
www.themarinfoundation.org
OUTNight Board Picture 1
The Marin Foundation has an event we call OUTNights, where we recreate my original immersion experience by taking straight Christians into Boystown to listen, learn and try to understand people's stories of faith and sexuality. There is no debating, no arguing and no proselytizing ... just a couple straight Christians going out at night into the various GLBT clubs in Boystown, trying to learn to live and love. One such evening we asked gay and lesbian passer-bys to write on a board to answer some questions. This picture is for the question:
What do you think of the Church?
Just take a moment to read their responses, some of which include:
Why Me?
God loves me and I know it
God loves all of us equally, we are all working on ourselves
He is my Lord and Savior
Hatred
The Church is [supposed] to rejuvenate our mind, body and souls
These are real words by real GLBT people talking about the entity that I, and most of you reading this blog, represent. Let these words sink into our hearts, and let us pray that we can do everything we can to build this bridge to make sure no more people feel hated or betrayed. Once a week for the next couple months I will be posting a new picture with a new question ... let's see what happens?
Much love.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Marin Foundation Informational Video
This video is from the "extra" footage from the Promo Video to my book, Love Is An Orientation, which you can buy here from Borders or here from InterVarsity Press or here from Amazon.
Much love.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Finally, a Worthwhile Email Forward
I don't know how many of you have gotten this email forward, but I just got it today. I thought it was quite profound. Here you go:
IT IS STRANGE ISN'T IT....
Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?
Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?
Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but.. you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?
Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book?
Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?
Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?
Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?
Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but.. we question the words in the Bible?
Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but... they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?
Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?
IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT?
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
IT IS STRANGE ISN'T IT....
Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?
Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?
Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but.. you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?
Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book?
Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?
Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?
Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?
Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but.. we question the words in the Bible?
Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but... they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?
Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?
IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT?
Much love.
http://www.themarinfoundation.org/
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