decomber 19. 2003
20J“ **
First Congregational
United Church of Christ
j u s t r r r r a
the perfect hoCidaygift.
Forgot the
Condom?
Let’s Talk About It.
LAURELHURST
1126SW PARK AVENUE
503-228-7219
DENTISTRY
Celebrate
Christm as Eve
W ith U s
C
l a r ic e
&
5 :3 0 p .m . F a m ily Serv ice
J o h n s t o n
d m . d
A S S O C I A T E S
A UW research project
for guys who have sex
with guys.
• Treatment explained and discussed
Children are invited to play actors
in a retelling of the Christmas .Story.
• Teeth whitening
1 0 :0 0 p .m . C o n c e rt
• New patients welcome
1 0 :3 0 p .m . C a n d le lig h t Serv ice
Compensation
provided.
A traditional evening service of carols,
an therm, scripture and sermon.
Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross preaching.
We are an Open &. Affirming church
where everyone is welcome,
including straight, leshian, gay,
bisexual and transgender people.
503 / 233-3622
®
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www.justout.com
2520 East Burnside
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rtj
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terrykilby@earthlink.net
1 877 604-6595
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www.thesexcheck.org
Have You Hugged
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The Trench philosopher Pascal once mused that no one commits evil more
cheerfully than one convinced he is going good. Such is the case with diehard
religious fundamentalists who rant against us in the name of love. Convinced
we are caught up in a 'lifestyle' proscribed by God, they righteously oppose us
at every turn. Ho force on earth is sufficient to persuade them it is homophobia
rather than love of truth that motivates them.
When demonized, it is tempting to return the favor. Indeed, the hurt is
etched so indelibly in our souls that the mere mention of a name such as Pat
Robertson is sufficient to raise our ire as well as our blood pressure.
Immediately we think of a hateful, narrow minded bigot incapable of any
kindness. Yet, undoubtedly many who know him personally see him in an
entirely different light. He claims to cherish many of the same virtues we uphold
but superimposes them on a very different worldview than ours.
In the 'Lord's Prayer' Jesus teaches us to pray, 'Forgive us our sins as we
forgive those who sin against us.' This sounds like pious nonsense but it is the
most radical of Jesus' teachings. Me was not suggesting we do so for the sake of
some future reward. He knew that in the very depths of our hearts we can know
no peace until we have forgiven those who have wronged us. We do not forgive
others for their sake. We forgive them to free ourselves from their toxic hate.
Forgiving those who dehumanize us does not mean ignoring the injustice of
their actions. In fact, we can forgive them and stand firmly against them while
responding, not in anger, which only harms us, but in love which has the power
to transform even our enemies. The civil rights struggle waged by Dr. Martin
Luther King movingly demonstrated the efficacy of opposing hate with love.
It is not easy to forgive. It demands a power beyond our own ability and
there is no possibility we can forgive until we recognize it is in our own best
interest. Then, we can go before God and humbly pray for the grace to do so. It
may seem silly to think of hugging fundamentalists (they most likely wouldn't
want it anyway) but, if gays in growing numbers actively engaged them in a spirit
of love, it would make their efforts to condemn us much tougher. It might even
open some of their hearts to accept us as God created us.
Free S e co n d Opinions
Terry Kilby
M n n m l
A Message from the Anawim Community
C )o lu m b ia
(s i
» « H l'i— ;*»*>) Hr* C*»1»
A Community of Gay Men Seeking to Follow Jesus
gayanawim@aol.com