Thursday, November 19, 2009
If you're wondering....
I'm still around and I haven't abandoned my blog. I'm doing well in seminary and am still trying to put my spiritual gifts into practice. I'm also getting more opportunities to sing the way I want in church and have started taking Gospel lessons with Reverend Charlotte.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Letter to Logo
I wrote the following letter to Logo after having watched An Englishman in New York:
Last night I was lucky enough to catch An Englishman in New York. Since I was in college and learned about gay culture and the drag culture within it. The former Lambda League as Arizona State has a book in its library called Drag Diaries. In this book I became familiar with well known drag queens such as Lypsyncha, Lady Bunny, RuPaul and Quentin Crisp. I have maintained my fascination with Quentin Crisp and even rented Orlando just because he was in it (playing Queen Elizabeth I).
When I saw previews for An Englishman in New York I became very excited that I'd have the chance to learn a little more about Quentin Crisp. Keep this in mind, whenever I mention the name Quentin Crisp around other people my age, I get the strangest looks because they know idea who I'm talking about. Nonetheless, I was very happy I saw the movie. One of the reasons was the hear what an older gay man had to say (we don't value our elderly as much as we should), and what he'd experienced. People forget what a struggle it was to be able to live openly as many of us do today.
The part of the movie that really stood out to me was the part about when AIDS started to appear in gay men. It reminded me that many people in the '80's had very little chance of survival. In the scene where a leather man confronted Quenin about the AIDS being a "fad," it reminded me of how grateful I am that I still have most of my friends. Many of them would have been long gone in the '80's. It made realize what an awful scourge AIDS was to our community. Not only were people dying, but others, who'd had to create their own families, were losing their newfound family members.
There are some that say AIDS is God's curse on our community. That would be like saying breast cancer is God's curse on women. In other words, it's a foul, cold-hearted, uncompassionate and glib comment. I don't agree with these comments. Being a young theologian, I prefer to look at the fact that the medical breakthroughs in the last twenty years show his mercy on all of us. Every day when I see my friends who are infected with HIV, I'm grateful that the still have HIV and not AIDS. People may say that it's they who are suffering, but many of them live full happy, lives (except for the burnden of informing people of their condition). I choose to praise God that my friends are still here and I don't have to live my life without them. I love them very much and I'm very grateful I don't have to find out how sad I'd be if I'd lost most of them.
Last night I was lucky enough to catch An Englishman in New York. Since I was in college and learned about gay culture and the drag culture within it. The former Lambda League as Arizona State has a book in its library called Drag Diaries. In this book I became familiar with well known drag queens such as Lypsyncha, Lady Bunny, RuPaul and Quentin Crisp. I have maintained my fascination with Quentin Crisp and even rented Orlando just because he was in it (playing Queen Elizabeth I).
When I saw previews for An Englishman in New York I became very excited that I'd have the chance to learn a little more about Quentin Crisp. Keep this in mind, whenever I mention the name Quentin Crisp around other people my age, I get the strangest looks because they know idea who I'm talking about. Nonetheless, I was very happy I saw the movie. One of the reasons was the hear what an older gay man had to say (we don't value our elderly as much as we should), and what he'd experienced. People forget what a struggle it was to be able to live openly as many of us do today.
The part of the movie that really stood out to me was the part about when AIDS started to appear in gay men. It reminded me that many people in the '80's had very little chance of survival. In the scene where a leather man confronted Quenin about the AIDS being a "fad," it reminded me of how grateful I am that I still have most of my friends. Many of them would have been long gone in the '80's. It made realize what an awful scourge AIDS was to our community. Not only were people dying, but others, who'd had to create their own families, were losing their newfound family members.
There are some that say AIDS is God's curse on our community. That would be like saying breast cancer is God's curse on women. In other words, it's a foul, cold-hearted, uncompassionate and glib comment. I don't agree with these comments. Being a young theologian, I prefer to look at the fact that the medical breakthroughs in the last twenty years show his mercy on all of us. Every day when I see my friends who are infected with HIV, I'm grateful that the still have HIV and not AIDS. People may say that it's they who are suffering, but many of them live full happy, lives (except for the burnden of informing people of their condition). I choose to praise God that my friends are still here and I don't have to live my life without them. I love them very much and I'm very grateful I don't have to find out how sad I'd be if I'd lost most of them.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Adventures in Seminary
As some of you may already know, I'm attending seminary. Anyway, I did well on my first quiz in my Biblical Greek class, but someone scored higher than me and I'm not happy about it. Anyway, I have six taxonomies due on Friday and am nowhere near being done with it. On the bright side, I've done all the reading I need to do, but I now I need to logically order them and stuff.
I think it's either due tomorrow or Saturday. I'm really not looking forward to an other test tonight and then a marathon class tomorrow night and all day Saturday.
LORD HELP ME NOW!
I think it's either due tomorrow or Saturday. I'm really not looking forward to an other test tonight and then a marathon class tomorrow night and all day Saturday.
LORD HELP ME NOW!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Two Weeks Completed!
I've completed my day 14 workout of P90X and I'm feeling much better. I'm getting that endorphin release that feels so good. Bending down to pick things up is easer, so is getting in and out of cars. It sounds funny, but you notice these things when you're large. I weighed myself first thing this morning and weighed 227. Finally under 230. 27 Pounds to go. I just have to watch my knee in that plyometrics exercise and not overdo it.
Also I switched from Monster Milk (weight gainers simply make no sense for fat people, right, even though I did really like it) to Probolic-SR (21 grams of glutamine per serving, it's good for recovery and digestion!).
Also I switched from Monster Milk (weight gainers simply make no sense for fat people, right, even though I did really like it) to Probolic-SR (21 grams of glutamine per serving, it's good for recovery and digestion!).
Thursday, July 23, 2009
You don't see this every day
This was the game winning score in a European soccer game. Pretty darn cool. I would make a football comparison, but you get a much larger window to hit in football.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Comfort
Things in my life have changed quite a bit this year. I guess I kind of knew it was coming, but didn't know exactly what it would be. Last Sunday, I found out that I'm going to have a part in my church's youth ministry. I've been wanting to do something for gay youth who need some guidance through their teenage years, it's a lot to figure out.
I went to my church's music group rehearsal last Tuesday and Pastor Charlotte starting teaching us two new songs. GOSPEL SONGS! Finally. I've been wanting to do that since.....well, for a long time.
I'm finding a lot of peace, as well as "comfort and joy." I feel as though my life is back on track. I'm not saying there isn't growth to be had, I'm just saying I'm finally on a bullet train to somewhere. It's good to know that I'm heading where I belong. Sometimes you just reach a level of joy that just makes you want to run out into the streets and tell everyone one about it. I guess now I understand why some people can't help but talk about Jesus. When you find that kind of joy and happiness, you just feel like you're just gonna BLOW UP if you don't share it. That's the great thing about being in a music group at my church. Not only do I get to share it, I get to sing about it!
I do want to make sure it's known that life isn't going to be perfect, going forward, but I am prepared for it. I know I don't get more than I can handle and everything will be for the good with it's over and done with.
Here's to life!
Here is the video I saw (Thanks Janelle Monae) that made me feel the need to post this blog:
I went to my church's music group rehearsal last Tuesday and Pastor Charlotte starting teaching us two new songs. GOSPEL SONGS! Finally. I've been wanting to do that since.....well, for a long time.
I'm finding a lot of peace, as well as "comfort and joy." I feel as though my life is back on track. I'm not saying there isn't growth to be had, I'm just saying I'm finally on a bullet train to somewhere. It's good to know that I'm heading where I belong. Sometimes you just reach a level of joy that just makes you want to run out into the streets and tell everyone one about it. I guess now I understand why some people can't help but talk about Jesus. When you find that kind of joy and happiness, you just feel like you're just gonna BLOW UP if you don't share it. That's the great thing about being in a music group at my church. Not only do I get to share it, I get to sing about it!
I do want to make sure it's known that life isn't going to be perfect, going forward, but I am prepared for it. I know I don't get more than I can handle and everything will be for the good with it's over and done with.
Here's to life!
Here is the video I saw (Thanks Janelle Monae) that made me feel the need to post this blog:
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Disappointment is good for you
Today, as I was working out at the gym, I was thinking about dating again (though, I don't think I'm ready to get into anything serious so why bother?). There are a couple of people who I'd been interested in seeing (on a romantic level). One of my issues that have prevented this in the past is my weight (and my appearance with this particular weight). Since that was the final piece of my getting my act together puzzle, I thought I may be getting to where I am definitely ready to start looking, again. I didn't want to be a broke boyfriend, so that's part of the reason I've kinda strayed from it.
I was feeling good because worked out with my friend Joseph (who used to be a personal trainer) and went hiking with him, yesterday. Today, I worked out with him again and did about a five mile run through a hilly part of tempe when it was 110 degrees out (well, I had to stop at certain points because I wanted to kill myself). When I finally get myself motived, I don't mess around. I like to defy fat people stereotypes.
Anyway, I was having a conversation with a friend on facebook when I remembered someone in whom I'd shown interest. I decided to look at said person's facebook page. And there it was, like a surprise you don't want. "In a relationship with......" I was so upset that I sent a message to said person, who didn't quite get what I meant, right away. I ended up spelling it out. I think he could tell from my tone that I was upset and told me to call him (which was really sweet if you think about it). I decided against doing that. After a little bit of think (seriously, like two minutes), I realized it's probably better that way. I have a lot of things in my past that I really am glad I don't have to share with him. My skanky past doesn't need to be revealed to him and I would really rather this particular person saw in me in a positive light. That and the fact that his ex-is a "friend" of mine. Dating him would look really bad. I ended up telling him that I was glad he found someone who makes him happy and left it at that.
Anyway, even though I was disappointed, I got over it pretty quickly. I guess that's the great thing about faith, you give it to God and forget about it. Maybe it's a sign that now is not the time, maybe something better will come along. Maybe I need to stay single (indefinitely?). I don't know what's ahead, but things are looking up so I'm going to stay motivated to work out and lose this 55 pounds I'd like to see go the way of popped collars.
I was feeling good because worked out with my friend Joseph (who used to be a personal trainer) and went hiking with him, yesterday. Today, I worked out with him again and did about a five mile run through a hilly part of tempe when it was 110 degrees out (well, I had to stop at certain points because I wanted to kill myself). When I finally get myself motived, I don't mess around. I like to defy fat people stereotypes.
Anyway, I was having a conversation with a friend on facebook when I remembered someone in whom I'd shown interest. I decided to look at said person's facebook page. And there it was, like a surprise you don't want. "In a relationship with......" I was so upset that I sent a message to said person, who didn't quite get what I meant, right away. I ended up spelling it out. I think he could tell from my tone that I was upset and told me to call him (which was really sweet if you think about it). I decided against doing that. After a little bit of think (seriously, like two minutes), I realized it's probably better that way. I have a lot of things in my past that I really am glad I don't have to share with him. My skanky past doesn't need to be revealed to him and I would really rather this particular person saw in me in a positive light. That and the fact that his ex-is a "friend" of mine. Dating him would look really bad. I ended up telling him that I was glad he found someone who makes him happy and left it at that.
Anyway, even though I was disappointed, I got over it pretty quickly. I guess that's the great thing about faith, you give it to God and forget about it. Maybe it's a sign that now is not the time, maybe something better will come along. Maybe I need to stay single (indefinitely?). I don't know what's ahead, but things are looking up so I'm going to stay motivated to work out and lose this 55 pounds I'd like to see go the way of popped collars.
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