tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post9214448361361490623..comments2023-09-12T11:31:20.729-05:00Comments on Straight-Friendly: Personal Postscript: Calling All AngelsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-26521358653093062222009-05-29T00:54:10.698-05:002009-05-29T00:54:10.698-05:00Kay, as you can see, we were all shocked. How bles...Kay, as you can see, we were all shocked. How blessed you were to have known Lee in person, as many of us only came to love him through our online conversations with him. He was a valiant man, and though he left us, his legacy lives on.<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope we see more of you!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-41613902174029492962009-05-28T20:32:28.149-05:002009-05-28T20:32:28.149-05:00I knew Lee in high school and just found out that ...I knew Lee in high school and just found out that he killed himself through the information on theses blogs. I was shocked.Kaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-77894718566556368822009-04-09T00:20:00.000-05:002009-04-09T00:20:00.000-05:00Holyfoolishness, I'm grateful for your comment. Mo...Holyfoolishness, I'm grateful for your comment. More than anything, the post attests to Lee's affect on my life. Despite his abysmal sorrows, he somehow always managed to convey the love and joy of Christ. He moved me in ways I'll never forget.<BR/><BR/>Leonardo, I share your compassion and outrage for lives like Lee's and Jose's that are heinously stolen by hatred and fear. And I truly admire your determination to do all within your power, "up close or from afar," to protect those suffering mindless abuse and violence. Your example is one we all can learn from and follow. We must speak up. We must reach out. We can't allow one troubled soul to fall victim on our watch. Your passion never ceases to amaze and bless me.<BR/><BR/>And to you both, I first apologize for the delay on posting your comments. Somehow they weren't forwarded to me immediately and only surfaced a few minutes ago. (In fact, Leonardo, when I checked Sitemeter and noticed you came by, I anticipated you'd comment, but didn't know you had until just now.) <BR/><BR/>Blessings of love and peace to each of you.<BR/><BR/>TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-24402639120535168522009-04-09T00:03:00.000-05:002009-04-09T00:03:00.000-05:00Leonardo, Blogger didn't publish your comment as I...Leonardo, Blogger didn't publish your comment as I requested. Fortunately, I have an email copy, so I'm pasting in here:<BR/><BR/>Leonardo said...<BR/><BR/>¨Lee rests in God’s hands. Meanwhile, countless others like him are left in our care..¨<BR/><BR/>That´s exactly as I see it...moreover, that´s my experience and ¨calling¨...my dear Jose was Murdered over ten years ago...for years I was simply confused, befuddled, not blaming God, I put one foot in front of the other...I didn´t know what else to do...I lived not ¨blaming¨ God (there was no one to blame) but still being loved by God even though I didn´t care sometimes if I woke up the next morning or not...God doesn´t kill innoncents (even innocents who kill themselves)...but God expects me, and ¨countless others¨ to give back the view of grace that I have seen...I remain vigilant and try to be of service...up close or from afar.<BR/><BR/>The pain of living life in REALITY is sometimes/often more of a challenge than some can handle, it´s a HUGE quest...being able to keep in the REAL is a blessing...Lee was courageous until he couldn´t ¨be¨ brave anymore...he apparently needed to ¨rest in Gods hands¨ as he was overwhelmed...he knew where to go.<BR/><BR/>Lord have mercyTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-5534694828893936882009-04-07T20:56:00.000-05:002009-04-07T20:56:00.000-05:00Thank you for your beautiful and moving post.Thank you for your beautiful and moving post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16776805214662441928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-29697324273209836382009-04-07T20:29:00.000-05:002009-04-07T20:29:00.000-05:00Thank you, Genevieve. Not only those who are shake...Thank you, Genevieve. Not only those who are shaken by his loss, but also those who contributed to it need our prayers. Even before Lee left us, I prayed for God's Spirit to awaken those around him to obey Christ's command to love and forgive. After this, I pray this all the more.<BR/><BR/>At one point, when his despondency about his family's rejection (based on religious grounds, mainly) seemed at its worst, I pointed Lee to Psalm 68.6: "God sets the lonely in families." I truly believe that. And I feel it's our responsibility in Christ to be the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers that so many GLBT people have lost to religious and social bigotry. They have a home--and it's in our arms, in the "hug of affirmation and acceptance" you describe.<BR/><BR/>Somehow, by God's grace, all of us have found love and acceptance we expected from one place in another. We have been truly blessed. We can't afford not to bless others looking for what we've found.<BR/><BR/>Blessings to you always, and thanks so much for your comment.<BR/><BR/>TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-90333817975687470522009-04-07T20:14:00.000-05:002009-04-07T20:14:00.000-05:00Tim, I prayed for Lee's famly just before posting ...Tim, I prayed for Lee's famly just before posting this. I'm reminded that many in the lgbt community are hurting and need a hug of affirmation and acceptance.genevievehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041499205158357183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-15309302112581435612009-04-07T17:14:00.000-05:002009-04-07T17:14:00.000-05:00Right back at ya, Tim. I understand your needing t...Right back at ya, Tim. <BR/><BR/>I understand your needing to take time from the blogosphere. This is new news to you; I, too, had to take time away. Be gentle with yourself. God loves you beyond your wildest imaginings, as God also loves Lee. And <B><I>now</I></B> -- at last -- Lee finally knows that.Lisa Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-9804954975000946632009-04-07T14:57:00.000-05:002009-04-07T14:57:00.000-05:00John, thank you for this. My heart grieves for his...John, thank you for this. <BR/><BR/>My heart grieves for his children in particular. Up to now, observing and sensing their father's turmoils, can not have been easy to understand and handle. This final blow surely will leave permanent damage. <BR/><BR/>Your prayers--all of our prayers--will be answered, however. And though it's likely we'll never know how God's healing restores their emotional and spiritual health, we must believe it will be done.<BR/><BR/>Blessings of life and peace to you, my dear brother.<BR/><BR/>TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-78798294273169973342009-04-07T14:40:00.000-05:002009-04-07T14:40:00.000-05:00I am sorry for the loss of your friend. May he res...I am sorry for the loss of your friend. May he rest in peace.<BR/>I will keep his family in my prayers, I'm sure they are suffering.johnmichaelhttp://openawindow.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-39838569387355832232009-04-07T14:26:00.000-05:002009-04-07T14:26:00.000-05:00Annette, thank you so much for your comment. I thi...Annette, thank you so much for your comment. I think what we've seen here is more than enough to lead us back to the central message of this blog: as GLBT and other alienated believers, we can't afford to wait for "the Church" and "Christians" to overcome their fears and love as Christ commanded. WE must do it. While I join you in reviling those who exploit His name for hatred's sake, more than ever, I encourage all of us to do all we can to counter their efforts by presenting Christ to a hurting world as He truly is. It's our privilege and we must not avoid it or fail.<BR/><BR/>Lisa, how wonderful to see you here, having just got acquainted with you and your blog as a consequence of Lee's loss. I echo your compliment about S-F: My Manner of Life is a soul's harbor and I plan to point readers here your way. Tragedy of this scale can be redeemed by our banding together ever more tightly to encourage one another to fulfill Christ's law of unconditional, selfless love. I look forward to a long and mutually uplifting friendship!<BR/><BR/>Göran, you're absolutely right. There is judgment here for us all--not only those who failed Lee. And how fortunate that God is slow to anger, quick to save. We would all be lost instantly, as you say. This horrible occasion brings us to our knees in true penitence. And I pray it brings us off our knees with a greater, ever more incorruptible determination to love and accept everyone as our all-knowing and all-compassionate God loves and accepts us.<BR/><BR/>Thanks to all of you for honoring Lee with your comments here. I apologize for not responding sooner. Yesterday was a lost day for me, as I sort of spun a cocoon of reflection to try to sort through and absorb the emotions and meanings I needed to find in this sad, sad moment.<BR/><BR/>I love, appreciate, and respect each of you, and pray God's blessings on us all.<BR/><BR/>TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-63360631039186934112009-04-06T23:49:00.000-05:002009-04-06T23:49:00.000-05:00So immensely sad! And horrible! What a verdict on ...So immensely sad! And horrible! What a verdict on us all! <BR/><BR/>Good job God is little interested in retributive justice, but only in Righteousness!<BR/><BR/>Else we would all be lost instantly…Göran Koch-Swahnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00925549945659350649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-55676332833683761242009-04-06T21:12:00.000-05:002009-04-06T21:12:00.000-05:00Thank you, Tim. You've helped me fill in some othe...Thank you, Tim. You've helped me fill in some other dimensions about Lee. <BR/><BR/>I long ago gave up the deep "Why?" questions. I cannot see that Lee's death had a positive purpose. It just seems like a tragedy. He missed the springtime. He missed the chance for the love he wanted. The rest of us are left to live our lives and -- as Dan, Fran, and you have suggested -- perhaps we will treat our lives and our friends a bit more tenderly and gratefully. <BR/><BR/>You have a great blog here, and I'm glad I discovered it. You're going a good ministry here.Lisa Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-47500814565023487212009-04-06T20:35:00.000-05:002009-04-06T20:35:00.000-05:00¨Lee rests in God’s hands. Meanwhile, countless ot...¨Lee rests in God’s hands. Meanwhile, countless others like him are left in our care..¨<BR/><BR/>That´s exactly as I see it...moreover, that´s my experience and ¨calling¨...my dear Jose was Murdered over ten years ago...for years I was simply confused, befuddled, not blaming God, I put one foot in front of the other...I didn´t know what else to do...I lived not ¨blaming¨ God (there was no one to blame) but still being loved by God even though I didn´t care sometimes if I woke up the next morning or not...God doesn´t kill innoncents (even innocents who kill themselves)...but God expects me, and ¨countless others¨ to give back the view of grace that I have seen...I remain vigilant and try to be of service...up close or from afar.<BR/><BR/>The pain of living life in REALITY is sometimes/often more of a challenge than some can handle, it´s a HUGE quest...being able to keep in the REAL is a blessing...Lee was courageous until he couldn´t ¨be¨ brave anymore...he apparently needed to ¨rest in Gods hands¨ as he was overwhelmed...he knew where to go.<BR/><BR/>Lord have mercyLeonardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16667415590825321701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-10473064712134773962009-04-06T10:56:00.000-05:002009-04-06T10:56:00.000-05:00Tim,I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. I'm...Tim,<BR/><BR/>I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. I'm even more sorry that the experiences he had via the hands of "Christians" was so hurtful and painful. I have no idea how people can take the words of Christ--words of love, forgiveness, acceptance, mercy--and twist them into judgment, abuse and damnation. I believe Lee is in his Maker's arms right now, being given the balm of peace and the purest of all love.<BR/><BR/>In the end, I'm grateful for you and your acts of friendship that so many around you benefit from. You are truly an angel with a heart of gold. May God bless you with knowledge of the good you do in His name.<BR/><BR/>I adore you!<BR/><BR/>AnnetteAnnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06073456776224805574noreply@blogger.com