about Me

about Me

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

RELAX, INDIANA!

'One On One with Jim Swilley #26', recorded 3/30/15




Relax, Indiana and Memories Pizza...no gay couple on earth was ever even going to even think of asking you to "cater" their wedding...

Jim Swilley/Ken Marshall Wedding Reception 1/18/15

Saturday, April 4, 2015

BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL GIFTS

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver"...thank you so much for the life-giving words that so many of you have written to me for my birthday in the last few hours...I consider each of your expressions to be a precious gift, and appreciate them all more than you know...here are some of the ones that touched me the most...I wanted to share them here on the blog...


"Happy birthday Jim! You are without a shadow of a doubt a man I look up to and that does not happen very often. Have the best birthday ever."
JI


"Happy birthday to one of the most enchanting persons I've ever met. I know that you will live large today. You have taught me how to live and love life as well as how to be courageous and stand in my truth. Have a very wonderful day filled with all the blessings God has in store for you. God's richest and best continues to be yours."
LM


"You were born on the day that Jesus saved us all! Thats pretty cool!"
JMC


"Happy happy birthday good friend!!!! You are eternally young and your 20's are now. You know that youth is wasted on the young. Fortunately your youth is not wasted because you are more wise than young and you live each day attracting boundless love and you live each day in the NOW.
DMH



"Happy Birthday Bish!!!!  I know that you and Ken are making the most of today so I speak favor, flow, and fun over your exciting plans for the weekend!!! I love you and honor the incredible influence youve had on my family's and my life!"❤️
SM



"Happy Birthday!!!!! I am so blessed that you were born❤️ Press On!"
CDH



"Happy Birthday!!!! I hope your day is Extra special and Everything your heart desires.... that God blesses You above and beyond your Dreams could ever imagine!!! This is your year and it truly shines and looks Amazing on you!! Also I just wana add that I am so so proud of you!!! You are truly the real deal and one of a kind ...I can't thank you enough for helping my understanding and knowing who I am in Christ it is a beautiful thing!! I love you to the moon and back!!!❤️"
AS



"Happy Glad you were born day Jim :-) May your birthday be as wonderful as you are and the year ahead be filled with amazing adventures and blessings :-)"
CS



"Happy Birthday to the one and only Bishop Jim Earl Swilley! May this be the best year of your life Sir! I love you and pray that everything you set your hands to will prosper. You look better than ever, and I feel blessed just witnessing your happiness!"
LH


"Happy birthday to one great man I admire Jim Swilley husband to Ken Marshall . You're an inspiration, brave to stand for what's true no matter what the situation is. U were right on my google front page this morning when I woke up. You are on the front line You've taken most of the arrows. I love you and I pray for you to be restored to your greatness this year. May you rise over everything that has tried to put you down to your rightful place that God destined to be. The best is yet to come. Big blessings are in store for you this year. These blessings will run and overtake you. And this year shall be called a year of restoration. 
My love to you and Ken
Be blessed!!!!"
- NP


"BIG Happy Birthday to Jim Swilley! He's one of my top influences,  pastors,  and mentors. Most of all he's my friend. Love you dad!"
- Judah Benjamin Swilley



"Happy birthday Bishop. So thankful you were born to bring light into so many lives. Hope it's amazing!!"
AB



"Happy Birthday Jim! I hope you have a Blessed Day! You are so worthy and deserving of all the happiness that Life has to offer! My Best to you and Ken Always! Celebrate and Enjoy your Special Day my Friend! Much Love and Friendship Always! 
HUGS 
- TW



"Birthday blessings to a person that keeps getting better and seems happier with each birthday! :)"
CT



"The world is indeed a far better and happier place because of this your VERY SPECIAL DAY! I hope and pray it has been filled with grand surprises and many wonderful blessings! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!"
PMT




"Bishop Friend! The most blessed man of all time! Hope this day of life celebration is all that a bag of chips!"
CLS



"Happy Birthday Bishop. You have made such an impact on my life. I can never see "Religion" the same anymore."
- SP

"Jim, I pray that you reflect on the journey that brought you to this day and celebrate is as well as your birthday! YOU are an amazing man and have helped so many during your 29 years here on earth! Celebrate all of you with passion! Hugs and Happy Birthday!"
- JTP


"Already wished it but missed the day. I'll get it right this time. Happy birthday to a man that totally changed my life and possibly saved it. I love you Bish!"
- JT


"Another one already! Man they come quick. You've transitioned in a very positive way since your last birthday and it makes me proud and happy for you. I hope your day is awesome! Love Ya always!"
- PH


"Happy birthday, to a brave and wonderful man. Have a great day."
LPW


"My life would be so different without the YOU-FACTOR. I watched you speak from the stage, 1980 or so, and immediately loved you as my own soul. Without you, things wouldn't be as bright, funny, clear, sharp or free. I was a bird but you gave me wings. When I hear something profound.... or funny.... or shocking.... or amazing or bizarre..... I want to tell YOU about it. You presence is electric. Your revelation, deep. Your friendship? A valuable possession I would not trade for silver or gold. You have helped me live. I will not die without your perspective. You are stuck with me. And, in the next place, I am sure you will be part of my Heaven.
Happy Birthday! I Love you."
- RR


"I have so many wonderful words I could say that describe what an amazing man you are, but I would be writing all day ! I will say you are the kindest, most caring,loving and giving man I've ever met ! I have so much respect for you and I'm very proud of the man I see and love very much ! My wish for you today is that your special day will be filled with many blessings and love and I'm looking forward to celebrating many more wonderful years with you ! Happy Birthday to the man in my life that I'm proud to call my husband ! I love you !"
- Ken Marshall

Sunday, March 22, 2015

IN TODAY'S MAIL

To Jim Swilley,

This weekend I happen to be surfing the web and somehow landed on your story of truth.  There are so many things I wish to express after spending time researching your story both in the past and present.  However I will not try here.

Simply, all I want to say is THANK YOU! 

Observing your courage to openly express the truth of your being gay to your spiritual community was uplifting to me.  I am a 56yo, African American gay man whose journey has been somewhat similar.  I am not a minister but have been a musician of sorts throughout my life in the church.  Having walked the Christian, Non-denomination, and now Unity path, I reached a point where I felt confused and challenged by trying to be truthful to my gayness while being a man of faith.

You have inspired me to continue the journey and have faith that God loves me.  I have a bit of fear as I get older and look towards my future.  I think by finding your ministry I will be able to connect to an online community that will help me navigate that journey in a positive.

I look forward to continuing to following, no connecting, to you and your ministry!

Peace and Blessings
EF

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

IN TODAY'S MAIL

Even though we're approaching the 5 year anniversary of 'A REAL MESSAGE TO REAL PEOPLE',  I still get letters like this great one that came in this morning fairly regularly from all over the world...this kind of thing makes it all worthwhile,  and this message in particular really made my day...scroll down to find links to the video on both Livestream and YouTube...


Dear Mr. Swilley

I recently watched your video, in which you formally come out as gay to your congregation. For many years of my life I have ran from all forms of religion, and grew a strong hatred for Christianity. I was touched, it brought tears to my eyes to see the open mindedness and support you have given people. I honestly watched the video for distasteful reasons. I have for the majority of my life had very low expectations for Christians. Where others see love and community I see hate and slavery. What I was looking for was another reason to hate, but instead I found a reason to love. I wish you the best. I am truly happy I stumbled across this video. Maybe there is hope for the rest of the world after all.

Sincerely,
John.

Thanks, John...I really appreciate it!
- JES 

Monday, February 23, 2015

THE IMITATION GAME AND ALAN TURING

Finally saw The Imitation Game today...breathtaking film...touched me on so many levels, and the ending just wiped me out...haven't cried that hard in many years...really took me a while to get it together afterward, and my eyes are still bloodshot...if you're reading this post on a computer, you should thank Alan Turing, and the film should be mandatory viewing of film for all gay people...


Thursday, January 1, 2015

JIM SWILLEY/KEN MARSHALL

I want to sincerely thank everyone for your amazing words of support and celebration on Social Media, and in private messages and phone calls to us in regards to our wedding yesterday in beautiful New York City...we are absolutely overwhelmed by the love that we feel from all of you, and your sweet comments really made it seem like you all were a part of our perfect day...and it was just that, %100 PERFECT...there was so much favor, and so much flow to everything, that there was/is no doubt that God and the angels and the Universe were all smiling on us, and giving us a big, sloppy wet kiss...not even one hiccup...it was exactly as I/we had imagined it, and our hearts are overflowing with bliss and gratitude...there is a lot more to tell about it, but I'll save it for when we get home...
Our phones and computers have been blowing up with non-stop messages, so if we missed responding to one of yours, please don't think that we didn't read it...again, thank you so much!
I also want to say thank you to my husband, Ken Marshall...you are, without a doubt, the finest, sweetest, most wonderful man I've ever known, and I'm honored to have you share my life with me...I love you so much...
One more thing...however good you think that God is, multiply that to infinity...He's sooooo much better than we can imagine, and He is able to do more than we can ask or think!
Here are some of my favorite comments from the last few hours...except for Bishop Flunder's words, I just used initials because most of these were private messages, and I didn't ask the people who wrote them if I could quote them...

"I am so happy for you and Ken. I am so proud to serve a God that LOVES. You guys are an amazing example of what He can do. I am a Mental Health Counselor and serve mostly adolescents and young adults. I have used your example and the things you've written about your family with my clients and clients' families who are struggling. Know that your love for each other shows through a computer screen and that you have helped young people that you don't even know. I pray that the wonderful, powerful,loving God that we serve continue to bless you accordingly..."
- KD

"...you've sparked a light in others with your journey from 'coming out' to your church and remaining pastor, to speaking publicly on CNN, to getting married. And the journey, nay adventure, isn't over. Better it is yet to be shared with a companion..."
- JJ

"Congrats to Bishop Jim Swilley on getting married on New Year's Eve. He and his partner are starting the New Year off right. Jim has been an inspiration to many of us regarding his courage and enormous strength in coming out a couple of years ago to his mega church congregation; thus, rocking the Christian religious community. He is a brilliant scholar and a wonderful human being. Jim is an example that it's never too late to live in your truth and in total freedom despite the cost - liberty is costly to have and to maintain. His coming out in his 5Os shows that at any point one can do what's in one's heart."

- NS

"Jim I joy as I see that you can be joined legally with your companion....Im pushing 70 years old and it is one of the greatest events of my days.........blessings to you...and rest in your honesty..."

- DD

"Days like this make the journey to marriage equality worth the struggle. I love you as Brothers and wish you the best that heaven has to offer."

- Bishop Yvette Flunder


"I'm filled with joy as I see, and feel, glimpses of your last couple of days. It's like seeing an explosion of happiness that showers confetti down on all others, triggering the spread of more goodness in an exponential way. I'm thrilled for you both, and I know that this will be your brightest year ahead, together, joined in union.I don't want to go on long as I'm certain that your inboxes are flooded. I just wanted to share some of what's on my mind. And someone better buy some more confetti for all the happiness and good to come. I love you."
- BS



Thanks so much, everyone! Love to ALL!