IN TODAY'S INBOX

"Happy National Coming Out Day...although I know your personal coming out was the 13th.

Every year, around this time, I relive every detail of that night...one of the most impactful moments in my life. 

To see you courageously do what I wish my

friend ______ could have done. Not coming out and hiding who he was indirectly cost him his life.

Thank you for being a beacon for others like him."

- MH

BATTLE OF THE SEXES REVIEW

Billie Jean King

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https://jimswilleymoviereviews.blogspot.com/2017/10/battle-of-sexes.html

HOLY HERETICS PODCAST - 'How To Lose a Megachurch'

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BISHOP JIM SWILLEY: How To Lose a Megachurch

IN TODAY'S INBOX

Here's part of a sweet message that I received today...

"You're my hero!

Your story has kept me alive.

Tried to kill myself because I'm gay and because of how I was treated by people in the church.

Now I understand God's love for me  :-)

And your son is amazing.  Never met him before but have watched his sermon/messages online.

It sucks that you went through all of that pain but it saved a life.

...Wish you all the best!"

- PS

IN TODAY'S INBOX

Just wanted to share this excerpt from a beautiful message that I just received...letters like this make it all worthwhile...

"...Then I heard about you and your church in Conyers. I am disabled and it is difficult for me to get around and I never got to come to your church. But I bought and read several of your books and I felt like I wasn't all alone anymore. You sort of opened the door for me to religion again. Now I don't feel like ALL ministers are preaching beliefs that are so opposite what I have come to believe God and Jesus want us to be. 

I know when you came out several years ago, you lost a LOT. Even though you are happy now and in a great place and wouldn't change a thing, it still had to hurt bad. There have to be times when you think about that and it stings, you wouldn't be human if you didn't. But, I want you to know what a Hero I think you are! You will never know the exact number of lives you saved (literally)!! But they are out there, kids who are alive today because they saw your courage and your reassurance that it is okay to be who they are, that God loves them just the way they are and that things WILL get better for them.  

I went to the wedding of two of my friends last summer and it was the most beautiful and emotional wedding I've ever been to, everyone was crying. They had been together 17 years but said they never thought, in their lifetime, they would be able to legally marry. You could see just how much being able to do something, that straight people take for granted, meant to them. By you being brave and sharing with the world, you impacted their lives. Maybe same sex marriage would have happened anyway, but you sure helped speed it up because you helped change public opinion. You helped other people that weren't gay, but were struggling with other problems because they saw your courage.  

I'm not gay and I've never even met you face to face, but you've made my life better too. Your honesty and bravery to do the 'right' thing and not fold to just what other people wanted and expected you to do (even though you knew it was going to cost you dearly) is quite an inspiration to me and so many others. I don't feel like a 'Heathen' like I used to because I didn't fall in line with the preachings I grew up with (My mother told me to the day she died that I was going to Hell).  

If you DO ever have a day where you get down or think about how much you lost by being real and honest and true to yourself, please just think of what I've said above about the thousands of lives you've touched, inspired, and literally saved from death! You've made a difference in the world. Now, that's something God can be proud of you for!! I'M SO SORRY! I didn't mean to write a book here (hope you weren't eating dinner when you read this or your food is cold now)! I just thought you might enjoy this article...and I've been meaning to write you the other stuff, I just haven't gotten around to it. You don't have to write me back. I know you get lots and lots of other messages and you are busy.....I just wanted you to know."

- CB

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEN!

Many of you already wished Ken Marshall a Happy Birthday on the post(s) in which these pics from last Sunday first appeared...we honored his special day at the Metron at Landmark's Midtown Art Cinema Easter Brunch, but his birthday is actually tomorrow (4/19)...I just wanted to post some of them again to say a public HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the finest man I know...my friend, my partner, my Southern Gentleman, my husband, Mr. Kenneth Marshall...

At the brunch on Sunday, people took turns telling Ken what he meant to them, and I loved hearing everything that everyone had to say (and agreed with all of it)...Jonah spoke in behalf of his siblings, and his words about having 2 dads were very touching to both Ken and me... 

But my favorite speech was from my granddaughter, Sofia, who stood not once, but twice to tell Ken how much she loved him...in her second speech she said, "I've never seen you when you didn't have the biggest smile on your face! It's like you have a big rainbow around your head all the time!"

I loved that. Now every time I look at Ken, I notice the big rainbow of light around him. Olivia didn't have anything to say publicly, but you can see her right beside him in most of the shots...the girls both love him a lot...

In fact, everybody loves him, I think...

I know I certainly do...

Happy Birthday, Ken...I know that this isn't an easy time for you, and I love seeing what a good son you are to your dad, and how well you take care of him, just like you did for your mom...I'm believing we'll be able to get out of town for a couple of days next week so that you can have a break and get some rest...

These past 5 years with you have been heaven on earth...

I love you...

Again, the Happiest of Birthdays to you!

CELEBRATING OUR 2nd WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - DECEMBER 31, 2014

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