*shhh! we don't talk about that!

Ok, it might be taboo and politically incorrect, but I wanna talk about homosexuality.

So here's a few questions I've been pondering: where does a homosexual preference really come from? Is it biological or does it develop through environment? Should it be seen as a "disorder"? How do we as Christians deal with it and them?

Back home, I had these questions as well, but they didn't seem so urgent. I never had any close friends or acquaintances who were gay. I worked with a couple over the years, but never long enough to get to know them. So it wasn't until recently, really, when I came face to face with these issues.

So what are the typical responses? Liberals say "they're born with it--it's natural" and conservatives say "it's not natural--it's a choice and it's wrong." As Christians, we believe God teaches that homosexuality is wrong. "...nor the homosexual offenders...will inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Cor. 9, 10. However, the struggle is that it's hard not to absorb some of what the media is feeding us--that homosexuals are born that way. And once you befriend a homosexual, you see that they believe it too. It can be hard to be a Christian in a "tolerate everything world." But if homosexuals are born that way, then do we conclude that God created them imperfect? I know that we all fall due to our own sinful desires. But the natural desire for sex in a heterosexual way is God-given... it's only the wrong timing (etc.) that can make it sinful. Sexual relations within marriage are beautiful and encouraged by God. So...why would God give someone homosexual desires if there was no way for them to rightfully fulfill that desire?

Maybe there are some sinful desires that we must live with and fight against all our lives. But I still have a hard time reconciling this one. As I've become closer friends with one of my gay guy friends, he's opened up and shared a lot and answered a lot of my questions. When I asked him, "When did you 'know'?" He answered that he started to realize "something's not right with this picture" around age 14 (i think) but that he was really distressed about it. It took him a couple of years before he would admit to himself that he was gay.

Does that sound like a choice?

Okay, so then we might say, yes, he has the choice to remain abstinent.

But is that it? Is that what God desires? I'm not sure, but I don't think so. I've read a couple of really interesting articles lately, from the website of the NARTH organization (www.narth.com). Now I'm starting to understand how homosexuality might develop and how I as a Christian can deal with people who struggle with this. I believe that homosexuality is a dysfunctional relationship behavior just like serial dating, bulimia, passive aggression, and obesity can be. They can all be viewed as stemming from personality traits, genetics, or environmental causes. But when we meet a bulimic, we don't show them the cold shoulder--we immediately recognize that they have suffered some kind of emotional pain and that they are in an addictive behavioral cycle that they cannot stop without help.

What I'm really trying to say is that if we want to be effective loving Christians, we need to understand where the problem is really coming from, and what can be done about it. We need to recognize that homosexuals don't choose to have homosexual feelings. But we also need to be true to our faith and really believe that this isn't the life God intended for them; just as we don't give up on the bulimic girl and say "oh well, it's the cross she has to bear"--no...we try to get help for her! (Of course, she has to be willing to admit that there is a problem, or you can't help her.)

The answer that homosexuals can find healing and can change is refreshing news to them as well. Can you imagine being in denial about your desires--just to hear one group saying "you can't change--accept it!" and another group saying "you sinner! what you do is unnatural!" If they admit to themselves that they can't change, then they must give up their dreams for a "normal" life and family. But if they believe that they weren't born that way, then they're covered in guilt for the feelings they can't control. That must be torment for a teenager or young adult.

*** This is the most incredible idea I've discovered-- We DO have hope to offer ! In the past I always believed homosexuality was wrong, but I felt kinda mean about delcaring that message to them. I wasn't too excited to tell them they could never have another relationship. Jesus didn't go around condemning as much as he did healing and offering hope. And I guess I never really felt like I had anything of hope to offer homosexuals. (yes, eternal life, but at the price of loneliness for the rest of their life here.) Well, now I believe they can be fully restored if they choose to. But I had also accepted the media garbage that homosexuals are perfectly happy in their trendy little world and don't suffer because of their lifestyle. So telling them they can change would be just as offensive. But I'm here to tell you that I have seen the pain in their eyes and heard the longing in their voices. They might look confident and happy on the outside, but it's not always the case. We all know that lives like Rachel and Monica (Friends) are not realistic, so why to we believe that "Will and Grace" is?

Well...i think that's about all my ramblings for today. If you're interested, please read the articles I found, and let me know what you think. I want to hear all your views!

articles:

"How Might Homosexuality Develop? Putting the Pieces Together" http://www.narth.com/docs/pieces.html

"Educating the public on the Causes of Homosexuality"
http://www.narth.com/docs/coll-harren.html

Degu's and Interviews!

Today has been rather exciting!

My morning began with a trip to Brussels--that big dirty city which boasts the HQ of the European Union and the United Nations. I've never really been fond of Brussels because it's so huge and spread out. Plus, there's so much French spoken there, and so few English and Dutch--so needless to say, it's a bit intimidating. I've been twice in the last week, however, and it's starting to grow on me.

This morning, my boss and my colleague (Charly) and I met with Carlson Marketing to discuss a possible partnership between us and one of their clients. Their office wasn't in a typical office building--no, it was set back in a beautiful upscale neighborhood surrounded by trees and ponds and croaking frogs! lol The meeting went well, and my boss offered me a ride back to Antwerp, so I didn't have to take the train.

When I got home, there were two furry, little critters waiting for me!! Dennis and I are now the proud owners of two Degus! One of the American families at church (the Mabes) are having to move back to the States and could not take the degus with them, so we adopted them. Degus were originally thought to be some kind of squirrel, but now are supposed to be in the same family as chinchillas--however, some researchers think they may not be rodents at all, but closer to the rabbit family.



They're such funny, curious little things! And since their social creatures by nature, they enjoy being held and played with. Unlike most other critters, they have the ability to recognize and bond with people. Right now, though, ours are a little skittish since they're out of their normal surrounding. Hopefully I can get some pictures of ours on my blog before too long! (the other pics are random ones I found on the internet.)


The last exciting news is that I have an interview with UPS! It's for the newer position that was presented to me by them--Planning and Communication Specialist. I would be working in the district marketing department, rather than the European-wide department of the other position. But I wouldn't mind that, since it's still in Marketing. It would give me the change to get my foot in the door and build up some experience while I'm still working on my Dutch. So keep me in your prayers next Tuesday morning. Thanks!

And the job search continues...

It's really a humbling experience to apply for jobs in a foreign country! Especially one in which English is merely the THIRD most commonly spoken language. You know, it's hard enough to compete for jobs in general--but my situation is that they won't even consider my other possible strengths because I don't even meet the minimum language requirement. It's almost as if I were applying for graduate-level positions with nothing but a high school deploma! That's how I feel sometimes, anyway!

But thank goodness we serve a mighty God who is in control even when we aren't!! Thank you to all of you who have been praying for me during my job hunt! I had some encouraging news last Friday. I've gotten several negative replies from applications lately, which wasn't unexpected. But my application to UPS was one I was really counting on...and I hadn't heard anything for nearly two weeks! Anyway, Friday I got an e-mail from the recruiter letting me know that her collegue had not gotten back with her yet about my application, but in the meantime, another manager had shown interest in my resume! So now she's setting up an interview for me regarding that position. (It's also in marketing--yea!--but it's only a district-level position unlike the other one I applied for, which was at the European-wide level. Still, I just need to get my foot in the door somewhere!)

Anyway, I'll keep you updated! =)

MAY...a month of beginnings

This month has been full of firsts!

I started my new internship, which is going really well. I'm working with a classmate, Charles-Henri (who's a "Wallonian" -- a.k.a. from French speaking Belgium), to develop a proposal for a customer loyalty program for VTB-VAB, our sponsoring company. VTB-VAB is similar to the American "AAA"-- a roadside service agency. The research can be tedious at times, but the marketing aspect of it is really fascinating! My psychology degree is definitely useful in a subject like this! I'm getting to use a lot of my Dutch as well. Thankfully, Charles-Henri is fluent in multiple languages, so he makes up for what I don't understand. Overall, it's a good challenge.

Like I mentioned before, another first is that we are hosting our first LST team in Gent this summer! Check out Luk and Holly's blog for some pictures...
http://belgianbreeze.blogspot.com/2006/05/lets-start-talking-has-started.html

One of the most exciting "firsts", though, is that we have begun meeting as a church in Gent, now! Our first meeting was at Luk and Holly's new house, and the second one was held in the LST reading room. We are continuing to worship with the Antwerp congregation on Sunday mornings, and then we meet in Gent for an evening worship. It's really exciting to finally be worshiping together in Gent! Here's some pictures:
http://belgianbreeze.blogspot.com/2006/05/church-plant.html



Gideon is expressing my feelings exactly:

bunny...?

Here's a funny pic of some of my classmates...

Maud, the girl in the "bunny" suit, lost a bet to Emmanuel, the guy on her right. The bet wasn't even that big of a deal...it was a debate over what date our IMAX business game started. But it evolved into a big deal! Emmanuel went out and rented that suit for Maud to wear around school! She had to hop around and deliver Easter egg chocolates (a week after Easter!!)

You might notice that they're holding up Maud's ears...we think that Emmanuel got a bad deal. Her suit looks more like a dog than a bunny! (even the tail's a bit long instead of a fluffy puff...)

=)

Summer RAIN ...Well, it finally feels like summer is here! I got caught in a sudden thunderstorm last week. It was such an incredibly sunny, warm day that everyone was making plans to meet friends out on a terrace for a drink or to barbeque. But as I was leaving school and walking towards the train station, I could tell it was going to storm. I could smell it in the air and feel the wind picking up around me. In the distance, dark clouds were rolling in. If I had been in Alabama, I would have expected tornado weather!

Before I left Gent for the day, I wanted to see how our LST team was doing, so I was in a bit of a dilemma. Should I play it safe and head straight to the station? Or go see the LST girls and chance getting stuck there for a while because of the storm? Well, I decided to chance it and go see the girls.

I made it to their place just in time, but the door was locked! I found out later that they were down the street getting dinner. Anyway, 60 seconds after I left the clouds broke loose and in another 60 seconds I was drenched! The rain was being blown around in sheets and before I made it to the station, there was hail too! Believe it or not, in the midst of all this, I was smiling! Yes, I was drenched...yes, I had a hour ride before I would get home, but at least it was warm rain...and I really miss a good thunderstorm! So I enjoyed myself!! =) (But I did still run the rest of the way to the station and enjoyed the storm from a dryer spot!)


LST ...I guess I should explain what and who our LST team is! "Let's Start Talking" is a worldwide mission program that builds relationships through teaching English. The reading material for the lessons comes from the book of Luke, which is the basis for great conversation and questions. Then, if one of the readers is interested, they are invited to church and to study the Bible further. This summer, we have our first LST team in Gent! It's actually made up of two teams--the first one is two girls, Jessica and Kristy, who are staying for three weeks, and then a second group of two girls and one guy will arrive and stay six more weeks. We're really excited that they're here to help us this summer! The first week has gone great, and we're hoping to have one of the students at church this coming Sunday. Please keep this ministry in your prayers, and pray that we will be able to follow up well will all the contacts that are made!

I HAVE A BROTHER!!

I was starting to wonder if my brother and his wife were merely figments of my imagination... But just this morning my worries evaporated when I opened my e-mail and THERE it was! A letter from Matt!!! =)
In fact, he's probably been wondering himself what happened to his life since it's been kinda non-existent...turns out he's been spending all his waking hours in the lab at school working on his project to end all projects.

You'll have to ask him the details, but from what I understand, it's a pretty fancy robot complete with a webcam and sound system!

Toni's also been swamped with work, spending all her free time applying to med schools. Matt and Toni are both graduating this month from Harding University (my alma mater! ; )

~

Infamous Harding Swing

Three swings and a ...

~

Congrats you two!!