I Am Gay-Friendly

Found this on the Baptist Press website. Pretty amazing perspective. Can't believe it's on the website. I was actually on there looking for a contact email so I could write a scorching letter about the Disney boycott. Found this instead.

NEW YORK (BP)--I literally was birthed into Southern Baptist evangelicalism. Both of my parents are in the ministry. Recently, my father became the vice president of evangelism at the North American Mission Board. Before that, he was a Southern Baptist pastor for longer than I have seen the light of the sun. I write this on lunch break in my corner of an office of The 411, a New York City church (on 42nd street, sponsored heavily by Southern Baptist churches from the deep south) who are embracing a radical, risky and eternally rewarding way of life described in the same book that calls the homosexual lifestyle sin. Romans 12:21 reads, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."Overcome evil with condemnation? Overcome evil by shaking our heads, refusing to go see the Disney movie "Tarzan"? No. Overcome evil with GOOD. Today the staff of The 411 hauled hundreds of water bottles to a dancer's call audition for the revival of the Broadway musical "A Chorus Line" (infamous for being the first successful musical to openly deal with and affirm homosexuality in the arts). We walked into a room full of hopeful dancers and nervous producers and said "Hey, this water is free for you guys. We're from a new church called The 411 and we just want to say that God loves you." The man running the audition looked at me with a blank stare and then said, "Wow, that's ... well ... that's just ... wow ... that's ... amazing!" Then he announced to the entire room, "Hey these church people just brought you guys all free water!" I then heard him turn aside and mutter to himself, "Wow that is just amazing."Yes, it's amazing. The goodness of God who sent His only Child to be brutally murdered on behalf of a human race who rebelled against Him is amazingly GOOD! In no way should a person who claims to follow Jesus Christ advocate a lifestyle that so clearly is spoken against in the Word of God. However,we trust that by meeting the basic needs of lost people, doors will open to share with them the hope of a new life in Christ. I have caught a dangerous trend arising in my generation, which "loves Christ but not the church."Not all of this is our fault. We are crying out for our elders to step back and allow us to step up. We are crying out for them to fund relevant college ministries even though most of us cannot drop as much as they can in the offering plate. However, we are crying out immaturely, like a 2-year-old throwing a tantrum in a grocery store. Abandoning or "taking a break from" church is neither the right thing to do, nor is it any kind of solution to the problem. The SBC needs a new generation of leaders from us 20-somethings to do what Christ commanded before he ascended into heaven. He said, "GO therefore ..." not "Runaway therefore ..." not "Condemn therefore....""Go therefore and make disciples...." [Matthew 28:19] With everything in me, I believe that is the heart of what Southern Baptist evangelism was meant to be. Whether your hair is gray or streaked with purple, if you claim to follow Jesus Christ you are called to go directly into a bleeding, slimy, hurting, desperate, dying world, and defeat the inherent evil of people's souls with the good of the Father. I love Jesus. I believe every word of the Bible and I believe we should live it by sharing it with the lost. I am gay-friendly.

AC Moore

While in Asheville, I worked at an arts/crafts store called AC Moore. The people there were great and I miss seeing them alot. While there, I did the announcements over the PA. One of the girls, Alina, emailed me the other day to tell me that she and Ana had done an announcement. Here's what she had to say:

"So Ana and I did a super cheesy announcement today that I think you (THE Ultimate Cheesy Announcer) would be really proud of.
Ana: Hey Alina, did you hear about the great sale on merchandise?
Me: Yeah, Ana, all gardening merchandize is 60% off!
Ana: Is that what the girl with sandwich board was talking about?
Me: Yeah, you can find great savings at the seasonal department and the front vestibule!
Ana: Get these great savings while they last!
Me: AC MOORE ROCKS!
This is played on rotation and Big Paul is coming tomorrow... I wonder if he'll appreciate it....If you hadn't guessed already, Sheri was the one walking around the store with a sandwich board."

Big Paul is the VP in charge of that area. When he visits, it's a tense, "quaking in your boots" kinda time. It was fun working there. For a job with little pay...it was pretty cool. I miss those guys.

The View

Since I'm new to Seattle and don't have a place of my own yet, I am staying with a very wonderful and generous couple, Gary and Sheri Kingsbury. They have opened up their upstairs mini apartment to me and for that I am grateful. They live in Shoreline which is north of Seattle. From the balcony off the office, there is a pretty great view of Puget Sound and the mountains beyond. I have use of the computer, a bathroom and even a minifridge. I'm not here much but it's great to have a place to hang your hat. (even though I only have one...hat that is) Thanks for the digs, guys!

Near/Far

Near my heart
Far from home
Near my love
Far from loved ones
Near the edge
Far from safe
Near to pain
Far from joy
Near the water
Far from sky
Near the rocks
Far from soaring
Near to chaos
Far from order
Near the chasm
Far from a bridge
Near the waves
Far from shore
Near to tears
Far from laughter
Near to empty
Far from full
Near the fire
Far from warm
Near the void
Far from God

Copyright 2005 Marty Gordon

Hurricane Dennis

Another hurricane has hit my hometown of Pensacola, FL. My parents just moved back in their house in April after Ivan flooded it in Sept. of 2004. During Ivan, they spent several hours in the attic as the waters rose to about 5 feet in the house. I talked to them today and the house is okay after Dennis. A tree was on the garage but it didn't sound major. At least no flooding this time around. I'm just glad they are safe. God, no more for Pensacola. They've had enough. Let 'em recover.

Bubba and Bruce

Watched the movie "Bubba Ho-Tep" last night. I'll just say that Bruce Campbell is the king of modern B movies. Which, in a way, is a shame. He seems like he has some decent acting chops. I'd like to see him get a chance at something legit. The movie was pretty dumb. The premise: Elvis and a black man claiming to be JFK (Ossie Davis of all people) battle a mummy who is sucking the souls out of the residents of an East Texas nursing home. It's all based on a short story by Joe R. Lansdale who I know to be a pretty freaky author. I liked his book "The Bottoms" but then I read another one by him called "Freezer Burn" and it was very, very strange. So, if you're into weird and like Bruce Campbell, check it out. If not, skip it.

The Fantasticks Four?

How surreal! I am sitting at Sarah's computer at Taproot Theater (where she works) and as I am sitting here there is a rehearsal for "The Fantasticks" going on upstairs. The sound is piped in so I can hear every last thing that is going on. I've never seen the show before so I'm looking forward to it. Sarah says it's not one of her favorites. Still, it's cool to get to see free theater. Now, since I haven't seen either, I may have to revisit this theme later but since "The Fantasticks" isn't one of Sarah's faves and "Fantastic Four" (the movie) is getting bad reviews perhaps a merging would solve some problems. Call it "The Fantasticks Four." A superhero love story. Hmmm. I'll see the play and the movie and then share with you my take on the whole thing. Later.

Another One Rides The Bus

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that people in Seattle drive like idiots. But I don't think it's entirely their fault. There are many things about driving in Seattle that require a certain degree of lunacy. Street parking is insane. Cars are stuck out in the street and you can't see to turn on streets with no lights because of parked cars. Also, it appears that there are way more cars than there are parking spaces. Soooo, that causes a bit of a problem as you can well imagine. Driving in Seattle is going to be tough to get used to. Perhaps in the long run I'll park my jeep and ride the bus. If the experience can inspire a song from Queen, it can't be all that bad. Can it?

Got my jeep back today. The final tally? $1700 and some change. Man, oh man! My wallet is sore! The good news is (w/ crossed fingers) insurance may cover all or most of it. So, that's good. If they do. Cover it. Please. Cover it.

I hate job hunting. Is hate too strong a word? Loathe? Abhor? No...hate just about does it. I found one job I'm interested in but I can't get the freakin' people to get back in touch with me. So annoying. Registered with a temp agency yesterday but the thought of working somewhere a few days then moving to another place just doesn't appeal to me. Argh! Here's hoping something pops up that is up my alley. God, if you are listening, I could use some help.

Sarah left this for me to read.
"God gives us the vision (to be a catalyst of change in the church) then He takes us down to the valley to batter us in to the shape of the vision. And it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we have patience. The vision is not a castle in the air but a vision of what God wants you to be. If you have ever had a vision of God, you may try as like to be satisfied on a lower level but God will never let you. He is after you, Marty! Because He loves you! He believes in you! So do I! I love you!"
I am trying to believe this but it's difficult due to the things that have happened to me. I'll keep trying. That's all I can do.

Boots or Booty?
"Jessica Simpson is a ho - ee - i - ee - ooooooo!" Wow, she's come a long way from teeny bopper Christian singer. When I was with The Company, she was on program with us at the Texas Youth Evangelism Conference. She was thirteen and was doing the Christian circuit. Seemed like a little diva to me running around with her entourage of thirteen year old girls. She would stick her butt out when she sang. I guess that part of her hasn't changed. Have you seen the "Boots Are Made For Walking" video? Man! Yes, she has changed. From little Christian wannabe sexpot to full blown pop ho. Well, God Bless America! Land where even a young Christian girl with a prominent backside can make it big. Hope everyone remembers you among all the Xtina's and Jlo's and Brittany's running around out there. (I'm just jealous of her success...really. If I had a prominent backside, I might too be making videos and starring in a remake of an old TV show...except mine would be Andy Griffith. I figure I could make Ernest T. Bass into a sex symbol. It could happen.)

NOTE: Write dramas "The Stepford Church" and "The Bride."

Just a reminder to myself to take time to write the story that's floating around in my head called, "The Yellow Cab." Do it, Marty. Do it soon.

It's been a whirlwind of vehicular activity around here. I've never driven so many cars in my life. Mine's in the shop so I am relying on the generosity of new friends to get around Seattle. Many thanks to Scott and Pam, Mark and Karen, Gary and Sheri, Hayden and Randy for the use of their cars. Right now I'm in a convertable Saab. Sarah accuses me of thinking I'm cool which isn't true. I know I am.