Certainly, I have made some bad choices and done things I’m sorry for (maybe not the things that you think I should be sorry for) and have repented and asked for forgiveness.  When I get all upset with some horrid choices that some friend’s making, I like the new saying, "How about if we love the sinner and hate OUR OWN sins?"

Try reading Acts 10. When God came to Peter on the rooftop with a vision to eat unclean food, Peter had Scripture to stand on when he said No. He also had Scripture to stand on to decline the spirit of God's vision for him, which was to preach to the Gentiles. He wasn't supposed to eat those foods, he wasn't supposed to go into the home of a Gentile. The Bible said so. But God didn’t debate the Scriptures with Peter. God didn't say, "Let me get you a better translation of that Hebrew word...let me get you a more ancient manuscript." God said, "What I have called clean, you may not call unclean." And still, the apostles who went to preach to the Gentiles at Cornelius' house had no intention of really letting these people into the church. It wasn't until the Holy Spirit fell on the group and they began to have the gifts of the Spirit that the apostles finally said, "I guess we have to baptize them and let them in."

That's where I aspire to be. Letting the Holy Spirit fall on me, use me, work through me. Hopefully letting my light shine so that others will see it and glorify God who is at work in me. I don't think I surprised Jesus or had to come out to God. I can't picture Jesus saying, "Oh darn, look at this. Give her this nice song, these precious gifts and look what she turned out to be - who knew?" I greet every morning with praise for the ministry that God has given me. I am in the Word every day. I pray constantly that my life will please Jesus. I trust that God really will complete the work that has begun in me.

I hope this gives you some kind of answer for the hope that's within me. I think you and I will simply have to agree that we disagree in this one area. In the meantime, I really do appreciate your concerned spirit and your passionate heart. Let's keep one another in prayer. Yours in Christ's Service...still!

[Email to Marsha] How can you be a God fearing woman if He disapproves of your lifestyle? Or do you only believe and read parts of the Bible that you can use for your benefit and justification while ignoring other parts?

[Editor note: Bible quotes for the following verses removed for space.] Romans l:24-26, Ephesians 5:3l, Romans 3:23 You’re a sinner, can you honestly say you aren’t living in sin by being a lesbian? I really think you need to be born again." [Email end]

“Wow. I don't think anyone who has a sense at all of who I am has ever called me a despiser of God. That's amazing. Romans is a pretty easy answer. [Editor note: Repeated above. Removed for Space.] Would you glean from that, that all heterosexuality was bad? Or would it be burning with lust and treating each other abusively that was the problem?

I, too, am very saddened by our interchange. I think we can disagree on the interpretation of a few verses while still having wonderful fellowship in the Holy Spirit. But when the tone of a letter turns to sarcasm ("unless your Romans is missing chapter one") and actual accusations of knowing my heart is false and my love for Christ a lie, I don't know - that's sort of a new low for me. Proverbs 6 lists things that are an abomination to the Lord, things the Lord hates, and "they that sow division among the brethren" caps the list. People accused Jesus of being deceived by Satan - and a follower of Satan - as well.  While I'm always happy to read what people send me, to take it in, and to give an answer for the hope that’s within me, I don't think it's positive to go on in our interchange if you simply believe you’re dealing with an evil person.

I’ve never tried to use the way God has blessed my music as a "proof" of anything about my relationship with Jesus. I’m all too aware God used Balaam's ass in a pinch. I do, however, have to trust that the Savior on whom I’ve depended is able to complete that which He has begun in me. In spite of the fact I disagree with you on the interpretation of a few verses (perhaps even more than a few, since I don't even know what you believe about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the rapture, the second coming or a host of other things), I do seek Christ in all I do, in prayer and in the Word. I do utterly depend on Him for my salvation. I do trust He sees the deepest longing of my heart, He forgives me of all my sins, He sends the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth. If I don’t have that, I don’t have anything anyway.

Since Jesus instructed his disciples in the parable of the wheat and tares that the angels would separate out the tares at the end of the age, perhaps it’s better if you allow that to happen. We as human beings don’t see the heart. We’re neither called nor equipped to separate the wheat from the tares. I think when we try, we only burn a lot of wheat that could have fed a lot of hungry souls. I do thank you for your prayers. May you know the peace of Christ in all you do.