#depressed homosexual with prophetic visions

[abidingingodsgraceministries]

ABIDING IN GOD'S GRACE ©MINISTRIES {AIGGM} . FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

God is not the God of just enough. He never has been.

He is the God who is "Extreme."

He is the God who is "Miraculous" and "Almighty", "Merciful" and "Kind", "Jealous" and "Protective", "Forgiving" and "Disciplining", "Compassionate" and "Loving", "Victorious" and "Courageous", "Sovereign" , Etc..

The Lord God Almighty Is The Beginning and The End, and He Is EVERYTHING Inbetween and MORE!

The Lord God Almighty gives us —Blessings, Miracles, Protection, Discernment, Guidance, Support, Commandments/Rules/Laws/Standards/Expectations/Morals/Etc.., Answered Prayers, Knowledge, Wisdom, Talents/Gifts/Skills, Spiritual Gifts, Visions, Forgiveness, Healing, Comfort, Strength, Courage, Understandment, Free Will, Signs, Atonement, Redemption, Salvation, Mercy, Grace, Love, Kindness, Etc..

He is our Way maker, Miracle worker, Promise Keeper, Light In The Darkness, OUR CREATOR, Our Heavenly Father, Our GOD, Our LORD, Our SAVIOR, The AUTHOR Of Our Lives, Our REDEEMER, Our SALVATION, Our Eternity, Our Provider, Our EVERYTHING!

We Must Be Faithful, Obedient, Careful, Diligent, Watchful, Loyal, Strong, Courageous, Repentant, Bold, Honest, Truthful, Mindful, Christlike, Etc.. To The Lord God Almighty, Always. At All Times. Forever and Always. We Must Be Strong and Courageous In The Lord Our God, Always Alert, Prepared and Ready Suited Up In The Full Armour Of God, Being Warriors and Ambassadors For Christ, Children Of The Most High God, Disciples, Followers and Believers In Yeshua The Christ [Jesus Christ]!

REPENT and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!

STAY STRONG and COURAGEOUS IN THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

REJOICE GREATLY FOR THE RETURN OF THE LORD IS COMING!

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DRAWING NEAR!

He created too much food to feed the multitudes, but, was not wasteful--the disciples picked it up.

He created an entire park full of food for two people (Garden of Eden).

The miraculous catch of fish sunk the boat.

"My cup is full"? No. "My cup runneth over."

How many stars and galaxies do we need?

He gave us "abundant life" not "scarce life."

He wants to prosper you, not to harm you.

{{ [[We Do NOT Believe In .. NOR With .. The "Prosperity Gospel", Nor The "Prosperity Church", Etc., NOR Their Beliefs, Teachings, Values, Materialism, Falsehood, Etc.!!]] }}

Stay Alert and Aware At All Times, Using Great Discernment In The Lord God Almighty, Bewaring and Aware, Staying Away From, Exposing, and Being Watchful For, —False Teachers, False Teachings, False Prophets, Prosperity Gospel, Prosperity Teachings and Teachers, False Doctrine, Wolves In Sheep 🐑 Clothing!

While The Lord God Almighty Definitely Blesses Us and Wants Us To Be Happy, Provided For, Plentiful(ness), Etc.. That Is NOT What It's About! That's NOT How All Our Lives Will Be Like, Etc.. The Lord God Almighty Gives Plentiful and Abundance Of Blessings So That We Can Turn Around and Share, Bless, Give, Help, Etc.. To Others. So EVERYONE Has Plentiful and Enough, and So That NOBODY Goes Without Nor Lacks.

Humbleness, Meekness, Love, Kindness, Empathy, Christlikeness, Righteousness, Etc.. Is How We Should Be, At All Times and In All Ways! Constantly and Consistently Glorifying The Lord God Almighty, and Walking As [Being] Children Of The Light [God]—Shining Your Light Bright For Christ!!

[Pointing, Directing and Leading To —The Lord God Almighty, Always, and In All Ways!].

And, ALWAYS .. ALWAYS .. ALWAYS .. Remember Y'all, —HIS [The Lord God Almighty] GRACE IS SUFFICIENT [ENOUGH] FOR YOU!! 🙌🙌

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: you have more than enough [food, finances, shelters, clothing and necessities, land, Etc..] to fulfill every divine assignment GOD has for you, and enough [left] over to help others fulfill theirs.

It's Everyone [In Christ] Living In TRUTH —God' Truth, Word and His Ways. It's Everyone [In Christ] Fearing The Lord God Almighty, and Living In —Harmony, Peace, Community, Righteousness, Love, Empathy, Kindness, Edifying, Reproving, Fellowship, Godliness, and Christlikeness; Helping One Another Live, Survive, Learn, Grow, Contribute and Provide, Heal, Thrive, Mature, Etc..

An Actual Community Of TRUE Believers! Everyone Living In God' Truth, Word and In His Ways; Living In Christlikeness, Godliness and Righteousness; Glorifying The Lord Our God; Helping One Another and Living [Surviving] Together; Eagerly, Affectionately, Watchful and Attentively Awaiting Our Beloved Almighty Lord and Savior, Yeshua The Christ [Jesus Christ]!! 🙌🙌 🙌🙏 🙌💯👏

Count Your Many Blessings, Name Them One By One, Count Your Many Blessings, and See What The Lord Has Done!

TRUE PROSPERITY —Is NOT About Toys and Trinkets, Fame and Fortune, Materialistic Things, Etc.., .. BUT, .. It's About Influence and Impact, Stewardship and Community, Help and Support, Giving and Sharing, Putting Others BEFORE Yourselves, Giving Back and Blessing Others, Being A Blessing, BEING The CHANGE That You Want To See In The World, Teaching and Guiding Others, Being Godly Men and Women, Praying For Others, Sharing and Spreading and Preaching The Gospel and God' Word, Truth and His Ways, Leading ALL To The Lord God Almighty, Making Disciples and Baptizing, Helping Others Be Born Again, Edifying and Reproving, Counseling and Supporting, Fellowship, Building Churches, Etc..

Our God Is Infinite. Boundless. Limitless. Timeless. Victorious. Undefeatable. Unbeatable. Powerful. Almighty. Sovereign. Infallible.

The Lord God Almighty Is In EVERYTHING That Is Good, and EVERYTHING That Is Good Is Of The Lord God Almighty.

Greater Is HE [Christ] That Is In WITHIN You, .. Than [Of] Yourself, [Of] The Enemy, Nor [Of] The World!

Die To Self and Live For Christ!! 🙌💯👏

Break The Chains Of —Bondage, Slavery, Curses, Sins, Iniquities, Transgressions, Poverty, Destruction, Damnation, Soul-Ties, Spiritual Attachments/Attacks/Ties/Etc.., Generational Curses, Generational Attachments, Profanity, Division, Hatred, Lack/Lacking, Pain, Separation, Pride, Ego, Selfishness, Hurt, Betrayal, Disappointment, Abandonment, Etc.. And Break The Chains Of This World and Of The Darkness!! WE ASK, PRAY, and BREAK ALL THESE CHAINS IN THE ALMIGHTY NAME OF YESHUA THE CHRIST [Jesus Christ]!!!! 🙌🙌 AMEN! 🙌🙏

Break The Chains Of —The Relentless Raging War [Inward/Within and Outwardly/Worldly and Spiritually],. Break The Chains Of The Relentless Pursuits Of The Enemy and his Minions Of The Darkness! WE ASK, PRAY, and BREAK THESE CHAINS IN THE ALMIGHTY NAME OF YESHUA THE CHRIST [Jesus Christ]!!!! 🙌🙌 AMEN! 🙌🙏

Break Away [The Chains Of] —Isolation, Depression, Anger, Jealousy, Anxiety, Panic (Panicky), Lust, Laziness, Neglectful(ness), Vengeful(ness), Fornication, Homosexuality, Bitterness, (Adulterous/) Adultery, Envy (/Envious), (Idolatrous/) Idolatry, Strife, Animosity, Resentment, Addictions, Wickedness, Thievery, Evil, Etc.. ; and Break The Chains Of ANY.. EVERY.. and ALL Spiritual Attachments, Attacks, Etc.. Of The Enemy and his Minions Of The Darkness! WE ASK, PRAY, and BREAK .. ALL THESE CHAINS .. ALL IN THE ALMIGHTY NAME OF YESHUA THE CHRIST [Jesus Christ]!!!! 🙌🙌 AMEN! 🙌🙏

Love Always and God Bless Y'all,

Abiding In God's Grace ©Ministries {AIGGM}

📩 AbidingInGodsGrace@yahoo.com

[purgatoryapotheca]

Herbs & Magickal Uses

Ague Weed:  a protection herb.  Also called "Boneset".

Agrimony:  acts as a deflective shield; sends back bad vibrations

Angelica:  highly protective. In fact, sometimes too effective!  Carry as an amulet.  Also used in exorcism.  Brewed into a tea and sprinkled in the corners of a house to keep evil away.  Can be used at the beginning and closing of rituals for blessing and banishing.  Also called "Archangel".

Anise:  Raises vibrations to the highest possible psychic level.  Good for bringing about changes in attitude (re-focusing), for astral travel, dreams, crystal gazing and meditation.  In a pillow, it is said to keep away nightmares. For any type of clairvoyance or divination or mental exercises.  Anisette (liquor) is used during Voodoo initiations to anoint the head.  

Apple/Apple blossoms -  for love.  Delicate, faintly seductive.  More of an Invitation than a Proposition.  Also used for peace and general contentment.  Used for success.  Add to the bath to aid relaxation.  Also used for fertility 

Ash -   Very protective, cleansing and refocusing.

Asafetida: one of the strongest banishing herbs (also the stinkiest!) . Burned to drive away evil and destroy manifestations.  Used for exorcism and purification.

Alfalfa - for success in money matters.  Used for money drawing and to insure against poverty.  A traditional "luck" herb. Not powerful enough to be used alone, this herb "plays well with others" helping to reinforce other luck and money herbs while adding a bit of protective insurance.

Allspice - a catalyst.  Works on higher planes for good or evil.  Tends to affect the mind and thoughts of the person on whom it's used, for instance luck or success in the form of a brainstorm.  Frequently employed in luck, love and psychic areas; also good for money and general success. 

Althea - (marshmallow root) mild and gently commanding.  More of a "persuasion"  herb.  Burned in combination with other herbs, for example w/ roses and apple blossoms for a subtly forceful love incense.  Said to be a particular favorite of "nice" spirits.

Ambergris - (the real stuff is illegal  and unethical to use!  However, a good quality synthetic seems to work well)   A strong sexual compellent.  Used to lend power to other herbs.

Bergamot- brings luck through intuition.  

Bistort - for success in financial matters

Balm of Gilead:  Highly protective power herb, especially in love matters.  Energizing and grounding at the same time.

Barberry - used for hexing.  Brings bitterness, sourness.  Sprinkled around the premises to bring bad vibes and quarrels.  On the flip side, it is used with vetivert and Bay leaves to protect against bitterness - but that's risky.  Said to work for good grudgingly and delights in hexing.

Bayberry -very powerful for hexing when combined with other hexing herbs.  Casts a gloomy depression.  Conversely it is also used for money and prosperity - especially collecting money that is owed.  Often used as an Attraction oil for men.

Basil - for money and success.  Soak in water for 3 days, then sprinkle about a place of business. Also used for purification and protection and to remove obstacles in love and create harmony.  Dispels melancholy and attracts friends.

Bay:  powerfully protective - even when used alone.  Also a power and commanding herb. Used for banishing. In some traditions, used for hexing.  Combined with other herbs for love and money rituals.  Burned to induce visions.  The leaves are put under a pillow for inspiration and prophetic dreams.  

Benzoin - added to other herbs to focus their energies and lend power.  Used for communication and improving the thought processes.  Combine with cinnamon for business success.  Also used for purification. Can be added to an incense to heighten its effectiveness.  Never add to hexing herbs!

Bergamot - protection and prosperity.  Brings luck through intuition. Used with other herbs to bring psychic and prophetic dreams.

Betony:  for banishing and removing negative energy.

Blueberry:  Protective and associated w/ treachery and deception.  It does not return the treachery  - just keeps it from reaching you.

Bindweed: for binding another.  It smothers the intentions of others.  Used in both hexing and protection.

Bistort:  used for fertility (often carried to help concieve a child) Also used for money drawing when combined with Juniper and Allspice.  Also good for divination.

Borage: lends courage, uncovers dishonesty and helps conquer a situation

Broom Tops: purification, protection, to raise and calm winds. Throw into the air to raise the wind; burn the herb to calm them.  Also boiled in salt water and used to keep poltergeists and evil spirits away. 

Black Snakeroot:  an X-rated love herb, often used by men.  Also to destroy unwanted love (burn with artifacts of the person whom you want to leave you alone)  Also burned with adam & eve root to make love spells more effective.

Buchu leaves:  used for psychic development

 

Cherry blossoms: bring honesty

Chamomile:  excellent for luck, prosperity, money and gambling.  (Wash your hands with the tea before playing cards.)  Calms the nerves and gives energy in adversity.  Often used in Uncrossing formulas.

Caraway Seeds:  protective, particularly in the area of health.  In love - is said to attract a lover (in the physical sense) and cure fickleness.  Also used to strengthen the memory.

Carnation:  protection and spicy energy. Add to a Power incense or toss into a formula where you want to "spice" things up a bit.   

Camphor:  to totally cleanse and banish.  Used to ward off unwanted advances from others, in healing and to stimulate psychic senses.

Cardamom: a love herb, used for Romance.  Has some commanding and compelling properties in the area of love.  Also acts as a catalyst to other herbs.

Civet:  (another illegal and unethical oil.  Again: use a good synthetic.  It still works!) a commanding and compelling ingredient (especially in love).  Powerful, non-selective . Often used in Power oil.

Clove: a strong, forceful, compelling herb.  Commanding. Acts as a catalyst when combined with other herbs. Used when force or power is required.  

Cinnamon:  a catalyst that doesn't mind baneful recipes.  Used in money drawing, for concentration and spells for love and passion .  Sometimes used in healing or clairvoyance.

Cedar:  psychic and protective.  Has a way of keeping psychic channels open while protecting the operator.  Use to anoint the 3rd eye.

Cherry Blossoms: cheerfulness, light heartedness and good humor. Associated with honesty.  Good for concentration in study.

Capsicum (Cayenne):  a catalyst of great strength and negativity.  Chili powder works similarly, but has more to do with controlling that activating.  Used to reverse evil and return it to the sender.

Coriander: used for love, yet Very protective in these matters.  Good for people who want a somebody, but aren't sure who.  Added to Perfect Mate recipes.  Works for slow, steadily developing relationships.

Citronella:  for attraction.  Good for attracting friends and business.

Cumin:  attracts peace & tranquility when sprinkled across doorways each Sunday before noon.  Used also to control infidelity and in this way has a gently binding effect.

Calamus rt: a controlling herb, powerful enough to be used alone or in combination with other herbs.  Use to control a person or situation.

Calendula:  induces dreams.  Used for legal difficulties and for money.  Has a mild, gentle action.  Add to the bath to win admiration and respect from others.

 

Dogbane:  swings both ways - it can be used to remove deception or to     create it, depending on which herbs you combine it with.

Deerstongue:  one of the most widely used psychic herbs, it is fragrant, efficient and white magical in effect.  Screens bad vibes.  Often used by homosexuals to attract others (combined with musk, civet, ambergris and echinacea)

Dill :  has the ability to lull or defuse a situation.  Often used to calm children.

Devil's Bit:  commanding and compelling.  May be used to command or compel love, luck or success depending on what it is combined with.  Protective, it works similarly to Low John.  

Dragon's Blood:  Power and protection.  Thought by many to only work for "good".  That's nonsense! It's uses are almost limitless.  

 

Elder:  a commanding herb which influences a situation (or person) on a subtle but powerful  level.  Also highly protective.

Elecampane:  for love charms of all kinds.

Eucalyptus:  highly protective in all areas of health.  Also used for purification.

Eyebright: used for clairvoyance and to see fairies.

Elm bark: stops slander and gossip. (the type I'm referring to here is called "Slippery Elm")

 

Fennel:  a controlling herb and also a "twisting" herb.  Better for removing hexes than protecting against them.  It's action is unpredictable.  Use this when you want to effect a change in a situation.  If you're familiar with astrology, think of the influence of the planet Uranus here.

Frankincense:  associated with the male principle as Myrrh is associated with the female principle.  A mixture of both in an incense creates a balance.  It is a good "white" magical base to receive other herbs or oils.  Often used for protection or in money drawing recipes.  Long used as a divinatory offering, in consecration and to raise the spiritual  vibrations of a place. It aids in meditation and is used to obtain blessings and general prosperity.

Five Finger Grass: (cinquefoil)  Old standby for money spells.  In fact, most money incenses don't seem to work as well without it.  Combined w/ soot, it has been used for hexing.  It has also been used for protecting.  Often used as a bath herb toward this purpose. Works better for protecting against negative influences than removing them.

Fenugreek:  a seed of the sun, used for all manner of luck and success spells.  

Frangipani:  an attraction or "drawing" herb.  Use to bring things to you.  Also used to command trust and gain the confidence of others.

Foxglove:  exposes lying and forces honesty.

 

Grains of Paradise:  carry strong luck connotations.

Galangal:  highly versatile and only slightly less powerful that High John or Jalap.  Known as Low John, its action never proceeds in a straight line, but takes on unexpected twists and turns.  It accomplishes its functions through devious means.  Creates a powerful force for affecting change and is often used in legal difficulties.

Ginger: basically a fiery catalyst but also used to induce passion.  A good catalyst to add to formulas for romantic love.

Geranium:  used to lift the spirits and banish negativity.  Protection, love, healing and fertility are all in the domain of this herb.

 

Heliotrope:  another sun herb.  Carries a vibration of luck.  Attracts wealth and protects against physical harm.  Used in healing, clairvoyance and finding lost objects.

Honey:  binds and attracts, seduces.  Often used in incense to bind the other ingredients.

Honeysuckle:  attracts friends, business and instills confidence.  Used for money, prosperity and clairvoyance.  Traditionally symbolizes the "bonds of love" and is excellent when working on a problem of infidelity.  A potent and sneaky commanding ingredient - the iron fist in the velvet glove.   

Hawthorn:  used for protection, purification and banishing.  Some identified it as "the tree of hope" and to the Romans it symbolized marriage.

Hazel:  used for wands but also for reconciliation.  Quickly lessens hostilities between people.  Two twigs tied together w/ red or gold thread to form a solar cross were used for a good luck charm.  Draw a circle around you with hazel if in need of protection.  Used for fertility and wisdom and in divining rods for finding lost objects.

Hemlock:  one of the foremost hexing agents. Added to any oil or incense to change its meaning (for example to Luck oil to deny good luck)

Hellebore:  works similarly to henbane but likes to pull the rug out from under the operator so use with caution!  

Hyacinth: used to transmit on psychic planes a feeling of joy and playfulness.  Frequently used as a follow-up to uncrossing rituals to replace negative vibes with positive ones.  Attracts love, luck and brings peace of mind and restful sleep.

Heather:  protects.  

Hyssop:  anointing, blessing, consecrating, protecting and purifying.

 

Irish moss:  a success herb w/ long term benefits.  Slower in action but good for secure and steady growth of prosperity.

 

Jasmine:  essentially a seduction herb.  More sexual than romantic.  Symbolizes the mysteries of the night.  Sometimes used for meditation, to relax, for dreams or even to aid in childbirth.  In love recipes it is used lightly in combination with other ingredients unless you just want a sexual affair.

Juniper berries:  a power herb which happens to work quite well in areas of luck, good fortune and success.  Legendarily associated with Jupiter, it is often used for male virility. 

 

Lavender:  cleanses, protects and shields from bad vibrations and negativity.  Used for uncrossing and love, it's particularly effective in helping with marital problems or relationships.  Soothes problems between parents and children and is an excellent protecting herb for babies and children.

Lemon or Lemon blossoms:  fiery, zesty and active.  Often employed as a catalyst in luck recipes since it sets off other herbs.  Also used for "drawing" or "attracting" something to you. Often used in love formulas both for attracting and repelling.

Licorice:  a commanding herb.  Used by the Egyptians as an aphrodisiac.

Lemon Verbena:  a traditional luck herb, it has the ability to convert bad luck to good.  It is positive, protective and cleansing.  A strengthening herb added to others to give extra power.  Also used as an "attraction" herb.

Lemon Grass:  used to aid psychic powers. A two-sided herb: on the one hand calming, good for deepening meditation or trance. Excellent to add to a general "Power" formula for general ritual work.  On the other hand it has been used by some as a hexing herb primarily aimed at making someone's life complicated and full of problems.  Go figure!

Lilac:  good for inducing "far memory" and recalling past lives.  Also good for clairvoyance in general.  Brings peace & harmony.  Excellent for uncrossing.  Tends to promote the positive aspects in the herbs it's combined with.

Lobelia:  Like most of the poisons, this expresses "hate" while other hexing herbs express "anger, contempt or dislike".  Results with herbs like this one are always nasty, but never predictable.

Lotus:  a common additive to psychic incenses.  Said to reach the highest realms of mystical insight.  Associated with Egyptian magic.

Lily of the Valley:  used for calming and blessing.

Lime:  To keep a lover faithful.  Used by men for attracting women.  Has some "drawing" or "attracting" abilities in other areas. Conversely, has also been used to "sour" a relationship.

Lovage:  an "Attracting" herb.  Used to draw customers to a place of business or to attract others in general.  The root acts as a catalyst to other herbs while exerting a stabilizing influence at the same time.  An excellent love herb. The leaf is highly cleansing.

 

Marjoram: protective - especially in matters of love.  Often used in love and friendship charms or for protecting the house.

Mint:  a common additive to love incense - though I don't know why since it tends to clear the head, not fog it.  Spirits love the scent of mint and a dish set out will tend to attract them.  Used in prosperity and money formulas.  Also excellent for psychic matters and studying.

Mistletoe:  Although used in many love recipes, it is really a commanding/compelling herb.  Used since ancient times for protection.

Musk:  (real musk is illegal and unethical to use. A good synthetic may be used instead)  commanding and compelling, particularly in sexual areas.  Help for self confidence, assurance and strength.  

Myrtle:  love, fertility, protection and healing.

Masterwort: power, strength and courage with good protective qualities.  An excellent herb to use in plain "Power" formulas.

Mimosa:  a commanding herb which also inspires courtesy in others.  Use to anoint purple candles. Used to bring prophetic dreams and in healing.

[queertheology]

Building A Bible-Based Faith (that isn’t terrible!)

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

When I first started to realize that I was attracted to guys, a tiny crack appeared in my faith: how could a loving God knit me together in my mother’s womb then give me these desires for love, intimacy, and family with no righteous outlet to express them?

I’d been told that “homosexuality” was sinful, but I was never quite sure why. I needed to be sure, so I turned to the Bible. That was terrifying. Who was I to question what my church leaders acted like was common knowledge? And then I stumbled upon 1 Thessalonians 5:21 and I realized that questioning my beliefs wasn’t heresy, it was Biblical!

It took me YEARS to sort out that being LGBTQ was not only “ok” but an important part of the diversity of God’s creation. (If you want a peak at what I learned during the process, check this out)

Now that I know it’s ok to be queer — despite what some religious leaders say — I asked myself: what else were they wrong about?

Figuring out I was queer was an invitation to question my faith and to take a fresh look at “what the Bible” says about so many things.

Thank God I’m queer, because I have discovered in the Bible — and the community, experience, expertise, and traditions of Christians across millennia — a faith that is liberating and life-giving… and so much more alive than the evangelical faith of my childhood.

Conservatives talk a lot about being “Bible-believing” or having a “Bible-based” faith.

Too often that’s code for “My interpretation of Christianity is right and everyone who doesn’t measure up is sinful and going to hell.”

While I think it’s entirely possible to be an upstanding, moral person without ever turning to the Bible (or even believing in God!), I’m not ready to let go of this sacred text.

When I look at the Bible, here’s what I see.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. – Luke 4:18-19

Jesus begins his public ministry by quoting from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2, to be specific).

In doing so, he roots his ministry in his Jewish faith and, more specifically, in the Hebrew prophets.

If you’ve asked “What did Jesus come to do?” or “Why did God send Jesus?” … well Jesus answers that question himself in Luke:

to bring good news to poor people

to set prisoners free

to give sight to the blind

to liberate the oppressed

and to usher in God’s abundance

But Jesus doesn’t want to go at it alone. He begins calling disciples to join him in his ministry. Jesus isn’t looking for converts, though.

“Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)

He’s looking for doers to join him in the work of his ministry. And what is that ministry?

Throughout the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, we get a look at God’s priorities. When I look at the ministry of Jesus, I don’t see a departure from the Hebrew scriptures, I see a continuation of them.

In the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, there are 2,350 verses about money, 300 about social justice and the poor, and even 24 about immigration.

But it’s not really about plucking verses out of context or tallying up the number of verses about this subject vs that subject. To take the Bible seriously and faithfully, you need to know what to do with it. What are the central themes and what are the exceptions? What are commandments and what might be examples of humans messing up, despite their best intentions? What taps into the divine and what is just a reflection of a time-bound, cultural norm?

In Deuteronomy,

I have set life and death, blessing and curse before you. Now choose life.

In Amos,

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

In Luke, when asked what one must do to gain eternal life, Jesus shared a story that ended with the Samaritan taking care of the injured man and paying for his healthcare … “Go and do likewise” was Jesus’s answer.

In John,

I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.

In Acts,

All the believers were united and shared everything. …There were no needy persons among them

There’s a whole lot in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures: letters, commandments, poems, stories, parables, and even some visions.

What are we to make of all of these?

Genesis 1 ends with, “God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good” and Revelation ends with “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.” When you look at Scripture — from Genesis to Revelation — what you see is that God calls us to be faithful by loving ourselves and taking care of each other.

Jesus seems to agree. In Matthew 22, he says,

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.

If you aren’t drawing yourself and others closer to God, if you aren’t filled with love for God, for yourself, and for others, you’re not following Jesus’s commands.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that “by their fruits you will recognize” whether a religious teaching is true or not.

The fruits of anti-LGBTQ theology reveal its falseness: depression, despair, suicide, fractured families, loss of faith, bullying, harassment. The fruits of affirming theology testify to its rightness: a return to faith, a healing of relationships, and a vibrance and resurgence in church life.

But it’s not just about being “LGBTQ affirming” or not.

Does your theology put you at odds with your mind, soul, heart, or body? Does your theology sow division in your family, community, nation, or world? Does your theology excuse or encourage violence? Does your theology exacerbate your mental health problems?

Or does it lead you to life and joy? Does it comfort you? Does it give you hope? Does it lead you to treat others well?

Judge your theology by its fruits.

How to figure out an integrated, Bible-based faith that is life-giving

It took me studying religion in college, being trained by religious and civil rights leaders, engaging in full-time activism across the country for months, reading and studying countless books by pastors, scholars, theologians, and activists; and studying under mentors. It took Fr. Shay going to seminary, continuing his education for a decade, working in churches for equally long, and pursuing independent study.

But it shouldn’t require that much of an investment just to read the Bible well and put it into practice. That’s why we are distilling all of our expertise and experience down into a 4-week course on how to read the Bible: Journey into the Bible. It starts on September 15. You can learn more and register here.

[coachdaffue]

Change

Change might the hardest but most rewarding undertaking an individual can ever choose to make.

Change is defined as making (someone or something) different; to alter or modify. Change means replacing (something) with something else, something better. – Common definition.

Change is the human ability to choose better, to choose to get away from the delusion that past mistakes, pains, and abuses will inevitably produce similar results of failure, pain, and abuse in the future. Change is the ability to choose to get away from what we don’t want and work towards achieving the goals we set for ourselves to get what we do want. Change and choices are interlinked. Making better choices in life produces positive results and inevitably fulfillment.

Change has not been an easy road for me, I had a lot to get away from and even run away from. I was sexually assaulted at my father’s funeral when I was 5, I was severely bullied by teachers and students alike for being a closeted gay person. As an adult, I thought religion had the answers and was the cure for my condition, but all it ended up doing was trapping me in an end time’s cult, in the hands of a delusional prophet who was sent to trigger doomsday, die to be resurrected on the third day, and ascend to heaven. Fear crippled my heart because all I knew was abuse, self-hatred, shame, and humiliation.

Physically, I always wanted to be muscular and fit, but that dream was crushed when I developed a very painful inguinal hernia. For the last twenty years of life, I’ve known nothing but physical pain, and laziness became my hobby, it took years for me to find a sport to be passionate about that would not inflame the inguinal hernia. And rope dart, an unconventional Chinese Martial arts weapon became not only a physical fitness routine but kept me healthier than I’ve ever been both physically and mentally. It all came down to a choice, sit in front of the computer, getting fat and feeling depressed, or getting outside and moving around and feeling amazing. The choice became easier over time, I choose roped dart over games any day of the weak. The change has already happened. And I am very great full to myself for seeking out life coaching and learning how to make better decisions.

The subject of change was taboo in my childhood home and predominantly Christian neighborhood. God does not change. Yet, change was all that was expected from me. I could not change the fact that I was homosexual, I tried, I prayed the gay away, and preachers banished demons from my body, demons only they could see. Yet the gayness stayed, and so did the internalized homophobia. It took years of educating myself on epigenetics and the effects of the womb on sexual orientation, I’ve also come to learn a lot about the biology of belief and what can be changed, and what cant. Threw education and education alone was I able to accept the fact that I was gay, yes. It was ok and natural and that God did not hate me.

By making these little decisions, I grew stronger in my self-worth and knew who it was that I wanted to become, I developed a strong self-concept and worked hard to maintain the positive momentum I felt towards working on my personal goals.

Soon I was making bigger decisions towards my life goals, decisions that were final regardless of consequences. I decided to change the way I took responsibility for the decisions I make, and I am proud to say I stand stronger for it today. There have been moments though that I was not ready for the consequences my choices had. Poor planning and expectation management can damper one’s future plans. But not making mistakes and not learning from them is more of a dream killed than poor planning. At least if you made a mistake you know what not to do, you have the knowledge to build from. Not trying is not having anything to build from, and quitting is having knowledge and destroying it promptly to remain poor. Emotional decision-making is chasing a rush and can lead to catastrophe. Rational decision-making can lead to the missing of creative opportunities. There is such a thing as scientific tunnel vision. I learned the difference the hard way. Therefore I always strive to avoid both and import strategies now to make more sober decisions. These skills are covered in more detail later on in this book.

The most difficult part of a change for me and by far the most exhausting was the internal focus on healing the trauma of the past. Today as you will learn I thank myself for the steps I took earlier on and congratulate myself on the progress I have made in achieving my personal goals, one small choice at a time. I thank myself every day for starting an educational journey that not only freed my mind but freed me financially and spiritually. I share with you that same knowledge in this blog with the hope that it might inspire you to continue to learn how to make better choices, good choices, that can improve your life as it has mine.

Here I list a few of the choices I have made in my own life using life coaching principles, these have had the most impact on my life and have had the most impact on my change work.

• Setting personal boundaries and keeping to them.

This meant setting boundaries on my body, as a gay man society seems to think that my body is public domain. It’s not.

In my previous church, which I left, this boundary was crossed by a man who deemed himself a prophet, a kiss on the neck once creeped me out for days.

Setting up this physical boundary had devastating consequences, the prophet did not take it well, but the empowerment it brought was tremendously freeing emotionally first and physical relief from ever-present anxiety and stress due to previous sexual assaults. (There have been countless other instances I could mention, but this one stood out.)

• Setting up personal boundaries does not only include physical boundaries, personal boundaries extend to our soul, our minds our emotions, and our financial well-being.

• Making the choice to take time for myself, to educate my mind, rest my mind and bring joy to my mind. This I could not achieve though if it was not for the right family support structure. Having time to have made these choices is a gift, a gift I do not take for granted, therefore I share the knowledge I gained in that time granted.

• Making the choice ease up myself when I dint want to be forced to do something, then also forcing myself towards progress when needed. I did this threw not looking at my situation rationally or emotionally, but looking for answers using life coaching techniques that enabled me to make calmer more congruent choices, those choices have made me happy.

Change or stay the same, no one is coming to save you, you must save yourself and that starts with the choice to take responsibility for the things you want more of in life and want them so much that you have no choice but to take action and go get what you want. There is no quick fix, but the time and effort you sow into your goals will grow and bear seeds in the future, it will only happen one step at a time it will take time indeed. Change takes place from the inside out and our perspective of life must also mirror that idea.

There is a lot more to effective choice-making and life coaching has taught me much on the subject, these skills will be discussed later on in the blog.

Coach Daffue

[cmbynreviews]

The gay melodrama and fantasy of "Call Me by Your Name"

“I have touched you for the last time, is it a video?”

The summer of 1983, two years after the debut of MTV and the popularization of the music video, is where we find Timothée Chalamet’s teenage Elio, attempting to seduce one of his father’s visiting grad students (Armie Hammer’s Oliver). Elio’s seduction is in his movements – how he wriggles his hips like Michael Jackson, David Bowie, or Madonna in their early ’80s videos, how he keeps his bedroom door open at night to let the moonlight suggest his intentions, how he darts around Oliver’s body during conversations like an archaeologist examining an unearthed statue.

In translating a book like André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name into a film, a book that focuses so much on the interior fantasies of its protagonist, director Luca Guadagnino had quite the task. As it turns out, Guadagnino is adept at creating fantasy himself – the film plays like a VHS tape you’ve rewound several times, hoping to relive the magic of the first time it played out before your eyes. The question at hand in Call Me by Your Name then, becomes: Is it even possible?

The melodramatic setting of the Italian countryside, with its rolling hills, sensual swimming pools and waterfalls, and the looming architecture of Italy’s past plays to how the film explores the apocryphal nature of memory. Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens, with his nebulously Christian rock music, contributes new material to the film’s soundtrack that questions how we remember our past. “Oh, to see without my eyes / the first time that you kissed me”, Stevens sings on “Mystery of Love”, reflecting on Elio and Oliver’s first intimate encounter. Elio lived that moment, yes, but perhaps his memory has betrayed him? The film’s conclusion leaves Elio on the verge of tears, morosely remembering his now-expired relationship with Oliver as Stevens’ “Visions of Gideon” poses the question: “Is it a video? Is it a video? Is it a video?”

After all, if the moment truly happened the way Elio remembers it, wouldn’t Oliver still be with him? Wouldn’t he have been there in person at Christmas when Elio’s family returns, instead of phoning him with the devastating news that he’s engaged?

Stevens explores the doubt of our memories in “Visions of Gideon”, which refers to the biblical prophet Gideon who God shepherded toward a surprise victory. For many young gay men who have their first sexual encounter, it can be impossible to know if the conclusion was foregone or an act of divine intervention. In a society with few depictions of romantic love between gay men, let alone in their formative years as teens, how could Elio know what was actually possessing him? It takes a conversation with his father, Michael Stuhlbarg’s Lyle, to process his feelings and recognize that there is a precedent for his emotions. Oliver offers him no such guidance, save for sexual tutelage, because Elio later learns that he was merely a summer affair: Oliver had a woman back in the United States, a woman he knows intimately enough to marry.

And so Elio scribbles journal entries to keep a record of his memories, like the time he accuses Oliver of giving him the cold shoulder. Oliver, 24, tells 17-year-old Elio to “grow up”, however, and insinuates that this interpretation of events is Elio’s alone. If so, even Elio’s own words have betrayed him – the desire for “is it a video?” becomes a refrain to scrutinize his memories and Oliver’s and determine the truth. Not that a video would provide much resolution. You could turn on television in the ’80s and see George Michael shaking his ass in denim jeans and still believe he was straight. You could see Rock Hudson playing a straight leading man on Dynasty while he privately died of AIDS. The only thing Elio knows is that he has indeed touched and loved Oliver for the last time.

The first time I became aware of the fragility of our romantic memories was in recalling my own first encounter with another man. Much like Elio, mine was with an older man. But the situation, exchanging addresses through a computer in the cold winter of Chicago while I was a college student, couldn’t be more different from Elio’s interactions with Oliver. And yet, the way we navigate sexual relationships is not at all different from Elio and Oliver’s. The cat-and-mouse game is no different than messaging a man on a computer over a decade ago, or via an app on your phone – intent can be lost in the language of a sterile electronic conversation, just as Elio fails to notice that Oliver was flirting with him when he pressed his fingers to his back after a game of volleyball.

Call Me by Your Name draws its romantic nature from the idea that we’ve each crafted a fantasy of what romance is. For Elio, it’s sweeping romantic gestures. The mechanics of sex is pleasurable, but he finds distaste in masturbation, in touching his own semen, and he comes quickly in each of his encounters. For Oliver, he puts on a fine performance of a romantic suitor, but he’s about sex and the emotions are second. Perhaps what Elio truly learns is that in his mind, as he made his summer with Elio worthy of the Brontë sisters, it was not the most important moment in Oliver’s life.

Is this film telling us that the illusion of romance is just that? An illusion? Perhaps, but then Guadagnino has produced such a lush film, brimming with the beauty of nature. So is his own point of view at odds with the film’s? Guadagnino’s film ends with Oliver calling Elio to play the romantic game they devised during their affair, where Oliver told Elio, “Call me by your name, and I’ll call you by mine”. Aciman’s novel, however, ends with Oliver and Elio meeting years later and Elio silently despairing that if Oliver ever truly loved him, he would once again “look me in the face, hold my gaze, and call me by your name”.

Guadagnino’s adaptation does away with this end, perhaps because it’s depressing, but also because it’s not how he views love. It’s why his film relies so much on the music of Sufjan Stevens, who once said in an interview with The Atlantic, “It’s not so much that faith influences us as it lives in us. In every circumstance, I am living and moving and being”. Call Me by Your Name suggests that Elio doesn’t truly need to know whether Oliver loved him. Because he has his feelings, he has his VHS tape of their moments together to dust off and replay in his mind, and if he wants it to be true, then it is true. It’s a gift to a gay audience that rarely receives a homosexual romance that doesn’t end in tragedy, and who turn to cinema to escape their own disappointment-filled lives. To take in a fantasy-like romance of a young man and an older suitor; to ignore the incredibly unsexy encounter they may have had, during a cold Chicago winter, with an older man whose idea of romance was muting The Late Show with David Letterman, the flickering of the television set mirroring a young college student’s saccharine idea of their first, candlelit sexual encounter.

Guadagnino asks us to disregard that the entire summer could have been in his imagination, another one of the stories that his mother reads to him at night to comfort him. Conceivably, Elio’s father may be the most important in the film. He’s a professor who uses remnants of the past to shape his own interpretations of events. When speaking of one of the statues he and Oliver excavates from the ocean, the professor describes it as “begging you to desire them”. How does he know? He has faith.

IRA MADISON III | DAILY BEAST | 24 Nov 2017

[nerdygaymormon]

My message to fellow Church members

Some of the words are borrowed from others, but this is what I’d like to say to other Mormons to help them understand my situation. And to be clear, these thoughts don’t represent all gay Mormons, there’s no unanimity of thought or experiences. Think back to going thru puberty and the embarrassment when you start having explicit dreams. Many teenagers feel ashamed and wonder if they’re evil for having such thoughts. Some also wonder if they’re broken because the people in their imaginings are of their same gender. They didn’t choose these images and desires and it can be confusing. Imagine being taught that the truest form of joy and fulfillment comes from being married in the temple and having a family–but being told this is not meant for YOU. It can be disconcerting to be in a Church whose vision of the afterlife focuses on husbands & wives in eternal families. Would you wonder if there’s something wrong with you or what the eternities will mean for you? It’s difficult to reconcile same-sex orientation with this Church. While messages of hope and joy can be heard, so are words that hurt. Compared to my teenage years, the Church has moved forward and the language has softened, but there’s still things taught that wound. Fellow members have said unkind things when they didn’t know I was included in the group they were disparaging. Like any other member, I want to be understood and loved, to be included. I don’t want to be merely tolerated. I want to be embraced, want to be respected as a peer and a fellow child of God, accepted for being on the path of discipleship with you. God created me as a glorious, eternal being. Same is true for the person who is trangender, asexual, panromantic or any other person in a queer category. I don’t know how we fit into God’s plan, but God knows. Our situations are part of the natural variations of the human condition. I can’t believe we’re set up to fail. I am a son of God. I am gay. I am known and loved by Him. He is rooting for me. When LGBT topics arise in church, they’re always linked with restrictions. Gay members don’t often hear messages of love and hope regarding their situation. Sometimes I’m told the same church standards apply to me as to any other member, but is that true? Single members of our church are to refrain from sex until married, but they’re free to engage in a myriad of behaviors that would make my church leaders uncomfortable were I to do them. In some important ways, I’m not sure I can reach my full potential as a human being inside the Church. When people learn I’m gay, sometimes it feels like people automatically discount my faith and things I share about being gay & Mormon, like answers to my prayers or thoughts on the subject. For people who swim with the current, can they appreciate the struggle of members who have to swim upstream in this Church? It feels like some members’ compassion for gays is really just sorrow that the person is gay, not genuine sympathy for the challenges that gays face in our culture, let alone a desire to help lessen the challenges. Think of someone in a wheelchair, while they can’t walk, they’re not disabled in a society that is thoroughly wheelchair accessible. The discrimination of not accommodating and not making things accessible is the real impairment. You can follow the prophet by advocating for the rights of same-sex couples. Also, invite gay friends to your home and gay members should know there is a place for them on the pew next to you. The language used when talking about LGBT issues matters. Words like “struggle” and “suffer” are the way we talk about diseases, temptations, and addictions. “I struggle with depression,” or “he suffers from cancer.” Imagine if the Church routinely spoke of you as “someone suffers with opposite-sex attraction.” Homosexuality is not like being a smoker or an addict. My sexual orientation isn’t a spiritual disability. I know the Church uses the phrase “same-sex attraction” as a way to not have it be part of my identity, it’s merely something I "have" not something I “am”. The thing is being gay goes beyond sexual attraction, it’s an orientation, which means it’s a way of thinking, feeling and responding. Being gay affects how I view and understand the world in many areas: romantic, aesthetic, emotional, mental, and spiritual. I can’t turn off my heart or my thoughts. LGBT individuals experience the world in wonderful and holy ways, have the ability to perceive grace and connect with others, and have insight on what it means to be divine. Our experiences can be expansive and uplifting. Here’s an interesting thing, many prayers with the pleading of “Please take this away from me,” have been answered by silence. But “God, do you love me as I am? Do you accept me? Do you love all of me?” those prayers get a strong, loving “YES!” I don’t need mending, I am not broken. I’m a whole person, like you, as my Heavenly Father made me. He already knows and loves us, knows our orientation. I’ve been asked by parents, “Is there a place in church for my child?” “Church and family have brought happiness & purpose in my life and my child can’t have both?“ I can’t tell them what the future holds, but I can promise that as long as their child wants to be here, there’s a place for them, and there are people who’re willing to walk this hard path with them. As the Primary song says, “I’ll walk with you, I’ll talk with you, that’s how I’ll show my love for you.” LDS Family Services estimates there are, on average, four or five members in a typical North American ward with same-sex attraction. Does that surprise you? It did me. Some may keep a low profile, and others may be inactive. Being LGBT & LDS can be lonely and feel isolating. Our situation isn’t reflected in videos or the lessons, there’s not really any role models at church, we’re absent from any discussion on exaltation and Eternal Life. It feels like me and my existence aren’t acknowledged and certainly not valued, which is a shame, young people especially deserve to know that people like them matter. People always felt Jesus’ love, even if he’d told them hard things. People were seen and heard, they were touched. They left Jesus with more dignity than when they started. I’m not sure LGBT people can say the same about their encounters with Mormons. My country and my church both have sins in their pasts. In our church we teach that prophets and apostles are not infallible, however a lot of Mormons act as if they are and that the leaders won’t ever teach incorrect things. I don’t think that’s true of our history with members of African descent. It’s also not true in the area of homosexuality. Jesus would not ask me to stay away from him, yet it feels like, as a church, we’ve been letting the gay lambs go. I am a Mormon and I am a gay man. I love this church and how it’s taught me to feel the Spirit and gets me to serve others and the sense of community, but if I’m forced to choose between the two, I can’t change my orientation. Statistically about 70-90% of all LGBT members will leave the Church. Many view the choice of remaining as choosing to be miserable for Christ. Is this what He asks of us? Please be gentle and compassionate with LGBT members who leave or come back to Church. Being active in this Church for LGBT people usually equates with a lower quality of life, greater depression, more distress over their sexual orientation, lower self-esteem and higher suicide rates. Sometimes a person needs a break from the Church in order to maintain or reclaim better mental health. Your gay friends aren’t weak for seeking love & intimacy, they aren’t being led astray by the adversary. It’s a biologic drive that is natural to pursue and to deny & repress it comes at a great price. Today I may sound like a confident, mature person, but for a long time it was hard to love myself. It took a long time for me to accept and embrace my sexual orientation. It’s been a long journey for me to understand that being gay is neither good nor evil, it just is. In my life it has turned from a curse into a blessing. I know what it feels to be on the margins. I can empathize with people in their struggles. I’ve been used by God to build His kingdom, to befriend the friendless and comfort the comfortless, He guides me to people who need to feel His love. My being here means I survived and triumphed in a world that didn’t protect, validate, or encourage me as a gay individual. I’ve had to become strong & patient. I’ve had to gain some spiritual independence and be brave enough to say that I am staking a claim to the blessings of the gospel in spite of what others say. I recognize that many members would prefer to not have to hear about these things. That LGBT people don’t seem to “fit in” with the plan of creation as it’s generally understood, and yet, we exist. Sometimes I feel like the bothersome data point that doesn’t fit the hypothesis, that my existence is an inconvenient truth. The thing is, in society and especially at church, you are in the privileged position. If nothing changes, it doesn’t really affect you and so it’s easy to say let’s not stir things up or that I just need to be patient. For me, though, it means everything. He already knows and loves people in my situation, but for us to be honest with Him, we need to be honest with ourselves. Spiritual maturity includes coming out of the closet with God. The path forward is unclear for queer Mormons, we each have to navigate a path forward. I wish my church and my orientation were more compatible, because I don’t believe it’s incompatible with God.

[heksbabe]

The basics of herbs

I have spent the last few days reading and here’s the basics of what i found out!

Herbs have enormous magical power, because they hold the earth’s energy in them. Each herb has unique properties that can enhance one’s magical goals. Herbs also may have medicinal properties. You can draw from the herbs when performing a spell, in cooking, baths, or anything else really.

If you grow herbs harvest them in the morning after the sun has dried the dew but before the heat of the day sets in. Use a sharp magical knife (a bolline) to cut herbs; the knife should be consecrated specifically for this purpose. Thank the plant for its gift, and offer it something in return, perhaps some water, organic fertilizer or mulch. Harvest only the amount of herbs needed, except when pruning the plants, to ensure healthy growth for the following season.

Something else I have learned is that roots - often the most magically potent part of the plant - once chopped or powdered are fairly indistinguishable one from the other. It is not uncommon for unethical for ignorant vendors to substitute one root for another. If you need a distinct root, buy the whole root and grind and powder it yourself, even thought this can be difficult and time consuming. This is the only way to guarantee that you are receiving what you want. The only way to maintain control over what may be a pivotal ingredient.

The Unwritten Basics:

Certain herbs (or oils) act as a catalyst to other herbs.  They provide the “kick in the pants” that power up the formula.  

Other herbs act as “focusing” herbs.  You combine various herbs into a formula and then add one of these herbs to bring them together and “focus” the intent. 

Some herbs are “re-focusing”.  They help to change the vibration in a given situation and shift it elsewhere.

Then there are herbs which are “Controlling, Compelling or Commanding” -  used when you really need to assert your will over a situation. 

And some herbs are “Power” herbs - they boost and enhance  the witch’s own innate power.

Ague Weed:  a protection herb.  Also called “Boneset”. Agrimony:  acts as a deflective shield; sends back bad vibrations Angelica:  highly protective. In fact, sometimes too effective!  Carry as an amulet.  Also used in exorcism.  Brewed into a tea and sprinkled in the corners of a house to keep evil away.  Can be used at the beginning and closing of rituals for blessing and banishing.  Also called “Archangel”. Anise:  Raises vibrations to the highest possible psychic level.  Good for bringing about changes in attitude (re-focusing), for astral travel, dreams, crystal gazing and meditation.  In a pillow, it is said to keep away nightmares. For any type of clairvoyance or divination or mental exercises.  Anisette (liquor) is used during Voodoo initiations to anoint the head.   Apple/Apple blossoms -  for love.  Delicate, faintly seductive.  More of an Invitation than a Proposition.  Also used for peace and general contentment.  Used for success.  Add to the bath to aid relaxation.  Also used for fertility  Ash -   Very protective, cleansing and refocusing. Asafetida: one of the strongest banishing herbs (also the stinkiest!) . Burned to drive away evil and destroy manifestations.  Used for exorcism and purification. Alfalfa - for success in money matters.  Used for money drawing and to insure against poverty.  A traditional “luck” herb. Not powerful enough to be used alone, this herb “plays well with others” helping to reinforce other luck and money herbs while adding a bit of protective insurance. Allspice - a catalyst.  Works on higher planes for good or evil.  Tends to affect the mind and thoughts of the person on whom it’s used, for instance luck or success in the form of a brainstorm.  Frequently employed in luck, love and psychic areas; also good for money and general success.  Althea - (marshmallow root) mild and gently commanding.  More of a “persuasion"  herb.  Burned in combination with other herbs, for example w/ roses and apple blossoms for a subtly forceful love incense.  Said to be a particular favorite of “nice” spirits. Ambergris - (the real stuff is illegal  and unethical to use!  However, a good quality synthetic seems to work well)   A strong sexual compellent.  Used to lend power to other herbs. Bergamot- brings luck through intuition.   Bistort - for success in financial matters Balm of Gilead:  Highly protective power herb, especially in love matters.  Energizing and grounding at the same time. Barberry - used for hexing.  Brings bitterness, sourness.  Sprinkled around the premises to bring bad vibes and quarrels.  On the flip side, it is used with vetivert and Bay leaves to protect against bitterness - but that’s risky.  Said to work for good grudgingly and delights in hexing. Bayberry -very powerful for hexing when combined with other hexing herbs.  Casts a gloomy depression.  Conversely it is also used for money and prosperity - especially collecting money that is owed.  Often used as an Attraction oil for men. Basil - for money and success.  Soak in water for 3 days, then sprinkle about a place of business. Also used for purification and protection and to remove obstacles in love and create harmony.  Dispels melancholy and attracts friends. Bay:  powerfully protective - even when used alone.  Also a power and commanding herb. Used for banishing. In some traditions, used for hexing.  Combined with other herbs for love and money rituals.  Burned to induce visions.  The leaves are put under a pillow for inspiration and prophetic dreams.   Benzoin - added to other herbs to focus their energies and lend power.  Used for communication and improving the thought processes.  Combine with cinnamon for business success.  Also used for purification. Can be added to an incense to heighten its effectiveness.  Never add to hexing herbs! Bergamot - protection and prosperity.  Brings luck through intuition. Used with other herbs to bring psychic and prophetic dreams. Betony:  for banishing and removing negative energy. Blueberry:  Protective and associated w/ treachery and deception.  It does not return the treachery  - just keeps it from reaching you. Bindweed: for binding another.  It smothers the intentions of others.  Used in both hexing and protection. Bistort:  used for fertility (often carried to help concieve a child) Also used for money drawing when combined with Juniper and Allspice.  Also good for divination. Borage: lends courage, uncovers dishonesty and helps conquer a situation Broom Tops: purification, protection, to raise and calm winds. Throw into the air to raise the wind; burn the herb to calm them.  Also boiled in salt water and used to keep poltergeists and evil spirits away.  Black Snakeroot:  an X-rated love herb, often used by men.  Also to destroy unwanted love (burn with artifacts of the person whom you want to leave you alone)  Also burned with adam & eve root to make love spells more effective. Buchu leaves:  used for psychic development   Cherry blossoms: bring honesty Chamomile:  excellent for luck, prosperity, money and gambling.  (Wash your hands with the tea before playing cards.)  Calms the nerves and gives energy in adversity.  Often used in Uncrossing formulas. Caraway Seeds:  protective, particularly in the area of health.  In love - is said to attract a lover (in the physical sense) and cure fickleness.  Also used to strengthen the memory. Carnation:  protection and spicy energy. Add to a Power incense or toss into a formula where you want to “spice” things up a bit.    Camphor:  to totally cleanse and banish.  Used to ward off unwanted advances from others, in healing and to stimulate psychic senses. Cardamom: a love herb, used for Romance.  Has some commanding and compelling properties in the area of love.  Also acts as a catalyst to other herbs. Civet:  (another illegal and unethical oil.  Again: use a good synthetic.  It still works!) a commanding and compelling ingredient (especially in love).  Powerful, non-selective . Often used in Power oil. Clove: a strong, forceful, compelling herb.  Commanding. Acts as a catalyst when combined with other herbs. Used when force or power is required.   Cinnamon:  a catalyst that doesn’t mind baneful recipes.  Used in money drawing, for concentration and spells for love and passion .  Sometimes used in healing or clairvoyance. Cedar:  psychic and protective.  Has a way of keeping psychic channels open while protecting the operator.  Use to anoint the 3rd eye. Cherry Blossoms: cheerfulness, light heartedness and good humor. Associated with honesty.  Good for concentration in study. Capsicum (Cayenne):  a catalyst of great strength and negativity.  Chili powder works similarly, but has more to do with controlling that activating.  Used to reverse evil and return it to the sender. Coriander: used for love, yet Very protective in these matters.  Good for people who want a somebody, but aren’t sure who.  Added to Perfect Mate recipes.  Works for slow, steadily developing relationships. Citronella:  for attraction.  Good for attracting friends and business. Cumin:  attracts peace & tranquility when sprinkled across doorways each Sunday before noon.  Used also to control infidelity and in this way has a gently binding effect. Calamus rt: a controlling herb, powerful enough to be used alone or in combination with other herbs.  Use to control a person or situation. Calendula:  induces dreams.  Used for legal difficulties and for money.  Has a mild, gentle action.  Add to the bath to win admiration and respect from others.   Dogbane:  swings both ways - it can be used to remove deception or to     create it, depending on which herbs you combine it with. Deerstongue:  one of the most widely used psychic herbs, it is fragrant, efficient and white magical in effect.  Screens bad vibes.  Often used by homosexuals to attract others (combined with musk, civet, ambergris and echinacea) Dill :  has the ability to lull or defuse a situation.  Often used to calm children. Devil’s Bit:  commanding and compelling.  May be used to command or compel love, luck or success depending on what it is combined with.  Protective, it works similarly to Low John.   Dragon’s Blood:  Power and protection.  Thought by many to only work for “good”.  That’s nonsense! It’s uses are almost limitless.     Elder:  a commanding herb which influences a situation (or person) on a subtle but powerful  level.  Also highly protective. Elecampane:  for love charms of all kinds. Eucalyptus:  highly protective in all areas of health.  Also used for purification. Eyebright: used for clairvoyance and to see fairies. Elm bark: stops slander and gossip. (the type I’m referring to here is called “Slippery Elm”)   Fennel:  a controlling herb and also a “twisting” herb.  Better for removing hexes than protecting against them.  It’s action is unpredictable.  Use this when you want to effect a change in a situation.  If you’re familiar with astrology, think of the influence of the planet Uranus here. Frankincense:  associated with the male principle as Myrrh is associated with the female principle.  A mixture of both in an incense creates a balance.  It is a good “white” magical base to receive other herbs or oils.  Often used for protection or in money drawing recipes.  Long used as a divinatory offering, in consecration and to raise the spiritual  vibrations of a place. It aids in meditation and is used to obtain blessings and general prosperity. Five Finger Grass: (cinquefoil)  Old standby for money spells.  In fact, most money incenses don’t seem to work as well without it.  Combined w/ soot, it has been used for hexing.  It has also been used for protecting.  Often used as a bath herb toward this purpose. Works better for protecting against negative influences than removing them. Fenugreek:  a seed of the sun, used for all manner of luck and success spells.   Frangipani:  an attraction or “drawing” herb.  Use to bring things to you.  Also used to command trust and gain the confidence of others. Foxglove:  exposes lying and forces honesty.   Grains of Paradise:  carry strong luck connotations. Galangal:  highly versatile and only slightly less powerful that High John or Jalap.  Known as Low John, its action never proceeds in a straight line, but takes on unexpected twists and turns.  It accomplishes its functions through devious means.  Creates a powerful force for affecting change and is often used in legal difficulties. Ginger: basically a fiery catalyst but also used to induce passion.  A good catalyst to add to formulas for romantic love. Geranium:  used to lift the spirits and banish negativity.  Protection, love, healing and fertility are all in the domain of this herb.   Heliotrope:  another sun herb.  Carries a vibration of luck.  Attracts wealth and protects against physical harm.  Used in healing, clairvoyance and finding lost objects. Honey:  binds and attracts, seduces.  Often used in incense to bind the other ingredients. Honeysuckle:  attracts friends, business and instills confidence.  Used for money, prosperity and clairvoyance.  Traditionally symbolizes the “bonds of love” and is excellent when working on a problem of infidelity.  A potent and sneaky commanding ingredient - the iron fist in the velvet glove.    Hawthorn:  used for protection, purification and banishing.  Some identified it as “the tree of hope” and to the Romans it symbolized marriage. Hazel:  used for wands but also for reconciliation.  Quickly lessens hostilities between people.  Two twigs tied together w/ red or gold thread to form a solar cross were used for a good luck charm.  Draw a circle around you with hazel if in need of protection.  Used for fertility and wisdom and in divining rods for finding lost objects. Hemlock:  one of the foremost hexing agents. Added to any oil or incense to change its meaning (for example to Luck oil to deny good luck) Hellebore:  works similarly to henbane but likes to pull the rug out from under the operator so use with caution!   Hyacinth: used to transmit on psychic planes a feeling of joy and playfulness.  Frequently used as a follow-up to uncrossing rituals to replace negative vibes with positive ones.  Attracts love, luck and brings peace of mind and restful sleep. Heather:  protects.   Hyssop:  anointing, blessing, consecrating, protecting and purifying.   Irish moss:  a success herb w/ long term benefits.  Slower in action but good for secure and steady growth of prosperity.   Jasmine:  essentially a seduction herb.  More sexual than romantic.  Symbolizes the mysteries of the night.  Sometimes used for meditation, to relax, for dreams or even to aid in childbirth.  In love recipes it is used lightly in combination with other ingredients unless you just want a sexual affair. Juniper berries:  a power herb which happens to work quite well in areas of luck, good fortune and success.  Legendarily associated with Jupiter, it is often used for male virility.    Lavender:  cleanses, protects and shields from bad vibrations and negativity.  Used for uncrossing and love, it’s particularly effective in helping with marital problems or relationships.  Soothes problems between parents and children and is an excellent protecting herb for babies and children. Lemon or Lemon blossoms:  fiery, zesty and active.  Often employed as a catalyst in luck recipes since it sets off other herbs.  Also used for “drawing” or “attracting” something to you. Often used in love formulas both for attracting and repelling. Licorice:  a commanding herb.  Used by the Egyptians as an aphrodisiac. Lemon Verbena:  a traditional luck herb, it has the ability to convert bad luck to good.  It is positive, protective and cleansing.  A strengthening herb added to others to give extra power.  Also used as an “attraction” herb. Lemon Grass:  used to aid psychic powers. A two-sided herb: on the one hand calming, good for deepening meditation or trance. Excellent to add to a general “Power” formula for general ritual work.  On the other hand it has been used by some as a hexing herb primarily aimed at making someone’s life complicated and full of problems.  Go figure! Lilac:  good for inducing “far memory” and recalling past lives.  Also good for clairvoyance in general.  Brings peace & harmony.  Excellent for uncrossing.  Tends to promote the positive aspects in the herbs it’s combined with. Lobelia:  Like most of the poisons, this expresses “hate” while other hexing herbs express “anger, contempt or dislike”.  Results with herbs like this one are always nasty, but never predictable. Lotus:  a common additive to psychic incenses.  Said to reach the highest realms of mystical insight.  Associated with Egyptian magic. Lily of the Valley:  used for calming and blessing. Lime:  To keep a lover faithful.  Used by men for attracting women.  Has some “drawing” or “attracting” abilities in other areas. Conversely, has also been used to “sour” a relationship. Lovage:  an “Attracting” herb.  Used to draw customers to a place of business or to attract others in general.  The root acts as a catalyst to other herbs while exerting a stabilizing influence at the same time.  An excellent love herb. The leaf is highly cleansing.   Marjoram: protective - especially in matters of love.  Often used in love and friendship charms or for protecting the house. Mint:  a common additive to love incense - though I don’t know why since it tends to clear the head, not fog it.  Spirits love the scent of mint and a dish set out will tend to attract them.  Used in prosperity and money formulas.  Also excellent for psychic matters and studying. Mistletoe:  Although used in many love recipes, it is really a commanding/compelling herb.  Used since ancient times for protection. Musk:  (real musk is illegal and unethical to use. A good synthetic may be used instead)  commanding and compelling, particularly in sexual areas.  Help for self confidence, assurance and strength.   Myrtle:  love, fertility, protection and healing. Masterwort: power, strength and courage with good protective qualities.  An excellent herb to use in plain “Power” formulas. Mimosa:  a commanding herb which also inspires courtesy in others.  Use to anoint purple candles. Used to bring prophetic dreams and in healing. Motherwort:  a protecting herb which works almost Too Well - indeed, rather like a mother who will often protect you even against things you don’t want protecting from. Mugwort:  clairvoyance, summoning spirits, manifestations, dreams and for consecrating any items used in this manner. Mullien:  lends courage in difficult situations.  Tends toward the “"somber side"  often substituted for graveyard dust - often used when a matter needs to be "laid to rest” .   Neroli:  (bitter orange) a magnetic oil used for attracting. Orange or Orange Blossoms:  attracting, drawing, used to bring things to you or into your life.  Works better than lemon or lime in this sense, The blossoms especially are used in attracting love. Orris:  a focusing herb, used to focus the power of other herbs it is combined with.  Also used as a “love herb” Oakmoss:  a power herb which belongs to Jupiter.   Patchouli:  an herb of power and manifestation, for materializing one’s wishes.  Its job is to make things happen, to bring results “down to earth” quickly and powerfully.  Used for lust or sensuality rather than love.  It has no conscience of it’s own so combine carefully with other herbs.  Often added to money formulas. Pennyroyal:  Cleanses and protects.  Brings harmony and is helpful in times of domestic unrest.  Peppermint: use to create change and get things moving.   Pine:  excellent for cleansing and uncrossing, protecting or refocusing.  Energizing and grounding at the same time.  Poppy Seeds: for dreams, visions clairvoyance and dark moon activities.  Also used for fertility and prosperity. Queen of the Meadow: helps create new opportunities Rose:   love.  What you mix with it determines the kind of love. Rosemary: binds things (or people) together in a loving, gentle manner. Used in pillows for dreams and visions.  Also used for purification and protection, mental alertness and stronger memory.  Often used in sea rituals. Rose Geranium:  powerful protection and subtly commanding.  Reverses misfortune and can be used with other herbs to bless a new home. Rue:  highly protective.  Guards against negative energies and gets things moving in a positive direction. Often used in consecration rituals.   Sassafrass: Commanding and twisting.  Used to free you of another’s power over you or in legal battles for a favorable outcome. Sandalwood:    used to heighten spiritual vibrations, to cleanse, heal and protect.  Often used to stimulate clairvoyance. (the rest of my notes on this one are too badly burned to decipher…) Slippery Elm:  a highly focused protection herb, especially effective at controlling gossip or slander. Snakeroot:  “psychic divorce"  herb.  Use when you want to be ride of a person or thing. St. Johnswort:  emergency first aid protection herb.  Works quickly to reverse negativity and quiet animosity or arguments between people. Tends to absorb and "ground"  negative energies. Sweetpea:  an attraction oil used to draw friends or lovers, loyalty and affection. Solomon’s Seal:  an uncrossing herb associated with luck and wisdom. Brings hunches, intuition and dreams. Strawberry:  used (sparingly) to draw fortunate circumstances into one’s life. Squill root:  very powerful for money Thyme: a favorite with the spirits, it encourages positive vibrations and actions.  Used for protection (especially from the negative energy of others), for courage and for cleansing.   Tormentil:  (blood root) a commanding herb  that can be used for good or ill.  Often used to command respect. Used equally often in cursing and protection and frequently in love matters. Tonka bean:  combination of commanding and catalyst, often used for love or prosperity.  Just plain lucky! Protects against poverty.   Vanilla:  a compelling herb, used in areas of love and money especially. In love, it acts on a more physical level - lowering the guard, lulling the senses and subtly seducing. Vetivert:  (khus khus)  Excellent for uncrossing, protecting, cleansing and then refocusing.  Technically a power herb, it may be used to strengthen hexing formulas but its greatest ability is in Un-hexing.  Powerful and efficient. Violet:  (Old fashioned sweet violet)   for truth.  Guards against deception and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.

[queertheology]

Building a Bible-Based Faith (That Isn’t Terrible)

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

When I first started to realize that I was attracted to guys, a tiny crack appeared in my faith: how could a loving God knit me together in my mother’s womb then give me these desires for love, intimacy, and family with no righteous outlet to express them?

I’d been told that “homosexuality” was sinful, but I was never quite sure why. I needed to be sure, so I turned to the Bible. That was terrifying. Who was I to question what my church leaders acted like was common knowledge? And then I stumbled upon 1 Thessalonians 5:21 and I realized that questioning my beliefs wasn’t heresy, it was Biblical!

It took me YEARS to sort out that being LGBTQ was not only “ok” but an important part of the diversity of God’s creation. (If you want a peak at what I learned during the process, check this out)

Now that I know it’s ok to be queer — despite what some religious leaders say — I asked myself: what else were they wrong about?

Figuring out I was queer was an invitation to question my faith and to take a fresh look at “what the Bible” says about so many things.

Thank God I’m queer, because I have discovered in the Bible — and the community, experience, expertise, and traditions of Christians across millennia — a faith that is liberating and life-giving… and so much more alive than the evangelical faith of my childhood.

Conservatives talk a lot about being “Bible-believing” or having a “Bible-based” faith.

Too often that’s code for “My interpretation of Christianity is right and everyone who doesn’t measure up is sinful and going to hell.”

While I think it’s entirely possible to be an upstanding, moral person without ever turning to the Bible (or even believing in God!), I’m not ready to let go of this sacred text.

When I look at the Bible, here’s what I see.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. – Luke 4:18-19

Jesus begins his public ministry by quoting from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2, to be specific).

In doing so, he roots his ministry in his Jewish faith and, more specifically, in the Hebrew prophets.

If you’ve asked “What did Jesus come to do?” or “Why did God send Jesus?” … well Jesus answers that question himself in Luke:

to bring good news to poor people

to set prisoners free

to give sight to the blind

to liberate the oppressed

and to usher in God’s abundance

But Jesus doesn’t want to go at it alone. He begins calling disciples to join him in his ministry. Jesus isn’t looking for converts, though.

“Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)

He’s looking for doers to join him in the work of his ministry. And what is that ministry?

Throughout the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, we get a look at God’s priorities. When I look at the ministry of Jesus, I don’t see a departure from the Hebrew scriptures, I see a continuation of them.

In the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, there are 2,350 verses about money, 300 about social justice and the poor, and even 24 about immigration.

But it’s not really about plucking verses out of context or tallying up the number of verses about this subject vs that subject. To take the Bible seriously and faithfully, you need to know what to do with it. What are the central themes and what are the exceptions? What are commandments and what might be examples of humans messing up, despite their best intentions? What taps into the divine and what is just a reflection of a time-bound, cultural norm?

In Deuteronomy,

I have set life and death, blessing and curse before you. Now choose life.

In Amos,

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

In Luke, when asked what one must do to gain eternal life, Jesus shared a story that ended with the Samaritan taking care of the injured man and paying for his healthcare … “Go and do likewise” was Jesus’s answer.

In John,

I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.

In Acts,

All the believers were united and shared everything. …There were no needy persons among them

There’s a whole lot in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures: letters, commandments, poems, stories, parables, and even some visions.

What are we to make of all of these?

Genesis 1 ends with, “God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good” and Revelation ends with “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.” When you look at Scripture — from Genesis to Revelation — what you see is that God calls us to be faithful by loving ourselves and taking care of each other.

Jesus seems to agree. In Matthew 22, he says,

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.

If you aren’t drawing yourself and others closer to God, if you aren’t filled with love for God, for yourself, and for others, you’re not following Jesus’s commands.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that “by their fruits you will recognize” whether a religious teaching is true or not.

The fruits of anti-LGBTQ theology reveal its falseness: depression, despair, suicide, fractured families, loss of faith, bullying, harassment. The fruits of affirming theology testify to its rightness: a return to faith, a healing of relationships, and a vibrance and resurgence in church life.

But it’s not just about being “LGBTQ affirming” or not. Does your theology put you at odds with your mind, soul, heart, or body? Does your theology sow division in your family, community, nation, or world? Does your theology excuse or encourage violence? Does your theology exacerbate your mental health problems?

Or does it lead you to life and joy? Does it comfort you? Does it give you hope? Does it lead you to treat others well?

Judge your theology by its fruits.

We’re having a webinar to dive even deeper into the fundamentals of Christianity — and the fundamentals of being an LGBTQ Christian. Join us Thursday September 21 at 8pm eastern. Click here to register for free.