It only took me only a few minutes of listening to a youtube video my very liberal friend sent me this morning of a pastor preaching yesterday about how it is not right for Christians to grieve over the shooting yesterday in Orlando. After the first point I begin to weep. I have so many friends in that lifestyle and it ripped my heart out to hear what happened in Orlando and I have been silent about it out of grief. My dad spoke an amazing message yesterday (all written before the shooting even took place, talk about being prophetic!) that I wish was all over youtube. He talked about Zacheus who was hated and tax collectors and how Jesus spent lots of time with them just loving on them. He talked about the woman who was caught in adultery and brought out into the square by the religious leaders to be stoned. Jesus wrote in the sand and asked those who had no sin to cast the first stone. I wish I knew what he wrote to the Pharisees in the ground, probably secret sins they knew no one else knew about. He told the woman, look where are your accusers as all the men walked away.
I was so heavy in my heart just beginning listening to the twisted crap this preacher he sent me was saying. I vehemently disagree that God would not have us grieve for the murder of homosexuals. Killing is wrong no matter what the reason. Someone could say I should be killed because of gluttony or being envious – the sin of homosexuality is no different than any other sin. I mess up and have to ask forgiveness all the time. The bottom line is Jesus wept when those precious men and women were killed and hurt. He gave His life to be beaten and killed for them. He is the only human in this world to raise himself from the dead so everyone, no matter what sin they have done, can have hope of freedom, forgiveness and eternal life. My whole perception of homosexuals has drastically changed in the last couple years. (See my blog post -“Love Wins”) God has brought a tremendous compassion for them instead of disgust and hatred. When I saw my sin through God’s eye, and that His love for me is the same as it is for them- I was transformed like nothing else could ever do to me. 
Preachers like the one on youtube take a little bit of the Bible, twist it out of context and put their own thoughts and opinions to it. It is a very slippery slope. I’m sorry those people are out there who misrepresent Christians. They will be out there twisting and judging till Jesus comes back. Those people have never realized the depravity they were in and the intense love and grace that Jesus can or did save them from. I know there are so many places people want to point fingers, from extremists, ISIS, Islam, homophobia, Christians, Republicans, Democrats ect. I have take the position of pointing at my own heart and making sure my attitude is correct and filled with humility, grace and God’s love (my dad said the same thing yesterday). That’s where my change takes place.

 I am glad this friend of mine sent me a note this morning asking my opinion of that twisted preacher on youtube. I like to keep lines of communication open with him, because even though we are always on different sides, he many times helps to keep me in a right perspective! I pray for him like I pray for all my friends and family. I pray as we encounter people all walks of life and also when they come visit our churches they will be free from being condemned while being overwhelmed by love and acceptance. (I reworded the beginning and the end of this post because most of it is exactly what I sent him as a response to asking me to watch the video, he gave me permission to post this. Thanks 😉)