[yotlyolqualli]

There's a popular sountry song that says, "you've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for everything".

I think the same can be said about faith. I believe that each and every man, woman and child; past, present or future, are born with a yearning inside of them. A yearning to be one with their Creator. It is a hunger, if you will, that makes us seek to satisfy it.

I have written and rewritten this "part 3" several times, from a standpoint of not wanting to sound preachy nor wanting to offend. I was finding myself trying to be religiously ultra-PC (politically correct). However, I began this thread to explain how I myself, came to be able to embrace my sexuality, without giving up or altering my belief and faith.

I don't want this to become a battle ground for proselytizing, which "is the act of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion."

I had no intentions of doing that and I truly hope and ask that those who come here to share their own faith and their own spiritual journey, that we do so with respect to and for each other. I am NOT saying that this IS what is happening, I am acknowledging that it is a possibility when we're talking about such a personal and profound thing such as faith.

Mari and Viola and Ebon, thank you so much for your thoughts and input. I am profoundly moved by what Mari and Viola shared.

Mari, to come from the past, as you have, to find such an incredible understanding of yourself, the world around you, nay the universe around you, inspires me to meditate with more focus, on my own surroundings and coorelating them with my faith.

Viola, my heart hurt when I read your post. I have thought of how to word what I want to say to you and again, I've had trouble doing it because I truly know what you are feeling and I do not want to offend you or in any other way, cause you any more strife.

Two things you said in your post, took my breath away, because you are already learning what Love really is. You said that you don't know what love is, that you fail at love. Love never fails, Viola, we, as humans, do. God is Love. The fact that you feel, with God, the ability to be yourself, "just as I am" you said, in all your imperfections, you can still be with God. Don't you see, that that is what love is? Love is embracing someone with all their imperfections and "messiness" with all their emotions and spiritual victories, defeats and still ongoing battles.

Viola, if you have never, ever felt loved by any other human being around you, if you've never been shown an example of true love, by any human around you, I am telling you, that your ability and belief that you can be yourself and God still is with you, comforting you and bringing you peace, I say, Viola, that even where mankind has failed in your life, to show you love, you are feeling it with and from and for, God. That is a miracle, Viola. I don't know what you witnessed, I don't need to know. I can tell from your post that it was horrifically traumatizing for you and that you can now find peace with God... there is no other word for it, besides miracle!

As for legalisms and grace. Again, I stand on scripture when I say that scripture tells us that before the coming of Christ, before the sacrifice of His life, before His blood was shed, we lived by law. Now that death has been defeated, now that His blood covers all sin, we can live by grace.

As for questioning what is in the Bible. I am the FIRST to say that the Bible is NOT a blow by blow guide as to what we are supposed to do. The Bible is a tool, just like a hammer. Try driving a nail into wood, without a tool, like a hammer. Try blow drying your hair without a blow dryer. Try cooking without heat, try swimming on dry land, try closing your eyes and walking through the streets of New York and get to your destination without getting hit by a car. Without a guide, without a tool, those things would be impossible.

The Word of God, is an inspiration. It shows the agony, the many defeats, the many temptations, evils and horrible things that the world and mankind has to offer. But, it also shows us, what consequences there are to such things, not only that, most importantly, it shows us how to overcome those things.

The three most important things that the entire Bible has to offer are "Peace, Hope and Love. But the greatest of those three, is Love." Scripture says that those three things are what abides throught eternity. Now abides those three things.

Salvation was/is a gift from Creator/Father God, to and for His creation. That gift is what brings about peace and hope and that was/is accomplished through Love.

I'll add more later, but my mind is getting muggy so I'm going to out and walk and think.

Take care and God bless.