We are gathering. We are making it happen folks. I met with a representative of my church this week and she told me that they are more excited about the change we are proposing than I could have ever hoped for during this time. I met with a leading activist in my area to talk about the dangers we will face and the risks we will be taking.
He asked me about fifteen times if I understood what I was doing. You see, I go to a conservative Christian school and there is a very good chance that I will not make it out of this without getting myself kicked out of school. I have a very big mouth and I am not ashamed of who God has made me. I want to use my understanding of His grace and love as a platform for our new adventure we are about to embark on this year. Wish us luck because with the Equality Ride coming and our new group at church budding we are bound to rock the boat of our enemy. We are determined to shake their foundations and have them question things for once in their lives.
I ask for prayer, love and support of any kind. We are about to change the lives of the people who come to ask questions. We are about to change a campus who dares to love instead of hate, and we are about to change a world who decides to stop just thinking what Jesus said sounded pretty but is actual truth to be lived out and lived by.
Peace be with you all! I hope you are causing change in your areas. Please let me know what you are doing to encourage this movement locally.
Yours Freely,
Tennessee James
Friday, August 8, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
four.
There are days when I wonder if I really believe what it is that I preach. I wonder if I would have the courage that the people had at Stonewall back in 1969, or people in the HRC have today. I wonder if I could ever say anything that men and women haven't already said or heard that would make a difference. Can I really do all that I know I am called to do?
I am re-reading Mel White's autobiography, Stranger at the Gate: to be Gay and Christian in America. I am compelled by his words to this strong call for action and justice. I want to see all this change he is fighting for, but I have to ask, "Am I willing to do what I know has to be done in order to see this justice come to be?"
I am meeting with Dr. White in two days to discuss getting involved. I want to see change and I want to see love do the changing. I guess I will find out in a few days if I have what it takes (through Christ).
Wish me well!
Check out the myspace! Feel free to send me a message and I will try to answer any questions.
www.myspace.com/tennjames06
Yours Freely,
Tennessee James
I am re-reading Mel White's autobiography, Stranger at the Gate: to be Gay and Christian in America. I am compelled by his words to this strong call for action and justice. I want to see all this change he is fighting for, but I have to ask, "Am I willing to do what I know has to be done in order to see this justice come to be?"
I am meeting with Dr. White in two days to discuss getting involved. I want to see change and I want to see love do the changing. I guess I will find out in a few days if I have what it takes (through Christ).
Wish me well!
Check out the myspace! Feel free to send me a message and I will try to answer any questions.
www.myspace.com/tennjames06
Yours Freely,
Tennessee James
Thursday, July 17, 2008
three.
I just came back from a meeting with a dear friend of mine. She was so encouraging and it just reminded me of how lucky I am to have people like her in my life.
I remember how I felt when I first started going to school and I did not have any friends who understood what I was doing with this movement, little alone friends who would support what I am trying to do. I do not have many friends, but I am so fortunate to have a few that I know I can count on when so many have turned their backs on me.
I never realized how scary change is for people until I was the one proposing this change in my friends and schoolmates. People are so afraid of what change will mean that they make enemies out of those of us who are suggestng they try love instead of hate, open-mindedness verses negative perceptions.
A time will come my friends when they will ask you to choose just as they have asked me. In the words of Susan B. Anthony, "Abandon all for the cause."
They arent your friends if they want you to put your convictions aside to follow their set in stone ways. Live with love and live for change and I guarantee you will reap the rewards.
Luke 6:20-23 (Christ speaking):
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Yours Freely,
Tennessee James
I remember how I felt when I first started going to school and I did not have any friends who understood what I was doing with this movement, little alone friends who would support what I am trying to do. I do not have many friends, but I am so fortunate to have a few that I know I can count on when so many have turned their backs on me.
I never realized how scary change is for people until I was the one proposing this change in my friends and schoolmates. People are so afraid of what change will mean that they make enemies out of those of us who are suggestng they try love instead of hate, open-mindedness verses negative perceptions.
A time will come my friends when they will ask you to choose just as they have asked me. In the words of Susan B. Anthony, "Abandon all for the cause."
They arent your friends if they want you to put your convictions aside to follow their set in stone ways. Live with love and live for change and I guarantee you will reap the rewards.
Luke 6:20-23 (Christ speaking):
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Yours Freely,
Tennessee James
Monday, June 23, 2008
two
I just want to throw this out there that I am not angry. Do not confuse my passion for anger. I will not lie and say that this situation of inequality does not infuriate me to no end, but I am not an angry person.
I just want to see people finally understand what is is like to walk down the street, into stores and out of churches and be judged like we have to on a daily basis. When are the religious bigots going to realize that we just want to be able to live out what their Holy Bible says in 1 John? ("A man who says he loves God, but hates his brother does not love God and is a liar." "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.")
It is time for change and not for anger. It is a time for love, not hate.
Go out and start the protest with some fire but in sincere, unconditional love.
Yours Freely,
Tennessee James
I just want to see people finally understand what is is like to walk down the street, into stores and out of churches and be judged like we have to on a daily basis. When are the religious bigots going to realize that we just want to be able to live out what their Holy Bible says in 1 John? ("A man who says he loves God, but hates his brother does not love God and is a liar." "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.")
It is time for change and not for anger. It is a time for love, not hate.
Go out and start the protest with some fire but in sincere, unconditional love.
Yours Freely,
Tennessee James
Thursday, June 19, 2008
one
this is the first one.
this is the one where i will tell you that i am tired. i am tired and i am even more tired of this. my passion is to bring about change and now i am going to make it happen.
it is time to stop talking about change and start making it happen. it is time.
my name is Tennessee James and i am now saying it is time for change. i dont want the future generations to look back at our generation and say that we did nothing for the progress of equality here in america. we need to stop talking about the stonewall riots of 1969 and start talking about the movements of 2008. what are we doing now...today to provoke change?
i am ready for my people and my generation to stop talking about it, stop blogging about it, stop dreaming about it, and do something about it.
how do you expect them to take us seriously when we dont take ourselves seriously?
it is time for change and it is time for us to start the movement.
let them be able to study us in their history books and say that we accomplished something. let them be able to say that they wished they had been there to see it or be apart of it.
and my side note to VH is that you should have kept your mouth shut, because now you started something and it wont stop with just me. this passion and fire is contagious and now is the time that real change is about to happen. watch out folks because if your not for us, you are against us, and we arent going to stop marching until this inequality has ended.
we will be the gandhis and dr. kings of our generation. we will promote peaceful protest, but please remember that there will be protest. we will no longer live under this tyranny called fairness and equality. how can you call this fair when we are dying out there just because of who we love? how can this love invoke so much hatred out of you? nevermind that now because change is coming and we wont stop until we succeed.
we will win, or we will die fighting.
this is our life, not just for us but for the future.
now is the time for change.
Freely Yours,
Tennessee James
this is the one where i will tell you that i am tired. i am tired and i am even more tired of this. my passion is to bring about change and now i am going to make it happen.
it is time to stop talking about change and start making it happen. it is time.
my name is Tennessee James and i am now saying it is time for change. i dont want the future generations to look back at our generation and say that we did nothing for the progress of equality here in america. we need to stop talking about the stonewall riots of 1969 and start talking about the movements of 2008. what are we doing now...today to provoke change?
i am ready for my people and my generation to stop talking about it, stop blogging about it, stop dreaming about it, and do something about it.
how do you expect them to take us seriously when we dont take ourselves seriously?
it is time for change and it is time for us to start the movement.
let them be able to study us in their history books and say that we accomplished something. let them be able to say that they wished they had been there to see it or be apart of it.
and my side note to VH is that you should have kept your mouth shut, because now you started something and it wont stop with just me. this passion and fire is contagious and now is the time that real change is about to happen. watch out folks because if your not for us, you are against us, and we arent going to stop marching until this inequality has ended.
we will be the gandhis and dr. kings of our generation. we will promote peaceful protest, but please remember that there will be protest. we will no longer live under this tyranny called fairness and equality. how can you call this fair when we are dying out there just because of who we love? how can this love invoke so much hatred out of you? nevermind that now because change is coming and we wont stop until we succeed.
we will win, or we will die fighting.
this is our life, not just for us but for the future.
now is the time for change.
Freely Yours,
Tennessee James
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
