Originally, I had typed "A work in progress...." to indicate that this page was not yet complete. But the more I thought about it, I think "a work in progress" best describes my life as a Christian.

I became a child of God _{(John 1:12-13)} on Saturday, June 19, 1971, when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. Things went well for the next few years until I came out of the closet around 1978 and accepted the fact that I was, and always had been, gay.

OK, I'm gay and Christian -- now what! Needless to say, everything I had been taught said "you can't be Christian and gay". _{(Romans 1:27) (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)} How could I reconcile the fact that I've accepted Christ, that I can say "Jesus is Lord" _{(1 Corinthians 12:3)}, and yet, according to pastors, parents and friends, I'm not saved?

At first, I believed them. After all, they were older in the Lord and wiser than me, a new born Christian. I tried suppressing my "gayness", had a girlfriend, and went to church a lot. I hid my gayness, prayed that God would cleanse me from this unrighteousness, even offered at one point to cut off the offending items _{(Matthew 5:29-30)}. But you know what happened. Nothing changed. It didn't need to. God knew I was gay before I was born, before I accepted his Son as my savior. It wasn't an issue. He didn't mind. That wasn't what was important.

Well meaning Christians (and some not so well meaning) have read some passages or have been told so by others and have assumed that Gay = The Bad, it's The Mother of All Sins. It's not.

Sin is sin in God's eyes. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" -- so far no problems -- "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." _{(Romans 3:23-24)} -- but that doesn't include gays, or does it? All have sinned and all are justified thru Jesus Christ. No matter what your sin -- be you sexually immoral or an idolater or a thief or greedy or a drunk or a slanderer or what ever -- God loves you and wants to forgive you. Man, on the other hand, wants to load you down with all sorts of rules and requirements and do's and don'ts. Jesus just said to accept him as your savior _{(John 14:6) (John 3:16)} and to love God and love your neighbor. No big list of do's and don'ts, just accept and love _{(Luke 10:25-28)}. And the Apostles agreed that it was that simple! _{(Acts 15:1-31)} That's why it's called Good News.

I have been set free from the law of sin = death, I am no longer under the law _{(Romans 8:1-2)}. I am not perfect, but my mistakes are no longer counted against me. Someone loves me _{(1 Corinthians 13)} and "keeps no record of [my] wrongs" _{(1 Corinthians 13:5)}.

That freedom, that love, that hope is available to you, too! All you have to do is ask! _{(Acts 16:30-31) (Romans 10:4-13)}

As noted above, my life is a work in progress. As much as possible, I try to walk in the light _{(1 John 1:5-10)}, not hiding who or what I am, but exposing it, warts and all. There are some parts that are not pretty, but "he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" _{(1 John 1:9)}. God has taken on the job of purifying me -- it's not my works that will make me righteous and acceptable in God's eyes, but God's actions and grace. And, together, we work on the rough spots.

On other matters: Yes, I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit _{(John 14:26)}. I believe that God is working miracles today and that he's coming back sooner rather than later. I know he loves me and has used me to bless others -- what more can you ask for.

God loves you too and wants you to be his child and a joint heir with Jesus Christ!

Don't let anyone steal that from you! _{(John 14:27)}

-- Chris Daley, 02/01/1998