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Shan - 19 year old country guy trying to make sense of things...

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iplantolive
 
Joined in 2008
June 6, 2010, 11:13

Working for one of the big two supermarkets, They don’t care unless you are a manager, even then, they only “care” to an extent.


Most HR departments are compliance focused ie making sure the organisation complies with all the relevant legislation and regulations that govern its operations. Employee welfare is usually a secondary function and in larger organisations is often outsourced. This has started to change with employee engagement now becoming the flavour of the month as organisations realise the benefits of staff retention and intellectual capital.



N149
 
Joined in 2010
June 6, 2010, 19:13

Yeah, I get that. Think it is pretty stupid. But get it 😛



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
June 8, 2010, 03:59

our speaker at the next freedom 2 b[e] Sydney meeting Dawn Hough heads up the Pride in Diversity program here in Australia…..she will have a few answers maybe. great lady BTW.


http://www.prideindiversity.com.au/



iplantolive
 
Joined in 2008
June 8, 2010, 21:26

our speaker at the next freedom 2 b[e] Sydney meeting Dawn Hough heads up the Pride in Diversity program here in Australia…..she will have a few answers maybe. great lady BTW.


Did someone mention diversity? :bigsmile:



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
July 8, 2010, 16:18

Hey Shan……how are things going?


Working hard?


Progress on the journey?



rediscoveringme
 
Joined in 2008
July 10, 2010, 16:16

Hello.


I was struck by your statement : – “I’m still trying to work out where I stand with God”


Without a doubt you sit with very well with your God….. he is not homophobic! : -) Through the New Testament and Jesus we can reflect on the idea that God loves his entire Creation. This idea you should try to hang onto very vehemently..


Like you I struggled to accept my sexuality (took 40+ years) eventhough, like you, I knew I was not heterosexual in my very early teens… even before then. Like you I thought I was the only person on this planet going through what I went through. I ended up being married with three fantastic kids. Even though I was surrounded by a loving family, I still struggled with my sexuality and concluded that I was totally F*%^KED in the head. Sorry to put that so bluntly but my mess was a huge one; thus my strong use of language. : -)


Try to understand that our culture (including Churches) teaches us not to view our sexuality in a good light. The end result is that we can hate our ourselves. However, as my Psychologist said to me “Not accepting your sexuality is like trying to run around with your head chopped off”


So, a big part of art of the ‘coming out’ process is nurturing your love for yourself. Why not…. you ARE a valuable part of God’s Creation.


: – )



Ann Maree
 
Joined in 2008
July 18, 2010, 00:27

🙂 Hey Shan


That’s fantastic to hear your progress! 🙂


Blessings,


Ann Maree



N149
 
Joined in 2010
July 22, 2010, 00:34

Hey everyone.


I am so sorry, the last few weeks have been absolutely hectic… Work work work…


Things have been going interestingly… But I am in a much happier place… Ironically, I am writing this in the exact same place in Cronulla where I started this thread 😀


I have come to the conclusion that even though I am gay, God does love me… And also that I won’t change without Him… So I have been praying that He will help me come to peace with this or to change me… Whatever He wants… Since this surrender to Him, I have been at much more peace with myself.


So many things have been happening, A colleague at work outed me… Then told me that she is bisexual…


I have been in Sydney for the last three weeks and a few interesting things have happened…


First week in Sydney I went to Powerhouse at Hillsong City and it had such an impact on me… I broke down and couldn’t manage much except tears for hours… My leader sat with me for a good 3 hours… And I came out to him which was a *deep breath in* experience… He looked me in the eye and told me that I am not gay and it is a choice… So I asked him if he chose to be straight… I didn’t expect it but he told me yes… I asked him “If it is a choice, could you wake up tomorrow and be perfectly fine to have a boyfriend?”. He quickly changed the subject.


We have since had a night in together and an intense chat about anything and everything. The thing that is the most significant to me, even though it is a little thing is that nearly all my friends from Hillsong and I hug each other, The fact that he was still fine to be that close to me feels like a form of acceptance.


I also was able to go to Hillsong Conference as a delegate. Conference just did so much for me… Every morning the opener featured an annotated version of Hebrews 10:14 “Christ made a single sacrifice for sins… A perfect sacrifice by a perfect person.. He did everything that needed to be done… for EVERYONE…” which really hit the fact home… Sounds stupid but it really did so much for me… The rest of the conference was brilliant and I got so much out of it, but that 30 seconds was the best part of every morning.


I stayed with a beautiful group of people from Queensland known to one of my cousins (one of the ones still talking to me)… I was out to one of the guys who told me in no uncertain circumstances that “This is NOT God’s plan for you!”, to which I told him that I wasn’t sure what my plan is after 8 years of praying, how would he know after speaking to me for a few weeks over instant messager? He said we would talk later, we didn’t, nuff said.


One of the other guys outed me on the fourth day of conference, We were talking to a lovely German girl who got practically disowned by her family because she was a Christian, I said how I sympathise as myself and some of my family are not talking over religious differences and this guy just gave me a funny look… At that point I knew he knew for certain. We had a bit of a chat on the last night of conference, he was so respectful and we had a good discussion. Towards the end he was silent for a bit then turned to me and asked “So, do you believe homosexuality is a sin?”.. I looked at him and said “Until a few months ago, yes… Now I am not sure but I do believe that if God wanted me to change before this point He would have changed me. If He wants me to change in the future He will help me, however, in the mean time I am going to make the most of what I am and will continue asking God to help me in whatever way He deems fit”.


We were talking about ex-gay programs… He said he didn’t believe that they were necessary for anyone to go through unless they genuinely believe that God calls for them to do them, and in general his attitude didn’t seem very positive towards them…


Also, I had an interesting revelation on Monday. I am staying with one of the managers from work, and she had the special projects manager over for a drink… After a few hours the special projects manager (whom I have known for over 5 years) looked at me and said “Got a boyfriend yet?”. I was in total shock and was about to start the usual “Im not gay!” speech… Instead I just looked at her and said “Nope”. To me that was a big moment, because for once, I didn’t deny my sexuality.


I know this has been a long post, so sorry about that 😛


It really has been an awesome few weeks 😀


Shan 🙂



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
July 24, 2010, 00:04

that is excellent progress Shan…..very proud of you.



RaulG
 
Joined in 2010
July 24, 2010, 01:09

Dear Shan,


I am sorry to hear that not everyone has accepted you for who you are. But as our unfortunate German sister shows, such is the case with anything.


But I am very happy to hear that you are growing more comfortable in your own skin and you are being more open with who God made you.


Never forget the words that inspired you: “Christ made a single sacrifice for sins… A perfect sacrifice by a perfect person.. He did everything that needed to be done… for EVERYONE…”


The Lord did not just die for a group of people assembled on the outskirts of Jerusalem. The Lord died for them and for all generations to come. For all souls past, present, and future. For people of all races. For people of all sexual orientations. He died for you, Shan, just as God made you.


Take heart, Shan. There are a growing number of GLBT Christians ready to embrace you, as well as a growing number Heterosexual Christians who are waiting with open arms (I am one of them).


You are not alone. You have us. But most importantly, you have Jesus Christ who walks with you in darkness and in light.


You are not alone.


Yours in Christ,


Raul


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