Lol lol …..funny u say that Phill (i know in jest) but most people do think that just because the kjv bible is written in elizabethan english then it must be authentic and of God and so never touch any other translation…see this is the word they miss, that its also a “translation”………even some prayer is seen as weak unless u use a thus or a thou……bizarre!!!! but i was there once too lol. )

I know what u r saying Anthony, in saying as a christian that i shouldnt be judgemental, I was, but u dont see it at the time because u have “scripture” to back up your judgements and the self-righteousness kicks in, glad i am free of both of these things (and i make sure i work on it if it raises its ugly head). 8) & please pm me if i do unknowingly act a bit dicky in this area oops

Yeh i recite the lords prayer like that too Phill ) My dad was taught in latin and as far as i know feels that the latin translation IS the only authentic translation roll wink ……..KJV does have ooomph!! as u say, i often use the nkjv for that reason, thous and dousts and doeths get a bit Ita Butrossish for me lol D but like having a strongs concord. dict. with me to get a better understanding of certain translated words.

oh ok, the kjv is a translation of the latin bible…….interesting…thanks Phil.e its given me an “aha” revelation. Gees!! Glad i got an interlinear bible and greek dict.

I agree we need to laugh at our own folley, hence the reason i CAN laugh at myself easily, once u take urself too seriously, thats when u can get into trouble i think.

I completely agree with a lot of what u say…….

Also, unity in the faith WAS a big thing for Jesus…….we r so divided by denominationalism…..I understand why. Doctrine, different doctrine and interpretation, addition etc.the list goes on.

The gospel ( Jesus message) was and is simple (at a great price at his expence) yet, and yet as humans we have so complicated it. I could go into a full on heart felt discussion here but wont, another time another forum perhaps.

Yes Mardi Gras is great, the true essence of it would be great if the media gave coverage to that. Maybe just a few guidelines are needed on certain conduct i agree, but the frills and pink g’s etc..really add soooo much colour and “gaiety” wink to it all………i love it…… we need to lighten things up a little, since too much seriousness, tends to sweep u under sometimes….

this was posted earlier but I deleted it so I could finish off what I was saying.

there have been some great thoughts here. I think this thread actually runs much deeper than the topic of the Mardi Gras Parade. Its a fundamental thing that we all have to discover.

Originally Phil, like you, I only thought bad thngs about the parade basically because I didn’t know really what it was all about and had only seen what the media showed (tits and bums….and the occasional pink g-string 😆 ).

i’ve been in the parade 4 times now. I will never forget the first time and I write about that in the book. almost every reader tells me that that is the time they cried reading…….when my daughter jumped the baracade and ran out to tell me how proud she was of me. (I was in a group doing a dance number to YMCA with towels wrpped around us and Calvin Kleins underneath). the next time my daughter marched with me….another memorable night. The next time a drove a back up vehilce and saw for the first time the hecklers in the crowd how came to the freak show. last year i went on the back of Phills motorbike after the dykes in bikes. I wore a leather harness and leather jeans for the first time in my life. I’m not a leather person…BTW…..it was a dress up night for me. …and great fun. I have no judgement about what others do. who am i to tell them what is right or wrong. My focus is on my life and the way I live….not others.

I know that this year will be the most memorable of all I will be doing something that i thought was impossible……to march with my brothers and sisters to respresent that we are gay and not ashamed….and we’ll probably shed a few tears along the way.

If you are a christian then remember that these people you are condeming are the people God loves…..just the same as you expect people in churches to love you a gay christian. I’ve done a quick scan of the post….very long some of them……and at times I thought I was in a christian anti-gay site not the welcoming nonjudmental space we are creating.

I love my whole tribe……not just the ones who live, dress, behave and look like me.

You probably wont know how to let go of the judgement Phil till you have seen the parade in its entirity……not just what you’ve seen in the media.

Come down and meet with us before if you can……meet with us for our special party afterwards……and as we march past…..cheer us on because we are letting the whole world know for the first time publicly…..you can be gay and pentecostal.

lots of fun mags….and great memories……i’m so glad i’m gay….and so glad to connect with the gret people on this forum