Same Love

This blog post will be quite simple but informative. I will simply put up the lyrics of Macklemore's "Same Love" song. I'll be doing this one Sunday a month. It will be Lullaby Sunday and what I feel people need to learn and grasp from the lyrics. So enjoy...

 

[Verse 1: Macklemore]
When I was in the 3rd grade
I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw, my uncle was
And I kept my room straight
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like, "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-K"
Trippin', yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she
A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math like
"Yeah, I'm good a little league"
A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those who like the same sex had the characteristics
The right-wing conservatives think it's a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition
Playing God
Ahh nah, here we go
America the brave
Still fears, what, we don't know
And God loves all His children
Is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written
35 hundred years ago
Don't know

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Verse 2: Macklemore]
If I was gay
I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately
"Man that's gay"
Gets dropped on the daily
We've become so numb to what we're sayin'
Our culture founded from oppression
Yeah, we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots
Behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate
Yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender and skin color
Complexion of your pigment
The same fight that lead people to walk-outs and sit-ins
It's human rights for everybody
There is no difference
Live on! And be yourself!
When I was in church
They taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service
Those words aren't anointed
And that Holy Water
That you soak in
Is then poisoned
When everyone else
Is more comfortable
Remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans
That have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same
But that's not important
No freedom 'til we're equal
Damn right I support it
I don't know

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Verse 3: Macklemore]
We press play
Don't press pause
Progress, march on!
With a veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
'Till the day
That my uncles can be united by law
Kids are walkin' around the hallway
Plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful
Someone would rather die
Than be who they are
And a certificate on paper
Isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law's gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Outro: Mary Lambert]
Love is patient, love is kind
Love is patient (not cryin' on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) [x5]

Read more: Macklemore - Same Love Lyrics | MetroLyrics

When I was in the 3rd grade
I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw, my uncle was
And I kept my room straight
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like, "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-K"
Trippin', yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she
A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math like
"Yeah, I'm good at little league"
A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those who like the same sex had the characteristics
The right-wing conservatives think its a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition
Playing God
Ahh nah, here we go
America the brave
Still fears what we don't know
And God loves all His children
And somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written
3,500 hundred years ago
I don't know

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Verse 2: Macklemore]
If I was gay
I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately
"Man that's gay"
Gets dropped on the daily
We've become so numb to what we're sayin'
A culture founded from oppression
Yet, we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots
Behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate
Yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender and skin color
The complexion of your pigment
The same fight that lead people to walk-outs and sit-ins
Human rights for everybody
There is no difference
Live on! And be yourself!
When I was in church
They taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service
Those words aren't anointed
And that Holy Water
That you soak in
has been poisoned
When everyone else
Is more comfortable
Remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans
That have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same
But that's not important
No freedom 'til we're equal
Damn right I support it
[Trombone]
I don't know

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Verse 3: Macklemore]
We press play
Don't press pause
Progress, march on!
With a veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
'Till the day
That my uncles can be united by law
Kids are walkin' around the hallway
Plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful
Someone would rather die
Than be who they are
And a certificate on paper
Isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law's gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Outro: Mary Lambert]
Love is patient, love is kind

Love is patient (not cryin' on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) [x5]
Read more at http://www.lyrics.com/same-love-lyrics-macklemore.html#ApmTLgbPR9QoR1EQ.99

When I was in the 3rd grade
I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw, my uncle was
And I kept my room straight
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like, "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-K"
Trippin', yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she
A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math like
"Yeah, I'm good at little league"
A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those who like the same sex had the characteristics
The right-wing conservatives think its a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition
Playing God
Ahh nah, here we go
America the brave
Still fears what we don't know
And God loves all His children
And somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written
3,500 hundred years ago
I don't know

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Verse 2: Macklemore]
If I was gay
I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately
"Man that's gay"
Gets dropped on the daily
We've become so numb to what we're sayin'
A culture founded from oppression
Yet, we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots
Behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate
Yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender and skin color
The complexion of your pigment
The same fight that lead people to walk-outs and sit-ins
Human rights for everybody
There is no difference
Live on! And be yourself!
When I was in church
They taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service
Those words aren't anointed
And that Holy Water
That you soak in
has been poisoned
When everyone else
Is more comfortable
Remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans
That have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same
But that's not important
No freedom 'til we're equal
Damn right I support it
[Trombone]
I don't know

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Verse 3: Macklemore]
We press play
Don't press pause
Progress, march on!
With a veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
'Till the day
That my uncles can be united by law
Kids are walkin' around the hallway
Plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful
Someone would rather die
Than be who they are
And a certificate on paper
Isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law's gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up

[Hook: Mary Lambert]
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]

[Outro: Mary Lambert]
Love is patient, love is kind

Love is patient (not cryin' on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) [x5]
Read more at http://www.lyrics.com/same-love-lyrics-macklemore.html#ApmTLgbPR9QoR1EQ.99

My Views on The Legalization of Marijuana

I'm going to make this sweet, potent and short.


I think marijuana SHOULD be legalized.


Why?


Because people are currently smoking weed illegally.
And they do not care.

If we seriously permit tobacco to be smoked, why not marijuana?

No deaths I have heard of, have come from smoking marijuana.

Let me tell you what weed does to you.

1) Weed makes you high...
2) Weed makes you hungry...
3) Weed makes you horny...
4) Weed makes you sleepy...

Do these effects sound lethal to you?

And sometimes, depending on the cannabis, some kind allow certain people to focus better.

Now you might be wondering why I care about this subject.
I care about this subject because I do not think it is right that marijuana is illegal. It does not have such negative effects as alcohol and tobacco, yet those two deadly drugs are legal.

Yet, I also believe in moderation. I think too much of something will always be a bad thing.

So I find it quite hypocritical that the law and many anti-drug advocates call for illegalization of marijuana, when they probably drink soda.
Too much of soda can have a negative effect on someone's life long health. Why not ban soda? Soda also contains caffeine. Caffeine is considered a drug. Might as well ban that as well.

Oh wait, but then that means the cops can't enjoy their daily coffee run, am I correct?

And again, there is no extensive harm from marijuana, taken moderately. Of coarse smoking in general will cause some damage to the lungs, but so does too much dairy. Might as well ban that as well.

And I might as well add that, hypothetically speaking of coarse, if I smoke marijuana and I get high and decide "Nah, weed isn't that great. I may try it again in a few months, but it was a good experience". Would you say weed is an addictive drug?

Anything can be addictive.
The internet can be QUITE addictive. Are you seriously going to ban that too?

Now do you see my point here?
I am not justifying that marijuana is this healthy option and that everyone should chime in. I know of many people that get hooked on marijuana then get hitched on other drugs.

What I am saying is it is not right that we incarcerate kids who just want to get high.

Let me put it like this...They say "Marijuana can ruin your life, so if we catch you with it, you will be sentenced to jail...and we will ruin your life in replacement!"

The only real danger I see marijuana possessing, is being caught with it.

So yes, I believe weed should be legalized.

We have criminals strolling through the streets, but a few teenagers in jail for experimenting with marijuana? Does that make sense to anyone? Doesn't to me.

Anything that is used too much, can be a bad thing.
But potheads honestly have never harmed anyone.
Usually, they stay home because they're too high to do anything except maybe express themselves artistically, listen to some good music, and go to sleep.

Now does that sound like a lethal drug that should be illegalized?

Think about it.

L O V E

It's funny. I promised myself I wouldn't blog or talk about human rights. Then I thought to myself. WHAT WAS I THINKING. Change does not come through keeping your beliefs in silence, but to share freely.

So I'd like to share what I think love is.


What's the definition of love?

Some say it's between a man and a woman.

But even if you're straight, that's not true.

See, you love your mother.

You love your sister.

You love your aunt.

You love your grandmother.

And men...

You love your father.

You love your brother.

You love your grandfather.

You love...God.

God is known as a male-figure, yet we use the terms of "falling in love" with Him.

And see, your love for the same sex may not exactly be the same as your love for your other, but somehow in the schemes of things, it is.

Because love has no limits.

Love may be different relationship-wise, but there isn't a right to the point definition of love.
None.

Here is three of a dictionary's definition of love.

1. feel tender affection for somebody: to feel tender affection for somebody such as a close relative or friend, or for something such as a place, an ideal, or an animal
2. feel desire for somebody: to feel romantic and sexual desire and longing for somebody
3. like something very much: to like something, or like doing, something very much

Now, you want a biblical reference of love? Don't mind if I do.
 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" - 1 John 4:8

It never says in the bible that love is a restriction between a man and woman. Nor does it contest to marriage being between a man and a woman.

This is the definition of marriage according to a published dictionary..."legal relationship between spouses: a legally recognized relationship, established by a civil or religious ceremony, between two people who intend to live together as sexual and domestic partners"

Marriage in this passage isn't restricted to only man and woman but two PEOPLE.

Times are changing, yes. But love is still love.

Why do we tamper with love? Why do we scorn those that just want love?

In Greek language, agape is the highest term of love. It means to be selfless and love unconditionally. Greek is the original language of the New Testament in the Bible. Yet we try to translate the Word of God so us HUMANS can fit together the pieces.

You say homosexuality is wrong because God says so.

If that is true, how did He say so? When? Where?

You cannot answer these questions without stuttering, can't you?

Well, let me share with you what I believe and know what God says about love.

It was a few days before my Sweet Sixteen.

I was in stress, not because of school or family or anything in particular. I was stressed of pretending to be something I wasn't. Hiding myself from the world. The stress of other things just added on to it.

I prayed the night before I would try.
You should know what that means.

Then suddenly, I was struck with an overwhelming feeling of surety that who I was, was okay. It was not a sin. Some people make the argument that it is okay for someone to be gay but you most not act upon those feelings.

Well, I just can't believe that. I am a woman of God, but also a woman who believes in equality and fairness for all under the law. Including God's laws.

And does this sound logical enough for you?

"Yes, yes. We recognize that you are gay, and you don't have any sort of romantic feelings for the opposite sex. But I'm sorry, you must not act upon the feelings you believe you possess. It's God's will, you see."

No, I don't see.

What I do see is hypocrisy.

So you can love whoever you please and marry them as you wish, but I cannot...because of who I am?

Thankfully, I attempted but did not succeed. I realize now I have a duty on this short time on earth. It's to raise awareness and do something for love and equality. To not let spirituality or religion be a blocking wall for all LGBT people. But to let it be a friend to it. A friend that knows no unfairness.

And yet.

They wonder why so many people of LGBT community linger away from religion. I'll tell you why. Because it tries to justify what they think is right without even knowing if it is so.


Like I said, I tried telling myself to stop blogging. To stop uttering what I believe to be right and human. So many people told me it wasn't "safe" for me to voice my opinion. But, it's not my opinion. It's a human instinct. To strive for equality, for all.

And just so you know...

You can whisper about me through the school hallways or the chapel of the church.

You can damn me to hell, it seems as if we're all living in one anyway.

You can drag me into spiritual prison, accusing me of sin after sin.

You can tell me I am not worthy to even be alive.

You can tell me what I believe isn't right.

But nothing you do or say will stop me from advocating human rights.

I'd rather be in spiritual prison, then spiritual heaven...where the people that faked through their whole lives to prove "I'm worthy enough" will live to become even more godly...And they tell us not to lie...But when it comes to your sexuality, go right ahead...it's the godly thing to do

I don't believe that. I'll never believe that.

And when I am judged by God on my life, my only response will be, agape. Because I loved myself and others with selfless and unconditional love. Love will always be more than enough.

So Happy Be-lated Valentine's Day. I hope you enjoyed yours.

But love isn't just for a lobbied and not to mention commercialized holiday.

It's an everyday ACT.

So, next time you tell me to not ACT upon my feelings.

I'll tell you, I might as well be dead.

Because going through the motions and lying isn't the life I want to live. I want to ACT.

I'm not an activist; I don't look for controversy. I'm not a political person, but I'm a person with compassion. I care passionately about equal rights. I care about human rights. I care about animal rights.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/ellendegen451797.html#FQvOLwKLVWBE8T0w.99

I'm not an activist; I don't look for controversy. I'm not a political person, but I'm a person with compassion. I care passionately about equal rights. I care about human rights. I care about animal rights.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/ellendegen451797.html#FQvOLwKLVWBE8T0w.99

"I'm not an activist; I don't look for controversy. I'm not a political person, but I'm a person with compassion. I care passionately about equal rights. I care about human rights." - Ellen DeGeneres

I'm Not Crying On Sundays

I'm Not Crying On Sundays...by Erin Clegg


I'm not crying on sundays
Even when the priests, and the pastors
And the so-called believers
Judge me through their woven mind
Mentally arresting me with a demeanor
that they think I committed
I can almost hear them say
You have the right to be silent
Ha
Silence is never a privilege,
it's a sickness

And they say they want religious freedom
But they've forgotten, I'm still a religious believer too
And I want freedom
To love who I want to
Is that so bad, after all?

Some say "it's enough that we tolerate you
You don't need a marriage certificate
To confirm your evil sinning
You already have enough rights"

But do I?

I may have rights, but you have more
And you say it's because the bible says so?
Well, what about the Atheists, they have the freedom to not believe
And we not only tolerate them, but give them all their rights, rightly
And you call them Sinners, for not believing God
But you'll still allow them to have the right to carry on
Now I'm not saying anything of it
I want freedom for all
But that also includes me, even if you believe I'm just a messed up sinner
After all
Isn't stealing a sin as well? And if all sin is equal before God, then that is
YOUR sin
You stole away MY choice, MY right, MY faith
Because my faith is in a God, who loves me nonetheless
Loves me so much
He wouldn't care less
Who I marry
If I have kids
If I wear a dress, or khaki pants to Church
Or if I hold hands with another girl

Now I agree, everyone is entitled to their opinion
But my rights have been stolen, and I have the right to fight for them
Just like the oppression days, their still surprisingly going on today,
us people of color had to face
Our children years from now
Will look back
At our generation and shake their heads
They'll react to us as we do to racists
"They were so stupid. How could they do such a thing?"
Now I am not saying the rights of marriage equality, and
trying to stop LGBT bullying, all bullying actually,
is the same fight that those twenty years ago face
Even now today,
What I'm saying is that generally, we all have the same dream

To live in a world where everybody could be free
No matter what race, ethnicity
Background, social status
Or sexual orientation


And see

No matter if gay marriage is legalized or not
It's not just going to make the gay people stop
It's not like people will stop being gay
That's like asking a brunette to change into a blonde or a ginger
And hey
Sure they can dye their hair, trying to hide their true colors
But dye fades away, and so do lies...they uncover

 Land Of The Free
The Greatest nation on Earth
Ha
Makes me sick

You're lying to yourself when you say that the United States
is everything and all those things
You say it's a free country
Doesn't look like that to me

Uncle Sam seems to be holding back the rights of many tax-payers
See, we're paying for legality for your wedding day
And we're paying our tithing to the church that doesn't permit us to even
have a wedding day
And if we want to be married and have a family,
We have to move to other states
Just to have the approval
Just to settle down
Just to build a life
Just to be us

America
Sounds like Land of the Bondage to me
And the pharaoh is you
Because you won't let me and my people go
We are slaves to the homophobic conservatives
Anybody really,
Who scorns us
And some of us are to scared to riot, to fight for our rights then
They take the toll of dying
Killing themselves not out of fear, but tiredness
Tired of being told to live their lives right
And they damn tried
So instead, they tried
And they won
A victory of death
But the victory doesn't go to the victim
It goes to you, yes you
You who didn't accept them when they were alive
But now you're crying, screaming why

 And I can hear intolerants all over again
"Keep your love life separate, and out of the bonds of marriage,
and you will have equality"
But see separation will never, ever
Be equivalent to equality

We should know this by now
Yet we're rewinding history

Remember when preachers back then would go to the bible
to confirm that African-Americans had no worth? And that
separation from them was the key to live a holy life

No
I don't want to get deep in that
Makes my skin crawl just to think about that
And I bet you're cringing back
Yeah

Let's talk positive
We still have ways to go
If we keep relying on this bible and other religious texts to know
what's lawful, then why is their religious freedom? So that we can
all follow what that book teaches?
Didn't you notice it also say in the bible that women must be silent in churches?
Oh yeah, 1 Corinthians 14:34...Yet no one wants to talk about the sexism in that verse
But everyone wants to talk about how homosexuality is wrong, when that was said in
the Old testament is one bias verse,
and when they are many scriptures that referenced
that eating red meats should not be accepted
And that their was a certain way to treat the Sabbath
And to make animal sacrifices to Jesus
But we don't do that
Do we?
No
Because frankly, it's outdated
So stop relying on a scripture from a man who was sinner too
Just because your religious, doesn't mean your sinless


Truth

So let's turn away from religion
And just think
Law is the law, and you don't have to agree
That's what civil disobedience is for
Now, true
You have the freedom of speech
But once your speech contradicts humanity
Then you're speech is slightly off key
Let's just breathe
Do you actually think
If gay marriage was legalized, it would be
worse?
How about...better
Again, you don't have to agree
You can say in your church you think it's morally wrong
Whatever
But religion should never govern the law
We can build a nation on godly standards
But see it depends
What God, you believe in
You see
So just let us be free
Because sooner or later, things are going to get... ugly
I can see it now
SO
Take the time now
To think over what freedom really means
What you really believe
Because me or her or him, being gay
won't stop making you straight
And just because you're straight
doesn't mean you're straight-up
righteous

No matter what you believe,
we all embrace freedom
So let's make peace

And hey,
I'm not crying on Sundays
I still go to Church, trying my best
Making mistakes, learning from everything
Keeping on that truth spectrum
Never regretting,
But never denying, who I love
Boy or Girl
It's all the same
If we base it on
love

And so when you see me on sunday,
Just know I ain't crying
I'm not justifying
I don't need to justify love for others
That's what humans do
Human
You
Me
Same


- Erin Clegg

Why I Hate School, but I love Education

Class lectures
Class work
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Exams
Re-make tests
SAT'S
ACT'S


all seem to determine my, including other millions of students, lives.

Funny. I didn't know your future depended on several different pieces of papers.

Funny how if your answer is metaphorically speaking "outside the box" then it is considered wrong

Funny how if your answer is wrong, that automatically means you're not "educated" enough

Funny how you'll study for a test... no....CRAM for a test and just moments after taking it, you forget

Funny how schools tell us to get a "good night's rest" but gives us the overload of homework, even if taken regular classes, can amount to eight hours and more.

Funny how they tell us to be creative, yet if we get a bad score on the SAT's that nonetheless means we weren't created for that "college life" or to be "educated"

Funny how teachers complain about our low test scores and secretly think it's because we were out there partying, smoking a joint, getting drunk...ignoring our responsibilities...when actually we were studying for our other exams...in our room with a cup of coffee...frenzy, almost considering to drop out because the stress isn't just stress...it's become anxiety

And don't forget that day you didn't even have time to study because

When you were actually forced to do over time at work
When you were actually got held back because of sports and extra-curricular activities
You weren't the one smoking pot, but your mom and dad who just don't give a (fill in the blank)
 When we were just so stressed, we gave up...

But let's look at the evidence

Jesus - a carpenter but known as the Savior of the world, the joint-heir to the all knowing God...known literally as God...would be considered uneducated

Plate, Socrates, Aristotle...all questioned what seemed to be the facts...known to be the greatest men of knowledge...yet they thought outside of the perimeters of man-made tests

Joseph Smith...a farmer boy who barely could write...founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

So...now what do you say?
Is that student who just graduated from Harvard more educated then the student who studies grocery cashiering?

We all have our talents and skills.
So why do they test us on how much we know about quantum physics and overly extensive equations that you most likely won't use if, for example, you aspire to be a teen fiction author?

Now I'm not saying that school should be demolished and has no gain. But it's the system that is  flawed entirely.

To all the adults out there. What do you remember more? Your favorite subject or the ones that were a bore?

So before you criticize your child for failing math...did you notice they excel in politics and history facts? Or music and the arts? Dance or step? Or maybe just being a parent that stays home?

Because it looks to me when Jesus called his disciples they might as well be fools. Fishers, no scholars. Yet they wrote the bible...one of the most discussed books in when it comes to the conversations of "scholarly" men.

Now, schools have their benefits no doubt. But to be great and educated, school is not the key.

What YOU know you love and exceed, that's where your knowledge begins.

So just like how runners are educated in running.
Artists are educated in art.
Photographers are educated in photos.

There is no "right" job.
There is no "right" career path.

So don't quite school. That's not what I'm saying. I'm trying to say, don't let your exam scores override your drive to dream. Don't let your test scores determine who you're going to be.

1 Cor 3:19-21 ---  Let no one be under any illusion over this. If any man among you thinks himself one of the world's clever ones, let him discard his cleverness that he may learn to be truly wise. For this world's cleverness is stupidity to God. It is written: "He that taketh the wise in their craftiness", and again, "The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain." So let no one boast of men.

Amen.

Back2TheBeginningAgain

It took me literally 16 years to trust myself. So many people told me to be somebody else. But it hasn't fazed me yet.


First, I want to thank all those who have been by my side. Thank you. I love you. More than you know.

From now on though, my blogs will go back to being more preachy then personal. But I, in no way, regret coming out. It is something that has caused much havoc in my life but it feels nice to not hide myself. I feel...at peace, recognizing myself but also realizing that what I want in the future is to marry in the temple with my eternal partner. And I'm glad to announce that I am currently working on some new stuff...hint hint..music.

I've had many people ridicule me. For example...

How can you have same-sex attraction but be Mormon?

How can you involve yourself as a non-denominational worship singer if you're Mormon?

How can you support gay people...when you're Mormon?

How can you say homosexuality isn't wrong when you're Mormon?

How can you say you've dabbled in drugs, had an eating disorder and depression problems if you're Mormon?

I'll tell you why.

Because Mormon doesn't mean to be republican
Because Mormon doesn't mean you can't be gay
Because Mormon doesn't mean you can't worship to Christian Music
Because Mormon doesn't mean I haven't made mistakes
Because Mormon doesn't mean you have to be like other Mormons


Let me tell you what "being Mormon" actually means...

Being Mormon foremost means to love one another
Being Mormon means to help the poor, needy and wounded
Being Mormon is about accepting the fact you aren't perfect, but through Jesus, you can do better
Being Mormon is about worshipping God, no matter how you worship to Him (through prayers, hymns, scripture-reading or maybe through a Christian rock band you really like...as long as its giving Him praise, He accepts it wholeheartedly)
Being Mormon means no matter your sexuality, race or background you know God loves you and you know that temple marriages are important, but if you don't get the opportunity it's okay
Being Mormon is about exemplifying JESUS, not other Mormons


And that we aren't "Mormons". That's just a nickname because we have The Book of Mormon. Don't forget; we believe in the bible too!
We call ourselves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and even more appropriately, we are disciples of Jesus Christ, only wanting to share His salvation and message in all we do and say


Honestly, it feels as if I am going back to the beginning again after my coming out. But it's a good feeling, knowing that my beliefs never changed. That's what's so awesome about GOD. Is the things that shake us, don't shake GOD. Because He is God. And He doesn't change. So praise to Him and His beloved Son, the precious Savior of the World. And bless you too. Amen.