My first Sunday with David was in January of the year after losing my big brother to AIDS. I went to the the church at \u00a0Bellevue Middle School because I kept getting postcards from this church, and I heard I did not have to dress up for this\u00a0church.<\/p>\n
David said two things I will always remember. First, that his brother had died a tragic death. I thought, “Wow, this guy might understand what I am going thru.” This was important to me because my former pastor, in poor taste,\u00a0had continually\u00a0kidded my grief stricken mom about having my brother’s ashes in his closet at\u00a0the church.<\/p>\n
. The second thing I remember from this sermon was about the\u00a0reputation of\u00a0Christians as being intolerant.\u00a0 David said, in 1995,” Tell all the Gays they can come here! I want this church to have a reputation for having Gays. They can all sit on the front row!” You could have heard a pin drop, Then he said…” next to all the adulterers and gossips and tax cheats–don’t tell me with 1500 people in here there are no adulterers\u00a0 gossips or\u00a0 tax cheats.”\u00a0 A nervous laughter erupted followed by another silence as people took in the depth of what David had said. I wished my brother could have heard it.<\/p>\n
I had never heard these things from a pulpit before. \u00a0I had looked and looked for Christian books on\u00a0“how to love\u00a0your big brother who is dying of AIDS,” only to find books about\u00a0the\u00a0“evilness” of\u00a0Gays and their agenda. David’s words really helped me that day. \u00a0I always looked forward to going back to hear what else David would say!\u00a0He continually taught, amused, healed and inspired me.<\/p>\n
I will weep with those who weep now and rejoice forever when I get to the other side. I am certain David is hearing those words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My first Sunday with David was in January of the year after losing my big brother to AIDS. I went to the the church at \u00a0Bellevue Middle School because I kept getting postcards from this church, and I heard I (…)<\/p>\n