Happy Easter!

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOVEVER believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”  It is one of the most well-known, most quoted verses in all of scripture.

It should be.  It is the simple message of Jesus, summed up in one verse.  God so loved, He gave.  Gave Himself as the sacrifice for our sin.  There are no exclusions, no exceptions.  You just have to believe. 

Unfortunately, people who claim to follow Jesus; claim to love Him; claim to speak for Him, have exclusions and exceptions attached.  They want to dictate what others relationship with Christ looks like.  But it is not about people or what they think.  It is all about Jesus - - and His grace.  It’s about a personal relationship with Him - - and understanding that there is nothing better in the world!

The last several months have found me in a place of wondering and wandering.  Things have happened in my life that I cannot even begin to comprehend or understand.  But in the midst of it all, even in those moments when I feel like I am the most unfaithful, He is faithful.

One of my favorite songs of all time is called “For Those Tears I Died.”  It was one of the first songs I ever sang in church.  I loved it.  It was a song that spoke to me on every level of my being.  It was written by a wonderful woman named Marsha Stevens.  Marsha sang and traveled with a group called “The Children of the Day.”  They were part of the Jesus Music of the early 70’s - - pioneers of what would become Contemporary Christian music.

Marsha came out - - and was basically banished from Christian music.  The song, which had become a huge hit among churches, was ripped out of hymnals by self-righteous “christians” and sent back to her in bundles.  Marsha was told that she was evil, and had no place talking about or singing about Jesus.

I am glad that Marsha didn’t listen to people.  She continued to love and follow Jesus and His example - - by proclaiming his unconditional, crazy love for us.  She knew it had nothing to do with men or what they thought.  It was all about Jesus and His grace.

At a time in my life when I was told that I was nothing and that I couldn’t have a relationship with Jesus - - and that I would never be used by Him again - - I met Marsha.  My friend Jeremy and I drove to Toledo, Ohio.  It was a tiny church - - and maybe 30 people in attendance.  Marsha began to sing and the presence of God filled the room.  I began to sob.  A deep uncontrollable sob for the remainder of her concert.  I can’t tell you specific songs she sang, or words that she said - - but I know the Spirit of the Lord used Marsha to speak peace and grace to my troubled soul.

After the concert, Marsha asked me to “come sit with her a while.”  I sat at her table and continued to cry.  She signed CD’s and spoke with people - - every now and then patting me on the leg.  When the last person had left, she turned to me and said, “Let’s pray.”  I told her that because of what people had said to me, that I felt I would never be used by the Lord again.  She assured me that was not the case - - and prayed with me.  I left that concert assured in my calling and have seen the Lord do amazing things in my life and in my own ministry since then.

Two weeks ago, Marsha was in Salt Lake City, and I had the honor and the privilege to open the concert for her.  It was an amazing experience for me as an artist and as a Christian.  A woman who has been told over and over again by “christians” that she can’t have a ministry - - that Jesus doesn’t love her because of who she is - - oozes Jesus and His love and His grace from her pores!!  She reminded me again that it is not about any man or woman - - or what they say or believe.  It is all about a personal relationship with Jesus - - and living in that relationship every minute of your life.

Well, I love Jesus.  He is everything to me.  He is my Healer, my Sustainer, the Lover of my Soul, and my Savior.  He loves me just as I am - - and I am gay.  I am not apologizing.  I am not arguing.  I am not trying to be an “in your face activist.”  I am simply stating a fact.  If you have known me longer than 5 minutes and are surprised by this fact - - well surprise!  If you are like a lot of Christians who take a don’t ask, don’t tell approach, sorry - - I’m telling.

I know that by stating this fact (of 46 years now) there are some places that I will never be allowed to sing at again.  Some people will not listen to my music anymore; some people will say that my ministry is no longer valid; and some will believe that I don’t have a relationship with Jesus.  That’s okay.  They can believe what they want - - but I know grace and I know mercy - - and I know the saving power of Jesus first hand and opinion can’t and won’t change that fact.  Because “WHOSEVER believes on Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

Jesus Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Happy Easter!