All of the pictures today were taken as I was driving... holding the capable Sony up to the windshield or the side window and clicking the shutter. I had plenty of time to think about the messages that are aimed people who drive on major highways.

AGAINST NATURE?  It’s disappointing and embarrassing that the human forces organized and mobilized to destroy the natural lives of millions of people are not Darth Vader types lurking in the shadows keeping their faces hidden in dark hoods... but often they are religious people wearing their Easter Sunday best, or even more disturbing they are sometimes robed in the churches highest ecclesiastical robes.  Here’s the way it seems to break out:  Most climate deniers are religious, especially Christian and Muslim who insist God is in charge of everything.  The loudest, worst vitriol aimed at Michael Sam for owning and claiming his sexual identity comes from Christians.  Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association said Sam is committing an “infamous crime against nature.  He and other leaders of Christian groups are suggesting a boycott against any teams, against any games that include openly gay players. On the street someone yelled at Sams, “Stop sinning against the Lord, Michael”... and some comments far worse were hurled at him.  The milder comments include “he betrays God on live TV.”  

Michael Sam is a survivor.  He is tough.  He has good support from family, friends and colleagues so he can manage the hate directed toward him but Christians.  It’s the hateful, cruel, and out-of-touch Christian individuals and groups who are the losers. Many Christians understand that nothing in the Bible justifies anti-gay hatred. They know that many faithful Christians are gay.

I read this morning about a young woman in the United Methodist Church who has been denied ordination to ministry because she acknowledges that she is lesbian.  She said the board voted not to move her forward in her ordination process because they they say “I failed to articulate my understanding of the ‘Lordship of Christ in the world.”