Langteaux - Gay conversations with God: straight talk on fanatics, fags and the God who loves us all

James Langteauxs daring new book, Gay Conversations with God, is one written for such a time as this. This is a time when a deluge of grace and truth purges the earth of religious pretense, hypocrisy, and intolerance, and all the captives are set free to be finally themselves just as God made them.

Everything that can be shaken will be shaken, and Langteaux fearlessly shakes things up here with unflinching clarity not just as a gay man who has been there and done that in the world of high profile Christian media, but as one who speaks with the provocative tone of a prophet. Someone needed to say these thingsto boldly go where no one has gone before

Bishop Jim Swilley, Church In The Now, Now Ministries

This book will definitely not make the Baptist Womens Book Club list However, this is a must-get-out-there book! I am a reading snob and I loved it!
A Pastor [who wishes to remain anonymous]

James Alexander Langteaux is an incredibly gifted, poetic writer who pens words so beautifully that Im moved to tears and impassioned to love every time I read them. I am convinced that Jesus Loves Homos! And that message is far more important than you or me.

Jeremy Casper, Filmmaker

Christians were once known as witnesses to Gods love and gracethose who kissed lepers and welcomed strangers. Somehow weve morphed, acquiring a reputation for judgment, especially condemning those weve exiled as unclean. I suspect its because were much better at telling than listening. For those ready to give one of our own a turn, I would invite you to hear James Langteauxs heart. Suspend the need to be right for a moment and truly listen. Jesus is not ashamed to call him brother, just as he is. Neither am I. Please hear his story, his pain, his faith. Read this book.

Brad Jersak, Author of Kissing the Leper

In my own search I discovered that I could never offend God while I was being honest with him; in fact, I find that he urges me on to tell it like it is. This has helped me to discover (in process) who I am and that its OK to be me. And this is what I now read within the pages of James new book. I applaud his honesty and wit and I hope that Gay Conversations with God encourages many people to ask the same questions of themselves.
Chris Falson, Singer/Songwriter

We look at other peoples lives through our own filters and often miss the complexities of who they are in themselves, in God. James strips away those filters applied to him by others and lets us into the humor, the pain, the struggles, the lies and the victories. For those of you who think God is only in the tidy places with the heterosexuals, Gay Conversations with God will bother, challenge and enlighten you. And, in the end, I hope it confronts the filters in which you may wrap the other children of God. There is freedom in Christ, for all of us.

Kathy Baldock, Canyonwalker Connections/Str8apology

After reading Gay Conversations with God, I went out today with a smile and so much joy! Suddenly I knew that God loves me and that made all the difference. In my closet where I was hiding from myself were guilt and shame and the belief that I was unlovable. James story is one of sacred tenderness and acceptance. At times, as I was reading, I knew I was in truth, listening to the voice of God. How real and honest the words are. James has such a poetic gift as a writer simple and deep and embracing and real!
Toni Gilyard, Poet/Author of the girl between the trees

Copyright 2012 by James Alexander Langteaux

The right of James Alexander Langteaux to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998.

First published by Findhorn Press 2012

ISBN 978-1-84409-582-7

All rights reserved. The contents of this book may not be reproduced in any form, except for short extracts for quotation or review, without the written permission of the publisher.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Cover design by Andrea White
Author photograph by Aaron Gautschi
Edited by Rachelle Gardner
Layout by Thierry Bogliolo
Printed and bound in the USA

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from the The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version (public domain.) Scripture quotation marked NIRV is taken from the New International Readers Version, 1996, 1998 by Biblica, a Colorado non-profit corporation.

Published by
Findhorn Press
117-121 High Street
Forres IV36 IAB
Scotland, UK
t +44(0)1309 690582
f +44(0) 131 777 2711
www.findhornpress.com

For Twyla

For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV)

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You can cut this out, you can roll it back or you can play with it before you proceed. But whatever you do, this is one chapter you absolutely have to read. This is Gay Conversations with Gods heartbeat and pulse. You can stop right here if youre pressed for time and never read anything else.

It would seem most five-year-olds may shy away from choosing to be gayespecially when Will and Grace and The Real World were still about 25 years away. I guess I was a little bit country and a whole lot queer before either were very cool. When it comes to gay Christian activists I guess Im pretty small town and really old school.

That was one hell of an adolescence! If my choices were Jr. High all over again or the death penalty I would definitely need some time to think

This is only one of a million snapshots found in the worlds teeming photo album of shameits the story of a loving and confused young man who tried to be honestand how the right and religious pummeled him in Jesuss name.

I played author, not doctor, as a child. That should have been a sign. And when my first book deal came my way, God nearly blew my mind (and the deal). Come out, come out wherever you are.

Its hard to listen to ignorant people tell you that youve chosen to be gay. And with a simple decision and a little bit of prayer you could easily walk a different way. Oh if I only had a sledgehammer in my hands every time Ive heard those words I would be serving life in prison playing hide the sausage with O.J. Simpson.

Even after falling in with the God of the Universe and nestling into a place of safety and trust, it is easy to find yourself distractedleaving God back in the dust. But if you can stop and stretchin childs pose to catch your breath and slow your paceyoull find his endless love relentless as is his awesome grace.

If the wages of sin are death then I may as well have a hell of a good time on my way down. Sin has been made into a big scary ass wordbut what is SIN anyway? Mark my words, youll be missing out if you blow by this one. Sin: It isnt just for homos anymore.

What is true love, really? Is it all passion, romance and bliss? How about that explosive first kiss? Or is true love something far deeper and more profound? Maybe authentic love is sacrifice that involves laying your dreams and wishes down so the one you love can rise above and live in the fullness of their calling and dream. With or without you.