I Will, Be Healed.

I recently read this interesting story on SGL Universe. Gospel recording artist DeWayne Woods claims that he has been healed from the HIV virus. Mr. Woods states that he has been living with the virus for years, and was often hospitalized, but his belief in God has healed him. He states, “I went back to the doctor a few years later and the same doctor who diagnosed me ran the test and sat me down and said ‘Well you tested negative’ and it baffled him.” In an interview with Candace Walker, Bella-Online’s Gospel Editor, Mr. Woods states, “I am not on any medication. I am completely healed and I go back often (for a check up) and it's not a lack of faith; it's just that you want to make sure that while you are giving out this type of testimony that things continue to stay documented.”

I’ll have to admit that one quarter through this story my first thought was that maybe he misunderstood his doctor. Maybe what the doctor was saying to Mr. Woods is that the HIV virus is now undetectable in your body. Nevertheless, if that were the case I could not imagine a doctor telling a patient not to take his HIV medication. Moreover, I’m sure Mr. Woods and his doctor are both intelligent enough to understand the difference between being HIV negative and the virus being undetectable in your body.

However, there are many people who would definitely disagree with Mr. Wood’s claim of being healed. Many people would think, ‘Why isn’t this story being told all throughout the media (television, radio, newspaper, CBN, and all other Christian media channels)?’ However, in the New Testament whenever Jesus healed someone He told him or her to tell no one, but go and show yourself to your priest. Maybe this is the reason DeWayne Wood’s story is not so widely publicized. Luke 15 states, “Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” (The MSG)

However, many people probably wonder, “If this were true why is he the only person being healed of this disease?’ A miracle like this could cause other Christians’ faith to be shaken. However, it should not be shaken, because God heals people for different reasons and in different circumstances. We may not always understand why one person is healed and others remain afflicted with a dreaded disease, but we have to know that in God’s infinite wisdom there is a divine purpose. Who are we to question whether or not Mr. Woods has been healed?

Healing in the Bible is not just a simplistic algebraic equation that equates faith with healing. In Genesis God healed a man and his household after Abraham prayed for them. God healed Hezekiah from a deadly sickness and added fifteen years to his life because He respected Hezekiah's heartfelt prayer in which he recounted to God, with tears, his utter loyalty, sincerity and uprightness. In II Kings chapter 5 God healed the commander of the Syrian army, of leprosy at a time when there were numerous lepers who were not healed. Yet the story of Elisha has a different ending. Elisha was a remarkable individual who asked for and received a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit. Yet he died of a sickness despite the great powers bestowed and miracles performed through God’s Spirit. Elisha was not healed of his sickness but actually died from it.

As I continue to read Mr. Wood’s story what came to mind was the story of the unnamed leper in the Book of Luke. “While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.” (Luke 5:12-13 New International Version)

If you consider this verse, you would have to ask yourself what this leper was doing in the village. Lepers were quarantined to solitary places and leper colonies, similar to how people with HIV are quarantined in the mind of others when they find out about their illness. Therefore, when I read this I had to pay attention the message that was not there. Luke never said that it was the touch of Jesus that healed the man. Jesus could have healed this man of leprosy with a single pronouncement. Jesus not only healed the man, he validated this man with a gentle touch.

Perhaps Mr. Wood’s claim that he has been healed is true. Perhaps Mr. Woods needed Jesus’ gentle touch. Maybe while he was glorifying God during his illness, he reached out to Jesus and spoke the words of the leper: “Lord, you can heal me if you will.” Jesus spoke back and performed a miracle. Jesus said, “ I will, be healed.”

Eyes Wide Shut

If you are a bible reader, you should be very familiar with this famous scripture: “Bring them out unto us so that we may know them.” (Genesis 19:5 KJV)

Check out Genesis, Chapter 19. It tells the story about Sodom and Gomorrah. In the King James Version when the men went to Lot’s door the verse reads, “Bring them out unto us so that we may know them.” But in the New International Version the verse states “Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” (Genesis 19:5 NIV)

The actions and desires of the men at Lot’s door were not about homosexuality (being sexually oriented toward the same gender or same-gender-loving), but about satisfying their own selfish needs and desires. These men did not care about who the men in Lot’s house were, (they were in fact, angels of God); they only cared about satisfying their lusts.

When I first read Genesis, Chapter 19 I knew what I was reading was true. Moreover, I was confident that my interpretation was right. (Although it doesn’t matter if I am right or wrong; God’s word is true it needs no validation from anyone.) However, I did not fully understand the true meaning of what I was reading. I was reading this chapter with my “Eyes wide shut.” I was reading this chapter based on the meaning I had inferred from other people: that all homosexuals are doomed to burn in hell for all eternity. Repeatedly I had heard people use this scripture and other biblical verses as a way to justify their own personal condemnation of homosexuals. So, when I read it I felt that all homosexuals were doomed to hell.

In Judges Chapter 19, I found a similar verse that had me stumped: “Bring forth the man who came into thine house, that we may know him” (KJV 19:22). I then had to re-read Genesis 19 and compare the similarities. After I re-read these chapters it really made me wonder, Is Genesis 19 really all about homosexuality or something else? Could that something else be selfishness?

How often do our own selfish needs and desires blind our eyes to what is truly real? Sometimes when we meet someone who might be special to us, our own values and expectations cause us to ignore the entire person; we often put on the sunglasses of selfish needs and desire. We tend to look at that person with our “Eyes wide shut.” Instead of getting to know the real person, we ignore the very thing that is staring us in our face. The things that we often ignore are the fundamental characteristics of a person’s personality, which can tear a relationship apart. People are not all are good and not all are bad, and the entire person and personality must be taken into account. If you choose to ignore the entire person just to satisfy your own selfish needs and desires, you may find yourself walking around in the light, wondering, “Why is it so dark?” You might find yourself dealing with the worst kind of deception—self deception. You may even blame the other person for their deceptive ways. Only to realize that the deception was entirely self-inflicted, because you choose, once again, to enter another relationship with your “Eyes Wide Shut.”

“Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” (Proverbs 4:7 NLT)

Recent Trip - Atlanta's Black Gay Pride

My recent trip to Atlanta for the Black Gay Pride event turned out to be quite worthwhile. I had never attended Gay Pride events because I viewed them to be all about sex and partying. I’m an SGL person and I’m not all about sex and partying, and as it turns out, neither was this event.

On my first day there I attended a “Welcome to Atlanta Reception” that was hosted my J.L. King, author of (On the Down-Low). I and five other authors were introduced at the event and had an opportunity to talk about our books, writing, and publishing experiences. The entire weekend was well organized and professionally executed. There was something for everyone to do.

Celebrities who attended Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride included Jennifer Hudson, Eva Pigford and Jade Cole from (America’s Next Top Model), Amerie, Frenchie Davis, Aneese, Latoya Luckett, Christian Vincent and Rodney Chester from (Noah’s Arc) and Jonathan Plummer, who was promoting his new book Balancing Acts. There was something for everyone—from clubs to religious and community events.

A particularly interesting event was the religious summit called SBGA-State of Black Gay America. At this event a group of local religious leaders facilitated an information sharing session on issues specific to the Black LGBT community.

I got a lot more out of this weekend than I expected. I was very happy that every private SGL event that I attended started out with a prayer. I was able to spend some time with a couple of people with whom I have been friends for over 15 years. I was able to work out some important issues that could have damaged a friendship that is very important to me. I met new friends, and to my surprise, came across an old love interest.This encounter is making me re-think a few things in my life. Life is important, but something that is just as important to me is having someone to share my life with. As an SGL person I have placed my need for love and companionship on the back burner for a long time. Meeting my old flame has made me want to give love another try.

This week-end turned out to be an opportunity for me to realize how important friends are, how important it is to be happy and how the blessings in our life and who we are as positive, God loving SGL individuals, are worth the fight.