But, unconditional love does

not mean blessing or endorsing whatever lifestyle our loved one chooses.

Unconditional love means loving your son, despite his destructive behavior,

not because of it.

word and blessing their son's lifestyle, they are condemning their son

to a possible death sentence. Jeffrey Satinover, M.D., writes in his book,

"Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth," "...homosexual

men are disproportionately vulnerable to a host of serious and sometimes

fatal infections caused by the entry of feces into the bloodstream ...

Because of their larger numbers of sexual partners and sexual practices

such as anilingus and anal intercourse, homosexual men are at particularly

high risk of acquiring hepatitis B, giardiasis, amebiasis, shigellosis,

campylobacterosis, and anorectal infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae,

Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum, herpes simplex virus, and human

papilloma viruses." Active homosexual men also suffer "...fecal

incontinence, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, foreign bodies, rectosigmoid

tears, allergic proctitis, penile edema, chemical sinusitis, inhaled nitrite

burns ... and AIDS."

If Dr. Satinover's words are

offensive, try reading "And the Band Played On" by Randy Shilts,

a practicing homosexual who died from AIDS. His writing describes the

homosexual lifestyle in less medical terminology, but more horrific detail.

Most of us would agree that such behavior is aberrant and perverse, whether

committed by homosexuals or heterosexuals. There is nothing "normal"

about it.

If my child were destroying

him/herself by any number of wanton lifestyles, I would do everything

in my power to set him/her free from what I believe leads to certain death.

This is called love, not hate. As my brothers' keeper, should I do any

less for any homosexual suffering from this sexual addiction?

Homosexuality is as forgivable

as any other sin. The only prerequisite is confessing it, truly turning

away from it, and asking God's forgiveness for it. At that instant, God

forgives the sinner and He may, or may not, remove all homosexual desire

and completely heal the person. As with Paul's nameless thorn, God frequently

uses our weaknesses (our personal thorn) to help us grow in Him. This

applies to all who truly seek redemption through His grace, whatever the

sin.

If we are Christian, we should

hate our sins, just as God does. Paul said, "I am not practicing

what I would like to do, but am doing the very thing I hate ..."

We are all sinners, but unlike many homosexuals, most of us do not revel

or rejoice in our sins, much less expect, if not demand, that others endorse

them.

It does not matter how many

churches, politicians, states or countries agree with Mr. and Mrs. Ellis

that homosexuality is perfectly normal. God's word does not change with

the culture, the latest poll, or because the world says it is outdated.

Those who are in Christ know in their innermost being through the Holy

Spirit that all immoral lifestyles are sinful, because they inevitably

help destroy the body, which He claims as His temple.

It is now forbidden to speak

privately or even preach against homosexuality in Sweden, Canada, and

some other countries. It is considered a hate crime. Christians in America

will soon lose the right of free speech and religious freedom if we do

not awaken and take a stand by supporting those who are fighting in the

media and courts for our freedom. There are several organizations worthy

of our prayers and financial support. I hope many reading this letter

will join them, before it is too late.

May God have mercy on us all.

Cheryl B. Livingston

Fayetteville, Ga.