18 Candles:

Right wing Fundamentalists.  Whether from Iraq or Iowa, they're a lot of God-damned religious hypocrites more concerned about what's near the penis than they are what's in the stomach.  I'm sure there are exceptions to that stereotype and to both of them I say: "What the hell are you doing in a snake pit like that?"

I'm in my 30's.  Been a g0y all my life but didn't know what it was called before a friend e-mailed me a link to this site.  Honestly, I was a skeptic ... & wondering when someone was going to pull an Ex-gay switcharoo on me. 

Oh, and about my attitude about "Fundies".  I can talk.  I was raised one.  Came out as "gay" in 1995 (only because g0ys weren't around).  The first thing my "Fundamentalist family" did in the name of the love of Jeeeeezusssss, was cut me off during a time in my life when I was going through the biggest trauma ... Finally admitting what I had been feeling for years.  Oh, & contrary about what these hypocritical phuckers say about "loving the sinner & hating the sin"; -- It turns out that if you're "gay", you needn't have "sinned" at all.  What they're all worried about is who you "like".  Complete codependence on your feelings is their focus.  What they want you to do is renounce them (your true feelings), - live a lie, - & then pretend that everything's OK now.  "Tell us a bald-faced-lie, & we'll let you have a drink of self esteem." -- That summarizes the "ex-gay" philosophy in a sentence.  I know.  What a con game.  I hope hell for "ex-gay guys" is a gay-bar packed full of naked Brad Pitt-'bottoms' with nothing to drink except testosterone tea -- and there they (ex-gays) are with no dick (they "prayed it away" ya know).

Anyway, I've never been a slut.  My friends are few in number & extremely close.  The G0YDAR article ... man was that a emotion kindler!  Like, holy crap!  My technique's out!  Thought I was the only guy into seducing guys by lov'n on 'em via the installment plan.  Anyway, I'm in my 30's (like I said) & have been putting money into me over the last decade in the form of gym dues, skin care & Rogaine (as a preventative measure).  I get hit on a lot (mostly by fags -- no thank you).  I've met some decent g0ys too, but the problem is that a guy who'll just hit on you has usually done it a lot of times before & probably has a drawer full of bulk-buy condom coupons if you get my drift.  Anyway, it may seem counterproductive ... but I like meet'n a dude & having to figure out where he's at.  Beefy shy guys ... yummmm.  Good freak'n friends they make too. 

I was on vacation in |EDITED|.  I had some friends down there.  Anyway, I was driving in a part of |EDITED| when I took a wrong turn.  I ended up in a rough part of town stopped at a traffic light.  This guy who had been at the corner walked over to my car while I was stopped.  He was shirtless, about 5'10" with a good build & dark complexion & near-starvation physique -- but toughly muscled.  He had a hat on shading his face, & I was in a convertible when it dawned that this guy might be planning on sticking a gun in my face & taking my rental.  Then he spoke, turning his head at an angle so the street light illuminated his features. 

"Hey mister, got any spare change?  I haven't eaten all day.", - in one of the gentlest southern-drawled voices I'd heard in a long time.  The light revealed a face that needed a washing and hair that was cut unevenly.  But that face ... dark eyes that flashed in the street light  & a perfect nose over a wide mouth.  He had a split lower lip & it was swollen some -- but a bruise on a beautiful face can't hide the beauty.  I just sat there -- looking at him.  The light turned green and there I sat (fortunately with no one behind me being 3AM).  At first I rummaged through my change for tolls & this voice inside my head spoke up & said: "He's a street kid.  Are you just going to ignore divine providence & give him $.50 & keep driving?  That's what those hypocrites who sit under the steeple every week do -- just after they make him feel really bad for existing.

My inner voice won out.  "Yeah, get in.  I'll take you to Mcikky-Deez.  They're open 24/7.".  He sized me up.

"No tricks?", he worried out loud as a statement.

"No tricks.", I assured.  "Hey, it's a convertible: You can always jump out.", I smiled.  He didn't waste 10 seconds crossing to the other side & jumping in over the closed door.  "Hey, where's the closest one?", I asked.  He told me to drive straight & 2 miles there was one.  Then he said his name was "Ben".  I told him my name, "Rod ... short for Rodney".

We drove.  I was kinda nervous & tried to make small talk -- mostly about the city & getting around.  It took about 5 minutes to get to the golden arches & I had already warmed up to Ben.  He was likeable -- but had this wall up emotionally that he concealed so well.  I was familiar with that.  I had one of my own.  "Order anything you want and as much.", I said.  When the droning voice came over the speaker asking for the order, Ben ordered 4 dbl cheese, a dollar fry & a dollar drink.  The total came back to $6.36.  I pulled ahead.

To say that Ben "inhaled" the food might have been an understatement.  That big mouth just demolished the burgers in about 3 bites each.  I told him to slow down because food was supposed to save lives ... not take them.  Ben laughed & spit soda all over the dash.  I told him I was glad it was a rental.  He was relieved that I wasn't pissed.  I felt glad to see him eat. 

Then that voice inside me began working on me again.  I listened as it instructed.  "Hey, Ben.  I'm totally lost in the city.  I've got maps, but I'm a slow reader (I lied).  If you don't have any plans, I've got the room at my hotel.  I'd get you your own key & you'd be on the register as my guest -- room service & stuff ... no BS.  That way, you could show me around the city & stuff."  Ben sat like he was think'n it over.  I could see the worry lines on his face.

"Awww.  I would, but I have plans .. stuff tomorrow.  Maybe a job. ... Nah, thanks anyway.", he said. I wondered if the worry was visible on my face.    "You can let me off anywhere.", he added. 

"OK.  Let me give you my card.  It's also a calling card with 15 minutes on it.", I said as I pulled over to near where I picked him up.  I grabbed a pen & wrote the hotel number & address on the blank area; -- & pulled 4 $5 bills out of my wallet.  "Here.", I said handing him the stuff.  "I'll be in town for another 2 weeks.  Like Mcikky-Deez, I'm open 24/7 for you.  OK?"

Ben took the card & money.  "Thanks...", he said with some hesitation in his voice.  He slowly got out & as I pulled away I could see him weakly waive "bye" in the rearview.  Then my inner voice spoke to me.  It said something like, "Asshole, drive around the block.  Pull out your map & when you get near where you just left him, pull over & take the map out like you're lost.".  So I did.  I got back near where I'd dropped him off & I wrestled with the map, turning it this way & that way -- like I was trying to get my bearings.  In the passenger side rear-view I could see a familiar pair of ripped pants walking up behind me.  I pretended not to notice.

"Looks like you could really use that guide...", a strangely familiar voice suggested from behind.  I smiled. 

"I guess!  It seems like I'm driv'n in circles!  Offer's still open.  Just get in."

"No tricks?", he worried out loud as a statement.

"No tricks.", I assured.  "Hey, it's a convertible..."

"...And I can always jump out.", he said while smiling.  The guy was really beginning to tug my heart strings -- hard.  He hopped in over the door again.  I pulled my seatbelt some & looked at him raising my brows.  He grinned & buckled up.

Ben showed me the shortcut back to my hotel.  We went in through the main doors & I had the counter add his name: "Ben 'Smith'" to my account & give him a key-card.  When we got into the elevator, he told me that nobody had been open about having him with them like that ... always wanting him to sneak up at separately from them.  I just nodded.

We got to my room on the 15th floor & went in.  I told Ben to go through my closet for something to wear to bed AFTER he took a good shower & we got his clothes into an airtight bag!  "You ripen'n Bro!".  Ben blushed some & apologized.  I told him to think nothing of it.  He rummaged through my packing & picked a pair of silk boxers & vanished into the bathroom for about half an hour. 

"I hope you left some hot water for the other guests here...", I joked loudly.  Ben laughed from behind the door.  I was at the sink brushing the teeth.  He came out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam & I handed him an unwrapped, spare toothbrush.  He smiled & asked if there was anything I hadn't thought of as I went into the bathroom.  My shower wasn't as long as his, but then I didn't need to use a "putty knife" to get the grime off with mine either!

My room had a sofa in front of the TV.  I turned on the news & watched the local reports.  Ben sat down beside me and as the reports drolled on, he began to nod off.  I put an arm around him & gently hugged him -- massaging his strong neck - as his exhaustion finally took over & he ended up beside me on his back with his head resting in my lap.  As I slowly stroked his head of dark hair, his breathing deepened into sleep & his body flinched occasionally until sleep was upon him in it's fullness. I noticed a lump on the back of his head as I rotated his neck some to spread my caressing around.   Knowing it could be an injury, I decided to keep an eye on him.  For over an hour I gently scratched his follicles & rubbed his head -- wondering how such a polite & handsome guy could end up on the street.  Rather than get up and wake him, I turned the TV off & nodded off right there with my hand across his chest holding his. 

A few hours later I awoke with the late morning sun streaming in the window.  Ben was still deeply sleeping in the same position.  In the brighter light, I took stock of this young stud.  He was totally beautiful, but also the bright light brought out bruises that his dark complexion had been able to conceal in dim light.  Apparently, he had been with some people who didn't consider him the treasure I saw.  The swelling on his lower lip had gone down some & I could make out a bruise on his lower jaw with interspersed dark places about the distance knuckles would be separated.  I shook his shoulder gently.  He slept on.  I elevated his head slightly & slid out from under it.  I walked over to the 2nd bed & pulled the covers back.  Then I went back over to him & gently lifted him off the sofa with one arm under his neck & the other under his knees.  He mumbled some, but didn't wake up.  I carried him to the open bed where I crawled in beside him & repositioned him so that he was partially draped across me & my arm was around him.  This way, I could feel any sudden motions -- as I am a light sleeper.  I nodded back off.

When I finally awoke, Ben was stirring.  He seemed disoriented at first & then smiled telling me that he needed to take a "picked wiss".  I grinned.  Getting up, his stance was unsteady & he sat back down on the bed's edge.  He said he was shaky & his vision was kind of blurry.  I asked him about the lump on his head & he said he had been in a fight with 3 other guys who had wanted to pimp him.  I got up & walked to the bathroom steadying him.  I stood behind him with both hands around his torso steadying his as he pulled out his sizeable, cut manhood & let a deep orange-yellow stream flow for almost an entire minute.  His heartbeat was rapid & he shook some as he moved.  I walked him back to bed & got him a V8 out of the small refrigerator.  I asked him when he was in the fight & he said the morning before he met me.   It had been over 48 hours so I guess it was safe to offer him some OPC's to reduce the swelling.  I made him a health-nut cocktail containing a number of vitamins, but also containing a large percentage of pycnoginols.   He drank that down & asked for seconds.  So I made him another.  I told him we were gonna stay in for the next day & get his lumpy head under control.  He grinned -- but I could tell he was in pain.  The 2nd day after a fight is always the worst.

 I began to lightly run my fingertips over his neck & face -- around his eyes & circling his ears with little scratching motions on his stubble.  It was causing the skin on his neck & head to goose pimple & Ben was softly moaning.  A single tear formed in his right eye & crept out.  I wiped it away with my thumb as I continued to gently massage his bruised angel-face.  He weakly spoke that nobody had ever treated him this nice & not wanted him to do something for them in return. 

His statement really moved me and I leaned down & gave him a light kiss on the forehead.  I asked him how old he was.  He hesitated a moment & said that yesterday had been his 18th birthday.  I gave him another gentle kiss on the forehead & said, "Happy birthday then", -- as I continued to lightly scratch his stubble & tickle his ears.  He grinned weakly but was succumbing to the pleasure from my hands that his head was drinking in.  This younger guy was suddenly giving my life a real sense of purpose.

I watched a few hours of TV with the volume way down so as to not wake Ben and then I took a shower.  I had a V-8 before brushing my teeth & took a couple of 5HPT to help me sleep so that my sleep cycle wouldn't be completely off.  I left the bathroom light on to dimly light the way around the room.  I nodded off around 1Am.  At about 4AM, I awoke to the sounds of the bathroom being used as Ben was feeling better.  I could hear him humming in the shower.  I nodded back off.

I awoke a little while later to the sound of a "click".  I opened my eyes, but the room was nearly pitch black.  Ben must have turned the light off.  I listened & I could hear footsteps on the carpet walking toward the beds & I could see a silhouette occasionally break the Spartan lines of dim light that made it's way past the blinds.  Ben was standing between the two beds.  I heard a towel drop off him & I imagined that beautiful body must be standing there in the raw getting ready to get into his bed -- when my covers moved back and the bed moved as Ben sat on the edge.  Then the covers moved again as the sound of sheets sliding against skin met my ears.  Moments later, an arm, still warm & slightly damp from the shower slid across my chest as Ben's body moved close to mine, -- finally with his head resting high on my left pec, -- facing me.  I turned my head & gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead & breathed in a whiff of the lightly scented shampoo from the shower. 

We lay there for a minute, maybe less -- when Ben began to slowly kiss my chest in little, slow gentle smootches  He meticulously moved along a "V" line to the base of my neck where he deepened slightly the use of his tongue & suction pressure of his lips. Then he began to slowly kiss along my sternum -- between my pecs as he headed southward, maybe an inch at a time, 3-5 seconds spent at each spot.  When he reached the top of my pleasure trail, I felt his thumb move between my thigh & the waistband of my briefs & move toward my back.  Instinctively, I lifted my hips & he slid my briefs down toward my knees, and while he moved his whole body down - he applied slow, gentle kisses all the way -- now down at my naval.  He repositioned himself a little more, first sliding my briefs off over my feet, & positioning his body over me so that -- had I wanted to, I could have wrapped my legs around his torso.  I was as hard as a steel pole & Ben's kisses soon made their way to my shaved crotch & then up onto my engorged penis, where he slowed his pace dramatically & used his warm wet tongue to slowly smother the length of my cock in slow hungry licks as if eating the last ice-cream cone on earth. 

Despite the feel; -- it isn't polite to get a BJ & not reciprocate, & I had my doubts at the time of whether this guy was STD free.  While half-groaning, I slowly did a partial sit up where I cupped my hands tenderly around Ben's head & guided him up over my body so that he was on top of me.  I wrapped my legs around his & hugged his upper body close to me causing his erection to rub & hop beside mine.  Ben wanted to grind crotches, but moving my right hand to his lower back, I steadied him & whispered "Easy ... slowly.  No rush.".  I gently scratched the back of his head & neck with my left hand & lightly caressed his lower back with my right causing his muscles to relax some.  His breathing was deep & fast; And the little twitches at his dick punctuated his breaths with little "uhs" & sighs.  He was so well proportioned & his body felt just right on top of mine.  I could feel the dribbles of the sweat run from his armpits & crotch down onto me.  I tried to think about something other than his dick cuddling with mine at our groins in -- order to make the moment last. 

A few minutes passed and the little twitches in his cock were occurring more frequently & getting stronger. Ben's gasps & groans were getting more forceful.  His body was beginning to tense more & he couldn't seem to relax between throbs.  I guess it's common for younger guys to not be able to repress their nutt once they get to this stage.  Watching his loss of composure & feeling that stud-body losing control against mine was more than I could suppress either, as I neared ejaculatory inevitability.  His groans suddenly deepened & took on a slightly frenzied tone as his muscles stiffened & his pelvis ground harder into mine.  "There you go, bro ... pump that tension out ... it's OK...", I reassured him as I slid my loaded gun along his.  He gasped & let out the most sexy, primal groan I'd ever heard, as I felt his unstoppable erection throb hard atop mine followed moments later by the feel of hot cumm hitting my belly just beyond the tip of his convulsing dick.  Moments later, my hot seed mixed with his as I shot beside him. His nutt was warm & plentiful as it spilled from his dick in powerful, voluminous spurts -- as when a guy has not cumm for a few days & really needs to.  It was totally awesome -- listening to him throat those deep frantic, gasped-groans as his inexperienced body flinched & tensed out of control in my encompassing hug.  His response was driven by his orgasm that forced his composure from him, -- causing him to writhe & squirm as it made him helpless to the pleasure of the experience.  I was totally into this guy, but I wondered what complications the future would bring to our friendship...

Ben just cuddled closely with me basking in the high of getting his rocks off.  "I'm really hungry.", he said.

"I knew there had to be a price-tag to this moment...", I grinned & then kissed his neck.  "Call room service & order whatever you want.. The menu is on the Table.", I continued.  While he was dialing the phone, I grabbed some fresh briefs & hit the shower.  A minute after stepping into the hot water jets, the bath door opened & Ben stepped in & into the shower with me.  I backed up some to give him a spot to stand that had falling water as I took a big gob of shampoo & begin to rub it into his hair.  He let out a deep "Mmmmm" & stepped toward me putting his arms around me as I soaped & washed him down.  He was so beautiful...man!

After the soap had rinsed off his head, he took a gob of shampoo & started on me.  His touch was firm but thoughtful.  It was nice to be treated gently by another guy.  I stood under the hot water & rinsed while enjoying his naked embrace.  "We really need to talk, Bro...", I asserted.  He just hugged me a little tighter & nodded.

We stepped out of the shower & dried each other off.  We both had a shadow that needed shaving but we decided to wait.  I had my bathrobe on when room service knocked with his sandwich called the "Billy Club".  It was huge.  I went to the fridge & got a couple of beers.  I handed him one & he looked a little confused. "For the vitamins...", I said.  Actually, I wanted to loosten his tongue. 

"I ordered half for you.", Ben said ... looking that the giant sandwich.

"Thanks, Bro!", I responded -- reaching over & taking half.  It was a mighty fine sandwich after not eating for a whole day!

Ben finished his beer.  I hadn't opened mine yet so I slid it to him & got another from the fridge.  After an hour, he'd downed 2 beers and half a giant sandwich and thanks to CNN, we knew what was going on outside the hotel doors (well, perhaps not). I hopped back into bed & motioned for Ben to join me.  I put an arm around him & he cuddled up with me.  I turned the TV off & asked him," So, tell me your story.", kissing him of the forehead & then listening.  He started by talking about the small town he grew up in and how he was a "Preacher's kid" in a |EDITED| church.  He knew when he was 12 that he was into guys and it terrified him.  He suppressed his feelings for years but there was the boy who started attending the youth group who was a total stud & was into guys too.  They began to see each other in secret, but one of the other kids (a girl) spied on them meeting in the woods -- at an old camper's shack where they'd cuddle, cumm & talk.  News got back; & to make a long story short, Ben got thrown out of his house with just his clothes & $100 he had in his jeans pocket.  He'd only been in the city for 11 days when I found him.  Oh, and he wasn't 18, he was 17.

I was astonished.  I commented how mature he was for 17.  He said, "School-sports & chopping all the firewood the family burned every year since he was 12."  I added that I could understand how those might add up ... but I meant his demeanor was mature too.  He smiled.  I kissed his forehead again.  He added that he thought he was a dead man after the fight and that living on the street was tough when you wouldn't do the things people wanted you to do.  He said he'd given up when I can along & would have done anything to get a meal.  He began to tear up.  The he continued by saying that he just didn't know what he was gonna do when I left.  Now he was in a full blown sobbing fit.

"That's easy.", I  assurred. "When I leave, you're coming back with me to |EDITED|."  I continued, "Where I'm from, we'll have no problem getting you emancipated -- declared as an adult to conduct your own affairs."  Ben had stopped crying & was just look'n at me in near unbelief.

"Are you serious?", he asked.  "You're telling me I can live with you?"

"Yeah, just as long as you adopt the philosophy of openness.  You've gotta be on the level with me, ok?", I replied.  Ben nodded.

We ended up talking for hours & got to know each other the way we probably should have before letting our hormones out in the 1st place.  I told Ben that I was concerned about our age difference; & he told me that he thought I was totally hott (which I am for a guy my age -- not that 3X is 'old').  Spend 5 years in the gym & you'll look great no matter what your age.  Ben agreed, which made me feel really good, - really young (& really, really horny). 

To shorten up this story: Ben ended up coming back with me to live in |EDITED|.  Because of the laws here, we got him emancipated with a nice legal threat to push for an "unfit parenting" investigation back in his home state if his unfit parents didn't sign on the line.  I got him into a private school & he graduated on schedule (smart dude).  Rather than wait for some politician to decide if we could "marry" (I really hate that term now that I understand what it means in the 21st century -- as opposed to the original meaning), we hooked up with an attorney who codified our domestic partnership as a contract - one that could be dissolved with our joint signatures & 2 witnesses.   Why?  Because I knew that although we loved the testosterone out of each other, I wanted Ben to know that our relationship was based on mutual consent & not some inflexible document that might eventually become an anchor for resentment.  I was in great shape now, but a decade put me in my 40's & he'd be in his late 20's.  If we didn't age physically, I suppose it wouldn't matter, but love looks at REALITY.  I didn't know what my 40's would bring -- maybe great health, -- or something else...  He needed to know that I loved him enough to let go if "temporal distortion" became an issue.  It's the difference between a relationship built on the letter of the law as opposed to the spirit of love (Hey, why don't the 'religious' people understand this concept).  

He's got keys to my house, keys to my car & the keys to my heart.  He's in college working on a degree in civics .  Oh, while we share just about everything, -- we don't share a bedroom.  This freaks some people out, - but the most successful relationships are those that use an old model from the Middle East -- separate bedrooms.  People need their space & their privacy.  And, nothing sets the tone like the humility it takes to knock on the other bedroom door at 2AM because you're need'n some lov'n.   Remember that old expression "Familiarity breeds contempt"?  Well,  contempt is the last thing we want to spawn.   Separate bedrooms keep the romance flowing.  Lots of couples who break up cite "needing their space" as a reason.  Why?  Because they need their space; -- But often, - they're too stoooopid to realize that separate bedrooms will give them that "space".   Our master bathroom has a bedroom on each side of it.  The design has our friend, a general contractor, all excited about the marketing concept.   He's having difficulty selling the idea to religious fundamentalists because they can't figure out how people have "sex" if the bedrooms are separate.  I'm serious.  Some people are sooo stoooopid that it doesn't dawn on them that they can visit each other's bedrooms!  Who knows what the hell they're think'n -- really.  Perhaps they're afraid the "bedroom police" will arrest them if they visit the other person's bedroom in their own house!  I joke with my friend the GC about it.  When he runs across that idiocy, he suggests they call each other & have phone sex, or rent a hotel room.  What's scary is the number of people who don't get the joke. People need to learn to phuck'n THINK. Although, if it wasn't for inflexible thinkers ... I would have never met Ben (so I smile & make dopey, cross-eyed faces behind their backs).  I don't know why I wrote that.  It seems that I feel strongly about thinking outside the box as it seems do the other contributors at this site.

"But, what about AIDS?", some ask.  "But what about lightning bolts?", I like to respond.  Both are about equal 'threats' to guys who don't practice anal*play.  This subject is one that REALLY pissed me (& Ben) off.  We both find gay-stereotypes disgusting.  Back shortly after Ben moved in, some preechar's wife told Ben to "Be sure to use a condom".  He asked her, "For what?", and then played really dumb.  The bait worked.  Once asked to explain specifics, she got all red faced & some other people nearby stepped in to take the pressure off her & explained to the 'poor dumb hebephiled 17 YO' what the condom was used for.  As they explained "safe"<sic> anal-sex, a look of revulsion slowly came over Ben's face, & he finally exclaimed (loudly): "Look, you people might fuck each other up the arse; - but I'd never be involved with anyone who did things like that!".  Sprint should have shot a commercial because you could have heard a pin drop.  Ben just walked away from them shaking his head. They all had this "deer in the headlights" look; -- & now - Ben had put them in the position of feeling like other people thought that they were a bunch of arse phuckers & had exposed the vile nature of their imaginations!  I reveled in the moment & thought to myself: 'There! How does it feel to have people think that about you!'!  Sometimes Ben just makes me want to kiss his face off.  Well, that's not where the episode ended.  Apparently word got back to Reverend "Bellows" (yes, that's his name, - & he does), that his wife & several flock members had been humiliated in public & made to appear as a bunch of "Sodomites".  The next weekend, he showed up at the college campus (with his wife who pointed out Ben).  He proceeded to get right in Ben's face in a very public place & begin to loudly yell "Homo"-this & "Sodom"-that.  By the account of Ben's friend Jill, Ben just stood there with an expression of curiosity & partial disbelief - shaking his head slightly as this "preechar" went off.  
As the "Man-of-Gawd" finished his scathing commentary on "Sodomy, Sodomites & 'Abominations before the Lawd'"; - Ben loudly exclaimed wearing a large grin, "Man!  Then, what did you say in response!?". 
Knowing that Ben had just reframed the entire perception of the incident in the eyes of the onlookers, & had simultaneously set this preechar up to stick his foot in his mouth with any response; -- Reverend<sic> Bellows quit bellowing. His sudden silence may have had something to do with security showing up. Did I mention that sometimes Ben just makes me want to kiss his face off?

So here's the moral of my account: If all those people in all those "churches" are really "Christians", then why can I drive into any large city & find uncountable numbers of street kids (fending for themselves) -- many there because they were 'gay' & thrown out of their "Gawdly homes".  I guess that in such homes, "GAY" is bigger than "GOSPEL".  Having come from such a home myself (yup), I was fortunate to have the skills to land a decent job literally days before being thrown out.  Many kids aren't as fortunate.  So, while you "good Christians" talk about the love of "JEEZUZ", why don't you put your faith into action as James commands, - and go rescue a street kid?  If you attend a "church" of many members, why not make a ministry out of sending teams into the city to find kids that need homes.  Is there risk involved?  Yup.  You might even get burned.  It might cost you everything -- maybe even your life!  But is seems to me, from reading the Book myself, -- that a follower of Jesus was told to "count the cost" (Lk 14:25-33)  before making the commitment.  I figured out why so many people have a negative view of God.  It's because they're watching a bunch of people who are self-deluded who claim to know God but fail to keep the highest commandment: To "Love one another"!  God HATES the "Jesus Social Club, Inc." (Rev 3:14-21).  It makes Him sick. 

Ben & I constantly have 1 or two of our extra rooms stocked with fresh "street-kids".  Some of these guys have lived a virtual nightmare & are so put off on people in general that it sometimes takes weeks of getting to know them before they believe we're for real.  The street pimps them, punks them, shoots them up, knocks them down & ages them years in mere months.  They hear more vain promises in a week than most people do in their lives.  The street & the people on the street use them as if they were expendable because every day there are more of them.  Lots of them have given up on being loved by anybody & those ministries that do come in contact with them are overworked & underfunded.  Covenant house (800.999.9999) runs a shelter-type of program.  Ben & I run a "home" that's somewhere between a family & a half-way house.  I've had my heart ripped out of me too many times by sad stories to ever stop.  Street kids with street smarts who've learned to lie to survive & build emotional walls to stop the pain.  Some are addicts, they smell bad, act bad & believe themselves to be bad & we love every one of them from a perspective they often don't see, can't see -- for years.  .  And with that I leave you with the following: