Susan Cottrell's Blog, page 14

Love or Hate? It’s in the Eye of the Receiver

“What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.” Isaiah 5:20-21. Christianity has been used in many ways [Read More...]

Heads Up Anti-Gay Church: The Parents Are Coming!

You may believe that by teaching against homosexuality, you are keeping people from being LGBTQ or allies. That may be why you think you teach that way. But you don’t really understand this at all. In my moms group — a secret FB group of moms of LGBTQ kids — we talk about the ways [Read More...]

‘Poison in a Pretty Package’ – Landon Schott’s Book “Gay Awareness”

 It’s a dangerous book, a deadly message and you should know about it. It is Gay Awareness, the new book by Landon Schott. Kathy Baldock, a dear friend and the author of Walking the Bridgeless Canyon, did an absolutely superb job with this Amazon review and I wanted to share it with you. Here you [Read More...]

What If You Don’t Feel Like Anyone’s Idol?

The American Idol Finale. For fifteen years we have watched as this show has turned out countless megastars. On the final show, Trent became the last Idol to become a household name, the last of the big winners, the last American Idol. Okay, what about the rest of us? What about you, slogging away, doing [Read More...]

Stop Pretending God Endorses Your Homophobia

People have always been bigoted—in any number of ways. Jesus’ enormous challenge to “love your neighbor” and the accompanying, “everyone’s your neighbor” is part of the challenge to overcome our bigotry, to love in spite of our inclination to turn away and say, “No.” If it were easy, everyone would do it. But there are [Read More...]

To Worried Christian Parents of LGBTQ Children

I write today to Christian parents of LGBTQ children who are worried about their kids. Struggling with this whole thing. From a Mom’s heart to yours. Easter. The day Christians celebrate new life in a risen Savior. It’s a day to think about crucifixion and resurrection. What God is calling us to do versus what [Read More...]

Sharing My Heart, My Vision, My Hope

We recently announced my new book with Westminster John Knox Press, and launched our new FreedHearts website. As we make these changes – and there is more exciting news to come! – I want to share my heart, my vision and my hope. From my heart to yours. If you are in the evangelical church, [Read More...]

Don’t You Dare Tell Me My Opinion is Invalid Because My Child Is Gay!

I have five adult children I love with all my heart. Two of them identify as queer. Wild horses would not cause me to reject any one of them. Ever. These are my precious children. My MAIN JOB is to love them. Nurture them. Protect them. Have their back. Educate them. Correct them when they [Read More...]

The Story of the Prodigal Transgender Daughter

Let me give a new twist to an old story. Mitchell had fought back the growing awareness that deep down, despite all outward appearances, he was really a she. His family—well, everyone—had always called him “he,” had always called him Mitchell… but deep down, where no one could see, “he” was a “she.” And she was Marisa. [Read More...]

Are You a Prodigal Parent to Your LGBTQ Child?

Prodigal. It has come to mean “someone who was wayward but has now straightened up and back in God’s good graces.” Some parents hang onto this idea like a sweet promise: trust God while your child makes some poor choices, possibly self-harms, until they come back to their senses. Other parents hang it over their [Read More...]