{"product_id":"affirming-a-memoir-of-faith-sexuality-and-staying-in-the-church","title":"Affirming: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality, and Staying in the Church","description":"What is it like to discover that something you’ve believed all your life might be wrong? Sally Gary knew since her early adulthood that she was attracted to women. But as a devoted Christian, she felt there was no way to fully embrace this aspect of her identity while remaining faithful. Now, as she prepares to marry the love of her life, she’s ready to speak out about why—and how—her perspective changed. In this deeply personal memoir, Sally traces the experiences, conversations, and scriptural reading that culminated in her seeing her sexuality as something that made sense within the context of her faith—not outside of it or in opposition to it. Along the way, she addresses specific aspects of her journey that will resonate with many other gay Christians: the loneliness and isolation of her previously celibate life, the futile attempts she made to resist or even “change” her sexual orientation, and the fear of intimacy that followed a lifetime of believing same-sex relationships were sinful. Sally’s story—one of heritage, learning, courage, and love—is written especially for the generations of LGBTQ Christians after her who are questioning whether they can stay part of the church they call home. It’s a resounding reminder that, just like Sally’s own heart, things can change, and sometimes, when we earnestly search for the truth, we find it in the most unexpected places. Table of Contents Prologue Part One: Practicing Hospitality 1. Faith Roots 2. Welcoming the Stranger 3. Looking in the Mirror and Seeing the Stranger 4. The Birth of CenterPeace Part Two: Interpreting Scripture 5. The Spirit of the Law 6. What’s in a Translation? 7. Embracing Mystery 8. Overcoming Fear to Find Truth Part Three: Embracing Covenant 9. What Healing Looks Like for Me 10. “It’s Not Good for Man to Be Alone” 11. Covenant Part Four: Inviting the Church to Make a Difference 12. Loving the Samaritan 13. Saving the Next Generation 14. Why I Stay Resources\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 0802879179\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.0802879179.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Gary, Sally\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting or writing, but the text remains fully legible. Dust jacket may be missing, and supplemental materials like CDs or codes may not be included. May be ex-library with library markings. Ships promptly!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41664165543994,"sku":"DBV.0802879179.G","price":8.29,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/0802879179-0.jpg?v=1789877236","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/affirming-a-memoir-of-faith-sexuality-and-staying-in-the-church","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}