Today I was reading BC as usual and saw the announcement. Glad to be here on Opening Day! A little about me. I am a conservative, evangelical, born-again Christian. God saved me 27 years ago when I received Jesus Christ into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. At that instant I knew that all my sins -- past, present and future -- were forgiven, and that I had become a "new creation."

Only later when I began reading the Bible did I learn that "the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7), and that "There is therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

At that moment when, by God's grace, I became a Christian, my sins were forgiven because of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus which wiped my record clean. Not because of any religious deeds or good behavior on my part. But because God loved me, gave me the gift of saving faith, and now sees me "in Christ" instead of in my sins. Because of this I know for certain that when I die I will go to be with Christ in my glorious new home in Heaven (John 14:1-3).

Yep, I'm a Bible believing, "fundamentalist" Christian:)

I am also a boylover. I'm a middle aged single man who could never marry because I knew it would never work. My love for boys was too strong. I am convinced beyond doubt in my case that boylove is my sexual orientation, because I was born this way. Like many of you my attraction to boys began in childhood. No one taught or seduced me to be this way. There was no molestation or any other kind of abuse growing up.

Just so you know, I had many wonderful sexual adventures with boys as a boy and teen (though never with girls:). Today I am celibate by choice, having been so all my adult life, and will stay that way until I die.

My reason for posting is to tell anyone -- and I can't think of a more marvelous forum to say this! -- my reason for posting is to assure anyone who is doubting that you "can" be a Christian and a boylover. "Christian boylover" is _not_ an oxymoron or contradiction in terms. I am a boylover by orientation. I am a Christian by God's grace. One does not preclude the other!

One final thing. Like perhaps several of you I have been hurt by different churches I've attended. Not because of my BL, which I have always felt is better to keep private, but because I don't "fit in." I haven't gone to church for years. But just because the church gave up on me (and me them) doesn't mean that GOD gave up on me or me Him! GOD LOVES ME AND, MY BROTHERS, HE LOVES YOU TOO! Please don't let a bad experience with people sour you on God, the written Word of God (the Bible), or the living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's blessings on this board and everyone here.

your friend,

Daniel James

John 15:12