tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:20:47 +0000www.straightintogayamerica.comhttp://larsclausen.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)Blogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-6997336843849465160Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:50:00 +00002007-12-14T15:52:23.430-08:00Dear Friends,Long time without writing. Been doing some living, and some reflecting. Some wonderful things to share.Straight Into Gay America:I remember writing this book in the winter of 2005 and coming to the point of not caring if a single person bought the book – I was putting down the words I needed to get out.That throw-it-to-the wind feeling about sales lasted until publication when I http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/12/valuing-books-more-than-numbers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-4118240848946280674Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:14:00 +00002007-06-02T04:36:24.220-07:00Thank you for the many emailed congratulations. Each letter brings a good memory. Here's a surprise.Judging committees send notices to authors who reach the finalist category. Then those who are able show up at the ceremony to discover the final rankings. Yes, I'd submitted Straight Into Gay America for Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year awards. But having received no communication from http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/06/surprise-award-for-straight-into-gay.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-3392547069742165252Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:57:00 +00002007-06-01T04:16:25.282-07:00The biggest compliments I get for writing Straight Into Gay America sound like this,"You write as if you were a gay man. It's as if you've told my own story." Last night Publishers Marketing Association awarded Straight Into Gay America the Benjamin Franklin Award for best book in the Gay/Lesbian category. This recognition from the writing community moved me more deeply than I had expected (http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/06/book-awards-for-straight-into-gay.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-7370095826221011917Mon, 21 May 2007 14:24:00 +00002007-05-21T07:25:55.593-07:00My Little Town – Laramie Project to live on.This is a fun note to share…Last time I wrote I shared that The Laramie Project was playing here in our little town of Chelan, Washington. In this town with no history of LGBT equality work, The Laramie Project sold out most of its performances.One attendee, a high school student, saw the play three times. The high school student emailed the principalhttp://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/05/laramie-project-gets-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-5856863635346088546Thu, 03 May 2007 14:08:00 +00002007-05-03T07:12:59.429-07:00 Our town of Chelan is putting on The Laramie Project Play for three weeks. Eight actors play 80 different characters from Laramie Wyoming. The entire script was created from two years of interviewing town members after young gay Matthew Shepherd was tied to a fence-post, beaten, left stranded for eighteen hours, and then died in the hospital from injuries and exposure.Big Event for a Small http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/05/laramie-project.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-1793398677202474514Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:41:00 +00002007-04-20T11:49:55.189-07:00Here's good news from www.soulforce.orgSoulforce Equality Ride Honored in U.S. House of RepresentativesThe 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride has been honored by the House of Representatives and written into the congressional record. On Monday, April 16, Rep. Jerrold L. Nadler of New York addressed a tribute to the Equality Ride and its Riders to the Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi."Madam http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/04/nyc-and-us-congress-honor-equality.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-5357034319289641883Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:45:00 +00002007-04-11T13:49:43.767-07:00Wow!I've been following the two bus tours of the 50 young people who are travelling our nation and asking for audiences at schools that discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. At times there has been good conversation. Far too often there have been arrests.And then this... Seattle declares April 11 as Equality Ride Day. And our state legislature just approved http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/04/seattle-declares-equality-ride-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-1345093903358054255Sun, 01 Apr 2007 01:01:00 +00002007-03-31T18:06:33.023-07:00With the blogalogue finished with Dave Glesne, I'm back to collecting and sharing stories. Three weeks ago I met some great grandmas in Minnesota. The week before that a couple of amazing grandfathers in Washington. If you'd like to sign up for regular newsletters, you can do so at NEWS on the www.straightintogayamerica.com website. Both of these articles are posted there, too.BTW, I've http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/03/grandfathers-and-grandmothers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-5294713201468734663Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:56:00 +00002007-02-21T06:01:02.713-08:00Post from Dave Glesne: Author of "Understanding Homosexuality."Dear Lars,I can only imagine how time-consuming and energy draining the last weeks have been as you embraced the cause there in your own community. I’m glad for your sake that there finally appears to be some breathing room for you.As you mentioned in your recent post, I suggested that we are perhaps at a natural ending point in our http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/02/concluding-words-from-dave-glesne.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-16280407456676848Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:37:00 +00002007-02-15T06:39:49.353-08:00Dear Dave,I hope this finds you well. Sorry for the long delay in writing. Spending time trying to keep the world’s most powerful corporation from becoming the dominant player in our community has taken a lot of energy. But now a public amendment process is underway in our city and Wal-Mart has permission to remain open in the meantime, so I can return to other interests.During this past month http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/02/is-this-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-5488622903435597133Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:15:00 +00002007-01-11T06:16:13.293-08:00Dear Dave,On December 29th, I was part of a winning petition to prevent Wal-Mart from opening the 162,000 sq. ft. building that they put in a development where the maximum allowable building size is 50,000 sq. ft. Since then there’s been high emotion and a lot of explaining to do here in Chelan (www.dontboxchelan.com). I don’t know how you and others react, but when overload situations like http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/01/try-at-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-2093973710299265909Sat, 06 Jan 2007 00:43:00 +00002007-01-05T16:48:15.678-08:00Post #22: A continuing discussion between pastor/author Dave Glesne (Understanding Homosexuality) and pastor/author Lars Clausen (Straight Into Gay America)Dear Lars,A Happy New Year to you! We enjoyed Christmas with two of our children home with us and a trip to northern Minnesota to visit family there. Between Christmas and New Years I took a week of vacation. However, when one does not leave http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2007/01/post-22-continuing-discussion-between.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-8438914141479141255Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:29:00 +00002006-12-29T07:34:06.504-08:00Post #21: A continuing conversation between Pastor/Author Dave Glesne (Understanding Homosexuality) and Pastor/Author Lars Clausen (Straight Into Gay America)Dear Dave,End of the year blessings. I took some days away from the office, including taking our kids downhill skiing for the first time. But I have kept thinking about our conversation. Though I'm no longer in the pulpit, this rules vs. http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/12/looking-at-apa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-1605445957123785440Tue, 19 Dec 2006 23:58:00 +00002006-12-19T16:07:10.785-08:00Post #21: Understanding Homosexuality by pastor and author David Glesne dialogues with Straight Into Gay America by pastor and author Lars ClausenDear Lars,I especially appreciated your most recent post because I think it brought greater clarity for me as to your perspective and how you have come to pattern your life. It is a good thing when a dialogue can result in greater understanding and http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/12/more-tent-talk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-3772144402644764061Thu, 14 Dec 2006 22:24:00 +00002006-12-14T14:41:40.197-08:00Post #20 Understanding Homosexuality (author and pastor David Glesne) meets Straight Into Gay America (author and pastor Lars Clausen).In this post Lars considers again how we look differently at the world. Lots of words, but as Dave and I agree, these are core issues for how we live.Hi Dave,I have been absorbing and thinking about your writing for these last few days. It feels good, like being http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/12/big-tent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-4847794504122449553Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:00:00 +00002006-12-11T09:03:31.682-08:00Post #19. Understanding Homosexuality meets Straight Into Gay America. A continuing conversation between author/pastor Dave Glesen and author/pastor Lars Clausen.Dear Lars,One of the joys of this conversation is to be in dialogue with someone who I sense is genuine, honest, and transparent. You let others see who you really are and we appreciate you for it! Thank you for your words in “About http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/12/have-both-rules-and-relationships.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-5140230508528890198Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:28:00 +00002006-12-06T06:45:12.761-08:00Post #18 Understanding Homosexuality meets Straight Into Gay America. A dialogue with author, pastor David Glesne and author, pastor Lars Clausen. Today Lars continues the discussion on theology, revelation, and faith with thoughts on living by Rules or Relationships.Dear Dave,About Church and Not Knowing Much:As we continue this discussion of what we can know that we know, I want to start by http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/12/rules-vs-relationships-lars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-7658447549438134644Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:45:00 +00002006-12-04T08:49:59.816-08:00Post #17, Understanding Homosexuality meets Straight Into Gay America, a continuing conversation between Pastor David Glesne and Pastor Lars ClausenDear Lars,Thanks for your post of November 27 which moves several central issues onto the table. I too see us turning a corner in our discussion and entering more into the arenas of philosophy and theology. (After writing what follows, I just http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/12/theology-worldview-bible-compassion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-9198088314022428548Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:51:00 +00002006-12-01T11:54:04.142-08:00Hi Dave,Thanks for your concluding section addressing science and data. I’ll try and summarize my concerns and then look forward to moving on to theology and Bible. My sense is that where you finally rest, anyway, is in theology and scriptural interpretation.DATA: I still wish you would take a hard look at the data you're using and the objections that have been raised to these sources by http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/12/closing-out-science-discussion-lars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-1671076041033164454Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:05:00 +00002006-11-29T09:09:49.730-08:00Blog Post #15. Dave Glesne (pastor and author of Understanding Homsoxuality) writing to Lars Clausen (pastor and author of Straight Into Gay America). Today Dave goes back and picks up the Science piece. Lars plans to respond and then we're both agreed we'll try to move onto the topics of God, Bible, and Theology.Dear Lars,I am hopeful that you had a happy Thanksgiving and have enjoyed a change http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/11/picking-up-pieces-science.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-2955761118388622117Mon, 27 Nov 2006 14:13:00 +00002006-11-27T06:26:30.473-08:00Blog Post #14. A continuing dialogue between Pastor Dave Glesne (author of Understanding Homosexuality) andPastor Lars Clausen (author of Straight Into Gay America.) Today it's Lars's turn.Hi Dave,Thanksgiving Blessings. I keep thinking of what a blessing it is to have this conversation. While some are emailing frustration for not receiving sufficient answers to the scientific data challenges http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/11/experience-and-revealed-word-of-god.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-158655127334582184Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:53:00 +00002006-11-20T09:01:10.465-08:00Post #13 Understanding Homosexuality meets Straight Into Gay America, a dialogue between Pastor Dave Glesne and Pastor Lars ClausenDear Lars,Because of schedule I have not been able to log in to this blog since my last post of November 9. When I logged on yesterday (November 17), I see that I have been missing a lot of reader activity! Feeling the pressure of sending in my next post, I actually http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/11/scripture-creation-and-heterosexual.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-8200597610775533041Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:32:00 +00002006-11-12T08:42:09.510-08:00Post #12. Understanding Homosexuality meets Straight Into Gay America, a dialogue between Pastor Dave Glesne and Pastor Lars ClausenDear Dave,Continuing thanks for continuing conversation, and for your last post trying to name our agreements and also to name “the root” of our disagreements. I think you did a good job of this, and I’ll try to reply as directly as I can.I agree it’s hard to manage http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/11/affirming-identity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-6267926687484926161Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:31:00 +00002006-11-09T15:37:09.731-08:00Post #10 Understanding Homosexuality meets Straight Into Gay America, a dialoge between Pastor David Glesne and Pastor Lars Clausen.Dave Glesne takes a look at some of the agreements and disagreements in our dialogue so far, including listening, distingushing between personhood and behavior, and loving the sinner but hating the sin.Dear Lars,I continue to value our dialogue. I do admit, however, http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/11/distinguishing-between-personhood-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13339835.post-2696198597765893182Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:22:00 +00002006-11-02T15:38:04.066-08:00Blog Post #9UNDERSTANDING HOMOSEXUALITY meets STRAIGHT INTO GAY AMERICA, a conversation between pastor/author David Glesne and pastor/author Lars Clausen.Dear Dave,Thank you again. The challenge of a dialogue such as this is how easily we can open a can of worms. I think of Benjamin Franklin who I believe said something like, “If I’d had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” I’d http://larsclausen.blogspot.com/2006/11/truth-seeking-together-clausen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lars Clausen)13