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We salute Metropoli tan Community Church of Cocoa, Florida this month. Our Sermon is contributed by Rev. Alex Kurjack, Pastor. ■\*Push-Button God” By Rev. Alex Kurjack Have you ever been in a jam or bad straits? Have you ever felt alone or helpless? Did you say a prayer and ask God to help you? And He answered your prayer, didn’t He? He pulled you through. Good old God to the rescue. Right on! Thanks God! See you around next time I’m in a bind. He’s like the vacuum cleaner or the garbage disposal -- a useful appli ance for getting rid of life’s dirt. When He’s done His job we turn Him off just as fast as we turned Him on. That’s our “modern” concept of God: A benevolent some thing, somewhere that awaits our beck and call and then disappears when no longer required. And we - like it that way because we are a society used to con veniences. It’s a push button world, complete with a push-button God. How much easier and more pleasant life is that way. Church? That’s not in anymore, is it? And yet, when we re flect upon the agony and humiliation our Christ suffered on that terrible cross, how can we help but feel shame for the cal lous way we treat Him today? Isn’t it time we started giving our God just a tiny bit of consideration? Is it so much to remember Him a little more often? He asks very little of-us, and even if we had it to give, the whole world would not be sufficient repayment for God’s love. I AM GAY AND WHY by JOSE GAYE “For many years I thought I was the only one in the world! “This re action as expressed by CN is a typical experience of most young gays, a feeling of isolation, a feeling that he alone has this problem. CN has been gay since first experimenting with other boys at five or six years of age. But until he was about 16 he was alone and scared, afraid that he was diff erent. At that time he met a young serviceman and the bond with the gay world was formed for CN. It was the beginning* of a beautiful relationship which was broken only when the serviceman was transferred. “We still correspond and someday we’ll meet again,” said CN. CN then entered the service, partially inspi red by his experience but more so from his desire to leave home. “My father was a bastard” said CN candidly, “ a real S.O.B. who was al ways right, always the rigid disciplinarian who dispensed the punishment as ordered by my mother. Even today we cannot sit down and talk for more than two minutes without butting heads.” CN found no warmth in his mother either who was in his words, “a dominant woman who ran the household like a staff sargeant.” Leaving home at 17, CN was left with a lot of hang-ups, as he faced the conflicts of life in the service, he became pro gressively aggressive as he shucked off the reti cence of adolescnece. When he entered civil ian life, he was able to adjust both to the straight world where he worked and the gay world where he found his niche. Today he no longer leans on anonymity but is making his way fearlessly as an admitted Gay. His motto is “Out of the closet and into the streets.” As an open Gay, I take some knocks and slams, admit ted CN, but I know what I’m doing is right and emotionally and mentally I’m a well adjusted, self sufficient individual. What is your story? Would you like to share it with fellow gays. Each of us needs the inspiration of what others have done. Send in your story for this column in c/o Atlanta Barb. The Barb 5 TO THE EDITOR We Welcome your letters to the Editor. The Barb is your newspaper, now serving as “AVoice For The Gay Community.” Use it to tell your story. Send all letters to: Letters to the Editor c/o The Barb - P.O. Box 82543 Atlanta, Ga 30354. Dear Editor: I have been reading the Barb for about six months and enjoy it. It seems to improve with age, as the saying goes with good win. Why did you discontin ue the Body Building column by Ray Martin? His column was very in tersting since I am into weight lifting and body building. The answers he gave was so honest and to the point. L. G. Bassr Athens, Ga. Dear L. G. Thank you for your letter regarding the Body Building column. The reason we discontinued this column was because Ray Martin was offered a iqovie contract in Holly wood. He left last month for California. Our loss is certainly their gain. Editor. Dear Editor: Last month while in Chicago, I picked up one of your newspapers in one of the bars there, and being originally from At lanta, I was particul arly interested in your front page article “Inman Orders Investigation On Harassment Of Gays.” Is this really true? If so Atlanta has come a long way since I lived there. I would also like to compliment the column “Gaying To The Movies.” S.W. certainly gives good reviews. Mark Steele, Mo. Dear Mark: Yes, it is true that Chief Inman ordered in vestigation on harras- sment of the Gays, "how ever we get reports that entrapment is still being used by the Police. We believe that steps are being taken to cor rect this, and that our rapport is improving. We are glad that you enjoy reading the Barb, especially Gaying to the Movies. S.W. is one of the best. Editor. Dear Luv Lee Ad vice To The Love lorn” Remember To vote For The Candidate Of Your Choice August 13th! Dear Luv Lee, My problem is a ser ious one. I have been with Tom for nearly 3 years now. I know him like a book. Lately he has been sneaking off until all hours of the morning, and the phone will ring and if I answer it, the other party will hang up or just stay on the line without saying a word. Tom has never done this to me before. What shall I do? Sometimes I want to kill him. Cheated On. Be A Barb Re pre se native Earn cash in your spare time and have fun doing it. Be a Barb represenative in your area. We are looking for a few “good” men to re present us in your city. If you are interested contact the Barb by writing to: P. O. Box 82543, Atlanta, Ga. 30354. READY TO HELP. T Training to serve the country. And ready to use that training to help our neighbors. THE ARMY RESERVE. OUR JOB BEGINS AT HOME. Dear Cheated On, My advice to you would be to confront Tom with the situation. He evid ently is “Tom Cattin” around. Settle things once and for all. Keeping iquiet and fuming inside lean be dangerous, and it doesn’t help. Killing him is a little far fetched, and even though he may deserve it, a Jury wouldn’t see things that way. Dear Luv Lee, Are you Gay? Could I possibly meet you sometime? I’d love to love you. An Admirer. Dear Admirer, I am flattered. In an swer to your questions, #1; I have been. #2 You probably have and #3 my hubby takes care of that. But take heart, I hear that Liddia is unattached at present. Luv Lee. ■boo- U« caves fovusjustas! pov-atl tKa ckUdv-eK oP Uis| cvaatioN. VAatowAs usto be. § tappy, jtp love [Aiim.3ncJ to | ShavaHis \oV& wrth othevj. | THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF I METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH Sundays at 2:00 and 6:30 872-2246 f 800 NORTH HIGHLAND AVE. j HILAN THEATRE m-