[Critique Group 1] Missing Cleora's submission

[Marcia Wick]

Cleora,
Same issue, but now I know what the code stands for! No idea how something
like that happens...
Marcia

-----Original Message-----
From: Group1 [mailto:group1-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] On Behalf Of
sitting.duck at springmail.com
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2022 8:38 PM
To: Marcia Wick <marciajwick at gmail.com>
Cc: Critique Group 1 <group1 at bluegrasspals.com>
Subject: Re: [Critique Group 1] Missing Cleora's submission

I noticed that the copy I sent to the list had the quotes replaced with
ASCII code and the carriage returns had been removed.
I'm resending it hopeing it will come out formatted this time.
Sorry about this everyone, I wish I knew why it does this.

For Better or Worse
by C. S. Boyd

“What's that Dear?” asked Martha.

Jeff looked up at her. “It's from that gay couples lawyer,”he
explained. “They want to meet and see if we can settle this matter out
ofcourt.”

“Oh,” said Martha simply. “That. What are you going to
do?”

“Meet with them,”

***

Jeff stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall tothe attorney's
office. He saw that the gay couple and their lawyer were alreadysitting
around the table in the office.

“Good morning, Mr. Steward,” said the prim secretary
coolly.“You can go right in.”

“Thank you,” said Jeff. After hanging his hat and coat onthe
wrack by the door, he proceeded into the lawyer's office, closed the
doorbehind him, and sat down in one of the empty chairs across from the
malecouple.

“Your lawyer didn't come with you?" said theirattorney, nodding at the
remaining chair.

“No,” said Jeff. “I hadn't really thought about one. I'd
liketo explain my position, if that's ok, and we can go from there.”

“Well, I'm not interested in hearing a lot of preaching.You're wrong
to refuse to bake the cake for us, and if you don't, we'll makesure you go
into bankruptcy. There's no place in this country for bigots,”asserted
Paul, the dominant gay.

“Hold on,” said the lawyer. “Let's hear what Mr. Steward
hasto say.”

Paul folded his arms over his chest and glared at theLawyer, and then at
Jeff. “Okay,” he said grudgingly, "but I'm notchanging my
mind.”

Jamie, Paul's gay partner, reached over and grasp Paul'sshoulder giving it
an affectionate squeeze. “It's ok, Paul,” he said. “it
won'thurt anything to listen. After all, that's part of understanding and
acceptingeach other.” “

Paul," said Jeff, “If you met another young man and heexpressed
interest in you, would you start a relationship with him?”

“No!” shouted Paul., turning his head to look at Jamie.
“Ofcourse not. I'm committed to Jamie now.”

Jeff smiled, “Jamie, if someone came up to you and told youhe was
going to rob a bank, and asked you to drive the getaway car, would youdo
it?”

Jamie's mouth dropped open. He glanced at the lawyer, andthen back to Jeff.
“No, of course not, that would be against the law.”

“But, you wouldn't be robbing the bank. The other guy wouldbe doing
that. Maybe he would give you part of the take for driving the car.”

“That's ridiculous,” insisted Jamie. “It's still
illegal.Isn't that called accessory after the fact or something?”

“So, you would feel that if you participated in the crime bydriving
the getaway car, you would be just as guilty as if you had gone in andhelped
with the robbery?”

“Of course,” said Jamie, “but, what does that have to
dowith you refusing to bake our wedding cake?”

“Under the Old Testament law, the Israelites were commandedto stone
homosexuals caught in the act. In the New Testament, homosexuals arelisted
with fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals,thieves,
the covetous, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers as among those thatwill not
inherit the kingdom of God. 1st Corinthians also mentions that some ofthe
Christians Paul is writing to had been some of these things in the past,but
they repented and stopped doing them. If they were thieves, they repentedand
stopped stealing. If they were adulterers, they repented and stopped
thepractice of adultery, or any of the things listed that they had formerly
beenguilty of engaging in. Those that were homosexuals, stopped
practicinghomosexuality. Okay, you asked, what does that have to do with me
refusing tomake you a wedding cake? Just as you, Paul, would refuse to
become involvedwith another man because that would violate your commitment
to Jamie, and justlike you, Jam!
 ie, would refuse to drive the getaway car, because that would makeyou a
partner in the crime, I must refuse to make a wedding cake for youbecause I
made a commitment to my Lord some 50 plus years ago that I would befaithful,
and uphold His statutes, and try my best to help others learn aboutGod's
plan of salvation. For me to bake your cake, would be saying that Iaccept
and agree with your lifestyle. I cannot in good conscience do that.Earlier,
you threatened to force me out of business, if I don't give in. Maybeyou
will. I don't know. Persecution of those that stand up for God's law is
notnew. We have been fortunate in this country up until the last few years
to befree to practice our faith without oppression. In fact, most of our
laws arebased on Bible principles. Over the last several years, however,
I've watchedas our freedom from having to do things against our religious
beliefs beingtaken away by those who don't want to recognize that there is a
God. I can tellyou, tha!
 t if this goes to court, regardless of what the ruling is, I will notmake
you a cake even if it means going to prison. I will consider myselffortunate
to be counted worthy to suffer for the Lord. I know, as I'm sure youdo, that
mine is not the only bakery in town. I'm sure you will be able to
findsomeone who will make your cake. You can probably even buy one
ready-made andput the two male figures on it to represent your commitment.
Every person hassome temptation they struggle with. One person may be
tempted to shop lift.Another may be an alcoholic, still another may struggle
with the temptation tobe unfaithful to his or her spouse. First Corinthians
tells us we can win thatstruggle and receive grace and forgiveness through
the blood of Jesus. It is myprayer, that you will take the passages in 1st
Corinthians and 1st Timothyserious and turn away from this practice and
become Christians. God loves youand I and my friend would be happy to study
with you and help you find your wayto God. The decision is yours, of
course.”

“You're so full of it. What is you're so called struggle?Making
cakes?”

Jeff looked Paul straight in the eye without blinking. “Iwas gay. Many
years ago I met a man that sat down with me and explained, andnow I have a
wife and two wonderful kids. He would be happy to talk with eitheror both of
you.” Paul snorted, “This is stupid! I'm going to see that you
rotin jail and your family is reduced to poverty. Jamie and I are going to
bemarried and there is nothing you can do about it. Isn't that right,
Jamie?”

Jamie was looking at his hands. Finally, he looked straightat Jeff.
“Is it true? Your friend would talk to me?”

Jeff smiled back. “Absolutely," he said. Jeff reachedin his pocket and
took out two cards, and placed one in front of Paul and theother in front of
Jamie. “Here is his name and number. Please, call him, I knowhe would
be happy to talk with either or both of you, And if you want, I wouldbe
happy to go with you.”

Paul picked up the card and tore it into pieces, but Jamiepicked up his and
said, “Thank you, I will. I've been concerned about my way oflife for
a long time. Paul, I love you but I don't want either of us to be
losteternally. I wish you would go with me to talk to Jeff's friend. It's
just thatall people have ever said before is that this life style is wrong.
No one elsehas ever mentioned that there may be another way.”

Paul appeared stunned. His mouth fell open, then closed.Looking first at
Jamie, and then back at Jeff, he said softly. “I'm sorry, Irealize now
I've been expecting everyone else to be tolerant of how I feel, butI've been
unwilling to be understanding and tolerant of the views of others.”His
gaze moved to Jamie. "Yes, Jamie, I'll go with you. I don't promise tochange
my mind, but I'll listen to what he has to say.”
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-----Original Message-----
From: <sanford.rosenthal at comcast.net>
Sent: Nov 27, 2022 8:30 PM
To: C. S. Boyd <sitting.duck at springmail.com>
Cc: Critique Group 1 <group1 at bluegrasspals.com>
Subject: [Critique Group 1] Missing Cleora's submission

Could someone please send me Cleora's submission?

Thanks,

Sally


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