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IMPACT Magazine Independent LGBTQ+ writing on life and faith ... www.IMPACTmagazine.us This is not your father's Christian magazine! Short stories should be under 2500 words.

IMPACTmagazine.us is an online magazine covering faith, culture and real life from a gay and progessive faith perspective. IMPACTmagazine.us spotlights life in 6 primary areas:

• The CULTURE SAVVY section spotlights current trends, especially focusing on LGBT/C artists and issues: politics, news & hot topics, style, travel, tech & gadgets, sports, urban life, art & photography, reviews (film, mus

ic, books, theater).

• REAL LIFE covers topics that hit you where you live. Let's talk about: love & s*x, gay family life, health & fitness, money, Food!, Living Poz (HIV+), Crossings (Transgender community), Recovery (for people recovering from additions and abuse), After 40 (life for the rest of us).

• GOD-TALK is dedicated to spiritual and religious topics: the church, relationship with God, Bible topics, worship, Shepherd to Shepherd (pastors speaking to pastors), everyday life with God-awareness, and Soapbox (encouraging words).

• ENGAGE focuses on making a difference in the world. Living environmentally-friendly, socially conscious, tolerant, in an inter-faith and multi-cultural world: Green (sustainable living. creation-stewardship), humanitarian work, equality and social justice, HIV & AIDS in the 21st century, mission, street-level ministry, caring for others, and life beyond American pop-culture.

• SOUL FOOD. This is where you feed the right side of your brain. Poetry, short stories, music, artists gallery, photo shots, video clips.

• VOICES gives the soapbox back to the community. Speak up, give your opinion, comments, and interact with the world. Tell your life story (if it's interesting!), testify! Write about a life-changing experience, or puff the good work of what's going on in your community. We are looking for new writers as well as regular columnists who have unique and engaging perspectives. S U B M I S S I O N S:
• Features should be 750-1200 words in length. Reviews (Film, Music, Books, Theater) should be 500-750 words. (These are guidelines, not rules set in concrete. But bear in mind online readers' attention span!)
• Submissions should be included in the body of your email. Your suggested title should be in the subject line.
• You should include your name and a 1-3 sentence bio. You may also (optionally) attach a bio pic no larger than 250x250 pixels, and your bio may include your blog address or Twitter id.
• You should preface your article with a 1-3 sentence topic summary (so we can see at a glance what you're writing about).
• Tell us in which section of the magazine your submission would best fit (see Section list above).
• All articles may be edited for length, grammar, content, style and tone.
• By submitting content, you are granting IMPACT Magazine a worldwide, non-exclusive right to publish, distribute or otherwise make it available in original or edited form. You maintain the personal ownership and copyright of your original content.
• Submissions are on a donation basis. Your byline or photo credit plus bio and a link to your website serve as your compensation. We can't make you rich, but we'll help make you famous.
• Send all submissions to [email protected]

H I N T S:
To improve your chances of being included, make the job of the editors as easy as possible:
• avoid hostile or contentious positions. We are edgy, but not bitchy.
• we appeal to a broad audience, so keep your material at a PG-13 rating or below -- well, okay, maybe an R (for "Real life")
• proof-read your submission. You’d be amazed at what you accidentally pasted back in the middle of your paragraph.
• if your article benefits from section headers, suggest them yourself.
• include any keywords or tags that will help readers find your article
• We live in a visual world. If you have photos that could highlight your piece, include them. Make sure you own the rights to them. And then specifically grant us the unconditional right to use them.
• if you are writing about a topic that is time sensitive or in the news right now, include the word "URGENT" in your email subject line.
• IMPACTmagazine.us spotlights the life, work and accomplishments of the LGBT faith community. Articles and artwork that speak to this worldview will get bumped to the top of the list.
• We do our best to respond to all inquiries, but depending on the workload, that may not always be possible. If you have not heard back from us after 4-6 weeks, you may safely assume we will not be able to use your submission.
• And finally, it should go without saying that your work and your words must not only be accurate and true, but must also be your own.

Most of the time, God moves painfully slowly. I wish they'd told us this when we were kids in Sunday School -- it would ...
07/07/2024

Most of the time, God moves painfully slowly. I wish they'd told us this when we were kids in Sunday School -- it would have saved us from a lot of false expectations. ...

The Slow Hand of GodStephen Schmidt·July 7, 20244 mins read The Slow Hand of God Most of the time, God moves painfully slowly. I wish they’d told us this when we were kids in Sunday School — it would have saved us from a lot of false expectations. “Hey, there is a God who cares ...

Reality is a rich composite of physicality and spirituality. And we need both to keep us happily living with both feet f...
30/06/2024

Reality is a rich composite of physicality and spirituality. And we need both to keep us happily living with both feet firmly planted in the real world with our hands reaching out to the intangible one.

When you’ve reached the end of religionStephen Schmidt·June 30, 20244 mins read When you’ve reached the end of religion Seems like I get myself caught up in a perpetual stream of “religion vs. spirituality” debates. “Religion is rules, spirituality is experience.” “Relig...

   The scene from the garden, when Adam and Eve heard the sound of God moving, seems to me like an accurate description ...
09/06/2024

The scene from the garden, when Adam and Eve heard the sound of God moving, seems to me like an accurate description of how divine activity normally shows up in our lives. ...

What is the sound of God moving in your life?Stephen Schmidt·June 9, 20244 mins read What is the sound of God moving in your life? Gen 3:8 “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the ...

There's still a glimmer of hope in this darkness. “The lamp of God has not yet gone out.” It is still flickering. And th...
02/06/2024

There's still a glimmer of hope in this darkness. “The lamp of God has not yet gone out.” It is still flickering. And the Voice still speaks to those who listen.

Linger and ListenStephen Schmidt·June 2, 20243 mins read “Those who linger are the ones who hear” This Sunday’s lectionary readings include one of my favorite stories from childhood: God calling the boy Samuel in the night. It’s a potent story, laden with details and possibili...

My Christianity has changed dramatically over the years. And far from being frightening, disorienting or confusing, it h...
12/05/2024

My Christianity has changed dramatically over the years. And far from being frightening, disorienting or confusing, it has been comforting, grounding, and expanding... thoughts on Sunday's lectionary reading ...

Revealing the NameStephen Schmidt·May 12, 20243 mins read My Christianity has changed dramatically over the years. And far from being frightening, disorienting or confusing, it has been comforting, grounding, and expanding. In the evangelical world, we were (are?) taught to hold to un...

A militant, war-loving Christianity is a contradiction in terms. It is taking the Lord's name in vain, and twisting ever...
21/04/2024

A militant, war-loving Christianity is a contradiction in terms. It is taking the Lord's name in vain, and twisting everything Jesus said and stood for.

By what Authority, and in whose Name?Stephen Schmidt·April 21, 20243 mins read “By what authority, and in whose name, do you do these things?” Getting into arguments on social media is its own punishment. But sometimes you just gotta. That’s how I felt this past week. And as the...

  is a spiritual activity as much as it is an intellectual one.  It is instigated — and nurtured — by the Divine Breath....
14/04/2024

is a spiritual activity as much as it is an intellectual one. It is instigated — and nurtured — by the Divine Breath. May all your understandings and beliefs be exploded and disrupted by Spirit ...

“Then he opened their minds to understand …”Stephen Schmidt·April 14, 20243 mins read “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures” I’m stuck on this sentence in today’s lectionary readings. It’s referring to the scene when the resurrected Jesus first appea...

Maybe if we focused more on extending grace and peace to each other, we might tap into divine harmony, that goodness and...
07/04/2024

Maybe if we focused more on extending grace and peace to each other, we might tap into divine harmony, that goodness and pleasantness of being able to live together in the fullness of what it means to be divinely human. And there’d be less “blood and brutality” that seems to surround us. ... A reflection on today's lectionary readings.

Blood and Brutality, or Grace and Peace?Stephen Schmidt·April 7, 20244 mins read Blood and Brutality or Grace and Peace? I remember when I was a kid in Sunday School, and I asked the teacher about the sacrifices in the Old Testament. I guess the lesson that day had something in it abo...

Life is unpredictable. It seldom goes as planned. But the promise of Easter is that the messy end of a chapter is not ne...
31/03/2024

Life is unpredictable. It seldom goes as planned. But the promise of Easter is that the messy end of a chapter is not necessarily the end of the story. There is always a new chapter. And it’s usually a surprise, something we hadn’t expected.

Messy Endings Just Mean New BeginningsStephen Schmidt·March 31, 20242 mins read Messy endings just mean a new chapter is beginning Easter has never been one of my favorite holidays. As a kid, I looked forward to the chocolate bunnies and the candy, the colorful Easter baskets with fak...

Things don't always work out the way we expect. The trick is to not get lost in feelings of disappointment. Hold on. Sta...
24/03/2024

Things don't always work out the way we expect. The trick is to not get lost in feelings of disappointment. Hold on. Stay open. The ending -- or the next chapter -- may simply be different than you expected ...

Disappointment is Part of the StoryStephen Schmidt·March 24, 20243 mins read Disappointment is part of the story This is Palm Sunday, and pulpits and sacred desks around the world will be talking about Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, hailed by crowds with palm branches and c...

Sometimes we just need a sign. And sometimes, we need the eyes to see or ears to hear it.  Today's   thought ...
17/03/2024

Sometimes we just need a sign. And sometimes, we need the eyes to see or ears to hear it. Today's thought ...

Connecting with the DeeperStephen Schmidt·March 17, 20242 mins read Connecting with the Deeper — for your sake We all need a sign once in a while. Something, some signal, that our voice is being heard, that we are seen by the Great Other — God, the Universe, the Ground...

Have you ever been left out of a gathering that would have been important for you? It can be painful, and it will leave ...
14/03/2024

Have you ever been left out of a gathering that would have been important for you? It can be painful, and it will leave you scratching your head and wondering what you did wrong. Perhaps this is what John the Baptist felt ...
A new post from Randy Elstrott...

Why Not John the Baptist?Randy Elstrott·March 14, 20242 mins read Why Not John The Baptist? Have you ever been left out of a gathering or any situation that would have been extremely significant for you? It can be painful, and it will leave you scratching your head and wondering what you did wrong....

Our priorities change as we move thru life. But the "big questions" remain. And one of them -- Why am I here? -- has a r...
10/03/2024

Our priorities change as we move thru life. But the "big questions" remain. And one of them -- Why am I here? -- has a really simple answer. Stephen Schmidt offers this devotional ...

Looking for Your Life’s Purpose? Do Good.Stephen Schmidt·March 10, 20243 mins read Created to do Good Getting older is an interesting experience. I get to see in real time how my priorities in life are changing. What once was so important, the focus of my energies, now s...

It's Lent. And queerphobia does not rest. After the death of nonbinary high school student, Nex Benedict, an Oklahoma St...
06/03/2024

It's Lent. And queerphobia does not rest. After the death of nonbinary high school student, Nex Benedict, an Oklahoma State Senator calls LGBTQ+ people "filth." Richard Bowles offers this Lenten reflection ...

I am “that filth”: A Q***r Lenten ReflectionRichard Bowles·February 24, 20241 min read Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old nonbinary student, died the day after being beaten by classmates in a high school bathroom in Oklahoma. And an OK State Senator referred to them (and all LGBTQ+ people) as “filth...

Spirituality or Religion? As humans, I think we need both ...
03/03/2024

Spirituality or Religion? As humans, I think we need both ...

Religion vs. Spirituality? Either/Or or Both/And?Stephen Schmidt·March 3, 20243 mins read Religion vs Spirituality If you’re at all connected to spirituality-focused people on social media, you’ve run across the memes. “Religion is believing in someone else’s experience. Spiri...

Hey. Just a quick reminder. You're more than you think. And you are loved.  Some thoughts from this Sunday's lectionary ...
18/02/2024

Hey. Just a quick reminder. You're more than you think. And you are loved. Some thoughts from this Sunday's lectionary reading on Jesus's baptism.

An Open AffirmationStephen Schmidt·February 18, 20242 mins read An open affirmation: you’re more than you seem, and you are loved. The baptism of Jesus. This week’s lectionary readings include the gospel passage where Jesus gets baptized. It’s an interesting scene fo...

Life is a banquet. Don't rush to the entrée.
14/02/2024

Life is a banquet. Don't rush to the entrée.

Don’t Rush to the EntréeStephen Schmidt·February 14, 20243 mins read Genesis Creation Story #2 Life is a banquet. Don’t rush to the entrée. Over and over, I keep coming back to the same themes in my devotional life. You know, when you’re reading or praying ...

if you’re hungry for more, don’t settle for seeing only one end of the spectrum of our luminous reality. Pursue until yo...
11/02/2024

if you’re hungry for more, don’t settle for seeing only one end of the spectrum of our luminous reality. Pursue until you experience more. Because there IS more to see ...

The Luminous Side of LifeStephen Schmidt·February 11, 20243 mins read The Luminous side of life. Elijah’s chariot of fire & Jesus’s transfiguration. I love these two stories. No matter how we choose to interpret them, they offer us a glimpse into the enchanted nature o...

Life isn't always easy. But you are a guest at the banquet. Let that be your daily affirmation.
07/02/2024

Life isn't always easy. But you are a guest at the banquet. Let that be your daily affirmation.

Guests at the BanquetStephen Schmidt·February 7, 20244 mins read Creation story #1 – continued (part 3) Guests at the Banquet This morning as I was having my coffee and letting my mind drift off into metaphysical questions (yeah, I’m like that), I stepped out i...

If creation is one of the languages of God, sometimes we need that alone-time outdoors to hear it.
04/02/2024

If creation is one of the languages of God, sometimes we need that alone-time outdoors to hear it.

Outdoors Quiet TimeStephen Schmidt·February 4, 20243 mins read Outdoors Quiet Time I grew up as one of those socially awkward kids. I had a best friend (like we all need) and a handful of other friends I palled around with. But mostly I wasn’t that outgoing and didn’t ...

Life is good. The earth is good. That's how the Creator intended it. So, why not enjoy it?
31/01/2024

Life is good. The earth is good. That's how the Creator intended it. So, why not enjoy it?

It’s All GOODStephen Schmidt·January 31, 20243 mins read Creation Story #1 – Genesis 1 – continued. It’s ALL good. Religion goes off the rails so often. Not that religion is a bad thing. As I find myself saying too often, usually to those who got burned by ...

Sometimes you really need to just listen to your friends ...
28/01/2024

Sometimes you really need to just listen to your friends ...

The Fire Still SpeaksStephen Schmidt·January 28, 20243 mins read Fire is a powerful symbol. Recently, some spiritual friends got me in the habit of lighting a candle as a symbol and reminder of the sacred space that surrounds me in God’s presence. The idea was a bit stra...

Cuz we all love gleaning little tid-bits from ancient stories ...
24/01/2024

Cuz we all love gleaning little tid-bits from ancient stories ...

The Hovering Presence in the ChaosStephen Schmidt·January 24, 20241 min read Creation Story #1 Gen 1:1 – 2:3 Genesis is my favorite book in the Bible. Basically because it’s full of stories, stories that are full of meaning, stories that show human struggle and frailty, stories that show — de...

If you’re feeling a weird, undefined, ambiguous calling toward doing something, and suspect there are divine fingerprint...
21/01/2024

If you’re feeling a weird, undefined, ambiguous calling toward doing something, and suspect there are divine fingerprints on it, sit up and listen. Even for the second time. Cuz fresh adventure awaits. And sometimes it’s just needing you to take that first step.

Jonah and the Ambiguous Callings of GodStephen Schmidt·January 21, 20243 mins read One of the things I love about our ancient texts is their ability to continue to speak to us if we’re in the right frame of mind to listen. Jonah is one of those weird books in the bible. If you grew up in Sunday S...

Reflecting back. It was 10 years ago that we ran this piece. At the time, it got a ton of feedback from people who were ...
03/01/2024

Reflecting back. It was 10 years ago that we ran this piece. At the time, it got a ton of feedback from people who were going thru the same stuff. Many of us have come still further in our spiritual evolution, perhaps no longer identifying as "evangelical," though perhaps still holding on to some Christian roots.
Here's to a new year, and the excitement of what this next year -- and decade -- is going to bring. Actually, kinda excited about it.

Being a Gay EvangelicalStephen Schmidt·December 31, 201315 mins read I grew up in the church. I even remember my first day being dropped off in the church nursery, and I kicked and screamed, terrified as my mother left me to attend the service. I think I was three. My parents were God-fearing peopl...

So many in our community are celebrating the holidays single. And that's okay. Life -- and holidays -- are beautiful whe...
18/12/2023

So many in our community are celebrating the holidays single. And that's okay. Life -- and holidays -- are beautiful whether you're in a relationship or not. Enjoy your Christmas!

Home Alone: A gay man’s guide to surviving the holidays aloneStephen Schmidt·December 24, 20187 mins read Most of us love the holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas can be “the most wonderful time of the year.” But for many of us, they can be terribly lonely and depressing times. Especially for...

Not all Christmases are jolly for everyone. But that doesn't mean you can't make the best of them.  Here're some comment...
09/12/2023

Not all Christmases are jolly for everyone. But that doesn't mean you can't make the best of them. Here're some comments from Rob Watson ...

Creating the Best ChristmasRob Watson·December 22, 20124 mins read Last weekend, I set off to do my Christmas shopping. As a single gay Dad, time to do such an activity is scarce. I also have to admit, my heart is a bit distracted over the shopping endeavor this year. The night I went out, it was p...

It is often only in the difficult times that we actually learn the incredible value of small things. In truth, it’s ther...
26/11/2023

It is often only in the difficult times that we actually learn the incredible value of small things. In truth, it’s there we realize that there are no small things, just big things in disguise. -- A morning meditation by Jeff Turner

The Love of God in a Bad Cup of CoffeeJeff Turner·November 26, 20234 mins read S everal years ago now, my car was broken down on the side of the road, and I sat alone inside for several hours, freezing my butt off while AAA took their sweet time in finding a company to tow me out of the mess that I...

And while we're on the topic of being kind to yourself, when was the last time you told yourself "I love you"?
25/11/2023

And while we're on the topic of being kind to yourself, when was the last time you told yourself "I love you"?

When was the last time you told yourself “I love you”?Stephen Schmidt·August 18, 20158 mins read When was the last time you told yourself “I love you”? Weird idea? Maybe it sounds like it at first, but we as a community are desperately in need of hearing those words — especially from ours...

Brett Anthony says it exactly right: "In a world that often celebrates toughness, embracing the beauty of softness becom...
24/11/2023

Brett Anthony says it exactly right: "In a world that often celebrates toughness, embracing the beauty of softness becomes a revolutionary act. Living soft isn’t about being weak; it’s about being kind to yourself and others, choosing gentle grace in every step."

Living SoftBrett Anthony·November 24, 20232 mins read I n a world that often celebrates toughness, embracing the beauty of softness becomes a revolutionary act. Living soft isn’t about being weak; it’s about being kind to yourself and others, choosing gentle grace in every step. 🌺🌟 Imagin...

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