Lyrics:
Somewhere there’s a home for me
It's not a place I’m looking for exactly
Somehow there’s a way to be
Where my roots can take hold completely

Somewhere there’s a state of being
That I’ve yet to cultivate for myself
Somehow there’s a way of seeing
That draws the deepness out of every moment

Hold on little one
Don’t you slip away
We’ve come this far
Stay close inner one
I need you here
help me be here

I know there’s a home for me
It's here and now, it’s here and now
But I keep searching, its hard to see
I seem to get in my own way

I don’t know who I should be
I’d be myself but I’m not sure who that is
Or maybe that’s an excuse for me
That I like to hide behind

What am I afraid of?
_________________________________
Written and recorded by Lance Baker

Somewhere There's A Home For Me (2022)

Have you ever been made the “prayer request” of a community because your story didn’t match the triumphal testimony narrative? Justin grew up in the Southern Baptist Church as a conservative labeled by his high school peers as “God boy.” He was handing out tracts, evangelizing, and really good at obeying purity culture rules when it came to women. Then he realized that he was gay. He went on a long journey of wrestling with faith and identity, and we talk about his story today.

For over 25 years, Justin Lee has been a leading voice in navigating contentious issues with depth and empathy. As the author of "Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree With—and Maybe Even Change the World," his work has been adopted as a college textbook, guiding students through areas of disagreement. Beginning his journey in the 90s as a spokesperson for Bridges Across the Divide, Justin later founded a nonprofit dedicated to fostering dialogue within Christian communities on LGBTQ issues, gaining international recognition for his efforts. His bestselling book, "Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate," has solidified his reputation as a bridge-builder between progressives and conservatives. Justin's influence extends beyond his writing, as a co-host of three podcasts and a sought-after speaker featured in global media outlets. Now, he focuses on empowering individuals to apply strategic dialogue principles to diverse causes, maintaining a vibrant online presence through his YouTube channel and website at GeekyJustin.com.

You can preorder Justin’s book here: https://geekyjustin.com/books/torn-v2/ 
You can connect to Justin’s YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/geekyjustin 

Time Stamps for the episode:
02:48	Boardgame Geekdom
08:04	Board games are like cosplay
11:54	Growing up Baptist
17:13	Coming out into a culture war
23:49	Slow realization, “I am gay.”
30:10	Making peace with new identity
35:03	Accepting that I can’t become straight
41:34	the danger of failed testimony to group narrative
48:43	Wrestling with the clobber passages	
55:26	Asking the gay community to help with our theology
1:00:43	weaponizing truth claims
1:05:46	teaching the beginners
1:09:17	dialogue with those ideologically opposed to you

All Music for this episode is provided by Axeltree

S3 E14: Justin Lee: Coming out as Gay in the Southern Baptist Church

042718 Chapel Peter Wolff

The late Irish poet and philosopher, John O'Donohue, is beloved for his book Anam Ċara, Gaelic for "soul friend," and for his insistence on beauty as a human calling and a defining aspect of God. In one of his last interviews before his death in 2008, he articulated a Celtic imagination about how the material and the spiritual, the visible and the invisible worlds intertwine in human experience.

See more at www.onbeing.org/program/inner-landscape-beauty/203

John O'Donohue — The Inner Landscape of Beauty (Jan 26, 2012)

Welcome to the Liminal Living Podcast, where we dive deep into the realm of liminal spaces—those transitional phases where uncertainty is our companion. I'm your host and curator of conversations, Dr. Tom Rundel, and it's my pleasure to serve as your guide through these uncharted territories. With a doctoral background in spirituality and leadership from Portland Seminary, my research has centered on the spirituality found in the narratives of liminality in the Bible, but I have expanded my research to include other faith traditions and cognitive science. Since our launch in 2023, we've been dedicated to exploring the nuances of dark nights and deconstructions, but our journey expanded to include insights from a diverse array of modern-day thinkers and artists. Through a blend of stories, practices, and perspectives, we provide valuable guidance for fellow travelers navigating their own liminal spaces. So, join us as we embark on this journey and embrace the uncertainty in order to uncover the hidden wisdom that lies within the liminal spaces of life.

S3 E14: Justin Lee: Coming out as Gay in the Southern Baptist Church

Liminal Living

Related tracks