Conflict without
Conflict within.
Some forever say
It’s a horrible sin.
Don’t act out
Others declare:
Just love the sinner
If you dare.
Conflict within
Conflict without.
Being so different
I have my own doubt.
Questions will form.
I have no clue:
Just who I am
Or what to do.
Conflict with others
Conflict with self.
God, don’t be silent;
Don’t leave me on a shelf.
Please answer clearly
My heart’s deep cry for peace;
For then I shall have strength
And all the conflict will cease.

       --Dennis O. Shepherd
               23 June 2008

We are part of Your Church Universal, O Lord.
Yet, I feel we are condemned by
Modern-day Scribes and Pharisees.

Please convict both groups of True Believers
To rid the planks in our own eyes
And build a bridge of unity across Discord’s seas.

Help us, who are Christians who happen to be Gay,
To set an example of Your Agape’ Love
So the entire world, in us, Your Spirit will see.

Help us, with pure and holy hearts imparted,
To take upon ourselves the heart of servants
And wash all Believer’s feet, building a bridge of unity.

One way to accomplish this is for us to declare,
To encourage, and to implement into practice
Abstinence until Commitment in our sexual identity.

This would challenge each and every person
To rid the stereotypes we place each other in
And see each other’s hearts as You do, building a bridge of unity.

Help us, both Gay and Straight, who call You Savior,
To “seek first the Kingdom of God” - to “seek Your Face” -
So our eyes will be on You, not our prejudice of how things should be.

Help us all to desire every Gift of the Holy Spirit
To be vitally alive in each of us, drawing us to Your throne
To become true Brothers and Sisters in Christ, building a bridge of unity.

           -Dennis O. Shepherd
              10 June 2010

Help us to support each other --
To understand even those whom disagree.
Help us to examine the depths of our own hearts
To understand, “But by the Grace of God, there I might be.”

Often times we merely allow
Our own desires to dictate our belief.
This can bring dissention, for we cannot see
In the heart of another and the pathway to bring relief

Which will bridge the gap of discord
With unconditional love, acceptance, and unity.
Help us to examine our own motives and attitudes
So Christ’s desire for all God’s children will become reality.

Help us to understand we may not understand
The difference in our character within our own crowd --
Not to mention those who are different from our “norm” --
But see each heart with God’s eyes: with no judgmental shroud.

Help us to support each other --
To understand even those whom disagree.
We may not change one’s views, doctrine, or precepts,
But Gays and Straights can dwell together in God’s harmony.

           --Dennis O. Shepherd
                9 June 2010

Give to me a new song
Then I shall be made strong.
Bring understanding and I will find
Peace of heart and peace of mind.

Regardless of what others think and say
May all my strength come from You each day.
Bring understanding that I will be
True to You and totally set free.

Regardless of the stand others may take
May each see all I do is for Your Name's sake.
Bring understanding that I may find
Just one who will be of like-mind.

Regardless of what road I shall walk
May I never stumble or never balk --
Bring understanding and I will know
Acceptance and Love wherever I go.

           --Dennis O. Shepherd
              23 June 2008

He just got mixed up in the wrong crowd.
If I can get him to listen, he will change.
He really hasn't met the right girl --
His friendships are too narrow; if only he'd widen his range.

O, she's just a child; too young to know --
It's just another of those adolescence's phase.
That's got to be it, for every time
She brings it up, we end up in a fighting maze.

If I pray hard enough, he will change;
If I have enough faith, God has to hear.
I know she will come to her senses;
She can't handle all the rejection, name-calling, and jeers.

          --Dennis O. Shepherd
            20 November 1992

I felt as if I had lost my son to death,
But as time passed, I learned to open my eyes.
This girl looked like my daughter, but...
Much later, I allowed her to share with me new joys; new highs.

I thought I knew the important aspects of my son's life,
But as time passed, I learned to open my mind.
I thought we had the best mother-daughter relationship, but...
Much later, I allowed her to teach me yet another genuine, significant, loving kind.

I dropped to my knees that night thinking God forsook me,
But as time passed, I learned to open my heart.
I questioned, I cried, I fretted, I yelled, but...
Much later, I allowed God to show me my child as created, masterful, living art.

           --Dennis O. Shepherd
             20 November 1992

My God, how can I ever not believe in You?
So many people think of me as being untrue.
I’ve fought the issues more years than they --
One they didn’t: Don’t let my being gay lead any astray.

In all the striving as I knelt at Your throne;
During all the past Your love through me has been shown.
I questioned then and now, If I’m so far from Your Will
Why did You continue to use me and why continue still?

I’ve tried not to minister, but You have called me --
Trying to appease “leaders” when that is what I am to be.
One cannot count those who have left church and belief --
They cannot handle the condemnation, so choose that relief.

The guilt has ridden us beyond the hanging tree
To an outback alley where truth one cannot see.
I now know for whom I am to encourage, minister, and pray
So Your Gay children can come home to Your peace today.

          --Dennis O. Shepherd
             16 March 1992

Mother, Father, two brothers, and two sisters,
And myself make up the Shepherd family.
Being a Shepherd, I thought it not possible,
But the Black Sheep of the family is me.

Even in growing years of learning
How the family name I should honor,
I was one with all the traits
But my true essence was hid behind heart’s door.

I was a sheep in shepherd’s clothing;
So well disguised no one knew.
I did my duties and then some,
Successfully hiding my identity true.

I did not nurture who I really was.
To be a real Shepherd was my desire.
Yet no matter how I prayed or what I did,
In my heart a Black Sheep burned as a fire.

I’ve come to terms; am able to grip,
And still keep some ties with the Shepherd family.
Yet, I’m learning to better express and enjoy
And really love my Black Sheep identity.

          --Dennis O. Shepherd

Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but ridicule, slander, rejection, down-grading, prejudices, belittling, ignoring, poking fun, and excluding can break my will, self-image, spirit, desires, motivation, purpose, emotions, hope, strength, joy, goals, trust, and possibly even my faith.

          --Dennis O. Shepherd
             10 Dec 1991.

I pray that some day these things will end - not only for those of us who are Gay but for everyone who is different; until then, I pray that God will empower us who experience such things with the Power of the Holy Spirit to keep the Faith and be strengthened to be a Light of God's Grace to those who say and do such things.

I keep thinking that very soon things will change;
Both within myself and within church and society.
I keep thinking there is too vast a range
Which needs to narrow; to close a gap not meant to be.

I keep in mind it has been hundreds of lifetimes.
Yet, I believe even the oldest lie can be turned around:
The non-enchanted music can become the inspiring chimes;
The unwanted souls of a caring people can at last abound.

I keep hoping that my True Self will be set free --
It will happen When There Is a Way.
I think again, and I finally can see
I must take responsibility and change what I may.

               --Dennis O. Shepherd
                   16 March 1992