http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:29:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-19 Jeff zahn Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:29:16 +0000 #comment-19 Hi guys (and gals) LOL I am doing better had a horrific cold this week, had to cancel 2 dr. appointments due to the long drive..it was not feasable to be able to do. John recieved an email from a man by the name of Keith who is also HIV positive down Angels way, he found the site and was thankful for it. See good things CAN come to every people!! I hope he tells his story here, to give others strength. I personaly don't feel comfortable telling others story so I pray he leaves a comment on the page. Jeff Hi guys (and gals)
LOL
I am doing better had a horrific cold this week, had to cancel 2 dr. appointments due to the long drive..it was not feasable to be able to do.
John recieved an email from a man by the name of Keith who is also HIV positive down Angels way, he found the site and was thankful for it.
See good things CAN come to every people!!
I hope he tells his story here, to give others strength. I personaly don’t feel comfortable telling others story so I pray he leaves a comment on the page.
Jeff

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-18 Angel-creator of this blog Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:30:28 +0000 #comment-18 jeff, i am glad you have rejoined us. i hope you are having a better week this week. i can only imagine what it is like to deal with 2 major things in your life to deal with. just know that you have the support of john and i and tha our prayers are with you. i have been diagnosed with hepatitis b and hiv. i also have a history of being in and out of mental institutions for bipolar disorder. however, i do know that God can renew a right mind and i am on only 2 medications now for that...adderall and risperdal. the risperdal slows my thinking down so that my mind is not dealing with racing thoughts to where i cannot sleep and adderall helps me focus a little better. i cannot relate to ms but i can relate to having multiple problems other that hiv. i hope that God will heal you totally of everything and that your church family can encourage you when you are down. i will say his..that not everyone will be able to relate to you but Godfully understands every part of your being...mind, body, and spirit. and God is still a healer. nothing is impossible for Him or too hard for Him!! Keep your head up and keep us updated here a he blog so ha we can continue to pray for you and so that we will not worry. God bless you in your journey!!! angel jeff,
i am glad you have rejoined us. i hope you are having a better week this week. i can only imagine what it is like to deal with 2 major things in your life to deal with. just know that you have the support of john and i and tha our prayers are with you. i have been diagnosed with hepatitis b and hiv. i also have a history of being in and out of mental institutions for bipolar disorder. however, i do know that God can renew a right mind and i am on only 2 medications now for that…adderall and risperdal. the risperdal slows my thinking down so that my mind is not dealing with racing thoughts to where i cannot sleep and adderall helps me focus a little better.
i cannot relate to ms but i can relate to having multiple problems other that hiv. i hope that God will heal you totally of everything and that your church family can encourage you when you are down. i will say his..that not everyone will be able to relate to you but Godfully understands every part of your being…mind, body, and spirit. and God is still a healer. nothing is impossible for Him or too hard for Him!! Keep your head up and keep us updated here a he blog so ha we can continue to pray for you and so that we will not worry. God bless you in your journey!!!
angel

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-17 Brother John M Brown Jr Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:01:46 +0000 #comment-17 I went and read City Woof's blog. While obviously I dont agree with his perception of Pentecostals, back in the day it was common for some one who was gay with negativity. I dealt with it myself when I went out into the gay lifestyle. We don't need to argue over this because arguing or debating isn't going to do either side any good. Love is what will make the difference. I'm sorry he went through the bad experince and I hope we as Pentecostal have become more loving when it comes to gays or HIV because we need to think on how Jesus would have dealt with it. While I'm sure this might become fodder for anyone out there, I'm done with that part of my life and I'm more happy now than I ever was. Will I pray for City Woof? YES and I do hope one day He does find his way back to God. I know this doesn't match up to what gays believe but God can and does change people and I'm living proof and I'm not the only one. I no longer have any desire to be a part of that community. As always we must meet anyone with Love. Judgement belongs to God..PERIOD! I'm exgay and yeah I know they do not believe its possible but it is! I went and read City Woof’s blog. While obviously I dont agree with his perception of Pentecostals, back in the day it was common for some one who was gay with negativity. I dealt with it myself when I went out into the gay lifestyle. We don’t need to argue over this because arguing or debating isn’t going to do either side any good. Love is what will make the difference. I’m sorry he went through the bad experince and I hope we as Pentecostal have become more loving when it comes to gays or HIV because we need to think on how Jesus would have dealt with it. While I’m sure this might become fodder for anyone out there, I’m done with that part of my life and I’m more happy now than I ever was. Will I pray for City Woof? YES and I do hope one day He does find his way back to God. I know this doesn’t match up to what gays believe but God can and does change people and I’m living proof and I’m not the only one. I no longer have any desire to be a part of that community. As always we must meet anyone with Love. Judgement belongs to God..PERIOD! I’m exgay and yeah I know they do not believe its possible but it is!

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-16 Jeff zahn Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:51:51 +0000 #comment-16 It is difficult enough having ONE potentially fatal disease (HIV), but for some reason God blessed me with two; I also have M.S.! So when I get ill I don't know which auto-immune disease it is, which makes it quite tricky when being sure what is causing it. My Dr. says that as far as he knows I am the first and onlyu case that has had the two. However I go to school as often as I can, which is 80% of the time. I can't work-Ihavre tried numerous times and it lasts for a week or so and then I succumb to exhaustion. I urge those of you that CAN hold a job to do so for the simple reason you can't live on disability only. Yes I would love to work (I know, most people dream of retirement), all I have to say about that is this- -BED CAREFUL WHAT YOU DREAM OF OR ASK GOD FOR!!!! The grass is never greener on the other side. I get 871.00 a month on disability and some days I can't afford to eat luvkily I have been able to make it on one meal (if you can call it that) a day, and in the state of Ohio I am not eligible for food stamps because they say I make too much money a month. Sorry this is such a downer entry but I guess I am just feeling sorry for myself. It is difficult enough having ONE potentially fatal disease (HIV), but for some reason God blessed me with two; I also have M.S.!
So when I get ill I don’t know which auto-immune disease it is, which makes it quite tricky when being sure what is causing it. My Dr. says that as far as he knows I am the first and onlyu case that has had the two.
However I go to school as often as I can, which is 80% of the time. I can’t work-Ihavre tried numerous times and it lasts for a week or so and then I succumb to exhaustion.
I urge those of you that CAN hold a job to do so for the simple reason you can’t live on disability only.
Yes I would love to work (I know, most people dream of retirement), all I have to say about that is this- -BED CAREFUL WHAT YOU DREAM OF OR ASK GOD FOR!!!! The grass is never greener on the other side.
I get 871.00 a month on disability and some days I can’t afford to eat luvkily I have been able to make it on one meal (if you can call it that) a day, and in the state of Ohio I am not eligible for food stamps because they say I make too much money a month.
Sorry this is such a downer entry but I guess I am just feeling sorry for myself.

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-15 Brother John M Brown Jr Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:49:13 +0000 #comment-15 Angel, I know how the meds can be and sometimes I wonder if the benefits outweigh the side effects but I'm dealing with that at the moment and it settles down. Prayer really helped this time! I was on Sustiva and the dreams on that stuff were enough to drive me nuts. We tried taking it before bed..and the dreams would wake me up and then we switched to in the morning where I became useless for 4 hours each day. God has been good to me as well. I'm happy where I'm at in life and I thank Him for the friends He has sent my way. Looking forward to meeting Mari and other here Angel,
I know how the meds can be and sometimes I wonder if the benefits outweigh the side effects but I’m dealing with that at the moment and it settles down. Prayer really helped this time! I was on Sustiva and the dreams on that stuff were enough to drive me nuts. We tried taking it before bed..and the dreams would wake me up and then we switched to in the morning where I became useless for 4 hours each day. God has been good to me as well. I’m happy where I’m at in life and I thank Him for the friends He has sent my way. Looking forward to meeting Mari and other here

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-14 Brother John M Brown Jr Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:32:54 +0000 #comment-14 City Woof..not sure what you are talking about. Could you please clarify City Woof..not sure what you are talking about. Could you please clarify

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-13 angel-creator of this blog Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:23:57 +0000 #comment-13 hello everyone, i am doing well. i got my lab results last week and i have a t-cell of 1072 and am undetectable still!! God is good and is definitely keeping me here for some reason!! a reason that i live by moment by moment. my experiences with the hiv medications have varied.the first that i was on was combivir which cause me o be severely anemic. while i was on combivir i was in and out of the er getting blood transfusions almost every month. it made me very weak and my skin was yellow. then i was on sustiva which made me very moody and irritable. it seemed like everyday i would have a nervous breakdown on that stuff. then it also caused my liver enzymes to jump sky high. now i am on an awesome set of medications. norvir, reyataz, and truvada..it was a mission getting used to these medications but now tha i am used to it , it has been a miracleworker!! i am very pleased with this regimen. God has been awesome to me..merciful, faithful, patient and loving me unconditionally, i am truly blessed to know Him and have a relationship with Him. He means everything to me and without Him i am nothing and can do nothing. i am greatful to my King, Lover and Lord and to my church family. well, jeff, where are you and how are you doing? john, i am so glad we are friends!! and i am glad you met mari!! angel hello everyone, i am doing well. i got my lab results last week and i have a t-cell of 1072 and am undetectable still!! God is good and is definitely keeping me here for some reason!! a reason that i live by moment by moment. my experiences with the hiv medications have varied.the first that i was on was combivir which cause me o be severely anemic. while i was on combivir i was in and out of the er getting blood transfusions almost every month. it made me very weak and my skin was yellow. then i was on sustiva which made me very moody and irritable. it seemed like everyday i would have a nervous breakdown on that stuff. then it also caused my liver enzymes to jump sky high. now i am on an awesome set of medications. norvir, reyataz, and truvada..it was a mission getting used to these medications but now tha i am used to it , it has been a miracleworker!! i am very pleased with this regimen.
God has been awesome to me..merciful, faithful, patient and loving me unconditionally, i am truly blessed to know Him and have a relationship with Him. He means everything to me and without Him i am nothing and can do nothing. i am greatful to my King, Lover and Lord and to my church family.
well, jeff, where are you and how are you doing?
john, i am so glad we are friends!!
and i am glad you met mari!!
angel

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-11 Brother John M Brown Jr Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:58:19 +0000 #comment-11 Angel, I think it would be great if you shared the info on the HIV/AIDS ministry at POA. It was a huge blessing to me and I think by putting it out here on the blog, you may be able to help other churches develop something similiar or give them ideas on outreach to people living with HIV/AIDS. I know that those of us who are positive are living longer lives due to the advances of medication and its not the death sentence it once was but there still is a stigma out there about the disease. Jesus went to the lepers and ministered and healed them and I truly believe that if He ame to earth today, He would be among the HIV/AIDS community doing the same thing. We, as a church, should always strive to do what Jesus would have done. Those of us on the board should discuss the medications we are on and any side effects that goes with them. The younger generation has it in their minds that they can go out there and if they catch it a pill will make everything better. I'm all for abstinance but we need to let others know the reality of the situation. The meds are toxic waste and there are nasty side effects. The meds DO NOT cure you and NO ONE knows the long term effects of the medications. I was on AZT for 11 years in one form or another and we now know that it cause neuropathy which is a very painful disorder where the nervous system is damaged (which I have in both legs and the pain level can get to 9 or 10 on the pain scale). We also know now that AZT causes the bones to become very brittle and I know of 40 something year olds having to have hips replaced because of it. AZT is the oldest drug developed so who knows what these newer drugs are going to do to our bodies. To anyone who reads this, take heed. There is no magic pill and HIV does and will change your life. There are some people out there who are not honest about their status so its best to wait til marraige as the Bible commands and get to know the person you love and be faithful to that person. I also invite anyone who is interested to listen to my testimony. You can go to http://abundantlifeapostolicchurch.org/septservice.aspx and scroll down to Spetember 21 and click on John Brown's testimony. I hope and pray that it helps some one out here not to make the same decisions in life as I did and I pray it helps other who do not have the disease to reach out to those who do. This blog is bringing those who are Pentecostals and living with it together and we exist to help those who are interested reach out to those who do especially the ones who are lost. Love the way Jesus did folks..it does wonders and I'm living proof as is Jeff and Angel. I want to personally thank POA and Abundant Life Apostolic Church in Sidney, OH. You all reached out to us with Love and 3 names were added to the Lamb's book of Life In Jesus Name, Bro John Angel,
I think it would be great if you shared the info on the HIV/AIDS ministry at POA. It was a huge blessing to me and I think by putting it out here on the blog, you may be able to help other churches develop something similiar or give them ideas on outreach to people living with HIV/AIDS. I know that those of us who are positive are living longer lives due to the advances of medication and its not the death sentence it once was but there still is a stigma out there about the disease. Jesus went to the lepers and ministered and healed them and I truly believe that if He ame to earth today, He would be among the HIV/AIDS community doing the same thing. We, as a church, should always strive to do what Jesus would have done. Those of us on the board should discuss the medications we are on and any side effects that goes with them. The younger generation has it in their minds that they can go out there and if they catch it a pill will make everything better. I’m all for abstinance but we need to let others know the reality of the situation. The meds are toxic waste and there are nasty side effects. The meds DO NOT cure you and NO ONE knows the long term effects of the medications. I was on AZT for 11 years in one form or another and we now know that it cause neuropathy which is a very painful disorder where the nervous system is damaged (which I have in both legs and the pain level can get to 9 or 10 on the pain scale). We also know now that AZT causes the bones to become very brittle and I know of 40 something year olds having to have hips replaced because of it. AZT is the oldest drug developed so who knows what these newer drugs are going to do to our bodies. To anyone who reads this, take heed. There is no magic pill and HIV does and will change your life. There are some people out there who are not honest about their status so its best to wait til marraige as the Bible commands and get to know the person you love and be faithful to that person.
I also invite anyone who is interested to listen to my testimony. You can go to http://abundantlifeapostolicchurch.org/septservice.aspx and scroll down to Spetember 21 and click on John Brown’s testimony. I hope and pray that it helps some one out here not to make the same decisions in life as I did and I pray it helps other who do not have the disease to reach out to those who do. This blog is bringing those who are Pentecostals and living with it together and we exist to help those who are interested reach out to those who do especially the ones who are lost. Love the way Jesus did folks..it does wonders and I’m living proof as is Jeff and Angel. I want to personally thank POA and Abundant Life Apostolic Church in Sidney, OH. You all reached out to us with Love and 3 names were added to the Lamb’s book of Life
In Jesus Name,
Bro John

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-10 Brother John M Brown Jr Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:06:23 +0000 #comment-10 Angel, The wonderful thing about God is now He only sees the BLOOD....what we did in the past is washed away and was cast as far as the East is to the West. I'm like you, there is no turning back for me and I told Jeff I know I'm home now and I have peace and joy and I'm truly happy. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my testimony and I'm looking forward to hearing yours because you have a very powerful story to tell. You need to let Mari know about the blog and have her join us! Your brother and Friend in Jesus John Angel,
The wonderful thing about God is now He only sees the BLOOD….what we did in the past is washed away and was cast as far as the East is to the West. I’m like you, there is no turning back for me and I told Jeff I know I’m home now and I have peace and joy and I’m truly happy. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my testimony and I’m looking forward to hearing yours because you have a very powerful story to tell.
You need to let Mari know about the blog and have her join us!
Your brother and Friend in Jesus
John

]]> http://hivpentecostals.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hello-world/#comment-9 Brother John M Brown Jr Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:02:41 +0000 #comment-9 Jocelyne, Sorry its taken me so long to reply to your comment. ALot of people do not understand Pentecostals because we are an emotional group and they like to label us as Holy Rollers and worse. We are actually a tight knit group and look out for one another much like a family. There are some churches out there that do give us a bad name but you can find that in every denomination. After all, we are humans and not perfect...Jesus was the only perfect man to walk this planet! My church loves me unconditionally and while we don't believe that the gay lifestyle is acceptable we want them to know they are welcome to come to our church. My pastor caught flak over allowing me and Jeff into the church but he stood by us and still does. Angel can speak for POA but they are a loving church from all that I know about them. I will say 20 years ago it was different. But the church is changing and not picking and choosing who should be saved..which we should have never done. Alot of churches are meeting the issue of HIV/AIDS and peole struggling with being gay head on and doing it with LOVE! I want you to know you are welcome here and it doesn't matter if you have HIV or not. Feel free to ask any questions and one of us will do our best to answer it. You could tell us what its like to be Jewish and discovering that Jesus is the Messiah. I hope and pray that the Word opens up for you and you discover the hidden gems in the gospels. As for us being psycho..I say visit a Pentecostal church. All of us here are part of the United Pentecostal Church International. You can go to upci.org and there is a church locator there! Experience first hand and then I think you will find your answer if we are crazy or not! I'm a little crazy but I was that BEFORE coming to know Jesus :-P Jocelyne,
Sorry its taken me so long to reply to your comment. ALot of people do not understand Pentecostals because we are an emotional group and they like to label us as Holy Rollers and worse. We are actually a tight knit group and look out for one another much like a family. There are some churches out there that do give us a bad name but you can find that in every denomination. After all, we are humans and not perfect…Jesus was the only perfect man to walk this planet!
My church loves me unconditionally and while we don’t believe that the gay lifestyle is acceptable we want them to know they are welcome to come to our church. My pastor caught flak over allowing me and Jeff into the church but he stood by us and still does. Angel can speak for POA but they are a loving church from all that I know about them. I will say 20 years ago it was different. But the church is changing and not picking and choosing who should be saved..which we should have never done. Alot of churches are meeting the issue of HIV/AIDS and peole struggling with being gay head on and doing it with LOVE!
I want you to know you are welcome here and it doesn’t matter if you have HIV or not. Feel free to ask any questions and one of us will do our best to answer it. You could tell us what its like to be Jewish and discovering that Jesus is the Messiah. I hope and pray that the Word opens up for you and you discover the hidden gems in the gospels.
As for us being psycho..I say visit a Pentecostal church. All of us here are part of the United Pentecostal Church International. You can go to upci.org and there is a church locator there! Experience first hand and then I think you will find your answer if we are crazy or not! I’m a little crazy but I was that BEFORE coming to know Jesus

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