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Facebook Flashbacks and Friendship

August 18, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Friends

Facebook is crazy.  And  little bit scary. Almost every significant (still living) relationship I have ever had is represented in my friends list.  It's been an astounding adventure to reconnect with people from almost every stage of life from my past to present. It all started in August of 2008. Two years ago I was on sabbatical and had a thought, "Hmmm... I wonder if my high school friends have found facebook yet?"  Two hours later I had found 15 of them and was quietly tripping out on how much life had changed for some and was completely the same for others.  This has led to a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Encourage, Exodus Blog, Friendship, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Identity, Jesus Christ, Post-gay Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

False Prophet Fred Phelps and The First Amendment

August 17, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Funeral Protests

It's just amazing that the ACLU joined forces with the Phelps gang on this one: Judge: Mo. funeral protest ban unconstitutional By CHRIS BLANK - Associated Press Writer JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A federal judge Monday ruled that Missouri laws restricting protests near funerals are unconstitutional. Missouri legislators passed two laws in 2006 in response to protests at servicemembers' funerals by members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. The church contends the deaths are God's punishment for the U.S. tolerating homosexuality. U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan ruled the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Educate, Exodus Blog, Gay, Identity, Religious Liberty, Sexuality Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

CNN Belief Blog Interviews Alan Chambers About Prop 8 and Gay Rights

August 10, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Photo Credit CNN

From ‘Ex-gay’ ministry on gay marriage's chances after Prop 8 ruling ... “It’s disappointing that a judge would rule against the will of the people,” says Chambers, author of Leaving Homosexuality. “That’s the greatest tragedy.” For 34 years, Exodus has told gay and lesbians that they can be “delivered” from homosexuality through faith in Christ, professional counseling and support groups. But how will groups like Exodus fare if fewer Americans believe that homosexuality is a sin, and if gay marriage becomes an option? Chambers acknowledged that “our culture is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogs, Church, Culture, Equip, Exodus Blog, Gay, Identity, Lesbian, Marriage, Media Mentions, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Is The Gospel Response to Prop. 8? – Christianity Today Quotes Alan Chambers

August 10, 2010 By Randy Thomas
prop-8

From What Is The Gospel Response to Prop. 8? : Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International: I believe that God is calling his church to a place far above the arguments surrounding what is sin and what isn't. We cannot avoid the glaring scriptural truth that there is, and will always be, a right way and a wrong way concerning just about everything we can imagine. And, yet, I believe that our attitudes towards people (internal and external) are just as important as our positions on the issues at hand. So, when I first saw the news that Prop. 8 had been overturned, my very first thought … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogs, Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, God, Identity, Marriage, Print, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, Websites Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Suicide Rates Among Gay Community Increase

August 9, 2010 By Randy Thomas
despair

From Deseret News: SALT LAKE CITY — As the number of suicides among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations continues to increase across the nation, concern among the Utah LGBT community has begun to push the issue into the spotlight. In July, Utah's LGBT community lost at least three members to suicide, including a 28-year-old man whose death was mourned by more than 300 people during a candlelight vigil on the steps of the state Capitol. Two other suicides of well-known members of the LGBT community, also gay men, have occurred in the past month. Though the problem is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Educate, Exodus Blog, God, Identity, Jesus Christ, Sexuality Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy 1st Blog/Facebook Birthday Exodus!

August 6, 2010 By Randy Thomas
firstbirthday

It's hard to believe we have had this blog, and complementary Facebook page, for a full year as of today! I am very glad to see this blog succeed. We had one serious attempt to have a ministry blog in the past that just didn't quite work.  So with lessons learned and the advent of social networking ... this blog took off right out of the gate! While I don't know that our blog will *ever* be a top dog blog like Instapundit (who knows really? :) ) we don't do this for "the numbers."  Regardless, I am a stats-a-holic so here are some statistical tidbits that those who do read this blog might … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Equip, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Parents, Pop Culture, Post-gay, Puerto Rico, Purpose, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, Uganda, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Prop 8 Decision Imminent – Life Goes On Regardless of “Winner”

August 4, 2010 By Randy Thomas
prop 8

UPDATE 4:49 PM EDT: Judge rules Prop 8 unconstitutional. When Alan decided a couple of years ago to pull Exodus out of public policy I was in total agreement.  That whole realm fascinates me and has since I was in High School (Youth in Government Club.)  We, Alan and I, gave it our best effort for about 4 years and learned plenty of lessons. The point of today's post isn't to pile on and throw another round into the echo-chamber of talking points you will hear again and again and again and again ... and again and again ... and again ... Of course I am aware of the importance of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Educate, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Resource from Exodus International

August 4, 2010 By Chris Stump
Homoin18min

Discussing Homosexuality In 18 Minutes (DVD) "How do we talk about homosexuality?"  Pastors, church leaders and ministry workers everywhere are asking this question.  In this strategic DVD distributed by Exodus International, Jeff Buchanan will address topics such as: "Can sexual orientation be changed?" "Can you be a Christian and still be gay?" "How can I reach out?" Discussing Homosexuality In 18 Minutes is designed for group interaction.  Questions are provided for group participation once the video is completed.  Participants will have the opportunity to share personal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books, Educate, Equip, Exodus Blog, Purpose, Sexuality, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Dear Gay/Porn Forum User

August 3, 2010 By Randy Thomas
confession

Yesterday's post on the disenfranchisement of Christian therapists and clients from professional counseling had a surprising source of linkage that drove a decent amount of traffic to the blog. The sources of the links: Two gay/porn sites.  And I think it comes as no surprise I won't be linking back to them. :) I didn't investigate them to figure out what the purpose of these sites were or what is being said but given the URL of the addresses it was kind of obvious what the overall sites are about. So ... sincerely ... welcome! I can't quite figure out why yesterday's post would … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Post-gay, Sexuality, Websites Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Tactics to Disenfranchise Counselors and Clients with a Biblical Worldview

August 2, 2010 By Randy Thomas
man-in-chair

Back in May we posted about how California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) was trying to make the practice of "Reparative Therapy" or any sexually oriented change counseling unethical.  Thank goodness that effort, while not completely gone, failed. ... Clearly, the current CAMFT board is not at all ready to pass judgment on the ethical standards of ANY therapeutic orientation. I believe the board began to recognize the danger of putting CAMFT in the position of going way beyond what even the APA (American Psychological Association) has stated concerning SOCE. The APA … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Equip, Exodus Blog, Gay, Identity, Lesbian, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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