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Asking Questions

August 13, 2010 By Brenna Kate Simonds View Comments
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My son is in that stage of asking the same question over and over again. “What his name is?” is one of his favorites.  He especially wants to know all the names of superheros, kids at the playground, and animals.  I don't even know the names of the superheros, so I've had to get creative in answering.  I just recently discovered that if I asked him the same question he's asking me, he often knows the answer and will go ahead and answer it. We see in the Bible that God often asks questions. In the garden of Eden, God asked Adam and Eve where they were hiding- as if He couldn't see them. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Encourage, God, Support Tagged With: Bible, Brenna Kate Simonds, Encourage, God, Jesus, Kid, Life, Ministry, Needs, Truth

Masturbation: Is it Sin?

August 4, 2010 By Chris Stump View Comments
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*Posted originally at Exodus Youth. About seven years ago I attended my first Exodus conference.  As I was looking at the multitude of workshops offered during the week I came across one entitled "Something, something...MASTURBATION".  I can't remember the whole title, because I just saw that "m" word.  I knew I had to go to that one.  But of course when the time came to go I was filled with so much trepidation and shame.  Would I be the only one in the workshop?  I got up enough courage to go, and to my amazement, the room was so full, there was barely any standing room.  It was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Encourage, Purpose, Support, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Addiction, Battles, Biblical Sexuality, Chris Stump, Christians, encouragement, Exodus Youth, Freedom, Gratification, Masturbation, Orgasm, Pornography, Sacrifice, Selfishness, Sexual Purity, Sin, Young Adults, Young People

Parenting The Sensitive Soul

July 22, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
happy son

A mother sent me a link to this article, Parenting The Sensitive Soul, by Ricky Chelette who is the Director of Living Hope Ministries.  She was deeply moved by it and was forwarding it on to some in her family.  From the article: "I think my son wants to be a girl," the father blurted out through tear-filled eyes as he entered my office. He was an enthusiastic father, an articulate, well-educated man, with a passion for God and truth. His wife was with him, tears streaming from her face as she saw the pain in her husband's heart. She was a gentle mother with a deep passion for her family … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Encourage, God, Identity, Member Ministry, Parents, Post-gay, Support, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Change, Educate, Family, Fear, Gay, God, Heart, Hope, Identity, Journey, Life, Love, Music, Needs, Pain, Parent, Ricky Chelette, School, Sin, Soul, Truth, Youth

When To Confront Someone’s Sin? – John Piper (Video)

July 21, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
Piper

I am currently writing for a different project the topic of salvation and how some emphasize sin and hell to an inordinate degree.  It's a tough one to write.  I found this video late last night. I think it is important to note that Piper says that the importance of "confronting" sin in another increases among Christians to other Christians. That is what I understand from the scriptures as well. However, he also emphasizes that we have to be aware of our own spiritual walk with humility and meekness before talking with someone else about what he terms "destructive" behavior. Now, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Support, Video Tagged With: Christians, Feedback, John Piper, Love, Salvation, Sexuality, Sin, Video

Are You Happier Now Than When You Were Gay?

July 14, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
You Just Never Know What Could Happen Now Do You?

One of my young(er) friends on Facebook sent me a message that I have been getting a lot lately.  Now that I have passed the 40 year old mark by two years the youngin's ask me "lonely old man" questions a lot.  They don't say it like that and I am being humorous in phrasing it that way but it's true, I am getting older and have been celibate for 18 years this coming July 23rd. So they want to know if you can be happy, older and not pursuing or in a gay relationship.  Wade (not his real name) writes in part: Are you happy? I know your probably thinking 'weirdo', but I'm not. Basically I'm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Support, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Church, Emotional, Encourage, encouragement, Exodus, Facebook, Faith, Family, Fear, Friends, Gay, God, Gospel, Grace, Heart, Holy Spirit, Hope, Intimacy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joy, Life, Love, Needs, Perseverance, Prayer, Relationship, Relationships, Romans, Scripture, Scriptures, Sin, Soul, Speaking, Study, The Gospel, Worship, Writing

Reflections On The Exodus Freedom Conference

July 13, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
Joe Dallas - Freedom Conference 2010/LWO "Moving Forward"

Thom Hunter has a very inspiring post concerning his experience at the Exodus Freedom Conference a couple of weeks ago.  Here is an excerpt from his blog post (linkage mine.): I wish every pastor in the country -- make that the world -- could hear Joe Dallas explain the differences between homosexual orientation . . . identity . . . and behavior.  Orientation being involuntary, discovered.  Behavior being what we do with that discovery via our free will.  Identity sometimes foisted on us, sometimes embraced, but not who we really are.  Not in God's created intent, but only in our fallen nature. Say … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogs, Church, Encourage, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Support, Testimonies Tagged With: Alan Chambers, Change, Community, Conference, Encourage, Exodus Freedom Conference, Exodus International, Focus On The Family, Freedom, God, Grace, Heart, Homosexuality, Hope, Identity, Joe Dallas, Love, Pain, Sexual Orientation, Soul, Testimonies, Thom Hunter, Truth

Opening Night Encouragement – Exodus Freedom Conference “Moving Forward” (Video)

June 24, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
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I shot this video earlier this evening.  It contains some encouragement from a few friends. Also, Alan did a fantastic job sharing about the founding of Exodus and honoring all of those involved in that process.  He also shared very openly and authentically about his walk and life and the importance of God being our sole focus and the church coming alongside those who struggle with homosexuality. Very powerful. *** Don't forget, you can follow live updates, pictures and videos on our Facebook Page. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Encourage, Friendship, Gay, God, Lesbian, Post-gay, Support, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Conference, Encourage, encouragement, Exodus, Exodus Freedom Conference, Facebook, Friends, God, Homosexuality, Honor, Life, Sexuality, Video

The Jesus Movement and Joe Dallas – Testimony

June 11, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
Click Image to visit JoeDallas.com

Joe Dallas is featured in an extended version of his testimony on Godreports.com.  Here is an excerpt from Jesus Movement prodigal slid into homosexual sin, but God’s love drew him out (parenthesis mine): As Paul’s letter to the Corinthians says, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” By some measures, Dallas’ quality of life was high during this period (of living with a male partner.) He held a good job, led an active social life, and lived in a comfortable apartment. “The circumstances of my life seemed pretty … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Church, Culture, Encourage, Gay, Jesus Christ, Marriage, Member Ministry, Post-gay, Support, Testimonies Tagged With: APA, Change, Christians, Church, Counseling, Encourage, encouragement, Exodus, Freedom, Gay, Genesis Counseling, God, Homosexuality, Jesus, Joe Dallas, Porn, Renee Dallas, Sanctification, Scripture, Scriptures, Sexuality, Sin, Television, Testimony, WifeBoat

Feelings: Dictator or Indicator? – by Brenna Kate Simonds

June 9, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
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The following is written by Brenna Kate Simonds, Director of Alive In Christ Ministries (an Exodus Member Ministry) in Boston Massachusetts. *** Feelings: Dictator or Indicator? It had been a challenging morning. With a 2 ½ year old & an under 6 month old, I was still adjusting to life with 2 kids. I was feeling frustrating, overwhelmed & impatient. And it wasn't even 9 AM yet! I generally would have just gone & hid when feeling this way, , but in a moment of uncharacteristic wisdom, I stopped, bowed my head, and prayed, “God, just help me. Help me to be patient today, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Encourage, Gay, God, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Post-gay, Support, Testimonies Tagged With: Anger, Black, Brenna Kate Simonds, Christians, Compassion, Emotional, Exodus, Faith, Fear, Gay, God, Heart, Homosexuality, Hope, Jesus, Joy, Kid, Life, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Rejoice, Romans, Sexuality, The Gospel, Trust, Truth

Is Religious Freedom and Self-Determination in Professional Counseling in Danger?

May 24, 2010 By Randy Thomas View Comments
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Of our two hundred and forty Member Agencies out there, around 40 of them are professional counselors.  Over the past year or so we have had a great increase in the number of reports coming in threatening counselors who are willing to help people with unwanted homosexuality.  Lately, Californian therapists are being threatened. SAN DIEGO, California, May 3, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - California's pro-family therapists are striving to persuade the state's largest therapist association to stand firm against demands to suppress or kick out members who seek to help clients with unwanted same-sex … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Encourage, Gay, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Post-gay, Professional Counseling, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, Support Tagged With: Change, Christians, Church, Community, Conference, Counseling, Exodus, Faith, Gay, Gay Activism, Homosexuality, Identity, Jesus Christ, Professional Counseling, Redemptive, Religious Liberty, Reparative Therapy, Sexual Orientation, Sexuality, Study, Support, Support Group, Therapy, Unwanted Homosexuality
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