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Eve Tushnet, “Gay and Celibate,” Featured in the New York Times

June 7, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Photo Credit: Luke Sharrett/The New York Times

I still hold the perspective that we are headed, increasingly, into a post-gay reality.  A reality where gay vs. straight forced into the glbtqi? soup of labels fails to suffice as our (those who have or had same sex attractions) only context for a relational paradigm. Is Eve an example of that post-gay reality coming into being?  I don't believe I have ever met her and not sure she would agree with me since she does embrace a gay identity ... but her life doesn't really fit any of the conventional culture war stereotypes.  I find that intriguing. From the New York Times: WASHINGTON … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Catholic, Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Post-gay, Sexuality, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Reconciliation” – A Movie That Will Challenge And Touch Your Heart

June 1, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Reconciliation the Movie

RECONCILIATION trailer from Chad Ahrendt on Vimeo. In a previous post, Gay Father + Christian Son = Reconciliation, I mentioned and showed the trailer for "Reconciliaiton."  I was excited that a movie coming from a redemptive Christian perspective was being made and looked forward to viewing it. The Director, Chad Ahrendt, sent a "screening" copy because I wasn't in Los Angeles to catch the premiere.  However, one of our leaders in the area, Carol Wagstaff with Living Stones Ministries, went and she emailed and left a voicemail very excited about the movie.  She said that it was very … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Identity, Member Ministry, Parents, Post-gay, Sexuality, Testimonies, Video, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

About John Paulk – A Brief Response To Rev. Cheng On The Huffington Post

May 28, 2010 By Randy Thomas
light in darkness

I read a blog post the other day by a Rev. Patrick Cheng PhD, for The Huffington Post. He basically said that ex-gays were going to hell and really, really deserved it. I never tell anyone they are going to hell. It wasn't the fear of hell that saved me. It was the kindness, mercy and love of God that led me to repentance. In the years I spent as a gay-identified man I didn't appreciate Christians telling me to "flip or fry." Today as an ex-gay man I still don't appreciate being told I deserve hell especially by a theologian who is selective about his tolerance, not to mention his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogs, Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Media Mentions, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, Testimonies Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

An Encouraging Flashback – Bob Davies In Christianity Today

May 26, 2010 By Randy Thomas
bob

I was digging around the Christianity Today website and found the article Ex-gay Sheds The Mocking Quote Marks which is an article featuring former Exodus President Bob Davies. Here are some excerpts (Published on 1/7/2002) : ... After 22 years, I've been aware for a while that I was ready for a change. I loved it, and this has been the most exciting, fulfilling time in my life. But as I prayed about it, I got an impression or a message from the Lord, and it was a message of two words: "Finish well." I thought, Okay, what does that mean? Am I going to be dying of cancer in the next couple … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Parents, Post-gay, Print, Publications, Testimonies, Websites, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are Those Angels On The Roof?

May 20, 2010 By Randy Thomas
roof

Hardly. Yesterday, after another full and very busy day here at Exodus I decided to go home and relax for a bit before cooking dinner.  Oh who am I kidding, I don't really cook.  I wanted to take a nap before microwaving a Lean Cuisine.  Yes I am on a diet and yes, not a huge fan of Lean Cuisine ... but they are good enough for a fat single dude trying to get skinny ...again. But I digress. So, I sat down on the couch and thought hmmm... a nap sure would be nice.  It really takes very little effort to go from sitting down on the couch to laying down on the couch. And just as I had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Purpose, Testimonies Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Paul Webster Visits Passion For Christ Movement in Los Angeles

May 4, 2010 By Randy Thomas
p4cm

For those that don't know yet, Paul Webster joined the Exodus staff a couple of months ago as our Director of Ministry Advancement. We are very blessed to have him join our team. Paul and his wife Susan live in Southern California and decided to visit the Passion for Christ Movement (P4CM) Church in Los Angeles.  Here is an account of their visit: Sunday worship was spent visiting a vibrant young church in Los Angeles called the Passion for Christ Movement. This burgeoning fellowship is full of young people yearning to be transparent before Jesus and sharing their deepest hurts. Many on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Post-gay, Sexuality, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Clean Heart Ministries Making a Difference In North Carolina – Great Interview

April 23, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Click Image to Visit The Gaston Gazette

Jim Katsoudas did a great job in this interview and is doing a great thing in North Carolina.  In the article Ministry hopes to turn people away from gay lifestyle (update with PFLAG response), Larry Bell and Jim share their stories.  Here is the section regarding Jim: Clean Heart executive director Jim Katsoudas said the ministry doesn’t pound down people’s doors or force their opinions. “We don’t really approach them. They come to us,” Katsoudas said. “We understand that there are a lot of people who believe that you are born that way. That’s fine. I don’t agree with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, Lesbian, Media Mentions, Post-gay, Print, Testimonies, Websites Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Randy Thomas on Pure Passion TV

April 16, 2010 By Randy Thomas
purepassion

This interview with Pure Passion was taped five years ago. It was taped before the show went to HD and they just upgraded it to HD. I enjoyed the interview and am glad they have made it available. A *lot* of ground was covered but there are a couple of things I want to clarify. I don't believe reparative therapy model is the only answer for people who develop homosexuality and I have never been to literal "reparative therapy." However, my life circumstances fall completely in line with that theory and have been positively influenced by resources written by Dr. Nicolosi. So while that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Friendship, Gay, God, Identity, Jesus Christ, Media Mentions, Post-gay, Sexuality, Television, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Dawson McAllister Under Fire For Exodus Referral

April 14, 2010 By Alan Chambers
Click Image to Visit DMLive.com

Respected radio broadcaster, author and speaker Dawson McAllister, whose youth-oriented call-in show is on over 140 radio stations nationwide, is the latest target of several gay websites after his ministry directed a gay blogger posing as a teenager struggling with his sexuality, to Exodus International. KnowThyNeighbor.org’s Greg Kimball describes McAllister as “an evil, calculated sneak who is reaching out across the country and hurting our gay youth while pretending to be a good person who just wants to help people.” He is leading the charge to paint McAllister and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Radio, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

From The Club To The Church

April 12, 2010 By Randy Thomas
XXX Church.com

The provocatively named XXX Church (love it!) website features the testimony of a Christian man, Adam Balkcom, who is on a post-gay journey.  Adam's story is a compelling witness to God's love and mercy.  He covers a lot of ground in his testimony but here is the section that really stood out as an example of the Church operating in grace: My second night out in the club scene in Atlanta I met Jordan, he seemed to be 'the guy of my dreams'.   He had everything I thought I ever wanted.  I was extremely attracted to him and he was a Christian who had spent the majority of his life … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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