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Of Life and The Yellow Lights

January 21, 2011 By Randy Thomas
yellow light

I really dislike approaching yellow lights.  I am not a driven Type-A personality but I just don't really care for in town driving ... and not getting my way ... ummm... When it comes to yellow lights, do I hurry through and possibly get a ticket or run over that confused looking squirrel? It never gets cold here so when it does repeatedly, the wildlife and native Floridians don't quite know what to do. Do I hurry through or do I just stop on a dime and scare the guy in the Lexus behind me talking on his phone way to close to my bumper? If the light is green I can just keep on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Encourage, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Support Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Overcoming Homophobia

January 10, 2011 By Randy Thomas
confession

B writes: I have a severe case of homophobia to the point of my body physically reacting to it.  I shake, I get angry and my heart beats very quickly even at the mention of it.  I know the issue isn't the sin itself it's repentance and those whom identify with homosexuality are no different from me. I know all the textbook answers but I'm struggling to fix myself and I can't seem to find any help or advice that doesn't involve the social annoyance with Christians. Hi B, thank you for sending in your message. With regards to the inordinate and even bodily reaction to the anger you feel, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Church, Culture, Educate, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Post-gay, Purpose, Sexuality, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do you Pick Up The Pieces After A Child “Come Out” During the Holidays? – Real Answers for January 2011 by Terri Brown

January 4, 2011 By Terri Brown
QA

This article appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive articles like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- It is quite common for gay-identified individuals to “come out” to their family during the Christmas holidays. Many parents may now be left with a plethora of emotions and questions. How do you pick up the pieces, face the New Year and return to some kind of normalcy while reeling from what is perhaps shocking news? First, understand that while this may have taken you by … [Read more...]

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Avoiding Pitfalls During The Holidays – Real Answers by Angela Buchanan

December 9, 2010 By Angela Buchanan
ornament

This article appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive articles like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- The holiday season is a particularly challenging time for me.  How can I prepare myself to avoid pitfalls that can easily sabotage my joy and peace? First of all, set realistic expectations. Christmas is a wonderful season, but sometimes we expect so much we can’t help but feel depressed and disappointed when it is over.  The anticipation builds for months and then it … [Read more...]

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

Does Being Older Make it More Difficult to Overcome Homosexuality? – Real Answers by Randy Thomas

November 17, 2010 By Randy Thomas
QA

This article appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive articles like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. — The following question was recently submitted at our Rockford IL Love Won Out conference. Real Answers by Randy Thomas I have lived a gay life for over 30 years. Is this going to be more difficult to overcome than someone who is much younger? That is a very good question and the short answer in many cases would be yes.  There are 30 years worth of memories and relational … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Educate, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Post-gay, Q & A, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“I Am The Vine and My Father is The Gardener” – David Fountain’s Testimony

November 17, 2010 By David Fountain
photo

This testimony appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive testimonies like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. — I love this description of God as “The Gardener.” As someone who made a lifelong decision to embrace the process of change over 13 years ago, I can certainly relate to how God chooses to reveal Himself by this title.  Night after night, I would beg God for freedom from my struggle with same-sex attractions.  I knew that my feelings and attractions were outside of God’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Support, Testimonies, The Father Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What’s in a Name? The Story of Brenna Kate Simonds – Part 2

November 12, 2010 By Brenna Kate Simonds
My Wedding Day

Yesterday, I shared the first half of my story.  This is the second half. I had just become a Christian.  In one sense, I felt hope, but at the same time, the labels were still haunting me.  Even though at the time I could not voice what was going on, I continued to spiral out of control with my eating and relationships. I was so desperate for love that I entered into a relationship with an 18 year old woman with a drug problem (I was 24 at the time). After 3 months, this woman (having been raised in a Christian home) said to me, “Listen – the Bible says you must either be hot or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Post-gay, Purpose, The Father, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What’s in a Name? The Story of Brenna Kate Simonds – Part 1

November 11, 2010 By Brenna Kate Simonds
Brenna with a mohawk from having her head shaved

A Christian speaker recently reminded me that words are a container for power. The book of Proverbs says “reckless words pierce like a sword”, “the words of the wicked lie in wait for blood”, and “when words are many, sin is not absent”.  In the Bible, words & names are very important. Throughout my life, I allowed people and circumstances to label me, name me, and define who I am. I was born prematurely in May of 1975. I was given a 50% chance of survival and rode in an ambulance to a hospital 50 miles away since the hospital where I was born did not have premie … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Friendship, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Post-gay, Purpose, Support, Testimonies, The Father, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A “Normal Gay Life” – Nathan Responds to Ray Boltz

November 9, 2010 By Randy Thomas
rayboltz

Regular readers of this blog may remember my friend Nathan who has guest blogged here before concerning Jennifer Knapp and about his "Divine Appointments" at the Exodus Freedom Conference. At this rate I just need to create a login for you Nathan :) Today Nathan writes an eloquent response to Ray Boltz' new song "God Knows I Tried."  Here's Nathan: A “Normal Gay Life” I’m adding Ray Boltz to the list of people I’d love to meet at Starbuck’s for a chat.  Most readers of this  blog will remember Ray as the Dove Award-winning gospel singer who revealed his homosexuality two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Homosexuality, Identity, Jesus Christ, Marriage, Post-gay, Sexuality, Testimonies Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

From Devastation to Beauty – Real Stories for October 2010

October 20, 2010 By Randy Thomas
sun

This testimony appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive testimonies like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- From Devastation to Beauty - Stephanie Goeke When Mike walked out on our marriage in 1996, my reality, hopes and dreams were shattered.  I had grown up in a solid Christian home and had come to believe that my joy and fulfillment would be found in being married and having children.  The past years have been spent experiencing God’s faithfulness – not faithfulness to my … [Read more...]

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