Overcoming Homophobia

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...]

Telling Your Story: Sharing Your Struggle With Family at the Holidays

family

The holidays can be intense time.  Food, family, fun - and often friction.  It’s also a time when those of us who are struggling to overcome same-sex attraction may choose to “come out” to our families. I came out to my dad as gay-identified at around 15 or 16, then a post/ex-gay at 25, and then as an Exodus ministry leader probably around 29 or 30.  He raised me as a single dad from when I was an early teen, and my mom was in and out of the picture.  At one point, a family member out’ed me to my mom, but she & I never talked about it since our relationship has always been … [Read more...]

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

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...]

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

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...]

Unconditional Surrender by Gwen Gibson – Real Stories for August 2010

young woman -1

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. --- Unconditional Surrender by Gwen Gibson I struggled with same-sex attraction for nearly twenty years. In college I hung around lesbians and developed lesbian friendships. Finally one asked me, “If you aren’t homosexual, why do you hang out with lesbians?” It was like she held a mirror up to my face and said, “Who are you, and why are you here?” In my … [Read more...]

Dear Gay/Porn Forum User

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...]

New Tactics to Disenfranchise Counselors and Clients with a Biblical Worldview

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...]

Some Thoughts On Church/Denominational Conflict

pastorhands

This post was inspired by Matt Kaufman over at the Boundless Line.  He wrote, in response to the ELCA decision, a good question (emphasis mine): ... When should you leave a church on principle -- not for personal reasons (which we've talked about elsewhere on this blog), but for reasons of its doctrines or practices? And a follow-up question: Have you ever had to wrestle with this decision? That is definitely a tough question with plenty of potential variables.  In the 18 years I have been a Christian I haven't ever left a church on "principle" (when I have it has been for personal … [Read more...]

NARTH vs British Medical Association, Brief Note on Alan Downing Allegations

man in chair

In no uncertain terms NARTH writes: The recent decision by the British Medical Association (BMA) to repudiate psychological care for clients with unwanted homosexual attractions is both unscientific and unethical. The research reveals that homosexuality is not invariably fixed in all people and that some people can and do change. Even the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (though a biased group made up only of members opposed to sexual orientation change efforts) recently concluded that there is not enough evidence to … [Read more...]

The Complete Christian Guide to Understanding Homosexuality – New Book by Joe Dallas and Nancy Heche released

Understanding Homosexuality

Joe Dallas and Nancy Heche have worked with Harvest House Publishers to release The Complete Christian Guide to Understanding Homosexuality - A Biblical and Compassionate Response to Same Sex Attraction. This book is amazing.  Covers everything from "The Church in Crisis, A History of Gay Rights in America, Understanding Pro-gay Theology, Theories of Origin," Counseling, Sexual Addiction, Parents, Spouses, Gay Parenting, Transgender issues ... and more!  Input was given by many leaders including yours truly and Exodus President Alan Chambers. Chapter 13 - Change, Growth, and the … [Read more...]