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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...]

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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...]

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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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1.5% of British People Identify as Gay or Bisexual – New Study

September 23, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Photo Credit: The Guardian

From The Guardian: Nearly three-quarters of a million adults in Britain say they are gay or bisexual, according to figures published for the first time today by the Office of National Statistics. The findings, based on interviews with more than 450,000 people – the biggest pool of social data after the census – show that an estimated 481,000 people regard themselves as gay and a further 245,000 – mainly women – say they are bisexual. The estimate puts Britain's gay community at 1.5% of the total population – much lower than the most commonly used estimate of 5% to 7%, which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around the World, Catholic, Church, Culture, England, Exodus Blog, Identity, Religious Liberty, Research, Sexuality Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Letter from Brazil – Alan Chambers Ministers and Experiences God’s Amazing Grace

August 26, 2010 By Alan Chambers
Alan Chambers

This letter from Alan Chambers appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive this letter along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. (emphasis Alan's.) --- Dear Friends, I am writing to you from Mage', Brazil - a very poor city about 40 miles from Rio de Janeiro. I was invited to be the keynote speaker at an annual institute held at Central Baptist Church. The pastor's wife originally learned about Exodus and me when she saw a pastor on television promoting God's Grace and the Homosexual Next Door, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around the World, Brazil, Canada, Church, Culture, Equip, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Post-gay 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...]

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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...]

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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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Thoughts On Church/Denominational Conflict

July 28, 2010 By Randy Thomas
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...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Equip, Exodus Blog, Exodus Church Association, Gay, Holy Spirit, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Lutherans, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality, The Father Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are You Happier Now Than When You Were Gay?

July 14, 2010 By Randy Thomas
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 … [Read more...]

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