Life — Exodus International Blog

Of Life and The Yellow Lights

January 21, 2011 By Randy Thomas

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: Change, Confidence, Emotional, Jesus, Journey, Joy, Life, Men, Mom, Radio, Relationship, Relationships

Homophobic Stigmatization vs True Homophobia

January 12, 2011 By Randy Thomas

The previous post clearly involved a true case of homophobia and a general response on how to overcome it. In response on our Facebook page, Melissa said: Most who call homosexuality a sin or stand up against the gay agenda are called homophobic! There are many complex agendas and some powerful ones coalesce into pro-gay cultural momentum across the board in all sectors of society. When people minimize the complexity of that reality (minimizing it to simply, "The Gay Agenda"), we set ourselves up to be easily stigmatized with false labels. Maybe if we put down our pointing fingers/verbal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Encourage, Gay, God, Homosexuality, Identity, Lesbian, Post-gay, Religious Liberty, Sexuality Tagged With: Anger, Bible, Christians, Compassion, Culture, Educate, Exodus, Facebook, Faith, Fear, Fred Phelps, Friends, Gay, God, Grace, Heart, Homophobia, Homosexuality, Identity, Journey, Judgment, Life, Love, Muslim, Post-gay, Redemptive, Relationship, Sacrifice, Sexual Identity, Sexuality, Sin, Speaking, Stigmatization, Study, Truth, Worldview

Overcoming Homophobia

January 10, 2011 By Randy Thomas

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: Abuse, Anger, Change, Christians, Compassion, Confession, Counsel, Counseling, Exodus, False Gospel, Fear, Freedom, Gay, Giving, God, Grace, Guide, Healing, Heart, Homophobia, Homosexuality, Hope, Identity, Life, Love, Protest, Redemptive, Relationship, Sacrifice, Sexuality, Sin, Testimonies, Trust

I Found Acceptance And Fulfillment in Christ – Real Stories for January 2011 by Rochelle

January 4, 2011 By Randy Thomas

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. --- When I was growing up, I was always searching for something - something to learn, to fill, to numb, to distract me from myself. From a young age, I was certain there was something wrong with me and I needed to fix it in order for people to like and accept me. I was convinced I was unlovable, but believed if I just tried hard enough, I could correct my flaws and finally be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Post-gay, Testimonies, The Father, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Addiction, Community, Exodus, Forgiveness, Giving, God, Heart, Hope, Joy, Lesbian, Life, Love, Mom, Needs, news, Online, Parent, Pornography, Prayer, Relationship, Satisfaction, Soul, Teen, Testimonies, Testimony, Trust

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

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...]

Filed Under: Church, Educate, God, Holy Spirit, Identity, Jesus Christ, Marriage, Parents, Post-gay, Purpose, Q & A, Sexuality, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Anger, Books, Change, Christmas, Conference, Educate, Exodus, Family, Friends, Gay, God, Grief, Heart, Holiday, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Life, Love, Love Won Out, Parent, Rejoice, Relationship, Sexuality, Speaking, Support, Terri Brown, Trust, Truth

Together Everyone Accomplishes More – Letter from Alan Chambers for January 2011

January 4, 2011 By 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. --- Dear Friends, How many of you have a resolution for the New Year? Without going crazy, I usually try to pinpoint one or two areas where I hope to make improvements each year. This year I have decided to work on keeping life simple. You may remember that our mission at Exodus for 2011 is Simplify, Amplify, Intensify. I began sensing the Lord's encouragement in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Equip, Exodus Church Association, Gay, God, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Parents, Post-gay, Purpose, Sexuality, Spouses, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Addiction, Alan Chambers, Biblical Sexuality, Church, Conference, Counsel, Educate, Encourage, Exodus, Facebook, Friends, Giving, God, Hope, Joy, Life, Ministry, Online, Parent, Relationship, Twitter, Young People, Youth

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

December 16, 2010 By Brenna Kate Simonds

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...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Encourage, Friendship, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Parents, Post-gay, Support, The Father, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Brenna Kate Simonds, Coming Out, Confession, Counseling, Family, Gay, God, Grace, Holiday, Holidays, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Hope, Identity, Leaving Homosexuality, Life, Love, Men, Mom, Parent, Support, Support Group, Teen, Trust

The Old Is Gone, The New Has Come – Christmas Letter from Alan Chambers for December 2010

December 9, 2010 By 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 serviceplease sign up here. — Dear Friends, Merry Christmas to you! A season I dearly love is upon us and I am working very hard to cherish it more than I ever have before. Each year I set out not to get too caught up in the festivities of the season because the reason for the celebration goes far beyond the music, the parties, the decorations and the gifts. We all know that the reason to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Equip, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Post-gay, Sexuality, Spouses, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Alan Chambers, Christianity, Christmas, Debate, Encourage, encouragement, Exodus, Friends, God, Grace, Healing, Heart, Homosexuality, Jesus, Joy, Life, Love, Music, Redemption, Salvation, Sexuality, Trust, Truth

Avoiding Pitfalls During The Holidays – Real Answers by Angela Buchanan

December 9, 2010 By Angela Buchanan

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: Bible, Change, Christmas, Church, Exodus, Friends, God, Heart, Holiday, Holidays, Hope, Joy, Life, Relationship, Relationships, Social Networking, Support

Daughter of Formerly Gay Parents Speaks Out

November 30, 2010 By Randy Thomas

Last night I was alerted that Elisabeth Cole, daughter of long time Exodus leader Tom Cole, had made a video sharing the stories of her parents. Her decision to honor her parents, at such a young age, in this way is a blessing. I think you will find her creative attempt to communicate through video quite thought provoking. You should know, she tells it like she sees it and is quite direct. There are parts of the video that in my previous life I would have bristled at and been angered by. And even today I would want to clarify some of the things she says. But hello, this is a teenager … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Identity, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Parents, Post-gay, Sexuality, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: Exodus, Family, Gay, Heart, Honor, Life, Love, Parent, Post-gay, Respect, Teen, Video

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Of Life and The Yellow Lights

Homophobic Stigmatization vs True Homophobia

Overcoming Homophobia

I Found Acceptance And Fulfillment in Christ – Real Stories for January 2011 by Rochelle

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

Together Everyone Accomplishes More – Letter from Alan Chambers for January 2011

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

The Old Is Gone, The New Has Come – Christmas Letter from Alan Chambers for December 2010

Daughter of Formerly Gay Parents Speaks Out

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