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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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Finding a Safe Place– Real Stories for September 2010

September 22, 2010 By Randy Thomas
93354005

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 am a wife of a man with undesired same-sex attraction struggles. Together we have attended two Exodus conferences. Through the ministry of Exodus, God showed me that He truly cares about human brokenness. He loves homosexual men and women. He also loves my husband and desires to free him from his past and present pain, fears, and shame. The Exodus Freedom conference … [Read more...]

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God Is Not An Enabler

September 14, 2010 By Mike Goeke
learning to ride a bike

God is Not an Enabler Mike Goeke, September 2010 “God is love.” This statement, which is indeed Biblical, constituted a friend’s rationalization for his decision to leave his family and pursue a life defined by both direct sinful behavior and a general pursuit of what he claimed made him happy and satisfied in life. “I believe God loves all His children,” he told me. I had to agree with him, but as I mulled over his comments to me I realized that for my friend, ‘love’ meant that God cared nothing about his behavior or how he lived his life. To him, God was a sentimental … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Encourage, Exodus Blog, God, Jesus Christ, Parents, Pop Culture, Post-gay, The Father, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Exodus North Atlantic Regional Conference September 17-19 in Endicott NY

September 13, 2010 By Brenna Kate Simonds
Joe Dallas - Freedom Conference 2010/LWO "Moving Forward"

Have you considered attending an Exodus conference?  Besides the annual Freedom conference, there are lots of other conferences held by Exodus and its member ministries every year.  One such conference is the North Atlantic Regional Conference, September 17-19 in Endicott, NY, where Joe Dallas will be speaking and I will be leading the music. Why should you consider attending a conference?  Hear what 2 people have to say about their experiences: “This was my first Exodus conference. I have been anticipating attending a gathering like this for many years, so I couldn't believe that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bi-sexuality, Church, Conferences, Equip, Exodus Blog, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Homosexuality, Jesus Christ, Lesbian, Marriage, Parents, Post-gay, Spouses, The Father Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parenting The Sensitive Soul

July 22, 2010 By Randy Thomas
happy son

A mother sent me a link to this article, Parenting The Sensitive Soul, by Ricky Chelette who is the Director of Living Hope Ministries.  She was deeply moved by it and was forwarding it on to some in her family.  From the article: "I think my son wants to be a girl," the father blurted out through tear-filled eyes as he entered my office. He was an enthusiastic father, an articulate, well-educated man, with a passion for God and truth. His wife was with him, tears streaming from her face as she saw the pain in her husband's heart. She was a gentle mother with a deep passion for her … [Read more...]

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Reflections On The Exodus Freedom Conference

July 13, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Joe Dallas - Freedom Conference 2010/LWO "Moving Forward"

Thom Hunter has a very inspiring post concerning his experience at the Exodus Freedom Conference a couple of weeks ago.  Here is an excerpt from his blog post (linkage mine.): I wish every pastor in the country -- make that the world -- could hear Joe Dallas explain the differences between homosexual orientation . . . identity . . . and behavior.  Orientation being involuntary, discovered.  Behavior being what we do with that discovery via our free will.  Identity sometimes foisted on us, sometimes embraced, but not who we really are.  Not in God's created intent, but only in our fallen … [Read more...]

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TIME Covers Disney Gay Days

June 14, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Photo: TIME, Click Image to read "Gay Days In The Magic Kingdom"

From TIME's Gay Days In The Magic Kingdom: Like pretty much every child who walks up Main Street U.S.A. at Disney World for the first time, Alix, 10, and her brother Evan, 11, can barely contain their anticipation. Evan wants to ride Space Mountain. Alix is so excited, she can't even say what she wants to do. She is jumping up and down. It's a typical Disney scene, except that Evan, Alix and their sister Jamie, a desultory 4-year-old shielded from the sun in a stroller, have come to the Magic Kingdom with their two moms. It is the 20th anniversary of Gay Days at Disney, and the whole family … [Read more...]

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HopeFloats – Renee Dallas Starts Another Online Wives Group

April 28, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Click to Visit WifeBoat

Renee Dallas sent the following out via email: Join me for our next WifeBoat Online Support Group May 18th-August 10th I've had many woman ask me how they could possibly cope after finding out the devastating news that their husband had been using pornography, having an affair or feeling homosexual attractions. These grieving wives have often felt there was no place to turn to talk safely and openly about what they were dealing with. Family, friends, and career concerns have been some of the reasons why. That's why I started the WifeBoat Online Support groups. In the confidential … [Read more...]

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New Study: Gay People Suffer Increased Rates of PTSD

April 26, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Click Image to Read Study: Bullies Home in On Gays

From Study: Bullies home in on gays: A groundbreaking new Harvard study has found that gay people are far more likely to be tormented as youngsters, often leading to years of post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and Children’s Hospital found that gays, bisexuals and heterosexuals who have had a same-sex partner are 1 to two times as likely to experience violence, especially in childhood, and have double the risk of experiencing PTSD as a result. “It’s really appalling,” said lead author Andrea Roberts, a postdoctoral fellow in … [Read more...]

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