Homophobic Stigmatization vs True Homophobia

pointing

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...]

Let’s Talk About Those Gay Rats

rat

John Cloud writes in Why You're Gay: A New Study Shows Why Boy Rats Like Other Boy Rats: Despite what the Bible says, lust is inborn: our species couldn't survive if we didn't yearn to have sex with one another. But exactly how sexual desire develops is, even at this late date, poorly understood. We know more about the musculature of the left femur than we do about how our brains acquire and process the desire to engage sexually. That's why I was intrigued by a new study in the journal Psychological Science. Typically I don't care about studies of rat behavior because, after all, the … [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...]

Are You Happier Now Than When You Were Gay?

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...]

“Reconciliation” – A Movie That Will Challenge And Touch Your Heart

Reconciliation the Movie

RECONCILIATION trailer from Chad Ahrendt on Vimeo. In a previous post, Gay Father + Christian Son = Reconciliation, I mentioned and showed the trailer for "Reconciliaiton."  I was excited that a movie coming from a redemptive Christian perspective was being made and looked forward to viewing it. The Director, Chad Ahrendt, sent a "screening" copy because I wasn't in Los Angeles to catch the premiere.  However, one of our leaders in the area, Carol Wagstaff with Living Stones Ministries, went and she emailed and left a voicemail very excited about the movie.  She said that it was very … [Read more...]

An Encouraging Flashback – Bob Davies In Christianity Today

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I was digging around the Christianity Today website and found the article Ex-gay Sheds The Mocking Quote Marks which is an article featuring former Exodus President Bob Davies. Here are some excerpts (Published on 1/7/2002) : ... After 22 years, I've been aware for a while that I was ready for a change. I loved it, and this has been the most exciting, fulfilling time in my life. But as I prayed about it, I got an impression or a message from the Lord, and it was a message of two words: "Finish well." I thought, Okay, what does that mean? Am I going to be dying of cancer in the next couple … [Read more...]

Is Religious Freedom and Self-Determination in Professional Counseling in Danger?

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Of our two hundred and forty Member Agencies out there, around 40 of them are professional counselors.  Over the past year or so we have had a great increase in the number of reports coming in threatening counselors who are willing to help people with unwanted homosexuality.  Lately, Californian therapists are being threatened. SAN DIEGO, California, May 3, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - California's pro-family therapists are striving to persuade the state's largest therapist association to stand firm against demands to suppress or kick out members who seek to help clients with unwanted … [Read more...]

New Study: Gay People Suffer Increased Rates of PTSD

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...]

Can Animals Be Gay? Mohler Responds to The New York Times

gaybunny

Here is the conclusion of Mohler's blog post: The political implications of the issue are clear — those pushing for the normalization of homosexuality want to be able to point to research that would prove the normality of homosexuality in nature. This is where Christians need to think very carefully. Some believers will be tempted just to dismiss the research as bogus or irrelevant. This would be a mistake. The world we know is a world that shows all the effects of human sin and the curse of God’s judgment on that sin. Though the glory of God shines through even its fallen state, … [Read more...]

The Social Cost of Pornography

scop

The following press release landed in my inbox about a very interesting study  done by the Witherspoon Institute.  From Design4 Marketing (a few comments after the quote): The Witherspoon Institute, located in Princeton, New Jersey, released on March 16 The Social Costs of Pornography: A Statement of Findings and Recommendations. The consultation was the first multifaceted, multi-disciplinary, scholarly exploration of pornography since the advent of the Internet. The consultation assembled leading experts in economics, psychology, sociology, and law to present a rigorously argued … [Read more...]