Always Humanize, Never Stigmatize

March For Life Numbers Woefully Misrepresented

Image Credit: GetReligion.Org

Just take a look at this picture. Again, where was all the media coverage of this amazing event? From GetReligion (emphasis and linkage theirs): On Thursday, we looked at the rather shocking slideshow at the Washington CBS affiliate. It was headlined: Activists Hold Annual March For Life On Roe v. Wade Anniversary But it somehow hadn’t shown a single picture of an activist at the March for Life! Instead, it showed multiple pictures of the same handful of pro-choice protesters who protested the massive March for Life. First, we have an update. Around 7 p.m. on Thursday, three days after the March for Life, the folks at … [Read more...]

The Gay Christians In Heaven Question

GCN

I have gotten a lot of private (some public) feedback asking me ... for whatever reason ... to explain Alan's statements at the GCN conference.  I cannot speak on his behalf. And while I assume the best, which is easy to do because he is a close friend, it wouldn't hurt for him to further explain/clarify what he said. Just a reminder, while Alan and I are friends and have been for 16 years, I haven't worked at Exodus in over five months and don't represent Alan or Exodus. Everything offered is completely my own opinion and not run by Alan for input or feedback before posting. I think, and he can correct me if I am wrong, that Alan and … [Read more...]

Why Cultural Christianity Fails To Satisfy

Human Reason Will Never Trump The Crown of Thorns

Last night I visited several liberal and conservative Culturally Christian blogs that I used to monitor when I worked at Exodus. I was a little surprised, not much but a little, that half of these blogs are dying.  And that got me thinking ... Cultural Christianity* (Liberalized or Conservative Culture Warriors) fails to satisfy for several reasons:  Cultural Christianity centers around man made ideology defining God for us instead of God created, and centered, relationship revealing Himself to us and each other. Cultural Christianity looks toward self directed reasoning and accepted groupthink to determine what God must think and … [Read more...]

Powerful Video: Bullied Kid Reaches Out + Personal Response

jonah

via Peter As a once bullied kid (long time ago), it was tough to watch the video. I can relate to the haunted look. I could also relate to not being able to speak what I was feeling out loud. As a teen I lived in my room with my headphones on. I wasn't allowed to speak and when I did I was punished or mocked and scorned. Then as a natural result of never being given the opportunity to speak and socialize I was awkward at school. Add in the fact that I was same-sex attracted ... I was tormented every waking moment by others or by my own desperate hatred of myself. I didn't cut myself regularly but the few times I did ... ::: rubbing … [Read more...]

Spoiling for a Fight – Is That The Real Goal of OWS?

ows

Well,  I keep trying to have some inkling of understanding for the Occupy Wall Street(ers) but ... it only seems to be getting more difficult to do so. I just saw an OWS guy saying that the cops letting them back into Zuccotti Park tonight was a victory for OWS because it was "their" land. They had "won" it. ::: blink ::: So the cops kick them out, clean up the mess OWS created, let them back in to protest without all the materials to create more mess and somehow OWS owns that land? Are they doing their own version of nation building? ... on U.S. soil? Is that an act of treason? I don't get it. It seems that today many who … [Read more...]

Betrayed By The Church

A friend of mine last week shared that they felt betrayed by the church.  Betrayed is a huge word. For the purpose of this post I will quote the third definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: to fail or desert especially in time of need <betrayed his family> This friend echoed a sentiment I have heard quite often, and most frequently, from a number of people who thought church is a type of "S"piritual grocery store that gives them a myriad of options to entertain and satiate their desires. But they then felt "betrayed" when the church community called sin "sin" or taught on the virtues of discipling, sanctification and grace … [Read more...]

Is The Christian Post-Gay Journey Determined by Insecurity, Intimidation or Self-Determined Faith in God?

The dialog with Vic reminded me of this post I wrote a couple of years ago.  I decided to dust it off and update for this blog. --- Peter writes: Randy, Thank you for your reply. Okay. There was a lot in there to digest. I come to you because I truly want to understand. Here are my thoughts on this: (1) Having (now) looked at some ex-gay/post-gay/exodus materials, it seems that almost everyone comes to the Exodus movement because they have a nagging feeling that being gay isn't right. I guess your position would be that the nagging feeling comes from God. I won't quibble with that except to say that it seems to me that much more than … [Read more...]

Is Marcus Bachmann Gay?

Marcus and Michele

Many have questioned Marcus Bachmann's sexuality recently. My first thought is ... of course not.  Marcus Bachmann is, in the public interest, a man who is married to Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.  I think that is much more important and interesting. That said, even that perspective is secondary to wanting a President who can actually lead us out of the catastrophe we are currently in the midst of. I believe my gay identified friends would agree that being "gay" is much more than who you are attracted to. That said, Marcus obviously loves and is attracted to his wife, he doesn't identify himself as gay, doesn't hold to any … [Read more...]