January 13, 2014

The following excerpts are from the report “Defenseless, Surrounded” on Andrew Comiskey’s blog: … “I am mindful of God’s willingness to become utterly vulnerable, as are those of us who stand for the healing of persons with SSA. On every side, we are derided: politically by the flourishing of ‘gay marriage,’ clinically by the new trend to bash therapeutic efforts of persons seeking to align their sexuality with their faith, and spiritually by churchmen who, caught in the crossfire, abandon those seeking transformation.”

“You could say we have never been more vulnerable. Protective walls have thinned or fallen. But actually, we are surrounded; together we bow before the luminous Babe, all the more grateful for the mercy that exposed the depth of our sin and surpassed it many times over. We join with the angels and saints—the entire host of Heaven–in worshiping our King. (more…)

January 9, 2014

The following excerpts are from Executive Secretary of Anglican Mainstream Rev. Andrew Symes’ essay on the Christian Concern website: “According to the Bible, God is in the ‘conversion’ business. Christian faith is not an emotional or intellectual construction, something we create or imagine, but a response to God who reaches out to rebels, calls them to turn around and enter into a restored relationship with him. God wants all of us to repent, to be transformed, to be born again. He has acted definitively in Jesus to change us from enemies into friends; he continues to act through his Holy Spirit to change us from within so our behaviour becomes more aligned with his agenda. This is conversion: not often instantaneous, but a process of change which follows the life-transforming realization that Jesus is Lord.”

… “This Bill [UK Parliament Counsellors and Psychotherapists (Regulation) Bill 2013-2014] is a threat to Christian counsellors who work in this area, and to people with same sex attraction who want to access counselling that is trained and accredited. (more…)

January 1, 2014

The following press release “Leading Same-Sex Attraction Ministry Organizations for Latter-day Saints To Unite Under North Star Umbrella” comes from the North Star International website and is reprinted in its entirety: Salt Lake City, UT – January 1, 2014: The Board of Directors of North Star International and Evergreen International announced today that North Star International will absorb certain resources and assets of Evergreen International, and beginning January 1, 2014 those resources will operate under the name and direction of North Star International.

Since its founding more than 20 years ago as a support organization for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evergreen’s mission has always been similar to North Star’s in its desire to assist those who experience same-sex attraction and who desire to live in harmony with their spiritual and religious values. (more…)

December 28, 2013

The following excerpts are from the Joe Dallas blog “The Phil Robertson Controversy: No More Ducking the Issue:” … “So OK, this is where I landed: I agree with most of what Phil said about homosexuality, and his positions match my own, though his statements on body parts seemed naïve and unhelpful (more on that later). The comments on race relations also came off a bit clumsy (ditto) but without malice. His remarks on both topics were, in fairness, responses to direct questions, so it wasn’t inappropriate for him to make them. I say it was wrong to suspend him, I do see this as a freedom of speech issue, and I believe A and E deserved the outcry it had to deal with. So I’m glad he’s reinstated, and I hope the takeaway lesson will be that Americans remain divided on sexual issues, that these are legitimate topics of discussion, and that citizens in the secular workplace should be free to express their position on homosexuality, pro or con, without having their livelihood threatened. (more…)

December 18, 2013

Following is the tribute “Happy culture warrior ‘Hutch’ dies of cancer” written by Art Moore on the World Net Dailey website: … “While media dubbed him ‘anti-gay’ and a ‘spiritual bulldozer,’ he was known simply as ‘Hutch’ to his congregation and to many who knew him in the Pacific Northwest and nationally as an infectiously vibrant and fiercely unapologetic defender of the faith.”

“His non-denominational church’s motto, ‘black and white in a grey world,’ speaks not only of its mixed-race composition but also of a confidence in its beliefs that rubs against modern sensibilities. (more…)

December 16, 2013

The following excerpts are from the Joe Dallas blog “Lessons from “A Christmas Carol” Part One: Unchained:” … “Men don’t come into my office because of a bad decision they made. They come because of hundreds, even thousands of bad decisions, linked together to forge a chain they, like Jacob Marley from the Dickens story, gird and wear of their own free will.”

“It usually starts with a discovery. Some act – the use of porn, a sexual fantasy, whatever – delivers impact. Deep impact, which the brain carefully records for future reference. Then, when the man is either bored, or angry, or lonely, or uncomfortable in some other way, the brain reminds him of the impact the sexual behavior delivered. So he repeats it, then the repetition becomes a pattern, the pattern becomes a dependency, and a chain is forged.” (more…)

December 10, 2013

Following are excerpts from Andrew Comiskey’s blog “Advent 2, Beauty, Burning:” … “Nowhere is Gospel beauty more needful than in the superficial, irrational moralizing of gay activists. Two recent examples: a NYC Catholic High School invited a priest to address the Church’s response to homosexuality, which involves the humane and compassionate goal of chastity—purity expressed in and through the body. The outcry against his visit (and chastity for persons with SSA in particular) was so great that the school rescinded the invitation. Similarly, Liz and Mary, daughters of former Vice-President Dick Cheney, differ on their views of ‘gay marriage.’ Yet Mary, a ‘married’ lesbian activist, slammed her conservative sister with this public statement: ‘Liz, this is not an issue on which we disagree. You are just wrong. And on the wrong side of history.’”

“Activists are no longer intent on their ‘gay’ rights; they now demonize anyone who disagrees with them. (more…)

November 20, 2013

Following is an excerpt from Voice of the Voiceless condemning the bullying actions of gay activists: “Gay activists are champions of tolerance and anti-bullying, that is, until someone disagrees with their opinion. In that case, it’s hate speech and should not be tolerated! That’s exactly what is happening in Bronx, New York at Cardinal Spellman High School, where on Monday night the Catholic school announced that an address by retired priest Fr. Donald G. Timone from the New York Archdiocese on the issue of same-sex attraction, set for Tuesday, had been postponed.”

“Fr. Donald G. Timone has been involved with Courage − a 33 year-old Catholic support group that encourages men and women with same-sex attractions to live chaste lives − for many years. But gay activists don’t like the Catholic church’s position on homosexuality, so they began doing what they do best . . . bullying the school’s principal and administration for daring to host a priest that has stayed true to the church’s position on sexuality!” …

November 20, 2013

The following excerpt is from the blog “Self Watch” on Joe Dallas’s website: … “I know, of course, that we are ultimately kept by the power of God, not our own efforts. (I Peter 1:3-5) I know that even the will to do God’s will is imparted, not innate (Philippians 2:13) and that if my spiritual growth is determined only by my maintenance efforts, it’ll be non-existent. (Galatians 3:3) Still, there’s a principle of sowing and reaping to be considered. Whether it’s flesh or spirit I sow to, there will be corresponding results, and the decision to choose where my sowing efforts go is my own, given by the God who ordained free will just as surely as He offers grace. And while I revel in grace like a hog in his favorite mud puddle, maturity requires me to also apply myself, with whatever ability God has given me, to invest in growth. Bible reading, prayer, mortifying the flesh, confession and accountability don’t determine my right standing with God, and I’m not one to frustrate His grace by trying to add to the Cross. (Galatians 2:21) But a stronger, vibrant, fruit bearing Joe simply won’t happen without them. That’s life; that’s final.” (more…)

November 20, 2013

The following excerpt is from the blog “Mercy 15: Mercy for Transformation” on Andrew Comiskey’s website: … “The body of Christ has bought the lie that Jesus cannot touch homosexuality! He may well have destroyed death, stormed the gates of hell to get us out of there, and rose again in order to raise us up into newness of life, but homosexuality? His transforming grace does not suffice! If the Church is the witness of Jesus, then that is precisely what we hear: stammering little nothings that basically convey ‘you’re born that way, sorry. Jesus suffered and so must you…’”

“I do not hope in an arbitrary blast of Pentecost or a therapeutic technique that only a few can access. Nor do I define transformation as a seamless shift from gay to straight desires. I am referring to what Jesus actually did for us. His life of obedience resulting in crucifixion and resurrection opened for all the horizon of what it means to be human: authentically, dynamically, passionately human.” (more…)