Focus On Exodus

Former Exodus President Featured on Focus on the Family Broadcast
Orlando, FL- Tune in today and tomorrow to hear former Exodus International President Joe Dallas deliver a powerful message on how Christians should respond to the issue of homosexuality and to gay identified men and women.Alan Chambers’ new book God’s Grace & the Homosexual Next Door is a featured resource following this broadcast.

Listen to “How Should We Respond to Homosexuality?”

Order God’s Grace & the Homosexual Next Door

I read somewhere that Wayne Besen?  Or was it Mike Airhart? … they are beginning to act like one and the same destructive person, said that Focus on the Family had taken over Exodus.  Well, I tell ya’, that’s just crazy talk.  From the appearance of today’s www.family.org it would seem the reverse is true.   Joe Dallas is on the show, Alan’s book is the featured product and my interview on transgender issues in public schools is one of the line up of featured articles. (specifically on “Social Issues.”)

And they are featuring Love Won Out as well.

I love that Focus supports the work of Exodus.  Everyone I have met at Focus is a great person, I love that crew.  They are some of the most loving, and fun, people I have ever met.

While Focus doesn’t “own” Exodus, where our interests do line up, we make a great team.  I am glad to help them whenever possible.

My Thoughts on Rev. Wright

Being rich and white, I can’t help but be concerned with the remarks of Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Rev. Wright is the “retired” pastor of Trinity Unity Church of Christ in Chicago, the church that Barack Obama calls his home church.

It is true, I am white. And it is true, I am rich. I own a home and two cars, am sending my daughter to college, and afford luxuries like vacations, expensive exercise equipment, nice furniture and other things I really don’t need. While things have been tight from time to time in my life, I have never gone to bed hungry, always lived in a home with heating and sometimes air conditioning, and sometimes throw away perfectly good things. I buy too many clothes, too much food, and too much music.

I have written laws and advised law makers and am committed to our way of government, culture, and society. Some may call me a bureaucrat or a political insider. When my son complains about “The Man” I quickly remind him that I am “The Man.”

Therefore, with that understanding of who I am, I was taken aback by the comments recently brought to light from the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. On the YouTube video I watched, I felt that Rev. White was pretty angry with me and people like me. It also seems that his congregation is pretty happy that the Reverend is communicating his feelings and thoughts on people like me.

But regardless of what Rev. Wright says about me and my demographic, what really bothers me is how his words affect the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As my co-worker commented after seeing his sermon, “This is why Christianity sucks.”

According to Rev. Wright, Jesus’ message is one of social and political liberation. He describes his own theology as “Black Liberation Theology.” I don’t know what that is, but am not inclined to find out since it seems to tolerate such blatantly factual errors about Jesus and the time and circumstances in which he lived.

For example, the Romans did not control everything. They did not control the Jewish religion. They allowed the Jews to maintain their customs and their religious practices. Indeed, they allowed the Jews to maintain their culture.

Jesus, while perhaps being of a different skin color from the Romans and certainly of the ruled rather than the ruling class, had few things to say about the Romans and their occupation. While he challenged Caesar’s claims of deity, he did not suggest that Romans were racist, unjust, or worthy of disdain because they were “rich, white people” and were subjecting the Jews to occupation and tribute.  In fact, Jesus disabuses the notion that his ministry was about establishing a new political kingdom and overthrowing the Romans.

Jesus’ harshest words were hardly aimed at the Romans. In fact, he praised a number of Romans who demonstrated great faith. Rather, Jesus’ target of most of his anger and criticism were aimed at the Jewish leaders of his own people because they used religion to manipulate the people and distorted who God really is.

In response to my co-worker, I said “No, this is why Reverend Wright’s notion of Christianity suck.”

The Woman At The Parking Lot

Today started with only three hours of sleep.  With it being Daylight Savings it was pitch black when I left my humble abode to go to the airport.  So, I got a Starbucks and headed on in.

::: big Orbitz gum grin ::: It’s like sunshine in a cup!  Fabulous! ::: bing :::

I dropped my car off and got on the shuttle.  The shuttle could seat about ten people and several more could stand hanging on to rails.  I had never seen more that three or four people on it at a time. But this morning I was the fourth and considered it busy for a Sunday.   Just when I thought we were headed to the airport, the shuttle driver got a call that another person was in the lot needing a ride.  We made a turn to the right, instead of a left (to leave), and went to pick them up.
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Lenny Kravitz: It Is Time For A Love Revolution

Lenny is one of my favorite Artists. La Shawn Barber is one of my favorite bloggers. Today we are blessed to have both in one place with some very interesting revelations of a middle aged rocker.

Music Review: Lenny Kravitz: It Is Time For A Love Revolution
At 43, Lenny Kravitz is more self-reflective than usual.

He recently spoke to Maxim magazine about his newly declared sexual abstinence, “a promise I made until I get married.” Sex-free for the past three years, Kravitz wants more than just a physical connection. “I’m looking at the big picture.”

Relishing the satisfaction that can result from practicing self-discipline in a gratify-me-now culture, the four-time Grammy winner told Australia’s Herald Sun that abstinence “frees you from a lot of things and it also takes a lot of power away from people who are trying to seduce you… Ultimately I’m trying to do the right thing, to honour myself and the other person and honour God.” …

Go read the whole article whether you are a Kravitz fan or not.  I think it is very informative and brings a depth to Kravitz’s life that I had not known before.  I am going to download his album off of iTunes!

Tom Cruise, Scientologist

Just one word about the following linked video … wow.

I mean really … wow.

I don’t understand all the acronyms he says but I dare someone to count the number of times he says help. I triple double dog dare you. The video is long but I couldn’t stop watching because it so bizarre. I will pray for him to find Christ because it sounds like whatever he believes doesn’t have much grace.

Pope Speaks on the Importance of Traditional Family

I am quoted in the CitizenLink article Pope Renews His Support for Traditional Marriage.

… The pope’s adherence to the Scriptures irritates gay activists. Randy Thomas, executive vice president of Exodus International, said he wonders whether homosexuals are allowing God to define their sexuality or relying on their homosexuality to define god.

He said: “We have to figure out who’s doing what and follow God and His creative intent and be obedient to His word and not listen to someone who picks and chooses what kind of Scriptures make them feel good.”

I would like to clarify with some more context. We were talking about gay theology when I said that I wondered if some homosexuals claiming to be Christians are allowing God to define their sexuality or if their sexual desire is the predominant filter of how they define God.

To carry my thoughts further, I do think that a gay identified person can be a Christian. I was “saved” and thought it was ok to be gay for a few months, fifteen years ago, until I had a change of heart through prayer. I know of some who were of the same conviction for longer. Even so, I do believe that each person, in their own heart has to ask themselves before God… am I allowing Him to define me with His own creative intent that conflicts with my experience or feelings? Or am I defining Him in my own mind to justify identity and behavior I can’t see ever changing? … that I don’t want to change? … because of lack of change?

Am I being obedient to His will as revealed in the Bible or am I choosing to only focus on the scriptures I agree with?

And that isn’t just for those dealing with same sex attractions. In my opinion, every person claiming the Lordship of Christ would do well to ask those questions.

Either way, I won’t treat a person any differently. Been there … I have empathy. I want to bless each person with dignity and respect even if we are strongly opposed on moral and spiritual concerns.

For those that don’t know Christ they probably think this is a bunch of hooey :). I know I did. I had to put the whole gay issue on the backburner in order to even consider Christ. I am glad I did because I came to know Him and trusted in Him to save me from sins known, confused about and unknown. I trusted that if He was truly Lord and truly alive, He would reveal His will in a way that I would know it was Him. He did/does.

His love has truly been the greatest joy of my life.

Jesus Is With Those Who Know Their Need

Luke 5

1. Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax-collection booth. “Come, be my disciple!” Jesus said to him.
2. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
3. Soon Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests were there.
4. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum ?”
5. Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor ? sick people do.
6. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough.”

I like that Jesus didn’t just hang out with those of ill repute to anger or rebel against the religious elite of the day. He hung out with them to “… call sinners to turn from their sins…” I also note that he did not rebuke the Pharisees for being judgmental, irrelevant or closed minded. Those three words come to my ungracious mind right off the bat. No, He rebuked them by declaring what His mission was and who it was for. The “T”ruth of His mission and message was enough to apply personally to them and us today.

These are the self-reflective questions that come to mind:

Do I know why I need Him? Am I sick and in need of healing? Will I repent if He asks me too? … from whatever that may be? Giving up everything simply to follow Him and become a disciple? I also love that He asked Levi. He didn’t demand.

Or am I pridefully comfortably “enlightened?” … after having walked a well-worn path passing judgment on others personal worth to God who have not made the same investment? Who were they, who am I, to question God for His display of mercy (call to repentance) among any group of people?

I think there is a little bit of both the sick needing healing and Pharisee in each believer at different seasons in different situations through life. I don’t know of a single situation in my life where the above passage and two sets of questions aren’t a good inventory for my spiritual humility.

“Everything means nothing if I ain’t got you…”

Visit Alicia Keys Online

Today I was corresponding with a reporter on the importance of how men and women flourish in a true understanding of the nobility and beauty that each have as an image bearer of the most High. Men will bear His image in a wondrous and unique manner. Women bear His image in a different and just as equally wondrous and unique manner. My friend Janelle Hallman says that it was man who was made from the clay into the very image of God. Adam came from nothing to the become the jewel of Creation. From the void to dominion. And that it was woman who was brought from Adam’s rib. Eve was brought from life to Life to bear life. Both bear His image but both, from Creation, are unique. It all springs forward from that.

I didn’t go into all of that with the reporter but there was one thing I did share that just moved me with a deep emotion. I shared that both male and female bear His image in a glorious manner that only a male and only a female can. Yet when the two come together as one, they bear His image in such a way that transcends what the two can do as individuals. Man doesn’t know the fullness of what that means without the complementarity of woman and vice versa. Yet when the two become one in the bond of holy marriage. They transcend what the two of them do individually.

Deep cries out to deep in so many ways with that natural symbol of a spiritual reality.

I mentioned that at the end of spring I would wake up praying for my future wife. Which was shocking to me because I was convinced I would be “set apart” while on this earth. I know that I write a lot about homosexuality but this is SO much more than that. To reduce it to sexual re-orientation is to minimize the profound transcendence of what it means to long for my wife. I yearn for her on *every* level.

This has given me a glimpse of how the Lord yearns for His Bride, His church, to come home to Him….and that just ….is to deeply moving to bring to words. If He is sharing with me a glimpse of what it is like to yearn for a bride, it reveals He loves her so much that He yearns to be near her to just be near her. To hear her laughter, her questions, her disagreements…her sighs. To shower gifts, love and affection. To watch her smile. Just to be close. To work with her to bear spiritual children, make a difference and bring about eternal blessings. To rescue her, protect and guide her. To cheer her. Unconditional love and loyalty. He loves His Church very much. He yearns.

Maybe I will marry someday. Maybe not. I know that this season of yearning is revealing many personal things as well as corporate (Body of Christ) things. Whether I marry or not I know that the Lord is yearning to be near me. So I will draw near to him as I live “set apart.” If I find her, that would be fantastic. If not, fantastic. It’s a win win with the Lover of my soul as Lord.

There is a song by Alicia Keys that I love. It is romantic and simple. She is a beautiful lady and artist. There are some great themes in this song. Here are the lyrics:

Alicia Keys Lyrics

If I Ain’t Got You Lyrics

Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things
Define what’s within
I’ve been there before
But that life’s a bore
So full of the superficial

Some people want it all
But I don’t want nothing at all
If it ain’t you baby
If I ain’t got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain’t got you

Some people search for a fountain
Promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that’s the only way to prove you love them

And in a world on a silver platter
And wondering what it means
No one to share, no one who truly cares for me

Some people want it all
But I don’t want nothing at all
If it ain’t you baby
If I ain’t got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain’t got you

Some people want it all
But I don’t want nothing at all
If it ain’t you baby
If I ain’t got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain’t got you

If I ain’t got you with me baby
Nothing in this whole wide world don’t mean a thing
If I ain’t got you with me baby

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