Exodus: Live Out Loud

Man Sues Publishers Over Bible Verses

From CitizenLink:

A Michigan man is suing Zondervan Publishing and Thomas Nelson Publishing, claiming biblical references to homosexuality as a sin violate his constitutional rights and have caused him emotional pain and mental instability.

Bradley LaShawn Fowler, 39, is seeking $60 million from Zondervan and $10 million from Thomas Nelson, The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press reported. He is representing himself in both claims.

Fowler claims the Bible has made him an outcast and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of "demoralization, chaos and bewilderment."

"As frivolous as this case may sound, it's an indicator of where the homosexual agenda is headed," said Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "Ten years from now, this type of case won't be humorous at all; we'll see organizations like the ACLU dedicating resources to them because such 'language' will no longer be considered protected speech.

"Sweden, Canada and the U.K. are already prosecuting religious speech as 'hate' speech, as it relates to the biblical view of homosexuality."

Survey Shows Churches Split on Homosexuality

From OneNewsNow:

A new survey finds that Americans are split almost evenly over perceptions of homosexual behavior as either sinful or acceptable to God.

LifeWay Research, an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, surveyed 1,201 adults in April to determine their attitudes about homosexuality. Forty-eight percent responded that homosexual behavior is sinful, but 45 percent said that it is not -- basically a statistical tie when the margin of error is taken into account.

Rev. Rob Schenck of Faith and Action in Washington, DC, says the U.S. needs a spiritual awakening as it moves in the direction of what he calls "a European-like secularism."

"... [This] is a spiritual problem that requires a spiritual solution," he continues. "But there is a little bit more to it than that because we see the problem in the church, as well as outside the church."

Read the whole article >>

Randy Thomas on California's Gay Marriage Ruling

Exodus Executive Vice President Randy Thomas responds on his blog to the historic ruling by the California Supreme Court overturning a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage:

Exodus has been on record as opposing the redefinition of marriage, the use of hate crimes legislation to suppress freedom of conscience and religious liberty as well as ENDA­, the corporate version of hate crimes. ENDA is another example of the state forcing a state sanctioned sexual morality at the expense of religious liberty.

Exodus has only been involved in these public policy battles for the past five years and while we have very strong beliefs, I think it is a mistake for Christians to believe that Joe Solomnese, a gay identified man in charge of the HRC (largest gay lobby in the world) wants to proverbially burn Christians at the stake.  While he has been dismissive of my life and testimony, I choose not to be dismissive of his because I once believed as he does.  My only desire was to live in a homosexual relationship.

Read Randy's blog post >>

Megachurches Begin to Respond

From The Christian Post:

Jay Bakker, a big supporter of a pro-gay group, met privately with Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church to talk about faith and sexuality issues and to ultimately gain the support of the megapastor.

Son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Jay and a group of gays and lesbians attended one of Lakewood Church's Sunday worship services in an effort to change the influential pastor's view on gays and lesbians. At the end, Osteen did not affirm homosexuality.

It was the first of six megachurch stops in a pro-gay campaign called The American Family Outing – a collaboration between Soulforce, COLAGE, National Black Justice Coalition, and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. Some 30 LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) persons and supporters took their national campaign to the country's largest church on Mother's Day to create dialogue around LGBT issues with members of the megachurch.

Read the entire article >>

Judge Rules Georgia Tech's "Safe Space" Program May Not Label Faiths "Anti-Gay"

From Southern Voice:

Georgia Tech’s Safe Space initiative, a faculty training program funded by student activity fees, cannot include information in its training materials and website that labels certain religions in a negative context because of their views on homosexuality, a federal judge ruled last week.

Ruling in a lawsuit filed by two Georgia Tech students in 2006, U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester said, “It is puzzling to the court that the promotion of tolerance would take the appearance of such intolerance as is contained in the religious materials distributed with the Safe Space program.”

“The handouts [included in Safe Space training] clearly take the position that churches that condemn homosexuality do so on theologically flawed grounds,” Forrester wrote April 29.

Characterizing some religions as welcoming of homosexuals while labeling others as “anti-gay” represents a “clear preference of one religion over another” and violates the First Amendment prohibition against the establishment of a religion, Forrester ruled.

Read the entire article >>

Methodists Reject Changes to Gay Stance--Oppose Homophobia

From The Christian Post:

After a lengthy debate, United Methodists voted Wednesday to reject changes to its constitution that would have liberalized the church's stance on homosexuality.

Delegates to the 2008 General Conference, the denomination's highest governing body, voted against a proposed "majority report" which would have acknowledged that members of the United Methodist Church "deeply disagree with one another" on the issue of homosexuality.

Such an acknowledgment would have been a "mature way forward" and "an honest, yet humble approach to how we are to view one another," said Frederick Brewington, a layman in the New York Annual (regional) Conference, according to the United Methodist News Service.

"We can make the determination to move forward, and stop the hurt," he told delegates during a long and emotional debate, urging change to the church's policy to end more than 35 years of struggle over the issue.

The petition for changes would have also deleted the current statement in UMC's Book of Discipline that describes homosexual practice as "incompatible with Christian teaching" and bans noncelibate gay pastors.

However, the Rev. Eddie Fox argued that any United Methodist statement on human sexuality needs to be "clear, concise and faithful to biblical teaching."

Read the whole article >>

Gay-Identified Bishop Refuses to "Lend Credibility" to Symposium

From Warren Throckmorton:

Today, the Washington Blade reported that Bishop Gene Robinson backed out of his scheduled presentation at the American Psychiatric Association conference. He was scheduled to present about “A Pastoral Approach for Gay & Lesbian People Troubled by Homosexuality.”

Bishop Robinson provided the following explanation:

“Conservatives, particularly Focus on the Family, were going to use this event to draw credibility to the so-called reparative therapy movement,” Robinson told the Blade. “It became clear to me in the last couple of weeks that just my showing up and letting this event happen … lends credibility to that so-called therapy.”

This is quite troubling and not at all accurate. Since no one on the panel planned to speak about reparative therapy, it is clear to me that the Bishop was misinformed. The symposium was approved by the APA in October of 2007 and nothing has changed in the descriptions, personnel or intent of the symposium since then. The meeting is not going to endorse reparative approaches, or advocate for any change in APA policy.

Austrialian Churches Rights in Question

From the Sydney Star Observer:

Christian organisations in all states and territories may have lost the right to discriminate against gay people despite religious exemptions in anti-discrimination laws, legal experts claimed this week following a landmark ruling against the Uniting Church’s Wesley Mission.

Homosexuality as an intolerable sin was not a doctrine of Christianity, the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal ruled last month, because there were many dissenting views on the subject among Christian groups generally, and specifically within the Uniting Church.

As long as gay-friendly congregations like Metropolitan Community Church exist, this ruling means Christian organisations don’t have a license to legally discriminate against gays, Brisbane lawyer Stephen Page said.

“Religious exemptions are worded almost identically across all state and territory anti-discrimination laws, so I’d expect other commissions to start citing this case,“ Page told SSO.

“Christian religious schools in the ACT, NSW, Victoria, SA and WA would not be able to use religion as the reason that gay and lesbian students can be prevented from bringing their partners to the school formal.“

The Tribunal rejected the welfare agency’s right to refuse a gay couple seeking to become foster parents as the laws only allowed exemptions for religions, and there was no “religion of Uniting Church”.

Read the whole article >>

Children's Hospital Launches Sex Change Program

From WorldNetDaily:

A doctor at the renowned Children's Hospital Boston has launched a new program to drug children to delay puberty so they can decide whether they want a male or a female body, according to a report today in the Boston Globe.

Pediatric endocrinologist Norman Spack, 64, says he started the Gender Management Service Clinic because he found himself encountering 20-somethings who were "transgendered" and in good shape socially, "but they were having trouble getting their physique to conform to their identity.

"I knew the 20-somethings could have better chances of passing if they were treated earlier," he said.

Read the whole article >>

Psychiatrists: Let's Talk About Homosexuality

From CitizenLink:

Two social conservatives will share the stage with two pro-homosexual speakers in a notable attempt at a “balanced discussion” sponsored by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

The pro-homosexual speakers — Bishop Gene Robinson, an openly homosexual Episcopalian in New Hampshire, and Dr. David Scasta, past president of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists — will seek “common ground and new perspectives” with two conservatives: the Rev. Albert Mohler, president of South Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of the Focus on the Family board of directors; and Dr. Warren Throckmorton, associate professor of psychology at Grove City College.

“The symposium acknowledges the role of religious belief as a core variable in the development of sexual identity,” Throckmorton told CitizenLink. “To my knowledge, this meeting, distinguished by diversity of religious viewpoints, is unprecedented at APA.”

The symposium is scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. EDT, on Monday, May 5, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Read the whole article >>

Homosexuals Appose Evangelical Youth Event

From Journal Chretien:

A public row concerning an evangelical youth festival and homosexuality has developed in Germany. The federal Parliament, the Bundestag in Berlin, has discussed the subject twice during question time.

Approximately 20,000 young people are expected to attend Christival in Bremen, April 30 – May 4. One of numerous seminars and workshops was supposed to deal with the subject of a change of sexual orientation for homosexuals who are disenchanted with their lifestyle.

But Volker Beck, Parliamentary whip of the Greens in the Bundestag and a practicing homosexual, took offense. He regards “therapy” for homosexuals as “dangerous charlatanism”.

Read the whole article >>

UK Couple Told they are "Unsuitable" Foster Parents

From Daily Mail:

They are devoted foster parents with an unblemished record of caring for almost 20 vulnerable children.

But Eunice and Owen Johns have been forced to abandon their good work because they refuse to tell children as young as ten that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle.

To do so, they say, would go against their Christian beliefs.

The devastated couple withdrew an application to their council to continue as foster carers after being told they must condone homosexuality to adhere to gay rights laws.

Read the whole article >>

Touch the Sexual Sinner

Mike Ensley wrote this new article for Boundless:

Nobody needs to be told about the startling statistics regarding youth and sexuality. A rant about how the media and entertainment industry push the envelope would just be stating the obvious to anyone with ears to listen.

What gets me ranting is the Church's response; all too often living in the definition of insanity in regards to responding to the crisis of our culture. Despite its monumental failure to accomplish anything in the way of personal transformation, too many Christians — worse, those in ministry — seem bent on responding with our most ineffective asset: religion.

Read the entire article >>

Ted Haggard Ends 'Restoration' Process

From Charisma Magazine:

The council appointed to administer fallen pastor Ted Haggard’s process of “spiritual restoration” has agreed to his request to end their oversight reports the Rocky Mountain News.

 

Despite this, members of the New Life Church team contest that “the process of restoring Ted Haggard is incomplete and [New Life] maintains its original stance that he should not return to vocational ministry.”

 

Haggard, who was fired in November 2006 as pastor of the church he founded amidst a sex and drug scandal, will reportedly maintain what New Life described as an “accountability relationship” with Phoenix First Assembly of God pastor Tommy Barnett.

 

According to the Rocky Mountain News, Barnett pastors the church Haggard now attends and was a member of the council helping to restore him. 

 

Fox News reports that Haggard’s “spiritual restoration” process was expected to last at least another four years.

Christian Students May be Leaving CA Schools in Droves

From The Conservative Voice:

A broad coalition of Christian grassroots organizations have joined forces to call for California families and churches to rescue their children from California's public schools. 600,000 students may leave the California schools this year alone through their efforts. The growing coalition includes Eagle Forum, the Campaign for Children and Families, Exodus Mandate, and ten more sponsors, five of which are based in California. These organizations will be providing information to California parents and pastors concerning the new school legislation, how it mainstreams sexual deviancy, and what they can do about it. (Christiannewswire)

What SB 777 Means for Your Children With the passage of SB 777, homosexual activists now have state approval and a wide open door to promote their corrupting agenda.  SB 777 forces schoolchildren to support all aspects of transexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality, mandating changes to all textbooks, instructional materials, and school activities.

Read the entire article >>

**NOTE** Exodus Mandate has no affiliation with Exodus International.

Canadian Teacher May Lose License

From LifeSite:

The last half a decade has not been easy on B.C. teacher, Chris Kempling.

In 2003 the soft-spoken educator was cited by the College of Teachers for professional misconduct, after he wrote in to a local newspaper outlining Christian teachings on homosexuality. After a hearing on the matter, Kempling was found guilty of the charges, and his teaching license was suspended for a month.

Kempling appealed that decision in the Canadian court system, all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. In the process he spent "well over" a hundred-thousand dollars in legal fees, he says. In the end, the Supreme Court denied his appeal.

Read the entire article >>

Maryland Judge Blesses Pro-Gay Curriculum

School Board Member: "To the other side, I say get out of town, shut up..."

From WorldNetDaily:

A member of the school board in Montgomery County, Md., which has been working for years to overcome obstacles to its program that teaches students homosexuality is innate, has told members of a group objecting to the lessons to go away.

"To the other side, I say get out of town, shut up, quit costing Montgomery County taxpayers money for litigation, and we're right and parents believe we're right," board member Pat O'Neill said in a report in the Portland, Ore., Examiner.

Her demands followed a ruling from Maryland Circuit Court Judge William J. Rowan III that it is permissible for the district to teach students in Montgomery County how to use condoms during anal and oral sex, as well as that homosexuality is inborn, even though just a year ago Maryland's highest appellate court found there is no scientific basis for such a conclusion.

Read the entire article >>

NEA Demands 'Acceptance,' Not 'Tolerance'

From Renew America:

"That NEA advocates for the inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender issues in the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education teacher education program review process."

That was recommended at the NEA meeting in Orlando. That means that the NEA "recommends that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues be required content for teacher credentialing," according to AFA Action Alert.

... In addition, the NEA took out the term "tolerance" regarding homosexuality and supplied "acceptance and respect" concerning such alliances. "The author of New Business Item 52 used this rationale: 'We should teach acceptance and respect, not tolerance, of those who are different from us wherever appropriate.'"

What is particularly frightening in the light of teachers molesting students today is that NEA would not pass an amendment setting forth protection of pupils from "sexual misconduct by teachers."

"The amendment read 'To protect the rights of all students, the Association believes sexual contact between education professionals and minor students is unacceptable.' The NEA refused to pass the amendment.

Read the entire article >>

"A New Day" - the 2008 Exodus International Freedom Conference

Join hundreds of other men, women, families, ministers and youth as we fellowship together in Asheville, North Carolina at this year's International Freedom Conference. Click here for more information.

UK Sociologist Tries to Spin "Athlete" Study

From Science Daily:

A study of former high-school American Football players has found that more than a third said they had had sexual relations with other men.

In his study of homosexuality among sportsmen in the US, sociologist Dr Eric Anderson found that 19 in a sample of 47 had taken part in acts intended to sexually arouse other men...

...“The evidence supports my assertion that homophobia is on the rapid decline among male teamsport athletes in North America at all levels of play,” he writes in his study, entitled ‘Being masculine is not about whom you sleep with…Heterosexual athletes contesting masculinity and the one-time rule of homosexuality’. It will be published in the journal Sex Roles in January.

Dr. Anderson seems adamant that this is a revolutionary new look at American athletes (and that sex between men must signify a decline in 'homophobia'), but the sample in question may be a little less representative of American sportsmen than suggested.

The 47 men, aged 18-23, were all American Football players who previously played at the high school (secondary school) level but had failed to be picked for their university’s team and were now cheerleaders instead.

Not to be stereotypical, but this isn't exactly an objective pool to draw from. Dr. Anderson did make one interesting observation, though, that we ought to pay attention to:

He believes the positive portrayal of homosexuality on television, the ease with which homosexuals could gradually ‘come out’ by using the internet, the ability for straight men to talk with gay men on the internet, and the decline of religious fundamentalism has made homosexuality and homosexual acts considerably less controversial for university-aged men.

Violent Messages on GLBT Sites Under Scrutiny

From The Christian Post:

A Nebraska gay-rights activist who works with youth is under unofficial investigation over a series of disturbing messages justifying violent retribution toward those who bully gay students.

The messages have appeared on several websites owned by Brian Wyant, coordinator at the Rainbow Outreach Metro Omaha GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) Center but have changed several times since several concerned Christians and gay-rights advocates brought it to their attention and went public with the material on their blogs.

The original message that caught the eye of prominent former homosexual Alan Chambers of Exodus International stated in all-capital letters:

"Without GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) access, students are forced to simply kill classmates who taunt & bully - shooting, stabbing and poisoning are the common forms of retribution. Far too many government officials like bullying children to the point where retribution against classmates and faculty is only option to redress relentless human rights violations in many regions. Speciously-named 'pro-family' leaders are child molesters who make money stigmatizing homosexuality to silence gay victims."

The offensive statement was posted on gaystraightalliance.org, which Chambers and others confirmed is not connected to the official GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) movement focused on ensuring safe schools for all students regardless of sexual orientation.

Read the rest of the article >>

Also, further commentary:

    by Alan Chambers >>

    by Mike Ensley >>

School Allows Day of Truth - After Legal Pressure

A Danbury, CT high school, which fully endorsed the pro-gay Day of Silence, initially refused one student's right to express her own beliefs through the Day of Truth. That's when Alliance Defense Fund stepped in. From Inside Tennessee:

After receiving a letter from attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, the principal of Danbury High School agreed Wednesday to allow a student to promote and participate in the Day of Truth after first having prohibited the student from doing so.  The school officially endorses the Day of Silence, an event promoting the homosexual agenda, but had thwarted student Rosemary Shakro’s attempts to promote the Day of Truth by inviting a speaker to a club meeting and posting signs announcing the event.

“Christian students should be allowed to express their viewpoint just like any other student,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman.  “The Day of Truth is an opportunity for Christian students to respectfully present a different viewpoint than students participating in the Day of Silence.  Allowing students to have a Day of Silence without allowing students to have a Day of Truth limits free speech and the free exchange of ideas.”

“We are pleased that we had the opportunity to explain the law so that the school could do the right thing and respect the First Amendment rights of this student and any other students that wish to observe the Day of Truth.  We hope other schools will follow this example for their students,” Bowman added.

Shakro wished to invite a guest speaker to her “Youth Alive” after-school club meeting this Thursday as part of activities leading up to the Day of Truth.  The school has allowed other clubs, such as the Gay-Straight Alliance, to have outside guests speak at school assemblies and club meetings.  However, the school’s principal, who prohibited a speaker for last year’s Day of Truth, prohibited this year’s speaker as well, saying that the Day of Truth is too “controversial” and “counteractive.”  The principal had also claimed that “anti-homosexual” speech is prohibited at the school and that the presentation could cause contention among students.

“In addition, the principal had prohibited the posting of signs in school hallways announcing the club meeting, nonsensically suggesting that the ‘All are welcome’ message on the sign was an invitation to the general public to trespass on school property,” Bowman noted.

Bowman sent a letter to the principal explaining the law, and the school now says that Shakro will be allowed to invite the speaker and to post signs announcing the meeting.

“According to the law, a school cannot allow students to promote one viewpoint and then prohibit promotion of another viewpoint.  School officials also cannot ban speech just because they think it’s unpopular or controversial.  We are very pleased that Rosemary’s constitutional rights will be respected,” said Bowman.

A copy of the letter sent to Danbury High School is  available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ShakroLetter.pdf. 

New Exodus Blog

Exodus has a new blog called "Live Out Loud."  Check it out!

Men of God It's Time to Stand Against Homosexuality

http://www.bloggernews.net/2006/02/men-of-god-its-time-to-stand-against.html

"

Have you ever noticed that truth doesn't matter except in certain cases? Well, as I've been thinking about the issue of homosexuality, and as Janet Parshall rightly said not long ago on Larry King, "we're seeing the homosexualizing of America" I'm fascinated by the fact that the mainstream media refuses to print the truth about this issue. However, what's even more astounding to me is that most so called biblical churches refuse to address the issue as well - which is why many liberal and biblically illiterate churches have embraced the lie of the gay agenda."- Stacy L. Harp, Blogger News Network, Feb. 14, 2006

Canadians Reap the whirlwind of Legalized Same-Sex Marriage

http://lonestartimes.com/2005/11/16/canadians-reap-the-whirlwind-of-legalized-same-sex-marriage/

"Why Passing The Texas Marriage Amendment Was Important

Our northern neighbors are caught in the confluence of legalized same-sex marriage and "hate crimes" statutes. According to this recent story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, legalized alternative marriage in Canada has gone beyond inclusion to revolution.

[Bishop Frederick Henry said] "Children will have to be taught about homosexual acts in health class, as they now are about heterosexual acts. Books that promote same-sex marriage are being introduced in some elementary schools. In one action, complainants have demanded ‘positive queer role models’ across the whole curriculum. If parents complain, they’ll be branded as homophobes." Sound farfetched?"- TexasTommy, Nov. 26, 2005

Answering Questions about Homosexuality

http://38.114.12.136/readTopic.asp?PostingId=1679973

"Regarding the question "Is homosexuality a choice?," I thought Tim hit the proverbial nail on its head. He made a good point in that we are never given a choice in what we are tempted with but that we are responsible for how we respond to those temptations. For example, there are a couple of people that just grate on my nerves. Seriously. Is it necessarily my fault that our personalities are so different or that I disagree with them? No, but I am ABSOLUTELY responsible for the times when I don't respond in love and when I don't treat them as Jesus would... with grace and compassion. I would like to clarify that Tim distinguished between the ideas of being tempted by something and being submissive to it because of a 'genetic disorder.' He fully acknowledges that he made the decision to engage in a homosexual lifestyle and does not believe that homosexuality is part of his genetic makeup; He also gave references to various medical/scientific studies. I'm runnin' short on time, so I'll try and post those later on."- Mrfixitonline.com

Dr. Phil Show and audience manipulation

http://www.wthrockmorton.blogspot.com/

"Yesterday (10/5), the Dr. Phil Show taped a show with three segments relating in some way to youth and sexual orientation. I first learned of the planned taping via colleague Floyd Godfrey. Floyd was called by the producer of the show looking for people who were ex-gay and willing to talk about it. I suggested several people as did Floyd. Eventually, David Kyle Foster was chosen to appear on the show.

Prior to the taping I learned from reading ex-gay watch that the Dr Phil Show collaborated with GLAAD to "fill the audience with GLAAD supporters and allies." - Warren Throckmorton, Oct. 6, 2005

Why Homosexuals Hate Ex-Gays

http://adamsweb.redstate.org/story/2005/8/21/16342/3192

"From WND we have an article on a threat being made on the life of an ex-gay in San Diego. According to WND, the person (a concerned Community Member) wrote: "The moment was never riper for the San Diego (LGBT) community to push for the elimination and suppression of the James Hartline's (sic) of the world. We currently have an openly lesbian (interim) mayor of San Diego and an openly gay mayor of Chula Vista; PEOPLE....WE are in POWER! WE are IN CHARGE!" Now, obviously these are the type of thoughtful people you want in charge. This is after all the American left, devoid of intolerance. Right. I don't say all Gays are wanting to murder people, but they clearly don't like the ex-gays. People are more tolerant, more for things like gay marriage if they believe homosexuality is something immutable. If people think you're just deciding to do this because you like it, and you could be hetrosexual if you wanted to, support drops quite a bit."-Adam Graham, Redstate.org,

APA Backs Homosexual Marriage

http://www.legendgames.net/showstory.asp?page=blognews/stories/UN0000282.txt

Editorial by Bryan Massingale

"The statement supports changing the traditional understanding of marriage as the union of a man and a woman "in the interest of maintaining and promoting mental health".....The bottom line here is that SSM isn't a medical issue."

Homosexual, Transgender & Evangelical Lifestyles

http://countdown21.redstate.org/story/2005/5/10/215251/734

By: countdown21 · Section: Diaries

Scanning a local newspaper (The Washington Times, Tuesday, May 10, 2005) I came across four articles (see below) involving homosexuality or transgender issues in the `A' section. I don't think there are too many people who are not aware of the many facets of these lifestyles or worldviews. A question struck me when pondering this: Why the misunderstanding of what an evangelical worldview is?

Wanted: A more Christian world

http://scatteredwords.com/d/2005/02/wanted_a_more_c.php

In his post on Scattered Words, Feb 24, 2005, Ben says:

"There's a sense of Evangelical entitlement in our country; somehow, from somewhere, the idea has been pushed forward that we're entitled to a more Christian world -- that just because our beliefs are true and right, everyone should do as we do, because, well, they just should."

Follow the link above for the rest of the post.

The Illusion of Moral Neutrality--Robert George on Marriage

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/mohler/

Albert Mohler
Author, Speaker, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

In the flood of words published each year, relatively few are worthy of notice, and even fewer deserve lasting attention. Regrettably, some of the more worthy books, essays, and articles are simply lost in the tidal flow of literary output. From time to time, a work comes to new life and renewed relevance. Such is the case with "Marriage and the Illusion of Moral Neutrality," an essay by Princeton University professor Robert P. George.

Life of distinction

It had been a while since I viewed the posts at Scattered Words, a blog that has been referenced in this forum before. I just read through some notable posts by Ben, and thought I'd pass those along.

Life of distinction

'Never Again'

Biding my time

UCC Ad Commentaries

Here are two commentaries on the controversy surrounding the United Church of Christ advertisement, which was rejected by the major broadcast networks. The first appears in the LA Times, supporting the airing of the adverts and was written by Madison Shockley, minister of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, CA. It is titled "Since When Does Conflict Turn Off the Networks?"

The second is from Christianity Today's weblog editor, Ted Olsen, and appears in yesterday's CT weblog. His commentary is an exploration of some of the surrounding issues that many Christians find offensive, beyond just the secular take on the church/homosexual inclusion issue.

Scattered Words

Here's an interesting blog I stumbled across a few weeks ago through the Wikipedia entry on Exodus International. This comes from Ben, a self-described 22-year old living in the DC area who, as he says, has struggled with his sexuality for years. The blog draws individuals from both sides of the homosexuality debate. It is often an educational read; most of the dialogue is respectful; and Ben demonstrates an impressive knowledge of ex-gay and scriptural apologetics. He is also very honest about the difficulties involved in walking away from homosexuality.

I keep this one bookmarked.

Audioblog: Interview with Rick Santorum

Blogs for Bush - http://www.blogsforbush.com/
Solid interview from Matt Margolis with Senator Rick Santorum at the RNC. Margolis: "The main topic we discussed was gay marriage and the issue of a Federal Marriage Amendment defining marriage as being between a man and women being added to the constitution. I asked the Senator if he thought such an amendment could be passed, and he told us he feels "it's an important enough issue that we have to try," and explained that it takes a long time to get an amendment passed. Check out the entire interview!

Colorado's Episcopal Diocese offers compromise on gay clergy

BOSTON GLOBE - http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2004/08/31/colorados_episcopal_diocese_offers_compromise_on_gay_clergy/?rss_id=Boston.com%20/%20News
[NOTE: I finally get to shine a light on one of the best bloggers out there: Midwest Conservative Journal. Christopher Johnson has done a masterful job on tracking the heart-rending implosion of the ECUSA on issues related to gay ordination, gay mariage, and the headlong flight from the Mother Ship. So... first go here and get the media spin on things. Then go here for a well deserved dismantling of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado's "Don't try this at home, kids!" brand of higher thought and politcal expediancy. You rock, Chris. - GW].

Creating Blog News Category

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