I have started a new tradition. I will now be taking each January off with my wife and kids. So, no blogging, no commenting, no email, just my family!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in February---rested, recharged and ready.
I have been described as an ultra conservative and a member of the vast right wing conspiracy. I am a Republican, a conservative Christian and the head of an international pro-family organization. As I type those titles and labels I do so thinking of the millions of people who would say that these things are strikes against me. I think someone like Hillary Clinton might even be one of the people that would think that way. I don't know.
Hillary won't be my pick for President should she be one of the candidates I have to choose from come next November. There isn't much I agree with her on where public policy is concerned. Like so many Americans, the very thought of her causes strong emotions and opinions to well up within me. I have stated many times to friends that I don't like her. The truth is that I don't know her. So, a more honest assessment would be, I don't like what I know about her politically.
On the other hand, I have to give her credit for the things she has accomplished. She was once the most successful lawyer in Arkansas. She is unbelievably smart. She was the first lady of Arkansas and of America and served tirelessly beside her husband during all of those administrations. Hillary Clinton became a Senator and is now running for President. No slouch accomplishes all of these things.
Ironically, when I made an appointment with Senator Hillary Clinton's office last year senior level staffers were assigned to that meeting. When I walked in, presumably as a member of the enemy camp, I was warmly welcomed, greeted and treated the entire time. I am sure her staff hated my position on the issues I was discussing with them, but they were consummate professionals and treated me with the utmost respect. I have been in hundreds of offices on the Hill and not all Republican ones treat me like they did. Whatever the reason for their demeanor, I appreciated and believed it genuine.
Regardless of her accomplishments and my opinion of her politics, however, I must unequivocally denounce the names she is being called by fellow Republicans, especially those who are followers of Christ. I have gotten one too many emails with bumper stickers calling her a bitch. And, I was very disappointed when Senator McCain failed to stand up for a fellow Senator, Presidential rival and woman last month when one of his supporters asked, "How do we beat the bitch?"
I am sick of politics in general, but most assuredly dirty politics. I am tired of the name calling. We are a country very divided when it comes to social issues, policy, the war and so many other things. But, we are nonetheless all Americans living in the greatest country in history.
I hope Hillary Clinton doesn't become President of the United States, but if she does then I have an obligation to respect her office, authority and to pray God's very best for her. She is, after all, a human being, a wife and a mother. I can imagine how her daughter must feel when she hears people calling her mom these names. I can also imagine how non-Christians feel when they see Christians calling Hillary Clinton a bitch---turned off to Christians and Christianity and skeptical of the God we serve.
If you don't like Hillary, don't vote for her. But, for goodness sake, have some respect.
Over at Jim Burroway's blog Box Turtle Bulletin Timothy Kincaid wrote the post I have pasted below on our friend, Mandisa Hundley - the former American Idol Contestant turned Christian recording artist.
Mandisa Loves Her the Exodus
Timothy Kincaid
September 20th, 2007
Grasping desperately at the last few seconds of her 15 minutes of fame, Ex-Idol Mandisa gave yet another interview, this time to Melissa Riddle of Baptist Press, explaining how her display on America’s most popular vehicle for self-aggrandizement was all for Jesus and to let people know “know what Christianity looks like.”
And, of course, she had to tell yet again how she was misunderstood by The Gays:
“This song,” she said as the crowd cheered, “goes out to everybody who wants to be free. Your addiction, lifestyle and situation may be big, but God is bigger.”
“I really was talking about my life, my addiction to food, my lifestyle,” Mandisa said of that night. “You know how people say you shouldn’t diet but have a lifestyle change? That was what I was talking about, but people partnered that with my admiration for Beth Moore and Exodus Ministries. The ill-conceived conclusion was that I didn’t like gay people.”
So really, now, The Gays should be so sorry for misunderstanding poor little Mandisa. After all, how could anyone mistake her admiration for Exodus as being the basis for her “lifestyle” comment. I’m guessing it’s because they’ve already seen what her brand of Christianity looks like.
Dr. Andrea Macari, the "expert" they used on the Mike and Juliet Show this morning called my life ridiculous, shame-based and impossible. Interesting that she's never met my wife or me and thinks she can still offer such an opinion.
The funny thing to me is that she thinks people like me should be true to ourselves and live openly gay lives. What she is advocating is that individuals should leave their spouses, abandon their children and give into sexual urges. Sure, live life being true to your every sexual whim. Well, Dr. Macari, I did that and long before I was married or even wanted to be married I chose to live a different life. And, I am sorry that doesn't fit with your brand of "science" but I have three people that I absolutely can't wait to get home to every day at 5pm and who I treasure more than life and they are my wife, my son and my daughter. Nothing could ever tempt me to leave them or to be unfaithful in thought or deed.
Dr. Macari is the epitome of intolerance. Her brand of therapy is abusive as she weilds her credentials and seeks to wreck homes in the name of helping people live as she believes they were created to live.
The truth is that I am not here to try to convince the Dr. Macari's of the world that my life is legitimate. Leslie and I are simply sharing our story so that the individual out there who has found gay life to be as empty as I found it can know there is hope for a better life.
Change IS possible and my life is but one of thousands that proclaim that truth.
This isn't shame---this is bliss.
Our very dear friend, Dr. D. James Kennedy, went to be with the Lord last night. He was a pastor, friend and leader, but most of all he was a husband and father.
Dr. Kennedy will be greatly missed. Learn more about who Dr. Kennedy was and how he helped to change the world.
Our prayers go out to Mrs. Anne Kennedy, their daughter and her family.
View the Orlando Sentinel article on Dr. Kennedy and sign his guest book.
In the early 1990's I was a participant in an Exodus Member Ministry and was negatively affected by Darlene Bogle's decision to go back into homosexuality. To have a leader who had written a book, led a ministry and spoken at conferences make such a decision was challenging for me in those early days. I was disappointed and mad. But, I also understood as an adult that we all make mistakes and that just because Darlene went back didn't mean that I couldn't make it. I appreciate the apology she made, but I don't think she was apologizing to people like me. Nonetheless, I forgave her a long time ago for saying things that she now indicates she didn't mean and for causing many to doubt that change was possible.
As for Michael, a man that I genuinely like, I think you have said everything about Exodus that needs to be said. You were involved in an integral part of Exodus in the early days and for that I will always honor you and be grateful as will thousands of others. Exodus helped save my life and you are a hero for pioneering this great work. But, you left very shortly after you came and truth be told, I have now been a part of Exodus far longer than you. I, and so many others, are the ones who have chosen to remain faithful to the mission of this ministry. I encourage you to move on--live your life. People are choosing to live their lives how they see fit---just as you are. You chose something different than me and so many others. Like Darlene, I don't think your apology was for people like me, but I do think both of you owe one to those you hurt when you left this ministry.
To all three of you: Darlene, Michael and Jeremy, your time with Exodus is over and you have said your peace. I encourage all of you to serve the Lord, live your lives and respect the fact that others have, can and will continue to choose a path different than the one you all are on respectively.
I am thankful for Exodus International and the leaders like Frank Worthen, Bob Davies, Joe Dallas, Sy Rogers, Andy Comiskey, Pat Lawrence, and countless others who have shown that people can live beyond homosexuality and that freedom is possible.
Today is the International Day Against Homophobia. And, you might be surprised to learn that I support this effort. Homophobia does exist. Irrational fear of those who are gay or lesbian is a real problem in our culture. While I believe we have come a long way, I still see true homophobia at work each and every day.
People often call me homophobic, which is ridiculous. I am not afraid of gay people nor do I hate them. I don't even dislike anyone based upon their sexual identity. For that matter, I can't think of anyone that I even dislike. Forgive me as I digress, I ran out of Ritalin last week.
One of the primary focuses of Exodus International and one of my missions in life is to help the Church come to see those who are gay -identified or who struggle with homosexuality as people whom Christ died for and loves equally. The Church should be more welcoming to these folks than the local gay bar. Gay and lesbian identified people should be able to find more help within the Church than they can outside of it. It has long been my goal to so impact the Church with the message of truth and grace that Exodus would be able to go out of business.
So, when it comes to the evils of homophobia, bullying, name calling, hatred and violence where those affected by homosexuality are concerned, I stand with all decent human beings who are fighting and praying for an end to the ignorance and ungodliness that cause them.
Join me, won't you?
Dr. Jerry Falwell, Chancellor of Liberty University, Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and dear friend of Exodus and me went to be with the Lord this morning after suffering from some type of cardiac arrhythmia.
We send our love and prayers to the Falwell family as well as the members of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University who have suffered a great loss today.
Unlike Ann Coulter's comments at the CPAC event earlier this month, General Peter Pace's personal beliefs about homosexual behavior as stated in an interview with the Chicago Tribune this week need no qualification or apology. While I will defend Ann Coulter's right to say what she did to the death, I think our society needs to treat others like we'd like to be treated. Ms. Coulter's remarks were rude and unnecessary. General Pace's comments were true and firmly rooted in his upbringing and faith.
I am thankful for the fact that we still have leaders in high posts who are willing to be respectfully honest about their beliefs and opinions without regard for what is politically correct. I am tired of our leaders caving into the intimidation that comes from the heavy handed gay activist community. There is still room in the debate over homosexuality for the Judeo-Christian perspective.
The 'Sheep Study' of 2005 has resurfaced. For those of you who don't recall the 'Sheep Study' don't worry---I barely remember the details. Suffice it to say, some researchers were trying to once again prove that homosexuality is genetic this time based upon a group of rams within the Corvallis herd that " consistently ignore females and bestow all their amorous attentions on members of their own sex". This herd resides at Oregon State University.
Fast forward to 2007. Not only has the study reared its baaaaad self again, there are new questions being raised over whether or not in-utero surgery should be considered to manipulate a gay gene if it were found in a pre-born child.
WHAT??
Pardon me while I take a deep breath and try to remain calm.
First of all, would we even be talking about this if a genetic link to heterosexual pornography had been found? I think not. There has been some credible evidence to support that there is a genetic link to alcoholism. Have we seen any news articles discussing whether or not we should "fix" this problem in-utero? Uh uh.
I am not sure whether or not homosexuality has a genetic link or not. Frankly, I don't care. What I do know is that I can logically look back at my development and understand why I struggled with homosexuality. From my inborn personality traits to how I perceived and responded to the environment in which I was raised, I believe that most of my issues were developmental in nature. Regardless of the roots, I believe that homosexuality is a sinful condition like so many others and my choice, based upon unchosen circumstances and feelings, was to pursue a life that lined up with my faith.
I think that like everything else, homosexuality is multi-causal. To simply pawn it off on genetics invalidates its complexity and my story. To say that it is all developmental might invalidate your story and any sound genetic research that has or is being done. To say that homosexuality is simply caused by a gay demon, in my experience and opinion, is ridiculous.
I was asked this morning if I would have supported my mother's decision to fix any genetic mutation that might have caused homosexuality had she been made aware of the problem before I was born. The answer is no. And, I am sure that is what my mom would have said, too.
In fact, as an almost 41 year old woman mom found out that she was pregnant with her 6th child about the same time she was becoming a grandmother for the 3rd time. My mother's doctor told her that she was too old to go through with her pregnancy and that if she did she would most likely have a mongoloid baby. My mom decided that this was her last pregnancy, she wasn't going to worry for 9 months and that she would love a mongoloid baby as much as a healthy one.
The truth is that we all have to take responsibility for ourselves. When someone realizes that they have same-sex attractions they have to decide what to do about that. Of course, I believe that homosexuality is changeable and I believe, based upon my own story, that it is preventable. But, I don't believe that a pill or surgery or holding someone will provide the results that some hope for---there is no quick fix or formula to changing one's sexuality. Instead, most successful and longterm change occurs when one decides to daily submit their mind, will and emotions to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Some find freedom from feelings and attractions while others simply find freedom from an identity that was incompatible with their faith.
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