A BLOG BY ALAN CHAMBERS

Great Thread at ExGay Watch

I was very excited to see Wendy Gritter do a guest post on XGW and believe that it marks an important shift in Exodus' evolution.

There is way too much in that thread to respond to, but I will simply say, I invited Wendy to share her heart at the Exodus Leadership Conference in January knowing that she was going to bring new life and ideas to the table for consideration. I was one of the ones nodding positively as she spoke. I know there were many others with the same response.

I agree wholeheartedly that clarifications need to be made on confusing terminology that at times has been used incompletely or misused. The 'change’ factor is one that has confused many.  In one of my talks at Love Won Out I have begun saying, "When we use words like 'change' the burden is on us to clearly state what that means in our lives. Some have used the word 'change' hoping that it meant something it doesn't."

I echo Wendy's apology to those that have been unintentionally, but at times recklessly, misled by poorly defined labels and words used to describe the process out of homosexuality. It is no secret that I dislike the label ‘ex-gay’. For so many people I know, it doesn’t apply—though they struggle with same-sex attraction they never identified as ‘gay’. Is it applicable to some? Yes. But, it isn’t a label I choose to use for myself or for Exodus International. For that matter, I don’t think it should be a label that anyone uses primarily to describe themselves. We are all so much more than our sexual expressions.

There are a lot of challenging things written in the XGW thread (post and comments) on Wendy that I am thinking and praying about. What is said by gay activists is not lost on me. I do care how people are impacted by my words, actions and ministry. Ironically, I know the Lord uses every voice, suggestion, encouragement and criticism to shape me.

It is a New Day at Exodus International and despite our irreconcilable differences with some, I pray that we find new opportunities to dialogue with others, learn and grow in Christ’s image.

Thanks, Wendy, and all of you who contributed to the discussion at ExGayWatch.

The Clinton's Legacy

Please read this interesting article in the Wall Street Journal about the Clinton's entitled,

The Clintons' Terror Pardons

SUPER TUESDAY

Take a moment and vote here in my Presidential Straw Poll.  Feel free to share your comments on your choice, as well.

I love America and today is part of what makes this country so great!  Join me in praying for whomever will become our next President!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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.

Hillary Clinton is a Human Being

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.

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Article Now Online

My recent article How Will You Respond to Homosexuality? is now online.  Let me know what you think.

A Bit on the Racist Side?

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.

COMMENT | LINK

Timothy, your choice of post titles is way over the top as far as  stereotypes of the African American community go.  Or is Mandisa "black with an asterisk" and thus okay to sterotype simply because she believes what the Bible says about homosexuality?

I think you owe her and the black community an apology.               

Is There a Gay Agenda?

It's no crime to have an agenda.  But it is unbelievable that every time someone mentions The Gay Agenda that it is laughed off by the activist gay community as if there isn't one.

Come on guys, you are smart, gifted, talented, unified, organized and often put the rest of us to shame because you are so effective in accomplishing your mission. Just admit it.

Or, is there such a disconnect between smaller gay rights proponents and activists that they really do not know what HRC, GLAAD, GLSEN, NGLTF, etc. are trying to accomplish? 

Those of you who read the following reprinted article can decide for yourself...the article was written in 1987 and appeared in Guide Magazine.  Looks like an agenda, smells like an agenda, it's an agenda.  And, as you read, you will see that this particular agenda has been accomplished.

(BELOW, YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS ARE NOT MINE--I COULD NOT REMOVE THEM.  THEY DO NOT HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING SPECIAL IN MY OPINION)

The Overhauling of Straight America

by Marshall K. Kirk and Erastes Pill

The first order of business is desensitization of the American public concerning gays and gay rights. To desensitize the public is to help it view homosexuality with indifference instead of with keen emotion. Ideally, we would have straights register differences in sexual preference the way they register different tastes for ice cream or sports games: she likes strawberry and I like vanilla; he follows baseball and I follow football. No big deal.

At least in the beginning, we are seeking public desensitization and nothing more. We do not need and cannot expect a full "appreciation" or "understanding" of homosexuality from the average American. You can forget about trying to persuade the masses that homosexuality is a good thing. But if only you can get them to think that it is just another thing, with a shrug of their shoulders, then your battle for legal and social rights is virtually won. And to get to shoulder-shrug stage, gays as a class must cease to appear mysterious, alien, loathsome and contrary. A large-scale media campaign will be required in order to change the image of gays in America.

And any campaign to accomplish this turnaround should do six things.

Christianity Today on Exodus

If you haven't already, at least read the last three paragraphs from Tim Stafford's article in Christianity Today. We couldn't really ask for a more honest accolade of the work God is doing through Exodus. (An Older, Wiser Ex-Gay Movement: The 30-year-old ministry now offers realistic hope for homosexuals, Oct 07)

Which sums up much of ex-gay ministry today. No hype. Limited faith in techniques. No gay bashing. No detectable triumphalism, religious or political. Just serious discipleship. This may be the only group in America that realizes all the way to the bottom that when you decide to follow Jesus, you don't always get to do what you want to do.*

The ex-gay movement runs against the cultural tide. Given adverse public opinion, the ambivalent support of conservative churches, and the common assertion that ex-gays condemn themselves to a life of frustration, you would think the movement would shrivel. Yet Exodus affiliates have doubled in number over the last 18 years. Many of its leaders have been in the public eye for 20 to 30 years. They show every sign of stability.

They live by radical ideas about sexuality—that we are not, as our culture would have it, defined by our desires, heterosexual or homosexual. Rather, we are defined by our Creator and Savior. Our attractions, always disordered to some extent, must be submitted to Christ, who alone can redeem us. For those who feel strong same-sex attractions, that task is especially difficult. But it is the same basic struggle every Christian must face.

* Emphasis added.

Entire Article: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/october/6.48.html

Is All of this Joy Dangerous? Ridiculous? Shame-based?

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.