Hey, you're not allowed to be gay and save people, leave that atheist family alone!

Courtesy NG of NGblog
AFA's One News Now on Ray Boltz' now "devastated" family...

I presented an idea, based on an observation, and within hours it became a reality, via...
Now, there's already a story going on about how "ex-gay" Greg Quinlan's Greg Quinlan's pants are on fire, and you can read all about it here, here, and even pro-ex-gay-here. Not to mention Google.

So, now that you're caught up on...oh wait, that's right, re EGW, he also "now works with the New Jersey Family Policy Counsel in an unknown capacity."

~~~~

So NOW that you're caught up on the shenanigans of a one Mr. "ex-gay" Greg Quinlan, FINALLY we can get to the story. (though technically at this point I'm pretty much ready for bed)

ANYWAY...From the American Family Association's One News Now video outlet, Mr Quinlan had this to say about Christian Celebrity Ray Boltz' 'coming out' in the Washington Blade article

(It would appear that Mr. Quinlan had not even read the article before agreeing to the interview):

Jim Brown: Now Ray Boltz, he divorced in 2005, but he was married for 33 years, has 4 kids…tell us how devastating this is to his family, you know what happens in a situation like this.

Greg Quinlan: Well you start to wonder what predicated the divorce, if it wasn't this, or if he’s decided to go this route because of the divorce, I don’t know. Divorce is a horrible, horrible, horrible thing. But yeah, it’s going to have a tremendous impact on his children, and I would hope that he thought this out. I don’t know, and haven’t heard, and of course I shouldn’t have heard, whether he’s sought any help--about any same sex attraction or any feelings that he had. But there is help for him, there’s hope for him. And I would just hope that if he hears this, that he would start to seek that hope.

I mean, he can even contact me through you folks, and we can set something up. I mean, there’s no reason for him to be--in--to be stuck where he is, to be where he’s at.
~~~~
Ray Boltz: And I'm going to do a song right now that I wrote a long time ago. And I want to sing it and dedicate it to you guys, to Pastor Jeff...to my family...that I don't know where they are...they're they are...

Here's "the thing," not only was his FAMILY there in the audience to SUPPORT HIM, the first 8 songs of his concert set were clearly pro-gay-supportive.

Point being, he's put quite a bit of "thought" into the decision to be honest with himself, his family, and now the world. And to trivialize that, is an insult of the highest order.

If that is acceptable to you, then so be it. But know that his wife and his kids still love and support him.

Or would you say that he, or at least his family, have now become some unwitting participants in a so-called "homosexual agenda?"

This was the song he sang at the end of the above video clip. It's not from the same concert, but it's the same song. It's repeated a few posts down and it's primarily how I know him, and why I'm spending so much time on this subject.

Not just the song, but the whole of what this means. There are a lot of anti-gay "Christians" who are doing a lot of self examination right now, specifically, and just because of this. And that's why I think this event is so important.

"Thank You" By Ray Boltz

__________________
PS I made a few edits on 9-27

Ray Boltz music critique, by Joey DiGuglielmo of the Washington Blade

This isn't regarding the same concert I posted about in the below post, but Joey did a much better job of critiquing Boltz' new set than I could have:

Nearly all the new material Boltz unveiled in his roughly 75-minute set addressed the gay experience. He joked that "Don't Tell Me Who to Love," an up-tempo dance number he sang to a pre-recorded track, might sound a bit too much like a Cher cut, but he said a producer he'd been working with in Los Angeles encouraged him to try it. The audience responded with a standing ovation at its clear, pro-gay message

Musically speaking, that song was the exception though. Most of the new material was performed with Boltz accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Even though the audience was hearing these numbers for the first time, their accessible, uncomplicated lyrics made them easy crowd pleasers. The cleverly crafted "I Will Choose to Love," ominous, jangly "Swimming Hole" (about a hate crime) and emotionally bare "God Knows I Tried" were the standouts.

Read the rest here: Ray Boltz unveils new music during weekend D.C. mini concert

I look forward to his new CD, it will be a lifesaver for many.

He didn't just 'come out,' he came out to help.

From his website, rayboltz.com:

A few years ago I made the decision to retire from contemporary Christian music. I had won awards, performed in front of thousands of people, and sold millions of records. Still, I believed that if people knew who I really was, I would never be accepted. During the last few years I've learned that there are many people who feel the same way I did. One church in particular has helped me in many ways. The Metropolitan Community Church (http://www.mccchurch.org/) was started forty years ago by Rev. Troy Perry in the Los Angeles area and has an outreach to the LGTB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. I am happy to announce that I have accepted an invitation to perform at two of their churches. On September 14th, I will be singing at the Jesus Metropolitan Community Church (www.jesusmcc.org) in Indianapolis at 6:00p.m. On September 21st, I'll be singing at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. (http://www.mccdc.com/) at 3:00p.m.
~~~~The following is the full recording of that concert, as highlighted above (and it's embeddible!):

Addendum, 9-23-08:

Introduction by Reverend Jeff Miner, Senior Pastor: Ray Boltz has written and sung some of Christian Music’s greatest hits; Thank You, Watch The Lamb, I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb. He’s sold more than 4 million albums and songs. His songs have repeatedly reached the top of the Christian music charts, including 12 number 1 hits. He’s won 3 Dove awards, Christian Music’s highest honor. He’s been an icon in the Christian Music Movement, although if you’ve read the blade article, you know that I was not aware of that until recently [audience laughs]. But then 4 weeks ago in Sunday evening church I--someone asked us to pray for Payton Manning, and I said “Is he injured?” [more laughter]. So, all things are relative.

What an honor it is for this church, and for our congregation to have Ray here to sing tonight. The timing is a special honor. Many of us who sit in this room have gone through a process of coming out. Where we have reached that time and place in life where we just had to say completely, and authentically who we are, and that is not easy. And there is a price to pay. Not just financially, but in many realms of life. So it takes a lot of courage.

I think all of you know that on Friday of this week, there was an article in the Washington Blade, where Ray shared that information, his coming out story, with the Washington Blade, and therefore with the world. And he’s been getting a lot of…interesting mail. But the world will never again be the same, and for those who have gone through the process, although it comes with a cost, I don’t think any of us would ever say we’d ever go back. [audience: “Amen!” / applause] There is a freedom that comes with that, that nothing can match.

But, as most of us who’ve come out experienced, when you come out, you don’t just want to be known as “that gay person.” You’re still the same full and wonderful person as always. And I’ve talked to Ray enough to know that, that’s not his primary identity, just like it’s not ours. And so he is here tonight, not to sing to us as a gay man, but as a brother in Christ, who happens to be a gay man. And we are honored that his first concert after sharing that information with the world, would be here with us.

There’ll be many detractors as Ray moves ahead, and so tonight, our goal, is to surround you with love, to celebrate your courage [rousing applause], to say thank you…didn’t somebody write a song about that…[laughter]. Seriously, we want to say thank you tonight, so, sisters and brothers, let’s give a rousing welcome, and our loving best to Mr. Ray Boltz. [applause, standing ovation, concert begins] End addendum.

Ray Boltz in Concert from Jesus MCC on Vimeo.
So, grab a beer, pop some corn, put your feet up and relax...oh, and don't forget the kleenex (seriously, that should be first on the list).
______________
Ok, just to let you know, I'm only getting this through my left speaker, just in case anyone else is having the same problem.

Jeff Buchanan of Exodus International endorses mass murder.

From Exodus: To READ Jeff Buchanan's answer to "Is Homosexuality a Sin?"

By: Jeff Buchanan
Director of the Exodus Church Network
September 9, 2008

"I realized that it is the male/female relationship that God deemed “very good” and no other.

In addition, I found plenty of other Bible passages that clearly defined homosexuality as sin such as Genesis 19:4-11, Leviticus 18:22; 20:13"

Leviticus 20:13:

'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

So according to Jeff Buchanan of Exodus International (Re "God"), If you're a gay guy who's has sex before, and accept yourself for who you are, and who you love, it would be a sin NOT to kill you.

Exodus International actually blames the deaths of 6 million Jews on same-sex attraction itself - by linking to Scott Lively's Holocaust revisionist book "The Pink Swastika."

Was once not enough?

Oh no! Does my salvation still count if it happened during a Ray Boltz concert?!!

First of all, this is from One News Now (AFA), and apparently they do videos now.

I've hyperlinked a few interesting and relevant side notes and sites regarding the article and video (linked below, you can pretty much run with it from there (if you haven't already))

It doesn't "sound" mean, but I thought some of the insinuations were merciless.

I can’t embed this, so you’ll have to watch it from the link, and/or here’s the full transcript:

Interviewer, Jim Brown: We’re here at the values voters summit in Washington and I have beside me Greg Quinlan, who is with the New Jersey Family Policy Council.

Greg has an incredible testimony. He lived over a decade in the homosexual lifestyle, and after accepting Jesus Christ as his savior, he left that lifestyle, and now he is helping people that are struggling with the sin of homosexuality.

Greg, I wanted to talk to you today about a very sad story that we’ve just heard of - Ray Boltz, a very popular, widely known Christian music singer, he has announced to the Washington Blade that he is a homosexual. He say’s ‘God made him that way,’ and I want to get your reaction. This is stunning news for the Christian community.

Greg Quinlan: Yeah, it is stunning news. I’m absolutely shocked. I’ve got some of his CD’s and cassettes tapes--tells ya how long it’s been around.

When he says that he’s born that way, we now know for a fact that that’s false. In fact, just last year, in March, the director of the Human Genome Project, Dr. Francis Collins, said this; he says, homosexuality is not hard wired, there is no gay gene. We’ve mapped the human genome, we now know there is no genetic cause for homosexuality [Emp: Or you could just read (or even just skim through) this EGW article FROM LAST MAY]. In fact, study after study shows that nobody’s born gay, and if there’s any changes in brain abnormality, that usually comes after the behavior has started, not before -- it’s usually predicated on nurture, it's never nature.

Jim Brown: Now Ray Boltz, he divorced in 2005, but he was married for 33 years, has 4 kids…tell us how devastating this is to his family, you know what happens in a situation like this.

Greg Quinlan: Well you start to wonder what predicated the divorce, if it wasn't this, or if he’s decided to go this route because of the divorce, I don’t know. Divorce is a horrible, horrible, horrible thing. But yeah, it’s going to have a tremendous impact on his children, and I would hope that he thought this out. I don’t know, and haven’t heard, and of course I shouldn’t have heard, whether he’s sought any help--about any same sex attraction or any feelings that he had. But there is help for him, there’s hope for him. And I would just hope that if he hears this, that he would start to seek that hope.

I mean, he can even contact me through you folks, and we can set something up. I mean, there’s no reason for him to be--in--to be stuck where he is, to be where he’s at.

Jim Brown: Very interesting reaction from the Gospel Music Association, the group that gives out the Dove awards. They say that they’re not going to comment on the lifestyle choices of people in their community.

Mike Airhart from TWO caught that last one

Sidestepping any discussion of science, the Gospel Music Association mischaracterized Ray Boltz’s honesty, saying, “We do not comment on the lifestyle choices of people in our community.” (Emphasis is TWO’s.)

Greg Quinlan: Well does “comment” mean that you’re not going to retract any of his music, that you’re not going to ask for some of the awards back - I don’t know what that means, does that mean he no longer has membership?

You can’t---this is sin, you know, it’s a disorder, it should be called it that, but this is sin. Homosexuality is something that you can overcome like any sin you can do that. Sometimes it’s a struggle, sometimes it’s hard, I’m not going to tell you it was easy, it certainly wasn’t for me. But to sit there - when you make that kind of statement, it’s almost like you’re enabling a behavior, that is frankly, totally inconsistent, incongruent with the message of the gospel. But since no one’s born a homosexual, if you live as a homosexual, you are living against God’s purpose. It’s outside of His purpose, because His purpose was for a man and His purpose for a woman was to be together. Not two men, not two women.

Jim Brown: Greg, finally, the response from the Christian community, Christian radio stations, what should it be?

Greg Quinlan: Well, we should, you know, don’t hate Ray Boltz, you love him - except for the grace of God, you know, where would we be? He needs our prayers, in that sense, he needs our support. But I think Christian radio, and other venues, maybe we shouldn’t be playing his music. Powerful stuff, I mean, it was just powerful stuff. Passionate, just well done, but-it-just unfortunate that this has happened, but Ray Boltz needs our prayers, because this is something he can overcome.

Jim Brown: Some important words from Greg Quinlan, with the New Jersey Family Policy Council. Greg, thanks so much for your time.

Greg Quinlan: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Since many of the attacks are targeted at Melissa Fryrear...

(CitizenLink, September 11th, 2008)

...director of the gender issues department at Focus [on the Family], CitizenLink asked her to set the record straight.

2. We often hear that people like you — who no longer identify as homosexual — do not exist. How do you respond?

Melissa Fryrear: “We also have clinical studies and research that support what so many of us know personally. Last fall, researchers Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse released the results of a three-year study that showed sexual-orientation change is possible for some individuals going through religiously mediated programs. The study was the first longitudinal, peer-reviewed, scientific research of its kind.”

I’m sorry, did she just say “peer-reviewed?”

Julie Brown's Spoof of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" and "Vogue"

I used to work at a video store (back in VHS days), and this wasn't even available from the movie company we ordered from.

I didn't even think to look on YouTube!

As it turns out, it's available on Amazon (in VHS only, I'm afraid. But God, what I wouldn't do to get my hands on that in DVD format...).

So, all yee anti-gay activists, if you were paying attention, that was a freebie.

It's truly true, sometimes I long for a Golden Oldies '80's (or early 90's) video, and it doesn't even occur to me to look on YouTube. Thank God for Sarah Palin.

So there's another one you can spread around about us: homosexuals are much more inclined to enjoy listening to the music they grew up with! And if that doesn't scare people into voting against gay couples moving in next door and gentrifying the neighborhood, then I'm afraid nothing ethical will.

~~~~(Same person (Julie Brown) in the post further down, doing the spoofs of Sarah Palin.)

One of, if not THE funniest things I have ever seen in my entire life.

The mockery is flawless.

Gospel singer Ray Boltz shares coming out journey in this Blade exclusive

(From Matt Algren. Not necessarily from his website, but from a post of his on Soulforce. (but don't tell him I said so.):

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/9-12/arts/feature/13258.cfm:

Ostensibly it was an innocuous thing to do, but for Boltz it was a big step. It eventually led to him opening up to Miner, one of the first times anybody outside Boltz’s circle of family and friends knew his long-kept secret: Ray Boltz is gay.

Wow! I really don't know what else to say.

(I apologize to those of you who are nontheists, but this song meant/means a lot to me - even if just for memory, melody and sentiments of the song's lyric's sake.)

"Thank You" By Ray Boltz

(This guy's a Christian superstar, he's the tipping point).


And as I said earlier on Soulforce, Thank you Ray Boltz. There are so many kids out there who are safer tonight because of you.

Thank you.
_____________________
More info here, from his website: One church in particular has helped me in many ways. The Metropolitan Community Church (http://www.mccchurch.org/) was started forty years ago by Rev. Troy Perry in the Los Angeles area and has an outreach to the LGTB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. I am happy to announce that I have accepted an invitation to perform at two of their churches. On September 14th, I will be singing at the Jesus Metropolitan Community Church (http://jesusmcc.org/) in Indianapolis at 6:00p.m. On September 21st, I'll be singing at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. (http://mccdc.com/) at 3:00p.m.

Citizenlink interview with Mellissa Fryrear, featuring unrepentant adulterer Joe Dallas.

"Does Focus on the Family Really Hate Gay People?"

That's the title. She apparently -- unless she doesn't own a computer, or read...anything -- continues to tell audiences that she's never met a lesbian that hasn't been sexually molested.

I'd say that's hateful, because it's intentionally deceitful.
~~~~But what I want to get to is the bottom of the article with Love Won Out speaker, Joe Dallas:

Joe Dallas, a counselor, author and speaker, sums it up in the closing message of the Love Won Out conference:

"The voice that must go out from the Christian community is one that is absolutely unsparing in truth and will not compromise under the worst conditions, and one that is also equally unsparing in love."

From Love Won Out: Joe Dallas is a pastoral counselor, author and public speaker who directs a Biblical counseling ministry in Tustin, CA. He directs a men's seminar on sexual purity titled "The Game Plan" and speaks regularly at churches, universities and conferences nationally and internationally. He and his wife Renee have two sons and reside in Southern California.
~~~~
Yet, according to this article, Joe Dallas is divorced and remarried, due to HIS adultery, and by his request. I have read his books, and have never seen justification, or even mention of this fact in them.

-I married Brad's secretary, Carol...
-Carol was gone, and we later divorced...
-Renee and I were married...

Now, one might pass that off as a simple lie of omission. But his latest book is called: “The Gay Gospel? - How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible.”

So just for the fun of it, let’s see what the Bible says about divorce and remarriage:

Mark 10:11-12 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

Matthew 19:9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

Matthew 5:32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Luke 16:18 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Joe Dallas, one of Focus on the Family’s Love Won Out speakers, unrepentant adulterer, condemning gays for the heinous “sin” of pursuing love in their own lives.

Such is the sanctity that Focus on the Family and Love Won Out place on the authority of the Bible.

Hypocrites to the core.
_________________
Just so ya know, I did a few small edits and fixed a link. (Tues AM, 16th)

Julie Brown as Sarah Palin

Good As You turned me on to these, from her own web site even! She's one of my absolute favorites.

Sarah Palin on Lawyers


Sarah Palin on Caribou


Sarah Palin on International Relations

And as I like to say, as long as she responds to a terrorist attack by reading a children's book, she's perfectly qualified to take over the presidency.

John Stemberger's Florida4marriage used "Dutch Study" to dupe gullible pastors and church goers.

From the now defunct florida4marriage.org, led by John Stemberger -- leader of the Florida anti-marriage movement -- the "Dutch Study" (Via Glenn Stanton of Focus of the Family) was used to portray gay people as being inherently promiscuous:

Is Marriage in Jeopardy?
August 27, 2003
by Glenn T. Stanton

Q: But doesn’t expanding marriage to include homosexuals actually help strengthen marriage?

A: Just the opposite. There is recent evidence from the Netherlands, arguably the most “gay-friendly” culture on earth, that homosexual men have a very difficult time honoring the ideal of marriage. Even though same-sex “marriage” is legal there, a British medical journal reports male homosexual relationships last, on average, 1.5 years, and gay men have an average of eight partners a year outside of their supposedly “committed” relationships.

However, as BoxTurtleBulletin notes (bold mine):

--This study was not about gay relationships, as most people who misuse this study claims. Its purpose was to study how HIV is transmitted in the Dutch population. That’s why the study was based only on those with HIV/AIDS attending STD clinics. It is no more generalizable to the general LGBT population than heterosexuals with STD’s are representative of straight people overall.

--This study excluded everyone over thirty — the prime age in which people are more likely to settle down and marry.

--“Relationships” weren’t defined. Anything including a second date to a lifetime commitment could be counted. You simply cannot compare that to straight couples who are married as the FRC does. FRC cites the study as taking place in a country with “legalized homosexual marriage”, but the Netherlands didn’t have anything like it when the study ended in 1998.

Registered partnerships for same-sex and opposite-sex couples didn’t begin until October 1, 1999. A limited form of same-sex marriage wasn’t available until 2001.

--And this is the most important point of all: Because the purpose of the study was to look at how AIDS is transmitted, all monogamous couples were specifically excluded from the study. Because monogamous couples aren’t transmitting HIV, they would have been completely irrelevant to the study’s goals.

These "Christians," John Stemberger and Glenn Stanton, have been using a study that EXCLUDED monogamous gay couples to show that gay couples are not monogamous!

AND THEY'RE STILL DOING IT!
From Focus on the Family: Marriage on the Ropes:

Studies show that homosexual men, in particular, have a difficult time honoring even the most basic commitments of "marriage." A recent study conducted in the Netherlands — a "progressive" nation in which gay marriage has been legal for several years — found that the average homosexual relationship lasts only 1.5 years, and that gay men have an average of eight sexual partners per year outside of their "primary" relationship!

Related post: Florida (Yes on 2) anti-marriage movement uses "Dutch Study" to further their cause.
~~~~Studies like these need to be sought out and carefully edited - meaning that the deception is willful.

So to all you "Christians" and pastors out there who feel that intentional dishonesty is acceptable to your "Lord Jesus Christ," just remember, this is your witness to the rest of we "lost," "confused," and "damned to hell for all eternity" homosexuals.

including to those of us who already happen to be 'unthinkably Christian' as well!

Old, Grizzled Third-Party Candidate May Steal Support From McCain

From the Onion:

“What’s New” at Exodus

Alan Chambers Interviewed on Truths That Transform

Gosh golly gee, what's that all about?

Marketing and Ministering to Homosexuals 8/25/08

Wow! Sounds practically brand new to me. Let's see what the synopsis of the program says:

Why does contemporary America hold gays and lesbians in such high regard? How did that happen? How should the Church respond? Former homosexual Alan Chambers tells you, on Truths That Transform, with Dr. D. James Kennedy.

Interview with Alan Chambers

I saw this advertised on the Exodus Web site, under the “What’s New” section. So of course I had to check it out.

An interview with Alan Chambers and Dr. D. James Kennedy? Obviously it can‘t be that new, because as far as I’m aware, Dr. D. James Kennedy is quite dead.

I couldn’t find a date for the original broadcast, but I know the Exodus book “God’s Grace and the lab rat Homosexual Next Door” ©2006 was mentioned, so it can’t be that old either.

And by all means, please feel free to copy, paste, and excoriate - at will.

Full Transcript:

(Recorded voice over intro):
Alan Chambers: I didn’t leave homosexuality to become heterosexual, I left homosexuality because that’s what my relationship with Christ commanded me to do. So the opposite of homosexuality isn’t heterosexuality, it’s holiness.
~~~~Announcer: Proclaiming truth that transformed the world, this is, Truths That Transform. Featuring Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of Coral Ridge Ministries. Stay tuned to discover how you can apply Biblical principles, and transform your world for Jesus Christ.

Homosexuality has gone from ‘unmentionable sin’ to ‘celebrated status,’ in less than one generation. And some wonder how that happened. Today’s guest says, in large part it was due to savvy marketing and media help, but also, because the Church hasn’t been equipped to minister to those struggling with same-sex attraction.

Dr. James Kennedy’s guest is the President of Exodus International, Alan Chambers.

Alan himself participated in homosexuality for a number of years, but now, he is one the hundreds of thousands who can say they’ve left homosexuality behind, thanks to a new love in their life - named Jesus.

In addition to his position with Exodus International, Alan Chambers is editor of the book: “God’s Grace and the monster Homosexual Next Door - reaching the heart of gay men and women in your world.”
~~~~
Dr. James Kennedy: Alan Chambers, it’s a privilege to welcome you to back to Truths That Transform.

Alan Chambers: Thanks for having me again Dr. Kennedy.

Dr. James Kennedy: Good. You have lived in the homosexual lifestyle for a number of years. Tell us briefly how you got involved in it, and how you finally were enabled to walk away from it.

Alan Chambers: Dr. Kennedy, I grew up in the church, first of all, and for years and years and years I struggled silently with a secret, that I had same sex attractions. And as a young person sitting in church, I never heard anybody give a word of hope about that condition. I never heard a pastor say anything loving or graceful towards people who were struggling, and so, when I was old enough to make the choice, I decided - I’ve never heard anything positive here, I’m going to see what out there for me to get involved in.

And honestly, I ran into the open arms of the gay community, that was more than willing to love unconditionally. And ironically, what made the biggest difference in my life was, not only did I find that gay life was absolutely unfulfilling and I was never going to find what I was looking for there, I found church that reached out to me - in a way that I’d never been reached out to before. And it was through the ministry of Discovery Church in Orlando Florida that I found, not only did God love me exactly the way I was, but He loved me too much to leave me that way.

Dr. James Kennedy: You mention you “ran in the arms” of the homosexual element of our society. Exactly what did you mean by ‘running into the arms,’ I don’t think you’re talking about a physical experience that took place on the sidewalk somewhere?

Alan Chambers: No, the gay community is probably the most sophisticated, most well equipped group of people that are organized and ready and waiting for people to find them. You know, they’re out there sharing that they’re a group of people who are willing for anyone to be a part of their community, and for me, as a kid who was struggling with feelings I didn’t ask for, and I didn’t understand, and was really disillusioned by the fact that I believed the church didn’t have an answer for me - that group of people, really opened their arms to me. They welcomed me, they didn’t want to change anything about me, in fact they told me the thing that I’d felt worst about my entire life, was the best thing about me. And it was really a counterfeit type of community that worked for me for a long time.

Dr. James Kennedy: How long were you involved with that

Alan Chambers: I was involved for several years. At the same time I was involved in the gay community, the Scripture comes to mind; “If we train up a child in the way that they should go, when they are old, they won’t depart from it.” And at the same time I was getting involved in the gay community, and becoming entrenched in that way of life, I couldn’t get away from the truth. I couldn’t get away from the fact that I knew what Scripture said, and I knew what I was taught, and I knew what I believed about my relationship with Jesus Christ. And while I tried desperately to reconcile my homosexuality with my Christianity, I absolutely couldn’t.

And it was through, really, my relationship with Christ, and the relationship with a local church that I found freedom.

Dr. James Kennedy: In the eyes of many, homosexuals have transformed themselves from a deviant fringe element of society, into an alternative lifestyle. How did they do that, and what role did the media play?

Alan Chambers: It’s been an amazing marketing campaign of the course of probably the last four decades, in fact, I would say that it’s the most successful marketing campaign in the history of our world - Where we’ve taken a group of people who were once outcasts in society, who were once really the fringe of society, and thrust them into the mainstream, in a way that not only recognizes them as a part of our culture, but puts them up on a pedestal of being the epitome of what is wonderful about our culture.

In today’s society, we really hold the gay community to a very esteem, and I believe that the media has played the most critical role in that regard. Certainly they have worked with gay organizations and gay individuals, but they have promoted homosexuality to be something that our society absolutely can’t and shouldn’t do without.

It’s amazing, in fact we, all we have to do is look at every single newscast that’s on our television today, that’s on our radio today, in the media today, and hear that promotion in ways that we would have never imagined it - 20,30 years ago.

Dr. James Kennedy: Well that’s certainly true, we certainly would not have imagined it as such, and today I have heard that almost ever sitcom program on television today has some homosexuals playing their part as homosexuals, in that particular play on TV. I don’t know if that’s accurate or not, but I wouldn’t be surprised, because you certainly do see them over and over again.

Alan Chambers: Absolutely. You know, there are numerous sitcoms with gay characters on them, gay characters who are the lead characters in those programs. We see it in Disney movies, we see it in cartoons, now we’re seeing it in comic books, where there are gay heroines, and heros who are the main stories of these comic books - and it’s an absolute marketing to children, to help children come to the place where they see homosexuality as absolutely normal. And they grow up with a different worldview than you and I did.

Dr. James Kennedy: Well what’s this Nation Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association -- to quote the whole name -- what do they say about balance when reporting stories of/on homosexuality?

Alan Chambers: The NLGJA is an organization that was founded in 1990 and they have absolutely inundated, and infiltrated our media. And every major news organization, every network, every cable network, is a part of this organization and this association.

And with the issue of balance, one of the things that they said is; ‘balance isn’t really necessary when reporting on the issue of homosexuality.’ They liken it to the race issue. For a story to be “balanced” on the race issue, they say, ‘we don’t have to got to the Ku Klux Klan for a balanced story, therefore, when we’re reporting on things related to the gay and lesbian lifestyle, we shouldn’t have to go to the Church, or Exodus, or Focus on the Family, or any other organization that’s working on the other side to find balance in the story. Balance is that homosexuality is a part of our culture, it’s a wonderful part of our culture, and we shouldn’t go to the other side to listen to those ‘bigoted, cruel, and homophobic people who may be preaching a different message.’

Dr. James Kennedy: Probably the most influential book on the subject, entitled “After the Ball,” transformed the homosexual agenda into the so-called “gay rights” movement. How did they do that?

[Emproph: I own the book. It’s glorified common sense.]

Alan Chambers: It’s interesting. “After the Ball” was an amazing book that was written, and I believe that it most written for the activists, most written for those who were going to carry the agenda further. And while I think that happened, I honestly believe that it had more of a backfiring effect on the gay community, in that, I think it galvanized the Christian community more than it did the gay community. The Christian community and Conservatives really read this book, and looked at this book and said, this is proof that there is an agenda, there is something that is moving forward at a quick rate, to normalize and legitimize homosexuality.

And so I see “After the Ball” as really, one of the greatest gifts to the Christian community, as we have learned more about the pro-gay movement, and how, really, to answer it in respectful loving and truthful tone.

Dr. James Kennedy: The question you often hear is, are homosexuals quote born that way? Scientific research says no, but that’s not what the authors of “After the Ball” tell homosexuals to say, is it?

Alan Chambers: No, “After the Ball” does promote the idea that people are born gay, that there’s nothing they can do about it, that there’s a genetic predisposition, or genetic code, that they must follow, and the truth is, from a Biblical perspective, we’re all born fallen, we’re all born genetically, physically, emotionally, and spiritually fallen creatures.

And whether there is a gay gene which, there’s absolutely no scientific proof that there is, whether or not there’s a gay gene or not, the truth is, that we’re all in need of a savior. And it doesn’t matter how we’re born, what matters is that we’re ‘born again.’ And people like me, the hundreds of thousands of men an women who have overcome homosexuality successfully are living proof that whether or not someone is predispositioned to struggle with homosexuality or not, that we can overcome our genetics. Genetics weren’t meant to be tyrannical, they weren’t mean to control our lives.

And the truth is, homosexuals can change, and we’re living proof, that’s the good news.

Dr. James Kennedy: Of course, homosexuals not only say that they are ‘born that way,’ but they also deny your final comment just now, but very strongly asserting that they not only are born that way, but they cannot change. I’m sure in your lifetime you’ve heard that many times. What would you say to someone like that, that it’s not possible to change?

Alan Chambers: Well, the truth is that no one can tell me that change isn’t possible, because I’ve experienced it. I used to be gay, and today, I’m not.

And not only have I experienced this, but I know thousands of men and women who have also experienced it. Lasting change, that has lasted 40,50,60 years, and it’s something that is possible for those who submit their sexuality and their desires and lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Dr. James Kennedy: Alright, what is the ultimate goal of the homosexual political movement?

Alan Chambers: I think the ultimate goal of the homosexual political movement is they want to win. And winning to them is completely changing the way our culture thinks about the issue of homosexuality. That it’s not just something that is out there, but it’s something that a wonderful part of our culture, it’s a wonderful thing for people to be involved in, it’s equal to any other type of sexuality that’s out there, it’s equal to heterosexuality, it should be as embraced and endorsed and encouraged - on every level of society, as is heterosexuality.

And so, what I see is that a group of people got together, 30-40 years ago, to bring about this validation, for themselves, and they’re really changing our culture, from a culture that believes one thing, to a culture that believes something that’s absolutely contrary to truth. Both Biblical truth, physical truth, anthropological truth, psychological truth. It’s something that, again, it’s that marketing campaign that’s gone on over the last 40 years that has absolutely been successful in our society.

Dr. James Kennedy: Well let’s shift gears for a moment now and focus on the solution to this problem. How should Christians respond to the marketing of homosexuality? Should we be in ‘attack mode,’ or is there a better way?

Alan Chambers: I think for years, that Christians have been in ‘attack mode.’ We’ve been in a mode of presenting the truth of Scripture, at times without presenting the grace of Scripture. And we’ve presented the truth about-about the Bible, about what it says about homosexuality, about its Biblical mandate against homosexual sin. But I believe that we’ve left out a component that’s essential in this, it says in the Gospel of John, that Jesus was 100% grace, and 100% truth. And while I believe it’s absolutely essential for us to put our hand up to a society that’s moving forward in ways that are contrary to Biblical truth, we have to put our hand out and offer help and hope to a group of people who are dying and going to hell, for lack of information, for lack of Biblical truth.

I believe that, sure, we should fight against what we believe is the gay agenda, but we’ve got to be after hearts -- first and foremost -- and if we have to sacrifice one thing for another, I think we need to make sure that we are looking at people’s hearts, and not just looking at people as an issue.

Dr. James Kennedy: Alright, let’s take a look at some myths about homosexuality that have obtained a great deal of popularity. Number one: Homosexuality is the worst of all sins.

Alan Chambers: I don’t know if I hear this specifically often, but I definitely get the impression that people believe that homosexuality is the worst sin that they’ve ever encountered. And the truth is that the ground was leveled at the foot of the cross.

If there had never been the sin of homosexuality, or a homosexual person that walked the face of the Earth, Jesus would have still had to come and hang on that cross for our sins, and the truth is that in order to reach people, we’ve got to get to the place where we see our sins -- whatever it is that we struggle with -- just as ugly as the next sin.

Dr. James Kennedy: Right. How ‘bout this one, homosexuality is a choice?

Alan Chambers: I think there’s truth in that, but the greatness is that people initially choose to feel gay, and for me, and millions of people who are out there who have found that they struggle with homosexuality, no one chooses to feel that way. No one chooses to wake up in the morning -- and out of life’s great big buffet -- to feel gay.

But I will say, where it becomes a choice is when we’re old enough to make wise choices about how we feel, our behaviors. I did choose to behave homosexually, I did choose to go into a gay lifestyle, and to do things that today I regret. Those things for me were a choice. Ultimately, the greatest choice I made was to submit my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to leave homosexuality behind.

Dr. James Kennedy: How about, 10% of the population is gay?

Alan Chambers: Gay activists will tell you that for years that myth was promoted because it was a nice round number to point to. And it was part of that successful marketing campaign that we as the American public, and really - the world public has undergone.

The truth is that 10% of the population isn’t gay, that is widely overstated. About 1-3%, somewhere in there, is where we would find people who struggle with homosexuality, and people who are gay identified, would fall. It’s not just that 3% of the population is actively pursuing a gay lifestyle. But I would say 1-3% of people who are affected in some way personally with the issue.

Dr. James Kennedy: I think that 10% figure really comes from Kinsey, and from his report.

Alan Chambers: It does come from Kinsey, which we know was a flawed study from the beginning. His sample was a group of prisoners and something was very biased and he himself was a sex addict. And his sample base was not only flawed, but, he had a real desire to influence how the study came out, to really bring about the change and how we think about the issue of homosexuality in America.

Dr. James Kennedy: And finally, ‘marriage or dating will fix a homosexual.’ I’m sure numbers of homosexuals have had friends that wanted to “set them up” with somebody of the opposite sex.

Alan Chambers: It’s true - you know, often times we want -- in our simple minds -- to find a fix for everything. And, the truth is, that in the grand scheme of things, homosexuality and heterosexuality are no opposite from one another. I didn’t leave homosexuality to become heterosexual, I left homosexuality because that’s what my relationship with Christ commanded me to do.

So, the opposite of homosexuality isn’t heterosexuality, it’s holiness. And so to think that we can substitute one issue for another, is wrong. We have to submit our wills and desires to the Lordship of Christ, and in that, he will direct us down the perfect path for us. And for many of us it’s been marriage, or dating relationships. But the truth is, there are a lot of people out there who have struggled with homosexuality who will never get married - but who have overcome the issue of homosexuality in their lives, and have become absolutely submitted to Christ, in their sexuality, and are healthy examples of how all of us should live our lives.

Dr. James Kennedy: Well, what are some practical steps that our listeners can take to minister to homosexuals?

Alan Chambers: The most practical step that we can take in ministering to homosexual and lesbian people is ~ we could lose the issue of homosexuality altogether, and just see them as people in need of a savior.

We don’t have to have all of the answers to the issue of homosexuality. We don’t have to know how to specifically minister to gay and lesbian people. All we have to know is that Jesus died for us, and he made a difference in our life, and he wants to do the same thing in their lives as well.

And I think that’s just a very simple way for us in the Church to look at this issue. It doesn’t matter what anyone struggles with, what matters is, we’re all in need of a savior.

Dr. James Kennedy: Well, how does your organization, entitled Exodus International, help churches and individual Christians to do a better job of ministering to homosexuals?

Alan Chambers: For years, Exodus was a ministry that was sold out to ministering to individuals. We have ministries all around the world that reach out to those who are struggling with homosexuality, to families. And five years ago, when I became the president of Exodus, I realized that I did receive help through this ministry when I was walking through my struggle with homosexuality, but the biggest help that I received, was from the local church.

And if we were going to be successful, in the future, with reaching out in a way that we’ve never reached out before, it was going to be, not only, ministering to individuals, but ministering to churches, that have a far greater ability to reach the multitudes with the message that change is possible.

And so today, Exodus International, our first and foremost mission is to reach the Church with the truth that change is possible. To educate, equip, and mobilize them to understand this issue, and to go out into their communities and reach men and women for Jesus Christ.

So, we have a church network, that is seeking to have 10,000 and more churches who are part of a---so that when people call Exodus for help, and we receive 400,000 phone calls and emails every year, from people who are hurting, when people call Exodus, we want them to plugged in to a local church. Where they’re enveloped into a congregation, invited into body ministry, and find the transforming power of Jesus Christ in a community of believers that will change their life.

Dr. James Kennedy: Would you have any idea about how many people, since we often hear that they cannot change, would you have, as an organization, any idea of how many people who were involved in homosexuality, have changed their sexual orientation?

Alan Chambers: We estimate, roughly, that there have been millions of people who have been affected by this message, and who have been reached with this message. And we would say hundreds of thousands of men and women have found freedom from homosexuality.

Dr. James Kennedy: Well, thank you for sharing with us today. This has been Alan Chambers, who is the president of Exodus International-a worldwide ex-gay ministry that has succeeded in leading many many many thousands of people that were trapped in homosexual behavior, into a Christian and Godly life.

And dear listener, I hope that you have learned why the homosexual agenda has been so successful. I also pray that you’ll be better able to minister to those who are trapped in this lifestyle, after listening to today’s program.

Alan Chambers, thank you again for being with us on today’s program.

Alan Chambers: Thank you so much.

Dr. James Kennedy: God bless ya.
~~~~Announcer: Alan Chambers is just one example of those whose lives who’ve been changed through experiencing God’s Love. And we pray you and your church will explore ways that you can reach out to those struggling with sin, whatever that sin may be. And we invite you to spend some time at our website, to learn more, about this and other issues. TruthsThatTransform.org

While you’re there, please check out current book offer: How Would Jesus Vote - a Christian perspective on the issues. Jesus is king over everyone and everything, and yet, too many of us don’t consider how He would have and act and vote - outside the four walls of the Church. This book helps you begin applying what you say you believe, in relation to the culture around you. Get you copy today--when you support our work with a gift of $30...or more [Emproph: Which apparently you can get on Amazon for about $11.50 ('less you want to be "thrifty" about it and get it used for about $7)]. How Would Jesus Vote. You’ll find it online at truthsthattransform.org. Or you can call your gift 1-800-229-WORD, 800-229-9673

Tuesday, whatever you’re calling, you know you want to serve Christ effectively. Join us with a special guest who provides Biblical principles for Christian service. And until then may the truths in God’s Word continue to transform your heart.

Views expressed by guests on this program are not necessarily those of Coral Ridge Ministries, Dr. D. James Kennedy, or this station.

Commentary will have to wait, and believe me, I have some - but that was exhausting.

First of all, you have to realize that transcription is tedious and boring - even with the foot pedal machine and all. (I usually start wishing I owned a gun after about five minutes. This one was 25 minutes long).

Secondly, first you have to listen to it to see if it’s worthy of transcribing, then listen to it again as you’re recording it, and then listen to it again AS you’re transcribing it. And that may turn out to be SEVERAL more times, depending on how articulate the dialogue is.

THEN, you're supposed to listen to (and read) it again to catch any mistakes! (BTW, I didn't do that for this one (I couldn't handle it), so there may be tons of typos. Just a forewarning ;)

I will say this though, as much as I can’t stand these guys, they know how to talk in complete sentences.

Florida (Yes on 2) anti-marriage movement uses "Dutch Study" to further their cause.

Hi, I'm John Stemberger, and apparently I approve of this message:

What Harm Would Same Sex Marriage Do? By Peter Sprigg (Color PDF Brochure)

One study in the Netherlands showed that homosexual men with a steady partner had an average of eight sexual partners per year. [...] The same Dutch study that showed the high rate of homosexual promiscuity also showed that the average homosexual male “partnership” lasts only 1.5 years.

You can read more about the Dutch Study here.

Most importantly (IMO), is that monogamous gay couples WERE EXCLUDED from the study altogether! But of course, they don't say that, yet the study continues to be used to show that ALL gay men with "steady partner[s]" are promiscuous (and thus, not a good environment for raising children).

Meaning, that John Stemberger, and the "Christian" Florida anti-marriage movement, are willing to LIE (in the name of Jesus of course).

John Stemberger: “If I blow my brains out”

John Stemberger, leader of the anti-marriage amendment in Florida, attempts to explain how the law of cause and effect -- in and of itself -- is how gay marriage will ruin his marriage:

Arthelene Rippy: Let’s go back a little bit to this equal…equal rights question, which always comes up. So they would say, how, if this same-sex couple is married, how does that affect John Stemberger’s marriage?

John Stemberger: Right. Well, you know, I gotta tell you Ar--one of the things I appreciate about you and this show is, is that you have a holistic understanding of home and family. So many of us compartmentalize everything, as if ‘politics’ is here our ‘family’s’ here, our ‘religion’s’ here, and never the tw--see that’s a very secular view. And the Bible sees life as an integrated whole, we do all thi--everything we do we do to the glory of God. And so you understand that and I really appreciate that. And so it does have an impact. Private behavior, does have public consequences.

And so, we have laws against suicide. Well why is that? Well because I’m connected to, a woman in a marriage, I’m connected to a family with children, I’m connected to a business, a community, an economic system. If I blow my brains out, somebody’s got to come and pay for that and clean it up. There’s a cost -- to things -- and we don’t just live in an isolated situation.

Hillary had it partly right, it doesn’t take a village--it takes a family and a community. But the idea is we need each other, and our private behavior does have public consequences, and the State’s police power is important enough, and this an important enough--legitimate enough issue to use law and public policy to regulate the definition of marriage.

~~~That said, these are some of our allies:

Equality Florida

SayNo2.com (formerly floridaredandblue.com), which seems to be more active than EQ as far as fighting the amendment is concerned.

And as a little birdie just told me, you may also want to check out votenoon2.com. So far, I like their style.

And don’t forget about Florida's KnowThyNeighbor.org, where you can search for the names of those who've signed the petition. (note: not all the names may be on there, some have been turned in since that list was first provided.)
~~~And just to share, my brother and his wife signed to get that amendment on the ballot. No surprise there (as they're AG), but it would seem that the rest of my family couldn’t care less how offensive that is to me.

I no longer speak to my family.

A couple of minutes with our next* VP, Sarah Palin.

From InterstateQ:



*Assuming a terrorist attack or Democratic f**k up.

Max Blumenthal reports on the latest "secret" CNP meeting.

From Talk to Action:

Last week, while the media focused almost obsessively on the DNC's spectacle in Denver, the country's most influential conservatives met quietly at a hotel in downtown Minneapolis to get to know Sarah Palin. The assembled were members of the Council for National Policy, an ultra-secretive cabal that networks wealthy right-wing donors together with top conservative operatives to plan long-term movement strategy.

[...]

Though Dobson and Perkins reportedly attended the recent CNP meeting in Minneapolis, a full roster of guests would be nearly impossible to require. The CNP deliberately operates below the radar, going to excessive lengths to obscure its activities. According to official CNP policy, "The media should not know when or where we meet or who takes part in our programs before or after a meeting." Thus the CNP's Minneapolis gathering was free of reporters. I only learned of the get-together through an online commentary by one of its attendees, top Dobson/Focus on the Family flack Tom Minnery. (Watch it here)

Which happens to go to a (FOTF) Citizenlink video:

Read the rest here: The Council For National Policy Meets In Minn, Vets Palin