About Jason Collins, Homosexuality and Christianity

Jason collins

Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps. — About Jason Collins, Homosexuality and Christianity Two weeks ago I posted about a then-unknown pro athlete who was shortly going to “come out” and declare his homosexuality. Yesterday NBA pro Jason Collins ended the suspense by announcing not only that he was the one, but that he’s also, in his own words, someone who “takes the teachings of Jesus seriously.” So this is how I’d respond to him if given the Continue Reading

Coming Out Manly

gay pride flag

Men coming out of the closet is business as usual. But pro athletes coming out of the locker room are another matter, one that’s making ripples and headlines everywhere.  As of this writing, at least one unnamed but presumably well-known professional player, from one of the four major sports, is about to drop the “I’m Gay” bomb. The National Hockey League, in anticipation of the big event, now officially offers its support to gay Americans in general and gay athletes in particular. Not to be outdone, the National Football League has Continue Reading

Some Thoughts About the Marriage Debate

rebuilding-her-shattered-trust-marriage-matters

This week we will hear arguments presented to the US Supreme Court which will, most likely, settle the legality of same-sex marriage once and for all. So far the justices are predictably divided – 3 for the traditional view; 3 for revision; Justice Kennedy  providing the swing vote.  Two cases are under consideration here: The Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8, voted into place by California voters in 2008 as a defense of traditional marriage. Whatever the outcome, there’ll be anguish and elation, simultaneously, Continue Reading

The Vanishing Edge

vanishing edge

Every Monday we’ll post something about maintaining your sexual integrity. Hope it helps. — The Vanishing Edge We were out to dinner with a couple this weekend and, as often happens, the husbands paired off while the wives engaged in their own conversation. My friend and I started commiserating and complaining about the usual – not enough time, too little energy, too much uncertainty. It felt good to vent and be vented to, but one point he brought up especially resonated with me. “We need margins”, he noted, “and when we’ve Continue Reading

You Said It

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Every Thursday I’ll post an article having to do with either relational or emotional matters. Hope it helps. — You Said It “Words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fall.” ― Jodi Picoult, Salem Falls You’re leaving a trail. It goes all the way back to when you first learned to speak, and it represents your beliefs, feelings and priorities over the years. It’s a trail that’s blessed some, offering comfort and inspiration, and laid a Continue Reading

Default to Darkness

man artistic blur

Every Monday we’ll post something about maintaining your sexual integrity. Hope it helps. — Default to Darkness God’s blessings flow this month like lava. My client load has nearly doubled in the past few weeks; I just spent the weekend in Roanoke with 540 awesome students from Young Life and Inter Varsity discussing sexuality and holiness; my beautiful wife is looking lovelier than ever; my oldest son’s career is forming; my youngest son is getting more paid gigs for his Christian band; our new roof just went up; I have a new Continue Reading

Random Ramblings #48: Gun Control, Lance Armstrong, Jodie Foster and The Impossible

Photo Credit: ABC News.

Every Friday we’ll leave the topic oriented post, and instead post some personal comments. — A Cuppa Joe Gun control seems to be on everyone’s agenda or hit list, depending on which side of the aisle you root for. The restrictions Obama’s proposing, in light of the Newton tragedy, look innocuous enough, and I personally am not afraid of background checks for gun owners or limits on sales of automatic weapons. What does have me nervous is the trend, which I doubt will end with these initial proposed laws, regardless of the fact Continue Reading

Random Ramblings #47: A Tale of Two Pastors

Luis

Every Friday we’ll leave the topic oriented post, and instead post some personal comments. — That whoosh you’re hearing is the sound of the world spinning around you as it continues going upside down. Listen to the news and you can’t help but hear it. Today’s reminder concerns Pastor Luis Giglio, an accomplished and widely regarded minister who was scheduled to deliver President Obama’s benediction during his inaugural ceremony. Scheduled, as in past tense, because it recently came to light that a decade ago the reverend Continue Reading

ANNOUNCEMENT: Speaking At Harvest Christian Fellowship this Saturday

joe speaking

This Saturday I'll be speaking at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, from 10am-12 noon, and would love to see you there! This is a special meeting they've set up, where I'll be discussing how the Church can more effectively and lovingly respond to the issue of homosexuality. For more info, click here: http://www.facebook.com/events/411248275610957/ Continue Reading

Relevance or Revision?

casual Christians guy with open bible

Ten years ago I wrote this for a local church that was challenged by its own denomination’s wavering on homosexuality. Since this church refused to accept the denomination’s drift towards a pro-homosexual position, it was being accused by many of being “irrelevant.”  I wrote this for them in response to that charge, and running across it today, I decided to dust it off and pass it on again. Hope it’s useful. --- RELEVANCE OR REVISION? Are Christians called to re-write the Bible in order to truly love our gay friends and Continue Reading