Free Republic

...I stand by those words of Fr. Seraphim. This Hell is being driven by one’s hormones and knowing that to deny them is “unhealthy.” Hell is being driven by one’s desires and fantasies and knowing that to deny them is to deny the only joy there is, the joy that defines your whole being. Hell is a fine San Francisco morning standing trapped in your bedroom while an orgy takes place in the hallway outside. Hell is a foggy San Francisco afternoon standing in a room full of men involved in various actions with each other—and somewhere a voice tells...

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: . . . And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:14, 20) John introduced Jesus to the world at His baptism by saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He was known prophetically as a lamb even before then. "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep...

NEW YORK (ChurchMilitant.com) - The bishops of New York have no plans to oppose state measures against gay conversion therapy. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in a February 6 press release he would ban counseling for minors to help get rid of unwanted same-sex desires, which he called "a hateful and fundamentally flawed practice." "New York has been at the forefront of acceptance and equality for the LGBT community for decades," Cuomo said, "and today we are continuing that legacy and leading by example." "We will not allow the misguided and the intolerant to punish LGBT young people for simply being...

Two books relate how grace and the power of the Holy Spirit can overcome same-sex attraction Caleb Kaltenbach's new book, Messy Grace (WaterBrook Press, 2015), has a tantalizing subtitle: How a Pastor With Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction. Kaltenbach states that "profound change is just as possible for a homosexual sin as it is for any other"-but it has to come through grace. Kaltenbach argues that Christians should emphasize a change of heart, and let that change then influence minds (and use of sex organs). It seems to me that churches should welcome but not affirm...

A Jewish group offering therapy for same-sex attraction will be ceasing operations in January as a result of a lawsuit filed against it in New Jersey. Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, also called JONAH International, sent an email to supporters on New Year's Eve announcing the closure. "The N.J. court delivered its final judgement on Dec. 18, 2015. Under the order, JONAH must permanently cease operations, including providing referrals and operating its website and listserv,"read the email. "That means that our site, www.jonahweb.org, will no longer be available online after mid- January 2016, and neither of us will be...

The English daily The Independent has published a sensationalized story claiming that a monastery in Italy is being used to “cure” priests of homosexuality. Father Gianluigi Pasto, speaking for the Venturini monastery, explained that his community actually helps priests with many different sorts of problems—much like the treatment centers in the US and elsewhere. “I can only say that here we help priests become healthy,” he said. Nevertheless, the story about the Venturini monastery prompted a statement of outrage from New Ways Ministry, an American group that promotes acceptance of homosexuals. “Being gay is not a disease,” said Francis DeBernardo....

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.(Proverbs 1:20-23)I believe that one of the ways Wisdom from God cries out in the streets, is through notable current events. Through the media culture we are...

Former Lesbian: Ministries That Help People Leave Homosexuality Could Soon Become Illegal April 24, 2015 By Melanie Hunter Janet Boynes, the author of “Called Out” and founder of Janet Boynes Ministries, told the C-SPAN audience on Friday that soon ministries like hers, which help people exit homosexuality, will become illegal thanks to the efforts of the homosexual lobby. “Those who seek help to leave the life of homosexuality may soon discover that there is no longer any help out there,” she said. “Homosexual activists and their homosexual attorneys are pushing to ban any type of ministries such as Janet Boynes...

Last week Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., introduced a bill in Congress asking states to ban sexual orientation conversion therapy, often abbreviated as CT, for minors. California is one of two states that have prohibited licensed professionals from offering the practice, which includes efforts to change not only sexual orientation but also gender identity. While the congressional bill is only a resolution—it encourages states to bar the practice rather than proposing the heavier lift of a federal ban—the idea that CT is dangerous and should be banned is gaining momentum ... What do we actually know about the practice of CT...

I take this occasion to write to you in honor of the birthday on 11 Nissan of the spiritual leader of the generation, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who made our generation aware of the possibility and ability, and the great obligation, to spread to the Children of Noah the teachings of G-d’s Torah that was given through Moses: they should all accept upon themselves the Universal Commandments that were commanded to Adam and Noah and all humanity after them, and accept the yoke of the Kingship of Heaven completely. As his students, we call upon all people to believe in...

Many years ago I was involved with an evangelistic ministry in New Jersey. A group of us would go out on the Boardwalk ask people if we could talk with them about the Gospel. In the course of our conversations, I would sometimes ask if they knew why they wore clothing. The humorous responses that we received were almost singularly worth the experience; however, the most common answer I would get was, "Because people would laugh at me if I didn't!" While it may seem like a trite question, it actually has profound importance regarding the Scriptural teaching about our...

The Benefits of the Cross As believers in Christ, we know that Jesus Christ died on the cross for people’s sins. But many do not know that the forgiveness of our sins is not the end of the story. The benefits of the cross are much more: Not only has Jesus freed believers from all condemnation, but we have a whole new identity, according to John 1:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. He has given us purpose, power, and hope to live here on Earth now!Eternal life is not just about Heaven; it starts as soon as you accept Christ. Jesus’ purpose was to preach and...

I obviously think the relentless captioning of the Joe Biden window photo is humorous. I wonder if anyone else has noticed what to me was the main feature of the picture. Joseph Biden is the first Catholic occupant of the White House since JFK, 51 years and a couple weeks ago. And here he is being presented with an image of St. Peter's Cross. That's a Catholic symbol. Protestants don't use it at all; they either think it's satanic or Catholic. So I think that it is significant enough for a sort of meditation. I imagine that Simon Peter had...

For over 10 years I lived the homosexual lifestyle, and for 34 years I have not. And there are very good reasons for that difference. To those who suggest that I never was homosexual, my response is, "Does sleeping with over 1,000 men count?" Oh yes. I was homosexual, though like most, I never wanted to have such attractions. I saw the narcissism and arrested emotional development all around me, and in me. Guys flitting around like Peter Pan were sometimes cute and funny, and certainly nonthreatening, but I wanted to be a grown up. I wanted to be a...

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (BP) -- When George Aguilar broke into and vandalized a Baptist church, the last thing he expected to find was love and forgiveness. But that November night in 2004 changed the 20-year-old man's life forever. That year, Aguilar, a native of El Salvador -- who at age 10 came to live with his father in the U.S. as a legal resident -- found himself without a place to live. He moved in with some young men in Tulsa who were involved in stealing items and converting them to cash. An impressionable young man who lost his job...

Long ago, Bryant Collins learned the value of choosing the right path. "I've been in a lot of bad situations," he admitted. But this past Friday, Collins found, on the side of Highway 72 in Georgia, a chance to save a life. A baby girl had crawled through the woods, 300 yards from home. "I had seen something out of the corner of my eye, and I thought it was a baby," Collins recalled. "I just stopped and, when I got out, there was a baby...almost in the highway." After calling 911, Collins stayed with the baby for two hours...

Full title of this poorly written article: Gay Marriage and Homosexuality: What Have Joel Osteen, Billy and Franklin Graham, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes and Other Top Pastors Said on the Subjects Evangelist, Reverend Franklin Graham recently participated in a news panel discussion in which he answered questions on homosexuality. Some of the world's most popular evangelicals in America have shared a similar biblical position as Graham in past interviews. Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyers, T.D. Jakes and more, like Graham, have openly shared their thoughts on the divisive subject, and they have used their knowledge of scripture to shed a light...

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.(Isaiah 52:13-15)The fourth Servant song is composed of three sections. First of all, we have this introduction in Isaiah 52:13-15. Secondly we have the great and...

My ostentatious being is what you must become, The nectar of my spirit attracting others to My kingdom, For you are my lilies out in the field, Sobriety to the weak so my spirit may harvest as they yield, Now a light in the darkness just as you, Release "my" wisdom my children for you are my morning dew, Just as My tribes harvested The Manna early each day, You are my hidden Manna revealed in a new way, For now the veils are lifted for through my spirit you shall have breakthrough, Both to the Gentile and the Jew,...

The Born “Gay” Hoax By 1985, the pro-sodomy movement The born “gay” hoax was invented in 1985 by Marshall Kirk and Dr. Hunter Madsen. Marshall Kirk graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1980 majoring in psychology and went on to become a writer and researcher in neuropsychiatry. Dr. Hunter Madsen earned a PhD in politics from Harvard University in 1985, then went on to become an expert on public persuasion tactics, social marketing, and has designed commercial marketing on Madison Avenue. He has also served as a consultant to pro-sodomy media campaigns across America. In 1985, Marshall Kirk...