You're Saved, You're Sexual ... You Struggle, Let's Talk
"If you have no temptations it is because the devils are your friends, your leaders, and your shepherds. And by allowing you to pass your poor life tranquilly, to the end of your days, they will drag you down into the depths." -St. Gregory Continue Reading
Being virtuous is no feat once temptation ceases. - Arnold Glasow When I asked God to remove my temptations, He answered by allowing more of them to come, and in stronger forms, and more often. I said, “Thanks a lot” and I could swear I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Anytime, Kid.” But He also did a major, life-changing work in me. He empowered me to deal with temptation, rather than remove it, and I got stronger and humbler in the process. Stronger because my resistance abilities grew; humbler because my reliance on Him becomes clearer than Continue Reading
They used to drum it into Psych students as a foundational truth – Freud’s Structural Hypothesis, the theory that our minds are composed of a triune entity called Id, Ego and Super-Ego. Continue Reading
The growing support for transsexualism in the culture, plus the growing number of voices within the Church calling for us to not only to show respect and compassion to transsexuals (a very sound idea) but approval as well (an unsound option) has prodded me to post, in a five-part series, an article I wrote on the subject six years ago for the Christian Research Journal. (You can find the entire article it in its original form here) Continue Reading
There are many men who have much less than me, Day by day, they make their way And they find more in life than I can see Tell me when will I learn to resist wanting things, Touching things that say, ‘Do not touch’ -“Wanting Things” from the musical “Promises, Promises” It’s a cruel fact of life in this fallen world that we want more than (and other than) what we really need. Continue Reading
“Man is a stately castle, intricately and masterfully constructed. The castle, however, was given a life of its own. When man took it on himself to be God, he ruined everything – the decay became so extensive that only one with the eyes of a craftsman could see the structural beauty that remained underneath. Man is an amalgamation of dignity and depravity, a glorious ruin.” -from The Wounded Heart by Dan Allendar Years ago my pastor gave an illustrated sermon explaining what happened when humanity went from Good to Defiled. He stepped up to Continue Reading
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (I John 3: 2-3) For me as a kid, nothing was more joyful, and at the same time more torturous, then waiting. Continue Reading
"I have no more ability to believe --- that the first people on earth were a couple named Adam and Eve that lived 6,000 years ago. I have no ability to believe that there was a flood that covered all the highest mountains of the world only 4,000 years ago and that all of the animal species that exist today are here because they were carried on an arc ---” -Christian musician Michael Gungor To me, one of the scariest trends in modern Christian thinking is the notion that it’s less important what you believe, and more important how you believe Continue Reading
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. - Genesis 2:25 Shame wasn’t part of the human vocabulary until sin entered the picture. Adam and Eve were, as countless paintings and films suggest, innocently erotic and erotically innocent. No clothes and, I daresay, no inhibitions. That was then, and then was worlds away, ages ago. Continue Reading
A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. -Ruth Bell Graham Continue Reading
“So maybe my nature does draw me to you. That doesn’t mean I have to go with it. I can say yes to some things, and no to some things that are gonna Continue Reading
I’m a logician. No matter how wrong I am, I can always convince myself I am right. -Jarod Kintz Continue Reading
Then said Evangelist, 'If this by thy condition, why standest thou still?' He answered, 'Because I know not where to go.' -Pilgrim's Progress Been Continue Reading
“For the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.” - James 1:20 Some stories put me in touch with my inner murderer. This one’s a pretty Continue Reading
{ Fascinating coverage, Joe. I'm curious to know more about what can/has been done to change the mental state (versus physicality) of people with gender dysphoria,... } – Apr 27, 3:50 PM
{ Your ministry and perspective is a tremendous blessing. Thank you for sharing your struggle and what God has taught you through it. As a compassionate... } – Apr 26, 9:38 AM
{ Joe- as always, excellent writing and research! And I love how you always remember to talk about the heart of God. I can't imagine what... } – Apr 25, 7:12 PM
{ I WAS SICKENED WHEN HE TOLD THE STORY OF HOW GOD MADE HIM & LOOKED DOWN & DECIDED HE WOULD GIVE HIM THIS GENDER ISSUE... } – Apr 25, 6:49 PM
{ Your honesty, and courage are as phenomenal as your insight Mr Dallas. Thank you Sir. } – Apr 25, 2:51 AM
{ Joe, that is why we love and respect you so much: you always speak the truth in love and have always been transparent about your... } – Apr 25, 12:48 AM
Gungor and the Fallible Jesus
“And even if He (Jesus) was wrong, even if He did believe that Noah was a historical person, or Adam was a historical person, and ended up being wrong, I don’t understand how that would deny the divinity of Christ,” “The point is it wouldn’t freak me out if He was wrong about it, in His human side.” “Even if Jesus knew that Noah and Adam were mythical, but knew He was talking to people who thought they were real, that’s another possibility.” -recent comments by Christian singer/songwriter Michael Gungor Maybe this hits you hard; maybe Continue Reading