Michael Glaze, editor of Young Gay America, has recently renounced his homosexual lifestyle in favor of “healing” and relationship with Christ.

In a recent article he writes: “It became clear to me, as I really thought about it – and really prayed about it – that homosexuality prevents us from finding our true self within. We cannot see the truth when we’re blinded by homosexuality.”

Further…

“In my experience, ‘coming out’ from under the influence of the homosexual mindset was the most liberating, beautiful and astonishing thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life,” ”

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AMFM has a host of resources for marriage and family questions, issues, and challenges. They recently added my article “Becoming A Parent: Redemptively Facing Fears and Frustrations” to their archives.

Rhoads and Orcutt make the point that for Christians a deep and enduring passion for creation should come from two sources: our original calling as human beings “to serve and to preserve” the Earth, and our redemption in Christ as “new creations.” Add to that the inherent value of creation, something with free-standing value, created ex nihilo, out of nothing, and destined not for obliteration but renewal.

In “Greening Our Churches” the authors make numerous suggestions on how to improve our discipleship and worship by going green like: reading Plan B, replacing your bulbs with CFL bulbs, printing on recycled paper, and joining local environmental groups. Check out the article at Sojourners. You will need to register for free to read the entire article.

BBC reporter, Alan Johnston, has been freed from the Army of Islam in the Gaza Strip. Johnston had been in captivity for 114 days, during which he was harassed, isolated, interrogated, forced to produce false videos, and chained by hand and foot for 24 hours. Describing the angst of being captive, Alan said: “I literally dreamt many times of being free, and always woke up back in that room.”

Can you imagine having to dream of freedom? How ironic that Johnston gained his freedom on July 4th, America’s holiday celebrating our freedom from British rule. Not to diminish Johnston’s liberation, but what of the countless sexual, political, military, and spiritual captives who are still bound to dream of freedom? If you could offer freedom to someone held by extreme terrorists would you? Of course you would…but what of those around us that are oppressed, captive to spiritual terrorists?

There are people all around us living in captivity. People who walk the streets, go to movies, and live next door, people who live in a matrix of unbelief, bound in the spiritual room of their sin. Some of them pine for freedom, not knowing what they long for is spiritual liberation. Others need to be awakened to their need and the red-level threat of terror.

Ought we not engage in a gospel of freedom, that liberates body and soul, renewing the whole of life? Of all people, shouldn’t the followers of the One who “preaches liberty to the captives and sets the prisoners free” be engaged in setting people free from physical and spiritual bondage?