24 comments

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  Brian

  1 year ago

  I'm glad to hear that you're taking it all in stride and that you've got friends to help keep you in check. Those type of friends really are a blessing, aren't they?
  
  Best of luck with getting back into a healthy stride!
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  Thank you Brian! and yes, the friend who holds me accountable is a blessing...the gay activists ...hmmmm... blessing isn't the word that comes right to mind but...in some paradoxical way they probably are.
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  Michael Bussee

  1 year ago

  Isn't gluttony a sin?
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  Michael, you get an "F" on today's pop quiz for reading comprehension... I wrote in the above post third paragraph from the end:
  
  

  Now, I am big boned… but I am fat too. I am fat because I ate too much, didn’t exercise, handled stress inappropriately and committed the sin of gluttony.

  
  
  Thanks for caring.
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  Dwayne

  1 year ago

  Randy,
  
  Thank you for your honesty AND humor! You have no idea how meaningful the laughter and encouragement you bring to me on a daily basis.
  
  Especially how you show such incredible, godly restraint in your responses to comments like Michael's. ;-)
  
  Dwayne
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  Paige

  1 year ago

  Sorry to hear all of those remarks fell on you at once. Satan likes to attack us where we hurt or where we're weak...but he's always lying. (I'm sure you know this already, but I find it encouraging to be reminded that Satan is a liar!) Your blog is always thought-provoking and entertaining. Keep going!
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  Well, I agree with you that satan would love nothing other than to discourage and insult me. The problem is that I am fat. So, while I will ignore shame and condemnation...I have to take a look at reality and I really need to lose weight.
  
  I appreciate you taking the time to encourage me and I receive it. Thank you for your support, your comment and hopefully intercession :).
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  Hi Dwayne...for some reason your comment got caught in my spam filter. I am glad I caught it before it got deleted because you are very nice! I like nice comments :).
  
  As for godly restraint...if you only saw the first four drafts of my replies and the ones I never hit the "post" button on. :) Ok...it's not that bad and I do have a thick-er skin than I used too. Plus, I kind of got on to him with the "F" on the pop quiz comment ... I should probably repent.
  
  I am glad you enjoy the blog
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  Cheryl

  1 year ago

  Well I hope 2008 is much better for you. Perhaps there will be some new dreams this year.
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  Brandon

  1 year ago

  Very funny outlook, Randy. Don't let 'em get you down. :)
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  Cheryl, I am always dreaming.
  
  Brandon, thanks! They won't :)
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  Laura Leigh

  1 year ago

  I appreciate the candor of this post. I finally got to a place where I would talk about the growing awareness that it was going to take a God-thing to begin to overcome with the food. A wise lady in my life use to say to me, "Laura, don't be surprised when you sin." Maybe I'm not surprised that I sin...but am surprised at what God calls sin that I would not. Anyhoo, thanks for the post. As for the activists, I want to know what exactly about you is so fascinating to them? :)
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  I hear you Laura Leigh. It's a tough journey but the things I have learned and continue to learn are remarkable. There are a myriad reasons why the Lord uses "The Body" as a metaphor for His Church. That is one of the motivating factors for me to at least yo yo and not give up. Hopefully I will continue to learn to the point of consistent healthy stewardship.
  
  What do activists find fascinating about me? I have no idea. I can't imagine reading a blog day after day that caused the kind of reaction I see in them (sometimes.) The wiliest ones are looking for something to blog about.
  
  At the same time, there are a couple of people who identify as gay that I don't think would be labeled "activists." They are very nice and in a way we have become online friends. There are a few along those lines that lurk on my blog and email me privately. I enjoy that.
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  Michael Bussee

  1 year ago

  Randy: I am not an "activist", but I can assure you that I do not find you "fascinating". Don't flatter yourself. You commented earlier that "satan would love nothing other than to discourage and insult me." Kinda grandiose, dontcha think? I am sure Satan has better things to do.
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  Michael: I don't even think I was thinking about you when I posted my last comment or the original post. But ...
  
  According to dictionary.com ... an activist is ...
  
  

  ac·tiv·ist - noun
  1. an especially active, vigorous advocate of a cause, esp. a political cause. –adjective
  2. of or pertaining to activism or activists
  3. advocating or opposing a cause or issue vigorously...

  
  
  You do everything possible to denigrate, stigmatize and undermine people like myself and our beliefs. You are definitely an activist. You may not be fascinated with me but the level of attention (by all the comments you leave here... most of which aren't approved) could border on a newfound obsession. I assure you that I don't find that flattering.
  
  As for satan having better things to do than bother me ... I really hope you are right.
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  Michael Bussee

  1 year ago

  I object to you labeling me "activist" because it always seems to be an insult when you use it. I do not stigmatize you. I call you on your dishonesty. It is not honest to refer to yourself as "ex-gay" or "former homosexual" when you are still attracted and lust after men. Straight men don't do that. Gays or "secular" bisexuals do that.
  
  As to deingrating your beliefs... NO. I have NO objection to your faith. I am a born-again Christian and love Jesus as you do. I object to EXODUS's involvement in politics. Wendy Gritter, your own keynote speaker, seems to have the same objection. I criticize EXODUS for blaming "drop-outs" for not "changing" -- even though neither you nor Alan seem to be capable or willing to define what you mean by "change". You accuse us (ex-ex-gays) of not having enough faith, not trying hard enough, not believing hard enough -- and then you take no responsibility for the harm such a message does to many people.
  
  Fascinated by you? Hardly. Angry? Yes. Disappointed and frustrated with your continuining dishonesty? Yes. Obsessed? Only with telling the truth. If that makes me an activist, so be it.
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  with regard to the use of the word activist - "seems to be" is the operative phrase there. It isn't an insult.
  
  with regard to my alleged dishonesty - thanks for your judgmental opinion based on your closed minded view of my reality.
  
  with regard to politics - You misconstrue Wendy's entire message and ... the last press release or public involvement with public policy was last May. We have, by law the right to use 15% of our resources (like the HRC) to get involved with public policy. We have only been lobbying the Hill four times in 31 years and have spent less than 5% of our budget on those endeavors in l years budget. The rest of the remain 30 percent is so miniscule it isn't even a percent. You are repeating lies.
  
  with regard to the people *you* call dropouts - we have never said any such thing and it is absurd to say we have. There are many reasons why people go back ... as there are for people who don't. Stop creating harm by perpetuating that lie and creating a false sense of polarization.
  
  with regard to obsession - yeah ... you are. Maybe not with me but you are obsessed with proving something to others by attacking us personally.
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  also with regard to obsession - this thread had nothing to do with homosexuality ... it seems you can't talk about anything else.
  
  Please get back to the topic.
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  Laura Leigh

  1 year ago

  Ohhh, Randy. I'm sorry I stirred up a little storm.
  
  What I want to keep in focus is the conviction of God's own dealings with me. I want to deal with the evidence of my sin (for me it is fatness) while dealing with the source of my sin in a consistent way. For me, the source of the sin seems to lie in the "disconnect" between my heart and my life. I can sometimes go through the motions and survive but leave my heart far, far behind. Thanks, again, for your transparent sharing.
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  You are welcome but please don't worry about anything. You didn't stir anything up that wasn't already there just waiting for an opportunity.
  
  It's part and parcel for having a public blog.
  
  I know about that disconnect all to well. Once the eating gets under control... the heart makes itself known and it isn't the easiest thing to come to terms with. You have my prayers tonight Laura Leigh.
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  Vicki

  1 year ago

  Hey Randy. Just thought I'd stop by and say hi. I've actually seen photos & videos of you on Facebook and wouldn't call you fat. What's up with these people? {rolls her eyes} Juvenile is just one word I can think of:-) I've gained 40 lbs. these past couple years myself and it's a constant struggle, especially if one has a sluggish thyroid. I happen to like you * just the way you are.* Standing for truth and offering freedom to folks is way more important than a trim waistline. May the Lord give us both grace and enablement to better care for our temples, but while we trust Him for that enablement, folks can -- as we say down here in the south -- kiss our grits:-)
  
  Thank you for being there, Randy. I appreciate you.
  
  Blessings,
  Vicki
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  Thanks Vicki. I like you just the way you are too. But you know what? I don't know how righteous this is but ... the critics ... are actually good motivation. :)
  
  I am not afraid of being up front about my weight.
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  Vicki

  1 year ago

  Well, I can see what you mean.
  
  And hey, there's another reason I like you - you're not afraid of being up front about things. God bless you, friend. You encourage me.
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  Randy

  1 year ago

  ... as you do me. Thanks again Vicki.
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