?For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword,

and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow,

and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.?      

????

Hebrews 4:12

Dear friends & ministry partners,

I am happy to let you know that our initiative entitled, ?Humility & Honor? which was kicked off at the beginning of June to coincide with what has been dubbed ?pride month? had a great beginning. Our weekly podcast monologues and interviews throughout June all centered around this good and wholesome theme of humility & honor. You can check out our podcast at loveandtruthnetwork.com/podcast, or via Apple, Google, or Spotify.

Earlier this week my family and I drove from Phoenix, AZ to New Jersey to begin our summer ministry tour in the Northeast.

What a joy to be part of God?s rescue operation in the world! Holding to Biblical truth ? leading with Biblical love ? offering Biblical hope for lost and hurting people ? pointing in the direction that leads to genuine meaning and belonging within the Kingdom of God. He is on the move, offering life and beauty for our death and ashes. How can those of us who have been redeemed by His goodness and mercy hold back from sharing about our great God and Savior?

The pressures of this world system tell us to shut our mouths ? especially in the public square, keeping Biblical teaching and our Biblical worldview within the four walls of our homes and our churches. Of course, even there we?ll be censored at some point, if we continue to allow ourselves to be silenced and veil the truth and the goodness of God. Rather, let?s share His love and salvation with wisdom and with boldness ? prepared always to give a reason for the hope that is within us - I Peter 3:15.

You are a vital part of Love & Truth Network and our ability to proclaim the goodness of God and the pathway He provides toward wholeness and victorious living. Your partnership in prayer, financial support, and advocacy - the connections you make for us with your pastor and other leaders are all essential ways that you make a huge difference.

I recall a message that one of our pastors was giving toward the end of 2022, in which he stated, ?God isn?t asking us to be His attorneys. He?s asking us to be His witnesses?. Of course, apologetics is an important means of equipping the Body of Christ, as well as evangelizing ? showing that the Bible is true - it stands up to the tests of time, archeology, and science. God doesn?t need us to defend Him. He needs us to share what He has and is doing in our lives - how He has made us whole, and how the Scriptures are as relevant today as they have ever been.

For example, we read Paul?s instructions to Timothy, his young disciple, in I & II Timothy ? on how to conduct himself; how to model, instruct, and lead the Church of Jesus Christ, which Paul left him to give order and stability to. These words are just as important and needed today as they were when Paul first penned them.

I am often teaching and preaching out of II Timothy 2:22-3:5:

?Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ Don?t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord?s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God? ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

Paul not only called Timothy (and us) to flee from lust and the evil desires that so often accompany youthfulness, but to pursue something else ? righteousness, faith, love, and peace. When we merely run away from something, our attention remains on what we are running from. But when we turn from one thing to pursue another, our attention shifts to what is now ahead of us ? this other thing, this far better thing that we are now pursuing. We are called to not only abstain from sin, but to replace it with what is good and wholesome.

?Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.? Romans 12:21

Paul goes on in II Timothy 2:22 to instruct us not to do this by ourselves, but with others who are also committed to the same life of purity ? ?with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart?. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation, but that is the typical practice of most Christians and most western churches. It?s no wonder the power of the gospel has seemed to diminish. No wonder so many Christians are living sub-par lives that are full of compromise and full of worldliness. We need to repent and return to the sincere pursuit of Biblical love, rich and genuine fellowship, and ever-increasing sanctification.

We have our Sunday morning gathering and church service (which are vitally important for hearing the Word of God proclaimed and explained), but we mistake that for ?meaningful fellowship?. Or we show up another evening during the week for a church event, or we have a men?s group, women?s group, or small group, and we think, ?surely I?m checking off the box of Biblical fellowship and community by all these groups I?m involved with?.

But does anyone actually know you? Really know you ? your fears, your pain, your struggle against sin, your failures with sin, or the sins that have been committed against you? Do they know your story ? the real one ? the one that isn?t so edited and manicured that it only barely resembles the truth?

Apart from authentic and vulnerable community (being truly known) there is no healing.

?Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.? James 5:16

Paul instructs us in II Timothy 2:24 that as Christ-followers we are not to be quarrelsome, but to demonstrate kindness to everyone ? able to teach and patient when wronged. We do this for the purpose of God granting the gift of repentance, surrender, and faith in Jesus Christ to those who do not believe or practice truth. So that these who were once trapped in blindness and sin (as I and you once were) ?may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil.?

God loves and longs to rescue those who have been broken by sexual sin and identity confusion. He wants to set them free from the prison and deception of Satan. But He does this through the kind, patient, gentle, and truthful teaching and sharing of authentic Christ-followers ? those who will be ?Jesus with skin on? to hurting, angry, and confused generations all around us.

Paul tells Timothy (and us) to be aware that very difficult times are ahead ? when people will become more and more enamored with themselves and their desires and cravings ?

?Lovers of self? and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power. Avoid such men as these.? II Timothy 3:3, 5.

With our focus ever turning more and more inward, and consumed with a never-ending pursuit of ourselves, Satan lures and tempts us right into his snare. We become lost in his labyrinth of endless and empty pursuits ? often involving sexual immorality and identity confusion.

We see that there will be those who hold to a form of godliness but deny its power. In other words, we will have people around us who claim faith in Christ, but their actions and fruit tell a different story. We need to be careful of the ?form of godliness? that can mask an unrepentant and un-surrendered person.

There are so many denominations and individual churches that have fallen under the delusion of false teachers and false prophets ? the deceptive and false religions of our age. LGBTQ isn?t a community, it?s a growing religious movement where the Self is exalted as god and where one can be deceived into thinking they can choose their own identity. Rather than yielding to the good and glorious God who made male and female in His image, LGBTQ ?tenants of the faith? seek to remake God into their image. It?s complete lawlessness.

Of course, in one way or another, this is also true for everyone who rejects God and His narrow way of salvation ? faith in Jesus Christ alone. It?s a wide and spacious invitation (everyone receives the invitation) but a narrow doorway through which we must enter ? Jesus Christ alone. We were made for worship. If we refuse to worship our Creator and Designer, we will worship something else ? money, power, fame, sex, identity, control, security, or significance. All of this, separated from Jesus... or blending of a little Jesus with a lot of self and self-centered pursuits. That isn?t the true gospel.

And according to the Apostle Paul, how are Christ-followers instructed to behave toward all those who worship at these altars? With kindness, patience, and gentle correction. We need to be a prepared people who aren?t saying one thing while also living in secret sexual sin and compromise. We need to be ones who live an authentic life of pursuing God and the things of God. We need to prepare and equip ourselves for the purpose of teaching and sharing truth that leads to life. We also need to prepare to face opposition and persecution from those who hate the truth.

This is why Love & Truth Network exists ? to equip and walk with pastors, Christian leaders and churches who desire to grow personally and be a true light to all those around them who are walking in darkness.

As I write this ministry update, it?s Sunday morning and I?m about to preach at a church just outside of New York City, on the passage I have been writing about here - II Timothy. Yesterday, I was blessed to share with and equip 50-60 key leaders from this church. We had an extended time of Q & A. The obvious desire was to understand the struggles of sexual sin and identity confusion, and more importantly how to walk well and Biblically with those who struggle.

The church in the U.S. needs revitalization on the topics of sex and identity. Rather than being ashamed of these essential topics that God is the author of, we need to equip and prepare those entrusted to the care of the Church for how to steward these powerful gifts in such a way that they lead to life and righteousness, rather than destruction and death due to misuse and abuse.

Please join with us if you believe in the work we are doing to equip and strengthen churches all over the country in these essential areas. I know many of you recognize the fallout of where we?re at and where we?re headed as a country if we don?t restore the goodness of God?s design, and if the Church doesn?t take up its mandate to live with integrity and offer real answers to a lost world.

If you are not yet financially supporting Love & Truth Network, would you prayerfully consider partnering with us in this way? We need your support to more effectively increase our influence - sharing the message of God?s redemptive power and created design for the greatest opportunity of human thriving.

I am so pleased to remind you about our summer Matching Gift Challenge opportunity. You may have already seen an announcement about this a couple weeks ago. But we have a long-time partner and friend of the ministry who gave a Matching gift Challenge of $15,000 to Love & Truth Network. Their hope is to see the impact of their gift doubled or even tripled to support the work and ministry of Love & Truth Network.

This opportunity is for first time, or infreqent givers, or for a special gift or increase in monthly support from our current faithful financial partners. For example, someone reached out to ask if the gift needed to be given in a lump sum or could be committed each month for a year. Her gift of $100/month will be multiplied by 12 months and count toward our Matching Gift Challenge as $1,200.

Thank you for your support of Love & Truth Network! Click here to give a gift toward our summer giving challenge.

Or you can mail checks directly:

Love & Truth Network

4410 W. Union Hills Dr

Suite 7, Box 283

Glendale, AZ 85308

Ministry Opportunities

As I mentioned at the beginning of this update, my family and I just began our Northeast ministry tour. This is something we have done each summer since relocating from upstate New York to Phoenix in 2016 ? taking five to seven weeks to minister and equip pastors and churches on the topics of sexuality, identity, and the need for genuine and vulnerable relationships within the body of Christ. So much sin and addiction flow out of our relational emptiness! We were made for far more connection and fellowship than what we typically experience.

My book has been through several rounds of edits and is now being read by several beta-readers for their input on further refining and editing. Thank you so much for those who have been praying for me on this project! I have a second book that is well underway and I hope to have that full first-draft completed by the end of 2023.

We?ll return to Arizona in mid-August for our boys to rejoin their home-school community for the launch of the new school year. The following months are very full ministry months with a great deal of travel for Garry.

As you know, we had the wonderful opportunity to exhibit, teach, and share two promotional videos for the entire Christian Medical & Dental Association (CMDA) conference in May. Today, we are looking forward to exhibiting Love & Truth Network and Transforming Congregations at the American Association of Christian Counselor?s (AACC) conference in Nashville, TN in September.

While we had around 1,000 in attendance at the CMDA, the AACC will have between 7,000-8,000 Christian counselors, pastors, and leaders participating. We are thrilled for this opportunity to engage with Christians in the mental health field who so greatly need the information and ministry offered through Love & Truth Network and Transforming Congregations.

It is particularly beneficial that as a licensed professional counselor, my wife will be joining me throughout this event. My assistant, Jeremiah, and a longtime ministry supporter and key-volunteer, Becky, will also be working with us at our exhibit booth at the AACC conference. Becky is also finishing her Master?s degree in counseling and working toward her licensure. So, the timing of her participation in the September event couldn?t be better.

Like the CMDA conference, this will be an expensive event, but one that we believe is essential for the increased exposure and influence of Love & Truth Network and Transforming Congregations. We would so appreciate your assistance in helping us fund this event. We received a great discount on our exhibit booth, and decided not to pay a higher amount for greater exposure at the conference, as we did for CMDA. With travel, lodging, meals, and booth space, we are expecting our investment in at AACC to run about $6,000.

To make this event more affordable, as with the CMDA conference, Love & Truth Network and Transforming Congregations will be sharing exhibit space. We so greatly appreciate your financial generosity which helps to make these opportunities for influencing and supporting Christian leaders with a Biblical perspective a reality.

Immediately following the AACC conference, I will join other national ministry leaders in Washington D.C. for a week of strategic planning, meetings with Christian family policy groups based in our nation?s capital, and connecting with federal legislators to share our stories and lobby for the right of counseling choice ? promoting the right of every person to seek out and work with counselors and pastors who align with their worldview perspective, without legal hindrance from the federal government.

?

October and November are filling up with ministry travel, speaking events, and equipping opportunities for Christian leaders. Please pray for us ? that God would open new doors and deepen commitments to Him that will lead to greater discipleship within the Church, as well as many more laborers in His great field of harvest. 

Kris's Story -

(from the "Changed" compilation) ChangedMovement.com/shop

I was attracted emotionally to other girls in junior high school. In my late teens, I started feeling physically attracted to girls. I never gay-identified, as I didn't like the feelings and wanted them to go away. I was frustrated, had no idea where the attraction was coming from, and wanted nothing to do with it.

In my early 30s, I had a powerful encounter with Jesus and received Him as my Savior. I thought that as a Christian, I would not experience same-sex attraction anymore. But although I wasn't acting on it at all, it did not go away. I'm a member of the LPGA and was so focused on my career that attractions faded to the background.

About ten years after becoming a Christian, while in a business meeting, I looked across the room and made eye contact with a woman. I was immediately attracted to her, and I could see in her eyes that she was extremely attracted to me, too. I didn't want to pursue anything with her, so I resolved to keep my distance.

A couple of months later in another business meeting, she sat down next to me. She asked how I was doing, and I ended up unloading all of my work-related frustrations and struggles on her. She offered to help me because she'd had similar experiences, so I agreed. We struck up a friendship, which became a relationship, and I entered into the world of lesbian sexuality. She was practically my dream girl, but all along, I felt unsettled about it and very internally conflicted.

She wasn't a Christian, but I was. One day as we sat in my car talking, I mentioned a Biblical concept that applied to our topic of conversation. I said, "There's this Scripture in the Bible that says..." I barely finished when she turned to me and said, "Shut up! I'm so tired of hearing about Jesus. If you mention Him one more time, I'm out of this car and you'll never see me again."

Suddenly, I knew I was at a crossroads of choosing my faith or her. In that moment, I chose my faith.

?

It was the hardest decision I had ever made, and I knew I needed serious help to work through it. I needed more than just reading Scripture; I needed a counselor, someone who could help me unravel the deep emotions from a faith-based perspective. I ended up joining a Christian missionary program where I gained understanding about where my same-sex feelings had come from. I also attended a conference and read a couple of books on the topic of transforming unwanted same-sex attraction. All of these things were healing for me.

Today, I'm no longer attracted to women, and I have attraction toward men. I'm currently single, enjoy my freedom and am happy with being released from the intense conflict in my soul over my sexuality.