Thank you to Dr. J and The Dr. J Show for having me on to discuss my testimony and how we are regularly persecuted for simply existing. Rhoda laughed out loud when she heard Dr. J call me a unicorn. Yup, I’m Rhoda’s unicorn! (Rhoda’s life is all Rainbows, Unicorns, and butterflies!) [Watch on Locals!]
Daren Mehl is the President of Voice of the Voiceless, a non-profit organization that aims to defend the rights of people who are virtually never given a voice in the public square, and — in fact — often told that they don’t exist or are lying: Former homosexuals, individuals that have unwanted same-sex attraction, and the families of these truly marginalized people. He is a former homosexual who now lives as a disciple of Jesus and has received healing through Jesus. Mehl shares his testimony of coming out of a gay Christian lifestyle to live faithfully in marriage with his wife Rhoda of 18 years. He speaks frequently about the global attack on the Christian faith via the LGBTQ agenda and how we can respond in love, truth, and speak of the power of Jesus Christ to save and transform. He is currently a pastor at the community church where he lives and is also founder of Made Free Ministries. Note: In this interview, four categories of Christians are discussed: ”Side A” “Revel: Gay Partnership.” These professing “Christians” are gay-affirming and bless homosexual unions. The general belief is that one is born gay. “Side B” ”Resist: Gay Identity.” This group includes professing Christians who identify as gay, yet admit same-sex partnerships and sex are prohibited in the eyes of God. They choose celibacy. “Side X” “Renounce: or Repentance.” This group knows identity is not found in our desires but in Jesus Christ. Our fallen nature is the primary issue of same-sex struggles. “Side Y” “Rebuild: or Transformation” Identity is found in Christ and we must repent of sin, but the focus is on intentional discipleship to more profound healing, relational wholeness, and even newfound desires.
The Bible warns of a time when society will call evil good, and good evil. It seems as though we are living in such times. In this episode we will break down Andy Stanley’s recent statements regarding same-sex attractions and offer a response based on the Bible and our own experiences of finding freedom from sexual brokenness. #andystanleyheresy
Still lingering in Genesis 6 Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and says that he was a just man perfect in his generations, Noah walked with God. Another version says he was blameless!! What the heck? Let’s look at these two words. I was astounded that God would establish His covenant with humanity, through one man Noah? Why him? How did he live his life that God established His covenant with that one man? “Although the Bible does not explicitly mention a covenant until Gen 6:18 (when God announces that he intends to establish a covenant with Noah), many believe that God made a covenant with Adam (cf. Hos 6:7; see NIV text note there). They refer to this covenant with Adam as “the covenant of works” or a “covenant with creation”. Others, however, while not denying that God had a relationship with Adam involving mutual obligations, distinguish this from a covenant, which involves additional formalizing elements such as a sworn and/or enacted oath.” (Tree of life reference.) So Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Hebrew word chen (חֵן), meaning “grace.” he found favor, not like ” he’s my favorite” but more like God looked upon him and was pleased, sort of like when you teach your child something, then suddenly, you see her walking it out, such as making her bed, cleaning her room, scripture says when you listen to your mom and dad, life will go well for you, so I’m guessing, the same rule applies to us with our Father yes? When we follow the good and safe instructions, we open ourselves up for God’s goodness to come in. Let’s say your son has a bad habit of wandering off into the street, eek! You tell your child no, that’s not safe, it’s my job to keep you safe, and your job to be a good listener, that’s laying groundwork for the next stage. Finally, after having to watch him constantly and carefully, he no longer walks towards the street, and then, the parents can give him more freedom, that’s receiving goodness and favor yes? Listen, obey,.and things will go well for you. Scripture goes on to say that Noah was BLAMELESS!! What does that mean, to be blameless? When we have this fleshy, natural(unnatural) hell bent towards doing wrong? תָּמִים blameless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tamim Phonetic Spelling: (taw-meem’) Definition: complete, sound, wholesome, having integrity.(Bible Hub) So God established His covenant with Noah. Why? Well, in short terms, we blew it in the Garden, BUT GOD, He wasn’t caught off guard or saying “OH MYSELF WHATEVER SHALL I DO?” He already had the cure to our sinful nature, JESUS, and all these covenants were leading somewhere.. where? JESUS. Reading scripture through God’s eyes vs our broken condition gives whole new insight into Him, and His intentions for humanity. It’s like our eyes are veiled. Ever remember seeing those glass square building blocks people use in their home to build a wall? I’ve seen them more in dentist offices. I think they are like 6×6. Although they are glass, you cannot really see through them, because of how they are constructed. You can see images through them, but there is no clarity, it’s like that. If we WANT to see through, it’s gonna take another way, like going around, or going up a ladder to see what’s really happening on the other side of that wall. So change the mindset, try seeing things through the lense of God and His intent for mankind. He is MERCIFUL, full of COMPASSION. Slow to anger, nd ABOUNDING in love. He loves to be with us, He wants us to get to KNOW HIM. In getting to know Him, you will understand His requirements, God has requirements beloved. He’s not flakey, “Oh I think I’ll throw some blessing on so and so today, just for craps and giggles” Anyway… So God established His covenant with Noah, because of how he lived his life, he spent time with the Lord, understanding how He is, what moves His heart, what are His ways? He listened, and as we see in the first mention of listen, it means to OBEY! How we gonna obey if we don’t A. Know God intimately? Spend time understanding Him, pay attention to how He responds, what His heart is for His creation? So often times I hear believers say, “use me God” or “move through me God” “Let Your will be done in and through me Lord” yet lack any discipline to get to know Him through, prayer, worship and reading the word. I’ll assure you, if you have a destiny and a calling on your life, which all believers do, you ain’t gonna get there until you start at the bottom, there’s no shortcut. You HAVE TO establish a good, solid foundation, like building your house on a solid foundation, remind you of anything? Jesus said everyone who hears his words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Then he went on to say everyone who hears his words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand . Either we develop a habit of getting to know God, spend time with Him DAILY, or we don’t. Look through scripture, although God still moved through broken man and still does, God is looking for people who have chutzpah, integrity of heart, some grit to stand true to His instructions. We need to stop acting like children who are hell bent on wandering into the street, so God can advance the Kingdom THROUGH us. Self included. So I leave you with these questions: what are you hoping will happen? And what do you intend to do about it? There’s a God part, and an us part. God made a covenant WITH us, so that means we have a part. If you give God mediocrity you’re going to get mediocrity back.
Last year, I recorded this song,Worthy. But for one reason or another, I never released it…it just never seemed like the right time. Until now.
With the ungodly legislation passed by Minnesota lawmakers, the words of this song seemed especially apropos. Regardless of what is happening in culture, I will continue to make myself ready for Jesus, My Bridegroom King. And, I will give myself to helping others prepare themselves as well. Why? Because Jesus is worthy of a prepared Bride!
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
-Revelation 19:6-7
Therefore, we don’t lose heart. The Lion is coming for you and me! What a glorious day that will be!! And, Beloved, it will be worth the wait.
I hope you enjoy the song. Listen on any major streaming service like Spotify, Youtube or Apple Music.
When I was a little girl, very little, maybe like 4 years old, my brother Joe had gotten a tick on his chest. I remember we could see part of it but it was definitely “stuck” in him. I cried and screamed because I didnt want my brother to get sick from the bug and it wasnt like all the other bugs we just squished with our fingers.
I remember very vivdly all that happened next. My dad had a talk with Joe first. Then he pulled something from the junk drawer. I can still see Joe’s eyes closed so tightly. And then my dad lit a match! I hit my dad and yelled dont hurt my brother!
My mom took me and plopped me on the couch and that’s when I got a talk. Mom told me that my dad wanted what was hurting Joe to be gone and the fire was gonna help make it go away. It may hurt a little bit at first but ultimately it would be better for Joe. Dad knew what he was doing and we just needed to trust him and let him do what needed to be done. Dad would never hurt Joe and loved him very much.
Decades later I would find myself all alone in this little town, living in a house by myself. As I sat on the floor of my prayer room the Lord brought back to mind that “plop and talk” with my mom.
As painful as it has been at moments, diggin up the roots was happening because my God is a consuming fire. And when we draw near to Him, the sin falls away and dies, like the tick.
Today we hear so much about, Come as you are because God loves you just as you are! Absolutely God wants us to come as we are but it is because of His great love for us, He doesn’t want us to stay where we are! He made a way for us to come to Him and find repentance. It is only in true repentance that we can find healing. When we find healing, then as we continue to draw near to Him we will become more like Jesus and this is where we are transformed.
You see, we are to come to Him as we are, broken and weary, but He came so that we wouldn’t stay that way. He came to seek and save the lost! There isnt anyone more lost than those who are broken. He came to bind up the broken hearted. He came to give the weary, some rest.
Diggin up the roots isnt about “losing yourself” in something new. Its about shedding the old so you can be something fresh and become who were previously held back from being. The “old is gone and the new has come” is not about be controlled, its about taking control by not letting the chains that have taken hold of you for so long, do so any longer.
Just like my dad lit the match to get rid of the tick on my brother, our heavenly Father is the fire to get rid of the sin that is hurting us. It may hurt because it is stuck to us, that sticky sin. But our Father is SO good, and He knows what He is doing. Trust Him.
Daren Mehl shares his testimony of coming out of the gay identity and lifestyle as a Christian on The Meeting House podcast with Bob Crittenden. Aired on Faith Radio June 22nd, 2023.
