Tag Archives: Love

Interview: Rick & Carole Karchner, Parents of a Gay Prodigal – Overcomers Overcoming Podcast

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Parents of a Gay Prodigal: How Rick & Carole Karchner (Dad & Mom) Handled my “Coming out”.

Click below to listen to the podcast (35 mins):

Rick & Carole (Dad & Mom)’s First Podcast, 2021

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:9-11

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Tim 4:3-5

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Praise the Lord!

Ex-Gay Testimony Dramatically Retold

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Thanks to #Unshackled for revising (some details changed) & acting out my #ExGay #Testimony as a dramatic story for radio.

Click the following link to listen (30 mins) – https://unshackled.org/program/matthew-karchner-pg/

Praise the Lord!

Moved to support our ministry? Please click here.

My Story 2: Lessons

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“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

Bible passages referenced in this video:  Matthew 7:1-3, Revelation 5:12-13,  1 Corinthians 6:20, John 1:12

Click here to watch “My Story”.

My Story: Ex-Gay

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“If a man is not born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3

Re-enactment of our founder’s deliverance from the gay lifestyle and related sin.

Bible passages referenced in this video:  Matthew 19:26, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16, Matthew 24:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 4:17, Galatians 5:22-23, Nehemiah 8:10, Matthew 7:13-14, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18, 1 Corinthians 15:31, Hebrews 13:8, John 1:14, Hebrew 12:29, Matthew 28:18, Revelation 5:12-13

Click here to watch “My Story 2”.

What Does God Want from Me?

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“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”   – James 1:2

Sometimes it is hard to believe that hurtful trials where we are beaten up by our closest friends could ultimately work in our favor, but if we are in Christ, they do (Romans 8:28).

I have seen a lot in this life. And I realize that you have endured much also.

Let’s have a cup of tea together and share lessons learned. If you don’t mind, I’ll go first….

First I need to repent and put my faith and trust in Jesus (Matthew 3:2; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9). I should place no confidence in myself (Philippians 3:3). After all, I am just a sinner saved by grace. Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing (John 15:5). So I trust Him and place my confidence in His power, not my own. My goal is not prove to others that I am a finished work or to have a righteousness of my own. Instead, I trust in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and strive to follow His orders (1 John 5:2-4). The Lord knows all things (John 4)- past, present and future. He knows my sin even before I commit it and promises to forgive me if I ask (1 John 1:9). So trying to hide my sin from Jesus is useless. Although He knows I will sin again and has already provisioned for it, I should fight against sin with His power. When temptations come, I must remember that I belong to Jesus.

This tea is delightful. Did you put lemon in here, friend?

I grew up in a small village in the 1980s. When neighborhood kids offended one another, parents grouped us together and ensured that apologies were given as appropriate. I need to remember this. Although not easy, what a game changer to teach kids for later life. If I am not able to admit that I am wrong, how did I accept Jesus in the first place? The gospel is not the gospel without:  “For all have sinned…” (Romans 3:23).

So what does He want from me?

He wants me to love Him and to use His love coming through me to genuinely love other people (Romans 12:9; Matthew 22:36-40). He wants me to be obedient to Him (1 Samuel 15:22). He wants me to be “true blue”. He wants me to have a burden for the lost- where His heart is- and to take action (Matthew 28). I was also once lost and should never forget the pit from which I came. Many are still there. He values a genuine relationship with me so much that He died to purchase me with His own blood.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”   – Micah 6:8

It’s your turn, friend…

 

The Way of Salvation

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1)  God created everything.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

2)  We sinned. Every person on earth is a sinner. We all do bad things.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

3)  We deserve death for our sins.  But we can have eternal life through Jesus.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

4)  God loves us so much that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on a cross (took the punishment that we deserve) to save us from our sins.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16‭-‬18

5)  God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus is Lord.

“that he worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under His feet…”  Ephesians 1:20‭-‬22

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.'” Matthew 28:18

6)  No one is a good person. We cannot earn heaven.

“…None is righteous, no, not one;” Romans 3:10

7)  We must repent of our sins and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. This is the ONLY way to be saved (go to heaven and have everlasting life).

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father, except through Me.’” John 14:6

8)  We must be spiritually “born again”.

“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3
See full chapter (John 3) for detailed explanation.

9)  The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back in judgment. Those who have repented of their sins and given their lives to Him will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus. Sadly, those who have not repented of their sins and given their lives to Him will burn for eternity in hell.

“Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” Matthew 25:41

10)  Following Jesus begins with one humble prayer.

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

If you are ready to give your life to Jesus and live for Him, please pray:

Dear Jesus,

I am a sinner.

I believe that You died on the cross to save me from my sins.

I believe that You rose again.

I believe that Jesus Is Lord.

Please forgive me from my sins.

And I will follow You for the rest of my life.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and meant it, you have been saved by God’s grace (undeserved favor) through your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus paid it all. You are justified by faith, not works.

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves.  It is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Praise the Lord!


Now Follow Jesus every day:

1)  Get a Bible. Start reading it daily.

2)  Pray daily.

3)  Find a Bible believing church. Attend regularly.

Follow the Lord!

If you feel like you cannot believe in Jesus, read the Bible. “Faith comes by hearing the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

If you have a question, would like to talk, pray or be encouraged, please fill out the form below. Anonymous is ok. Expect a timely response.