As I was growing up, my father often repeated this quote: “We are coming into troublous times, but let not one of the people of God, by his individual course of action, create a time of trouble beforehand.” [1] As a physician facing various controversial issues, I have tried to “fly under the rad...
“Honor Thy Father?” It was a trip I had been dreading. Driving down Main Street, I knew I was getting close. Turning onto a quiet side street, I saw a squarish, dark-red building surrounded by a tall, barbed-wire fence. That’s when the reality of the situation hit—my father is a . . .
Escaping the Tornado: Overcoming Pornography Addiction While living in Texas, I developed a deep respect for, and quite frankly a fear of, tornados. There is something terrifying about a storm that comes up so quickly, lashes out so violently, and is so thoroughly destructive—mangling homes and trees, leaving nothing but . . .
Greg: A Personal Plea My name is Greg, and I am a Seventh-day Adventist living in California. Most of my formative education has been through the Adventist Church—from elementary school through university. My parents divorced when I was 9, so spending time at Dad’s house filled with stacks of pornography . . .
Toni: Only Deceiving Myself I am the youngest and only girl of five children. I was named by and after my father, who wanted a fifth boy—that is how I got the name Toni! I remember not feeling welcome at home at an early age. My brothers were jealous of . . .
Joshua: False Identity From a young age, I was extremely insecure about my looks and my personality. My hobbies and interests were considered more feminine, and I envied and admired the more masculine guys who seemed so confident around the girls. To complicate matters, I was exposed to pornography at . . .
Bree: A Life of Joy, Health, and Wholeness Growing up in a predominantly male home was difficult for me. I felt a void because my need for motherly and feminine affirmation wasn’t met in relatable ways. I observed the women in my family being diminished and silenced. Yet because I . . .
Michael: Rewriting the Narrative The development of my sexual identity was greatly impacted by the way I perceived my father’s masculinity and my struggle to adequately understand my own. A sensitive boy, I was drawn to the arts and connecting with others on an emotional level, but in my private . . .
When I was born, my mother was conflicted about having a daughter instead of a son. As a young child, my mom’s unspoken desire influenced my life, and my mother and I never fully connected emotionally. I remember feeling frustrated by her expectations while at the . . .
Samuel: When the Son Sets You Free As a child, Samir knew he was gay. Attracted to other young boys, he began experimenting sexually with his playmates but never talked about it. Growing up in a Muslim country, the subject of homosexuality was taboo. However, at age 16, Samir and . . .