Summary: Becket Cook grew up in Dallas, Texas, in a large Catholic family, and recognized at a young age that he experienced same-sex attraction. After living a gay lifestyle in Hollywood culture, he began to feel a sense of overwhelming emptiness in his life. A powerful spiritual experience in an evangelical church led to a dramatic lifestyle change, embracing Jesus Christ as his Savior, and finding fulfillment identifying as a Christian. Becket is now an <a href="https://amzn.to/3buXlIq" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a>, speaker, and preacher, and will be speaking at the <a href="https://www.northstarlds.org/conference2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">North Star Conference</a>, March 5-7, 2020.<br> Highlights<br> 10:50 Growing up in Dallas, recognizing his same-sex attraction, and exploring gay culture<br> <br> 13:15 Identifying as a gay man and disconnecting from Christianity<br> <br> 16:00 Moved to Los Angeles and fit in with friends having a Hollywood experience<br> <br> 18:30 Wondering about the meaning of life and discovering a sense of emptiness<br> <br> 21:00 Met a group of Evangelical Christians in Los Angeles and started questioning the foundations of his life<br> <br> 23:30 Attended Church, felt the Spirit during the sermon, and had a powerful born-again experience during worship time and again at home after<br> <br> 27:30 Immediately dismissed a gay lifestyle and welcomed Christ into his life<br> <br> 29:10 Wrote a book, A Change of Affection: A Gay Man's Incredible Story of Redemption, and was blacklisted in Hollywood<br> <br> 30:40 Basked in the grace of God for the first year, and recognizes now that struggles are part of sanctification and he can turn to Jesus for support through difficulty<br> <br> 34:25 His life is no longer dominated by his sexual appetite; comparison with Esau selling his birthright<br> <br> 36:35 The gay culture is so powerful and needs to be countered with the armor of God that comes from daily immersion in scripture and prayer, and in a community where others can help you and pray for you in the body of Christ<br> <br> 39:00 What difference would it make if we turned to scripture like we turn to Instagram?<br> <br> 40:40 Paul prayed for the thorn to be taken from his flesh and it wasn’t, but all he cared about was the gospel of Jesus Christ; the struggle and tension in life is worth it<br> <br> 42:40 The fulfillment of powerful prayer and abiding in Christ brings joy that enriches and renews; a daily practice bring results and not spending time in spiritual discipline means missing out on those results; sees his own mission to teach<br> <br> 49:00 Unconditionally loving people is a long process and leaders need to balance grace and truth, being as loving as possible as individuals go through their own process, showing compassion instead of preaching to them<br> <br> 52:20 He chooses to not put himself into situations that are dangerous and has embraced new Christian friends, but keeps the door open for his old friends so they know he is still there for them and still loves them<br> <br> 55:30 Identifying as gay vs. identifying as a Christian; shaping of identity by how we label ourselves<br> <br> 58:45 His book isn’t just for people who experience same-sex attraction<br> <br> 1:00:15 After being in the dark for so long, he can now see the emptiness and the contrast with the miraculous change in himself<br> Links<br> <a href="https://amzn.to/3buXlIq" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Change of Affection: A Gay Man's Incredible Story of Redemption</a>, by Becket Cook<br> Register for the free leadership sessions or discounted tickets to the entire <a href="https://www.northstarlds.org/conference2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">North Star Conference</a>, March 5-7, 2020<br> <a href="https://www.northstarlds."></a>
