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Sin Will Find You Out | Desiring God

Find Your Home (Meeting)

I was listening to the latest "Pirate Monk Podcast", and was struck by the genius (yet again) of one of Mr. Nate Larkin's recommendations.  

And this hit me particularly hard due to a question that was posed to me last Saturday by one of the Samson Society newcomers (I host the Saturday morning newcomers meeting).  The question had to do with a recommendation related to engaging with online Samson Society meetings in light of a newcomers inexperience / ignorance.  My response was for these newbies to consider their schedules, their temperaments, all the while being persistent in their approach.  And, I believe, these are all solid pieces of advice, for everyone has their own individual schedule, personality.  Plus, it simply takes time to truly get a bead on who a meeting host is, how they operate their meeting & what typically comprises the essence of the meeting itself (regular vs newcomer attendees).  

But honestly, I've never felt all that confident that my response was truly helpful.

Mr. Nate Larkin made the statement that finding a "home meeting" is of primo importance in light of the opportunity to bounce around continually within the virtual Samson Society realm.  This "home meeting" is one that you conscientiously commit to week in & week out no matter what.  And from there, if you so choose, dabbling in other meetings is absolutely up for grabs.  

He went on to say that this approach of deciding upon a "home meeting" provides an anchor for newcomers in light of the vast array of virtual meeting choices available each day.  

I believe this bit of advice to be absolutely brilliant, and as such, am anticipating carrying it forward as I have the opportunity to introduce additional newcomers to this ministry.

The Silas Topic

This past Sunday, (6/14) within "Transparent Training Union" (virtual Samson Society meeting), our topic was Silas.  These were the launchpad questions pertaining to our discussion (four for brothers who currently have a Silas and four for brothers who're looking for one):

• For those of you who currently have a Silas (or have had one in the recent past), here're a few questions to consider answering during your share time:
  
• 1. What about the man who's or who was your Silas (recently) made you comfortable enough with him for you to ask him to serve you in this / that capacity?
  
• 2. Exactly how did your Silas interact - describing his approach (technical & persona) with you over the course of your friendship?
  
• 3. What might your Silas do / have done better to serve you?
  
• 4. Share a quick story of how your Silas shifted your thinking in an especially helpful way.
  
• For those of you who're Silas-free, here're a few questions to consider answering during your share time:
  
• 1. What attributes are you looking for within a Silas?
  
• 2. Once you do obtain a Silas, how might your obligation to follow The Path change you / your schedule?
  
• 3. Based on what you've observed within the Samson Society, what're some Silas experiences that you've taken note of / that have piqued your interests?
  
• 4. Do you anticipate obtaining a (new) Silas? If so, describe to us why you're feeling that way. If not, describe to us why you're feeling that way. Be honest and speak in detail.

Afterwards, I stumbled upon this resource via www.samsonsociety.com:  The Role of the Travel Companion | Become a Silas.  

It was a really insightful meeting.  

Where would we be sans our Silases?

Please Touch Me (Now With Feeling)!

I've been volunteering this week as a "Group Leader / Guide" at our church's Summer '26 Vacation Bible School.  I've done this - at various churches - in years past, but only when VBS was a "traditional" AM event.

Firstly, let me just say that I'm so pleased to see so many young men volunteering compared to when this event was traditionally in the AM.  It's amazing to see ALL of the boys' groups being led by men (most of which are much younger than Rob).  This is absolute win-win for both the boys and young men.  

Because of my sabbatical (rebellion?) - so to speak - from volunteering over the past 3-4 years, I can't help but feel like a pariah, having returned a bit hesitantly (my youngest daughter is volunteering in kind).  As such, earlier this week in particular, I really, really, really longed to be affirmed via touch by some of these other men.  Perhaps a shoulder or neck squeeze?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Nope.  (& keep in mind all of them know me - primarily via my daughter.)

Instead, I got a few stupid fist bumps as well as simple, haphazardly placed smacks across the upper back (with backhands).

And the latter was from a man I've known (& haven't seen regularly in many, many years) for close to a decade.  A man who I've (recently) intentionally walked with through three of the most challenging pastoral years of his life.

*Sigh*

Why?

Like most men within our church, there's no greater fear than being labeled a queer.  Hence, they all drive full-size pickups, wear their ballcaps backwards & never, ever touch other men in a way that might qualify them as such.

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Therefore, I sit quietly and watch the clock whilst attempting to ignore the desire for masculine touch.  Strong, intentional, affirming touch.  I so needed it.  As such, whilst not receiving it, I only felt like that much more of a freak.  (Surely, it's not just me!?!)

The irony is the four boys I'm overseeing / leading (3rd / 5th graders) are just as overall physical as any / all elementary-age boys ever were.  They're constantly vying for space by pushing / shoving.  In fact, they became so physically unruly at one point last night that I had to usher them out of the "Science Lab" space prematurely (by about 10 minutes) and back into the vacant Sanctuary (Worship Center) to await the evening's VBS dismissal.  

Did this bother them in the least?  Nope.  For they only continued exhausting their frustrations via their furious hand grabbing / physical posturing right there in the pew.

And it shouldn't have bothered them.  For they needed that physicality to exert / exhaust their boredom / pent up emotional energy healthily (by this point in these boys' full days it was getting quite close to bedtime).

Had they been girls, the "punishment / consequences" (mini-quarantine) that I brought upon them would have manifested embarrassment / shame resulting in deathly quiet demeanors / silent tears driven by fear (WILL HE TELL OUR PARENTS?).  

Why?

Girls are taught early on to suck up their frustrations / boredom, and I would argue, most do not have nearly the wellspring of physical energy that boys do.

It's sad to think that very soon, these boys' playfulness will be culturally lassoed in kind.  Cultural norms / demands will stare their parents directly in the face.  And those demands will strike fear in their hearts by whispering:

"For goodness sakes, whatever you do, don't let him turn out queer."

And that's when everything will change.

Gay To The Core Without Actually Being Gay

I spent a few solemn yet heartfelt minutes with a Samson brother Friday, (6/5).  The occasion was somber and intensely bittersweet yet also somewhat reunion-like and nostalgic.  It had been many years since he and I had seen each other.  Nonetheless, the time spent in the recovery trenches, all those years ago, instantly erased the gap / interim between back then and Friday afternoon.

This Samson brother was freshly divorced when I met him at First Baptist Church Jackson's Summit Counseling (Wednesday night Samson Society meeting) in August 2014.  He'd been one of the founding members of that group, and from there served as the official missionary therein.  So many men stepped foot into recovery due to his mission.  For he wholeheartedly believed in Samson Society + loved men.  

His passion extended not only towards the group itself but to his then Silas.  Oh, how he loved his Silas (& vice versa)!  These two spent as much time together as humanly possible.  And what was curious to me was his Silas struggled immensely with homosexual desires, yet this made not one iota of difference within this man's eyes (who was VERY MUCH heterosexual).  I'd never seen platonic fireworks such as that. 

At first (for me), due to the utter newness of Samson Society as a whole, along with my own personal trauma / PTSD, I wasn't able to truly see the complex nature (emotional / spiritual maturity) of this man, but once I began to get a foothold on that post-job loss wounding, each week, I couldn't help but take note of his massively influential amplitude.  It was absolutely brilliant to witness whilst sitting either across the room or across the conference room table.

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My first Silas relationship formally came to fruition with this man present.  We were at a local restaurant (meeting after the meeting) with just the three of us remaining.  My (soon to be) Silas nervously took the initiative to ask me that simple question, "Would you be willing to be my Silas?", and I replied with "...only if you'll be mine in turn".  Thankfully, he agreed.  I was so glad this man was there to bear witness.  I vividly recall him sitting there silently with that beautiful smile beaming.

Over time, it became more and more apparent that my role (& vice versa) as this man's Silas would inevitably be truncated, and much of this insight was a result of my deep respect for this (at the time) aforementioned third wheel (he was a far better fit as this man's Silas than Rob ever was).  

This man simply loved / loves men with his whole heart whilst not asking for anything in return.  And it wasn't / isn't necessarily every man (which would have been impossible not to mention disingenuous) but those who he gravitated toward in line with his own intellect / personality / demographic.  In other words, he demonstrated / modeled what it meant to be unabashedly REAL whilst allowing himself to be drawn in like a moth to a flame.

That being said, he absolutely savored / savors rich dialogue (no matter the man), most of it spent either stationary or whilst collaboratively fabricating something within his shop.

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Of note is that first (model?) Silas relationship (between him and the SSA brother) of his ended explosively, and even in that shockingly unexpected pain, he modeled for Rob (& so many others) how to respectfully back away when those unfortunate schisms occur.   

When I truly consider his influence within this community, I have to admit that I doubt I would have become the Samson zealot I did were it not for his reliable, curiously excited presence.  For he was / is such the natural, making the experience of attending meetings / after-meetings look so very respectable and fortuitous.  

In the end, it was (& still is) his love & generosity for / towards men that sets him apart.  What a blessing it is to call him (still) a friend.  I sure hope I get to spend some more time with him soon.  Just under less macabre circumstances.  

"The No Bull Briefing" - Samson Society Newsletter

Notes from Nate: THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN Sitting nervously in my very first 12-step meeting, I heard the host say, "We have no dues or fees, but we do have expenses, and we are self-supporting through our own contributions." He then dropped a dollar in a basket and passed it to the man on his left. I reached for my wallet. When the basket got to me, I ceremoniously dropped in a $10 bill. The man on my left reached into the basket, counted out $9, and handed them back to me. Smiling, he whispered, "It's a buck a meeting. Best deal in town." That was nearly 30 years ago. The standard contribution today is $3, but it's still the best deal in town. And because everyone contributes, every major 12-step organization can hire a few employees to support its many volunteers. When we started the Samson Society in 2004, we didn't bother passing a basket. There were only 12 of us, and we met at the church for free. But as Samson grew, expenses started to accumulate - a website, retreats, phone bills. I covered most of them myself for the first dozen years. Then in 2018, we launched the online meetings, and Samson exploded. Suddenly we needed staff. Fortunately, another brother stepped in to cover expenses for the first year, and a few more eventually joined him. We would make an appeal at the end of each annual retreat, and a few more contributions would come in - just enough to pay the bills. In those days, the expenses of the entire fellwoship were covered by roughly 10% of its members. Believe it or not, the ratio still holds. Of the 3,027 members registered on the new app, exactly 205 have taken the step of becoming Supporting Members. For 20 years, the same 10% has carried this fellowship on its shoulders. And the cost of today's Supporting Membership? Brace yourself - it's $7.95 a month. That's what keeps the lights on: the app, the online meeting infrastructure, the small staff who answer your emails and keep the groups running. If Samson has helped you, or someone you love, please consider joining the 300. You can become a member today by clicking the button below. $7.95 a month. Still the best deal in town. To everyone who already gives: thank you. You are the reason this works. Nate Larkin Samson Society Founder Become a Sustaining Member Financial Update Dear Friend of Samson House: Thank you. Every prayer, every gift, and every encouraging word you have sent over these first four months of 2026 has helped carry this work forward. You are a real part of what God is doing through Samson House, and we want you to see clearly how your generosity has been at work. This update is meant to be simple and honest - not an accounting lecture. Below you'll find what it costs to keep things going each month, what came in, where we stand year-to-date, and a few ways you can continue to walk with us. The Big Picture: Year-to-Date Here is the four-month snapshot at a glance. "Need" is what it actually cost to operate; "Received" is what came in from all of you. Through April, donations have covered 69.5% of what it costs to run Samson House. That means for every $1.00 we needed, your generosity provided $0.69 - leaving a gap of about $0.31 on every dollar. Month-By-Month Picture The bars below show what came in (teal) next to what it cost to operate (gold) for each month. The red dashed line is the average monthly need. Why There's a Gap Right Now On average, it costs about $34,116 a month to keep things running, and donations have been averaging around $23,707 - leaving roughly $10,409short most months. A meaningful piece of that shortfall is timing, not loss. About $39,002.50 of our spending so far this year went towards retreats - venues, food, deposits, materials. Those costs land before retreat registration income comes in, so the books show a gap in the months when bills are paid even though registrations help close it later. February and April look especially steep on the chart for exactly that reason. The rest of the gap is the day-to-day cost of doing the work: people, facilities, the app and website, and the small line items that add up. How You Can Help There are two simple ways to walk with us financially. Both matter, and they cover different parts of the work: Become a Supporting Member - $8/Month Supporting members give $8 a month through the app. Yes, members get access to some extra content, but please don't sign up just for the perks. The real reason we ask is that those monthly subscriptions are what keep the app and website running. Hosting, software, payment processing, and the tools that let us reach people online are funded by Supporting Members. If you've been blessed by anything we've put out there, this is the most direct way to keep it online. Give to the Rest of the Work Supporting Members dollars keep the digital doors open. Everything else - staff, facilities, retreats, outreach, the everyday work - is funded by one-time and recurring donations from people like you. Any amount helps close the monthly gap. Recurring monthly giving (at any level) is especially helpful because it lets us plan ahead instead of guessing. Our Mission & A Prayer Samson House exists to walk alongside the people God brings to us - through hospitality, programs, retreats, and the every day work that makes hard seasons survivable. Every gift, every subscription, and every prayer is a vote of confidence in that work. "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3 Will you pray with us? Pray for the people we serve, for the staff who give their days to this work, and that the Lord would continue to provide what is needed - month-by-month, dollar-by-dollar, prayer-by-prayer. If you would like to be a part of our support team, click the button below: Donate We've got a lot of great opportunities coming up to hang out with your brothers coming up. We have a weekend in Italy with our European men, a walk in England at the end of June, a "story work" canoeing trip in Missouri in July, and intensive with Jim Cress in Oklahoma in August, and of course our ANNUAL SUMMIT in October in Michigan. Don't miss out! Click the link below to see the details for all upcoming events: Learn More View this email in your browser.

The Importance Of Putting Church First

If the church doesn't endure, we all suffer, if not completely falter as the human race.  As such, I do not want my (geographic) community to end up churchless for it serves my personal Jerusalem.  That may sound like a silly notion for someone living in central Mississippi, but I'm by no means one to make assumptions / take anything seemingly ubiquitous for granted.  Situations / trends / worldview & priorities therein can change overnight.  Therefore, you're going to find me & my house prioritizing the church - attendance, tithing / giving, volunteering - 'till we're called home to glory.

I'm so grateful Bob & Darlene (my parents) made church attendance a priority early on in their marriage, and they continue to do so to this day (my dad was ordained as a deacon as a very young man).  And this wasn't an arbitrary church selection.  Instead, they considered their needs, background & the resources therein, and I'm convinced as a result of a fantastic church choice, all three of us were better off.  To summarize:  Our involvement therein grew us forward, cementing our love for Christ / the community of believers.

Now, just because that church choice had certain attributes / demographics baked-in doesn't, by any means, imply that it was / would have been the best / most appropriate choice for every family.  Absolutely not.  Bigger doesn't mean anything.  Nor does Southern Baptis.  Instead, families need to find / support / invest in churches that meet them well / where they're at right then.

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My first Silas was the Youth Pastor at our family's church (Lakeside Pres).  The year was 2009.  Chris came to me, describing himself unabashedly as a "porn addict".  I'd never heard that phrase, but he was serious as a heart attack.  3-4 months later, Christ was officially on probation with our church's elders (though NOT as a direct result of his "extracurricular sexual sin activity").  Having a wife + three beautiful children to support financially, he quickly circled back to Rob, doubling down on his outcry for help.

Why me?  What could I do to help?  (I too was using my fair share of Internet porn at the time, which I admitted to.)

In the end, I came away a changed man after walking intentionally with Chris for well over 18 - 24 months.  Every aspect of my life felt reinforced in light of the relational accountability found within that friendship.  Plus, there was simply the deep-seated love that developed between the two of us.  It truly was fantastic!  

Now, let me declare the exclamation point portion of this short-lived, intensely bright friendship that forced me to adjudicate the role I believed Christ's church must (continue to) play within my (& my family's) life.

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My local (outside of Samson Society) best friend came into my life 3-4 years ago.  He's a lumberjack of a man with a heart of gold.  The gateway for this unlikely friendship to blossom / cultivate was Lakeside Pres.  To be more specific, it was truly hinged on ushering in his oldest daughter / making her comfortable therein (church attendance), and I did this with a reliable ace up my sleeve.

My youngest daughter (who's about my friend's oldest daughter's age).

These two girls couldn't be more different in terms of personality.  As such, I was pleased to see them become fast friends, and from there, my friend's daughter quickly warmed up to not only attending church but specifically, youth activities.

Until she wasn't.

For time has passed and this now 15-year-old girl is far more reticent / outspoken than her former 13-year-old self.

And to top that off, it's not only the daughter that's turned her nose up to attending our church.  My friend's wife is right there with her. 

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Chris and I wrestled (almost literally) over his vocational future (IN or OUT of the church?) after he was given notice (January 31, 2012 - which happened to be his b'day) of his pending termination date (August 1, 2012) from our church, though finally, he and I agreed that it would be best for him to at least acknowledge his "porn addiction" to his supervisor (Assistant Pastor).

In other words, let the cat out of the bag in hopes of finding help / healing / learning to actually be truthful versus a sexual deviant.

But at the last minute, he changed his mind to make that confession.

Therefore, I went alone and did it for him.

As you might imagine, it torpedoed our friendship, but I had no regrets for that action / choice aligned with my love for the church.  Chris was beginning to receive pity endorsements from his supervisors, none of which would have happened had they known the truth about him.

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Tomorrow is death day for my local BFF.  I call it that because it's the date his father unexpectedly passed away a few years prior to me having the good fortune to meet him.  I'll reach out as a courtesy, letting him know I'm praying for he and his during this difficult time.

He'll likely be spending the day (as well as the majority of the weekend) back home in rural MS in honor of his late father.  His widowed mother is still living there along with his two siblings.

Of note is the fact that this week the '26 Lakeside Pres youth trip is ongoing.  As was expected, my friend's daughter chose not to attend.  

If my friend doesn't make it back to the Jackson Metro in time on Sunday morning (to rally the familial troops), none of them will make an appearance at our church.  Instead, they'll simply sit and home and doom scroll social media.  

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How do you rank church?  Is it a high priority for you and yours?  Do you hang with folks who're similarly outlooked regarding the body of Christ?  I thought so.

So do I / we.    

10,950 days

My sweet Angie & I have been married 30 years today.  I'm very fortunate to be able to tout that.

On 1/1/26, Angie had an accident in our kitchen which resulted in her fracturing her patella (left leg) as well as a bone in her shoulder.  The latter fracture didn't require surgery (thankfully), but Angie was unfortunately advised to have the former mechanically repaired.  

Therefore, two screws inserted later (& five days hospitalized at River Oaks), we then returned her to Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital in Jackson for her sophomore stay. 

This fall / need for orthopedic surgery introduced levels of physical pain that Angie had never experienced prior.  It was so very unlike the ramifications of her stroke back in 2020.

As such, it's been a rough 2026 for sweet Angie.

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This morning, I shared my story with a newfound Samson brother.  He asked if I'd ever had sexual relations with another man (this guy, like me, has same-sex attraction).  I told him no.  

Had I never married Angie, I doubt I'd have answered that same question the same way.  

Coitus between husband / wife is such the beautiful, sanctifying illustration between Christ and his church.  Plus, coitus simply is refreshing and fun.  Especially when you're young and horny.  But, to return to that first statement, taking Christ & his church (bride) into consideration, it's imperfect / sometimes quite disillusioned.  In other words, though the sex organs might pragmatically fit together nicely, that by no means guarantees an idyllic outcome.  For the primary sex organ is the human brain.

Nonetheless, coitus for me, within our marriage bed, took quite the turn due to Angie's neurological issues.  For at that point, she became much more like my dependent child than ever before (or every imagined).  As such, coitus simply felt inappropriate.  Too one-sided.  Especially considering how little, if any, she'd be able to contribute.  

When you observe / live with a very sick spouse it reminds you constantly of how fragile and timely and episodic life truly is.  The Bible cites a time / place for everything.  For us, Angie neurological rehabilitation was no way in line with fostering some version of our sex life.  And this was fine by us.  We were elated that she came away from the stroke with what little neurological damage that she did.

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So, considering the past five months and all the extra care / assistance Angie's needed, we're frankly worn out with each other at the present.  There's understandably been a lot of ongoing tension between us that's simply rooted in her being in NEED and me being FUL up.

Humor only goes so far within these situations.  Hence, there've been some high intensity / high volume confrontations, most of which were simply borne out of too close quarters for too damn long.

Considering that, my wife is now absolutely, totally back on her feet!  Sitting in a chair for hours on end isn't yet possible, but otherwise, she's moving and shaking - to the same degree - that she was a few months post-stroke.  

Hence, we're on our way with much to celebrate.  What a privilege it is to be Angie's husband.