Changes

Jernigan has been married over 30 years and lives with his wife Melinda in [[Oklahoma]] on the farm where they raised their nine children. He claims ''"I have never once delved back into my old life."'' DJ is a much-sought-after speaker, [[worship]] leader, and [[minister]].<ref name="NoOneBornGay">{{cite book |title=No One is Born Gay |url=https://www.dennisjernigan.com/needhelp/1257-no-one-is-born-gay

Jernigan has been married over 30 years and lives with his wife Melinda in [[Oklahoma]] on the farm where they raised their nine children. He claims ''"I have never once delved back into my old life."'' DJ is a much-sought-after speaker, [[worship]] leader, and [[minister]].<ref name="NoOneBornGay">{{cite book |title=No One is Born Gay |url=https://www.dennisjernigan.com/needhelp/1257-no-one-is-born-gay

|author=Dennis Jernigan |publisher=DennisJernigan.com |quote=Sex is for procreation. Would everyone agree with that statement? Do I really need to say more? Sex, in its uttermost and ultimate form is for the express purpose of reproducing…for making babies. Of course, man in his wisdom, believes everything is about him and life is all about getting the most pleasure…leading mankind to pervert and co-opt the things of God in such away as to eradicate the reality of having to face his sinful nature. Perversion is simply taking something God intended for a holy purpose and using that something in an unholy or unnatural way. Sex is pleasurable…but its ultimate purpose is to reproduce the human race. Everything we do to preserve life was made pleasurable by God to insure that mankind would continue to thrive. We need water to survive…so He made it pleasurable to drink. We need food to survive…so He made food taste good and smell good, making it a pleasurable thing to do. We need to produce the next generation for our species to survive…so He made sex pleasurable.

|author=Dennis Jernigan |publisher=DennisJernigan.com |quote=Sex is for procreation. Would everyone agree with that statement? Do I really need to say more? Sex, in its uttermost and ultimate form is for the express purpose of reproducing…for making babies. Of course, man in his wisdom, believes everything is about him and life is all about getting the most pleasure…leading mankind to pervert and co-opt the things of God in such away as to eradicate the reality of having to face his sinful nature. Perversion is simply taking something God intended for a holy purpose and using that something in an unholy or unnatural way. Sex is pleasurable…but its ultimate purpose is to reproduce the human race. Everything we do to preserve life was made pleasurable by God to insure that mankind would continue to thrive. We need water to survive…so He made it pleasurable to drink. We need food to survive…so He made food taste good and smell good, making it a pleasurable thing to do. We need to produce the next generation for our species to survive…so He made sex pleasurable. We pervert our desires when we substitute something else to meet that need or when we go outside the boundaries God established for our own good. (As a side note, 10-15% of Americans identify themselves as alcoholics yet we do not consider this normal, do we? Why are we showing such preferential treatment to those who want to impose their desire that homosexuality be seen as a normal sexual behavior when only 1-2.8% of Americans identify as exclusively homosexual?) Alcoholics do not want to face their weakness. Overeaters or gluttons do not want to face their weakness. Homosexuals do not want to admit their weakness. Overcoming any addiction or disorder or sinful habit requires work…blood, sweat, and tears. Many give up simply because they cannot withstand the pressures fighting such a battle brings up. I can say this honestly: knowing Jesus intimately and trusting Him for my identity has been worth every struggle and battle I have had to endure. Victory and subsequent freedom are simply worth it. And as we have heard from the military world: freedom is not free.|accessdate=2 Jul 2016}}</ref>

We pervert our desires when we substitute something else to meet that need or when we go outside the boundaries God established for our own good. (As a side note, 10-15% of Americans identify themselves as alcoholics yet we do not consider this normal, do we? Why are we showing such preferential treatment to those who want to impose their desire that homosexuality be seen as a normal sexual behavior when only 1-2.8% of Americans identify as exclusively homosexual?) Alcoholics do not want to face their weakness. Overeaters or gluttons do not want to face their weakness. Homosexuals do not want to admit their weakness. Overcoming any addiction or disorder or sinful habit requires work…blood, sweat, and tears. Many give up simply because they cannot withstand the pressures fighting such a battle brings up. I can say this honestly: knowing Jesus intimately and trusting Him for my identity has been worth every struggle and battle I have had to endure. Victory and subsequent freedom are simply worth it. And as we have heard from the military world: freedom is not free.|accessdate=2 Jul 2016}}</ref>

== Biographical Sketch ==

== Biographical Sketch ==

In his college days, a friend and mentor – married with children – made a sexual advance that made him convinced this was his lot in life. This was to set him on a pathway of identifying himself as being ‘different’ than other boys and somehow ‘less than a boy.’ He did not think he deserved to be labeled a boy and he  did not see himself as masculine. In those early days he began to focus solely on himself and tried desperately to manipulate how others perceived him. However, even then, he became more miserable than ever. When he finally got to what he portrays as "the end of my rope," he believes he met [[God]] there who equipped him with a new identity and the power to change his way of thinking.<ref name="NoOneBornGay"/>

In his college days, a friend and mentor – married with children – made a sexual advance that made him convinced this was his lot in life. This was to set him on a pathway of identifying himself as being ‘different’ than other boys and somehow ‘less than a boy.’ He did not think he deserved to be labeled a boy and he  did not see himself as masculine. In those early days he began to focus solely on himself and tried desperately to manipulate how others perceived him. However, even then, he became more miserable than ever. When he finally got to what he portrays as "the end of my rope," he believes he met [[God]] there who equipped him with a new identity and the power to change his way of thinking.<ref name="NoOneBornGay"/>

   

   

==  Selected Publications ==  

==  Selected Publications ==

• ''Giant Killers'' Dennis’ personal journeys through the defeat of the giants in his life

• ''Giant Killers'' Dennis’ personal journeys through the defeat of the giants in his life

• W''hat Every Boy Should Know…What Every Man Wishes His Dad Had Told Him'' Dennis’ timely message to fathers and sons who desire to preserve a godly heritage of what masculinity really is.

• W''hat Every Boy Should Know…What Every Man Wishes His Dad Had Told Him'' Dennis’ timely message to fathers and sons who desire to preserve a godly heritage of what masculinity really is.

{{Reflist}}  

{{Reflist}}  

== See Also ==

== See also ==

*[[Ego-dystonic homosexuality]]

*[[Ego-dystonic homosexuality]]

*[[Child abuse]]

*[[Child abuse]]