A View From the Deck: My Christian Journey With Same-Sex Attraction

Very humble man to write honestly about his experiences with numerous people within the church body. He did not purpose to push an agenda but wrote what happened to him.It left me asking honest questions without telling me what the answers should be or what the answers could be. This is an extremely heart probing topic and as individuals comes face to face with it, however that comes about, each has to seek Jesus in how to respond.Responses are so varied and each person needs grace with space, as well as to allow others grace with space. The 'space' can be time and it can be time with distance. Grace can be empathy without condemnation. It causes believers to look deeper into the heart--their own and the other person's.I've read a number of stories and this author struck such an honest cord in my heart. I do not struggle with SSA but have met others who do and the secret it has been.

An honest and forthright treatment of a difficult subject. Farnsley is transparent throughout this book and I was left to marvel again how the Christian army seems to regularly shoot its wounded rather than offering the grace and ministry that Jesus would in their place. The book is a great memoir of a life quite well lived, by a man who understands how to offer grace to all sorts of folks, but who took a while to understand how to receive God's grace in his own life. That's a dichotomy many of us struggle with, and this book reminds us that the church is not necessarily very good at getting people over that hump. Everyone has "stuff" in their life, everyone deals with being less than perfect in myriad ways. God takes us as we are, and importantly God doesn't rank our sins and foibles as we tend to do. In His eyes, we are His children and made flawless by His work on the cross. Seems to me Farnsley has come to understand that, and offers that lesson to the reader in a memorable and moving way.

Farnsley writes with humor, candor, and courage. While he raises many good questions, he does not presume to have all the answers. This book largely gives insight into a life well-lived in the midst of great struggle. It also provides a roadmap for risky acceptance of those who fight different battles. Neither pontificating nor capitulating, A View From the Deck is the autobiography of a beloved deck therapist and even more beloved son of the King.

Great book on a topic that Christians need to better understand!

An important book for the times we live in. Rob relates his journey with honesty and candor. As Christians we are to extend grace and compassion. Rob reminds us that Christ is sufficient for whatever we face in life and God can produce fruit even in the midst of our struggles.

This book gave me language, insight, and clarity on a very important subject that our culture is navigating. Rob shares with us his story, his life work in Christian service. We get to know him as a person, how he was raised, what his influences were, his faith, his life's journey. He shares with the reader that part of his story includes his struggle with same sex attraction. What we gain from his experience is how to be better prepared, wise and loving when family, church and community members share with us their sexual orientation. His Christian faith and his understanding and acceptance of God's unconditional love for everyone is at the heart of his message. He shares with us that lifestyle is a choice. Rob's story is a great starting place for further open and honest discussion. I think it is a must read for those who hold biblical values as their worldview.

A View from the Deck is a great book! Rob Farnsley is very open and honest about his journey with same-sex-attraction (SSA). He describes his journey by using anecdotes from important points in his development and different contexts of life. A View from the Deck is very relatable portrait of one’s experience in coming terms with one’s own make-up and then how to live with bold honesty while not comprising life-long convictions. Farnsley raises important questions regarding the current climate of the evangelical Church in how it ministers to those attracted to others of the same sex. The format of the book makes reading easy. The content of the book makes it engaging. A View from the Deck inspires openness about difficult issues. It also challenges its audience (while not jettisoning biblical convictions regarding sexuality) to embrace in community those with SSA who for too long have felt the need to be isolated,. Get the book! It’s really good!

All of us have a story, a unique story exclusive to who we are and how we live. What makes Rob's story worth taking the time to read is his open, honest and vulnerable storytelling and his non-dogmatic discussion of a difficult topic relevant to our time. The book is well written and entertaining and would be a great discussion starter for small group and individual discipleship. There is much of a practical nature to take away from this book in how to follow hard after God in community and to encourage others to do the same. While the obvious focus is on the Same Sex Attraction issue, Rob's story is much more than that. His heart for evangelism and discipleship, his calling to help others in difficult locations and the practical way he lives that out I found to be encouraging in my own journey with God.