Blog posts by Joseph Thiessen

Have you thought about how we form opinions about God’s character? The picture of God we carry shapes how we relate to Him. Our Collective View Being raised in a Christian home certainly helped shape my perception of God, but so did looking at the plants and animals around me. As a young child, I wouldn’t have stopped to think about design vs natural selection. I simply saw that these things were cleverly designed, and it was relatively easy for me to believe that God created the world we live in. In Romans 1:18-23, the apostle Paul tells us that ever since the creation of the world, God has been clearly perceived in the things He has made. But Paul also warns that our unrighteous behavior suppresses our knowledge of Him. “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” R...

What follows is a synopsis from my Journey Continues (JC)* experience… I find it quite amazing that God led me once again to process my earliest known wound and that post retreat He used an interaction with another random encounter with a believer to prove/test what I had just surrendered.  In all the modalities offered in JC, I came to view my younger self as an open shelf on which any words could be placed by others. Children that age don’t have the skills to decipher whether or not harm is being done unless a parent is present to protect them. In my case, a parent was present and unknowingly his words landed on the shelf of my mind.  In the removal and rebuilding phases of JC, I surrendered the ability of others to question/minimize who I am and what I’ve decided in the moment. No longer do people have the ability to add to or remove from a shelf of my life. I have the power and capability to do this myself. I need not cower in fear if my path looks different than others’ ...

Editor’s note: This article reflects Joseph’s personal experience with Husband Material Academy. We are grateful for the ways God has used this process in his healing journey. As with any ministry or counseling resource, readers should prayerfully discern what is appropriate for their own needs and circumstances. While sitting in a workshop at a Husband Material retreat, I heard these words in my spirit, “I want you to give your childhood self his voice back.” It seemed like a strange request, and I had no clue how a person would even begin to do this; however, I acknowledged God’s desire for me to pursue this goal, knowing He would also help me get there. I was taking a biblical counseling course through my church at the time, and as I learned about the various counseling models, I began looking for a counselor who could help me. In December of 2025, my counselor and I talked about my goals for the coming year. I wanted to join Husband Material’s support group called Husband Material...

  Joseph Thiessen shares his decades-long journey from shame and self-doubt to finding his voice after an XXY diagnosis at 40 — a story for men learning it's okay to make waves. Read my story posted on livingwithxxy.org

Small talk can be difficult for me. Maybe that’s because there’s a place in my soul that’s still crying out to be soothed—and normal conversation can feel like a waste of time. But I’m learning that small talk can actually be a bridge toward deeper connection, if I let it be. When I was younger, I was an open book with people I trusted. No one ever said it, but I sometimes felt like I was unloading on them—like a dump truck dumping compost. For some of us, that’s how it can come across. As I’ve grown in understanding my value, my worth, and my sameness with my church family, that tendency has softened. I’ve learned to enjoy connecting with a wider range of people, even around more everyday topics. But my growth has been slow and steady over a lifetime—and God has been intentional in it every step of the way. We don’t have to have everything figured out—our addictions gone or our souls fully healed—to be a blessing to others. Sometimes it’s the still-raw places, the things God is active...

Thoden Summoned to valor, his spirit waxed stronger than iron in war’s shadow. “ Crops can be resewn, homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them .” …said he.   Eowyn Fearless, she stood steadfast in the face of battle.   “ Let me stand at your side. ” …said she.   Seven of Nine Held captive to silicon and circuits, her inward journey awakened an unshackled humanity.  “ Impossible is a word that humans use far too often .” …said she.   Transmutation Once powerless, a single moment gives birth to boundless ability. Said of those who’ve experienced it, “ Are you a god? No, but I’m something more .”   Odin Renown for wisdom, he shaped destinies and dynasties.  “ Allfather give me strength .” …said he.   Starlord His charm and wit rallied unlikely friends to legendary deeds.  “ Dance-off bro. Me and you .” …said he.   Thor Son of Thunder. Steadfast and bold. “ Your ancestors called it magic, and you call it science .” …said ...

Jesus has been leading me through deep soul work—bringing up painful experiences to help me acknowledge how they affected me, learn from them, and repent where needed. While working through a video and workbook on manipulation and control, I grew uncomfortable. At first, I was focused on how others had manipulated or controlled me. But the Holy Spirit gently shifted my focus to the log in my own eye. He brought up memories of times I had been manipulated in ways that seemed playful but were aimed at gaining attention, praise, or control. It hurt to realize I’d been coerced in the name of fun, but deeper still was the realization that I’ve done the same. The thought of this was familiar and painful to think about; I knew that I had engaged in this sort of behavior myself. I remembered manipulating others to join me in sin or cleverly trying to secure more of someone’s time instead of trusting God to provide what I needed relationally. After I finished my study, I turned to my journal an...