Blog posts by Joseph Thiessen

My First Video Update I've made a short 5 minute 29 second video as my update. It encapsulates an overview of 2020 through now. I've had other really cool things happen that I haven't included in this video but hope to do another one soon. If this format works for the majority of us, I may continue to use it. I welcome your kind feedback. (Yes, I know I'm a bit of a dry, even-keeled speaker.) Pray I can learn to be a bit more upbeat. Thank you for taking the time to watch! ( Click the image to watch. )

  Joseph Thiessen struggled for years with a severe pornography addiction, oftentimes even questioning his salvation due to the severity of his addiction and dependence. But in this episode, Joseph shares not only how God is delivering him from its controlling grasp, but how he found a whole new way to see God as our true Heavenly Father. Interview by Love & Truth Network Podcast via: Apple | Youtube Music | Spotify

One summer when I was elementary-school aged, my mom needed to talk to dad who was working in the fields on the tractor and, being our mailbox, a mile from home would be close by we’d get the mail while out too. When we arrived, the mail hadn’t come but she asked if I would like to wait at the mailbox for the mailman while she walked the short distance to where dad was in the field. I gladly decided to stay at the mailbox and wait. Soon enough, the mailman arrived. In addition to giving me the mail, he offered me a stick of gum. What kid wouldn’t accept that?! I opened the wrapper and didn’t hesitate to fold the tasty stick into my mouth. Once the mailman pulled away and I was alone, shame and guilt came over me like a heavy weight. “How could I be so selfish?” I thought. A ritual between my mom and I was for her to offer me a stick of gum but she would rip one in half. One for her and one for me. When the guilt and shame came over me, I realized that I never thought of my dear mother....

  Year In Review What a year 2022 has been for both the ministry of First Stone and for me. FSM's Highlights God's Voice Conference in April - Oklahoma Leaders On Fire at the State Capitol - Oklahoma Family Under Fire Conference - Idaho Multiple speaking engagements in and out of Oklahoma Support Group runs through the end of May 2023. Joseph's Highlights December '21 - January '22 - Home re-piped for natural gas. (Emergency expense) January - October - I participated in a 12-step support group through my church called Re:Generation . While it's quite different than the groups FSM does, I really loved it and have developed friendships with men from my church. April - With a major expense behind me, I hired a contractor to fix my back entry/utility room foundation. Thankfully, it wasn't terribly expensive and I'm glad I didn't try to tackle this myself! I prefer their solution over what mine would have been. The rest of the work I wanted them to do ...

  PERSONAL UPDATE GRIEVING & FAMILY Most of you already know this but my mom passed away on February 12 of this year. While I’m grateful she’s no longer suffering in a frail body, I miss her sorely! She had a rapidly growing cancer that spread throughout her body. Afraid of dying, she submitted peacefully to the doctor’s bad news that there was no more therapy for her. Just a week before passing, God made a way for her to share something on her mind. Her room was filled with visitors and quickly became empty with only Stephen Black present. She propped herself up and confessed that her pursuit of physical health came before her pursuit of making Jesus her first love. Stephen’s unique familiarity in comforting those who are grieving made him the perfect person to pray with her. She asked the Father for forgiveness and His presence filled the room and them both. It was a strong witness that the Father indeed forgave her and was there for her in her own regret and sorrow. ...

  Whew, What a year! I think we can all agree that 2020 is nothing we have ever wanted. At the onset of the year, our staff prayerfully wrote the following as our keystone for the year, 20/20 Clarity of Vision in Defense of Our Faith. Looking back, I might add that we would gain a clear perspective on where our feet must be planted in this day and age and to live out of that from our very core. So many voices echoed around us this year. Voices filled with anger, disappointment, tattling, loads of fear, caution and woe. I witnessed media calling the plundering of cities a mere protest. Media telling us how awful the virus is and how careful we better be. Governments responding in ways that resemble a police state from decades past. People trying to divide us on every front over matters that only the Cross upon which Jesus gave His precious life can remedy if we look wholly upon Him and trust in His mercy for our own wrongs. So much fear. So much division.  Earlier this year I d...

My title isn’t original. It’s of the podcast I just listened to by Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries. I barely know who she is but I first heard her last fall and I’ve been listening to her more and more since. Upon listening to today’s post, I wanted to share it. But rather than just sharing by posting a link to social media, I wanted to echo some of the things shared in the podcast. Jan Markell spends the hour with Michele Bachmann discussing the turmoil of our times. How far will today’s lawlessness go, which is but a foreshadowing of what happens in the Tribulation? And how are some church denominations promoting some of the escalating evil? There are a couple of notables mentioned that I think are important, and hopefully will draw you to listen to the podcast: The uprising in our nation is not just anger over the unjust murder of a black man. I’d say a majority of people in our nation can see that all people matter and that our laws are capable of delivering justice q...