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Miriam / Chapter Seven: The Stranger

Miriam / Chapter Seven: The Stranger I Changed The World Book Series

 

 

 

 

The current of the Nile River was strong at some points. But Miriam’s mother had chosen a section of the river that was calm. Even so, Miriam’s breath caught each time the basket bumped into a log or bobbed about in the current.

There were wild moments where she was certain the basket would tip. In these moments, she thought she could hear the thrilled laughter of Amram.

While he was clearly unbothered, Miriam had visions of the basket upending and having to dive in to rescue her brother either from drowning or the Nile Crocodiles.

I’m not a great swimmer, and I have no idea how I’d fight a Crocodile, but I’ll do it if I have to! The thought terrified her, and so Miriam whispered prayers as she followed. God protect him, save him, steady the basket, keep him from harm.

There were moments when Miriam feared the basket would get away from her. Some parts of the river were swiftly moving, and, in these moments, panic rose inside her chest. At other times, the basket seemed to move at a snail’s pace. Her eyes flicked to the cloud-filled sky. At least it’s not too hot! The Egyptian sun could be brutal this time of year. Miriam stumbled and caught herself before falling. Pain seared through her burnt hands. She winced as she looked at her ruined hands, but she would not cry.

“Well, hello there,” a voice said from somewhere behind her.

Miriam squeaked, leaping around in fear. Just a few paces away was a man. He looked to be Israeli, but he was dressed in a cloak covered in patches of every conceivable color. The man was smiling at her as he raised his hands calmingly.

“Don’t be scared. I saw you following the river and wanted to make sure you’re alright,” The man said, offering a warm smile.

Miriam stayed wary. Her parents had taught her not to talk to strangers. But this man seemed kind.

The man motioned to the river, “Careful now; you don’t want to lose sight of your little brother.

Miriam spun, worried baby Amram had drifted out of sight. Thankfully this was a particularly slow part of the river, and the basket was moving extra slow. “Wait,” Miriam turned back to the stranger, “How do you know about my brother?” she asked. “Did—did my father or mother send you?”

“No,” the man laughed, “let us walk as we talk,” he motioned to the river again. “So we can keep an eye on baby Amram.” The Stranger kept his focus on the basket as he continued.

“Your parents did not send me, although I checked in on them this morning. Last night was horrible,” a wave of sorrow seemed to pass over the man as he spoke. “The evil that was done, the suffering—” the stranger wiped a tear from his eye. “There is much evil in the world, so much striving and sorrow. Much to atone, much to be reconciled.”

Miriam was confused. What was this man talking about?

“But that is not why I have come today,” the man smiled again. “At least, not the only reason,” the Stranger stopped for a moment and looked deep into Miriam’s eyes.

His eyes are every color. Miriam gasped. As though all creation existed there! It was a strange thought “Who are you?”

“That’s a good question. You will often ponder it in the years to come, but you already know the answer,” the man said thoughtfully, “I came to make sure you know who you are.” The Stranger continued walking. Somehow, the river kept baby Amram at the exact same speed as their pace. Miriam kept checking, but it was almost as if the basket were tied to an invisible leash.

“Miriam, of the Levi family. You doubt yourself, but Yahweh sees you, is for you, and lives within you. You are kind and good, strong and able, you are courageous, and I am with you!”

Miriam couldn’t explain it, but she knew to the core of her being that this Stranger spoke with authority and Truth. Then the Man turned his gaze to her, “You are Abba’s favorite—the one He loves!”

Something was happening inside Miriam’s chest. She could feel a warmth spreading through her. Sometimes people referred to the Jewish priests as ‘Abba,’ which meant ‘father,’ but she didn’t think the stranger was talking about a particular priest. He was talking about God. He was calling God, Dad. And she knew it was true. God was a Father.

“What happened to your hands?!” Miriam blurted out. It was an odd question, but she had noticed they were scarred. She was so overwhelmed by the intense goodness of what the Stranger had just told her that she thought it might be good to change the subject.

“I could ask the same of you.” The man responded.

Miriam immediately regretted her outburst. She knew it wasn’t polite to point out someone’s scars as they are often attached to traumatic experiences. The man’s hands bore gnarly scars as if they had each been pierced through.

The Stranger turned and looked at Miriam; then he gently picked up her hands. She winced in pain as he unwrapped one of her bandages to reveal the burned palm and blistered fingers.

Tears ran down His cheeks. Then He smiled and held his hands up proudly. “These scars take us back to the beginning of our conversation; they confront evil and speak to the restoration of all creation. They reveal a finished work that addresses death itself. They reveal a love you can know that is beyond understanding, a one-of-a-kind love our Heavenly Father has for you!”

Miriam’s head was spinning as she looked into the man’s eyes. Not even the High Priests talk like this!

“Mistress, what is that?” a woman’s voice called out from somewhere nearby.

Miriam’s breath caught at the sound of the voice. Her jaw dropped when she realized where they were! How did this happen? How are we here already? The thought thundered through her mind. Amram’s basket had circled all the way around to the Ramesseum, Pharaoh’s most ornate and elaborate royal palace on the west bank of the Nile.

“Oh no!” Miriam whispered, “We’ve come too far!” she croaked as she turned to the Stranger. She stopped, suddenly confused. The man had disappeared. She scanned the area, but there was no trace of him! Where did he go?

Miriam spun back around. The stranger was not her concern. She needed to protect her baby brother! Miriam searched the shoreline. There were people standing waist-deep in the river not far ahead. No, no, no! Miriam wanted to scream. Her mother had placed Amram in the basket to get him away from the Pharaoh, and now, the basket was floating directly past the palace!

“What’s this now?” another woman said, “Someone, go get that basket for me. I want to see what’s inside.”

Miriam’s breath caught as a young Israelite woman came into view. The woman was swimming over to the basket. When she reached it, she grabbed it with one hand and began swimming back to the shoreline. Creeping as quietly as a mouse, Miriam rounded the bend in the river and hid in the reeds,” A short distance away, a dozen or so women were bathing in the waters of the Nile.

The Israelite woman who had retrieved the basket was clearly one of the half-dozen servants. As Miriam watched, the servant girl swam to a shallower depth and stood. When she looked inside the basket, she gasped. “Highness! There is a baby inside!”

“A baby?” another woman gasped. “Oh, the poor thing! Is it OK?”

Miriam crept closer, trying to see the woman who was speaking.

“Yes, princess! It looks to be sound asleep,” the servant woman said.

“Bring it to me.”

The servant woman was clearly in shock as she waded over to the second young woman. As Miriam was finally able to see the second woman who’d been speaking, the words she’d been hearing struck home. Mistress! Princess! She must be Pharaoh’s daughter!

Fear gripped Miriam as she watched. All of Israel knew that Pharaoh was merciless. Her father had told her this Pharaoh was more brutal than any in living memory.

What will his daughter do? Will she drown my little brother or bring him to her father? Miriam could not keep the tears from her eyes. I am sorry, brother, it was a cold thought. I have failed to keep you safe!

Pharaoh’s daughter, the princess, reached into the basket and lifted Amram out, almost tenderly. He was still swaddled in his blanket. As she did, she met the eyes of her servant. “I cannot imagine the pain this child’s mother must have felt to make such an impossible choice. How horrible that this was her only option to save him from my father’s evil decree.” The princess placed a hand on her own belly; only now did Miriam realize the princess was pregnant.

“How do you know it is a boy, Highness?” another Egyptian woman asked.

The princess cradled the baby close as she turned to the woman. “You know as well as I the brutal decree my father passed. They may be our slaves, but what we have done to the baby boys is unforgivable.”

“What will you do, Mistress?” The Egyptian said.

Miriam willed her feet to move. She knew if she thought about it for even a moment, she would be too terrified to do anything but run. Faith, her mother had once told her, means you step out even before you know if there is solid ground in front of you. Faith is being sure of what we cannot see. Miriam wasn’t sure of anything, but as she moved, she heard a whisper, a still, small voice speaking to her heart.

YOU ARE STRONG AND ABLE. YOU ARE COURAGEOUS, AND I AM WITH YOU!

“Excuse me, Highness, but I might have an idea for you,” Miriam’s voice trembled as she spoke.

When the princess and all the rest of the women turned to face her, Miriam stepped out of the reeds and stopped in sheer terror. What was I thinking? She wanted to turn and run as fast as her feet would carry her.

This chapter is excerpted from MIRIAM / Chapter Seven: The Stranger
I CHANGED THE WORLD
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Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. FollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… Living Powerfully Generous: Eggos and Juice Boxes

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BRAD JERSAK / AND HE SEARCHED UNTIL HE FOUND THEM

Brad Jersak And He Searched Until He Found Them  

 

 

 

 

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“There is no retribution in the nature of God. Period. He is love plus nothing…”

A throughline of trust, the cross and cruciform love, the Church & Eastern Orthodoxy, Deconstruction and liberation from false constructs, leaving and finding Jesus, reorientation, faith, communion, miracles, suffering, loss, and the infinite healing love of god, abandonment and a God who never leaves, a Christocentric hermeneutic, penal substitution, eternal conscious torment and the nature of repentance, in this conversation Brad and Jason dive into Brad’s book, Out of the Embers: Faith After the Great Deconstruction.

For more on Brad Jersak:
Brad Jersak: www.bradjersak.com
St. Stephens Univerity: ssu.ca
Email bjersak@ssu.ca
Out of the Embers:  AMAZON

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

FollowFollowFollow Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

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DAVID HEWITT / RECONSTRUCTING ECCLESIA

David Hewitt Reconstructing Ecclesia

 

 

 

 

 

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Many people consider organized religion to be irrelevant today. ‘From its humble beginnings like a simple fishing boat carried by the wind, it sometimes seems that the church has morphed into a vast container ship, set on fixed courses, running on dirty fuel oil, very slow to turn around and encrusted with barnacles and weeds en route. Why not just abandon ship and simply relate to God ourselves, when and how we want to?

In this conversation, David Hewitt and the guys discuss Church and deconstruction without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.’ David shares his story as a pastor as he rediscovers the ecclesia through a grace-orientated, Trinitarian lens. 

For more on David Hewitt:
Reconstructing Ecclesia: Amazon 
Wellspring: Link
Facebook: www.facebook.com/david.hewitt.545

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!
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BROOKE WATERS & LIZ KOEPP / PATH TO WHOLENESS

Brooke Waters & Liz Koepp Path To Wholeness

 

 

 

 

 

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Sozo, wholeness, community, purpose, reimaging the goodness of God in the midst of church rejection and trauma, the language of encounter, leaving an angry God and shame and condemnation, belonging and the joy and hope of our union, healing, in this podcast, Brooke Waters, Liz Koepp, and the guys reimagine wholeness through heart-to-heart connection with a trustworthy God who has always looked like Jesus.

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You can learn more and sign up here: www.pathtowholeness.org/wholeness-retreat

For more on Brooke, Liz, and Path To Wholeness:
Website: www.pathtowholeness.org
Womens Retreat: www.pathtowholeness.org/wholeness-retreat
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Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

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No Partiality / part 2 / Peter & Cornelius

No Partiality / part 2 Peter & Cornelius

 

 

 

 

Throughout history, God seems to believe His Greater Love is more powerfully inclusive than all our flawed and often exclusive understandings—and it is!

And it was…

Ultimately, the early church’s us or them thinking began to change—often with Peter first. Then one day, when the soil of Peter’s heart could bear good fruit, our Father gave him an offensively good vision that was insightful in two ways. First, God seems to like bacon. Second, as it turns out, God really loves Gentiles. You can read about this vision in Acts 10.

But the fruit of this vision is that it empowered and led Peter to visit the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, a heathen, an outsider, one of them. And on that day, Peter discovered a gospel so expansive as to include the whole world in the finished work of the cross—you see, God was present within the Gentiles.

Peter told Cornelius and his household, “Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality.”

That’s worth underlining.

Then Peter began to share the story of Jesus and cruciform love, the Good News. And as he spoke, “…Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter (the us) were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles (the them).” 1

“Then Peter declared, ‘Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

The answer?

No, of course not!

For nearly a decade, when it came to what the early church believed, Gentiles were out. Then suddenly, Peter discovered what was always true, the Truth that set him free: there is no us or them, no, in or out when it comes to our Heavenly Father and His kids. Peter discovered what Paul later wrote about in Galatians, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 2

“And he (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” 3

The same Peter, who years earlier swung a sword on behalf of his hierarchal thoughts about clean and unclean, Jew and Gentile, in and out, for and against, suddenly recognized and embraced the inclusive nature of reconciling love for the whole world.

Confronted by God’s goodness, Peter repented of the long-standing exclusion on his ideological and theological lens. He changed his mind and aligned his thoughts and actions with Greater Love—and that’s a big deal!

The willingness to face our offense, and repent of our bias and exclusivity when confronted with the measureless nature of God’s inclusiveness, is the birthplace of personal transformation and an absolute requirement for friends of Jesus—especially leaders who are feeding His sheep.

Peter recognized eternal life in the ever-present now through the infilling Spirit of Christ in Cornelius and his household. Suddenly Peter could see what was always true, revelation—Christ’s image and likeness dwelled within all humanity; “Truly…God shows no partiality!”

Because of this revelation, Peter welcomed you, me, and several billion more into the Family—all creation!

As it turns out, we’re all insiders—every tribe and tongue, all humanity—welcomed sons and daughters, the whole world included in the friendship of the Trinity. As it turns out, the Good News is always more inclusive than we last imagined.

To read part 1, CLICK HERE

1 Acts 10:44-45
2 Galatians 3:28
3 Acts 10:47-48

This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus / To read part 1, CLICK HERE
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW! Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. FollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… NAEEM FAZAL / REIMAGINING GOD

by A Family Story | June 30, 2021 | Interview, Intimacy, Life, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 5 Comments

Naeem Fazal, founding pastor of Mosaic Church, and author of Ex-Muslim, talks about deconstruction or reimaging God. Naeem talks about the importance of being able to recognize God outside of our personal context, how to view sin, how to approach scripture, and a beautiful gospel that’s not just about a Jesus who saves but about a Jesus who is restoring humanity and all creation.

Read More DR. MATT PANDEL / LIVING IN THE IN-BETWEEN

by A Family Story | July 12, 2023 | Faith, Intimacy, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

“God here, I stand in you, God help me” Martin Luther.  The reality of our completion, a pure grace, objective truth (Jesus), experiential truth (how we live it out), union and the God of the promises, evangelism, the ministry of reconciliation, law and grace (never the less, Christ is preached), obedience, community and healing from church trauma, in this podcast, Dr. Matt Pandel and the guys discuss faith, trust, and tacos.

Read More THOMAS JAY OORD / GOD CAN’T

by A Family Story | January 13, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Intimacy, Leadership, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

“Given that we start with God’s power…we end up giving God the kind of capabilities that make God culpable; in other words, morally responsible for not only causing but allowing bad things…I think there are good biblical reasons to object to that standard view of Gods power.” Thomas Jay Oord

Read More A Sunday Morning Drive

by Jason Clark | August 29, 2009 | Articles, Faith, Life | 1 Comment

The church gathers and sings beautiful love songs to God. They pray for each other and encourage and challenge each other to love greater and live bolder. Often someone speaks about the goodness of God. It’s a nice thing to do on a Sunday morning.

Read More Grossly Misinterpreted

by Jason Clark | June 22, 2023 | Articles, Books, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Intimacy, Leadership, Leaving and Finding Jesus, The Fathers Love | 6 Comments

Do you wonder why we have a Deconstruction movement today? I think it’s partly because many Christians have been forced to build their faith upon the shaky foundation of an oscillating “Papa who turned away from His Boy.”

Read More WINN COLLIER / WE BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER

by A Family Story | August 4, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three | 0 Comments

The thread through all Winn Collier’s work is delight in the God who exists as the blazing center of everything that is good, beautiful, and true; and you feel that in this conversation. In this podcast, Winn and Jason talk about God’s hope and heart for all creation to know we belong to one another. The guys dive into wholeness, cruciform love, and what it means to be fully human.

Then Winn talks about his friendship with Eugene Peterson, writer of The Message Translation. Winn shares about the biography he recently released on Eugene’s incredible life, A Burning In My Bones, and on their shared heart for pastors and the church!

Read More

The post No Partiality / part 2 / Peter & Cornelius appeared first on A Family Story.

No Partiality / part 1 / The Early Church

No Partiality / part 1 The Early Church

 

 

 

 

The early church, led by Peter and a handful of others, was beautiful—and that’s an understatement. From the moment Holy Spirit burst onto the scene in the upper room, as depicted in Acts 2, there was an evangelistic explosion. With “many wonders and signs,” folks were added to the church daily, weekly, and monthly. 1

Unity marked this early church. The phrases “all together” or “of one accord” can be found five times in the first five chapters of Acts. The power of God displayed by leadership was remarkable. Even Peter’s shadow healed people. 2

Young leaders—most notably, Paul and Timothy, both championed by Barnabas; and later James, championed by Peter—were raised up and commissioned to spread the Good News from village to village and city to city. 3

Miracles occurred at a rate the world had never seen. Yes, there was persecution, and yet the church grew, and “throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria [they] had peace and richly increased in numbers.” 4

The presence of Holy Spirit manifested in every aspect of the church. From Pentecost on, Holy Spirit was present and known to fall “on all who heard the word.” 5

In this beautiful church, sons and daughters grew confident in the love of a good Father! This was a church passionately releasing heaven on earth, the Kingdom within us; a church where righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit were deeply rooted in the soul and every aspect of life. 6

This was also a generous church where the lost were being found, the sick healed, the sinner forgiven and transformed, the lonely placed in family, all who were thirsty could come and drink, and “where they sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” 7

All could be saved!

Except, well, anyone who wasn’t Jewish.

So, not literally all, I guess. Just, well, the Jewish all.

In those first nine years or so of the early church, when I write, all could be saved, what I mean is that a small exclusive group of people could be saved; all of the included us, but none of the excluded them could be saved.

Just like today, the understanding of the Good News of Jesus within the church and her leadership was limited, but ever-expanding. In those beautifully formative early church days, the limitation was that only Jews were in.

Imagine a church stunning in fellowship—a church Jesus referenced as “the light of the world, a city set on a hill.” 8 Imagine the revelation of eternal life flowing through their veins. Imagine the power of their evangelism.

Now imagine, because of their tradition, culture, and limited understanding, they only shared this life-transforming Good News with a select few. Imagine meetings like the one I had with those two elders, except it was not just women who weren’t at the table. Most of humanity was excluded, as well.

I know. It’s nearly impossible, but imagine a church interpreting Scripture to reveal Jesus as the Savior of a select group, a people who looked, believed, and acted like them—as though atonement was somehow, limited…

Imagine they interpreted Scripture in ways that separated Gentiles from Jews, in from out, and women from ministry.

I know. It’s difficult, but try to imagine a church experiencing profound revelation, favor, life, joy, and unity while simultaneously living with a heart-breaking limited perspective regarding the all-inclusive nature of our heavenly Father.

You may be picking up on some playful sarcasm. Why? Because it’s relatively easy to imagine this church. You’ve likely participated in it. I certainly have. I don’t write that as a condemning statement. Rather, it is an invitation to daily repent—to mature in reconciling Love.

The early church and her leadership were authentic, sincere, and growing in revelation. At the same time, the early church had a serious flaw on its God lens, the same dualistic hierarchal flaw the church and her leadership continue to discover and repent of today.

“Us or them.”

“In or out.”

“Republican or Democrat.”

“Women and Ministry.”

And I could go on.

The early church knew the transformational Truth of reconciliation. They experienced the kindness that leads to repentance, and they followed a friend of Jesus who knew cruciform love and restoration like few others.

Peter and the early church grew in the revelation of an all-inclusive reconciling love. Yet, even in the daily miraculous manifestation of God’s goodness, for the first nine years or so, the early church seemed oblivious to the devastating us or them flaw on their God lens—especially pertaining to Gentiles… and women in ministry.

God didn’t ignore their delusions nor condemn them for their exclusivity. He just walked beside them as the Wayfaring Stranger and kept speaking to their burning hearts. Like that Farmer who went out to sow seed, Measureless Love just kept sowing into every limitation of their understanding, every delusion, every hierarchy of exclusion, and every cruel and punishing missing of the mark.

1 Acts 2:43 & 5:12
2 Acts 5
3 Acts 12
4 Acts 9:31
5 Acts 10:44
6 Romans 14:17
7 Acts 2:45
8 Matthew 5:14

This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW! Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. FollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… A Relational Theologian

by Jason Clark | July 20, 2022 | Articles, Books, Faith, Hell, Intimacy, Leadership, Leaving and Finding Jesus, Popular | 2 Comments

Relationship is the only theological lens through which I can communicate authentically and with any effect. Love is my doctrine. Kindness my dogma. The goodness of God my creed.

Read More Mercy and Grace

by Jason Clark | August 3, 2012 | Articles, Crisis of Identity, Faith, Prone To Love | 2 Comments

Jesus didn’t just come to set us free from sin; He came to empower us into righteousness. He didn’t just reveal the Father in all His mercy, He revealed the Father in all His grace. Jesus never released mercy without following up with grace. In fact, mercy is incomplete without it.

Read More Where is God?

by Jason Clark | August 8, 2018 | Articles, Faith, Life | 0 Comments

We had less than ten dollars to our name, mostly in loose change, and we had about a gallon of gas in the van. Karen is amazing, her faith stunning. She is well acquainted with our Father’s good love and made a statement that highlights it: “We have food in the fridge. We are blessed and God is so good.”

Read More Hope

by Jason Clark | October 8, 2019 | Articles, Faith, Relationship, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered how to feel hope? Jason tells a story about how to feel hope, how to live in expectation of good.

Read More A Walk with Nova

by Pete Scheller | July 1, 2020 | Articles, Faith, Intimacy, Life, Prayer, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

However, He shows it, God is squeezing as much love into us as we can handle.

Read More A Wide Open Love…

by Jason Clark | November 6, 2009 | Articles, Faith, Intimacy, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.

Read More

The post No Partiality / part 1 / The Early Church appeared first on A Family Story.

ANDRE RABE / ALL CREATION IS INCARNATION

Andre Rabe All Creation Is Incarnation

 

 

 

 

 

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“The universe has a direction; it is moving toward greater meaning and beauty, it’s an unfinished story, and the end has not been determined. You have been invited to author this specific chapter.” Andre Rabe is a storyteller, theologian, philosopher, author, and public speaker, and in this conversation, the guys talked about union, open and relational theology, inclusion, Christ within us, and how “all creation is incarnation.”

For more on Andre Rabe:
Website: www.alwaysloved.net
X / Twitter: @AndreRabe1 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wordmadeflesh

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

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Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… JOHN CHAFFEE / THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS

by A Family Story | September 6, 2023 | Faith, Hell, Interview, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, Sin, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Shifting from Western theo-logic to Eastern theo-poetics thinking, vulnerability and transformation, Eneagram5, narcissistic pastors and healing, disrupting the institution, rethinking Job and “upgrading” faith, kayfabe, apokatastasis and a better gospel, interpreting The Prophets with restoration not damnation, and spiral dynamics, in this conversation John Chaffee and the guys dove into the restoration of all things.

Read More JAMIE & DONNA WINSHIP / OUR TRUE IDENTITY

by A Family Story | February 16, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Life, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 1 Comment

How to experience God, confession, faith, fear, freedom, our true identity, and cruciform, others-focused, self-emptying unconditional love barely scratches the surface of this packed conversation on the goodness of God. Jamie and Donna Winship share how we can discover our true identity through a relationship with God and each other.

Read More THOMAS JAY OORD / OPEN & RELATIONAL THEOLOGY

by A Family Story | March 29, 2022 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Hell, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Sin, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

Thomas Jay Oord shares about open relational theology; how it connects with the way we live and matches our deepest intuitions. The guys talked about a relational God who is genuinely loving, looks like Jesus, and walks through each day with us, impacting and impacted by our friendship.

Thomas describes an uncontrolling, loving God, that harmonizes with scripture. In this podcast, he dives into the subjects of hell, prayer, and evangelism all through the lens of open relational theology.

Read More DR. CAROLINE LEAF / CLEANING UP YOUR MENTAL MESS

by A Family Story | March 4, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Life, Popular, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

Brilliant, compassionate, and empowering, world-renowned neuroscientist and best-selling author, Dr. Caroline Leaf, talks about her new book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. She addresses what happens when we don’t use our minds properly. Why mind-management is the solution to cleaning up our mental mess and how the science can help us transition from being aware of toxic thoughts to catching and managing them. In other words, she teaches us how to renew our minds.

Read More MATTHEW HESTER / GOD WAS PLEASED TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME

by A Family Story | March 17, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Mystery, faith, salvation and awaking to Christ’s likeness within us, adoption and sonship, being in the family, discovering the Word in scripture, and living from union, we discuss this and more with Matthew Hester in a passionate conversation around the love of God. Matthew is an author, pastor of Dominion Church (Greer SC), and founder of Hester Ministries and Present Truth Academy.

Read More ALLEN ARNOLD / CHAOS CAN’T

by A Family Story | January 27, 2021 | Art, Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 1 Comment

God creates order from disorder and we have been invited to co-create with Him. In the midst of chaos, “we associate peace with answers. God associates peace with Union.”

Read More

The post No Partiality / part 1 / The Early Church appeared first on A Family Story.

MAKE ROOM WITH DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK

Make Room 21 Days With Jesus

 

 

 

 

 

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Derek and Jason highlighted the connections being made on the Rethinking God with Tacos Facebook Group. The guys also discussed Derek’s new book, Make Room, a 21-day journey through the Gospel of John. Derek wrote this devotional to help strengthen our trust in our God’s unconditional love, melt fear from our hearts, and help us see ourselves through the eyes of our Father. The conversation also touched on inerrancy and infallibility, seeing Jesus as the perfect theology, love being our guiding principle, worship songs that emphasize the finished work, and spiritual maturity. To join the Facebook 

To join the RGWT Facebook Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/godandtacos

For more on Derek’s Book, Make Room:
Amazon: www.amazon.com/MAKE-ROOM-21-Days-Jesus

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

 

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

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Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… DAVID TENSEN / YOU ARE NOT ALONE

by A Family Story | May 12, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two | 5 Comments

Trauma, pain, empathy like Jesus, and healing for the oppressed, misunderstood, lost, or broken; in this podcast David Tensen shares how we are loved and not alone. Addressing how shame and condemnation are compounded by religion, the guys talked specifically about abortion and the LGBTQ community with an invitation to love like Jesus, through our union with God and reconciliation.

Read More FELICIA MURRELL / EMPATHY; THE TREASURE OF THE INCARNATION

by A Family Story | January 17, 2023 | Faith, Intimacy, Life, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, Sin, The Fathers Love, Writing | 1 Comment

“The Spirit said to me, ‘I want you to hand to me everything that you believe to be true about God and let me hand back to you everything that is true.’”

Racism, deconstruction, shame, guilt, certainty, empathy, infinite mercy, grace, healing, and other-centered, self-giving love, in this amazing conversation, Felecia and Jason visit fear and prejudice while leaning into the AND of God’s always present, empathetic, reconciling love.

Read More DR. MATT PANDEL / LIVING IN THE IN-BETWEEN

by A Family Story | July 12, 2023 | Faith, Intimacy, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

“God here, I stand in you, God help me” Martin Luther.  The reality of our completion, a pure grace, objective truth (Jesus), experiential truth (how we live it out), union and the God of the promises, evangelism, the ministry of reconciliation, law and grace (never the less, Christ is preached), obedience, community and healing from church trauma, in this podcast, Dr. Matt Pandel and the guys discuss faith, trust, and tacos.

Read More EDEN JERSAK / A LOVE THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE

by A Family Story | March 22, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Leadership, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, Sin, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

“My mom exemplified this (The Tree of Life) further every time she invited the “black sheep” of the family to our family Christmas events. That was confusing to me as a child because in my mind, and in our culture, they were most certainly “Out,” yet that never deterred my mom from inviting them to our table.” Eden Jersak.

In this podcast, Pastor Eden shares about our heavenly Father’s grace, love, kindness, and all-inclusive love. The cross, the journey of inclusion, reconciliation, pastoring, and valuing humanity as Jesus does, this conversation is between two relational human beings endeavoring to love well.

Read More JOHN ELDREDGE / RESILIENT: RESTORING YOUR WEARY SOUL

by A Family Story | June 22, 2022 | Faith, Hell, Intimacy, Popular, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

The human soul has a built-in yearning for joy and beauty and all good things. But that craving for life has taken a real beating in recent years. Between false promises of ease and comfort on one side and the sheer trauma of global disease and disasters on the other, people today are facing a shortage of peace, happiness, and strength. 

In this conversation, John and Jason dive into John’s new book, Resilient. The guys talk about life and faith during and since the pandemic. They dive into the evidence of trauma, how to discover peace in the midst of disappointment, the dark night of the soul, de- and reconstruction, and ultimately union. This conversation reveals a path toward genuine recovery and resilience provided by Jesus himself.

Read More RANDALL WORLEY / WHEN THE CHURCH WAS YOUNG

by Jason Clark | August 16, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Life, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love, Writing | 0 Comments

Theology and methodology, communal learning, asking questions and discussing false narratives, theodicy, rethinking atonement theories, the stages of faith – simplicity, complexity, perplexity, harmony (Brian McLaren), deconstruction, liturgy, the lectionary, spiral dynamics, and first-tier thinking, the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves, and letting God tell our story; in this podcast, Randall and the guys talk about a theology of love as revealed through the incarnation.

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The post MAKE ROOM WITH DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK appeared first on A Family Story.

DEREK VREELAND / CENTERING JESUS

Derek Vreeland Centering Jesus

 

 

 

 

 

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In this podcast, Derek Vreeland shared about his new book, Centering Jesus. The guys focused on the centrality of Jesus in spiritual formation, ethical lives, and community life. They discussed the importance of love, unity, and tapping into the imaginative side of faith. They also touched on the significance of the Bible and the image of Jesus as the ruling and reigning King. They concluded by emphasizing the importance of love and unity within the church as a witness to the world.

For more on Derek Vreeland
Website: www.derekvreeland.com
X / Twitter: www.twitter.com/DerekVreeland

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

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Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… JOHN CHAFFEE / THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS

by A Family Story | September 6, 2023 | Faith, Hell, Interview, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, Sin, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Shifting from Western theo-logic to Eastern theo-poetics thinking, vulnerability and transformation, Eneagram5, narcissistic pastors and healing, disrupting the institution, rethinking Job and “upgrading” faith, kayfabe, apokatastasis and a better gospel, interpreting The Prophets with restoration not damnation, and spiral dynamics, in this conversation John Chaffee and the guys dove into the restoration of all things.

Read More AN EMMAUS ROAD DECONSTRUCTION WITH MATTHEW HESTER

by Jason Clark | November 23, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

The Kingdom within, relational intimacy, a triune God reconciling the world to Himself, faith like Abraham, hermeneutics, and an Emmaus Road Deconstruction, in this podcast, Jason talks with his friend Matthew Hester about his new book, Leaving and Finding Jesus. “Repenting is a de and reconstruction all in one,” and in this conversation, the fellas talk about an Emmaus Road walk with Jesus where He gently and definitively reveals the Cornerstone of faith, God in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.

Read More THE CROSS with DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | January 6, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Intimacy, Leadership, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 3 Comments

In this first episode of season two, Jason and new host Derek Turner dive into the wonder of what Jesus revealed about our Father and humanity through the cross and resurrection.

Read More ROD WILLIAMS / UNION WITH DISTINCTION

by A Family Story | February 2, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Life, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Union, a Triune God, mutual indwelling others-centered love (perichoresis) approaching scripture to discover Jesus, and communion are some of the themes Rod Williams dives into. What if “all” means “all” and God isn’t distant? There is no distance, no separation in God and this conversation is a beautiful invitation to awaken to that discovery and our union with Him.

Read More MATTHEW HESTER / GOD WAS PLEASED TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME

by A Family Story | March 17, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Mystery, faith, salvation and awaking to Christ’s likeness within us, adoption and sonship, being in the family, discovering the Word in scripture, and living from union, we discuss this and more with Matthew Hester in a passionate conversation around the love of God. Matthew is an author, pastor of Dominion Church (Greer SC), and founder of Hester Ministries and Present Truth Academy.

Read More JOE CHADBURN / PEACE IS INEVITABLE

by A Family Story | June 14, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Justice, love, respect, our shared humanity, a discussion around Christian Zionism and the peace of Jerusalem, ETC, and a shift in hearts and minds around war and the inevitability of peace; in this conversation, the guys connected with Joe Chadburn around the finished work of Jesus and an inevitable peace on earth as it is in heaven.

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JOHN CHAFFEE / THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS

John Chaffee The Restoration Of All Things

 

 

 

 

 

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Shifting from Western theo-logic to Eastern theo-poetics thinking, vulnerability and transformation, Eneagram5, narcissistic pastors and healing, disrupting the institution, rethinking Job and “upgrading” faith, kayfabe, apokatastasis and a better gospel, interpreting The Prophets with restoration not damnation, and spiral dynamics, in this conversation John Chaffee and the guys dove into the restoration of all things.

For more on John Chaffee
Website: www.johnchaffee.com
X / Twitter: twitter.com/ThatJohnChaffee
What Is The Gospel: www.johnchaffee.com/what-is-the-gospel
Thinking Critically: Amazon Link

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

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Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… PETE SCHELLER / DANCING WITH WISDOM

by A Family Story | May 24, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Friends, Intimacy, Leadership, Life, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

“For too long the image and understanding of God, the One Jesus called “Abba”, has been hidden from view or distorted beyond recognition. The unspoken cry of sons and daughters all over the world is ‘Give us our Dad back!’”

A renewed mind, western wisdom vs. God’s wisdom, theology in relational terms, and above all, a Father who doesn’t just love us, He really likes us; in this conversation, Pete Scheller shares from his new book, Dancing with Wisdom. The guys dive deep into the Father nature of God and laugh along the way.

Read More DOUG CREW / WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW?

by A Family Story | March 24, 2021 | Faith, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Navigating through loss with a good God, experiencing the presence of God as a loving Father, loving our neighbor, democrat and republican, and love answering every question that aches in the heart of humanity, Doug Crew shares on these subjects and more with insight and grace. Doug is the executive leader of Shiloh Place Ministries and a good friend of the podcast.

Read More KIM HONEYCUTT / SHAME, AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT

by A Family Story | February 10, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

In this podcast, Psychotherapist Kim Honeycutt addresses shame, blame the trauma of rejection. She brilliantly highlights our intrinsic worth, our identity in Christ, and the journey from rejection to acceptance.

Read More HAROLD & LINDA EBERLE / THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION

by A Family Story | March 10, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, Sin, The Fathers Love | 4 Comments

Harold and Linda Eberle share about the catalytic love of God that is transforming our western understanding of the church. They speak on victorious mindsets, kingdom thinking, the myth of separation, reconciliation through the death of Jesus, and salvation through his life; plus old elephants! This is a power packed interview full of profound insight.

Read More THOMAS JAY OORD / OPEN & RELATIONAL THEOLOGY

by A Family Story | March 29, 2022 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Hell, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Sin, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

Thomas Jay Oord shares about open relational theology; how it connects with the way we live and matches our deepest intuitions. The guys talked about a relational God who is genuinely loving, looks like Jesus, and walks through each day with us, impacting and impacted by our friendship.

Thomas describes an uncontrolling, loving God, that harmonizes with scripture. In this podcast, he dives into the subjects of hell, prayer, and evangelism all through the lens of open relational theology.

Read More MARK APPLEYARD / DIGNITY: THE LEADING EDGE OF LOVE

by Jason Clark | June 21, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Redefining success, living loved—from Jesus, laying our lives down for one another, awakening to a union, living from rest, the peace that surpasses understanding, human flourishing, and dignity as the leading edge of love; in this podcast, the guys dive into how dignity seeks to protect the image of God in a person. Dignity treats every human interaction as if it were eternal.

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