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Free To Give / Sapphira

Free To Give Sapphira

Just before our wedding, Karen and I removed the word ‘obey’ from our vows as we determined mutual, self-giving, other-centered love would be the foundation of our marriage. We decided our surrender would always be voluntary, that consent would be the high watermark of our love and the path to intimacy; we resolved to submit one to another, to freely give and freely receive. That’s how love works, that’s how trust works, that’s how intimacy works.

Freely is a powerful word.

Love can’t be coerced, controlled, pressured, compelled, manipulated, or forced. There is no arm twisting, crowbars, compulsion, shaming, or condemning, no fear of retribution. Our marriage isn’t built upon the letter of the law; its foundation is grace. Our marriage isn’t transactional, but relational and intimate.

And so, obey was taken out of our vows.

But obey was most definitely in Sapphira’s.

During Sapphira’s day, women had few rights, equality wasn’t a thing, and husbands often saw their wives as little more than possessions. The consequences of not obeying your husband could be severe, even unto death.

Scripture implies Sapphira agreed with her husband’s deception. Who knows, it may have even been her idea. But let’s recognize the cultural context of the day. She was expected to obey her husband. And let’s also recognize Peter, a man, the leader, the top of the power dynamic, and the fella who’d just presided over her husband’s death, knew this.

Was Peter surprised by Ananias’ death? I don’t know. But I imagine he was heartbroken; at least, I hope he was… cause that’s what a Good Shepherd would be when one of his flock is lost to a prowling lion.

Just years earlier, after Jesus’ disciples asked Him to call down fire on a city, He corrected them with the Gospel. “You know not what spirit you are of,” He said, “For the Son of Man has not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (See Luke 9:56)

Peter knew this good news. And so, I imagine that immediately after the death of Ananias, he turned his attention to saving Sapphira. Like his Good Shepherd, I imagine he modeled His heart to leave the ninety-nine “in the open country and go after the one.” (See Luke 15:5)

I imagine Peter set about lighting lamps and sweeping his metaphorical house, carefully searching “every nook and cranny” for the lost coin. (Luke 15:8-10)

I imagine he positioned his motives with the good father’s heart of forgiveness and reconciliation toward his lost and striving sons, both prodigal and older. (See Luke 15:11-32)

You see, Peter intimately knew this New Covenant gospel. He knew God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting Sapphira’s sins against her. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

And so, I imagine, especially after the death of Ananias, that Peter would remind himself how Jesus had made him “competent as a minister of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

However, it appears once again that Peter went old school.

“About three hours later, Ananias’ wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

The difference between an honest question and entrapment is the spirit in which it’s asked. When Grace is the spirit, the question confronts for the purpose of repentance, transformation, and restoration. When Law is the spirit, the question condemns for the purpose of separation and retribution.

This does not appear to be an honest question. It reminds me of the query once hurled at Jesus by religious rock-holding Pharisees who stood ready to participate in the punishing death of a guilty woman; a story in which Jesus disarmed the men and the spirit of accusation so the woman might be set free from sin. (See John 8:1-11)

I would like to suggest this interaction with Sapphira was religious entrapment—Peter seemed to ask an Old Covenant question in the context of the wages of sin with no thought for eternal life.

Why do I suggest this? Because Sapphira died.

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

Then Peter responded with grace, “Why are you slaving? Everything I have is yours.” (See John 17:10)

Nope.

Then Peter responded with a kindness that leads to repentance (See Romans 2:4) “Father, forgive her; she knows not what she does.” (See Luke 23:24)

Nope.

Then Peter responded with a heart of reconciliation, “Jesus did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (See Luke 9:56)

Nope.

Peter spoke to her in the spirit of the Old Covenant, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?” he said.

Look, I’m all for leaders bringing correction, but the Truth is supposed to set us free. (See John 8:32) If your pastor corrects you with the letter of the law—in the spirit of separation and retribution—if he literally speaks death over you—run!

“Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also,” Peter said, swinging his verbal sword. Like many years earlier in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter seemed to partner with the wages of sin by declaring death—something Jesus NEVER did. Not once.

Jesus only ever spoke reconciling love and resurrection life.

But after Peter spoke, “… she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband…”

This article is excerpted from my chapter in, FREE TO GIVE
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

FREE TO GIVE: ABOUNDING IN THE GRACE OF GIVING

CO-AUTHORED BY MALCOLM SMITH, FRANCOIS DU TOIT, WM, PAUL YOUNG, STEVE MCVEY, LISA WENTWORTH COUTRE, PAUL GOLF, JASON CLARK, DON KEATHLEY, TOMMY MILLER, MATT PANDEL, LOGAN BARONE, ROBIN SMIT, CORY RICE

In a world where the act of giving is often burdened by expectations and legalistic constraints, “Free to Give” emerges as a guiding light of grace and liberation. If you’ve ever been shackled by the weight of ritualistic and obligatory giving or the oppressive thoughts of giving to meet performance standards, this book is your path to freedom.

Within the pages of “Free to Give,” twelve co-authors extend a heartfelt invitation to experience the transformational power of giving in its purest and most unrestrained form. Drawing from a wellspring of wisdom and personal experiences, these co-voices offer you the opportunity to discover the joy of giving without the constraints of obligation.

Within these pages, you’ll discover:

A Christ-centered, grace-infused exploration of the account of Ananias and Sapphira.Wm. Paul Young’s masterful narrative of the widow’s mite, bringing new depth to this beautiful story.A reinvigorated perspective on the classic tale of the Prodigal Son.New Testament insights that deconstruct traditional Old Testament ideas about giving, including tithing.And an abundance of other revelations and wisdom waiting to be unveiled as these extraordinary authors bring new language, insights, and revelation to the grace of giving.

Let this book be your invitation to a transformed perspective on giving.

This article is excerpted from, FREE TO GIVE
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

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.

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It could be said Peter failed during his time of testing but it wasn’t about his success, it was about his experience. Jesus already knew Peter would deny Him. Yet the experience was essential to Peter’s journey. His ownership of that experience from denial to redemption was what allowed him to be life to his friends.

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Published on November 01, 2023 13:08

JONATHAN FOSTER / indigo: the color of grief

Jonathan Foster indigo: the color of grief

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“Exquisitely etched, in a luring cadence, a daughter lost, a family fractured, fractioned, all in the lower case, not shouting at us, but hard to read. I had to stop and regain my composure. What is this terrible beauty? Not a theology but something softer, more delicate, unprotected, exposed. What is this? A moving poem, certainly, but also a prayer, a wounded word, a broken hallelujah, where a random hug, a hand held through the night, a shoulder touched, are the only amelioration, the only God worthy of our time, the only God there may be, the only way to keep the future open.” John Caputo

In this conversation, the guys discuss Jonathan’s new book, indigo: the color of grief. This conversation invites the love of God into our loss, disappointment, and fragile trust.

“In this stunning reflection on loss and suffering, we do not simply observe one person’s grief but find words that might help us as we tarry with our own.” – Peter Rollins

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!

For more on Jonathan Foster
Website: www.jonathanfosteronline.com
Twitter: @jonathan_foster
Substack: jonathan_foster
Prepurchase through INDIGO: www.indiegogo.com/projects/indigo-the-color-of-grief#/

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

Follow Follow Follow 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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The post Free To Give / Sapphira appeared first on A Family Story.

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Published on November 01, 2023 08:52

ROBIN & STEVE SMIT / FREE TO GIVE

Robin & Steve Smit Free To Give

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This podcast features, Steve and Robin Smit. In October of 2022, the Lord asked Robin if she would put her own writing aside and build The Writer’s Society. There is a tremendous need for a grace-based, author-empowering, Trinitarian, Christological-focused publishing company! Steve and Robin launched The Writers Society—TWS—and have been writing, editing, and publishing since.

In this podcast, they share about the publishing company and a new book, “Free To Give.” In a world where the act of giving is often burdened by expectations and legalistic constraints, “Free to Give” emerges as a guiding light of grace and liberation. If you’ve ever been shackled by the weight of ritualistic and obligatory giving or the oppressive thoughts of giving to meet performance standards, this book is your path to freedom.

In this podcast they discuss “Free to Give,” and the twelve co-authors who extend a heartfelt invitation to experience the transformational power of giving in its purest and most unrestrained form. Drawing from a wellspring of wisdom and personal experiences, these co-voices offer the opportunity to discover the joy of giving without the constraints of obligation.

For more on Steve & Robin Smit, TWS & Free To Give:
Free To Give: Amazon Link
The Writers Society: www.thewriterssociety.online
Legacy Society: www.thewriterssociety.online/general-7

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

Follow Follow Follow 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.

Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW!

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Peter describes a God who delights in His creation, a God who destroys what is evil, creates what is good, and invites us to observe our own creation in Christ Jesus.

The post ROBIN & STEVE SMIT / FREE TO GIVE appeared first on A Family Story.

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Published on October 24, 2023 20:55

Free To Give / Peter, You, Me, & Even Ananias

Free To Give Peter, You, Me, & Even Ananias

And So On Throughout Eternity

After Ananias and Sapphira were greeted in heaven by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, after being immersed in an atmosphere of grace and love, after their punishing religious obsession with good and evil was exposed, and self-righteous striving had ceased, in the freedom of consent, as they celebrated union, and as the band took a quick five, Jesus leaned over and with a heavenly grin, said, “Sorry about Pete. I told him to ‘feed my sheep,’ and he’s doing a brilliant job of it—most days. But occasionally, he still stumbles over the punishing lie of separation and forgets reconciling love. And when that happens,” Jesus chuckled as He opened His arms, recognizing their participation in the sweet by and by, “well, you know.”

Then Jesus gave a good-natured wink, “At least he didn’t use a sword this time.”

Everyone laughed because, it’s heaven—the Kingdom within and at hand, where all Creation is reconciled in Christ.

Laughter, peace, joy, and love resounded throughout the celestial realm as grace flowed like an exquisite vintage. And freely Ananias and Sapphira received. And freely Ananias and Sapphira gave and so on and so on throughout eternity…

Freely You Have Received, Freely Give

Acts 2:42-47 describes the early church as a communal fellowship where they matured together, experienced miracles, and favor, and “sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (v45)

They chose to give—freely.

Freely is a powerful word; it’s what made the early church so beautiful. It’s what’s so beautiful about the church today. Freely we receive—for God so loved He gave (See John 3:16) —and freely we give—we love because He first loved. (See 1 John 4:19)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1) And so, the early church gave freely, in the consent of mutual, self-giving love. The giving wasn’t forced or controlled; it wasn’t coerced. There were no manipulative messages from pulpits, no arm twisting, no crowbars, compulsion, shaming, or condemning, no fear of retribution; just “freely you have received, freely give.”

All was grace. (Matthew 10:8)

Paul noted this heaven-on-earth freedom when he told the church in Corinth, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure… or under compulsion. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6) Paul seemed to understand there is no cheerful giving where compulsion exists. There is no “freely give” where consent isn’t the high-water mark of love.

There are two types of surrender in the world: forced or voluntary. Jesus never forced. He always volunteered. He modeled ‘freely give’ by laying His very life down, not counting our insecure, self-righteous religious obsession with measuring sin against us.

“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?

What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (Acts 5:1-11)

You know, I imagine Peter was pretty good at recognizing someone who had partnered with Satan, seeing as he’d done it a few times himself. “Get behind me, Satan,” Jesus once said to a striving Peter. (Matthew 16:23)

I imagine Peter was pretty good at recognizing a lie, seeing as he’s one of the most famous liars in the Bible, having three times denied he even knew Jesus. (Matthew 26:69-75)

And I imagine Peter knew how to pray for someone’s faith so they may turn back to God, seeing as he had once been on the receiving end of Jesus’ prayer just before He took up His cross. “Peter, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.” Jesus told him, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

I imagine Peter knew well that “the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” And I imagine he knew this eternal life was a gift freely given by his best friend, Jesus, on a cross where He reconciled the world to Himself, not counting Peter’s, yours, mine, or even Ananias’ sins against us. (Romans 6:23) And I imagine he knew this gift was freely received by grace through faith— “so that no one can boast.” (See Ephesians 2:8-9)

To me, it seems Peter was perfectly positioned to address the punishing and delusional spirit of Satan that Ananias was striving under—that same punishing delusional spirit of Satan Jesus once recognized Peter striving under.

Peter appears to be perfectly positioned to pray for Ananias’ faith as Jesus prayed—so he could turn back and strengthen his brothers and sisters. Peter appears perfectly positioned to cry out, ‘Father, forgive him, he knows not what he does’ (See Luke 23:34) just as Jesus cried out for Peter, you, me, and even Ananias.

Peter appears to be perfectly positioned to release the Spirit of Christ’s reconciling love—the finished work of the cross—just as Jesus had done for him—so Ananias might awaken to LOVES saving grace; the kindness of God that leads to repentance, that sets free, transforms, restores, and reconciles; the gift of eternal life that’s freely given so we might freely receive; the same love that saves Peter, you, me, and even Ananias.

But it appears Peter went old school, what some might call Old Covenant…

“When Ananias heard [Peters words], he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him…” (Acts 5:1-11)

This article is excerpted from, FREE TO GIVE
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

Free To Give: Abounding in the Grace of Giving

CO-AUTHORED BY Malcolm Smith, Francois Du Toit, Wm, Paul Young, Steve McVey, Lisa Wentworth Coutre, Paul Golf, Jason Clark, Don Keathley, Tommy Miller, Matt Pandel, Logan Barone, Robin Smit, Cory Rice

In a world where the act of giving is often burdened by expectations and legalistic constraints, “Free to Give” emerges as a guiding light of grace and liberation. If you’ve ever been shackled by the weight of ritualistic and obligatory giving or the oppressive thoughts of giving to meet performance standards, this book is your path to freedom.

Within the pages of “Free to Give,” twelve co-authors extend a heartfelt invitation to experience the transformational power of giving in its purest and most unrestrained form. Drawing from a wellspring of wisdom and personal experiences, these co-voices offer you the opportunity to discover the joy of giving without the constraints of obligation.

Within these pages, you’ll discover:

A Christ-centered, grace-infused exploration of the account of Ananias and Sapphira.Wm. Paul Young’s masterful narrative of the widow’s mite, bringing new depth to this beautiful story.A reinvigorated perspective on the classic tale of the Prodigal Son.New Testament insights that deconstruct traditional Old Testament ideas about giving, including tithing.And an abundance of other revelations and wisdom waiting to be unveiled as these extraordinary authors bring new language, insights, and revelation to the grace of giving.

Let this book be your invitation to a transformed perspective on giving.

This article is excerpted from, FREE TO GIVE
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.

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by A Family Story | September 3, 2020 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Relationship, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season One, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

You love me, but you don’t know who I am. Those are the words God spoke to Michael several years ago and it took him on a journey into measureless love, grace, and union with an always good, never leaving, no distance or separation, Triune God. With grace and joy the conversation dove into the two greatest lies on the planet, Penal Substitution and Eternal Conscious Torment.

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Published on October 24, 2023 17:55

TROY MCLAUGHLIN / THIS UNDIVIDED LIFE

Troy McLaughin The Undivided Life

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Troy McLaughlin, host of This Undivided Life Podcast, and the guys talked about wholeness. Derek and Jason shared about their journeys and the inception of Rethinking God with Tacos. The guys talked about Jesus as perfect theology, de-reconstruction, an Emmaus Road Jesus, revelation, the resurrected Christ, the burning heart, waking up to wonder, a father’s love, the incarnation, our humanity, sufficient grace, a God who never leaves, and an undivided life.

For more on Troy McLaughlin & This Undivided Life PODCAST:
This Undivided Life: www.thisundividedlife.libsyn.com

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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

Follow Follow Follow 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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YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… 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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Published on October 24, 2023 17:23

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. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… Living Powerfully Generous: Eggos and Juice Boxes

by Jason Clark | July 18, 2016 | Articles, Faith, Life, Parenting | 0 Comments

Generous giving is our birthright. It’s a partnership with our Father’s heart. It always further aligns our affections with His.

Read More JOHN MARK MCMILLAN / A WORSHIP RECORD FOR ATHEISTS

by A Family Story | May 20, 2020 | Art, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Interview, Music, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season One | 0 Comments

“I am building bridges between my friends who are atheists, my friends who are fundamentalists, my friends who consider themselves progressive or any end of the spectrum. Because gratitude is the one place we all come together.” John Mark McMillan

Read More RANDALL WORLEY / BRUSHSTROKES OF GRACE

by A Family Story | April 28, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Popular, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, Worship | 2 Comments

“The two greatest myths that we, as humans, believe, are the myth of separation and the myth of scarcity.”

Grace, empathy, spiritual maturity, identity, destiny, purpose, and a sense of our eternal significance and worth; in this podcast, Randall Worley dives headlong into the measureless transforming and reconciling mystery of the love of God.

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Published on October 19, 2023 00:43

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

Follow Follow Follow 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.

Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW!

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… 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 SHEILA & KEITH GREGOIRE / THE GOOD GUYS AND GIRL’S GUIDE TO GREAT SEX

by Jason Clark | December 14, 2022 | Intimacy, Marriage, Parenting, Popular, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Sin, The Fathers Love | 1 Comment

In this conversation, the guys talked with Sheila and Keith about intimacy, sex, and God’s design for our marriages. Based on groundbreaking surveys of more than twenty-five thousand people, the Gregoires shared how our theology impacts our intimacy, the nature of our sex drives, porn addiction, and freedom, all for the purpose of helping husbands and wives discover intimacy and experience great sex! This is both an insightful and fun conversation.

Read More BRAD JERSAK / AND HE SEARCHED UNTIL HE FOUND THEM

by A Family Story | October 18, 2023 | Faith, Hell, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Life, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

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.

Read More THE POLAR EXPRESS WITH JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | December 21, 2022 | Art, Dreaming, Faith, Leadership, Life, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Short Story, Untamed, Writing | 0 Comments

“It’s Christmas Eve, and instead of dreaming of the best day of the year, the boy is in his bedroom agonizing over the universal question: Does God…sorry, I mean Santa Claus, really exist?”

In this final podcast of 2022 and season three, Jason shares a story from his first book about the Polar Express, and faith. Whether you’re tired or wide awake, full or empty, lost or found, sick or whole, you are loved by Triune God who walks beside you, will never leave you, and invites you to awaken to His affection and love. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, and goodwill toward men!”

Read More JARED NEUSCH / A CHRISTOCENTRIC HERMENEUTIC & A NON-VIOLENT GOD

by A Family Story | July 19, 2023 | Faith, Intimacy, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 1 Comment

The doctrine of inerrancy, a Christocentric hermeneutic, the multiple genres of literature within the bible, Jesus as perfect theology, intimacy, trust, and the goodness of God, overcoming evil, loving our enemies, a non-violent God, forgiveness, the American Church’s’ obsession with retribution, Christocentric pacifism, our interconnected-ness, justice; in this conversation, Jared Neusch and the guys dive into a Christ-Centered approach to life, faith, and Scripture.

Read More SEXY DECONSTRUCTION? WITH DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | January 5, 2022 | Intimacy, Life, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Matt Chandler, pastor, and writer, recently used the phrase “a sexy fad” when describing the deconstruction movement. Derek and Jason highlight his statement to dive into the nature of their own de/ and reconstruction. This podcast dives into sin, grace, reconciliation, and God’s love for all His kids, the church deep and wide. Ultimately, the guys kick off season three embracing Rom 8:38-29 That nothing… “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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Published on October 18, 2023 09:46

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!
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.

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YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… THERE IS NO “US OR THEM” AT THE CROSS

by A Family Story | September 15, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Leadership, Life, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three | 3 Comments

This podcast highlights Jason’s book, Leaving and finding Jesus, where he writes about his deconstructing faith journey. The book is Jason’s Emmaus Road discovery of a love that is reconciling all creation; a journey where he’s awakening to a burning heart while leaving every Jesus who won’t lay His life down for His friends.

Read More AWAKENING! with DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK

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An infinite love, the nature of revelation, a kindness that changes our minds, the joy of our salvation discovered as we awaken to the resurrection, the risen Christ within us, in this podcast Derek and Jason discuss how all creation is awakening to the transforming certainty of sacrificial love and resurrection life.

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 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 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 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.

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Published on October 11, 2023 22:22

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.

They also discuss the upcoming women’s retreat being hosted by Path to Wholeness, Nov 6-9, 2023.
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
Brooke’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/life_of_the_waters/

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.

Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW!

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… CARLOS PADILLA / WALKING IN GOD’S POWER

by A Family Story | May 5, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two | 0 Comments

Healing, miracles, the power of God, evangelism through the gospel of inclusion, faith, and reframing repentance, Carlos shares about his journey of discovering that the miraculous, or a transformed life, is simply about discovering God’s love and our origin and union in Him.

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.

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Published on October 04, 2023 17:40

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
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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. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… NAEEM FAZAL / REIMAGINING GOD

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