Jason Clark's Blog, page 13

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

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.

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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The post DEREK VREELAND / CENTERING JESUS appeared first on A Family Story.

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

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.

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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The post JOHN CHAFFEE / THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS appeared first on A Family Story.

CATHY LITTLE & MELINDA WILSON / FACE TO FACE

Cathy Little& Melinda Wilson Face To Face

 

 

 

 

 

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Face-to-face encounter, the Emanuel Approach to heart healing, the Celtic way of evangelism, mirror neurons, discipleship, transformation, belonging and becoming, renewing our minds, discovering the connection of all things, establishing identity, meditation and changing neural pathways; in this conversation, Melinda and Cathy talked about how to actually experience deep heart connection with God and each other.

For more on Cathy Little, Melinda Wilson & Face To Face Ministries
Website: facetofaceministries.org
Streams Of Healing: 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

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.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… 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 BRITTNEY SERPELL / IMPERFECT PARENTING

by A Family Story | June 29, 2023 | Faith, Intimacy, Marriage, Parenting, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

The true goal of parenting—safe, loving, heart-to-heart connection with our kids—in this podcast, Brittney Serpell shares about growing mature in our own identity as parents, modeling repenting and humility, finding courage to fight for family, recognizing fear, control, and punishment in our parenting, trading perfectionism for trust and always pursuing heart-to-heart connection as we guide our kids on their own learning journey to becoming healthy, confident, emotionally intelligent, and strong in character.

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 DE/RECONSTRUCTING PARENT WITH SARAH TURNER & KAREN CLARK

by A Family Story | April 21, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Leadership, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Sarah Turner and Karen Clark take the hosting reins to share their de/reconstructing faith journey and how, primarily through parenting, they began to rethink who God is and their approach to scripture, church, and ministry.

From Harry Potter and the college years to church life – the good, the bad, and the ugly, they talk about how parenting for connection and living an honest relationship with a loving God, is the most transformative thing we can do in our lives, our kids lives, and in ministry.

Read More LEAVING (& FINDING) JESUS WITH DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | July 14, 2021 | Interview, Intimacy, Life, Popular, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

God’s sovereignty revealed by Jesus through cruciform, self-giving love, the nature of trust, intimacy, and union, and the transforming truth that there is no shadow of turning with God, in this podcast the guys explore Jason’s upcoming book, Leaving (& Finding) Jesus. This conversation juxtaposes an inclusive, reconciling, self-giving, unconditional view of God’s love against an excluding, hierarchal, punishment-focused, conditional view of God’s love. 

Read More THE PROBLEM WITH RETRIBUTION WITH JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | February 22, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Hell, Intimacy, Leaving and Finding Jesus, Miracles, Podcast, Popular, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, Sin, The Fathers Love, Writing | 0 Comments

This podcast announces and features Jason’s new book, Leaving and Finding Jesus, in audio format. Retribution is the title of chapter seven and is presented in its entirety. In this chapter and podcast, Jason juxtaposes retribution with reconciliation and recognizes that a punishment lens on the nature of God is one of the reasons the church is navigating broken trust. It’s also why we currently find ourselves in a Deconstruction Movement.

God is as Jesus revealed Him, and on a cross Jesus forgave. God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself.

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The post CATHY LITTLE & MELINDA WILSON / FACE TO FACE appeared first on A Family Story.

MIKE ZENKER / UNDERSTANDING FORGIVENESS

Mike Zenker Understanding Forgivness

 

 

 

 

 

iTunes Spotify Google YouTube

“Forgiveness is an event and a process… Forgiveness came to me…” Christ, within you the hope of glory, the journey of union, discovering our identity, speaking to light within people, no us and them, no hierarchy in love, embracing mystery and asking questions, hope, forgiveness, authentic restoration, and the eternal nature of reconciliation, in this podcast the guys talk about their rethinking journey in the context of pastoring, and Mike shares his powerful story of healing and the journey of forgiveness and a hope that won’t disappoint.

For more on Mike Zenker
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/MichaelZenker
Link to Forgiveness Series referred to in the recording: Healing Life’s Hurts
Link to the hotdog meatloaf taco Mike really wants to make: Taco Link
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mikez.zenker

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.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… LLOYD CLARK / I AM ENOUGH

by A Family Story | January 20, 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 | 8 Comments

With humor and authenticity, Lloyd talks about the finished work of the Cross, how Jesus fixed the problem of separation, and our invitation to awaken to our union.

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 JOHN CROWDER / TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY

by A Family Story | May 25, 2022 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Hell, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Sin, The Fathers Love | 3 Comments

John Crowder pulls from the different streams of the church to talk about Christilogical Trinitarian theology, grace, union, contemplative practice, intimacy, and mystical Christianity. John and Jason dive into the Cross, Western atonement theories, and the religious industry built upon separation; how Jesus is healing the human race. John describes a relationship with a person, Christ. He invites us to embrace mystery so we might discover that God looks like Jesus.

Read More STEVE MCVEY / QUATUM LIFE

by A Family Story | June 4, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 4 Comments

“God didn’t want me because of anything I could do for Him; He wanted me just because He loves me.” Paradigm shifts, intimacy, eternal life, practical applied theology, a sustaining energy of a more subtle kind, the connection of all things, quantum science, quantum faith, the supernatural, miracles, signs and wonders, and union; in this conversation, Steve dives into the scientific universal nature of the love of God.“

Read More JOHN BLASE / ARE YOU LETTING GOD LOVE YOU TODAY?

by A Family Story | July 6, 2023 | Faith, Intimacy, Marriage, Parenting, Popular, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

“Are You Letting God Love You Today?” Abundant life, the goodness and the GODness of God, loss, suffering, and trust, grieving and grace, and more grace, healing, embracing the heights and depths of the human story, becoming like Jesus, poetry and faith, in this podcast, John Blasé and the guys have a vulnerable conversation about life and trust and the GODness of God. John shares about his friendships with Brennan Manning and Eugene Peterson and the impact they both had on him and our world today.

Read More SCHLYCE JIMENEZ / THE PATH

by A Family Story | May 4, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Leadership, Life, Miracles, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, The Fathers Love | 4 Comments

God to Schlyce: “You never rebelled from me; you rebelled from a version of me that was never me…” Identity, the illusion of separation, trauma triggers and healing, how to hear the voice of God, experiencing the joy and wonder of continual fellowship with God; in this conversation, Schlyce Jimenez shares about her faith journey and her book, The Path. The Path helps readers discover how their life would be different if they could know the Father like Jesus did.

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An Eye For An Eye

Eye For An Eye

 

 

 

 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye…”

An eye for an eye is a phrase you can find throughout Scripture. It’s a phrase often used to define justice today, but there are two ways to interpret it. We, in the West, tend to interpret the phrase punitively—through the lens of a God who punishes.

It goes like this: If I take your eye, my eye will be taken from me as punishment. Unfortunately, as the adage goes, this makes the whole world blind.

This interpretation is not justice—it’s revenge. There is no eternal life in it, just more blindness, violence, cruelty, punishment, and concrete dead ends down the road of lack.

In this interpretation, no opportunity exists for repentance, transformation, restoration, or reconciliation for the person who took the eye. Nor does it help the one whose eye has been taken. There is no opportunity to forgive or experience true healing and wholeness.

But this statement can be interpreted another way. Many Jewish and early church fathers understood an eye for an eye as restorative. It goes like this: If I take your eye, I become your eye. Essentially, I endeavor to restore what I took from you. This is the nature of reconciliation.

In this interpretation, there is both consequence and opportunity to repent and be transformed—to be restored to the community and to be reconciled to our true selves. In this interpretation of justice, there is an opportunity for forgiveness, healing, and wholeness.

Jesus described this brand of justice in Matthew 5: “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also…you have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” 2

Jesus corrected their interpretation of Scripture, even going so far as to provide Himself as the hermeneutic—“You have heard the law that says…but I say.” Then Jesus displayed this brand of justice on a cross—the justice that saves the world.

Jesus’ death and resurrection were the foundation of everything He said and did. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they do,” was His starting line. God, reconciling all humanity to Himself, not counting our sins against us, was the beginning and end—the greater love authority from which Jesus lived, moved, and had His being. All was said and done from and toward one end—reconciliation and restoration.

Reconciliation and restoration are God’s plans for justice.

Salvation for everyone.

1 Matthew 5:38a
2 Matthew 5:38-39 & 43-44 NAS

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

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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 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 Encountering Humanity on 5th and 2nd

by Aimee Perry | October 21, 2020 | Articles, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Popular, The Fathers Love | 9 Comments

Masks, no masks, a black woman, a middle-aged white woman, a red neck, an old white man, and a black man met up yesterday on the corner of 5th and 2nd to work together for the good of humanity!

Read More How to Fit a Camel Through a Needle

by Jason Clark | March 20, 2019 | Articles, Crisis of Identity, Faith, Miracles, Prone To Love | 4 Comments

This was a miracle as big as blind eyes opening, as cancer leaving. Jesus said this kind of miracle would be akin to a camel crawling through the eye of a needle…

Read More A Message From My Heavenly Father

by Jason Clark | May 31, 2014 | Articles, Faith, Life, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

I loved you yesterday; I love you today, tomorrow and for all eternity. I find you to be amazing, I find you to be stunning, I am mesmerized by you.

Read More How to Read the Bible (Part 1)

by Jason Clark | December 4, 2019 | Articles, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Popular, The Fathers Love | 11 Comments

Jesus is my lens, my true narrative. His perfect love is my conviction. His goodness is my faith. Every question I have, every relationship or circumstance, every scripture, including the tension Job represents, is measured against the measureless revelation of Jesus.

Read More He Loves Me Best / S&U Message

by Jason Clark | January 2, 2012 | Art, Books, Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, The Fathers Love, Untamed | 2 Comments

The title of my message was “He loves me best!” I hope to post it here in the coming days, but for a quick synopsis, check out this film that was shot last year to help promote my book Surrendered & Untamed.

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The post An Eye For An Eye appeared first on A Family Story.

RANDALL WORLEY / WHEN THE CHURCH WAS YOUNG

Randall Worley When The CHurch Was Young

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

For more on Randall Worley
Website: www.randallworley.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/randall.worley.9
Instagram: www.instagram.com/therandallworley

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

Click Here 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.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… 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 DON KEATHLEY / THE GOSPEL

by A Family Story | February 3, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 34 Comments

Don Keathley touches on the goodness of our Father, Jesus as perfect theology, grace, our union, our identity, how to approach scripture, and the lie of eternal conscious torment.

Read More 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 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 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 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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The post An Eye For An Eye appeared first on A Family Story.

LAKHI & GIOVANNA DADLANI / HOPE 4 LIFE

Lakhi & Giovanna Dadlani Hope 4 Life

 

 

 

 

 

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“Nothing is wasted… God meets you where you are and gives you what you need at the moment you need it.” Emotional maturity, connection, inner healing, transparency, vulnerability, transformed lives, and above all, hope; in this podcast, Lakhi and Giovanna Dadlani share their 30-year journey to emotional and spiritual wholeness, true identity, and our Father’s love. Their personal well-being journey ultimately culminates in the beautiful Hope4Life community in Miami.

For more on the Dadlani’s and Hope4Life
Hope4Life: www.hope4lifemiami.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hope4LifeMiami
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hope4lifemiami
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel 

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.

FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW! YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… SCOTT CROWDER / LEARNING TO BE PRESENT

by A Family Story | April 13, 2022 | Dreaming, Faith, Friends, Leadership, Music, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three | 2 Comments

Scott Crowder is a pastor, singer-songwriter, and one of Jason’s closest friends. The guys dive into their love for the church, about learning how to be present with God, ourselves, each other, and our community. Scott talks about creating church cultures that practice the fruits of the Spirit, learning to lead ourselves and others in seasons of joy and sorrow, that “success” isn’t about numbers, cool fads, or being ‘front runners,’ it’s discovered in community.

Read More THOMAS JAY OORD & KEITH GILES / DECONSTRUCTING HELL

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

Perhaps no modern church dogma has been more destructive to the mission of Jesus, created more atheists, or generated more religious trauma than that of eternal conscious torment (ECT).

In this podcast, the guys talk with Thomas Jay Oord and Keith Giles about their collaboration on Chad Bahl’s book, Deconstructing Hell. The book brings together experts in their fields to take the reader on a historical, philosophical, and theological journey to deconstruct this harmful doctrine, and the podcast highlights Oord and Gile’s contribution.

The guys dive into the “logic of love” and offer compelling pathways to reconstruct a biblical perspective on the nature of God and our understanding of hell.

Read More 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 THE PROBLEM WITH RETRIBUTION WITH JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | February 22, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Hell, Intimacy, Leaving and Finding Jesus, Miracles, Podcast, Popular, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, Sin, The Fathers Love, Writing | 0 Comments

This podcast announces and features Jason’s new book, Leaving and Finding Jesus, in audio format. Retribution is the title of chapter seven and is presented in its entirety. In this chapter and podcast, Jason juxtaposes retribution with reconciliation and recognizes that a punishment lens on the nature of God is one of the reasons the church is navigating broken trust. It’s also why we currently find ourselves in a Deconstruction Movement.

God is as Jesus revealed Him, and on a cross Jesus forgave. God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself.

Read More KATHRYN LYNN CIENIEWICZ / LOVE IS THE LONG GAME

by A Family Story | February 24, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

Salvation, hell, justice, equality, the bible, and the unconditional transformative always good Love of God; in this insightful interview, Kathryn talks about her spiritual deconstruction and the journey of rethinking God. She brilliantly addresses the sin of certainty, newfound feminism, and a Love that casts out all fear.

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

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The post LAKHI & GIOVANNA DADLANI / HOPE 4 LIFE appeared first on A Family Story.