Introduction to Podcast
Let’s Chat Afterglow #1
We recently released our first podcast titled “Let’s Chat” w/ Pastor Shelley Stephenson.” It is something we had been wanting to launch for quite some time, but we just couldn’t pull everything together. The closer we got to completing this goal, the more motivated we were to achieve it. The more resistance we came against, the harder we pushed to cross the finish line. “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1)”. We were determined to press into this scripture but throwing off everything that entangles is the difficult part. We understand that this podcast might step on some toes, including the claws of “the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan” (Revelation 20:2). The toes most exposed just might be my Christian brothers and sisters and with exposure comes a loss of composure for those who feel the most threatened. To us, us, it isn’t about any of this. It is about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
We understand that actual truth is becoming less and less a reality for many as we are thrust into a sea of deception, lies, and corruption from all the parties involved. Most of us are relatively uninformed regarding present-day politics, foreign affairs, the stock market, and world economics. What we do know is that things do not appear to be getting any better. On top of that we “hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6), and the evidence of natural disasters are true, tangible realities. Most of us feel like there is nothing we can do in the great scheme of things, but that’s not true. We can talk about it, our feelings, our thoughts, our concerns, our fears, and yes, even our opinions, but opinions are our truth as we see it through the lens of our lives, experiences, and upbringing. We have to measure our opinions against the Word of God.
It doesn’t matter if you believe the Bible to be the inerrant, infallible, inspired words of God Himself or that it is simply a book written by man. I challenge you to prove it wrong. It is simply impossible to do. Everything that is happening now is in there. The enemy doesn’t want people to embrace the truth of God’s Word, because it provides freedom in the realm of knowing, seeing things for what they are, understanding what is coming, and who has the ultimate control. It takes the pressure off us, as mere mortals, to make sense of the things that don’t make sense. When we are trying to prove our point, push our beliefs, and project our anger on to those who don’t believe, think, and feel like we do, we nurture the spirit of divisiveness, which ultimately leads to the spirit of hate.
I can understand how these evil spirits operate in the world with the “prince of the power of the air, Satan, still the ruler of this world, and until the Lord casts him out, he will continue to rule” (John 12:31), but what about the church? The church being us, Christians, who act just like the world who does not yet know better. Don’t you think that God expects more out of us and, in particular, in the way that we treat one another and others? I continue to be blown away by how we talk to each other, how we act with each other, and how we so casually breakaway from each other. Being unfriended on Facebook is real. It has come to this, if you don’t agree with me, then I can’t be your friend. What if we have been friends, real-life friends, for decades, what if our children grew up together, what if we worked together for years, what if I was in your wedding? Are you willing to throw all that away? In too many cases the answer is yes. What is going on here people? What is really going on?
Currently we have a twisted culture where we see someone as an enemy of our existence if they have differing moral beliefs, political persuasions, religious affiliations, etc. It is this web of deceit that the devil continues to spin with each act of hate, divisiveness, and breach of relationship. We are adults here. Can’t we just talk about it? Why does it have to turn in to something that is so displeasing to God, and such a turn off to those who may be seeking truth. Why aren’t we using our energies, time, and emotions to lead them to “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)? Could it be because we are too busy trying to prove our point? Sometimes I think we have all lost our damn minds. This is why the team and I wanted to fight through the resistance, the fear, and the realization that not everybody is going to like this podcast, our subject matter, our guests, our shares, or our challenges to them. We want to do our part, albeit small, which we believe is to promote civil discussions and talking points. It doesn’t always have to be heavy. It just has to be real. So, pull up a chair and let’s chat.
