Encouraging Others Through Christ

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I can't believe that it has been TWO YEARS since the previous episode of Encouraging Others Through Christ. With that said, I knew that I would only create new episodes of this podcast as The Spirit led me to do so.

For the past three years, I've been on an amazing journey as God has helped me navigate my way through a life free from obligation, conformity and condemnation. Today's podcast is simply the very first time I've felt led to create a new episode of EOTC. Moving forward, it is still my plan to only publish new episodes as I feel led to do so. However, I have a suspicion that future episodes will be just around the corner as I do feel The Spirit stirring something up inside of me as it relates to this particular podcast.

 
 
Finding Church With Wayne Jacobsen
In this episode, I'm very excited to tell you that I am, once again, joined by my great friend, Wayne Jacobsen. This time around, Wayne and I had the opportunity to meet face to face for the first time. When I saw that Wayne was visiting Kentucky, I had reached out to him to invite him to stop by my place and maybe even record a podcast episode in my new studio and he graciously accepted my invitation. Wayne and I took this opportunity to discuss his new book, “Finding Church” that will be released on October 15th.

I have read many books that have promised a better way of “being the Church” or living the life of the Church that more closely resembles what we read about in the New Testament. For many years, I was heavily involved in the cell church movement. Though, admittedly, I had attempted to establish cell groups within a traditional congregational setting. I will not go into details about the various initial successes and then ultimate failures of each of these attempts.

Later, I had read a book called “Simple Church” by Thom. S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. I'll never forget how excited I was when I read that book. It seemed to have all the answers for a more relational approach to living life with others in a congregational setting.

Stephanie and I immediately set out to find a “Simple Church.” We had found one that pretty much matched up with everything written in that book. In fact, I had shared this book with the pastor and he got copies for the entire staff of the congregation. They went on a leadership retreat and pretty much restructured their approach to match what was prescribed in the Simple Church book.

Things were great for the first twelve to eighteen months. However, over time, this simple church wasn't so simple any more. More and more structure was added, more and more obligations were thrust upon the volunteers and, before too long, the congregation ended up just like every other traditional congregation that we had been a part of.

Since September 2011, Stephanie and I have been living our life of faith outside the confines of any local congregation. Episodes of this podcast, starting with episode 121, have documented much of the early part of this journey.

I believe that the conversation that Wayne and I had in this episode will help fill you in on some of the things that we have discovered about our relationship with Christ and with others over the past three years. So much of my growth had been facilitated by the wonderful things that Wayne has shared on his podcast called “The God Journey.”

Wayne had shared and advance copy of his new book with me and I could hardly put it down. This book sheds the light on the true Church that Jesus has been building these past two thousand years. Finding Church does address much of what the life of the Church could and does look like outside of the traditional, institutional or congregational setting. However, this book does not prescribe that leaving the congregational setting is the answer. Instead, it's intent is to open the dialog among all followers of Christ as to what it would take for us all to fulfill His prayer that we may all be one.

I hope that you enjoy this episode and that you will consider reading this book once it becomes available on October 15th.

Of course, I can't pass up this opportunity to plug Wayne's book, “So You Don't Want To Go To Church.” Those who have been following my journey know just how much of an impact that this story had on my journey.

Here are some important links that I think you should know about:
– God Journey Podcast – Website | Podcast
– LifeStream Blog – Website
– The Jesus Lens – Website
– So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore – Amazon
– He Loves Me – Learning to Live in the Father's Affection – Amazon

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I am so delighted to have Wayne Jacobsen join us once again here on Encouraging Others Through Christ. This time around, Wayne and I discuss what a life of faith might look like for those who are not a part of an institution. In our conversation, I mention a blog post I recently wrote about this subject. You can read that post by clicking here.

Of course, I can't pass up this opportunity to plug Wayne's book, “So You Don't Want To Go To Church.” Those who have been following my journey know just how much of an impact that this story had on my journey.

Here are some important links that I think you should know about:
– God Journey Podcast – Website | Podcast
– LifeStream Blog – Website | Podcast
– The Jesus Lens – Website
– So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore – Amazon
– He Loves Me – Learning to Live in the Father's Affection – Amazon

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I am super excited to release this 131st episode of the Encouraging Others Through Christ Podcast. Out of all the podcast episodes that I have produced since December 2005, this is, by far, my favorite episode to date. In this episode, I share an hour long conversation that I had with Steve Brown from Key Life Ministries.

If you have been following my journey, since September of last year, you have certainly heard me mention Steve Brown on multiple occasions. Back in September, Steve's Scandalous Freedom Podcast was such an amazing breath of fresh air after being smothered by religion for the past twenty years of my life.

 
 

Since episode 121 of this podcast (Previously named the About The Church Podcast), I have shared many of the sources that God has been using to communicate to me about the unconditional love that He has for me. When I look back over this past year, it is fun to actually play the “connect the dots” game, tracing all the steps that God took to get me to this place. The story of how I was introduced to Steve and how this conversation with him came about is worthy of a whole episode of its own.

I'm happy to announce that something finally clicked for me when I read Steve Brown's most recent book, Three Free Sins. Somewhere in the middle of this book, I became so overjoyed that I actually did a little dance. I felt fully loved by my Heavenly Father and I still do.

Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from this book:

1) Repentance is from a Greek word meaning to chanege one's mind. It doesn't mean changing your ways.

2) Having free sins doesn't only mean that you can throw away the mask, it also means that you don't have anybody to please except Jesus–and he's already pleased.

3) You don't have to get better to get God to love you. You don't have to get better to maintain God's love. You don't have to get better to witness. You don't have to get better to be forgiven. You don't have to get better to “make a difference.” And You don't have to get better to be sanctified or holy!

I sincerely hope that this conversation that I had with Steve blesses you and that if you are not already convinced that God loves you, that it will at least draw you closer to Him.

Sincerely,

Cliff

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This episode of Encouraging Others Through Christ is long overdue. I am finally at place where I am ready to record this episode devoted to remembering my good friend, David H. Foster.

My great friend, David, passed away on April 1st, 2012. However, not before having a profound impact on my life.

In this episode of the Encourage Others Through Christ podcast, I have taken 14 audio clips from the last sermon David ever preached, just hours before dying, to help remember what this man stood for. I can personally attest that this man lived out what he believed and preached.

So much more could be said. However, it is my sincere hope that this episode will, even in a small way, honor this man's life and the friendship that I had with him.

The following video is a memorial video that was put together by members of David's church family. All the clips, like the ones I played in this podcast episode, are from David's final sermon.

Here are direct links to the six sermons that are a part of the final sermon series that David preached. (iTunes Link)

1) The Broken (Why some people suffer needlessly)
2) The Beat-up (How to develop a big-picture mind-set)
3) The Betrayed (The 3 things you want that God will never give you)
4) The Bothered (Chasing after God knows what)
5) The Bored (Where to find your misplaced hope)
6) The Burnt (David's Final Sermon)

I encourage everyone to listen to David's Renegade's Guide To God podcast. (iTunes Link)

One thing is for certain… I'll never forget the way that David Foster made me feel!

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In this episode Cliff is once again joined by his good friend David Foster. Together they talk about true identity in Christ. They talk about money being a good thing and a God thing. And they talk about the journey of knowing God, loving God and living the life for which we are created.

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I am so delighted to have Wayne Jacobsen join us once again here on Encouraging Others Through Christ. This time around, Wayne shares some thoughts around a message that he sent me in an email a few weeks ago.

Here's what he had written to me…

This has been one of the greatest joys of my journey, God setting me free from any concern about my financial income and that happened 15 years ago when we had nothing and God just kept providing for us. We got our kids through college without any savings for it, because I had been in “ministry” and never made enough to do it. But since we have found him faithful in the Matthew 6 kind of way, “Stop planning and fretting, just follow me.” Receive what he gives, charge for what he asks us to charge for, give away whatever he asks us to give away, save what he asks us to save.” It's amazing how much clarity I have about these things and how much peace that has left me in these many years…. But I know there isn't a prepackaged formula, but a place he “wins” us into, which also means there were plenty of scary times for my puritan-work-ethic-farming background!

Of course, I can't pass up this opportunity to plug Wayne's book, “So You Don't Want To Go To Church.” Those who have been following my journey know just how much of an impact that this story had on my journey.

Here are some important links that I think you should know about:
– God Journey Podcast – Website | Podcast
– LifeStream Blog – Website | Podcast
– The Jesus Lens – Website
– So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore – Amazon
– He Loves Me – Learning to Live in the Father's Affection – Amazon

Thanks For Subscribing To Encouraging Others Through Christ:

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I am excited to share a message from my good friend, David H. Foster, from his Renegade's Guide To God podcast.

In this episode of the Encourage Others Through Christ podcast, I have taken the most recent podcast from my good friend, David H. Foster, and edited it down to be included here for you.

There are a few “thoughts” that I have jotted down that I hope will stick with you after having listened to this powerful message.

– All truth is God's truth!
– God wants us to think our own thoughts.
– We are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
– The world needs you to be a big thinker.
– Jesus wants you to live a big life.
– Our mind is not only in bondage to our fears and doubts, but also in bondage by our limiting beliefs about life.

I love what David shared at the end. We are called to think “redemptively,” to think in terms of “reconciliation” and to think “restorationally.”

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Back in episode 121, I shared some pretty shocking information related to my journey of faith and where I stand on my relationship with “the church.”

In that episode, I had shared just how much of an impact the book “So You Don't Want To Go To Church,” by Wayne Jacobsen, had on me.

In this episode, I am delighted to share a conversation that I had with Wayne Jacobsen. We covered a variety of topics that I hope will inspire others to move further down the path of living loved by our Father.

Here are some important links that I think you should know about:
– God Journey Podcast – Website | Podcast
– LifeStream Blog – Website | Podcast
– The Jesus Lens – Website
– So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore – Amazon
– He Loves Me – Learning to Live in the Father's Affection – Amazon

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The About The Church podcast was launched in January 2006 as the third podcast produced here at the Generally Speaking Production Network. In this episode, I share the reasons why, after 125 episodes, I've decided to re-brand the show.

From this point forward, this podcast will be known as the Encouraging Others Through Christ or EOTC podcast. This “brand” has been around and a part of my life going all the way back to 1995.

If you were already subscribed to the “About The Church” podcast, you shouldn't need to do anything, the new EOTC podcast episodes will be delivered to you as if nothing significant has changed. If you have not yet subscribed to the show, please do so by using the links provided below.

Please tell others about this show and send them to EncouragingOthersThroughChrist.com.

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In this episode of the About The Church Podcast, I am delighted to share a recorded phone conversation that I recently had with my good friend, David H. Foster from DavidFoster.tv.

I wish I had time to sit down and take notes about all the things we talked about in this conversation so that it would convince you to click play and listen. However, I'm going to just ask you to trust me when I tell you that this was an amazing conversation and that you'll be glad you listened if you do click the play button!

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It's been just over a month since our family decided that we were “Not Going To Go To Church Anymore!” In the past, if I would miss going to church a few weeks in a row, I would feel incredibly guilty and I would see my life's priorities getting all out of whack. However, if you want to learn about how things are going for our family at this time, I encourage you to check out Episode 165 of the Almost Daily Devotional titled “Life Without Following The Rules.”

In this episode of the About The Church Podcast, I share an amazing teaching on a parable I have read over and over again. It's the parable of the prodigal son. However, in all the times I've read this story and heard sermons preached on this parable, I've never understood the valuable things that this parable has to say about our Father's love for us!

This teaching comes from Wayne Jacobson, author of “So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore.” I first heard this teaching as I subscribed to the Lifestream Blog Podcast in iTunes. I would encourage you to subscribe to this podcast and start with the oldest episode and start listening forward. This is what I am in the process of doing.

For those of you who do not subscribe to podcasts, but instead simply listen to these episodes via the web, you can find this teaching, in full, by listening to the session labeled Disc 2 on Wayne's site at http://www.lifestream.org/transition.php.

Here are the major points that I wrote down while playing back this teaching for this episode:

– The issue is that People were complaining about Jesus sending so much of his time with sinners.

– The father didn't even acknowledge the prepared speech. He's already the son of the Father!

– I'm not going to make you hurt one second longer than it took you to decide to come back to me!

– What father gives an inheritance to a son that he knows is up to no good?

– Jesus is telling the story that has already taken place!

– The Father WAITS!

– Where in the parable does the Father demonstrate his love the most in the parable?

– What does the Father have with the son that He didn't have at the beginning? A relationship of affection!

– God does not want the indentured servitude of slaves, but the affection, the extravagant affection of sons and daughters whom He loves.

– We have already been giving the inheritance as His son! “Everything I have is yours!” The older son continues to see himself as a slave in his father's house.

– Two ways to hide from God.
1) Rebellion – Self Indulgence
2) Religion – Slaving Away With Following The Rules
– It's just as easy to hide from God in religious activity.

– I really wanted God! – I WAS TOLD –>
“The more righteous you could be be, the more relationship
with God you could have.”

– The New Testament teaches us that —>
“The more relationship you'll have with God, the more
righteous He'll make you to be.

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In this episode of the About The Church Podcast, Stephanie and I share part 1 of 5 in a sermon series titled “Moneyology” by David Foster.

You can gain access to the original sermon series without our commentary by going to https://gspn.tv/moneyology.

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About The Church Podcast
Liturgy of The Hours

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In this episode of About The Church, I'm joined by Dane Falkner and Greg Pedroza from DivineOffice.org. In Podcast Answer Man episode 174, I explained how Divine Office had offered to sponsor a trip to Podcamp Boston 5 that Stephanie and I are taking the weekend of September 25th and 26th. I'd like invite you to check out https://gspn.tv/divineoffice for more details about this generous sponsorship.

I invited Dane and Greg to help answer some questions that I had about the Liturgy of The Hours, a spiritual discipline that I admittedly knew very little about. If you are interested in investigating this topic further, check out DivineOffice.org.

Divine Office Readers:
Chriss Sharer
Dane Falkner
Denise Winters
Greg Pedroza
Mary Jo Ahlin

Divine Office Cantors:
Melinda Kirigin-Voss (aka The Chantress)
Vince Clark

The liturgy of the hours are always available for free from the DivineOffice.org website. However, it is the funds from the sale of the iPhone/iPad application that helps financially support the ministry. Please note that the Divine Office application is a universal application that will work both on your iPhone and your iPad. Best part is that you purchase the application once and the content is refreshed daily without any ongoing costs. Click here to purchase the Divine Office in the iTunes App Store.

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About The Church Podcast
Making Room for a Biblical Model of Ministry

Cliff and DG are at it again in this episode. Of course, this time, DG completely steels the thunder from Cliff's argument about something that DG shared about the United Methodist Church. If you want to get the book we discussed at the end of this episode, it is called The Epic of Eden “A Christian Entry into the Old Testament.”

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About The Church Podcast
Big Butter Jesus Struck By Lightning

In this episode, Cliff and DG actually sing! Do we really need to post anything else here in the show notes to get you to want to listen to this episode? I didn't think so!

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About The Church Podcast
Stand Up And Agree

In this episode of About The Church, Cliff and DG do something they have never done before. They actually stood up during the entire recording of the episode. Not only that, but they had a great deal of fun generally speaking about the church. If you want to know what it is that DG & Cliff actually agree on, theologically, in this episode, you'll just have to listen to find out.

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About The Church Podcast
Zombie Christians

In this episode, DG and Cliff play a little catch up after going two weeks without doing a podcast together. They also talk about the state of DG's search for employment and some of the issues that he is facing when working with the church. Finally, Cliff shares an encouraging experience he had with the online worship at NorthlandChurch.net.

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