Halfway There

32: Three Favorite Conversion Stories from the Archives

Celebrate the New Year with these fresh start stories about how God changed the lives of three past guests of Halfway There.
Many were happy to see 2016 go and a new year begin. Admittedly, the year was a strange one in many ways between a vicious U.S. election cycle featuring unpopular candidates, Trump’s win in spite of (or because of?) his political incorrectness, celebrity deaths, and an otherwise uneasy feeling many of us seemed to have.
But for me, 2016 will forever be the year Halfway There became more than just an idea; it became a reality. The two years between idea and the eventual realization of the dream seemed like forever and at times I did not think it would ever happen. But I believe God has a reason for this show and so on June 6, 2016 it finally came to pass.
Before I get to the notes for the show, I want to share with you a few highlights of the year:
2 seasons complete and available in the archives in iTunes, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Radio
25 guests who shared their personal stories with God
4863 downloads to date
1070 downloads in November
Season 3 is gearing up
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening and sharing Halfway There with your friends and family. I hear from people every week about how they were encouraged to think new or differently about God and their trust in Him because of the show which makes all the work worth it.
In the spirit of the New Year, today’s episode features three new beginning stories from past episodes when God dramatically changed the lives of my guests. My prayer for you is that God will work in your life with the same power in 2017.
Here are the stories you will hear:
Chuck Malott shares the story of how he became a believer and the remarkable story of the woman who prayed for him weeks before
Richard Jacobson shares how God brought him back from hostility to God to service to Him in a remarkable story. Richard is one of the people I recommend following online including his podcast called the Unchurching Podcast. Subscribe and listen to his show.
Jesse Bean shared the moment when he experienced undeserved grace from God. This story is such a powerful example of the difference between knowing about grace and experiencing it for yourself.
Here’s to a new beginning for you, your family, and your walk with God!
As always, please subscribe in iTunes and while you’re there please leave a review of the show. It helps.
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031: Advent Reflections and The Good News of Love

In our family Christmas lasts for a week so it’s okay to add one more reflection after the official day. Today is the last of our Advent series and the focus is on love. Don Owsley and I talk about love and Simeon. Then, we finished up our series on imaginative prayer in the Nativity story.
Merry Christmas, my friends!
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030: Advent Reflections and Joy at Long Last

On today’s episode Don Owsley and I reflect on the joy of Simeon at seeing Jesus for the first time. Of all the people who worshiped God because of the newborn Jesus, Simeon reaches furthest back to the founding promise God made to Abraham. Finally, everything Israel existed for had come to fruition.
Then we practice imaginative prayer through the experience of Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25.
I hope this episode adds to your experience of Christmas this year!
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029: Advent Reflections and Peace for the Waiting

On today’s episode we reflect on the peace of God and explore Mary’s experience. To help us guys understand what it’s like to become a mother, I invited a very special guest on the show: my wife Jodi! She shared the many thoughts that go through a newly expecting mother’s mind – especially the first time.
Then we talk to Don Owlsey about Simeon and the kind of peace that God’s righteousness brings: shalom. Don does a great job taking us into the mindset of this first-century waiting prophet. Be sure to follow Don on Facebook and let him know you heard our conversation.
If you want to hear the full story of how Leonard Nimoy I found the video for you. Fascinating story:
If you enjoyed this show please share it with a friend  (or lots of them on social media). It’s the best endorsement you could give.
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028: Advent Reflection and Hope for the Waiting

Advent is a season of waiting, expectation, and most of all hope. Today, we take a break from the usual format to explore those themes with Don Owsley and talk about the life of Simeon (Luke 2:22-35). We also spend some time in imaginative prayer to help us experience the hope from the perspective of Zechariah.
If you’re looking for a way to experience the story of Christmas in a way you never have before, be sure to listen and share this one with a friend.
Also, pick up Don’s book Thanksliving at Amazon today and let him know you heard it about it on Halfway There!
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027: Doug Hazen and Waiting Until He Speaks to Your Soul Part 2

In last week’s episode, Doug Hazen shared with us part of his story and his calling to the mission field where he and his wife encountered unexpected adversity as the country was torn by war. Those events changed Doug’s perspective of God and his protection for the worse. Today, Doug shares how God revealed his goodness to Doug once again, the emotional work it took to understand evil from God’s perspective, and how God led him to his current position in ministry.
Great quotes from Doug:
God said “I didn’t do this for Ruth. I did this for you because you have to know I’m a good God and I love you…” It didn’t erase all the pain but it was a major turning point.
[Speaking of understanding the depths of evil in the world] I always thought God approached that with anger. I think he approaches it with grief.
Satan, you have had control of my family for 80 years. No more.
I’ve known for years that most people read the Scriptures for information. I read it to worship and find the presence of Christ.
From Andrew Murray: “The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.“
Books mentioned by Doug:
Did you relate to Doug's story? Be sure to listen next week for the rest of the story. And tell someone you know who would enjoy Halfway There about the show. It's the highest compliment you can give.
Also, if you haven't yet, stop by iTunes and subscribe. Leave a review which helps our visibility in the rankings.
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Bonus: Happy Thanksgiving!

I didn’t plan on this episode but decided to share with you Psalm 107 today as a reflection of God’s goodness to us. It’s all about how good the Lord is to rescue us from all kinds of trouble. It’s easy – and right – to be thankful for the good things in our lives. And it’s good to remember the hard things and that God was faithful to rescue us when we needed him. It may not have looked as we would have designed but it’s always good.
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026: Doug Hazen and Waiting Until He Speaks to Your Soul Part 1

Doug Hazen serves as the National Director of Mobilization Prayer at World Venture. His job is to pray that God would bring people who want to share the Gospel around the world. Today, he shares the story of how God has led him to this position.
The stories that Doug shares of the big events in his life that challenged his trust in God like resisting God’s call to ministry, finally surrendering, and serving as a missionary in the Republic of Congo (then Zaire) where refugees streamed across the boarder from the civil war in Rwanda. He and his family were robbed at gunpoint, he almost killed a child, and felt like a complete failure which caused him to face his brokenness.
And that’s where this episode ends. There’s a lot more to the story and we’ll pick it up the next episode because Doug and I spent another hour or so talking through his story from the brokenness he left the mission field with to the ultimate restoration and the fruit God brought in him.
Great quotes from Doug:
I would say the greatest part of my spiritual formation I attribute to my dad and to my mom. Dad because of his faith and pastoral skill. He taught me that loving God and loving people are the two most essential characteristics of a pastor. And my mom taught me that the Word of God speaks today.
The journey of determining God’s will is kind of like getting bounced back and forth between doubt and confirmation.
I don’t need to understand God’s will in order to have peace.
One of the principles I learned is when you’re going through stuff consistency in God’s word is not the answer. The answer is sufficiency in God’s Word. You better be in God’s Word until He speaks to your soul.
Books mentioned by Doug:
Jim Cymbola – Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire “God is attracted to weakness.”
Psalm 91
Did you relate to Doug's story? Be sure to listen next week for the rest of the story. And tell someone you know who would enjoy Halfway There about the show. It’s the highest compliment you can give.
Also, if you haven't yet, stop by iTunes and subscribe. Leave a review which helps our visibility in the rankings.
The post Doug Hazen and Waiting Until He Speaks to Your Soul Part 1 appeared first on Eric Nevins.