Halfway There

017: Laura Flanders Shares Jesus and Her Bleeding Heart

Today my guest is Laura Flanders who serves as the director of the training and mentoring program at Denver Seminary. This was a special conversation to me because Laura served as my training center director during my time at DenSem. Her commitment to honesty in spiritual formation shaped me and planted the seeds of many of the ideas that show up in the show each week.
Christians of all varieties are always working on learning more about God, who He is and how He works. That’s why we are always reading the Bible and spending time in prayer.
Good ways to learn and grow, right? But what happens when our ideas about God are challenged by events that make no sense to us? Or even makes us angry?
In 2001, Laura’s family had an experience that was deeply troubling and caused her to reconsider God. She was “furious” that God did not protect her family after the event which led her on a year long journey to trust God again.
She shares the way God has brought her through the anger to a new perspective using Hebrews and the suffering of Jesus as an example. With the cross in mind, the suffering that Laura shares with us – suicide, Alzheimer’s, and Japanese beetles – makes more sense. If Jesus faced opposition (Hebrews 12:3) then we can expect to as well. “Do I have eyes to see and hear?”
Great quotes from our conversation:
My life theme is I’m constantly looking for ways to facilitate dialogue and interaction between human persons. I’ll do that wherever I’m at.
My favorite definition comes from the Uncommon Individual Foundation which says Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.
I had to wrestle with the fact that, for some mysterious reason, God does not choose to rescue me from all my suffering. That’s a hard fact to swallow.
Alzheimer’s became a journey of me really learning how to love someone the way God loves.
Links to things we discussed:
My First White Friend by Patricia Raybon
With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani
Laura’s blog is called Colorado Backyard Gardner where you can find out more about her, gardening, and the spiritual side of getting your hands in the dirt. Be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for her newsletter.
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016: Matthew Rennels and Overcoming Fear

Matthew Rennels shares his story of overcoming bipolar and anxiety. He grew up in a Lutheran family but, like many, gave up any connection to God in college. But then while working as a newspaper reporter in the Bible Belt, Matthew worked with a Christian. At first, he was was wary but then one day he just asked if he could go to church with the guy. And that was it. He gave his life to Christ not in a moment but in a flash.
Matthew shared several of his hardest times including the last year when his life has changed dramatically through divorce, the sudden loss of his father, and a change of scenery from Florida to South Dakota. When asked what his experience of God is through this he gave the most honest answer: “It’s been a little back and forth.” Sometimes the life of faith is back and forth. The trick is to keep going.
In a recent blog titled How to Find God’s Shining Light after a Divorce, Matthew shared his experience of divorce, wavering faith, and getting through to see God again. He’s a gifted writer and if you’re struggling with anything that makes you question all the times you were sure about God, read this post because you’re not alone.
Books Matthew mentioned:
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life – Henry Cloud
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for YourselfCoDependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Taking Care of Yourself – Melody Beattie
Great quotes from our conversation:
I lost my connection with a fellowship of believers entirely and, no surprise, I lost my faith in God entirely.
Three things one year hit me pretty hard…and it led me to wonder why. I read the Bible everyday, I’ve gone to church every week, I’ve kept myself pretty clean…I couldn’t understand what was going on. It really challenged me. You know, you can shake your fists at God in that instance but I think God says “I didn’t say you would have a perfect life.” I don’t know where I got that belief.
God keeps on opening doors for me and every time I’m amazed.
That’s usually the way fears work: if we just take those little steps, if we just try a little higher rock, and we keep on setting the bar a little higher it will come natural and we won’t even think about it anymore. We will just be able to do what we never thought we could do.
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015: Richard Jacobson and Unchurching

My guest today is Richard Jacobson who is a former pastor turned artist, animator, and now author. His book Unchurching: Christianity without Churchianity is written for the millions of Christians who are leaving organized churches. They aren’t alone and in Richard they may have found a leader.
You may expect that someone writing against the current structure organization of churches to be bitter and angry at the church, with an axe to grind because they were hurt at some distant point in the past. Richard’s heart is not that way at all. I once heard a professor say to a class on church leadership that if you want to criticize the church, go ahead, but make sure you love her first. Richard’s heart is 100% there. He loves the church and believes there are better ways to create disciples than the present corporate structures.
When the Holy Spirit speaks, he speaks with power.
Wouldn’t a God who is omnipotent  and omniscient that can do anything, be able to make you know [when His presence is near]?
It’s kind of a backwards idea to think that the starting place for entering into a relationship or having an encounter with God is external when He’s God with us and we are His temple. We’re talking about a very internal thing. We are talking about the indwelling presence of God. Of course it makes sense that it would start with something happening inside you.
In the show we talked about Richard’s videos which are so fun. He uses them to share his views. You can find his YouTube channel here and the one we talked about called Is Church Leadership Backwards? Check them out for a very good-and entertaining-explanation of Richard’s ideas.
Why are we not asking whether this form of corporation is consistent with our calling to be a community?
Get the Unchurching Podcast, too!
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While you're there leave a review which helps our visibility in the rankings.
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014: What to Do When You’re Mad at God

This episode is a “betweenisode” to get us through to Season 2 of the show.
Season 1 was great as we heard from 13 different people sharing their stories about God in their life and what it’s really like to walk with Him. Over 1600 downloads later, we’re ready to move into the next season.
In this episode, I share about what to do when you are mad at God. It’s a moment that we all experience at some point. How we choose to respond is critical.
We have three choices:
Run away and reject faith altogether
Redouble our efforts to please and impress God hoping to get better results
Remain in the tension and take our issue directly to Him
I share from the book of Habakkuk that deciding to press into the tension by wrestling with God, waiting for Him to respond, and worshiping is the best choice. Habakkuk’s example is a good one to follow.
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013: Ed Squire and the Incredible Promise of the Gospel

Suppose for just a moment that you came home from a long day at work. You're exhausted and just want to sit down. You collect the mail and look through it. Mostly junk but one piece sticks out. It is a notice that a package too valuable to be left when you're not here awaits you at the Post Office. All you have to do is pick it up and the package is yours.
That moment between knowledge and possession of the package is wild. The package is there for the taking but not yet fully yours. Waiting can be excruciating. Now imagine living most of your life in that moment.
It's my pleasure to introduce you to Ed Squire. Ed shares his testimony with me and described the long period of time when he was one foot in, one foot out with the Lord. He was a believer and knew that God loved him but he struggled constantly with living in His love. He knew the package was his but took his time picking it up.
You'll hear him struggle with God and share with an intensity that few can. We also have a pretty deep theological conversation about what the Gospel really means for our acceptance with God.
Don't miss this one.
Great quotes from Ed:
The Gospel and its preachers make an incredible promise.
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I have a love relationship with Jesus Christ and a love relationship with my Father.
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With our Heavenly Father, we are always in good standing with Him.
Did you enjoy hearing Ed's story?  If so, be sure to stop by iTunes and subscribe. While you're there leave a review which helps our visibility in the rankings.
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012: Andy McClure and How Providence Uses Brokenness

Without a burning bush, how do you know God is directing you? Today, my guest and I discuss this question.
Andy McClure has held a number of interesting positions including working on air at a local radio station, public address announcer, pastor, and managing a ReStore for Habitat for Humanity. I invited him to be on the show after we met at a Habitat conference. His story will be a helpful one.
God doesn’t always speak in the burning bush. He’ll say something very quietly through someone else and you just nod and say that’s it.
God’s providence is all over Andy’s life. His childhood was difficult due to parents who were separated leaving him with no father figure. God provided one for him in a pastor who just happened to have kids the same age living down the street.
As he grew up, Andy made friends with another pastor who mentored him in the early years of his faith. When he felt called to move to Colorado, God provided housing, funding, and a church in miraculous ways. Listen to hear his full story.
Great quotes from our conversation:
It comes down to one simple issue: relationship.
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It’s amazing how God will take some of those pains, and those hurts, and those brokenness issues and now they become your greatest asset.
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In broadcast I was sharing headline news now all I’m doing is sharing the Good News. It’s a similar job and the only question is what story I’m going to tell.
Did you enjoy hearing Andy's story of the Lord’s providence in his life?
If so, be sure to stop by iTunes and subscribe. While you're there leave a review which helps our visibility in the rankings.
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011: Jane Grifasi and Finding Real Peace

I loved interviewing today’s guest. You will hear a story of one woman’s life with God that proves peace really does come through trusting God in the hardest times. Jane Grifasi relates her story of struggling with cancer, a wayward husband, and learning to love God with such a pure heart that I know you will be encouraged by hearing it.
In 2014, Jane was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer which had spread through her body. She knew something was wrong and saw 11 doctors before she had a diagnosis. Her relief at the diagnosis surprised her doctors.
“There was a lot of trouble before I came to Christ,” Jane says. She grew up in a Lutheran church but left and got married. Her marriage faltered and they divorced after seven years. During this time a friend invited Jane to her church. She and her ex-husband both came to the Lord, they remarried and had a family.
I’ve had a wonderful, amazing, adventure-filled life.
Our conversation became very personal as Jane described her last five years when marital issues cropped up again. Listen as she describes her husband’s decision to move to the Philippines without her and hear the way God worked through the process from anger to grieving to action. God’s miraculous intervention inspired her to keep going.
Jane stepped into eternity on May 1, 2016. Every faith she expressed in this interview is now sight.
Did Jane’s story bless you in some way?
If so, be sure to stop by iTunes and subscribe. While you're there leave a review which helps our visibility in the rankings.
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010: Doug Eisenbrandt and Jesus Found in the Long Run

Doug grew up a military kid moving often as so many do. A Christian camp was where he found life and the “light of Christ.” At home he had plenty of love and acceptance but did not have a supportive Christian community and so found a constant dichotomy between his life at camp and the one at the college fraternity.
Eventually, he moved to Colorado from Michigan. Longing for something more, Doug kept returning to camp to get recharged but still did not have authentic community outside.
Doug grew up volunteering and once in Colorado he put this value to work with foster children. It was through this commitment that he became part of a real Christian community and also met his wife.
Shortly before he married Doug went to an event by Marked Men for Christ which changed how he deals with life’s issues and living in the world. Again, solid, Christ-centered friendships grew out of the experience.
He can take a wretch like me and move me from steeped in the world to be led by the Spirit.
Books mentioned by Doug (affiliate links)
Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? by Philip Yancey
What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey
Right now God is showing Doug the following three words:
Strength
Courage
Perseverance
Where I used to run to the world to rise to the occasion now I run to Him.
Did you connect with Doug’s story? If so, be sure to stop by iTunes and subscribe. While you're there leave a review which helps our visibility in the rankings.
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