The God Journey

In the face of Wayne’s upcoming trip to England, Brad questions him as to why he travels, what happens when he’s with people, and what is the overriding vision for the things he does. That leads to a discussion about following God, living in his nudgings and finding a relationship with him that works. They talk about how their own relationships with God work, how they cultivate that reality in their own lives so that their journey in God doesn’t degenerate into following a set of principles, but in following him. Paul’s encouragement in Colossians 2 reminds us of the dangers of learning about this journey, without actually going on it.

Why was it true in Jesus’ day that those most familiar with the Scriptures were least able to recognize God himself when he stood right in front of them? Is the same still true today? A recent conversation Wayne had gives he and Brad the opportunity to discuss doctrinal conflicts, how to help people open to truth instead of declaring a doctrinal war that destroys any hope of growth. And why is it that people most committed to their doctrine, seem to be least transformed by the power of Christ’s love?

Wayne and Brad start by talking about the progress of their own relationship, and the poor track record Christians have of maintaining friendships over the long haul. Why does division define us more than peacemaking and unity? Responding to some listener questions and input, Brad and Wayne also discuss reconciliation in broken relationships and following up an earlier podcast about God’s affection and his approval, they talk about whether or not God has emotion or need in a way similar to our human experience, and what do we learn in that in our own relationship with him?

Wayne has been reading Senator Ted Kennedy’s autobiography and it has taken him to some places he didn’t expect. He shares with Brad his concern about the growing polarization of American life and how easily we dehumanize those we disagree with by casting aspersions on their motives and feeling justified in treating them however we want to. Paul warned us in I Corinthians 4 that we don’t even fully understand our own motives, so why would we even think we can understand the motives of others. This leads to a discussion about how we dehumanize others, even in God’s family, and then how we de-deify God by questioning his motives toward us, just as Eve did in the garden. We are called to be peacemakers, not to add to the division and judgment of a broken world.

One of our favorite things to do is to share the stories of other believers on this incredible journey of learning to live loved by the Father. Silvio Viotti, whom Wayne met two years ago in Switzerland recently visited California on a trip with his wife Dominque. Wayne introduces Silvio to Brad as the three discuss the journey of seeing through the illusions of religion and coming to embrace the power and the life of Jesus. Silvio shares his journey of discovery coming from a very conservative denomination and the rejection he faced from his own family. He also shares how God has led him to view the church and the world so differently that he lives freely without regret.

Wayne has a guest this week as he introduces Brad to Vivian Haddad, a recent college graduate who helped translate for Wayne during his December trip to Brazil. She was visiting in the States and came by to spend some time with Wayne and Sara. While Wayne was in Brazil God did a special work in her heart and she shares from her own journey about learning to live loved. Brad and Wayne also dive into some email and a conversation about finding our settledness in him. By settling into the reality of our relationship with him we can find peace and rest even in the most severe challenges of life. They also give an update on the situation in Kenya and the generous outpouring that has come from God Journey listeners. We also have a new archive page with RSS feeds to past podcasts by the calendar year. you’re, and if you want to find the RSS feeds for the yearly archives of past podcasts you can click here.

Brad and Wayne continue with Part 2 of the podcast they recorded at the recent retreat in White Bluff, TN. They continue the theme of connecting to other brothers and sisters and then it expands to talk about engaging people around us whether they are believers or not. What is the value of small talk? What can people who feel relationally challenged do to become more comfortable engaging people in the real world? They finish of with a discussion about insiders and outsides, and how that overlay destroys relationship. The blog Wayne refers to can be found here.

Some of those who gathered in White Bluff, TN

For the first time Brad and Wayne recorded an episode of the The God Journey before a live audience at their recent retreat in White Bluff, TN. The conversation turned to the high risk, high reward reality of relational community. People showed up to the retreat from all over that part of the U.S. and some England in the mere hopes that our conversations together would be helpful and meaningful. The result was a surprise to most people. Relational community is like that. We can regiment a safer meeting, but the corresponding depth seem to be very low. If you want to find meaningful fellowship with fellow-travelers on this journey you’ll have to take some risks to discover them? (If you want to see pictures from their time there, you can view a host of them at the here.)

Brad and Wayne catch up on some hilarious and insightful email and then find themselves in a discussion about our misconception of ministry as trying to get other people to see what they are not seeing, rather than to walk alongside them in their journey as God opens their eyes to see his reality. Do we really “minister to” someone, or do we walk alongside them as servants? The ministry of Jesus invited people into his life; he did not drag them kicking and screaming into something that didn’t chose for themselves.

What is God thinking when he allows tragedy into our lives? That’s at the heart of the discussion Brad and Wayne have in the aftermath of the passing of a close friend of Wayne’s. Our expectations about what we think God should do in the midst of our pain and suffering is one of the top three things that undermine our relationship with him. Jesus came to show us that we can live in the security of his love in the midst of our most tragic and painful moments and then instead of losing sight of him, we can follow him through it as God’s purpose continues to unfold in our hearts.