Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith When Tragedy Strikes: A Spiritual Path to Compassion and Action ft. Theresa Bruno and Rev. Joash Thomas
*This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners.*
This week, we hear from author, podcaster, and entrepreneur Theresa Bruno. After experiencing a profound loss that threatened to plunge her into complete despair, Theresa shares how through raw honesty and unwavering prayer, she discovered the strength to not only keep going, but to find hope amidst the wreckage.
Next up, we talk with Reverend Joash Thomas, author, speaker, and tireless advocate for liberation, especially for those caught in the brutal grip of trafficking and all who suffer at the margins. The Reverend’s spiritual work centers on a justice-focused interpretation of Scripture, guiding us to envision a faith that unifies rather than separates, pleading for mercy for all of God’s precious souls.
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Past episode: God Loves Broken People
Upcoming interview: Candace Cameron Bure
He’s Not Coming Back: Rewriting Life After Loss
Anglican Episcopalian tradition
Interview Quotes:
“The way I really like to look at the whole of my life and all the things I’ve done is that early on, the beauty of music organized me.” - Theresa Bruno
“Even though I was mad and I yelled at [God] a lot, there was still a presence I was being invited into, and I think that word is so important. There’s an invitation in our darkest times.” - Theresa Bruno
“I tried to be perfect, because I thought if I was perfect, then God would love me. But I never really understood what it meant at all to have any kind of intimacy with God.” - Theresa Bruno
“I’ve tried to flip my prayers into thankfulness for whatever is provided, so I don’t feel like I live in a place of constant begging and beseeching. In order to live more fully into faith and less into fear, it requires dedicated practice.” - Theresa Bruno
“Courage is like a burst. You have enough courage to do something. Resilience is that slow burn that gets stronger and stronger and rises and rises, and that builds with every little tiny step.” - Theresa Bruno
“Grief, the way we deal with it, is such a jagged line. And everybody does grief differently. I know you can’t feel it or know it right now, but this is not your final moment. Your story is still being written.” - Theresa Bruno
“I know that if it breaks my heart, it also breaks the heart of God. Who we see throughout the Bible is a God of justice and mercy. If something like sexual abuse or human trafficking is keeping the little children from coming to Jesus, then we need to remove those hindrances.” - Rev. Joash Thomas
“Jesus coming down to earth is called the incarnation and that was physical, through which spiritual truths were made known. My hope for the church is to retrieve the physical good news while still holding onto the spiritual good news that we embody, and to fully proclaim both together so that it actually sounds like good news to people who are poor and oppressed.” - Rev. Joash Thomas
“People read the Bible in very different ways, but we’re still united in Jesus, and we have to be united in Him to bring the good news to a world in need of good news today—a world full of injustice and oppression.” - Rev. Joash Thomas
“We’re human beings with mistakes who don’t always get everything right. But at the same time, there’s also goodness in us because we’re all made in the image of God.” - Rev. Joash Thomas
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C
Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj
Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u
What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj
Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY
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