The God Journey

Brad is in the house as he joins Wayne and Kyle to celebrate the unique legacy of The God Journey for our 1,000th episode. For twenty-one years, this podcast has helped people explore their own journey with Jesus and how to connect with him and others outside the box of religious obligation. They discuss their friendship, a new possibility for The Shack, and how their friendships have grown as they have explored their own God journeys in this format. They also read emails from our listeners, describing what The God Journey has meant to them over the years. Podcast Notes: We apologize, but there is no video recording of this podcast available. Read all the emails we received to celebrate The God Journey. The post Episode 1000 (#1000) first appeared on The God Journey.

Relationships face bumps, but it's essential to navigate through discord rather than discard them. The hosts discuss the responsibilities of love and care, highlighting how promises can validate personal growth. They also delve into the struggles of achieving genuine connection amidst societal pressures and scandals. Insights from therapy emphasize the importance of accountability in modern dating. Lastly, they tackle the divisions in communities, advocating for unity based on shared values and love, even in a fragmented spiritual landscape.

A couple of weeks ago, Kyle asked Wayne about his trip to Boise. This week, we have the opportunity to hear from someone who was present at that gathering and how it affected her. In her post, she described true fellowship as human, messy, and sacred. That depiction resonated with Wayne, causing him to wonder if our attempts to organize the messy out of human engagement also lose the sacred? Kyle and Wayne explore that question and her other comments. They also talk about finding joy every day, especially through challenging stretches of thealing or struggle. They begin by talking about moments where it seems the enemy is trying to steal their joy or creativity. Podcast Notes: The video recording of this podcast The post Human, Messy, Sacred (#998) first appeared on The God Journey.

What do you do when God doesn't do what your religion taught you he would do? Do you conclude that he must not be real, or do you throw out some of what you were taught to discover God as he really is? After a conversation about certainty being the opposite of faith, Wayne and Kyle process Wayne's recent trip to Boise. You can tell if someone is truly a leader in the body of Christ by whether they are an example of his love or if they consider themselves an exception to it. They also talk about how Jesus reveals his way to us as we learn to rely on his presence, not follow the rules or expectations of others. Podcast Notes: We're sorry, but due to a technical error, the video of this podcast is not available. The post When God Blows Up Our Box (#997) first appeared on The God Journey.

We are so accustomed to the fellowship that human effort can engender that many have lost sight of the path to relational community that comes from building friendships. After discussing testing boundaries and how the enemy twists our spiritual hungers into unattainable ideals, Kyle and Wayne explore a pathway to organic community. Beginning with our growing friendship with Father, Son, and Spirit, we are in a better place to take an interest in others and see where friendships develop and who is ready to share their Jesus journeys together. When friendship is the building block of community, people can share an environment where it is safe to be vulnerable and authentic. Podcast Notes: The video of this podcast  The post From Friendship to Community (#996) first appeared on The God Journey.

How does one find romantic love today, whether you are 19 or 68, and how does God fit into that part of your journey? Kyle has been speaking with many people who are struggling to find a connection in the current culture. Tracy Levinson and Wayne join him for a candid conversation about the desire for a mate and trusting God to provide one as you make yourself available to the kind of friendships that may reveal a lifelong love. They talk in candid terms about guarding your heart, finding contentment in God, so you're not so desperate to fill a hole in your life, expectations that can get in the way, dealing with the temptation toward casual sex, and the pain that pornography can do to a relationship. At 69 minutes, this one went into overtime. Podcast Notes: The video of this podcast, which only caught the first 38 minutes, will be available for only 30 days after recording. Past podcasts with Tracy Tracey's website Tracey's book unashamed: candid conversations about dating, love, nakedness, and faith The post Finding Romance on The God Journey (#995) first appeared on The God Journey.

As Kyle and Wayne dive into the mailbag, they find themselves discussing current "revival" tactics that trespass on unsuspecting people, navigating relationships in a polarized culture, and whether Jesus is waiting for an invitation from those close to him to come again and rescue the planet. There isn't so much an overarching theme here, but a lot of thoughts about how we best impact the culture in these perilous times. Podcast Notes: The video of this podcast, which is only available for 30 days after recording Email your observations about the God Journey, or your thoughts on finding romantic love, to Wayne or Kyle Wayne's blog on a new crisis in Kenya The last chapter of It's Time The post Loving Our Way Through the Culture (#994) first appeared on The God Journey.

The desire for deep and authentic relationships with other believers lies at the heart of our spiritual passion. And yet, that isn't always easy to find, especially if we've moved away from religious institutions. How can we establish a more organic sense of relational community with others? Kyle and Wayne discuss how genuine community is a gift God gives, not something we can organize on our own. What we can do is foster friendships with people in our lives, as the environment in which community takes hold. To do that best, we learn to recognize the pace of others around us instead of imposing our agenda on a growing friendship. Podcast Notes: The video of this podcast Email your observations about the God Journey to Wayne or Kyle Wayne's blog on a new crisis in Kenya Full Review of It's Time The post Where to Find Relational Community (#993) first appeared on The God Journey.

How many believers would answer yes to, "Are you everything God wants you to be at this moment?" Wayne invites Kyle into a conversation he is having with Tobie van der Westhuizen regarding whether spiritual growth best comes from the frustration of falling short or from contentment with what God is already accomplishing in one's life. Much of Christendom foments frustration as a way to motivate people to growth. What if it had taught contentment instead inside of God's love?  As Tobie says, "The best way to grow in whatever God has for you is to be content with where you are today." Podcast Notes: The video of this podcast Full Review of It's Time The post Growing from Contentment (#992) first appeared on The God Journey.

In their younger days, Kyle and Wayne felt a powerful drive for spiritual maturity, albeit in a mostly performance-based, competitive environment. How has that changed as they've learned to rest in the confidence of Father's love? This leads to a raw conversation about God's passion for our maturity and how we embrace it. It also leads to a discussion about how we view salvation. If it is amnesty for our failures in this age, and then we're instantly transformed to purity in the coming one, what does that mean for being made complete here or there?  If it's a process God loves, wouldn't our love for him make it something we desire as well? Podcast Notes: The video of this podcast The post A Passion for Spiritual Maturity (#991) first appeared on The God Journey.