Come.Union Podcast

Summary:

In this episode, Ti-Ti and Erin discuss the state of the church and the challenges it faces in today's culture. They reference a video clip by Lecrae, where he talks about the influence of social media and the business-like structure of many churches. They share their own experiences and frustrations with the church, as well as their hopes for a more authentic and community-focused approach to faith.

Key Takeaways:

* Many churches have become more focused on presentation and growth, resembling American business institutions rather than communities of believers.

* The pursuit of fame and popularity can lead pastors and leaders to lose sight of their original intentions and the true purpose of the church.

* The aftermath of church scandals and controversies can be devastating for congregants who trusted and looked up to their leaders.

* It is important to support and pray for pastors and leaders, even when they make mistakes, as they are human and in need of grace and compassion, just like we do.

00:00 Introduction and discussion about the church

02:00 Churches turning into businesses instead of communities

04:00 Challenges of church growth and the focus on capital growth

06:00 Personal experiences and hurts within the church

08:00 The aftermath of the Hillsong documentary and the pain caused

10:00 The struggle of balancing growth and resources in the church

12:00 The importance of fixing our gaze on God

14:00 The need for authenticity and transparency in leadership

16:00 The importance of supporting pastors and leaders in their struggles

18:00 The church as a hospital, not a shopping mall

23:00 Loss of trust and skepticism towards Christianity

32:00 Anger and sadness towards misrepresentation of Jesus

39:00 Differentiating between pastoral leadership and entrepreneurship

44:00 Humility and low-profile pastors who get it right

49:00 Seeking thoughts and experiences on church and community

The Importance of Trust in Relationships

About The Guest(s):

Ti-Ti and Erin are the hosts of the podcast "Come.Union," where they explore topics related to faith, relationships, and personal growth. They bring their own experiences and perspectives to the conversations, creating a safe space for listeners to engage with these important topics.

Summary:

Ti-Ti and Erin discuss the importance of trust and love in relationships, both with God and with others. They reflect on their own experiences in marriage and how trust and teamwork have contributed to the success of their relationships. They emphasize the need to view relationships as a partnership and to always work towards the greater good of the team. They also discuss the challenges of trust and the impact of past experiences on our ability to trust others. They highlight the importance of understanding the character of God and how it influences our ability to trust and love Him. They also touch on the impact of societal expectations and religious teachings on our perception of God's love and acceptance.

Key Takeaways:

1. Trust and love are essential in relationships, both with God and with others.
2. Viewing relationships as a partnership and working towards the greater good of the team is crucial for success.
3. Understanding the character of God is essential for building trust and love in our relationship with Him.
4. Past experiences can impact our ability to trust others, but it is important to give people the opportunity.

What you'll hear in this episode:

08:00 The importance of having safe places in relationships

12:00 The struggle of trusting God and others

16:00 The concept of loving someone without fully trusting them

18:00 The role of character in trust and love

22:00 The impact of personal encounters with Jesus

26:00 The importance of focusing on God's love and relationship

32:00 The transformational power of encountering Jesus

36:00 The need to trust in God's character and love

38:00 The danger of a religious view of God

40:00 The freedom to explore and get to know God

46:00 The fear of getting it wrong and the need for trust

48:00 The call to love and not condemn

50:00 Conclusion and invitation

About The Hosts: Erin and Ti-Ti are the hosts of the Come.Union podcast, where they invite people to have real and authentic conversations about faith, life, and the state of the world. They are passionate about creating a space for people to share their stories and perspectives, and they believe in the power of unity and understanding.

Summary: In this episode, Erin (E) and T (Ti-Ti) discuss the importance of community. T shares her experience of hosting gatherings and creating a sense of family and fellowship for those who may not have family nearby. She talks about the challenges of the pandemic and her journey to reignite her light and find her true self. E opens up about feeling lonely and the struggle to find community in a new place. They both reflect on the significance of Holy Week and the hope that comes from the resurrection of Jesus. They discuss the importance of self-love, releasing fear and perfectionism, and embracing the new seasons that God has in store.

Key Takeaways:

*Building community takes time and it's important to be patient and open to new relationships.

*It's essential to love and accept oneself before seeking validation from others.

*Seasons of loneliness and isolation can be opportunities for personal growth and reflection.

*God can bring new life and hope to seemingly dead situations.

*It's important to have faith and trust in God's promises, even when things don't go as planned.

What you'll hear in this episode:

02:00 The importance of building community and hosting gatherings

14:00 The need to love and accept oneself

17:00 The importance of not seeking validation from others

20:00 Reflecting on the resurrection and the hope it brings

23:00 The significance of seasons and the need for patience

26:00 Releasing fear and perfectionism

39:00 Faith, Seasons, and Receiving Love

49:00 Receiving Perspective and Embracing Identity

About The Hosts: Erin and Ti-Ti are the hosts of the Come.Union podcast, where they invite people to have real and authentic conversations about faith, life, and the state of the world. They are passionate about creating a space for people to share their stories and perspectives, and they believe in the power of unity and understanding.

Summary: Erin and Ti-Ti discuss the challenges of living authentically and pursuing a relationship with Jesus outside of traditional Christianity. They share their personal experiences of feeling lonely and misunderstood, and how they navigate relationships with people who may not agree with their viewpoints. They also talk about the importance of seeking to understand others and the power of vulnerability in building deep connections. The intentionality of their podcast name, Come.Union, is to invite people to come as they are and experience union with God, themselves, and others through sharing their stories. They draw parallels between their own struggles and those faced by the disciples in Jesus' time, emphasizing the need for space to process and understand what it truly means to be a child of God. They acknowledge the challenges and attacks that come with boldly professing their beliefs, but remain committed to seeking answers and inviting others on their journey.

Key Takeaways:

* Living authentically can be challenging and lonely, especially when your beliefs and viewpoints differ from those around you.

* Seeking to understand others and being open to different perspectives is important, even if they don't align with your own.

* Building deep connections requires vulnerability and a willingness to go beyond surface-level conversations.

* The name Come.Union reflects the invitation to come as you are and experience union with God, yourself, and others through sharing your stories.

* Just as the disciples faced challenges and questioned their beliefs, it's natural to grapple with the difficulties of being a Christian in today's world.

* Boldly professing beliefs can invite attacks and questioning, but it's important to remain committed to seeking answers and inviting others on the journey.

What you'll hear in this episode:

00:01:00 Erin's struggle with loneliness and changing relationships

00:06:00 Ti-Ti's journey of self-discovery and the importance of declaring who we are

00:08:00 The challenges of being authentic and the fear of being judged

00:10:00 The importance of seeking to understand

00:13:00 The need for curiosity and seeing the human behind the ideology

00:17:00 The struggle of being unoffendable and extending grace to others

00:23:00 Living authentically and seeking understanding

00:28:00 Division and the importance of unity

00:32:00 Letting go of the need to explain oneself

00:39:00 The struggle of boldly professing Christianity in today's world

00:49:00 Unity and community in the face of division

00:53:00 The need for reconciliation

01:01:00 The intentionality of Come.Union and the invitation to come as you are

01:03:00 The meaning of Come.Union and finding unity through sharing stories

01:06:00 The choice to love, trust, and remain in relationship

Ramonita Smith and Erin Olinger are thrilled to finally announce the release of their community and podcast, Come.Union!

Ramonita and Erin started their podcast journey three years ago, feeling inspired by God to create a community of belonging and reconciliation. Their first episode focuses on their journey to today and finally releasing something deeply authentic that they believe others will connect with. These friends want to bring reconciliation to a divided world but believe it starts with doing the work in ourselves, first. It is only by doing our own work that we can then listen and seek to understand each other. That is when the REAL reconciliation can begin because we have created the space in our hearts to seek it.

The conversation between these two friends touches on the idea that fear can hold us back, and how the events of the past three years have been difficult for many people to manage. We can all say the last three years have felt heavy with the amount of negativity surrounding the pandemic, social justice movements, and the division and discord in the world. When you add in the isolation one can feel while raising kids in the midst, releasing Come.Union felt nearly impossible. Yet, what the world needs is authentic expressions of real life. Ramonita and Erin have decided to not wait around for life to get to a perfect state, but rather press record now and watch what happens! They can’t wait for you to join them on their journey!

What you'll hear in this episode:

00:03:00 Our Journey to Communion

00:12:00 Exploring the Freedom of Reconciliation

00:17:00 Reconciliation Through Communion

00:19:00 The Power of "Just Go" in Our Lives - Immediate Obedience and Releasing a Podcast

00:26:00   Faith Through Curiosity: Gaining Freedom in faith with God

00:29:00  The Power of Relationships: Self-Love, God, and Others

00:39:00 Wrap up: Let’s go!

* Follow us on Instagram @come.union

* Follow our Youtube Channel @Come_Union where you can find the video version of this episode too!

* Learn more and sign up for our updates at www.come-union.com

Welcome to "Come.Union," a community focused on reconciliation with God, self, and others. Through our podcast, we invite you to join us on a journey of personal growth and transformation, exploring tough conversations that can be uncomfortable but are necessary for reconciliation.

At the heart of our Christian faith is the belief in reconciliation, and we strive to cultivate a safe and inclusive space where listeners can engage in self-reflection and explore different perspectives. Our podcast seeks to inspire our community to work towards healing and reconciliation in their personal lives and communities.

Join us as we navigate tough conversations on topics such as race, gender, sexuality, faith, and more. Our guests share their experiences and insights, and we provide practical tips and tools for listeners to apply in their own lives.

Through "Come.Union," we aim to create a community of belonging where listeners feel seen, heard, and valued.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help others find us!