Encouraging Others Through Christ

From July 2021 through August 2023, I had published many updates about my spiritual faith evolution in this podcast. However, it has now been a whole year since I’ve published anything about my faith journey. This has caused many people to become curious about the sudden silence over the past year.

Today, I woke up, listened to a piece of content that inspired me to create this episode, providing an update on my spiritual life and sharing the reason for the silence over the past year.

As of right now, I don’t have any current plans for more content focused on my spiritual journey. The reason for that will become evident once you listen to this special two-hour-long episode.

In this deeply personal episode, Stephanie and I open up about our intertwined journey of spiritual evolution. Joined by Tony Rinkenberger, we delve into the challenges and triumphs experienced as our beliefs began to shift and expand.

Many in the fundamentalist and evangelical realms worry that their spiritual deconstruction might threaten the stability of their marriage or family. Today, Stephanie sheds light on her perspective of our shared path, offering insights into how we navigated these profound changes together, and the role love played in keeping our bond intact. If you're grappling with the impacts of a spiritual transition on your relationships, this episode offers hope, understanding, and a testament to the strength of love beyond beliefs.

Tony's Website is - GuyMystic.com

Stephanie's email is - [email protected]

In this episode, I mentioned the link http://awakening.cliffravenscraft.com and I also told you that I'd include my email address, [email protected].

I'd love for you to email me and let me know your thoughts on this episode.

In this episode I sit down with Troy Heinritz, a long-time member of our community, to dive deep into a concept many grapple with on a spiritual awakening journey: the delicate balance between Self and selfishness.

As we explore the notion that to serve others in our highest state of consciousness, we must sometimes prioritize what brings us peace and joy, a question emerges: Is focusing on our own well-being inherently selfish, or is it a necessary act of self-love and preservation?

Join us as we journey through this intricate maze, seeking clarity, understanding, and perhaps a new perspective on what it means to truly embrace the 'I AM' within.

Click Here For Troy's Link Tree Links

In this episode, I mentioned the link http://awakening.cliffravenscraft.com and I also told you that I'd include my email address, [email protected].

I'd love for you to email me and let me know your thoughts on this episode.

I recently published episode 705 of The Cliff Ravenscraft Show where I invited my great friend, Megan Porta, to have a conversation about our experiences with manifesting success and turning our dreams into reality. We included "The Law of Attraction" in the title.

The feedback that has come in from that episode has been incredible. Most of the feedback was along the lines of surprise that I, Cliff Ravenscraft, am a strong believer in "The Law of Attraction." One person wrote that she was blown away when she heard that I enjoy the teachings of Abraham Hicks, telling me that she, herself, has been "a closet Abraham Hicks fan" for many years.

I've received so many questions, requesting more insight about how the Law of Attraction works. I have also received a large number of emails from people who have grown up from a similar faith tradition, where they have felt drawn to learn more about the Law of Attraction, but fear how they would be perceived by others if anyone found out that they were studying it. They wanted to know how I, given how far I was into the Protestant, Evangelical, Fundamentalist worldview, was introduced to the Law of Attraction and how I overcame the warnings that this community has given against such study.

I decided to take all my years of notes on the Law of Attraction and everyone's questions that I have received, and I created an evergreen resource in the form of a full Law of Attraction Workshop. This podcast is the full audio recording of that workshop.

In this episode, I mentioned the link http://awakening.cliffravenscraft.com and I also told you that I'd include my email address, [email protected].

I'd love for you to email me and let me know your thoughts on this episode.

In this special episode of the Encouraging Others Through Christ podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with my good friend Lori Hammond. Lori and I met on Clubhouse back during the pandemic and we quickly bonded over our shared interest in hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

Lori recently responded to a Law of Attraction episode I published in episode 705 of The Cliff Ravenscraft Show.

She wrote... "Someday I would love to have a semi-private (or all the way private) conversation about religion. It's too bad Clubhouse isn't a thing anymore because that would be a fun place to do it.

Your religious metamorphosis sounds very much like mine (raised in a very religious house and taught that hypnosis is "as the sin of witchcraft"). Every time I hear you mention religion or new age I'm curious where you are now... especially with the things you grew up believing."

First, I pointed Lori to the following podcast episodes:

I then invited Lori to have a one-on-one session with me where we would have the conversation that you will hear in this episode.

Here's a summary of the key questions Lori asked during the conversation:

This episode is a followup conversation with my friend Brian Dixon that was shared back in episode 150 of this podcast.

Towards the end of our previous conversation, Brian shared his extensive religious education - a master's degree from a Bible college - and his lifelong commitment as a Bible-believing Christian. He expressed his love for defending the "Word of God".

With this in mind, I had invited Brian to come back onto the podcast to delve into his journey towards a belief in the inerrancy of Scripture and the "God of the Bible." This is the focus of our conversation in this episode.

Find Brian J Dixon on Instagram and/or Facebook

In this episode I shared an audio clip from Pete Briscoe and his podcast titled "KindaVangelical." My friend, Richard Marcotte, pointed me to Pete's podcast recently and I was really moved by the metaphor he uses of "the house" to describe the the journey of those who are stepping away from the evangelical church.

As someone who started the process of walking away from evangelicalism over a decade ago, I had forgotten just how guttural, emotional, and difficult that initial transition was. Pete's vivid descriptions brought me right back to that emotional time in my own life. I think his metaphor of the house, yard, street, and world beyond captures that tension and fear so many feel as they begin questioning the faith of their childhood.

I know many in this community have never been a part of the evangelical church world. Some have wondered why I have expressed so much apprehension about speaking openly about having an open mind and listening to other perspectives. Pete explains succinctly how evangelicals are conditioned to distrust any teachings outside of their own as dangerous and evil. It's fear-based indoctrination, and it takes time to undo that thinking.

Beyond the nostalgia and empathy Pete's audio clip prompted in me, I love the visual of the house threshold, representing the terrifying yet freeing act of stepping outside of one's insular belief system. That resonated with my own experience, and I hope provides encouragement to those of you navigating a similar journey now.

Pete is one who still clings to faith in Jesus, though questioning evangelical dogma. For those still drawn to Jesus but feeling disillusioned with the evangelical church, you may find Pete's podcast a comfortable companion on your own transitional journey.

I'm always excited to find thoughtful voices contributing to spiritual deconstruction and evolution. I hope Pete's observations, metaphors, and experiences resonate with you like they did for me. If you found this episode valuable, please consider sending me an email to let me know. My email address is [email protected].

In Episode 147, "Facing The Fear of Being Shunned: Navigating Spiritual Awakening & Deconstruction," I delved into the varied responses I received to my Facebook post on my Spiritual Awakening and Deconstruction journey. My friend Brian Dixon voiced some concerns about my post, my intention to create a space for others on a similar path, and my exploration of God's truth beyond biblical confines.

Over the next few days, I felt an internal nudge suggesting I invite Brian to join my podcast for a deeper conversation about my journey. The idea wasn't to instigate a debate, but rather for Brian to ask insightful questions that could help him understand my spiritual path and how I arrived at this point.

Brian graciously accepted the invitation, and this episode features our thought-provoking conversation from the afternoon of July 21st, 2023.

Towards the end of our conversation, Brian shared his extensive religious education - a master's degree from a Bible college - and his lifelong commitment as a Bible-believing Christian. He expressed his love for defending the "Word of God". With this in mind, I'm considering inviting Brian back to the podcast, but this time, with roles reversed. I'd like to delve into his journey towards a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. I'm aware that Brian has extensively explored his spiritual path, and as he states, he's prepared to present a defense for traditional Christianity that is gentle, respectful, and clear.

As we close, the key takeaway I hope resonates with everyone is this: It is entirely possible to maintain a loving friendship and engage in open dialogue with those who hold strong beliefs different from our own. This, in itself, is a testament to our shared humanity and the capacity for mutual respect, despite our differences. Let our conversation serve as a beacon of encouragement in your own interactions and journeys.

Find Brian J Dixon on Instagram and/or Facebook

This is an audio recording of a Clubhouse Room that I hosted on Wednesday, July 19th, 2023 titled "Spiritual Awakening & Deconstruction - Ask Me Anything!"

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Books mention in this episode

This is an audio recording of a Clubhouse Room that I hosted on Friday, July 14th, 2023 titled "Spiritual Awakening & Deconstruction - Ask Me Anything!"

Links Mentioned In This Episode