Today on Freedom Friday with Perry and Shawna, as Shawna was getting her nails done, she asked her manicurist, “Tell me about your faith. Is it important to you?”  She said: “I go to the temple sometimes and I try to do good things.”  It’s conversation about why trying to earn God’s approval never works, because his approval doesn’t work that way.  Then when we make our good wishes, like a dream job or family, our deepest wish, we’re never going to be happy.  If we really get our deepest wish, we’ll be filled with joy forever.  Then Lenny, the guy who led Perry to Jesus in 5th grade calls into the show.  Perry finally gets to say, “Thank you Lenny!!”  Then Shawna admits: “I’ve allowed some things lately to rob me of peace.”  It’s a conversation about how to have peace:  All.  The.  Time.  Share the freedom by sharing this show.

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Today with Perry and Shawna, see through the eyes of the people who were closest to the first Easter story.  And find the hope that these flawed followers found.  Daniel Darling shares about his new book:  The Characters of Easter: The Villains, Cowards, and Crooks Who Witnessed History’s Biggest Miracle.  Find hope from the flaws of Peter, find out why we should NEVER throw “doubting Thomas” under the bus.  Also, Barabbas, the murderer who was released instead of Jesus gets at the heart of the gospel.  We are Barabbas.  And if you feel like Judas, find out why there’s still hope.  And check out why the women who followed Jesus are really the heroes of the Easter story.  See your life in the story and be changed!

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The conversation today on Perry and Shawna Mornings—Being the kind of person who calls out the best in others, who calls out in others what they aren’t yet, but will be!  Also, Lenny led Perry to Jesus 50 years ago.  Just this year, all these decades after that life-changing day Perry reconnected with Lenny.  Somewhere along the way Lenny gave up on Jesus, but Jesus never gave up on him—what a story of God’s goodness!  Then, there’s only one hero in the bible: Jesus.  The rest are flawed people like you and me whom God pursues, rescues, and then partners with to bring heaven to earth!  Finally, keeping the faith when life is hard, believing that we will yet see the God’s goodness in the land of the living.

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Sue VanWyngarden joins Perry and Shawna.  She’s the Executive Director of Midtown Counseling Services in the heart of Holland. Midtown is a place where hurting families, kids, and men and women finding healing of the mind and heart and new life in Jesus.  Sue shares Tori’s story, a young woman beaten and left for dead who found Jesus’ resurrection power at Midtown. 

 

And we hear about Robert, a man who was on a trajectory to prison because of his anger and how the love of Jesus melted his heart through Midtown.  And we hear about an eleven-year-old girl living in a car with her family, who was impacted by a Midtown counselor at Holland Middle School and the ripple effect on her whole family.  And Sue shares how she had to leap into the unknown for God to raise up Midtown.  Find help or join what God is doing at Midtown Counseling!

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There is only one place in all four gospels where Jesus says: “This is my heart for you.”  And knowing Jesus’ heart changes everything.  Dane Ortlund, pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church on the west side of Chicago shares about his latest book:  Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.  It’s a conversation about Jesus gentle and humble heart.  Jesus is the most approachable person in the universe.  That he runs toward the messy ignites hope.  There’s no complicated vetting process to get to Jesus.  All you need is need.

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Freedom Friday on Perry and Shawna Mornings!  First Perry talks about opening up our deepest wounds (Perry’s are wounds of shame) to bring healing to others.  Then God is so holy he must judge sin, but the way he judges sin is astonishing—he takes what we deserve!  Then Perry shares a story that’s never been heard till now, how Jesus revealed himself in a dream to Abdullah.  Next, God doesn’t deal in moral currency—bad news for those who think their good enough, good news for those who know they aren’t.  And finally, the breath-taking beauty of Ephesians 1:13-14.  Listen and feel the winds of freedom!

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Today Todd Nettleton joins Perry and Shawna.  Todd works with Voice of the Martyrs.  He has traveled the world to gather stories from persecuted Christians.  And these compelling stories are in his new devotional:  When Faith Is Forbidden:  40 Days On The Frontlines With Persecuted Christians.  Today’s show will inspire you to pray for your persecuted brothers and sisters and to follow in their foots steps to proclaim Jesus. 

So, first Todd shares about some of the perils of his journeys, which includes flying on a plane that really shouldn’t have been called a plane in Uzbekistan and then being stopped at a checkpoint in Iraq where he genuinely thought he would be shot.  And Perry shares about his friend Carl who while sharing Jesus in Iraq, was robbed at gunpoint.  In desperation he cried: “Lord, what am I doing here??”  And God’s answer to Carl was a wake-up call for him and will be for you.  Then we hear about sister Tong.  When Todd asked her about her time in a Chinese prison for her faith she said:  It was a wonderful time.”  Wait, what?

Next, Todd shares about pastor Akiel who when asked to reach out to Muslim refugees said, “No way!”  But God said, “Yes way!” And because he obeyed, he was able to witness the wonders of Jesus in a Muslim family.  Next, we hear about Iman, a believer from Muslim background who was thrown in jail for his faith.  He was taken out of solitary confinement and was able to mix it up with 100 other prisoners.  This was not a good idea for those who threw Iman into prison! 

Then, Todd shares why it’s good news that persecution is on the rise.  We also talk about Iran, which has the fastest growing church in the world!  Next, we find out how to come alongside our persecuted brothers and sisters.  And finally, the story of John Chau, a young man who was martyred in 2018 and a call to pray for the hostile people he tried to reach.  Please share today’s show!

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Following Jesus costs. In high school Perry was one of the popular kids.  But in college as he became committed to following Jesus, he found himself on the outside.  He learned in those years that there is a cost to following Jesus.  He learned that when you follow Jesus, we’re no longer swimming downstream with what’s popular or applauded, we’re swimming against the stream.  We get an assist here from author and communicator Francis Chan.  Then one of our listeners Andrea shares that following Jesus meant giving up her dream of having her own children to love her stepchildren and many foster kids! 

 

Then another listener Matt shares that following Jesus looks like not having a relationship with his grandkids because his son and fiancé don’t want him talking about Jesus with the grandkids.  And finally, Perry admits: “I am incredibly selfish.”  And he doesn’t mean that before Jesus he was selfish and now with Jesus he’s not.  No, his selfishness coexists with Jesus in his life.  But this is what Jesus is freeing Perry from.  It’s a conversation about how Jesus sets us free from the “it’s all about me” life so we can experience the joy of living for God’s glory and the good of others.  We get another assist here from Francis Chan

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“Y.O.L.O!” (You only live once) “Seize the Day!” “You deserve it!” Our culture is discipling us to live for #1! Which is in complete contrast to how God instructs us to live. Jesus said, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” When following Jesus costs us things here on earth, we take great assurance in knowing that we have an eternity of wanting for nothing before us.When we share our stories of God’s goodness to us as we are persecuted for His sake we encourage one another. The circumstances are different but our God is the same and He is faithful! Here are some stories to encourage you this morning.

Abraham gave up all that was familiar and was even asked to give up the son he waited so long for God to provide. And Abraham obeyed. God stopped him and provided a ram for the sacrifice.

Hannah was barren for years, which at the time was a disgraceful thing. She also prayed for a child. God gave her a son and she gave him back to God to serve at the temple. Hannah was blessed with many other children as well.

Gideon gave up everything he thought would provide security.  First, his hiding place and second, the army he’d recruited for victory. He had to fully rely on the Lord and God rewarded his faithfulness, not only with victory but with making him Israel’s judge for the next 40 years.

I hope these stories encourage you when following Jesus comes with hardship.

Jesus was the perfect example of total obedience to the Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane he was honest with the Father about His desire to live and not to suffer but he also submitted and prayed, “yet not my will but yours be done.”

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A friend once confided in me that her husband would take off his wedding ring, lay it on the kitchen counter and say, “I’m going out.” He felt he could have all the benefits of marriage while acting like a single man. As crazy as that sounds I think there is a similar belief among Christ followers. We want all the promises of covenant relationship with God while behaving like we did before we met God. Jesus warned his followers to consider the cost of following Him.

A young man by the name of William Borden had the world by the tail. He was born into wealth and with it endless opportunities. His High School Graduation present was a trip around the world. On that trip William felt the call of God on his life. He would leave all the comforts of home to be a full time missionary in China. He studied and prepared for a lifetime of serving God on the mission field but became ill and died at just 25 years old. He never made it to the mission field. William knew the cost was not simply giving up his future in the family business but giving all of who he was for the cause of Christ. He died with no regrets. And his life and death inspired many to follow hard after Christ.

To follow Jesus is to live like He lived – serve like He served. Scripture says the way of Jesus is to humble yourself and elevate others. To give up your dreams of being the hero to become a hero maker! In the self-promoting culture we live in, serving and elevating others will stand out like light in the darkness. Shine today!

*Program note:  Scott Curtis is filling in for Perry La Haie on this edition.

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