Looking for the Real God

Christy begins Season Three with a peek into her early marriage. She explores the way fundamentalism initially influenced her view of marriage and how being married to her wonderfully opposite husband for the past thirteen years has changed that perspective. Christy rejects some common Christianese claims about marriage. And she suggests that while there is no perfect formual. marriage is actually a divine partnership that provides the possibility for a glimpse into the God that created it.

Scripture Mentioned:
Ephesians 5 (specifically verses 15-33)

Resources Mentioned:
“An Impossible Marriage: What Our Mixed-Orientation Marriage Has Taught Us About Love and the Gospel” by Laurie Krieg & Matt Krieg coming October 2020. Preorder here https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830847936/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BFNxFbF68V3GR

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In light of a recent Christian influencer announcing they no longer believe in God, and in the midst of evil, chaos, and cries for justice in our world today, Christy tackles the topic of evil. She acknowledges our deep questions about how a good God can allow evil to thrive, and she gently but passionately shares the reasons she still believes.

Scripture Referenced:
Romans 1:18-23
Romans 8:18-23

Related Blog Posts:
https://christylynnewood.com/2020/05/26/here-we-go-again/
https://christylynnewood.com/2019/07/29/why-i-am-still-a-christian/

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Christy acknowledges the way a form of repentance has often been used in spiritually abusive situations. But then she helps us to redefine Biblical repentance as a change of mind rather than behavior. Christy gently calls her listeners to genuine repentance both personally and corporately as the Body of Christ.

Scripture Mentioned:
Joel 1-3

Blog Post Referenced:
https://christylynnewood.com/2020/05/10/our-need-for-redefined-repentance/

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What if church as we know it changes? How could those changes be amazingly positive?

Christy contemplates the differences between The Church (the worldwide body of Christ) and church (the building and organization we attend). She wonders how The Great Pause of COVID19 will change things in the long run and she lays out some things that need to change.

Although Christy has been accused of being anti-church, she assures her listeners that she loves the body of Christ. But she is also willing to point out the problems within our local buildings and organizations.

Books Referenced:
"When Narcissism Comes to Church" by Chuck DeGroat

Blog Posts Referenced:
https://christylynnewood.com/2019/02/24/pastors-abuse-and-the-church/

People Referenced:
Brenda Yoder https://brendayoder.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

Christy finishes her series on the deconstruction and reconstruction of the idea of holiness by exploring the Holy Spirit. She wonders why He gets less than His fair share of the attention in many evangelical churches. Christy ponders the roll the Holy Spirit plays in surrender and a life lived in genuine holiness.

Interview with John White:
https://renewaljournal.com/2011/07/22/supernatural-ministry-johnwhite-interviewed/

Related Blog Posts:
https://christylynnewood.com/2016/05/16/the-missing-member-of-the-trinity/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

Christy continues her deconstruction of holiness and then begins to reconstruct through the idea of surrender. What is the difference between making Jesus the Lord and surrendering to His Lordship? Is there a difference? Christy introduces us to two people who understand the daily sacrifice surrender requires and yet who believe the sacrifice is worth it.

Related Websites:
Laurie Krieg - https://lauriekrieg.com/about/
David Bennett -https://www.awarofloves.com/

The link for the podcast with Laurie and David:
https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/cant-we-all-just-get-along/

Scriptures Referenced:
Romans 8:1

Related blog posts by Christy:
https://christylynnewood.com/2017/03/22/more-than-a-follower/
https://christylynnewood.com/2019/03/24/how-two-gay-christians-changed-my-life/

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Christy honestly shares her struggles with the word holiness and the way that concept has often included following the rules based on external motivation. But what if her struggle is based on a faulty view of God's pleasure? So often our understanding of the Real God is mixed up because of the fake god in our head.

Scripture Verses Referenced:
1 Thessalonians 4:1

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Christy offers an Easter Sunday meditation on the ways the coronavirus is pointing the world to our need of a Savior. As modern humans, we thought we were intelligent, sufficient, and independent. But a microscopic virus changed all that in a matter of days. Instead we have discovered that we are helpless, selfish, and afraid of death.

Christy believes this time of brokenness is a gift from a loving God who knows exactly how to get our attention. Jesus Christ offers us hope, forgiveness, and eternal life in Himself if we will choose to trust Him.

Scripture Mentioned:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NLT)
John 3:14-18 (NLT)

Related Blog Posts:
https://christylynnewood.com/2020/04/12/a-virus-and-a-savior/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

In another heartfelt, honest episode Christy reflects on her quiet Palm Sunday at home during this COVID19 quarantine. She ponders the global Church vs our little churches that we are currently missing. And finally talks about the restoration process for fixing old furniture.

Christy's word for 2020 was "restore" and she notices how the coronavirus has stripped all of us in many ways. What if Jesus has a restoration planned for His Church?

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Christy shares honestly from her own season of lament during this coronavirus pandemic. How do we process our deep feelings of grief, sorrow, and regret? By bringing them to a powerful and loving God who has not lost control.

Christy contemplates this Lenten season and the celebration of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection that is coming. She questions whether the Real God might very well be using this brokenness to draw many people to Himself.

Scripture Mentioned:
Psalm 107

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com