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Christy discusses the importance of reading Scripture for ourselves -- not as a magic formula to ward off evil but as a way to know truth. False teachers use the Bible to spread lies either because they are misinformed or because they have bad motives. How can we discern the truth if we aren't familiar with the Bible ourselves? Sharing questions to help understand context, Christy tells a story from her recent life to illustrated what can go wrong if we try and apply the Bible before we understand what a passage is actually saying. Related Resources: https://netbible.org/ https://www.blueletterbible.org/ https://www.readscripture.org/

Christy jumps into current evens by looking at this year that is 2020. Despite it seeming like everything is falling apart around us, Christy considers that maybe God is using the brokenness to share His true gospel with the world. The gospel is one of those things that should be foundational to Christianity, but even this has been twisted by religion and man-made tradition. What if this year -- that appears to have come from hell -- actually came from a loving God who is calling His children home? Related Blog Posts: https://christylynnewood.com/2020/10/01/how-2020-is-preaching-the-gospel/

Christy finishes up the stories of Jesus back in the book of John looking at Jesus' unexpected and slightly uncomfortable message. She ponders the way Jesus didn't care about crowd size or popularity but instead spoke truth in a way that made followers leave. Truth isn't found within religious or progressive Christianity but instead within the very Person of Jesus Christ. Scriptures Referenced: John 6 Related Blog Posts: https://christylynnewood.com/2019/08/15/irony-and-apostasy-finding-a-solid-faith/

Christy ponders the plaque of abusive leaders within religious Christianity while telling the story of Jesus -- the ultimate authority -- who chose instead to be a humble servant and wash his disciples' feet. Looking back through history, humans seems to be obsessed with trying to gain power, money, and fame. Religion is a perfect system to help broken people to achieve their goals. Jesus tore that system apart and introduced a new way of thinking, the backwards and inside out Kingdom where the last are first, and the first are last, and the true leader is the servant of all. Scripture Mentioned: Philippians 2:5-8 John 13:1-16 Related Blog Posts: https://christylynnewood.com/2018/12/13/the-lump-under-the-rug/ https://christylynnewood.com/2019/02/24/pastors-abuse-and-the-church/ https://christylynnewood.com/2019/12/22/healing-from-spiritual-abuse/ Further Resources: "When Narcissism Comes to Church" by Chuck DeGroat "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" by David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderan

Christy begins a mini-series on some of her favorite stories of Jesus. Christians often focus on Jesus coming to save the world from their sins, and that was a huge part of His purpose. But He also came to show us God. Christy explores Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Then she ponders what it means for us that Jesus came to find sinners. We can easily focus on appeasing the god of religion and miss the Jesus that wants to restore our soul. Scriptures Mentioned: John 4 Resources Mentioned: The Net Bible https://netbible.org/ Related Blog Posts: https://christylynnewood.com/2019/10/09/im-just-here-for-the-broken-ones/ https://christylynnewood.com/2020/01/07/the-gift-of-brokenness/

In this last part to the series Tools for Healing, Christy shares how she discovered the Enneagram just about a year ago. Learning about the Enneagram and discovering that she is a 4 has been a huge part of Christy's growth this past year. Although far from an expert, Christy encourages her listeners to do some exploring on their own. The enneagram is a fantastic tool for healing and growth. Resources Mentioned: https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram-test#assessment The EnneaSummer 2019 and 2020 series on the That Sounds Fun Podcast Related Blog Posts: https://christylynnewood.com/2020/01/12/old-journals-the-enneagram-and-exciting-changes/

In the second part of this series on tools for healing, Christy shares about Soul Care from Dr. Larry Crab. Christy discovered the beauty of Christian psychology since joining her new church over three years ago and has found healing from things she didn't even know were broken. Even though she left the cultic church and organization over a decade ago, Christy still struggled with defensiveness over her decision. It wasn't until the summer of 2019 while visiting her old hometown that Christy found healing and peace. Books Referenced: "Changes that Heal" by Dr. Henry Cloud Resources Mentioned: Soul Care by Dr. Larry Crabb https://christianuniversity.org/courses/soulcare-foundations-i-the-basic-model/

Christy begins a series focusing on specific tools that have helped her to heal and flourish. In this episode she shares her personal experience with the concept of core lies -- something you believe about yourself based on past hurts that isn't true. She then shares the truth about our identity in Christ and how that truth has set her free. LInk to the Core Lie/Core Truth worksheet Christy mentioned: https://christylynnewood.com/free-resources/

Christy walks her listeners through the transformation of her understanding of Biblical Womanhood. Godly women in the cultic-church were quiet, gentle, and submissive and Christy never felt like she fit in. Christy shares personal stories of learning to understand and accept herself as a strong, passionate woman. She also questions conservative teachings about women in the church -- what if those teachings aren't actually Biblical? Scriptures Mentioned: Judges 4 1 Timothy 2:8-15 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Blog Posts Mentioned https://christylynnewood.com/2019/10/22/not-so-silent-women/

All Christy ever wanted was to be a mother. Eight months after getting married she was pregnant and so excited. But instead of the joy of a baby, Christy and her husband faced loss. The next couple of years were a rollercoaster of hope and grief. However after an incredible and unexpected gift, Christy discovered that motherhood was harder than she'd ever imagined. She was forced to face her beliefs about motherhood, identity, and God's sovereignty. Related Episodes: #9 But God Isn't a Vending Machine (S1E9) Related Blog Posts: https://christylynnewood.com/2018/07/19/choosing-trust/

Christy continues the stories of her early marriage -- this time focusing on how ten months in her "dream job" left her with total disillusionment and a loss of identity. You'd think that the description Residential Treatment Center for Psychiatric Children would have given her a hint into reality, but it didn't. A challenging year teaching math to troubled junior and high school students caused Christy to rethink her worldview, beliefs about God, and view of herself. It was a time of brokenness and stripping as Christy was forced to let go of useless religious formulas and Christianese ideas. Although she didn't have the vocabulary at the time, this season was the beginning of Christy's deconstruction and reconstruction journey.

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

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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

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/

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?