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Get notes on this podcast here:&nbsp;  https://churchleaders.com/podcast/470939-os-guinness-signals-transcendence-seek-lord.html Dr. Os Guinness joins “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast” to discuss how God uses “signals” like love, justice, joy, and beauty to break into our lives and draw us to himself.&nbsp; Last week, Kyle Strobel and Jamin Goggin wrapped up their conversation with us, offering practices to help guard against the misuse of power in ministry and encouraging pastors to persevere in doing good. Check out the second part of our conversation with them here:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ► Listen on Apple:    Visit ChurchLeaders Website:  Find ChurchLeaders on Facebook:  Follow ChurchLeaders on X/Twitter:  Follow ChurchLeaders on Instagram:  Follow ChurchLeaders on Pinterest:  &nbsp; “” by Dr. Os Guinness "" by Dr. Os Guinness Check out Os'  Follow Os on

Os Guinness: How ‘Signals of Transcendence’ Lead People To Seek the Lord

“Hope is the first thing to go” Jeffery Woodke says, speaking about his six-and-a-half years as a hostage held by radical Islamist terror groups. He says he started out, after being kidnapped, praying eight hours a day. But over the years his hopelessness increased and his prayer time faded to twenty minutes daily. Suicidal, he beseeched his persecutors numerous times to take his life, knowing heaven would be much better than his existence as a hostage chained to a tree. Despite his doubts, God was always with Jeff. He found he couldn’t abandon prayer altogether. Listen as Jeff shares more about his time as a hostage; his hunger and water strikes to get better treatment and the ongoing trauma he deals with after his experience as a captive. He’ll tell the stories he heard about the Covid pandemic—and how he assumed his family must have all died and mourned their loss. Jeff will also tell about his release, from getting a “fruit basket” from the leader of his terrorist captors to being taken to the largest gathering of jihadists and Mujahadin he’d ever seen. It was there, under a tree, he met the French journalist Olivier Dubois. The two men were released together in March, 2023. Jeff spent several days in medical care after his release as doctors tried to stabilize his health before he could get on a plane to return to the US. One of the first things he asked for was a Bible. “It’s good to have the Word of God,” he says. He quickly turned to the gospel of John and began to read. Jeff’s testimony of forgiveness is powerful. After being chained physically, Jeff asks why anyone would chain themselves up willingly with unforgiveness? Forgiveness, he says, can cut those chains. Jeffery Woodke is still learning to process his years of hostage trauma. Pray for healing as he and Els explore what this season in their life will be. Jeff was amazed and humbled how Christians around the world prayed fervently for his release. “Prayer works,” he says. He’ll help us continue to pray for persecuted Christians still held hostage in West Africa and other parts of the world. Join VOM Radio host, Todd Nettleton, for the I-Am-N Virtual Event on March 8. Registration is free. You may also want to talk to your pastor or church leaders about hosting this inspiring event at your church. More details at  Never miss an episode of VOM Radio!  Or you can listen each week—and get daily prayer reminders—in the  for your smartphone or tablet.

MISSIONARY HOSTAGE: “Prayer Works; I’m Proof”

What are Christians supposed to do about the erosion of the Christian foundations of Western culture? Sometimes evangelicals have reacted by retreating from the call to be salt and light in the world, withdrawing into a narrow vision for the Gospel which limits its wider societal impact.

But isn't trying to change the world something that liberals tend to focus on? Does working for social change risk watering down the gospel? Should we be seeking a new version of “Christendom” today, or is this too unrealistic an aim for the modern Church?

Andy and Aaron explore all this ground, as well as thinking about what we can learn from evangelical missionaries who brought Christianity to other cultures.

Please Help ...

Pod of the Gaps needs your help to keep going! If you enjoy our adventures in culture and theology, please consider a small monthly tip to keep us recording: https://www.patreon.com/wkop

Resources Related to this Episode ...

Janet & Geoff Benge, "Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar" (YWAM Publishing)

Corrie Ten Boom, "The Hiding Place" (Tyndale House Publishing)

Episode 75 - Can We Change the World?

Andrea Williams and Tim Dieppe join Ben John to discuss our most recent win. Two street preachers, John Dunn and Shaun O'Sullivan, were arrested and prosecuted for preaching the word of God on Glastonbury High Street. The police officers, who denied demonstrating bias, were wearing rainbow lanyards and 'Ask my pronouns' badges.

We share evidence of the devastating effects of pornography, consolidated during our submission to the government's open call.

Finally, Tim Dieppe shares about a briefing he recently wrote for the Free Speech Union. It was published earlier this week with the title: Banning Islamophobia: Blasphemy Law by the Backdoor, and a foreword by Richard Dawkins.

Prosecuted for preaching bible next to LGBT flags; How pornography destroys lives | Round The Table

We've come to expect the politically correct and increasingly “woke” posture of many of the Church of England’s official statements and policies in recent years. Recent announcements on issues such as race, Islam, sexuality, and even evangelism, showcase a desire to “play nice” with the secular and multicultural political establishment rather than offering a genuinely prophetic voice. 

But is the CofE’s descent into ever more progressive viewpoints is inevitable? What about those who seek to reform Anglicanism from within, restoring its evangelical roots? Is there a case for disestablishing the Church of England altogether? What would we lose (or gain) if we did?

Andy (a reluctant Anglican) and Aaron (a Methodist exile) dive into this entirely non-controversial topic with the usual mix of wit, wisdom, and insight.

RESOURCES ETC MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

* CofE Press Release: https://bit.ly/48XQiEF

* CofE "Healing, Repair and Justice" report (see clause 32): https://bit.ly/49Pnj7u

* Justin Welby's Ramadan video: https://bit.ly/3PjxqJt

* ChatGPT's attempt at impersonating the Archbishop of Canterbury: https://bit.ly/4c9ZkBt

* Michael Hampson, "Last Rites: The End of the Church of England " (Granta, 2006)

* Ben Merkle, "The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great" (Thomas Nelson. 2009)

Episode 76 - Is It Time to End the Church of England?

All voices for the Audio Scripture Project, support the Blind and Low Vision Community. To learn more, download the Devotional and Books App available in The Apple and Google play Stores. Click on the “Audio Scripture” tab

Kingdom Voice: Arlene M.

Scripture:  Psalms 16:8-11 (NLT)-New Living Translation 

"I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." 

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Audio Scripture Project: Arlene M.

More and more Christians in western society today see the ever-increasing need to reach Muslims with the Gospel. The problem is: how? In this special episode, Aaron is joined by Bob of Speaker’s Corner to talk through challenges, strategies, and related issues that come with taking seriously the Muslim mission field before us. 

Bob is known especially for his confrontational mode of engagement in such mission, which some Christians disagree with. Is this because we’re overly influenced by “middle class churchianity”? In what ways can a more direct approach be more fruitful in reaching Muslims today? 

How does our wider progressive political culture affect our ability to challenge the beliefs of Muslims publically? What are the risks involved, and how can we navigate them with both wisdom and courage?

All this and more, on this jam-packed episode of Pod of the Gaps.

Useful Links:

- https://www.youtube.com/@SocoFilms

- 'Dawa Clowns Interrupting Conversation' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eodk1A7x14&t=973s

- https://twitter.com/btbsoco

- Andy Bannister, "Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?" (London: IVP, 2021)

Episode 77 - Confronting Muslims in the West (featuring Bob of Speaker’s Corner)

All voices for the Audio Scripture Project, support the Blind and Low Vision Community. To learn more, download the Devotional and Books App available in The Apple and Google play Stores. Click on the “Audio Scripture” tab

Kingdom Voice: Isaiah L.

Scripture: Psalms 23 (KJV)-King James Version 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." 

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Audio Scripture Project: Isaiah Lewis

Over the last decade and a half, the pervasive use of smartphones has become the norm across the western world. Yet we’re still unaware of the precise long-term consequences. For those brought up without smartphones (or without the internet!) we may not even be in a position to know the full extent of the most negative effects upon child development and socialisation. 

As politicians consider banning smartphones from schools, is there also some drastic reflection the Church needs to do too? How can Christians encourage parents to make wise choices to help their children thrive against the technological tide? If, as some authors suggest, smartphones have made children more anxious and lonely, how might Christians show them a better way?

RESOURCES:

- Jonathan Haidt, "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness" (Penguin, 2024)

- Rod Liddle, ‘Kids and Smartphones: An Inconvenient Truth’, The Spectator (24th Feb 2024)

- Tony Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You (Crossway, 2017)

- Anthony Esolen, 10 Ways To Destroy the Imagination of Your Child (ISI Books, 2013)

Episode 79 - Are Smartphones Ruining Our Children?

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