The God Journey

Wayne and Kyle discuss an email from the U.K. that they found breathtaking in its simple depth. After a lighthearted reflection on the quirks of people we love, they turn to something more profound—how Jesus offered a completely different way of living than the power-driven systems we see around us. True spiritual authority doesn’t come from titles or positions, but from a life deeply connected to God and genuinely serving others. When authority becomes tied to identity, it often turns inward—becoming self-serving and harmful. But real authority doesn’t demand attention; it creates space—safe, open, and life-giving—for others to encounter God for themselves. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Walter Brueggermann on the Justice from Below Rowena's last paragraph: "If much of what is collapsing right now is authority rooted in structure, perhaps what is emerging is authority rooted in union - not louder, not more visible, but more real. And maybe Kingdom governance won't announce itself clearly at first; it will simply be recognised-by the fruit it carries, and by the life that flows through it." Get your copy of Just Love The post What Spiritual Authority Looks Like (#1030) first appeared on The God Journey.

What if Jesus's parable of the Talents wasn't about money, giftings, or religious work? What if he was telling this story to show us how his love finds its way into the world? After a conversation about medical professionals taking a more holistic approach and how curiosity enhances relationships, Kyle and Wayne turn to this parable and how it is often misinterpreted in a way that goes against the New Covenant. But if love is the real treasure, then everything about this parable falls into place and invites us into the joy of passing on the love. Now we know why it always bears fruit and why not trusting his love diminishes who God wants us to be. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Get your copy of Just Love The post Re-examining the Parable of the Talents (#1029) first appeared on The God Journey.

This powerful image comes from a vision an autistic boy shared with a woman, except that he saw a large beast standing before the altar in a church building, blocking someone's view of Jesus. It sums up Kyle and Wayne's conversation this week as they look through the mailbag and respond to listeners' comments and questions. They discuss finding contentment even through brutal circumstances, especially for those who feel stuck in their journey. That comes as we let Jesus grow larger in our hearts than the beast that seeks to block our view. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Get your copy of Just Love The post The Beast Between You and Jesus (#1028) first appeared on The God Journey.

Following up on the World in Turmoil and the scandal at Bethel, leads Kyle and Wayne into a conversation about character. Where do you find people of character and how do you become one in a culture that says the image you project is more important than the person you are? Do you see vulnerable people as targets to exploit or people who need care and security? Even though expedience provides a quicker path to money and power, living at peace with yourself is a far better journey. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Get your copy of Just Love The post The Devaluation of Character (#1027) first appeared on The God Journey.

"President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire to cause Armageddon and mark his return to earth." So said a base commander last week to his troops, according to a document filed with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Two hundred more similar complaints were also filed from 50 different military installations around the world. What do we make of this and the escalating war against ancient Babylon by what many consider to be modern-day Babylon? Kyle and Wayne take a look at the current geopolitical crisis and what it might portend for our world. They also ponder a C.S. Lewis quote that said the enemy often lures us deeply into one error by introducing the opposite error, so that our retreat from that one will blind us to the one we're already in. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Get your copy of Just Love The post The World in Turmoil (#1026) first appeared on The God Journey.

Wayne, Tobie, and Kyle continue their discussion about the release of Just Love: How One Mistranslation Distorted the Gospel. All three express excitement about the potential impact it could have on those ready to hear it. They see a return to love-shaped justice to not only be more consistent with the through-story of Scripture, but also to a more meaningful expression of their passion and faith. In this episode, they talk about the impact this would have on our religious institutions, the connection between love and fairness, and how we're more aware of injustice when we are victims of it rather than when we're doing it. True justice comes from life transformation through Jesus rather than external systems or retribution. They discussed how the etymology of justice traces back to concepts of life energy, and how Jesus modeled serving others rather than seeking power. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Get your copy of Just Love The post Love-Lived Justice, Part 2 (#1025) first appeared on The God Journey.

"The Incarnation itself was an act of justice," says Tobie van der Westhuizen, co-author of Just Love: How One Mistranslated Word Distorted the Gospel, as he joins Kyle and Wayne for a conversation about the new book prior to its release on March 3. When English translators chose the made-up religious word, righteousness, to substitute for the word justice that the original writers would have used, they unintentionally distorted the Gospel itself. Instead of focusing on love and how it transforms us into just people that reflect his kingdom, Christianity in many quarters became more preoccupied with personal piety and sin management. A true revolution could occur if the followers of Jesus embraced a life of love-lived justice through the heart rather than through obligations or legal requirements. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Why House Church Isn't the Answer Pre-order your copy of Just Love The post The Beauty of Love Lived Justice (#1024) first appeared on The God Journey.

Perception is its own reality, false though it may be. The podcast begins with a brief conversation about the trajectory of life, Kyle looking forward to what might lie ahead, and Wayne glancing back in gratefulness at how Jesus has walked with him. Then, they look at perceptions—how people perceive God and how they think he perceives them. They talk about those who see God as a demanding taskmaster, those who respond to him as his wrath drives them, and what people make of unanswered prayers. How does God want us to perceive him, and what is he thinking when he looks at you? A reference from Exodus, of all places, shows us how God wants to be known. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Just Love, referred to in this podcast, is a book Wayne is writing with Tobie van der Westhuizen from South Africa. We hope to have it available later this month. The post How God Sees You (#1023) first appeared on The God Journey.

It's happened again. Another major ministry in the Charismatic world admits to hiding a false prophet who was also sexually abusive—for six years! Why does this keep happening? Sadly, many who claim to follow Christ can't tell the difference between someone filled with the life of the Spirit and those who only pretend to be for notoriety and influence. In the last few weeks, horrible revelations have come out of Bethel in Redding, and Wayne and Kyle wrestle with the questions that yet another scandal provokes. Until hearts turn to care for the victims of abuse and act to protect them, we will continue to see false leaders who would rather cover up abuse rather than warn the sheep when a wolf is among them. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Jesus Lens: The Elliptical Playground Wayne's Blog on the Bethel Scandal The Roys Report on the Bethel Scandal Just Love, referred to in this podcast, is a book Wayne is writing with Tobie van der Westhuizen from South Africa. We hope to have it available later this month. The post Yet Another Tragedy (#1022) first appeared on The God Journey.

Where do you place your hope in the midst of difficult times? Kyle is finding that more and more people are turning to AI as a source of hope and direction because they don't have relationships that encourage and inspire them. Can AI be a spiritual advisor, or even a conduit to God? Or, is it becoming a golden calf for those who don't feel God's presence and wisdom aren't tangible enough? Wayne and Kyle talk about our substitutes for presence and community, as well as the addictive nature of AI's Positive Validation Feedback Loop that keeps people engaged by telling them what they want to hear. Authenticity can only be found in our connection to Jesus and in the community of fellow-travelers that he places around us. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Just Love, referred to in this podcast, is a book Wayne is writing with Tobie van der Westhuizen from South Africa. We hope to have it available later this month. The post AI and the Golden Calf (#1021) first appeared on The God Journey.

"To have faith is to trust love," which is where the bulk of Wayne and Kyle's conversation goes this week as they come through the mailbag. There are comments about relational community, how prayer changes as trust grows, and the McDonald's Toy Syndrome. They finish with one email that talks about the importance of trusting God's love and not knowledge alone. While human love can be weak and conditional, God's love is the strongest force in the universe and opens people to truth and reality. Those who desire love will recognize him when he comes; those who desire knowledge will see him as a threat. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Beyond Sundays Just Love, referred to in this podcast, is a book Wayne is writing with Tobie van der Westhuizen from South Africa. We hope to have it available in February 2026. The post Trusting Love (#1020) first appeared on The God Journey.

How do you view friendships around you, especially those that may be short-lived? Do you shy away, not wanting to get hurt, exploit them for what you can get, or engage them as an opportunity to share life, even if it won't last long? Wayne and Kyle discuss what a healthy mindset looks like as we engage others, whether it be short-term or long-term. Be true to your "yuck meter" so you won't be manipulated. Learn the power of active listening as a gift to give others by giving them your full attention, a curious mind, and a calm presence, while resisting the desire to make judgments or give advice. Of course, all of that begins in our growing trust in Father's love and realizing that anything that argues against our belovedness to him is a lie we need to walk away from. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast My Friend Luis podcast My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem. Quote Wayne read on the podcast: “Talking with another person to process what you learned or experienced doesn't mean having a friendly chat with them. It means describing an event that had meaning for you, while the other person listens with caring, full attention, a calm presence, and a settled body. This might involve both of you letting you tremble, cry, sway, shake your head, or move your body in some other way as it metabolizes the experience. Therapists call this active listening. Being an active listener involves not interrupting; not making judgments; not asking questions other than to make sure you understand; not giving advice or offering explanations; and not jumping in with a story of your own. It's important to reach out to others for this type of support. It's just as important to allow others to reach out to you for it.” Just Love, referred to in this podcast, is a book Wayne is writing with Tobie van der Westhuizen from South Africa. We hope to have it available in February 2026.  The post Toward Relational Wholeness (#1019) first appeared on The God Journey.

"The enemy's chief strategy is to make dead things look alive." And wow, does it ever work! In the backdrop of yet another revelation of moral failure on the part of a Christian celebrity, Kyle and Wayne discuss how the theology of love can fail us in our desperate moments. The question remains, however: Why doesn't love and faith transform even its most ardent advocates? How can people give lip service to love and grace for decades and yet remain so utterly untransformed by it? Unless we discover God's kind of love inside his presence with us, we will remain unchanged and still act in our own expedience rather than treating others around us justly. And in the aftermath of failure, how does love restore the victims who suffer because of it and the one who fell to temptation? Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast My Grandmother's Hands Just Love, referred to in this podcast, is a book Wayne is writing with Tobie van der Westhuizen from South Africa. We hope to have it available in February 2026. The post God’s Love and Moral Failure (#1018) first appeared on The God Journey.