Sonship Podcast: Recent Episodes
John MacDonald
Talking about walking with God and living in His love
”I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18
Author and Speaker Felicia Murrell talks to me about her latest book due out in Feb 2024 (preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble Etc).
We talk about love destroying binary thinking, transforming self, embracing who we are in grief, anger and even hate.
This book is for those who want to think more deeply, those who are asking questions of how, what, and perhaps even why, and those who want to engage in deep listening and empathy.
And: The Restorative Power of Love in an Either/Or World is an invitation to move beyond binaries, beyond hierarchy and comparison to embrace the concept of "AND," with inclusion and generativity that allow for more than one perspective and/or way of being.
I speak with Marisa Rosie about her experience as a missionary and the damage done in "serving" God.
We talk about manipulation, control and spiritual abuse, are people demonised or traumatised, being a prayer target due to disability.
Finally experiencing love, and evolving theology, Marisa began putting boundaries in place, entering into a freer relationship with God
If you wish to support what John is doing with the podcasts and his missions work in India you can "buy him a coffee" or find out more on sonship website.
I chat with Florian Berndt and Felicia Murrell about some Christian dogma's incompatibility with the revelation of God as love. We cover a variety of topics in this deep dive, come join us on the journey.
Felicia is a book editor, public speaker and writer.
Florian is a theologian based in Germany currently writing his masters thesis.
If you wish to support what John is doing with the podcasts and his missions work in India you can "buy him a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnbV or find out more on sonship.co.uk
Rae McKinley is a breath of fresh air and her story is both entertaining and informative. Rae’s story is of faith guiding her through life’s craziness. We chat about Homelessness, faith & activism, comics, storytelling and God’s care in chaos
I am joined once again, by my wife Fiona where we chat about the two trees in Eden.
We cover judgement, binary systems, power and control along with hierarchy and freedom
If you wish to support what John is doing with the podcasts and his missions work in India you can "buy him a coffee" or find out more on sonship website.
I speak with Stephen Hill about the changing landscape of his own faith.
We cover vulnerability, the desire for community and much more. Check out more of Stephen's writings and speaking (MP3) at Ancient Future Website
You can "buy him a coffee" or find out more about Sonship on the sonship website
I speak with my wife, Fiona MacDonald, about the threads of faith/religion through her life.
We speak about how she has coped with marriage to me as I wrestled with evangelicalism, depression and anxiety, the impact of misogyny, childlessness and encountering Father's Love as his daughter.
This is the first of a couple of chats we are having.
Rain shares their faith experience growing up and the journey of coming out as gay, the loss and pain of that and the place of God in it as they explore what it means to be them.
“I realised that these dark places in me were not evil or sinful but just a part of me that needed to be heard” Tineke Ziemer.
I speak with Tineke Ziemer about there impact of toxic religion on her and the road out of it.
We cover self harming, christian ideas of women's roles in church and marriage, and the impact all of this had on her mental health.
We also speak about having a child who comes out as gay and how to react.
Apologies for the late drop on this one - holidays got in the way.
Informative and challenging, this chat with Jamie Englehart focusses on Jamie's book, "Myths & Mistranslations" available from him at http://connectinternationalministries.com/
or from Amazon.
We touch on inspiration of the Bible, Lucifer, hell and many other topics. What are you waiting for - dive in!
Ian speaks about the Toronto revival, learning to rest and learning to like himself and getting off the performance treadmill as a result of love.
He also speaks about dependence as a crucial element in any faith walk
Charles takes us through his journey of prophetic ministry, rejection of hellfire and eternal torment to the reconciliation of all things, through psychiatric care, drunk and disorderly arrests, & recovery...
Here are a couple of quotes from the chat
"I was letting the revelation lead me instead of Holy Spirit"
"Legalism drives you to dependence upon something which may not even be good for you in the long run but might leave you warm and fuzzy for just a little while"
Florian is the founder of Divine Embrace Ministries & Publications, focussing on the revelation of Father's Love and mystical union through Christ.
I have heard people describe Florian as an Apostle and a mystic so we decided to chat about mysticism and Christian living.
Ken Norberg shares his journey from teenage hippy to pastor and his encounters with Father's Love.
On the way, we chat about music, mental health, God's comfort and everyday life as ministry.
In this episode, John interviews Martin Fell about how discovering love led him to change the way he understood God and Christian doctrine.
We cover hell, penal substitution, inerrancy and more
Lorna Farrell has (so far) had an interesting life. A former sports broadcaster, stand-up comedian, and radio show host, Lorna underwent a "straightforward" operation only to find herself partially disabled and wheelchair-bound.
In this episode, she speaks about life, faith, and lots more
Homosexuality has been, for a long time, regarded as sin by believers.
We read our translations describing same-sex attraction as abominable and treat same-sex attracted people accordingly.
What if we have misunderstood the Bible teaching on same-sex relationships?
What if we have forgoten Jesus' instruction to love?
How then do we regard same-sex attracted people and fellow believers?
In this follow up to his conversation with Michael Bird, John looks at what the Bible says and means regarding same-sex attraction and more importantly, what the Bible doesn't say.
What is it about same sex attraction that causes Christianity to react so negatively at times?
What about the people, the individuals who are wrestling with faith and same sex attraction, how to we treat them, how do we respond and how do we love them?
In conversation with Michael Bird, John MacDonald explores some of these issues.
Part one of a two part look at the issue of same sex attraction
I chat with Florian Berndt & Felicia Murrell about faith journeys.
We talk about the gospels core message, separation/alienation, Jesus' cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" finishing with thoughts on the cross and Psalm 22
I chat with poet David Tensen about his inspirations, broken times, when trite faith answers don't add up and wounded heroes.
We speak about recovery from burnout, the need to be a rescuer and how his faith grew through deconstructing and reconstructing, dismantling coping mechanisms and getting help
If you thin you don't like poetry, think again. David's poetry is life, it is raw at times and most of all it is real - giving language to our own heart cries.
The music in this video is used with Godfrey's permission. I do not profit from its use.
Described variously as a minstrel, troubador and worship leader I chat with Godfrey about his journalism career, songwriting influences, ministry in Psychiatric wards and Glory in the Pub.
The music in this video is used with Godfrey's permission. I do not profit from its use.
Described variously as a minstrel, troubador and worship leader we talk about Godfrey's changing theology, the Father singing over us, his musical influences and Moravian connections. There's a wee bit about living in lockdown thrown in there too.
From Self destructive and suicidal teen to living loved, Florian Berndt shares his perspective on God & life
This is the second part of our chat and includes the issue of religious zealotry & discipline, prophetic ministry & community, and a chat about all creation groaning
self destructive as a teen, suicidal and never feeling a home in his heart… The love of God revolutionised Florian’s life, theology and living. The joy that was missing came alive in him.
Florian says, "The revelation that accompanied this experience involved both the masculine and the feminine aspects of the parental nature of the Divine and not only did I finally find a place of rest in my heart, but my entire mind seemed to get reconfigured and my theology started to deconstruct from that moment on"
In this first part we touch on subjects such as Free Grace, Wrath & Passion, West/East Church theology, femininity of Holy Spirit
Part 2 is available now
Sammy Horner has been many things but is best known as musician/singer with The electrics, The Sweet Sorrows and for his Celtic Worship music.
Sammy speaks with John MacDonald about life in lockdown, his new music and books as well as faith and life.
This podcast includes some of Sammy's music: "Who Gives a Damn?" The Blessing", "The Whole Shebang", "The Good Ship Kelly Jean" "Willingly" and "You Are Loved, You Are Accepted".
What happens when a successful pastor blows it; when he loses friends, home, job? How do you rebuild from that?
Steve Myatt lived that nightmare and shares his story with humility and vulnerability as he tells of his journey to liberation.
Think you've blown it? THINK AGAIN!
Mark Marx was born in Cape Town, studied art in London and launched out, in healing ministry while based in small town Northern Ireland.
How did this South African born Londoner, designing the interiors of homes of the wealthy, end up in Coleraine selling double glazing, before travelling the world equipping the church with the belief that all believers can heal the sick?
Mark is motivated by the overwhelming love of God the Father to touch others and bring them into His embrace through Jesus. Listen as Mark speaks about the perseverance, humility of heart and faith that God has worked in him and has taken him across continents.
https://www.healingonthestreets.com/
I had a fascinating chat with Felicia Murrell around her experiences as a Black Woman, talking about racism and the culture that allows it.
Where and how, does faith and more importantly love work in such times?
Listen and learn.
Felicia drops pearls of wisdom and insight into the conversation that are well worth pondering.
Felicia will also be part of the teaching/speaking team for the Open Table conference III (online) commencing February 26th 2021. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-open...
Author of 'Out of Control', the delightful Natalie Collins popped into Abba Podcast to chat about her work as a gender justice specialist (yes she does explain it) working in the area of domestic abuse.
We chatted about male violence, faith and Natalie shared some of her personal journey and experiences in a toxic relationship
Jack & Dorothy Winter pioneered the revelation of Father's Love, ministering around the world. I had the enormous pleasure and privilege to chat with Dorothy recently as she recalled some of those years and the incredible love and faithfulness of God throughout.
Apologies for the occasional poor sound quality. This was recorded over the internet and the connection was not so stable at times
Saved to Serve - it sounds like a new age mantra or self help declaration. For many years believers in Jesus have heard and followed this mantra devotedly and at times slavishly BUT is it true?
Are followers of Jesus really called and saved to serve? If so why are we not seeing greater efforts and results from this obligated service?
If not, why have we followed this idea down into the rabbit hole?
John MacDonald offers some thoughts, insights and advice on the matter
Barry Adams, author of worldwide phenomenon, "The Father's Love Letter" talks about his experience and understanding of God's fatherhood for us.
Barry shares about God the Father's love in time of family crisis and his hopes for the future
In the rapidly changing faith landscape many are questioning what they have always heard and believed.
In some people's thinking this is the first step in a great falling away and for others it is an awakening to a more solid faith base.
John speaks with Phil Drysdale (https://www.phildrysdale.com/) about his experience and ministry to those who are 'deconstructing'. He explains what it is, how it affects people and some of the implications of deconstruction for believers.
If God does not adopt us as His sons & daughters what are we then?
Is God really our Father if He doesn't adopt us?
John shows, from the Bible, that God has not only, always been A Father but, that He has always been our Father - even before we had heard of Him.
Be assured of God's eternal love for you as His beloved child.
Video will also be available on YouTube (search for jmac336)
The question of being God's children has been a dilemma for many believers. When the Bible calls us the adopted children of God is that an accurate description of our relationship with Him?
Trevor Galpin brings a wonderful and fresh look at this topic, bringing great clarity to our status as children of God.
In the next episode John will talk about how the Bible shows that God is our true and real Father...
PodBites are short musings on issues that I am thinking about but have not fully formulated.
Feel free to debate, chat, disagree or ignore - it's ok.
We all have a story and this epoisode is my story.
I share with you my journey from poor, working class surroundings to finding myself loved by God as His own son.
My experience of life and Christian culture drew me into isolation and unhappiness UNTIL love found me.
My book Loved to Life offers much more detail. If you are interested you can obtain a paperback or Ebook copy from sonship.co.uk or Amazon worldwide.
What do you think of when you see the word 'Helper'?
What springs to mind when we are told that woman was created as 'Helper' for the man?
That's the topic for this episode, Woman as Helper. You may just be surprised at the conclusions John comes to.
There is a secret place for each and every one of us and it has been made ready. It awaits your arrival…
God as a Father is the foundation of being human. John looks at what the apostle Paul has to say on the matter. Jesus taught Paul the gospel he preached so what is the core of his theology?