I was very thankful that Bill Huffhine was gracious enough to accept my invitation for an interview. He is the author of a great new book: Confessions of a Christian Dropout. You can read my review of his book here: http://ascendingthehills.blogspot.com/2011/08/confessions-of-christian-dropout-book.html
Enjoy the interview. It is broken up into two different parts. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments! Thank you!
Part 1
Part 2
Awesome Jessica! Thank you so much. I guess I should have used a better microphone. Audio isn't great on my end, but you sound great. I hope your readers enjoy the conversation!
ReplyDeleteThank you again Bill! I really appreciated you taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview. I know readers from both our blogs are going to enjoy listening to it. I know I did! :) I think they will be informed, encouraged and inspired.
ReplyDelete~blessings
Jessica this is such an interesting interview and I love the Podcast idea. The sound did cut out in part 1 but nothing serious. I missed the book review that you have done so I am heading over there to read it because you both have me curious now. Bill, congratulations on your book! May it become a best seller! God bless.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Nelieta! I hope you enjoy the book review. Yeah, we had a bit of technical difficulties! I was really excited though when Bill agreed to the interview. I think he has some great things to say that people will definitely enjoy hearing. Thanks for stopping by :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for conducting this interview with Bill, Jessica.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Bill for allowing us a glimpse into your heart.
On spiritual authority… Imposed authority was never the intent. I’ve found that, ironically, the very ones who follow Christ wholeheartedly are the ones who’ve received this revelation, and “have no need that any should teach them.” 1 John 2:27
The goal should be to fulfill the following:
“No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD.”
But the religious system has so conformed to the world that there is a clear distinction between the ‘laity’ and the clergy, the latter being ‘credentialed’ and therefore qualified to lead the flock.
This truth, coming from a former pastor, holds all the more credibility for me.
“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself…” ~ Walt Whitman
Bill, like Christ, “speaks as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:29
Thank you so much for listening Debra and sharing your thoughts, particularly those on spiritual authority. ~blessings and peace
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific interview! Amazingly, your voices sounded exactly how I expected them to; is there something in our writing that actually conveys the tonality of the spoken word? Wow!
ReplyDeleteI especially liked the discussion comparing imposed authority with relational authority. I feel so fortunate in my current church where both my pastors are the first to admit they are not perfect, willing to show their weaknesses and shortcomings, letting us know, upfront, their humanity in need, just as ours, of a savior. They encourage the congregation at every turn to get involved in relational activities within the church, i.e., Sunday school, Bible studies, and outreach in a variety of opportunities. We are given permission to create our own ministries if there is one within the church that doesn't fit our needs. Am I blessed, or what?
In light of that, Bill, I will order your book, read it, re-read it, and begin my own study group based on your writing. I'm sure there will be folks interested in this within and without the church. This could be the start of an incredibly enlightening adventure!
Thanks, Jessica and Bill, for all the effort and time it took to put this interview together. Jessica, keep re-posting and I will be sure to place on my Facebook feed. Thanks, too, to both of you, for being so supportive and encouraging of my Daily Devotions. I wrote #100 today and literally feel so blessed by the Lord.
Love and blessings!
Martha
Thank you so much, everyone, for all of your kind and encouraging words about our interview. I am truly humbled.
ReplyDeleteMartha, I'm so excited to hear that you may begin a study group around my book. If and when you decide to go forward with this, let me know if you need a bulk quantity of the books for your group and I'll get them for you at a discounted rate.
You all have become such a precious part of my own journey.
Martha!
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed with Jessica and how she not only conducted the interview but, expressed some concerns many young and even older Christians need to have answered!! Way to go Jessica! I never knew how to pronounce your name until now! :-)
For me, I am Holy Spirit driven sold out man of Christ but before I grew into the High powered Spiritfilled life, I was grounded completely in the Word of God through repentance, confession and the washing of my sins by the Blood of the Lamb. I was a charismatic catholic in 1973-74 but not saved/born again until 1988. It was the Word of God and constant study which grew me up.
I could tell from Bill's terminology, he is from a charismatic background where emotions, turf wars and egos rule the day. I go to a small bible church, but fellowship with former Assembly of God saints because they have the passion. What is lacking in today's youth oriented church-life etc...is they have no Biblical Worldview and it's getting worse.
Marth, read Ken Ham's ALREADY GONE & his new book COMPROMISED.
I can see why Jessica's blog is so popular! You are doing some heavy lifting and reaching out in a great way, Jessica and I was sorry the interview ended!! lol....
Have a great day at church tomorrow dear friends and am lookingforward to your next devotion, Martha! God bless
bernie
psalm 27:4
Psalm 27:4 One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after; to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
ReplyDeleteI am convinced that God loves our questions. If it weren't for doubt, I wouldn't have come to this point, a believer with conviction. He knows what each of us needs to bring us into relationship with Him, and He won't stop until the mission is accomplished.
Thank you, Bernie, for pointing me and others to this verse, reminding us to seek God's will in all we do, and to know that He is big enough to handle all our questions and our doubts. I will certainly check out the books you recommended, too.
May God richly bless you and keep you and all those connected to this feed in His loving embrace.
In the precious name of Jesus, amen!
Martha thank you so much for your wonderful comments. I am thrilled that you are going to be buying the book and potentially going to read it from others in your church to discuss it! I think that's a fantastic idea and that the ideas presented in it will not only encourage, inspire, but also challenge and be thought provoking and lead to some great discussions!
ReplyDeleteI love and can identify with what you said when you wrote:
"If it weren't for doubt, I wouldn't have come to this point, a believer with conviction."
I've had a couple of times in my faith where I had to struggle through times of doubt, even cynicism, a longing for questions that seem to go forever unanswered into the depth and reality and nature of God.
These times are painful and they have caused me to stumble through the dark a bit...but there's a light that is so glorious, so assuring, so wonderful and life giving that awaits all who have questions, who have doubts and that struggle through their faith and keep firm, pressing in to the heart of God and going onwards towards the truth.
When we stay steady and firm, God blesses us and our seeking hearts and our faiths oftentimes, as you describe, are stronger at the end and we have more conviction and steadier footing than ever before spiritually. This process can almost be likened to of giving birth. One struggles, one groans in pain and might even feel utterly alone because there's nobody else that can really help do the job for you ;)...but when all is said and done, the struggles bear fruit that is amazing and beyond all expectations.
Thanks again for your great comment. Your blog has been a source of inspiration that I've come to daily and I am so blessed to have gotten to know you through the blogosphere.
~blessings
Thank you stopping by Bernie and listening to the interview! I am so glad that you enjoyed it :) Thanks for the book suggestions that you gave Martha. I haven't read from that author yet and it's great to hear new titles suggested to give me ideas on what to read in the future :)
ReplyDeleteThanks again. ~blessings
Psalm 27:4 is my life verse with Jeremiah 20:11 running a close second, Martha!! Thank you for checking it out!!
ReplyDeleteAm working on my new post for this morning, but dropped by my two new favorite blogging friends - Martha and Jessica - to see your reactions and enjoyed both your comments a lot! You both have wonderful hearts and they are open to the things of the Lord!! AMEN!!
One thing I have to say is am really concerned about this new generation of our kids, sistahs. They don't know the Word or have been taught the wrong things about it and on and on...when you read the two Ken Ham books I mentioned, it will scare you. So for own kids, we stress reading the Bible more than reading books ABOUT the Bible. My kids can quote more scripture than most adults I know. It is hidden in their hearts. That way, the enemy cannot deceive them even though he is against them...but no weapon formed against them will ever prosper.
Stress the Word of God....promote and proclaim it....and you can never go wrong....am 55 years old and wish I knew now what I knew when I was 30....but I know it now....and am sure going to let every young person ...and old....know about what Mighty Glorious GOD He is!
Thank you again Jessica!!! You have a great voice and hope to hear more interviews by you in the future! God bless you both this day, amen and amen!
Jessica and Bill
ReplyDeleteGreat and honest interview - the lid has been lifted on the religious lamp and the spiritual genie is now free to lead us into Reality.
I believe that the world over many are coming out of the woodwork to question their Christian mindset and organization.
Keep up the good work.
Dylan Morrison Author of The Prodigal Prophet
Hey Jessica, Guess what? Did you know that part two on your blog is identical to part one? Rather than part two picking up with the remainder of our questions, it simply repeats part one. I just now had a chance to listen to all of it and found this.
ReplyDeleteI can really relate to this. Wow =)
ReplyDeleteMost of you have now read about Bill's spiritual journey in his book. I would recommend it to you if you haven't. But, anyway...my experience with Bill is that he was my pastor for the few years that he was a pastor. It was hard to see him struggle with things over the past few years, but I am so glad that I now understand his journey better. That being said, I am still involved with a local church and would maybe say that I'm religious. But, I also think I am authentic and transparent. I wish Bill could find a community of believers that would allow him to have fellowship without feeling "religious" or dogmatic.
ReplyDeleteand also...part two is the same as part 1...as Bill said. I'd like to hear the second part sometime.
ReplyDeleteDylan,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by and listening to the interview. So glad you enjoyed it!! Yes, I think more and more people are gaining the confidence of stepping out of the box and down the spiritual path God is calling Him on. What a great medium the internet is proving to be in connecting such like-minded and hearted individuals. Thanks again :)
Blessings
Ann,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by. I am glad that you found a community of believers to live out your faith with. That is a blessing indeed! May we all find that, whether it is inside or outside of church.
~blessings
Bill,
ReplyDeleteI took care of it. So sorry! I had edited the first part which had a blooper I thought I had edited out. Upon updating the post I had somehow replaced it under part two. Anyways, it's all fixed!
~Blessings
Nice interview..great idea...I have shared your blog Bill with my Pastor.....thank you both for doing this..As always...XOXOXOXO
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Bonnie!! So glad you shared Bill's blog with your pastor...I think it's great when we circulate the treasures we find :) Hope all is well. ~many blessings
ReplyDeleteJessica, I'm so glad to see that this worked for you and was very interesting ;) Did you have an issue with part 2? I think this would be a great interview to share with several people that I know. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDelete