The AdventureLife Podcast

What if Father asks us to let go of something good so we can experience or grasp hold of something even greater? Would we be willing to let go of what's secure, what's comfortable, and what we know? Do we trust Him enough to let go of those things? This week Will shares some experiences and thoughts about what that might look like and what it might take in order for us to do that. Will also shares an announcement that may mean a bonus episode for Season 1. Also, if you have questions or topics that you'd like Will to answer or discuss in Season 2, send those requests to will@adventurelifeministries.com or connect with him on social media (links below.) Connect with Will Ratliff on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

Have you ever wondered what God expects of us when it comes to asking for forgiveness? Do we need to beg, plead, and grovel before God? Should we expect to sin all our lives and continue in our patterns of sin? Or does God offer a solution for all of that? Using Scripture as a guide, Will offers his thoughts about how he has learned to understand sin, our sin patterns, and forgiveness in the hands of a loving God.

How would you encourage young men and women in their faith as they chart a new path in their lives? This week, Will went to his nephew's graduation and reflects on what he would say to a group of graduating young men and women believers as they ventured out into a different chapter in their journey.

There's a smorgasbord of topics in this week's episode. Will still feels a calling and challenge to be a prophetic voice that calls others into a new way of living, acting, and being and challenges the empire way of thinking and doing. There were a number of things this week that confirmed this nudge and continue to compel Will in this direction. He also shares a conversation he had with a young woman this week about the disconnection of young adults from the church...and shares a dream that he was reminded of when looking back at some journal entries from a few years ago. Will also shares a bit about what the podcast may hold for the future and subsequent seasons. Tune in for the last few episodes of Season 1.

Have you ever wanted to be a prophet? Yeah, neither has Will. And yet that's exactly where he feels like Father may be calling him. But, wait, don't think Old Testament prophet or someone on the street corner or even like you see in some charismatic circles presently. What if a prophet's main purpose is to call others into a new way of life...out of the dominant thinking of the empire...beyond the status quo...and into a greater reality...the life and freedom that is offered to all believers. And it's not about standing on a stage in a building or a stadium or even on a street corner. It begins in our homes, our offices, and among our friends. We can all live prophetic lives as we call each other to a new way of living and seeing the world and the life we are to live in it. So who wants to challenge the empire?

Have you ever questioned your faith? Doubted what you believe or why you believe it? This week, Will shares some about his own journey with doubt and struggle and how God handles our doubts and questions. Will also responds to the announcement of a former Christian leader who announced they were giving up their faith this week and shares his insight into what may be going on. If you're in the midst of a struggle or if you can relate, feel free to reach out at will@adventurelifeministries.com.

What does it mean to bear God's image or live in the image of God? This week, Will talks about what that looks like, what it means, as well as the dangers of when we don't and where that can lead. What you believe about yourself and what God thinks about you can make a huge impact on your life and faith. Email Will with questions and comments at will@adventurelifeministries.com. Connect with Will Ratliff on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

Will is taking a week off from podcasting but wanted to share a fun announcement about Wayne Jacobsen coming to visit Amarillo later in April. For more details, you can also email Will at will@adventurelifeministries.com. See you next week!

Do you know what it means to live in the New Covenant? Is your faith journey characterized by freedom, grace, and love? Or is it burdensome and filled with guilt and shame? This week, Will talks about the adventure of living within the new life we have in Christ - one that is characterized by freedom. Will shares some things that every believer has access to - but we seldom live in those things. This time of year, as we celebrate Easter, Will explains what the Cross means for each of us on this side of the resurrection. Enjoy! Email Will with questions and comments at will@adventurelifeministries.com. Connect with Will Ratliff on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

This week, Will shares an experience that left him with a different way to view this podcast and how that might shape things to come. Will also dives into a couple of words we tend to misuse, church and worship, and how we might begin to think differently and use those words differently in the future. Will shares some examples from his own life and experiences with his kids.

This week, Will talks about some reflections on his conversation with Arnita Willis Taylor last week, and also talks about a unique piece of mail that his wife received this past week and that sparks some thoughts on prayer: why we pray, how we are invited into prayer, and Will even gives his thoughts on why prayers go unanswered. Plus, how God can use us to be an answer to prayer for others. Check it out! Email Will with questions and comments at will@adventurelifeministries.com. Connect with Will Ratliff on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

This week Will hosts a very special guest, Arnita Willis Taylor. Arnita and Will talk about being a disruptor and living in disruption and the ways we can respond to loneliness, resistance, and the things that disruption can bring. We talk about God, how He's a God of disruption, how He can bring disruption in our lives and how we can view that negatively or begin to embrace it and view it as something that a loving God calls us into. Join Arnita and Will for a challenging and engaging discussion on disruption. Connect with Arnita at her website. Have questions or comments? Email Will at will@adventurelifeministries.com. Arnita Willis Taylor, wise, witty, warm, and practical, is currently the founder and owner of Eight Leadership Development Group, which is a leadership development company that helps assigned leaders, tag leaders and teams improve their leadership practice by providing customized learning opportunities like consulting, seminars, coaching, and small group intensive interactions. The primary foci are developing and refining soft skills in the areas of character, culture, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, change and conflict management. Sample topics include Discovering Your Leadership Style, Building Emotional Intelligence, Establishing Social and Cultural Intelligence, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Decreasing Unconscious Bias, Developing Cross-Cultural Leadership Strategies, and Leading with Boundaries, and many more depending on the need. A natural leader, Arnita has held many diverse leadership roles in the local church with more than 25 years of ministry experience. Arnita has a deep passion for the Word of God and uses it as a plumb line in life and in leadership. Arnita is passionate about discipleship and helping people be equipped for ministry. She has extensive practical experience in worship, youth, prayer, prophetic, women, and is an expert in small group ministry training and development. Prior starting Eight Leadership Development Group, she served as an associate pastor of small groups at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX. As an ordained minister, she is a successful executor of small groups in practice and structuring ministry for small groups including leader recruitment, training, and development. Arnita Taylor has spent most of her professional career in the laboratory chemistry field as a clinical laboratory scientist in the health care industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a master’s degree in leadership with a focus on leader development from Walden University, Minnesota, MN. She was awarded by Walden University (2013), a distinguished alumni award for her work in community leadership development. She is the co-author of, “A Language of Healing for a Polarized Nation. Creating safe environments for conversations about race, politics, sexuality, and religion” released in November 2019 by Blue Sheep Media, which showcases her passion for diversity and inclusion on multiple levels. She frequently facilitates conversations centered around race in relationships. In addition, A Language of Healing Live is on You-Tube. In alignment with her community interest, Arnita has served in local nonprofits, churches, chambers, schools, and prison settings. She hosts a weekly personal development group in her home. She is a passionate insightful communicator for conferences, workshops, retreats, and other events to enrich and empower people! Her straightforward practical style allows her effectiveness in many contexts. Personally, Arnita’s hobbies are reading, entertaining, floral designing, collecting African art and artifacts, sending out Evites and enjoying PEOPLE! She is most passionate about her family. She is the wife of 32 years to Michael and the proud and grateful mother of two sons, Evan (29) of Baltimore, MD, and Nolan (22) of Cape Girardeau, MO. She and her family are based out of Keller,...

Many people live in community. Few people live AS community. What does it mean to live as community? This week Will talks about what true community really is, what it's not, and how we are invited into it. Will shares a story from a book he read and re-read a few years back, Bo's Cafe, that began his own journey into rethinking what community is and how it's less something we create and more something that we already have and can begin to experience. Will also talks about how community is a safe space, but probably not the kind of safe space you're thinking of. Have questions or comments? Email Will at will@adventurelifeministries.com. Connect with Will Ratliff on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

This week, Will talks about how he views marriage as a partnership as opposed to the traditional view that he grew up in where they taught that the wife was supposed to be submissive to the husband. Will also shares the scripture typically used to come to that conclusion and offers some insight into how it's been misused over the years. Have questions or comments? Email Will at will@adventurelifeministries.com. Connect with Will Ratliff on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

In this podcast episode, I interview 2 of my favorite people in this world, my sister and brother-in-law, Dena and Carey Dyer. We talk about marriage and relationships, have a lot of laughs, and they share two of their funniest marriage moments (you definitely don't want to miss the minivan story) and they share two of their best fights from their 26 years of marriage. It's going to be great! Whether you're married or not, have been married for 10 minutes or 50 years, you're sure to enjoy this conversation I have with them. Carey & Dena Dyer have been married twenty-four wonderful years—and a couple they don’t talk about. They love encouraging others through writing, humor, music, and storytelling. Together, they wrote Love at First Fight: 52 Story-Based Meditations for Married Couples (Barbour), and Dena is the author or co-author of nine other inspirational books for women. Carey is the worship pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, Texas, and Dena writes, speaks, and serves on the support team at the Wheaton College Humanitarian Disaster Institute. The Dyers are the proud parents of two creative sons and make their home in Texas. Visit their website (www.denadyer.com) for more info or to follow them on social media. Connect with Will Ratliff on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

This week, Will responds to another message from a listener and talks about how we can make space for God, and, in doing so, create a path to a more abundant life, not one filled with money, possessions, or riches, but one filled with more fruitful relationships - with God and others - and a life filled with peace, joy, love, and a bit of fun, too. There's nothing quite like the AdventureLife! Connect with me on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

This week, I interview Jeff Fields, one-half of the Fields Brothers, who have a weekly podcast called, The Fields Brothers Show, and have written a book together called, Breaking the Hex: Life with God After the Cross Killed Religion. Jeff and I talk about what it means to live by grace, why many Christians fall into the trap of living by law and grace, and how the cross changed how we view life and even scripture after the resurrection. I also announce another book giveaway - I'm giving away not just one but TWO copies of The Fields Brothers' book. So give it a listen! Connect with me on Social Media: AdventureLife Website Facebook Instagram

This week, Will shares some reflections on last week's conversation with Wayne Jacobsen about learning to live loved and shares some stories and experiences from his own journey. Will also shares and responds to an email from a listener who has experienced more freedom and discusses how religion can keep us from the truth of who God is and how we view Him. This journey of the AdventureLife is one of trust, not only in God, but also in ourselves and in the new life and new heart we have as believers. Will also talks about some of the things that he had to un-learn and go through, what a friend of his calls a "detox process" in order to move forward in his spiritual journey and views of God. Books mentioned: The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee (on Amazon) Live Loved Free Full, by Wayne Jacobsen

This week I sit down with podcaster, author, and friend, Wayne Jacobsen, to talk about what it means to "live loved", and we also talk about Wayne's new book, "Live Loved Free Full" as well as some of our own experiences in our ever-continuing journeys to live in grace and be won into an ever-expanding space by the love of a gracious God. Also, email me at will@adventurelifeministries if you want to be entered in a drawing to win Wayne's new book. Email me at the above address to ask questions and let me know how your own journey is going. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram. Connect with Wayne at www.lifestream.org. Get a copy of Wayne's new book on his website.

What does it look like to move out of obligation and into greater freedom? This week, Will talks about some of his own journey of moving out of religious obligation and a rules-centered approach to faith and into more and more freedom. Religion says that you must watch your behavior. Relationship is built on trust and freedom. Will also shares 2 verses of scripture that have been hugely impactful for him during this journey, as well as talks about areas of faith that guide us in freedom: life, light, and love. Romans 8 (link to Bible Gateway) 2 Peter 1 (link to Bible Gateway) And Will makes a big announcement about AdventureLife's first guest interview next week! Don't miss it.