TPJ09 | We Are Back! | 10.23.22

Foreign. Welcome to the Prodigal Journey, where we celebrate Christ's power through our weakness. And thank you for joining us on this episode.I'd like to proudly announce that after an unofficial year hiatus, we are back. Yes, the Prodigal Journey is back. But first of all, I owe you as the listeners an apology.I have been receiving emails a little more lately this last month or so and people are just asking, Ben, what has happened to the podcast and where have you disappeared to? So I just want to take a few minutes to update everyone on what's been happening.So even though this is a short update, please listen through to the end as I have some exciting things to share with all of you about what's been going on since about October of last year and what is to come for the Prodigal Journey.So the last episode I posted for the Prodigal Journey was in September of last year and then from about October to January, I started looking for a new job. God was just stretching my faith and asking me to step out into some unknown things that were beyond my comfort level.And I was just experiencing some things in the other job that I knew it was the Lord leading me to find something else.So that job search was taking up a lot of my free time the rest of last year and I didn't want to just post episodes that were not great content and that were not great quality. In January, I finally started a new job, but I took a pay cut.Starting out, it was a field I had no experience in and so I had to work my way up to where I needed to be. But because of that I had to take on a part time job.So I was working six days a week which left me even less free time to be able to put together the content that's important for this podcast. Now about August, I was able to be in a position where I could finish up the part time job and just be working my full time job.So that started to free up some of my time. But also during this time I was able to share my story a few times at a couple of our different church campuses for our recovery program.And then also just the whole process of putting together a podcast, the recording, the editing, and just all of it together. It does take time and money to keep it going.So with working those two jobs for most of this year, I was just in a tough spot and it was, it was hard being able to have the money to put back into the podcast like I was before. But I do just want to say this for me it is not about the money. It's about seeing how God is changing lives for his glory.It's about knowing that we are not alone in our struggles and pain. But the reality is that it does require some time and expenses to keep the content going.So if you are interested and you enjoy the podcast, we always have affiliate links posted in the show notes of each episode that help support the podcast, but we also include links for ways to donate as well. So if you want to help the process and help us in what we are doing and be a part of that, there are ways to donate as well.So all that being said, I am very excited to be back. I have missed putting together the content and connecting with listeners and hearing how lives are being affected by the gospel.So all of that is where I have been. And now for the exciting part of what is to come.For this podcast, I have been working on putting together some episodes that will be talking about some unhealthy teachings that are becoming very toxic for men in our churches today.We might have some guests on for some of those episodes or it might just be a discussion, but just because of a lot of the things from my story, I have a burden for men and some of those teachings that we are seeing today in churches and I was taught some of those same things in the church culture I grew up in. That being said, ladies, please do not tune out those episodes because they will be helpful to you as well.Just being able to learn more about how men are thinking, the lies that are being taught, and what that means for you as a sister in Christ.We are also working on more interviews from people wanting to share their stories of redemption, which is the whole reason this podcast was started, to create that community knowing that we are not alone.Another thing that I am very excited about is one of our episodes in November is going to be an interview with Mike Weaver, the lead singer of Big Daddy Weave.Their music has been some of the most influential music in my life, so I'm really looking forward to that interview and it's going to be a great interview. Mike is an awesome guy that loves Jesus, so you do not want to miss that interview.Also, I've been working on a better studio space just to help make our recordings a little better quality for all the listeners. The last thing I want to mention is that there will be a new co host joining the podcast.She might not be on every episode, but she will help bring a woman's perspective to the show. As we walk through interviews and discuss different topics, there will also be more details on that to come and the story behind that as well.Just as I close this out, I want to hear from you, the listeners. There are some other things I want to include in episodes as well and I want to try some new things.And maybe once a month we can include a topic that a listener submits because I want to be able to interact more with things you are experiencing and wanting to learn more about.Also, if you just want to share what God is doing in your life and how the Gospel is changing your heart, or if you have a prayer request you would like us to share on an episode, you can send me an email.Or maybe you would like to share how a specific episode has helped or challenged you and we could also share that on an episode and you can email me for that as well. I want to include the listeners more in this podcast, so I would love to hear from you.You can email me ben@theprodigaljourney.com that's benheprodigaljourney.com thanks for tuning in to the Prodigal Journey where we celebrate Christ's power through our weakness. This podcast is available on all major platforms, so be sure you go and subscribe or leave us a review.Also, if you'd like to reach out, you can reach me ben@theprodigaljourney.com that's bentheprodigaljourney.com Tune in next time to the Prodigal Journey.The commercials at the beginning of the podcast are pre generated by the audio hosting site and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Draw Journey Podcast Network.