Uncharted Faith

Caleb Schwenk joins Pastor Paul Backhaus and Eric Eidson for Part 3 of a discussion on what his journey in abiding with Christ has been like. As a father, husband, employee, volunteer, son, brother, friend, and entrepreneur in his 20s, Caleb's busy life is a reflection of the busyness we all experience in the modern environment. He gives us an authentic look inside his experience with the abiding presence of Christ in a real-world setting.Join us for PART 3 of this three-part discussion!Abiding in Christ can seem like a daunting challenge for people in the midst of real-life situations like school, work, family, etc. Jesus called us to follow him and experience union with Him. He also assured us his burden is light and there is rest for our souls. This unique – and seemingly impossible – invitation is not just for the professional minister or retiree with no kids at home. It is for everyone in every stage of life. How do we accept God’s invitation into deep spiritual realities while fulfilling our responsibilities to the people and world around us?

Caleb Schwenk joins Pastor Paul Backhaus and Eric Eidson for Part 2 of a discussion on what his journey in abiding with Christ has been like. As a father, husband, employee, volunteer, son, brother, friend, and entrepreneur in his 20s, Caleb's busy life is a reflection of the busyness we all experience in the modern environment. He gives us an authentic look inside his experience with the abiding presence of Christ in a real-world setting.Join us for PART 2 of this three-part discussion!Abiding in Christ can seem like a daunting challenge for people in the midst of real-life situations like school, work, family, etc. Jesus called us to follow him and experience union with Him. He also assured us his burden is light and there is rest for our souls. This unique – and seemingly impossible – invitation is not just for the professional minister or retiree with no kids at home. It is for everyone in every stage of life. How do we accept God’s invitation into deep spiritual realities while fulfilling our responsibilities to the people and world around us?

Abiding in Christ can seem like a daunting challenge for people in the midst of real-life situations like school, work, family, etc. Jesus called us to follow him and experience union with Him. He also assured us his burden is light and there is rest for our souls. This unique – and seemingly impossible – invitation is not just for the professional minister or retiree with no kids at home. It is for everyone in every stage of life. How do we accept God’s invitation into deep spiritual realities while fulfilling our responsibilities to the people and world around us? Caleb Schwenk joins Pastor Paul Backhaus and Eric Eidson for a discussion on what his journey in abiding with Christ has been like. As a father, husband, employee, volunteer, son, brother, friend, and entrepreneur in his 20s, Caleb's busy life is a reflection of the busyness we all experience in the modern environment. He gives us an authentic look inside his experience with the abiding presence of Christ in a real world setting.Join us for PART 1 of this three part discussion!

Abiding in Christ and Christian Mysticism must be rooted in the presence of Holy Spirit. There is a mistaken perspective that the practices and disciplines of abiding/mysticism will lead us into the presence of Holy Spirit/Jesus/the Father. The reality is that those disciplines and practices are fruitless APART from the presence of Holy Spirit in our lives. The presence is the starting point and the path.This is Part 3 of our discussion with Bob See about the critical role our relationship with Holy Spirit has on our walk with God.Directional Questions:• How do you see Holy Spirit engage in your journey of Christian spirituality? • How does the language we use - “baptism of Holy Spirit,” “indwelling,” “filled,” etc. – impact our understanding of Holy Spirit?• Where do the gifts and fruit of Holy Spirit fit into these practices of Christian Mysticism?• Do we choose the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or just surrender to what is already done?• What perspectives need to change regarding the indwelling and our journey with Holy Spirit?• What is the role of spiritual disciplines in our relationship to Holy Spirit?

Abiding in Christ and Christian Mysticism must be rooted in the presence of Holy Spirit. There is a mistaken perspective that the practices and disciplines of abiding/mysticism will lead us into the presence of Holy Spirit/Jesus/the Father. The reality is that those disciplines and practices are fruitless APART from the presence of Holy Spirit in our lives. The presence is the starting point and the path. This is Part 2 of our discussion with Bob See about the critical role our relationship with Holy Spirit has on our walk with God.Directional Questions:• How do you see Holy Spirit engage in your journey of Christian spirituality? • How does the language we use - “baptism of Holy Spirit,” “indwelling,” “filled,” etc. – impact our understanding of Holy Spirit?• Where do the gifts and fruit of Holy Spirit fit into these practices of Christian Mysticism?• Do we choose the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or just surrender to what is already done?• What perspectives need to change regarding the indwelling and our journey with Holy Spirit?• What is the role of spiritual disciplines in our relationship to Holy Spirit?

Abiding in Christ and Christian Mysticism must be rooted in the presence of Holy Spirit. There is a mistaken perspective that the practices and disciplines of abiding/mysticism will lead us into the presence of Holy Spirit/Jesus/the Father. The reality is that those disciplines and practices are fruitless APART from the presence of Holy Spirit in our lives. The presence is the starting point and the path. This conversation will revolve around the nature, role, power, and person of Holy Spirit.Directional Questions:• How do you see Holy Spirit engage in your journey of Christian spirituality? • How does the language we use - “baptism of Holy Spirit,” “indwelling,” “filled,” etc. – impact our understanding of Holy Spirit?• Where do the gifts and fruit of Holy Spirit fit into these practices of Christian Mysticism?• Do we choose the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or just surrender to what is already done?• What perspectives need to change regarding the indwelling and our journey with Holy Spirit?• What is the role of spiritual disciplines in our relationship to Holy Spirit?

Join Pastor Paul Backhaus, Doug Iha, and Eric Eidson for part 2 of the discussion focused on the Art of AbidingIn 2024, Uncharted Faith explored the language and principles of the New/Christic Covenant to uncover areas of our belief that might not align with the Christic Covenant. The core principle of ABIDE emerged in almost every conversation. Abiding seems to be more of an art than a discipline (although discipline can improve art). We want to explore the language and practices of the art of abiding not for the sake of being mystical, but to find ourselves in union with Christ - a place of BEHOLDING HIS PRESENCE.

Join Pastor Paul Backhaus, Doug Iha, and Eric Eidson as they open a new season of Uncharted Faith focused on the Art of Abiding. In 2024, Uncharted Faith explored the language and principles of the New/Christic Covenant to uncover areas of our belief that might not align with the Christic Covenant. The core principle of ABIDE emerged in almost every conversation. Abiding seems to be more of an art than a discipline (although discipline can improve art). We want to explore the language and practices of the art of abiding not for the sake of being mystical, but to find ourselves in union with Christ - a place of BEHOLDING HIS PRESENCE.

This is the conclusion our discussion on The Reconciliation of All Things with Bill Vanderbush. Bill is on staff at Bethel Austin and is the author of Reckless Grace.Misunderstandings or confusion about what, why, and how God’s reconciliation works has created massive divisions in His body. This discussion digs into these concepts of reconciliation, condemnation, judgement, and innocence.

This is Part 2 of our discussion on The Reconciliation of All Things with Bill Vanderbush. Bill is on staff at Bethel Austin and is the author of Reckless Grace.Misunderstandings or confusion about what, why, and how God’s reconciliation works has created massive divisions in His body. This discussion digs into these concepts of reconciliation, condemnation, judgement, and innocence.

The Apostle Paul sets up a tension between God reconciling all things to himself (2 Cor. 5:19), and the idea that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The nature of reconciliation and judgement – and God’s plan for both – reveal something about both who HE is and who we are because of Him. Misunderstandings or confusion about what, why, and how God’s reconciliation works has created massive divisions in His body. This discussion will dig into these concepts of reconciliation, condemnation, judgement, and innocence. Bill Vanderbush, of Bethel Austin and author of Reckless Grace, joins Pastors Paul and Eric for a 3-part discussion of the Reconciliation of All Things. The discussion was hosted in front of a live audience.

Part 2 of a discussion on mental, emotional, and spiritual freedom in the Kingdom of God. Kristy Jones is the leader of the Freedom Ministry at Trinity Church and Jessie Shanks is a licensed and practicing mental health therapist.The Gospel of Jesus Christ promises healing and restoration in the spirit, soul, mind, and body (Luke 4:18-21). However, it does not take long to discover the lifelong difficulties followers of Jesus Christ experience in their lives that remain unresolved. The Jesus movement and Charismatic renewal forced the church to address the dissonance presented in the life of a believer that extends beyond the didactic teaching of scripture: teach truth, believe correctly, and be healed. Missing from this protocol is addressing an individual's emotional, mental, and spiritual component of their being and the impact that trauma has on the development of an individual. The inner healing movement, in response, created space for individuals to present themselves with the caring facilitation of trained prayer counselors to address the events that continue to impact their present-day lives in private ministry.Due to the work of committed theologians, academics, psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists, the discipline of psychology and mental health counseling has also provided a means of healing for individuals. The conversation will explore the commonalities of the two modalities and how they can complement one another within the local church. In light of the Christic covenant, what is each modality attempting to achieve? How does one know they have experienced healing?

Featuring a discussion on mental, emotional, and spiritual freedom in the Kingdom of God. Kristy Jones is the leader of the Freedom Ministry at Trinity Church and Jessie Shanks is a licensed and practicing mental health therapist.The Gospel of Jesus Christ promises healing and restoration in the spirit, soul, mind, and body (Luke 4:18-21). However, it does not take long to discover the lifelong difficulties followers of Jesus Christ experience in their lives that remain unresolved. The Jesus movement and Charismatic renewal forced the church to address the dissonance presented in the life of a believer that extends beyond the didactic teaching of scripture: teach truth, believe correctly, and be healed. Missing from this protocol is addressing an individual's emotional, mental, and spiritual component of their being and the impact that trauma has on the development of an individual. The inner healing movement, in response, created space for individuals to present themselves with the caring facilitation of trained prayer counselors to address the events that continue to impact their present-day lives in private ministry.Due to the work of committed theologians, academics, psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists, the discipline of psychology and mental health counseling has also provided a means of healing for individuals. The conversation will explore the commonalities of the two modalities and how they can complement one another within the local church. In light of the Christic covenant, what is each modality attempting to achieve? How does one know they have experienced healing?

This is the third and final part of our series with Joshua Minter, founder of Global Mercy Missions out of South Africa and Chicago, IL. You can learn more about Joshua at www.globalmercymissions.com. Evangelism and evangelism tools have typically been focused on “salvation”. When we look at what “being saved” means, the emphasis falls heavily on salvation from Hell or salvation to Heaven. In other words, the primary selling point of giving our lives to Christ is what happens AFTER this life we currently live.Yet Jesus said he came that we might have life ABUNDANTLY. He consistently referred to ETERNAL life . . . How does the Christic understanding of ETERNAL-Life vs. AFTER-Life impact our daily experience, choices, and relationships? How does it affect our ministry to others?Join us for this discussion on the after-life, Eternal life, and evangelism!

This is the second part of our series with Joshua Minter, founder of of Global Mercy Missions out of South Africa and Chicago, IL. You can learn more about Joshua at www.globalmercymissions.com. Evangelism and evangelism tools have typically been focused on “salvation”. When we look at what “being saved” means, the emphasis falls heavily on salvation from Hell or salvation to Heaven. In other words, the primary selling point of giving our lives to Christ is what happens AFTER this life we currently live.Yet Jesus said he came that we might have life ABUNDANTLY. He consistently referred to ETERNAL life . . . How does the Christic understanding of ETERNAL-Life vs. AFTER-Life impact our daily experience, choices, and relationships? How does it affect our ministry to others?Join us for this discussion on the after-life, Eternal life, and evangelism!

This is the first of a 3-part series with Joshua Minter, founder of of Global Mercy Missions out of South Africa and Chicago, IL. You can learn more about Joshua at www.globalmercymissions.com. Evangelism and evangelism tools have typically been focused on “salvation”. When we look at what “being saved” means, the emphasis falls heavily on salvation from Hell or salvation to Heaven. In other words, the primary selling point of giving our lives to Christ is what happens AFTER this life we currently live.Yet Jesus said he came that we might have life ABUNDANTLY. He consistently referred to ETERNAL life . . . How does the Christic understanding of ETERNAL-Life vs. AFTER-Life impact our daily experience, choices, and relationships? How does it affect our ministry to others?Join us for this discussion on the after-life, Eternal life, and evangelism!

This is the final episode of our discussion with Rodney Drury, pastor, author, and founder of Redneck Mystic Media on the pursuit of holiness and morality in our lives.We often conflate holiness with morality, but scripture is clear there is a significant difference. What is that difference? How do we reconcile the standards we see in scripture with a world in chaos and darkness? What is the responsibility of the church in establishing or maintaining a moral society?Holiness is not about a set of rules and regulations we follow, but a relationship with the God of light and love that transforms us from the inside out. Yet there are standards for holy living set forth throughout scripture. The church has a history of holding the line on some standards, while ignoring or even dismissing others.

This is Part 2 of our discussion with Rodney Drury, pastor, author, and founder of Redneck Mystic Media. Join us for this conversation on the nature, purpose, and pursuit of holiness and morality in our lives.We often conflate holiness with morality, but scripture is clear there is a significant difference. What is that difference? How do we reconcile the standards we see in scripture with a world in chaos and darkness? What is the responsibility of the church in establishing or maintaining a moral society?Holiness is not about a set of rules and regulations we follow, but a relationship with the God of light and love that transforms us from the inside out. Yet there are standards for holy living set forth throughout scripture. The church has a history of holding the line on some standards, while ignoring or even dismissing others. 

We often conflate holiness with morality, but scripture is clear there is a significant difference. What is that difference? How do we reconcile the standards we see in scripture with a world in chaos and darkness? What is the responsibility of the church in establishing or maintaining a moral society?Holiness is not about a set of rules and regulations we follow, but a relationship with the God of light and love that transforms us from the inside out. Yet there are standards for holy living set forth throughout scripture. The church has a history of holding the line on some standards, while ignoring or even dismissing others. Our guest for this discussion is Rodney Drury, pastor, author, and founder of Redneck Mystic Media. Rodney joins Pastor Paul Backhaus and myself, Eric Eidson, for a discussion on the nature, purpose, and pursuit of Holiness and Morality in our lives.

This episode is part 3 of our talk with Doug Main, adjunct faculty member at Eternity Bible College and founder of The Jesus Cohort.The role of scripture in the life of the Church and the Christian is undeniable. Debates about its nature rage on though. Is it inerrant? Is it a set of rules and regulations for life – basic instructions before leaving earth? Is it a history book? A science text? Mythology? Our beliefs about any of these questions have a profound impact on the way we interpret and apply the things we find within the bible. This discussion will dig into the nature and role of scripture in our life in Christ.

This episode is part 2 of our talk with Doug Main, adjunct faculty member at Eternity Bible College and founder of The Jesus Cohort.The role of scripture in the life of the Church and the Christian is undeniable. Debates about its nature rage on though. Is it inerrant? Is it a set of rules and regulations for life – basic instructions before leaving earth? Is it a history book? A science text? Mythology? Our beliefs about any of these questions have a profound impact on the way we interpret and apply the things we find within the bible. This discussion will dig into the nature and role of scripture in our life in Christ.

This episode is part 1 of an amazing discussion with Doug Main, adjunct faculty member at Eternity Bible College and founder of The Jesus Cohort.The role of scripture in the life of the Church and the Christian is undeniable. Debates about its nature rage on though. Is it inerrant? Is it a set of rules and regulations for life – basic instructions before leaving earth? Is it a history book? A science text? Mythology? Our beliefs about any of these questions have a profound impact on the way we interpret and apply the things we find within the bible. This discussion will dig into the nature and role of scripture in our life in Christ.

This episode concludes the 3-part series on "Speaking the truth in love" with Andrea Molina and Stephanie Farris.The temptation to explain how and why others are wrong in their beliefs or behaviors is always great. Christians love to say we are “speaking the truth in love,” but are we really doing that? The fruit of speaking truth in love is ever-increasing maturity in the body of Christ (Eph. 4:15). Part 3 of this discussion focuses on the practical ways we can pursue others in love.

Andrea Molina and Stephanie Farris join us for a discussion about speaking the truth in love. The temptation to explain how and why others are wrong in their beliefs or behaviors is always great. Christians love to say we are “speaking the truth in love,” but are we really doing that? The fruit of speaking truth in love is ever-increasing maturity in the body of Christ (Eph. 4:15). Part 2 of this discussion focuses heavily on how we respond to people or situations in our lives that diverge from our own values and principles. How do we speak hard truths into those situations? This episode starts to unpack practical application of loving others first and allowing Truth to be revealed rather than imposed.

Andrea Molina and Stephanie Farris join us for a discussion about speaking the truth in love. The temptation to explain how and why others are wrong in their beliefs or behaviors is always great. Christians love to say we are “speaking the truth in love,” but are we really doing that? The fruit of speaking truth in love is ever-increasing maturity in the body of Christ (Eph. 4:15). The first part of this discussion focuses heavily on the question, "What is TRUTH?" The Christic Covenant is focused on Truth! If Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life . . . how does this understanding of the Christic Covenant change our interactions, conversations, and behaviors to those who oppose our own understanding of Godly/Biblical behavior and beliefs?

Part 3 of our discussion with Bill Vanderbush digging into the Christic Covenant explores the impacts of the Christic Covenant on evangelism, spiritual discipline, and relationship. The discussion emphasizes the "How" of deeper engagement with and recognition of the new covenant in our lives.

This conversation digs into the New, or "Christic," Covenant and Old Covenant paradigms. We hope to engage with current “church/Christian culture” to see where Old Covenant habits, paradigms, and structures might exist that still need to be disrupted by a Christic Covenant. What are the key distinctions, evidence, or fruit that identify Old versus Christic Covenant roots in our lives? While many of our behaviors may LOOK the same, they are rooted in two different soils (Old and Christic Covenants). Theoretically, the two different covenants will produce distinctly different fruit.Part 2 of our discussion with Bill Vanderbush digging into the Christic Covenant explores the paradigms of separation under the old covenant and union under the new covenant. What are the key distinctions, evidence, or fruit that identify Old versus Christic Covenant roots in our lives?

Bill Vanderbush joins us for a discussion digging into the New or Christic Covenant and Old Covenant paradigms. We hope to see where Old Covenant habits, paradigms, and theology might still need to be disrupted by a Christic Covenant. What are the key distinctions, evidence, or fruit that identify Old versus Christic Covenant roots in our lives? This first part of our discussion focuses on defining and refining our understanding of what the Christic Covenant is and why we use that language.

This conversation will lay out the purpose, goals, and dreams for the UNCHARTED FAITH podcast. The episode introduces the Who, What, Why, and How of this podcast experiment by Trinity Church. We are responding to the extremes of fundamentalism and progressivism in Christian worldviews. There is a lot of DIY in the Christian worldview that are not what the Architect intended. These podcasts are designed to find the structures in our belief system that need to be remodeled to better reflect the original design.