Unrefined Podcast .com

What happens when following Jesus becomes more about maintaining the institution than actually being the body of Christ? Brandon and Lindsy sit down with returning guest Jonathan Brenneman for a provocative conversation about church, authority, leadership, supernatural ministry, and the difference between spectator Christianity and active discipleship. Drawing from his years of missionary work in Brazil, Jonathan shares stories of healings, deliverance, evangelism, and encounters with the Holy Spirit that often happen far outside traditional church services—in homes, neighborhoods, recovery houses, restaurants, barbecues, and everyday life.
Together they challenge hierarchical models of church leadership and explore what the New Testament actually portrays when believers gather: shared meals, dialogue, spiritual gifts, mutual edification, and the participation of the whole body. The conversation moves into tithing, institutional structures, servant leadership, the priesthood of all believers, women in ministry, house churches, spiritual authority, and the dangers of allowing tradition or position to become more authoritative than Scripture. Ultimately, Jonathan calls believers not simply to leave something behind, but to recover a participatory Christianity where every believer is equipped to follow Jesus, serve others, speak the Word, and carry the presence and power of God into ordinary life.
Website/blog: GoToHeavenNow.com
Email: Jonathan@GoToHeavenNow.com
Timestamps
00:00:28 – Welcome Back Jonathan Brenneman
 00:02:27 – From Missions to Rethinking Church
 00:04:55 – Healing, Miracles & Life Outside the Program
 00:07:20 – Tithing, Grace & Leaving Institutional Expectations
 00:09:41 – Ministry in the Streets of Brazil
 00:12:00 – Manipulation, Money & the Spirit of Religion
 00:14:22 – When Church Consumes the Mission
 00:16:38 – Moving from Spectator to Participant
 00:18:59 – The 59 “One Another” Commands
 00:21:25 – Spiritual Gifts Around the Table
 00:23:51 – Why Every Member Matters
 00:26:10 – Rethinking Leadership & Authority
 00:28:31 – Servant Leadership and Decentralized Church
 00:33:16 – Does Authority Come from Position?
 00:35:38 – Miracles Outside the Church Walls
 00:37:57 – Is Revival Simply Normal Christianity?
 00:40:16 – Receiving Jesus Through His Body
 00:42:42 – Does Restricting Participation Quench the Spirit?
 00:45:04 – Love, Miracles & Everyday Evangelism
 00:47:25 – Evangelism at Carnival
 00:49:43 – From Miracles to Making Disciples
 00:52:07 – Worship, Friendship & Christian Community
 00:54:29 – House Church, Heresy & Hierarchical Control
 00:58:47 – Why Participation Helps Test Teaching
 01:00:32 – Leaving Without Becoming Bitter
 01:02:47 – Finding Biblical Fellowship
 01:05:06 – Women and the Priesthood of All Believers
 01:09:46 – Do Women Have a Priestly Duty to Speak?
 01:11:58 – Women, Authority & Difficult New Testament Passages
 01:14:21 – Phoebe, Junia & Women in Leadership
 01:16:39 – Why Jesus Appeared First to Women
 01:19:01 – Church History vs. the Teaching of Jesus
 01:21:26 – Tradition, Scripture & Institutional Drift
 01:23:49 – Religion vs. Relationship
 01:25:52 – A Call Back to Participatory Christianity
 01:28:17 – Jonathan’s Resources & Closing

What if the greatest evidence of spiritual maturity isn’t how much theology we know, but how deeply we love God and the people around us? Brandon and Lindsy sit down with Dr. Rob Reimer, author of The Tenderness of Jesus and Soul Care, for a deeply personal conversation about encountering Jesus beyond doctrine. Rob shares his dramatic conversion, his experience through a nine-month “dark night of the soul,” and how seasons of suffering and surrender reshaped his understanding of intimacy with God. Together they explore the tenderness of Jesus, God’s sovereignty and human freedom, dying to self, authentic humility, religious performance, soul care, and why biblical knowledge must become lived transformation. Rob also shares the story behind The Tenderness of Jesus, written originally for his own children, and explains why the cross and eternity provide essential lenses for understanding God’s goodness amid suffering. The conversation closes with recommended classics on spiritual formation, a remarkable healing story from Brazil, and a prayer that we would become people unmistakably marked by having been with Jesus.
https://renewalinternational.org/
Rob's book-https://amzn.to/46nj1nz
Timestamps
00:00:05 – Do You Love God and People More?
 00:00:43 – Introducing Dr. Rob Reimer
 00:03:06 – Rob’s Background and the Christian & Missionary Alliance
 00:05:29 – A Life-Changing Encounter with Jesus
 00:07:53 – Brandon’s Dark Night of the Soul
 00:09:46 – What the Dark Night of the Soul Really Means
 00:12:13 – Revival, Character and Dying to Self
 00:14:32 – When the Presence of God Returned
 00:16:56 – Sovereignty, Freedom and Human Choice
 00:19:19 – God’s Goodness in a Broken World
 00:21:40 – The Story Behind The Tenderness of Jesus
00:23:59 – Writing to the Ones You Love About the One You Love
00:26:19 – Soul Care, Freedom and Fullness in Christ
00:28:39 – Emptying the Soul Before Filling It
00:30:43 – Knowledge vs. Actual Spiritual Maturity
00:33:05 – The Religious Spirit and the Condition of the Heart
00:35:32 – Self-Focus, Ministry and Becoming Obsessed with Jesus
00:37:38 – Authentic Humility and Weakness
00:39:44 – Seeing God Through the Cross and Eternity
00:42:07 – Suffering, Homesickness and Our Eternal Citizenship
00:43:59 – Tenderness, Intimacy and the Holiness of God
00:46:00 – Why God’s Love Leads to Transformation
00:48:18 – Jesus’ Tenderness Toward Sinners
00:50:41 – The Cross, Love and Dying to Self
00:53:07 – Rob’s Favorite Classic Soul-Care Books
00:55:14 – Ancient and Modern Spiritual Formation Resources
00:57:36 – Theology, Encounter and Knowing Jesus
00:59:53 – A Remarkable Healing in Brazil
01:02:09 – Where to Find Rob and Closing Prayer

What if Christians didn’t have to choose between rejecting everything that sounds “New Age” and blindly accepting every alternative-health trend? Brandon sits down with biblical naturopathic doctor and frequency health strategist Dr. Brenda Chamness of Shalom Holistic Health for a wide-ranging conversation about frequency, bioresonance, holistic health, trauma, emotions, the biofield, muscle response testing, PEMF, red light, and other frequency-based modalities. Brenda shares her own remarkable journey through stage-four cancer and how it reshaped her understanding of the interconnectedness of spirit, soul, and body. Together they explore how Christians can distinguish between the properties of creation and claims of spiritual power, why fear is a poor substitute for discernment, and how identity, thought patterns, emotional health, and knowing God's voice fit into genuine wholeness. Ultimately, the conversation returns again and again to shalom: not chasing modalities as the answer, but learning to use available tools while remaining grounded in God's love, truth, and leading.
https://www.infopathy.com/?invite=250725636

https://www.shalomholistichealth.com/
00:00:41 — Introducing Frequency, Holistic Health & Christian Discernment
00:03:07 — Dr. Bren's Journey into Naturopathic Health
00:05:30 — Cancer, Rife Therapy & Discovering Frequency
00:09:45 — Shalom: Healing the Whole Person
00:14:21 — Spirit, Soul & Body: Why Everything Is Connected
00:18:31 — What Is Frequency?
00:20:31 — Light, Sound & Frequency in the Human Body
00:24:36 — Getting to the Root Causes of Dysfunction
00:26:13 — Identity, Shame, Unworthiness & the Love of God
00:28:21 — Looking for Healing in the Wrong Places
00:30:43 — Bioresonance & Finding the Right Modality
00:33:11 — The Problem with Compartmentalized Medicine
00:37:59 — Alternative Medicine, Creation & the Western Mindset
00:42:23 — Thoughts, the Subconscious & Physical Health
00:44:18 — Discernment Without Fear
00:47:28 — Learning to Recognize God's Voice
00:49:17 — The Biofield, Energy & Muscle Response Testing
00:53:54 — Remote Testing, Neutrality & Quantum Entanglement
00:56:00 — How Other People's "Fields" Affect Us
00:58:28 — Ancient Spiritual Practices & Modern Science
01:00:46 — Frequency, Entrainment & the Body
01:03:06 — Properties vs. Powers: A Christian Boundary for Discernment
01:05:17 — Crystals, Metals & the Properties of Creation
01:07:15 — EMFs, Frequency & the Modern Environment
01:09:34 — Harmonizing EMFs & Looking at the Fruit
01:11:43 — Thoughts, Emotions & Your "Internal Pharmacy"
01:14:11 — The Placebo Effect & the Body's Capacity to Heal
01:16:31 — Brenda's Cancer Story & a Supernatural Encounter
01:20:15 — When Healing Tools Become Idols
01:22:37 — Making Informed Choices About Treatment
01:27:31 — Cancer Returns & Hearing God's Direction
01:31:26 — Mindset, Emotions & Healing
01:33:49 — Bringing Fear, Anger & Disappointment to God
01:36:14 — Knowing God's Voice in an Age of Deception
01:38:10 — Biblical Principles as a Plumb Line
01:40:29 — When Healing Becomes "Spiritual Archaeology"
01:42:54 — Simplicity, the Courts of Heaven & Religious Complexity
01:45:15 — When Protocols Replace Trust
01:48:26 — Fear, Emotional Frequency & the Body
01:50:48 — The Spirit of Truth vs. the Fear of Deception
01:52:45 — Grace, Identity & Living as Sons and Daughters
01:55:11 — Receiving God's Love Before Giving It Away
01:57:04 — Shalom Holistic Health & Brenda's Approach
01:59:16 — Frequency Modalities & Infopathy
02:01:42 — Walking in Shalom in a Chaotic World
02:04:01 — Why "Good Vibes" Aren't Enough
02:06:01 — Some Things May Be Fine—but Not Fine for You

Brandon and Lindsy welcome Vicki Joy Anderson back to continue their conversation on spiritual warfare—but once again, the discussion takes an unexpected turn. Rather than focusing on dramatic demonic encounters, they explore the quieter battlefield of confusion, spiritual fatigue, distraction, and false doctrine. The conversation moves through discernment, the dangers of chasing fringe topics for fascination, the responsibility of Christian teachers and podcasters, the gospel of the Kingdom, Gnosticism in modern Christianity, the meaning of ekklesia, and what Scripture actually presents as humanity’s ultimate hope. Throughout, they emphasize testing what we believe, keeping Jesus at the center, and recognizing that deceptive doctrine may be one of the most subtle forms of spiritual warfare.
They Only Come Out At Night Book
From Eden to AI Book
https://www.vickijoyanderson.com/
Her mom's book! Harps Unhung-->https://amzn.to/4wqqgpt
https://instagram.com/vickijoyauthor
00:03:00 – Ephesians 6 & the Armor of God
00:05:13 – Two Extremes of Spiritual Warfare
00:07:31 – The Covert Battlefield: Confusion & False Doctrine
00:09:55 – Testing the Spirits & Discernment
00:12:19 – Battle Fatigue, Thoughts & the Domino Effect
00:14:39 – Fringe Fascination, “Fluff” & Red-Pill Overdose
00:17:05 – When Exploring Darkness Serves the Gospel
00:19:21 – The Temptation of Sensationalism in Podcasting
00:21:46 – Teachers, Influencers & Greater Accountability
00:24:10 – The Unseen Impact of Faithfulness
00:28:52 – Bad Teaching & Real-World Consequences
00:31:16 – Have Christians Inherited Bad Theology?
00:33:35 – Jesus, the Road to Emmaus & Discipleship
00:35:55 – The Simplicity of the Gospel
00:38:15 – What Actually Unites the Church?
00:40:38 – The Gospel of Salvation vs. the Gospel of the Kingdom
00:43:04 – Covenant, Allegiance & What It Means to Follow Jesus
00:45:29 – Gnosticism & the Christian View of the World
00:47:46 – Ekklesia: Church, Assembly or Government?
00:50:10 – Why the New Testament Confronts Gnosticism
00:52:29 – Resurrection, the Body & Becoming Fully Human
00:54:42 – Eden, the New Earth & Humanity’s Future
00:57:08 – Rethinking Hell, Heaven & Human Destiny
00:59:32 – Are We Really Going to Spend Eternity in Heaven?
01:02:00 – The New Creation as God’s Temple
01:04:20 – Ancient Context & the Layers Added to Christianity
01:06:38 – False Doctrine as Spiritual Warfare
01:09:01 – Vicki’s Books & Where to Find Her

Author Heather L. L. Fitzgerald joins Brandon, Lindsy, and Jen to explore the redemptive power of fantasy, storytelling, and imagination. Heather shares the inspiration behind The Tethered World Chronicles, a Christian fantasy series filled with Bigfoot, giants, hidden realms, family, faith, and adventure. The conversation examines the lingering effects of the satanic panic, the difference between discernment and fear, and whether Christians can engage fantasy without embracing the darkness sometimes associated with it. Brandon also shares how fantasy literature helped him through depression, restored his sense of wonder, and reawakened his belief in a supernatural God. From Narnia and Harry Potter to fairy lore, the Nephilim, childlike faith, creativity, and imposter syndrome, this episode considers how good stories can open our eyes to hope, beauty, courage, and the larger story God is telling.
https://www.heatherllfitzgerald.com/

Amazon link to the series:
http://tiny.cc/ett7101

Link to Realm Makers
https://www.bookishkop.com/
blog post mentioned about fantasy 

Timestamps
00:00:06 – Good Fantasy, Hope, and Seeing Beyond the Present
 00:00:28 – Introducing Heather L. L. Fitzgerald
 00:03:12 – The Tethered World Chronicles Explained
 00:05:06 – Bigfoot, Hidden Realms, Giants, and Eden
 00:06:49 – Growing Up During the Satanic Panic
 00:10:03 – How Heather’s Family Inspired the Books
 00:14:55 – Christian Pushback Against Fantasy
 00:17:59 – Good Nephilim and David’s Mighty Men
 00:20:48 – Fantasy as a Parable on Steroids
 00:23:42 – Fairy Bread and Gifts from the Fae
 00:25:39 – Discernment, Convictions, and Gray Areas
 00:26:51 – Harry Potter, Darkness, and Redemptive Themes
 00:31:54 – Spell Books, Superheroes, and Christian Hypocrisy
 00:35:37 – How Fantasy Helped Brandon Survive Depression
 00:38:00 – Rediscovering the Supernatural Through Stories
 00:40:09 – How Fantasy Made the Bible Feel Real Again
 00:42:18 – Fantasy, Childlike Faith, and C. S. Lewis
 00:44:07 – Joy, Nostalgia, and Eating the Meat
 00:45:11 – Stories as a Framework for Wonder
 00:46:46 – Phones, Doomscrolling, and the Loss of Imagination
 00:47:34 – Jesus as the Ultimate Storyteller
 00:48:58 – Writing, Creativity, and Imposter Syndrome
 00:52:27 – Spiritual Themes Heather Discovered After Writing
 00:53:02 – Writing the Third Book with God
 00:56:35 – Heather’s Favorite Book in the Series
 01:01:27 – Advice for Aspiring Fantasy Writers
 01:03:03 – Realm Makers and Christian Speculative Fiction
 01:04:23 – Becoming Who God Says You Are
 01:06:31 – What Heather Is Writing Next
 01:08:38 – The C. S. Lewis Writers Conference
 01:10:35 – Where to Find Heather and Her Books
 01:11:05 – A Future Narnia-Inspired Story