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Welcome to Episode 21 of “Stories & Other Things Holy.”
In this episode, Joshua Minden introduces a powerful reflection drawn from the Gospel of Luke—the story of Jesus’s temptation in the desert—inviting us to question the labels we’ve internalized from our past. Terry Nelson-Johnson then shares an intimate story about a conversation with his mother—a moment when makeup, memories, and vulnerability converge to remind us that even when familiar parts of our identity seem lost, we remain held by an unwavering source of love.

Join us as we explore:
• How moments of struggle can trigger a renewal of self
• The interplay between vulnerability, love, and self-worth
• The spiritual invitation to “remember who you are” even amid chaos

[0:00] – Opening: Connecting the Gospel & Personal Story
[1:56] – The Paradox of Beauty & Vulnerability
[3:09] – A Tender Conversation with Mom
[4:16] – Reclaiming Precious Identity
[5:20] – Healing Through Love: A Night of Care
[7:46] – Closing & Community Invitation

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Welcome to Episode 20 of Stories & Other Things Holy – a heartfelt Lenten reflection that invites you to explore the transformative power of letting go. In this episode, host Joshua Minden and principal storyteller Terry Nelson-Johnson share a personal and unexpected journey: while visiting Star Rock in central Illinois, Terry experiences a life-changing massage that not only eased his physical tension but also became a metaphor for releasing the familiar pains we carry.

Through candid storytelling and gentle humor, Terry reveals how a former steel mill worker turned massage therapist encouraged him to “breathe into” his pain and surrender it, leaving him transformed. This reflection ties in timeless gospel themes of healing and renewal, challenging us to face our discomforts so that we may experience liberation and spiritual growth.

[00:00] Introduction & Lenten Reflection Overview
[00:15] Theme: Embracing Vulnerability & Letting Go
[01:32] Terry’s Introduction: The Massage Experience
[02:35] Memory & Connection: Star Rock & Childhood
[03:41] Meeting John: An Unexpected Encounter
[04:29] The Turning Point: Choosing to Embrace Change
[05:36] Facing the Pain: A Transformative Massage
[07:06] Release & Renewal: Breathe Into the Pain
[08:37] Call to Action: Embrace Nature & Healing
[09:03] Closing & Invitation

If you’re on a quest for healing and renewal this Lent, join us on this journey of vulnerability and transformation.

• Sign up for our weekly reflections, prayer prompts, and grace exercises at: StoriesandOtherThingsHoly.com
• Please like, subscribe, and share this video to help spread the invitation to heal and transform.
• Leave a comment below sharing how you let go of your pain.
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Welcome to Episode 19 of Stories & Other Things Holy! This week, host Joshua Minden and principal storyteller Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson bring you a heart-stirring tale about a once-vicious dog who finally trusts enough to be loved. Using this unlikely story of healing and connection, we dive into deeper questions of spirituality, grace, and the choice to let go of isolation.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why vulnerability can be the key to true freedom
• How “hell” can be anything that keeps us from belonging or intimacy
• What it means to let someone—and God—“love the hell” out of us
• Biblical parallels to Lazarus and the significance of “rolling away the stone”
• Practical ways to risk being loved in our daily lives

Key Moments:

• [00:02] Joshua’s introduction to the power of stories and the question: “Have you ever felt like an unlikely candidate to be loved?”
• [01:43] Terry’s anniversary trip story: discovering a dog with a remarkable healing journey
• [06:52] “He let me love the hell out of him” – the line that reframes everything
• [10:08] Connections to other stories of healing and touch
• [14:06] Exploring Lazarus’s story: unbinding ourselves from what keeps us isolated

Resources & Next Steps:

• Sign up for our weekly newsletter at StoriesAndOtherThingsHoly.com for reflections and “gracercises” that help deepen your spiritual journey.
• If you found this episode meaningful, please like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more stories and spiritual insights.
• Join the conversation in the comments: What would it look like for you to let love break through your toughest barriers?
• Consider becoming a supporting member on Buy Me a Coffee

Support the show

📱 Follow us:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OtherThingsHoly