Thank you for your prayers.

We have reached the end of the Apostles' Creed.

I wish I could give you a cookie.

I am somewhat embarrassed to say,

that as a child I watched a lot of television.

I watched old movies

and lots and lots of cartoons.

In many cartoons, 

after seven minutes of violence,

a cat or a dog

rises up in a shadowy form 

as a sort of angel and goes to heaven.

And for many people

that is their idea of eternal life.

You are a gauzy spirit

sitting on a cloud

playing a harp

and eating bon-bons forever.

Satan loves this lie, because it makes sin look great.

If you are a Christian,

the plan is

for you to live forever

in a body that can never decay or die.

You will receive a resurrection body--

and you will continue the journey

of endless becoming

you began in this life.

You will also be rewarded for what you do in this life.

This is a kingdom--

an everlasting kingdom

and you are an eternal being.

You were created to become more and more 

you.

You were designed to be

more and more,

every increasingly,

the fullness of everything that God put in you.

Eye has not seen

nor ear heard,

what God has in store

for those who love him.

We are back to the Kingdom,

and back to the important place

artists and creative people

have in that Kingdom.

Your work here is not the end,

and for many of you

the doorway to eternity 

is where your greatest work is going to happen.

Don't stop growing.

Don't stop turning to Jesus.

Don't stop learning

and hungering after all that God wants for you.

Even if you live a hundred years,

this is just the beginning.

Christ John Otto is the director of Belonging House, an international community called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.

For more information, please go to Belonging.House

Each Friday, Christ John Otto sends out an email to the Belonging House fellowship. Each email promises to inspire, teach, and tell the story of what God is doing through Belonging House.

Thank you for your prayers.

For four years 

I walked away from the church.

And to be honest,

the church had done really terrible things to me.

Sadly my response was

"You hurt me, so I will drink poison to get revenge."

People do that alot.

That dark period in my life ended,

when I went to my priest

and made a confession.

I told him everything I did,

and he listened.

And he said,

"I don't know what to tell you,

and I don't have any answers for you,

but if you 

Listen to the Lord and do what He tells you,

God will give you a way out."

And then he pronounced forgiveness over me.

The seeds of Belonging House

were sown in the ministry of the forgiveness of sins.

After receiving forgiveness,

I felt such relief, and the burden was gone

(the problems weren't solved, by the way).

I sighed, and said, "Wow, that was easy."

Father Al pointed to the crucifix on his chest and said,

"No, it was not easy, 

but it is simple."

Jesus Christ won your forgiveness.

And then when he rose from the dead, 

the first words to his disciples were

"I give you the ministry of forgiveness.

Go forgive people."

And as I mentioned, 

I was hurt by the church.

Forgiveness is a two way street.

Over the years, I have had to forgive

those who hurt me,

and also forgive my part in the hurt.

I was not innocent.

And in forgiving and being forgiven

I have received healing and 

grace upon grace.

Forgiveness removes the barriers to healing,

and frees us to receive health and wholeness.  

Forgive us our trespasses, 

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Amen.

He Never Fails,

—

Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus Christ a throne in the earth.

We do this by laying a solid foundation of big ideas for those who are called to create and shape culture.

We are changing the world through changing the lives of artists and creative people.

—

Christ John Otto is on Substack: christjohnotto.substack.com

Connect with Belonging House

• Learn more about Belonging House
• Learn more about Christ John Otto
• Browse Christ John Otto's books
• Join the online Belonging House community on Circle

Listen to Christ John Otto’s Friday Email podcast on platforms like:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music/Audible
• Podchaser

…And more!

Each Friday, Christ John Otto sends out an email to the Belonging House fellowship. Each email promises to inspire, teach, and tell the story of what God is doing through Belonging House.

—

Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus Christ a throne in the earth.

We do this by laying a solid foundation of big ideas for those who are called to create and shape culture.

We are changing the world through changing the lives of artists and creative people.

—

Christ John Otto is on Substack: christjohnotto.substack.com

Connect with Belonging House

• Learn more about Belonging House
• Learn more about Christ John Otto
• Browse Christ John Otto's books
• Join the online Belonging House community on Circle

Listen to Christ John Otto’s Friday Email podcast on platforms like:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music/Audible
• Podchaser

…And more!