Clemenz With a ”Z” Podcast

EP. 95 We Were In a Cult? Drew's Story

What is up everyone?  Got a new episode here for the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast.  I was able to have a conversation with former member of the ICOC, Drew to discuss his life before the church, during, and after.  The biggest take away of his story for me was how important it is for some to find a "stable" institution and the joy it brings them.  That institution also has a damaging power once it is that institution drops them or turns it back on them.    
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.  

Ep. 94 We Were In a Cult? Ljuba's Story

What's up everyone!  New episode up in the "We Were In a Cult?" Series here on the Clemenz with a "Z" Podcast.  In this episode I had the pleasure of talking to former member of the International Churches of Christ or "ICOC" Ljuba.  We discussed how it was for her coming from Denmark to New York City right after high school to follow her dreams of dancing and being met by a member right away.  We discussed what it was like for after joining, her life in church, the pressures and time commitments, dating, and her eventual need for leaving the church, what it was like leaving, and her life post church.  
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.  

EP. 93 Who Is Your Samaritan?

What is up everyone!  This episode is my message for this week of May 5th.  I look at the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  I talk about the intentionality of the authors of the bible in their use of metaphors and characters in these parables.  I discuss how all of can get so caught up in our rituals and practices that it disconnects us from the people around us, much like the priest and the Levite in the parable.  I also talk about how for all of us there are "Samaritans" in our lives that we think don't deserve our love support.  I hope that this look at the good Samaritan can bring you peace and clarity like it did for me.  
Peace!

EP. 92 Just Because It was Doesn't Mean It Has To Be.

What's up everyone!  In this episode I talk about the fear I have as a parent and a person in situations with my kid and in life that remind me of past hurt and trauma.  I discuss how I have been finding my through it and a mantra that I have adopted this year.  The mantra is "Just because it was doesn't mean it has to be."  I hope this helps all of you as much as it has been helping me heal old crap and becoming a more present father. 
Be excellent to each other!
Peace!

EP. 91 We Were In a Cult? Liz's Story

What is up everyone?!  New episode alert for the series "We Were In a Cult?" here on the "Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast".  I was able to chat with former member of the ICOC Liz about her life in and out of the church. 
We were able to talk about growing up as "kingdom kid" and all that came with that, seeking approval from the leaders, seeing the wrongs in the church, trying hard to ignore them, how that ignoring led to internalization, and living with all of that became too much to bear which led to her leaving the church in the 2010s.  We also discussed what life is like for her out of the ICOC and how she has reconstructed her life.  
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.  

EP. 90 Jesus and Zaccheaus

What is up everyone!  For this episode I use the text Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zaccheaus and Jesus.  I discuss a couple of things here:  How when we read the bible we bring into the story our ideas and views on the world and what we seem possible, the power of being seen and heard, and for us to not become the gatekeepers of who is in or out by letting our own prejudices get in the way.  
Be excellent to each other!
Peace everyone!
And remember, I am just a channel.  I aint the source.  

Ep. 89 The Search Is The Point

How many of us spend all our time and energy looking for the one answer to fix it all?  I know I get caught up in that so much.  I had this realization after reading Matthew 7:7-8 HCSB that its not about the answer but the search for the answer that changes us, impacts us, where we learn the most.  Its not the answer in the parenting book that makes us a better parent but the caring enough to be the better parent and that quest to implement new ideas that does the most change in our lives.  
There is no one answer to life.  
If we stay focus more on the search for growth and be more present to our lives instead of focusing so much on whatever this "ideal" we have made up for ourselves, I believe we will find we are already there.  

EP. 88 We Were In a Cult? Diane's Story

What is up everyone!  New episode up for the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the "Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast".  I was able to speak with former member of the International Churches of Christ Diane about her story of being a member and leaving the church.  Diane's story spans almost 45 years, 5 states/ministries,  marriage/divorce, and she was the first person I was able to talk to about life in the Crossroads Church in the mid 70's.  Her story shed more light on this wild thing we all were a part of and I even learned about a place called the "Upside Down Club"!
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.