Last week was a full week with a “launch email“ going out to a huge mailing list of people to say that story4all web site and podcast are now online. What has been very encouraging has been the response from all around the globe. I am thrilled that so many have found it to be touching on a nerve and have found the initial ‘casts so helpful.

We have been inching forward in the process with more vision and desire than manpower and hours in a day. It has also been quite a slog to keep going in all that has been happening this week. My mother was taken into hospital in the middle of everything, so I find myself caught between family needs at home and the hospital as well as running around with my laptop to keep my head above water. The Lord has been faithful, and we are inching forward.

I have not blogged as much as I would have liked but I intend to continue to try and get something up here at least once in every two to (max.) three days. There is so much to be covered in this subject. I hope to keep things parallel with the podcast so we do not get ahead of ourselves (too much!!).

in last week’s podcast (“s4a002 - The Bible as Story...”) I mentioned how a search of online dictionaries brought up the Old English definition of the word ‘Gospel’ as being ‘God’s spell or tale’ (lit. the story or narrative of God).

We briefly discuss this verse in this week’s podcast, and point out the connection Jesus made between the ‘Gospel “of the Kingdom”’ and the end times. In other words the Story of God must first be preached in all nations... and then the end shall come.

I wanted to add some further thoughts I had about this. Although I have been a full time church planter since January 1977, and saved since 1973, I have always somewhat struggled with the fact that I do not see an orderly summary of the four spiritual laws in the Bible. It has always perplexed me. Why is the “nutshell” of the Gospel so scattered throughout Scripture, and not found somewhere all neatly laid out in one passage?

Add to this the tremendous difficulty I have always felt, from my Bible School training until today, with trying to pass on the very conceptual approach to Gospel presentation I have learned. It has always seemed a little forced or unnatural to me, whether I try to “work conversations round” or whether the opportunity arises “naturally“.

Now if instead you see the Gospel as the narrative of God it takes on a different perspective in my mind. Which goes down better - sharing some concepts about God’s love/plan, the problem of sin, forgiveness provided in Jesus, and new life in Him, or telling the Story as parts of it need telling along life’s journey and in divine appointment with others, and in that way ”always ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us“? I can’t help heaving a great sigh of relief when I look at it this way: the latter storying option.

If you have iTunes installed you can click the link below and it will open the correct podcast (“story4all podcast”) to allow you the opportunity to access the direct “Subscribe” button within iTunes.

Then click the Subscribe button and you’re in business to download the story4all podcast shows that should be uploaded weekly from here on out ...

click here: iTunes link

Click it and see what happens...

If you don’t have iTunes open for you, then go to the iTunes download page and get yourself a copy!! Then click the "iTunes link" above, followed by the "Subscribe" button that will be visible when iTunes opens our story4all podcast summary page.

We’re in business folks ... at nearly one in the morning of Saturday 13th May 2006. Welcome to story4all podcast - finally online!

Last night I registered the podcast with iTunes, Podcast Alley and Podcast Pickle! I suppose that means that we’re up and running!

I am still waiting to receive the magical ID number iTunes will give us, so that I can circulate it to “the world” of my friends and colleagues as the vital URL that will open iTunes and allow anyone to subscribe to the podcast that is already at:

http://story4all.libsyn.com/rss

If you cut and paste the above “URL” into your “podcatcher” (software that allows you to download and play podcasts) then it will work for you. You can get the first show NOW.

It is with great thankfulness that I report that the Lord has given me someone to co-host the podcast. Yvette Wilkinson was sitting behind me in church one Sunday recently and she enthusiastically agreed to join me in this project, when I asked her after the service.

We have actually had two attempts so far to record the first show, and it has been a battle to get the tech expertise matched up with “flow” in conversation (for us rookies at this game). We finally got the first show recorded on Thursday afternoon, and, with some editing we should be ready to go “public”!

Praise the Lord for what seems to be the end of a long road of preparation. We feel that this is the day that He has called us into. We hope that soon we shall be announcing to you the “release” of this podcast to the world!