There’s No Such Thing As a Perfect Christian: Anita Renfroe & Hollylu Jostes
Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith
Jesus Calling
4.6 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 22 February 2024
⏱️ 24 minutes
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Summary
This week, we’re talking to two women who grew up checking off the boxes to be the best Christians they could possibly be, and who would learn later in life would come to know a God who was more concerned with their hearts than with their behaviors.
Comedian Anita Renfroe grew up in a church that didn’t consider laughter to be appropriate within its walls. As a person who always had something funny running through her head, it took her years to realize that joy, which bubbles over into laughter, is actually something that pleases the heart of God. Writer and teacher Hollylu Jostes also grew up in an environment that had very specific notions on what it meant to be a “good Christian.” Basically playing a role that ran counterintuitive to who she was as a person, she struggled to find her authentic self until she learned to know the God who loved her madly, who gave her the freedom to be exactly who she was meant to be.
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Past interview: Rachael Lampa
Upcoming interview: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org
Salty: The Deconstruction of a Good Christian
Interview Quotes:
“One of my favorite things about how the Lord led me into this is that it takes, sometimes, other people to point out things that should be obvious to you, but are not.” - Anita Renfroe
“I feel it's a gift when the body of Christ can call out [talents] in each other.” - Anita Renfroe
“I like to sign up for things I don't know how to do and do it, and I think that's how I communicate with God the best, is when I'm pushed way out on a limb.” - Hollylu Jostes
“I chose Him because He's God. He is the only rational choice, and then everything falls under that. And once that is in the right place, then you are free to be who God created you to be.” - Hollylu Jostes
“I think it's important to connect with God daily because He is the fuel. He is what gets us through our day. He's what gives our day meaning and He's what infuses our day with joy. He will meet you in these meager little moments that we offer Him and He will grow them.” - Hollylu Jostes
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C
Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj
Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u
What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj
Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Join us on YouTube for The Jesus Listen's Stories of Prayer web series hosted by Susie McIntyre |
| 0:05.9 | Eaten. |
| 0:06.9 | This series features interviews with guests sharing how prayer made an impact in their lives. |
| 0:11.6 | Subscribe on YouTube now. |
| 0:16.6 | If you read the New Testament and the words in red, |
| 0:19.2 | did her Jesus, and you think of him delivering testament and you would interpret the new testament far differently. |
| 0:27.0 | And it is such a wonder to see in the Christian faith now that joy has come into its own as a thing we value. |
| 0:41.0 | Welcome to the Jesus Calling podcast. |
| 0:44.0 | This week we're talking to two women who grew up checking off the boxes to be the best Christians they could possibly be |
| 0:50.0 | and who would later in life come to know a God who was more concerned with their hearts than with their behaviors. |
| 0:59.0 | Comedian Anita Renfro grew up in a church that didn't consider laughter to be appropriate within its walls. |
| 1:04.9 | As a person who always had something funny running through her head, it took her years to realize |
| 1:09.1 | that joy, which bubbles over into laughter, is actually something that pleases the heart of God. |
| 1:14.4 | Writer and teacher Holly Lou Jostis also grew up in an environment that had very specific notions |
| 1:19.3 | on what it meant to be a good Christian, basically playing a role that ran counterintuitive to who she |
| 1:24.0 | was as a person, she struggled to find her authentic self until she learned to know the God who |
| 1:28.8 | loved her madly, who gave her the freedom to be exactly who she was meant to be. |
| 1:33.4 | Let's start with Anita Story. |
| 1:36.3 | Hi everybody, I'm Anita Renfro, |
| 1:38.4 | and so glad to be here today. |
| 1:40.8 | I am a follower of Jesus. I love to bring joy mostly to females and I've |
| 1:47.8 | been doing it for over 20 years and when I hear laughter in a room, |
... |
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