• Life Everlasting
    Jun 23 2022

    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

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    3 mins
  • The Forgiveness of Sins
    Jun 16 2022

    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!

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    3 mins
  • The Mystical Body
    Jun 9 2022

    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!

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    3 mins
  • I Believe in the Holy Spirit
    Jun 2 2022

    O Holy Spirit, come like a mighty rushing wind and

    Awaken us out of our complacency, our apathy, and our indifference.

    Disturb us, 

    For we are too content to let people go on 

    not knowing you.

    Penetrate the closed gates of our hearts 

    and make us live again.

    O Holy Spirit, 

    create among us a mighty Christian revolution

    And cast the fear of the unknown out of our lives.

    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!

    Show more Show less
    3 mins
  • A Word from God
    May 27 2022
    Thank you for your prayers. Maya Angelou once said that "One person speaking the word of God is a majority." When you have a word from God you can walk across the water and through the sea and find yourself on the other side. But words from God are tricky. God told Moses that he would know that this word from God was true when they worshipped on the mountain-- after leaving Egypt. In other words, every word from God requires that risky, mirky, ambivalent step or many steps of faith. And when you walk in faith everyone and everything will rise against youto test the word. On Tuesday I met with Mehdi Andre to talk about the French Translation project. And I was paying attention to our podcast numbers. They are very good. The are three times the English numbers, and here and there even higher than that. I assumed that Mehdi had been using social media to promote them. "No.No, we have done nothing to promote the podcasts.The Lord is adding to our numbers every day." I shared this with friends who know about ministry in France. What we are experiencing is very unusual. We stepped out because of a word from God two years ago and it has signs that we are seeing a miracle. Ten years ago I asked our prayer team to say this declaration: "Belonging House is a global fellowship..." Some of them laughed at me, but I had a word from the Lord. And every word from God is risky, mirky, and ambivalent. And you always second guess-- but if you have faith you keep going. Faith is in the going, not the thinking. Today we have more in our community outside the United States than in it. Please keep us in prayer,these realities are making it clear I need to go back to the UK at least for a season. Thank you to everyone who responded to my special email on Monday. God is good and we will see his goodness in the land of the living. He Never Fails, Christ John Otto — 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 HouseLearn more about Christ John OttoBrowse Christ John Otto's booksJoin 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!
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    3 mins
  • To judge the living and the dead.
    May 19 2022

    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!

    Show more Show less
    3 mins
  • He Will Come
    May 12 2022

    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!

    Show more Show less
    2 mins
  • Sits at the Right Hand of the Father
    May 5 2022

    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!

    Show more Show less
    3 mins