The Grace Cafe podcast

32:07

Has religion tied you down instead of setting you free? In this episode, we share some of our own experiences in escaping the religious mindset so prevalent in many institutional churches. We talk about the dangers of rigid leadership, legalism, and religious tradition—how they obscure our view of the gospel of grace and the freedom we have in Jesus to be ourselves. Many of us lose our true identity in the institutional church, conforming to man-made rules and expectations instead of walking in the freedom that is already ours in Christ. Join us as we unravel these issues and explore what it truly means to step away from religious conformity and back into the liberating grace of the New Covenant gospel. If you’ve ever felt confined by church systems or struggled to break free, this conversation is for you. Here are some of our previous episodes of ours related to topics that came up in this episode. Patriarchy and Its Affects on Women and Men https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13205508-patriarchy-and-its-affects-on-women-and-men-02 Did Paul Command Women to be Silent in Church? (Part 1) https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13282310-did-paul-command-women-to-be-silent-in-church-part-1-03 Did Paul Command Women to be Silent in Church? (Part 2) https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13370653-did-paul-command-women-to-be-silent-in-church-part-2-04 Did the Law of Moses Silence Women? https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13445967-did-the-law-of-moses-silence-women-a-second-glance-at-1-corinthians-14-34-40-05 _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Why We Lose Friends When We Leave The Institutional Church (023) 29:41

13 weeks ago29:41

29:41

In this episode of The Grace Cafe podcast we start out by talking about why we lose friends when we leave the institutional church. Then our conversation turns to an analogy from C.S Lewis' book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Spiderman and Institutional religion's preoccupation with sin. Yes, we're that spiritual! Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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All Sufficient Grace (022) 29:23

21 weeks ago29:23

29:23

In this episode of The Grace Cafe, we talk about grace in the midst of suffering in the context of Mike's cancer and his ongoing treatments. In the institutional box church, where one-size-fits-all is the assumed norm, our performance is often a barometer of our spiritual condition. An upward trajectory is assumed. But suffering and not being able to perform reinforces the true nature of grace and the gospel. Namely that one is justified by faith apart from works of any kind, resulting in rest from our performance and a fresh appreciation of our relationship with the Father through Jesus. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Covenant Confusion: A Conversation With Mike Kapler (021) 1:04:33

22 weeks ago1:04:33

1:04:33

This episode of The Grace Cafe is a conversation from 2018 that Mike had with Mike Kapler of the Growing in Grace podcast. It centers around the content of Mike Kapler's book, Clash Of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through The Grace Guarantee. We talked about many topics that often lead to confusion for believers, including the Sermon on the Mount, the Prodigal Son, the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, and more. I'm posting this on both the Grace Cafe and the UnSunday Show . Links we talked about in the episode: Clash Of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through The Grace Guarantee (This is the link to the paperback version. The Kindle version can be found there) Growing in Grace Podcast Page - The podcast home of Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke. They've been talking grace on this podcast for almost 20 years and 900+ episodes. All the episodes are there for your enjoyment. You can also listen on your favorite podcast app. I'm (Mike) bringing some episodes over from the old Grace Cafe podcast while I wait for my voice to heal enough to carry on a conversation. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Set Free to Be Free: A Conversation with Nora Shaw (020) 29:36

23 weeks ago29:36

29:36

In this episode of The Grace Cafe we reached back to episode 50 of the old Grace Cafe podcast to a conversation Susan had with our late friend Nora Shaw. This is an energizing conversation about the freedom Jesus intends for us to experience in all of life. It's a freedom that the one-size-fits-all box church takes away through religious obligation and expectations. What makes this episode dear to us is that Nora has since passed away and is experiencing the fullness of Jesus face-to-face. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Mike's Health Update (019) 11:42

50 weeks ago11:42

11:42

I am posting this conversation on The UnSunday Show podcast as well as here. It's a short health update from yours truly. Push play and give it a listen and thank you for following my podcasts! I was recently invited to speak on the Grace at Last podcast with Corinne Kinstler on the subject of women in the church. I would really appreciate it if you would give it a listen as well. My conversations with Corinne are always well-seasoned with grace and this one is no different. It's one I really enjoyed! Here's the link to that episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-at-last/id1689072652?i=1000655385359 _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Sin Management (018) 24:09

1 year ago24:09

24:09

Welcome to the Grace Cafe! We're Mike and Susan, AKA, The Husband and Wife Grace Team! In this episode we talk about the dark side of sin management and the sin police in institutional church and religion. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Who We Are in Jesus: A Deep Dive Into The Gospel of Grace with Matt McMillen (017) 44:58

1 year ago44:58

44:58

Who are we in Jesus? Is there anything lacking in our new identity in Jesus? Is the cross enough? Are we ever not doing enough? Does God expect more from us? Is God ever disappointed in you? Is there a list of things we need to be doing to earn God's approval? What does it mean to live in a place of rest? What about fear? Is fear of not doing or being enough a valid reaction? Is it ok to set boundaries? Join us as we talk about these topics and more by taking a deep-dive into the New Covenant gospel of grace with Matt McMillen. Find Matt's podcast, YouTube channel, newsletter, books, and other social media links on his website at https://mattmcmillenministries.com/ _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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The Holy Spirit: Friend or Foe? (016) 27:04

1 year ago27:04

27:04

In this episode of The Grace Cafe, we talk about the Holy Spirit and how religion and the box church give us a version of the Holy Spirit that's more like an angry mobster than a comforter and loving friend. Along the way we talk about some of our experiences with institutional church and church cults. Be sure to check out Jason Gray's awesome video, Remind Me Who I Am, linked below. Enjoy! Jason Gray - Remind Me Who I Am - https://youtu.be/eKyY8zfjBMQ?si=dIEL9FkSn-4i5FLW _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Breaking Point with Amber Stephens (015) 58:49

1 year ago58:49

58:49

Our friend Amber joins us in this episode. In her own words, each of us has two stories; a life story and a faith story. Amber shares both of her stories and the breaking points that led to her seeing grace as grace and a return to the simplicity that is in Jesus and the New Covenant gospel of grace. Amber is on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@honorgodsgrace247 Amber is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/honorgodsgrace/ We hope this episode encourages you in grace! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Freedom That Leads to Rest (014) 45:18

1 year ago45:18

45:18

Welcome to The Grace Cafe! In this episode we talk about the freedom we have in Jesus and how this freedom allows us to rest from our own works and effort. But organized church and organized religion redefines freedom and rest to keep us dependent on the system. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Under Grace The Pressure Is Off (013) 36:12

1 year ago36:12

36:12

Welcome to episode 13 of the Grace Cafe podcast. This episode is a conversation about how religion and institutional church dilutes grace with performance goals designed to keep the institution alive. There is no rest apart from grace. In religion, the work is never done and there's always more to do. When we come to understand the grace of the New Covenant rightly, we realize the pressure to conform and perform is off and the work is done. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Rooted and Grounded in Grace (012) 26:49

1 year ago26:49

26:49

Welcome to episode 12 of the newly relaunched Grace Cafe Podcast. In this episode we talk about the importance of being rooted and grounded in the grace of the New Covenant. The write of the letter to the Hebrews put it like this: "Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace..." (Hebrews 13:9) Anything that leads us away from grace and attempts to establish our hearts in anything other than New Covenant grace should be viewed as a diverse and strange teaching that's to be rejected. And yet almost without exception, the opposite is true in the world of organized religion. When we talk about the grace of the New Covenant to someone still inside organized religion, we are rejected and looked upon as someone involved in a strange teaching because the pure message of grace has been so watered down that it sounds foreign to so many in the church. So let's talk. Here's the link to the episode of the Gracereach podcast we mentioned in this episode. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gracereach-podcast-with-brad-robertson/id1503583444?i=1000642413493 Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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A Look Back At Why We Left Religion and the Institutional Church (011) 41:26

1 year ago41:26

41:26

This episode is a look back at our journey out of institutional church. Leaving religion and coming into a better knowledge of grace was a years-long process for us. Being a pastor in a high-performance based church setting finally caused Mike to hit a wall of performance and Susan fell into a deep depression. All of this came to a head for us on early 2009 when we made a final decision to leave. In addition to this episode we will continue to sprinkle bits and pieces of our story in future episodes. But with so many new followers since shutting down or last podcast, we decided to dedicate one full episode to share our story with you here. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Life Update From The Grace Cafe (10) 30:03

1 year ago30:03

30:03

Welcome to episode 10 of The Grace Cafe Podcast. In this first episode of 2024 we update you on what's been happening with us, including Mike's recent health scare, a little bit of our back story, and our current dilemma of community and church. Find us online and interact with us at https://www.gracecafepodcast.com Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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A Weaponized Faith (09) 38:36

2 years ago38:36

38:36

Welcome to episode 9 of The Grace Cafe podcast. This is a past episode (98) of the old Grace Cafe from New Year's Eve, 2020 that we wanted to share with you. In it, we talk about ways Christianity has weaponized faith and the Bible to enforce conformity. We'll be reaching back from time-to-time and bringing forward one of those old episodes to share with you and this is one of them. Also, Mike was recently interviewed on the Grace at Last podcast. This was a conversation about church and the New Covenant with Corinne Kinstler. You can listen to it by going to https://www.lastministry.org/grace-at-last-podcast/022-what-i-should-know-about-church-with-mike-adamsnbsp or on your favorite podcast app. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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The Leftover Scars of Complimentarianism (08) 24:24

2 years ago24:24

24:24

Complimentarianism and hierarchy are not neutral. They are harmful to the people in it, especially women and children, and they are in opposition to the gospel of New Covenant grace. In this final installment of our series on women in the church, we talk about some of our personal struggles with old patriarchal habits and what it's been like for us since coming out of that system after having spent almost 40 years in it. Feel free to contact us by going to https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/ and using the contact page there. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Can Women Be Pastors? (07) 32:44

2 years ago32:44

32:44

We're closing in on the end of our series on women in the church. The topic in this episode is Can Women Be Pastors? One objection to women pastors that is raised by those opposing the idea is that Paul told Timothy an elder (pastor) has to be the husband of one wife. But is male elders what Paul had in mind with that statement or was he addressing polygamy? And why are we (men and women) so obsessed and set on rising to the top of the church hierarchy when Jesus told us there isn't to be one? Let's talk... _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Headship and Submission (06) 45:31

2 years ago45:31

45:31

Welcome to episode 6 of The Grace Cafe Podcast. We're continuing our topic of women in the church and how historically, the church's view of woman has been harmful and abusive. It's not a good track record. In this episode we talk about headship and submission. We use 1 Corinthians 11 and Ephesians 5 as the backdrop for our conversation and why we believe Paul's use of the word "head" (κεφαλὴ) wouldn't have meant authority or leader to the readers of his day. Here are a couple of online articles that you might want to take a look at. The second one is more detailed and contains a lot of good references. Inclusion here doesn't imply our agreement with everything in the articles, but they are a good thought-provoking read. ‘Head’ Does Not Mean ‘Leader’ in 1 Cor 11.3, by Ian Paul - https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/head-does-not-mean-leader-in-1-cor-11-3/ What About the Word Kephale ("head") in the New Testament?, by Laurie Fasullo - https://www.searchingtogether.org/kephale.htm Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Did The Law of Moses Silence Women? A Second Glance at 1 Corinthians 14:34-40 (05) 30:58

2 years ago30:58

30:58

We're continuing with the overall topic we started back in episode 2 of women in the church. More specifically, how the institutional church has weaponized certain verses in the New Covenant scriptures and used them against women without fully considering the historical and cultural context. This has resulted in needlessly silencing half of the body of Christ and opened the door wide for abuse of every kind. In this episode we're going to take a careful look at 1 Corinthians 14:34-40. It's here that the passage says the law commanded women to be silent, therefore, women should not be allowed to speak when the body of Christ is assembled. The problem is, the law doesn't say that and even if it did, we (and the people Paul was writing to) are not under the law, so why does that matter even if it were true? We think there's something else going on here that needs to be talked about, so let's talk. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Did Paul Command Women to be Silent in Church? [Part 2] (04) 42:47

2 years ago42:47

42:47

In this episode we take a look at the historical and cultural context of Paul's first letter to Timothy and specifically, 1 Timothy chapter 2. In giving his reasons for writing this letter to Timothy, Paul instructs him to dispel myths that had arisen in the assembly (1 Timothy 1:3-4). In chapter 2 of his letter we see Paul begin to dismantle some of those myths and those myths centered around the worship of the pagan idol, Artemis. The culture in Ephesus was heavily influenced by the worship of Artemis. Artemis was a female goddess of Greek origin and the worship and culture of Artemis was female centric. While males could participate in the worship of Artemis, women were dominate and men had a lesser role (kind of the opposite of what we see today in most churches). Here are some of the myths Paul addresses: In the Ephesian culture, Artemis was looked to as the protector of women in childbirth. Women stood a better chance of Artemis hearing and answering their prayers if they wore expensive clothes and jewelry when petitioning Artemis. Artemis was born before her twin brother Apollo, meaning woman was created before man. We also need to keep in mind these important points: Timothy was not a pastor. There's no indication of that anywhere in Scripture. That's a church history-driven idea that is incorrect. The letters of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are not "pastoral letters" written to pastors. Calling them pastoral letters is another false assumption delivered to us from church history. The letters to Timothy and Titus are not across-the-board manuals for doing church. They address specific problems that arose in specific locations involving specific people. Failure to recognize this and instead promote the false assumption that everything in them is applicable to every generation without regard to the historical and cultural context they were written in, has led to the muzzling of half of the body of Christ. Books mentioned in this episode: Artemis: Virgin Goddess of the Sun and Moon - https://tinyurl.com/2p9cfykc What's With Paul and Women? https://tinyurl.com/yp6n47xn _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Did Paul Command Women to be Silent in Church? [Part 1] (03) 39:49

2 years ago39:49

39:49

Welcome to episode 3 of the recently re-launched Grace Cafe Podcast! In this episode we continue the series we started last time concerning women in the church. This week we start to explore the question, did Paul command women to be silent in church? This episode is a much needed overview of what the New Testament says about women in the body of Christ. We look at several of the clear passages of scripture to lay a good foundation for this topic before jumping into the sometimes not-so-clear waters of 1 Timothy chapter 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 next time. We are breaking this question up into multiple parts because there is so much to work through in getting a clear understanding of this topic and we don't want to rush past anything in sorting it out. So this is part one of Did Paul Command Women to be Silent in Church? Grab your favorite beverage and listen in! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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Patriarchy and Its Affects on Women and Men (02) 29:22

2 years ago29:22

29:22

Welcome to episode 2 of The Grace Cafe podcast! In this episode we're launching a multi-part series centered around the topic of women in the church and how church history and tradition have damaged and diminished the way women can function within the body of Christ. We start in this episode by talking about patriarchy and how it has damaged women by taking away their voice and individuality. We share from our personal experiences with patriarchy as we believe so much error has flowed out of this system that it needs addressed first. Grab your favorite beverage and listen in as we see where this series takes us. And thank you all for the overwhelming response we've received from this relaunch of The Grace Cafe! Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow…

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The Grace Cafe Relaunch (01) 28:47

2 years ago28:47