On this episode, Edith and Sawyer interview their long-time friend, Franklin Darnell. Raised in the Bible Belt, Franklin identified as a Christian early on. As time went on, he questioned the authenticity of his early profession of faith and struggled with a hidden lifestyle. After getting heavily involved with drugs, drinking, sex, and stealing, Franklin found himself wondering how he had gotten to this place. While packing up to move away to a new city, Franklin felt the need to warn God of his plan. He called out, "I'm moving to Portland, and if you don't want me to got there then you are going to have to let me know." Only a few weeks later, God gave Franklin his answer.
Out on an overnight adventure, Franklin and his slightly intoxicated friends settled in for the night in the enos hung between two trees. It was only when Franklin heard the crunching that he realized one of the trees that they had strapped into was dead. Jumping for cover behind a Jeep, Franklin was hit by the tree, and suffered three fractures. One of the fractures was so close to his spinal cord that it could have paralyzed him.
Stuck in a bed and a wheelchair for four months, God started working on Franklin's heart. However, it wasn't until an encounter with a fellow blunt-smoking friend that Franklin finally began the journey towards authentic living for Christ.
As a current biblical studies major at Liberty University, Franklin sees God's hand in his own life. Edith and Sawyer continually describe Franklin as radical, and he agrees that this is something he strives to be. Sharing his thoughts on what it means to be radical, Franklin claims, "As Christians, we love what God loves and we hate what He hates, and that is radical... Being radical is also treating sin as seriously as it is."
Franklin's story is a warning for how far sin can take us, but it is also a familiar and relatable story for so many of us. God will do big things in order to save His children. In the end, He knows there is nothing worse for us than being apart from Him. Franklin is a testament to the fact that God is powerful enough to cover any sin, and He is the only thing that changes us from sinners to forgiven followers of Christ.
Sawyer and Edith end the show with a request for their listeners to subscribe, rate, and review their show. Listeners are also encouraged to share the episodes with friends, and follow the podcast's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Twitter: @TheJustBetween1
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The music featured in this podcast can be found on SoundCloud. It is by Declan DP, and it is titled "With You."
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