DiscoverTo Fly a Coop
To Fly a Coop
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To Fly a Coop

Author: Rafael Aspeitia and Ashley Koebel

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In early September, my Dad, Rafael, got some life-changing news. He had terminal cancer and his life-expectancy was short. As our family grappled to come to terms with what this meant for all of us, we came to realize the hard conversation of death was not something we could put off. I had just wrapped up a Masters in Justice and Advocacy at Fuller Seminary and my last class was literally on death and dying. I questioned why it couldn't have been health and healing! We prayed for healing of course, but as it became clear this was not God's plan for now, I pondered the best thing I could do to help my family and myself process this. I concluded the best thing I could do is give my dad a microphone and let him preach just the way he has always loved to preach about the love of Jesus. 

I flew from LA to visit my family in New Mexico, about a month after his diagnosis. Armed with mics and a recorder, I told my dad about the idea and he was all for it. So, most every day I was there, before my youngest and husband came, we sat in their back-backyard and had these conversations near the chicken coop. If you’ve happened upon this podcast you probably know my dad and so I welcome you to hear more from his heart. If you just happened upon this podcast for no reason, know this… my dad had you in mind. His prayer is that this would help someone unexpected and that God would use it to speak to someone who needed a word of encouragement and a reminder of the unsurpassable love of Jesus

Intro Music found at Pixabay.com from sergepavkinmusic "happy-warm-days"  

8 Episodes
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Some Final Thoughts

Some Final Thoughts

2024-03-1122:22

Episode Eight: Some Final Thoughts Recorded October 2023 In this shorter episode, Dad and I review the topics we discussed over the past few days (all the recording happened from the end of September to early October). Something I learned is an essential part of dying is doing a “life review,” so I started by asking dad about five core memories. He changed it to “game changers” which really worked very well. In the end, he does what he always did and points everyone who ...
The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven

2024-03-0437:13

Episode Seven: The Kingdom of Heaven Recorded October 2023 "You can’t see it. Touch it or taste it, but it’s all around." This is what God told dad in his early salvation. In this episode we delve into his thoughts on the kingdom of Heaven. We first talk about the Kingdom of Heaven and how God sees it around him now but ultimately in Jesus. Later we delve specifically into a sign of the coming of the kingdom – miracles. I personally grapple with why God heals sometimes and ...
Episode Six: Finding A New Identity in Retirement and Contentment that Changes Things Recorded October 2023 Dad explains what “CFC” means to him, finding meaning in retirement, and then even getting a post retirement job as a cross-county trucker. While not everyone may relate to retirement, I think we all can relate to getting a new identity at times. Dad’s main takeaway is this: we need to stay close to Jesus. That is our saving grace. While on the road, he wro...
Recorded September 2023God has been faithful throughout a lifetime of ministry, but I ask my dad about some of his struggles, and lessons learned. I personally struggle holding in tension that God is enough but that God also expects me to be faithful. This was an episode that was originally aimed at those in ministry, but honestly its for any Jesus-follower just trying to figure out how to be faithful. Once again, dad didn’t disappoint in his advice and as always it was peppered with Scriptur...
A Call To Serve

A Call To Serve

2024-02-1237:32

Episode Four: A Call to Serve Date: September 31 , 2023 A new life began when God got a hold of Rafael Aspeitia. The old had gone and the new had come. Out of the love for this God who had rescued him, Dad decides to find ways to serve this God of love and mercy. After spending some time with Meals on Wheels and getting to know seniors in need, he comes to meet The Salvation Army and eventually makes this unique little space his church home. Still, God won’t leave him content to be a part of...
Episode Three: God Came in An Unexpected Way (Life Part 2) Date: September 29 We finish the conversation of Dad’s childhood and young adult life before Christ. Dad explains that being completely lost was indicative of his life before Christ. In that place of lostness God seeks him in an unexpected way and encourages him to “ask.” Still, it is not until his own desperation that his life trajectory changes and he finds a new identity in Christ. Scripture Referenced: John 3:16-...
Episode Two: Tell Me About Your Life (Life Part 1) Date: September 29 WARNING: Reference to graphic violence. Not suitable for children. We start out on this journey finding the power in the story of a life. I ask Dad to share from his childhood and we discuss roots, identity and growing up in a different generation. This is actually part one of a two part life story. Episode two and three were actually all recorded in one sitting. You can hear the night life come out and the chi...
How We Got Here

How We Got Here

2024-01-2234:29

Episode One: How We Got Here Dad and I start out our conversation discussing the impetus of the chicken coop, being a “prepper” and a good husband, and the learning curve of raising chickens. We also get into what started this conversation – a conversation about life and death. My dad reminds us that death is not as scary as we might think it is. More importantly, with Jesus, life is bigger and better than we could have imagined. Scripture referenced: Philippians 1:23-24 KJV, 1 C...
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