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*A quick heads-up: This episode delves into some heavy themes, so please take care while listening.*

Happy Tuesday! In this episode we chat with David Brand about his Christian walk, the mercy of Jesus, and the hospitality of Christ's people. Cheers for chatting, David. I thoroughly enjoyed this kōrero!

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God moves in a mysterious way/

His wonders to perform/

He plants his footsteps in the sea/

And rides upon the storm. — William Cowper, 1774

““Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.” And so we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.” - Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place

“Who can resist his will (Romans 9:19)? — Paul

—

Kia ora! In this episode I respond to a sermon preached this month at a local Tauranga church, Freedom Centre, called The Lie Of “God’s in Control,” preached by Pastor Adam Guyeni. The sermon made numerous claims, among which were that the Bible nowhere says God is in control, that belief in God being in control will make you a “weak Christian” and has spread through the church “by the enemy himself,” that belief in God moving is mysterious ways is “one of the stupidest things [he’s] ever heard in [his] life,” that Satan is trying to deceive you into believing God is in control so that your prayers won’t get answered, and that well-meaning people who say that God is in control should be apologised for. 

I don’t agree with any of that. I also reckon Holy Scripture strongly supports the idea that God is in control. Here is my response.

Link to original sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_fPxj8wHi8

Recommended resources:

The Crook in the Lot — Thomas Boston (Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/44Er4vc8XkKp99osVAG5wA?si=ba854d9900424dd8 )

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment - Jeremiah Burroughs (Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5580p7HfZFIhmeZy6kH21X?si=9389363269f14c93 )

The Horse and His Boy - C.S. Lewis 

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God - Edited by John Piper & Justin Taylor (Link: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/suffering-and-the-sovereignty-of-god ; See also conference messages: https://www.desiringgod.org/series/2005-national-conference/messages )

The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom

Providence - John Piper (Link: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/providence )

Note: I misspoke in the podcast and said the sermon was preached “this week.” I meant to say “this month.”

—

“I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.” - Aslan to Shasta, The Horse and his Boy

“As to the crook in your lot, God has made it; and it must continue while He will have it so. Should you ply your utmost force to even it, or make it straight, your attempt will be vain: it will not change for all you can do.” — Thomas Boston, The Crook in the Lot 

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Happy Tuesday! This was a bit of a different episode! This week I yarned with Joel Hillary of The Jesus Magnet podcast, another kiwi podcast that tells conversion stories. Joel chats his story of coming to Christ, and from Christ to podcasting. Cheers for joining us Joel!

You can check out more of Joel's work and all things The Jesus Magnet here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5P0MibkwU64YAVC9PAX8wA?si=d36fa68d5d834ba4

Note: After this Phil went on The Jesus Magnet and they made an inverse of this episode. It drops early September. Check it out!

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Happy Tuesday! This week I got to chat with Brad Douglas, a busy Christian about a year and half into his journey into the faith. We chat the party scene, conversion, Bible strategies, and a ministry he's involved in called Imperium. Cheers for stopping by, Brad!

For more info about Imperium, check out the website :https://www.imperiumtraining.co.nz/

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Happy Tuesday! This week we talk with Deb Belworthy, a Christian from Rotorua. We chat her journey into the Christian life, mother in lawing, flowers, Dunedin, and growing in your faith. We had a Phil Me In first in this episode: the second chunk of the conversation has disappeared from my computer, so you won't get to hear the full conversation. I'm so gutted about this, as I thoroughly enjoyed this korero! A massive apology to Deb and to the listeners! Genuinely have no idea what happened :/

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*A quick heads-up: this episode delves into some heavy themes, so please take care while listening.*

Happy Tuesday! This week we chat with Shaun Killerby about his journey to Jesus. We chat academia, spiritual disciplines, the brethos, prayer, libraries, gardening, paganism, and some of the difficulties along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation!

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Happy Tuesday! In this episode we kick off 2025 with Ian, a member at Redeemer Church. We chat conversion, Christian growth, and even other stuff. Hoping to be more consistent on these this year. We shall see.

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Happy Tuesday!

We're back, and hopefully that'll be a bit more consistent. This week we were joined by Jordan Afoa. We chat Auckland suburbs, Leviticus, the holiness of God, and Jordan's long and windy road to Jesus Christ. I thoroughly enjoyed this korero. Thanks for opening up, Jordan!

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Happy Tuesday! For episode 30(!) I caught up with Mark and Angie Stevenson, my friends' pentecostal parents. Mark and Angie have a great story and I'm stoked we got to do this! We chatted going to Billy Graham with Grandma, the fruit of the Spirit, Proverbs 3, parenting, spiritual growth after retirement, conversion to Jesus Christ, and music as a unifier in the Christian life. I thoroughly enjoyed this korero!

Also, just wanted to point out that Mark and Angie literally drove over to Tauranga to do the pod in person, which made for a great chat. Thank you both so much!

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