A podcast for every Christian who has ever asked ‘Is that it?’ Mid-faith Crisis explores the Christian faith with honesty and humour. If you feel that you have more questions than answers, if you feel as though your faith is changing, if you feel that if the worship leader sings that chorus one more time you will strangle him with his own guitar strap, then this is the podcast for you. Warning. Contains traces of theology and occasional innuendo.
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Episode 308: What the heck, I’ll pray anyway
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We talk about prayer and laughter, about creativity, and about the everyday acts of hope that help us transcend the news. Also we discuss judging a theology by the fruit it bears. Meanwhile Nick talks about his retreat and there is a lot about cheese. Business as usual, then. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-fa…
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Episode 307: ‘Stick two fingers up to the forces of darkness’
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In times of disappointment, darkness and fear, how should we respond? What difference can we make? We talk about joy as a revolutionary act, and how we can refuse to join in the game. Also, we discuss reclaiming labels such as 'Christian', and we have powerful stories about the power of prayer, mystical coincidences and, of course, parking spaces. …
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Episode 306: An interview with Martyn Joseph
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We have an interview with singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph. He talks about his career, the craft of song-writing, his campaigning worked the importance of just turning up. And we end, of course, with a song. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: Martyn…
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Episode 305: The microphone in my heart
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Is God really in charge of the universe? Do prophecies actually happen? We have some fascinating feedback about hearing from God and how he is calling us to collaboration and co-creation. Meanwhile, Nick quotes Ezekiel and Joe goes all mystical about Robins. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Faceboo…
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Episode 304: Fetch the prophecy scales!
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In this episode we explore one of the central questions of theology: is it right to pray for a parking space? If we believe in an interventionist God, then what kind of intervening does he do? Does Joe really have the spiritual gift of parking? Also, we touch on sadness as holy ground, grieving for past versions of ourselves, and how to respond whe…
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Episode 303: Mindful Formation with Shaun Lambert
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Joe talks with Shaun Lambert about mindfulness, wonder, and the need to 're-perceive' God. As well as actually leading us in a contemplative exercise, Shaun talks about strengthening our 'attention' muscles, encountering God in the present and becoming a more responsive but less reactive presence. All this and Diadochos of Photiki too! Support the …
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Episode 302: Be generous with comfort
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We talk about the virtuous circle of comfort: how what we receive we can share with others. Also whether the real purpose of the Holy Spirit is to help us to pay proper attention to our lives and to learn the right lessons. What if God is not arranging the events of our lives, so much as asking us to pay attention to them? Meanwhile, Nick has a cor…
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Episode 301: Nick’s less-than-resilient week
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Nick has had a bad week. We talk about approaches to resilience, the meanings we attach to events, our tendency to project bad stories, what perspectives might help us through really rubbish moments and how sometimes your favourite Bible verse doesn’t help that much. Meanwhile Joe introduces the 'numes' – a new scale to measure numinous moments and…
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Episode 300: What we’ve learned so far…
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Three. Hundred. Episodes. Who'd have thought it? We think about some of the key things we have learned, and are still learning through doing this podcast. We reflect on such topics as what we think about God, how we read the Bible and the amazing capacity of theology to annoy you in entirely unexpected ways. And in the end, it turns out Jesus is st…
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Episode 299: The Great Search – an interview with John Philip Newell
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Joe interviews John Philip Newell about his new book The Great Search. What are the things we are really yearning for? Who are the prophets to whom we should pay attention? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: John Philip Newell Etty Hillesum Simone …
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Yes! The brothers have reconciled and the podcast band is back together. So, in this week's show we talk about redeeming the word 'religion', what it is that we can give to the church, whether Jesus was a bit smitey (again) and in the words of one contributor, the 'ready brek feeling of the warmth that Jesus can bring with that desire to be a bette…
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Episode 297: Jesus was not an accountant: an interview with Sian MacInnes
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This week's episode is all about money. Why are we so embarrassed by it? Why do we fear dealing with it? Is ethical investing worth it? And do we really have to tithe? Thanks to Sian MacInnes FPFS for her great input on today's show. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentio…
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Episode 296: I belong, help thou my unbelonging
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We talk about the benefits of belonging, and not belonging, to a church. Are there perspectives and opportunities that we can get from a church that we can't get elsewhere? When is it right to leave? And, most importantly, is there anyone is not able to sit? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Faceboo…
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Episode 295: You say inspired, I say God-breathed
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Yes, we're talking again about the Bible, this time discussing how the Bible was compiled and what Paul meant by the line 'All the writings are God-breathed'. Also, we have a truly wonderful final email, and loads of feedback on whether our listeners are friends, companions, pilgrims, fellow community members, paying punters or family members. We d…
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Episode 294: Thank you for being some people out there
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A mixed bag this week. We talk about Christian outrage over the Olympics, about the need to belong (without being defined by our belonging) and how Joe actually found himself singing worship songs. Also we consider whether our listeners are really our friends, or, as Nick so tenderly puts it, 'potential threats'. Whatever the case, thank you for be…
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In this episode we dive deep into the idea of the wrathful God. Can we understand it in a different way? And what do we do with all the bits in the Old Testament where the almighty gets all smitey? Are the accounts of the tribal, violent, Old Testament God real? Or are they stories? And if they are, how do we read them? Meanwhile, Nick has been spe…
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Episode 292: Decluttering, deconstructing and sorting your life out
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We're back! And after a long break there is a lot of catching up to do. Has Nick really stopped watching the news? Is there actually such a thing as a Purple Hairstreak Butterfly? Is the Mid-faith Crisis Podcast the Kendal Mint cake of spirituality? And what happened when Joe took Nick to the theatre? Also - our friend Andy is carrying out some res…
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Episode 291: Walking the Camino with Claire Bradford
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Joe interviews friend and fellow celebrant Claire Bradford about her experiences walking the Camino. They discuss the importance of doing things when you can, the Joy of Missing Out and and how the pilgrimage, far from being about solitary detachment, led to an amazing sense of community and connection. Support the podcast Contact the podcast throu…
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Episode 290: OMG – A Bad Christian’s Prayer Book with Dave Tomlinson
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Joe talks to friend of the podcast Dave Tomlinson about his book 'OMG, A Bad Christian's Prayer Book'. Dave also chats about prayer, and about the need for us to be committed to hope or, as he terms it, 'defiant imagination'. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in t…
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Episode 289: Start the week with a sabbath
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We discuss the concept of the sabbath, mainly because Nick has heard an interesting sermon on the topic. What if we see sabbath as the start of the week and not the end? How does it help us escape the world of 'things'? And is it obligatory to have a bath? Also, we touch on whether you can have 'Stage 4' churches, talk a bit about demons and exorci…
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Episode 288: Happy Be Kind to Clergy Day!
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We carry on our discussion about churches and church leadership. Do churches need visible locations? How do we preserve their communal identity without creating barriers that keep others out? And, crucially, when Jesus said 'where two are three are gathered' does that include rabbits? Also, we reflect more on bad behaviour in the church – but in th…
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Episode 287: It’s nature, but is it churching?
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In keeping with his theme, Joe has been nature churching. We discuss his experiences so far, what makes something 'church', the importance of your spiritual trellis and whether some churches turn the tricycle of faith into a unicycle. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Nick's Blog - episode notes Mentioned in this ep…
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Episode 286: God is speaking our language
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We have a think about Pentecost. What was it all about? Was it really the birthday of the church? Is it an eschatological thing? Actually, what even is an eschatological thing? Nick, has a three-point sermon, and naturally, each point begins with the same letter. Also an interview with Lisa-Jayne Lewis, our very own Eurovision correspondent. Suppor…
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Following his year of wisdomness, Nick wrote an article on wisdom. We discuss whether the church downplays wisdom in favour of revelation, the steps we can take to intentionally gain more wisdomness and the need, as Nick puts it, to 'Squeeze the tube of your mistakes for the toothpaste of wisdom'. Apple apologises after iPad advert backlash | BBC N…
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Episode 284: It’s theological correctness gone mad
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In a feedback-fuelled episode, we chat about heresy, gratitude, and the circuit board of love. Is heresy just speculation that is not the official speculation? Do we have to score 100% on our exams to get into heaven? Also, we think about whether sin is better viewed as separation and Nick gets rather agitated about how we read the Bible. Again. Su…
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Episode 283: Life After Doom – an interview with Brian McLaren
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Brian McLaren talks about his new book, 'Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart'.He and Joe discuss how denial is exhausting, why our enemies are not people, but systems and how we all need to exercise our power to show up. 'Once you discover the God of love you fire all your other gods'. Also, remember, humans are a mess, bu…
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This week we discuss the relationship between human skills and endeavour and the work of God. Or as Nick put it, 'Why does God get all the praise when I did all the work?' Does the fact that we live in a God-filled universe mean that the Divine should get all the credit? Or, by dismissing humanity's input are we actually devaluing the fact we are m…
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Episode 281: The desire to go deeper
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There's a lot about depth this week. We talk about dusting off the Bible and reading more deeply, and how the mid-faith crisis can be accompanied by different emotions, including the desire to go deeper. Oh, and Nick has been down a well. As if that wasn't deep enough we discuss our target demographic, Joe's bulging portfolio and the way in which s…
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We thought it was time to revisit the stages of faith – which is really what this podcast is all about. Joe takes us through his understanding of the six stages, but as well as exploring the crisis itself, we also look at the signs which tell us that we might be emerging into a newer, deeper faith. Also, Joe has a theme and Nick might still be reco…
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Episode 279: Focus and … er… something else
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It’s our new year themes episode. Joe’s had a bad week so is behind with his homework. Nick has broken his Lenten fast from anger in a spectacularly ill-judged way. And we have thoughts about beetroot. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Staying Defiantly – The Conversation Barbie Ostara and…
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It's Easter! And we reflect on what Easter means for us this year and how we can see our own faith journeys patterned in the events of Holy Week. Meanwhile, Nick is impressed by Hot Cross bun technology and Joe has discovered the word 'heuristic'. Happy Easter everyone. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in…
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Episode 277: Does God really need praise?
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As the song goes, 'Praise him on the trumpet, the psaltery and harp!' But why? In another of our excitingly named Moderately Interesting Questions, we explore the nature of praise. Does God demand it? How do we approach it? And what the heck is a psaltery anyway? We talk about praise as gratitude and heightened appreciation, how it needs to be base…
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We delve into the feedback this week, especially various reflections on the What is the Point of Joe?' episode. Also we talk about being the person that God imagined, how we over-value and over-share achievements, the role of regret, and whether the true sign of Christlikeness is getting 40% off at Mountain Warehouse. And we have some brilliant his…
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Episode 275: What the fog? An interview with Jo Ibbott
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Joe talks to Jo about the menopause. And perimenopause. And post-menopause. What is it and why does it matter? And why don't we talk about it more? You will learn a lot. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Staying Defiantly: A Conversation for Church Leaders Limes Nick's microblog Courage Co…
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Episode 274: What is the point of Joe?
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Joe is having an existential crisis and, worryingly, is asking Nick to help. So we discuss meaning and purpose. What are we here for? What is our calling? Is there a purpose to our lives or are we just fooling ourselves? Is it true that everyone on earth is a pun? Does Joe's purpose involve cheese? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through yo…
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Episode 273: You are a pile of precious dust
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We discuss Lent, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. We reflect on the purpose of fasting, the way that Lent creates contours in the year, and the cheery fact that we are all going to die. From dust we are made and to dust we shall return. But what kind of dust? That's the question. Also in the new, fabulous 'Thankful for Food' feature, Nick, inexpli…
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Episode 272: What is church actually for?
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Last week we talked about lots of different kinds of church. This week we're thinking about the purpose. What, actually, is the point of church? What are we supposed to do? And has this whole thing just been market research so that Joe can start a cult? Warning: there's a lot of food in this episode, none of it healthy. Support the podcast Contact …
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Last week we asked what people would like to see in a church. Turns out a lot of people have an opinion. A lot. We talk about the need for safe places, shared values, and how to balance evangelical roughage with full-fat, dairy liturgy. Most of all, though, it's a feast of feedback. Common themes include food, honesty, trust, food, the need for a s…
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Episode 270: The Mid-faith Crisis planning meeting
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Welcome to our first ever publicly broadcast planning meeting. And just to get us started, Nick has a few of what he is calling 'Mid-faith Crisis Moderately Interesting Questions'. Snappy. Before that, we talk about haggis, ghosts, whether it's wrong to get angry and the idea of church as a place to share stories. Support the podcast Contact the po…
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Episode 269: Episode ‘I don’t give a monkeys’
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We're back! And we talk about what life has been like in the past week or so. We discuss how we can support one another in grief and mourning, how our faith affects our approach to these times and how, even though we can say goodbye with hope, pain and loss are always real. Meanwhile, Nick is enjoying the improvements in oven chips technology and w…
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Episode 268: Mancunian Motivation with Paul McGee
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Happy Not-the-actual New Year! We start this year with an interview with Paul McGee, aka The SUMO Guy. Among other things, Paul talks about his faith journey, about the importance of hippo time and how it's better to have a 'to be' list than a 'to do' list. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode…
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Episode 267: Happy Christmas to bacteria everywhere
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Joe is back from Mexico and Nick has got out of bed. We think briefly about our highlights of the podcasting year, before going on to talk about different kinds of fear, and whether we are actually more insignificant even than worms. Thanks to you all for your support this year. See you in 2024! Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your …
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Joe is in Mexico where, assisted by Harvey the dog and an un-named cat we reflect briefly on the importance of knowing that, wherever we are, Jesus is with us. Also, we pay a visit to Nether Hell and wonder why humans can't hibernate. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Herod's Secret Police…
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Episode 265: I almost raised my Ebenezer
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After a brief bout of illness, we're back. As well as catching up with each other, we talk about leaving and returning, and ponder on whether everything is the incarnation. Also, Nick has written a new Christmas story and we talk way too much about our Ebenezers. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this e…
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Episode 264: Being stoned to death with fridge magnets
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Nick has been to a leadership summit and the results are mixed, to say the least. We talk about how to build an environment which might encourage contact with God. And Joe talks to friend of the show Brian Draper about his new advent series. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Episode 74: Ef…
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Episode 263: An interview with Harry Baker
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This week we have an interview with poet Harry Baker. As well as performing some of his poetry, he talks about faith and prayer, and about how creativity is, inherently, a worshipful act. As he says, 'If I didn’t write poetry about dinosaurs then who would?' Christmas, Tradition, Truth and Total Bauble - talk by Nick Page at Southwark Cathedral Sup…
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Episode 262: This drivel may not be for you
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We reflect on the interview with Olivia Jackson, and explore the need for us to have more confidence, and the way in which so many Christian organisations get built around their star names. Also, Nick is having strange feelings about model railways and we have a rebuke from a listener. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email mach…
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Episode 261: (Un)certain – an interview with Olivia Jackson
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This week we have a fascinating interview with Olivia Jackson, author of (Un)certain. Described as 'A Collective Memoir of Deconstructing Faith' it's a fascinating insight into the experiences of people going through spiritual change. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Alfred the Great Jack…
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Episode 260: Do you suffer from doctrinal dysfunction?
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In this episode, we talk about the pain of the mid-faith crisis, and the difficulty of dealing with the loss of what you used to believe. We used to be anointed, but now we're un-nointed. So, how does that affect us mentally and physically? If we are in the ministry, what happens about our job? We discuss the importance of change, writing a eulogy …
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We discuss Bible translations among other things. Why are verses translated in different ways? Which is the 'correct' version? And can we trust the translators? Meanwhile, Joe is grumpy and Nick has been thinking about earthworms, and we reflect on some wisdom from Saint Arnold of Schwarzenegger. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your…
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