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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

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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 Guneyi. 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.”

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“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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