Burn the Haystack

Dr Brendan Pratt joins us this episode to talk about consumerism. What is it, why has it invaded every corner of our daily lives and how can we live with it, in our ordinary lives and faith communities?  You can read his doctoral thesis here

This episode, Josh and Jesse discuss the recent(ish) revival taking the Christian world by storm. We are, of course, referring to the Asbury Revival. What was it? Was it real? Was it a sign of things to come or was it a flash-in-the-pan? We talk about this and more in this appropriately-timed Easter episode!

Lachlan Harders, a pastor from Queensland, discusses the concept of 'low ecclesiology' - how the church perceives itself. They explore the importance of church structure, constructive criticism, and fostering optimism within the church community.

In this episode, the lads talk about 'Striver Culture.' It's a culture brought on by the enormous stress faced by students, young professionals and just everyday people. The story is familiar to most of us: there's not enough to go around and if I want to 'get ahead,' I'd better take my life into my own hands and make it happen! It sounds like an appealing dream: if I work hard enough, I can earn enough money to relax, provide for my family and enjoy my life. But does it usually ever work out that way? Let's talk about it.

After many years of eyeing each other off from afar, we finally invited Daron Pratt on the podcast. He's a man of many talents: from chicken-rearing to balloon-twisting, he's a man of intrigue. But, he's also a man who has dedicated his life to ministry, and specifically, ministry working with children and teens. In this episode, we tap into his almost-30 years of experience. We had a great time, and we think you will too. 

Ok, we're back for real this time. In a strange twist of fate, both Josh and Jesse have found themselves once again living in the same city. The last time this happened it was 2018 so I'm sure you understand the unlikelihood of such an occurrence.  In this episode, we talk about the time that elapsed between the last time we turned on the mics and now. A lot has changed; we've changed. And, the church has changed. Jesse now works in the media department of one of our church entities and Josh has transitioned back to Australia working in a busy city church. So, what does the future have in store for us, the church and our community? Let's find out. 

Josh and Jesse have had just about enough of the new digital world we're all part of now. Don't get us wrong: we know it's here to stay, and we embrace that fact, but one thing is undeniable: there's a drain that happens when you spend a lot of your time online, doing the things you used to do in-person. So, let's talk about that. 00:00 Welcome & Catchup 02:29 Why Did we Go on a Break? 12:28 Digital Burnout 22:32 The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast and Media 25:53 Are we Building a Personal Brand or the Jesus Brand? The 5 Things that have Helped Josh Deal with Digital Burnout 30:20 1: Slowing Down 30:49 2: Purging the Podcast Feed 32:56 3. Doing Less in General 37:02 4: Stopped Browsing Phone in Bed 37:47 5. Reading more Physical Books 38:57 A Return to Creativity 46:52 The Line Between the Analog and Digital is Blurring 51:26 Wrap-Up 52:01 Jesse's Moving back to Australia 55:09 Outro Website and Blog | Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram | Merch Send us an email at burnthehaystackpodcast@gmail.com.

This week, Josh, Laura, Josh, and Jesse look back on 3 years of the podcast. and reminisce on our favourite memories. Despite the multitude of highs and lows, it's been an amazing ride. Seeing as this is our last episode before we go on our long-needed hiatus, we hope you'll join us for this livestreamed episode! From all of us at Burn the Haystack, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and an amazing 2021! Hopefully we'll see you soon. Website and Blog | Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram | Merch Send us an email at burnthehaystackpodcast@gmail.com. This episode of Burn the Haystack is sponsored by Avondale University College. To learn more about Avondale, click here.

This week, Josh and Jesse talk about Carl Lentz. He's the latest in a line of pastors falling from grace due to moral indiscretions, but this time, it hits a little closer to home. The guys also talk about the impact this controversy has had on the church, and how things simply must change if we're going to reach a skeptical culture with the Gospel. Website and Blog | Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram | Merch Send us an email at burnthehaystackpodcast@gmail.com. This episode of Burn the Haystack is sponsored by Avondale University College. To learn more about Avondale, click here.

This week, Josh and Jesse interview Matthew Korpman on his new book, Saying No to God. In this book, he seeks to help us reevaluate our understanding of how we relate to God, and how he relates to us. Is God truly unmoved and sovereign, or does he change his mind based on us, humans? Website and Blog | Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram | Merch Send us an email at burnthehaystackpodcast@gmail.com. This episode of Burn the Haystack is sponsored by Avondale University College. To learn more about Avondale, click here.