Pick Up the Mike

In this week’s episode, Mike and Will begin Romans 9, where Paul turns from explaining salvation to asking why Israel hasn’t believed. They look at Paul’s wish to be “accursed” for his people, the privileges God gave Israel, and what “Jacob I loved, Esau I hated” means once you trace it back to Malachi. Then they react to an AI music video, a mixed reality demo, and the Red Baron pizza prank that ended in a GoFundMe windfall. They wrap up with a listener question on suicide.----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here -https://bit.ly/PUTMQuestionsCheck out Harvest's other podcast, ⁨@tinatalkspodcast⁩ Visit our church website, harvestpa.org----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro7:08 Romans 9 begins: Israel and the church26:27 The Dead Sea and God’s promises to Israel38:38 Abraham’s children: Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob43:06 “Jacob I loved, Esau I hated” (Malachi)51:53 Hunting trip recap57:16 Reacting to the AI “Hello World” music video1:30:39 Mixed reality demo1:34:39 The Red Baron pizza guy1:42:54 Listener question: suicide and Chesterton

In this week's episode, Mike and Mandy pick up in Romans 8:29-39, where Paul walks from predestination to the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Then they tackle questions on women Pastors, losing salvation, and infant salvation. They wrap up with Nicki Minaj, Kid Rock, a Nigerian pastor preaching from inside a mass grave.Episode Cards:"Bad Theology, Great Country: A Tour of Church Chaos & American Pride - Episode 117"----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here -https://bit.ly/PUTMQuestionsCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast Harvest Website, Harvestpa.org----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:00:00 Intro07:16 Romans 8:29-3024:40 Romans 8:31-3934:11 "Hyper-Nike" and what "super conquerors" means39:05 Turtles, plastic straws, and shrieking harpies49:19 Q&A: Can a woman preach?1:02:07 Q&A: Once saved always saved, and what about infants?1:19:34 Kid Rock and Nicki Minaj1:28:00 Nigeria: a funeral preached from a mass grave1:48:22 Fight Club, masculinity, and the church#PickUpTheMike #Romans8 #HarvestChurch #BibleStudy #Predestination #ChristianPodcast #Nigeria

Mike, Will, and a special guest from Clarion County sit down for a conversation that’s part storytelling, part theology, and part comedy, starting with Pastor Tom Switzer of Grace Community Church, whose journey from a Promise Keepers event at age 12 to Liberty University and back home to western Pennsylvania shows how God can lead a man to a pulpit he never planned on. Along the way, the guys debate whether Christians should celebrate Halloween, wrestle with what it really means when someone says “God told me,” and dig into Romans 8:29-30 and the golden chain of salvation. They close with a spirited discussion on capital punishment and whether you actually have to like everyone in your church.Episode Cards:"Defending Christmas: Nativity & Trees - Pick Up the Mike Episode #88""Casey Diaz: Shot Caller to Soul Winner - Pick Up the Mike Episode #96" Items Mentioned in EpisodeSurprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis Check out Pastor Toms Church: gcccurllsville.orgGrace Community Church Curllsville Youtube channel: ⁨@gracecommunitychurchcurlls5721⁩ ----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here -https://bit.ly/PUTMQuestionsCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast Check out Harvest Church: Harvestpa.org----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro3:03 Tom's Story10:35 From Clarion to Liberty to Grace Community18:42 Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?29:24 Romans 8:29-30: The Golden Chain & Foreknowledge36:49 Calvinism vs. Arminianism1:02:08 Human Agency, Free Will & RC Sproul1:16:10 Capital Punishment#PickUpTheMike #HarvestChurch #Romans8 #Calvinism #Arminianism #Halloween #ChristianPodcast

Mike and Will work through Romans 8:23-28, react to Kid Rock's new "Jesus Is King" music video, and close with a practical conversation about fighting anxiety and OCD.Episode Cards:"Romans 7, Addiction, and the Abortion Law We Can't Ignore - Episode 122" "Brooke Greiner: Depression, Instagram Fame, & A Miracle Baby - Pick Up the Mike Episode #94" "Fear of Man | Mandy Reedy | Christina Brooks" Items Mentioned in EpisodeThe Weight of Glory by C.S. LewisThe Case for Christ by Lee Strobel----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it here -https://bit.ly/PUTMQuestionsCheck out Harvest's other podcast, TinaTalks PodcastCheck out Harvest Church: harvestpa.org ----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro7:46 Romans 8: Predestination as Destiny to Glory11:50 Groaning Creation & Existential Dread (Romans 8:23-25)22:32 Fleeting Earthly Glory & Legacy35:40 The Spirit Groans for Us (Romans 8:26-27)49:40 Romans 8:28 & Paul's Suffering1:10:06 Kid Rock "Jesus Is King" Reaction & Cultural Revival1:26:43 Anxiety, OCD & Exposure Therapy#PickUpTheMike #Romans8 #HarvestChurch #ChristianPodcast #Anxiety #OCD #KidRock #BibleStudy

Mike, Will, and a special guest from Iran sit down for a conversation that’ll open your eyes, starting with Netflix’s Narnia remake and what it says about the culture, then diving into the story of Farshid Rezaee, an Iranian refugee turned apologist. Raised Shiite, a Quran-reciting champion as a boy, and a secret Christian who celebrated Christmas alone, Farshid’s winding road to Pittsburgh proves God is still writing some wild stories.Items Mentioned in Episode:Tactics by Greg KouklThe Case for Christ by Lee StrobelSeeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it hereCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast ----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro & Narnia Remake11:52 Sunni vs. Shia Islam Explained22:32 Growing Up Shiite in Iran25:07 The Deception Argument and the Quran34:52 Is the Quran Really Preserved?40:22 Can God Do Anything?51:33 Farshid's Conversion Story1:32:50 How to Evangelize Muslims1:52:59 Iran Today

Nick Greiner grew up as Pastor Mike's son, a shy kid who traded New Jersey sweater vests for Western Pennsylvania after a move he did not want. He shares how childhood anxiety shaped his early years, why he fought to quit football, and how obsessive push-ups and a guitar got him through cyber school. He talks about sneaking a blank audition CD into a stack of papers to land a full ride at North Greenville, meeting his wife Brooke on a singing bus tour, and working his way up from a $9-an-hour barista to district manager.Episode Cards:"Brooke Greiner: Depression, Instagram Fame, & A Miracle Baby - Pick Up the Mike Episode #94""What Jesus Really Meant with Money and Heaven - Pick Up the Mike Episode #66"----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it hereCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast ----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro1:27 Rock Hill, SC & Growing Up as Pastor Mike's Son4:33 Trailers, Seminary & Moving to New Jersey7:01 City Life, Bullying & Private School in NJ15:24 Childhood Anxiety, Insomnia & Health Fears25:05 What "Checking" Really Means (Anxiety Loops)36:06 Dad, Moving to Western PA & Quitting Football45:14 Working Out, Cyber School & Evangel Heights1:05:03 North Greenville, Joyful Sound & Meeting Brooke1:21:26 Starbucks Career, Corporate Life & Anxiety Today

In this week's episode, Mike and Will pick up in Romans 8:18-22, where Paul says our present suffering isn't worth comparing to the glory to come. They dig into why all creation is groaning like a woman in labor, then tackle listener questions on dealing with a controlling spouse and why some churches affirm same-sex marriage. They wrap up with a few Big Fred stories you won't want to miss.How to Read a Book by Mortimer AdlerThat Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it hereCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast ----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro12:28 Reading Romans in Big Chunks17:02 Romans 8:18-22– Suffering vs. Coming Glory59:00 Ask the Pastors: What to Do When Your Spouse Is Controlling1:26:08 Ask the Pastors: Same-Sex Marriage, Identity & What Makes a Church a Church1:50:39 Big Fred Stories & Wrapping Up

In this special 9/11 anniversary episode, Mike and Will open with some practical wisdom on withholding judgment and assuming the best of others' motives before diving into the main event: a hard look at Islam's history and its ongoing persecution of Christians, from Nigeria to lower Manhattan. They react to a string of videos — some graphic, with a warning given beforehand — covering everything from Sharia law to eyewitness footage from the towers, then close things out on a hopeful note with a C.S. Lewis reading on facing fear, war, and mortality with faith.----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it hereCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast

In this week's episode, Mike and Will continue their walk through Romans, picking up in chapter 8 as Paul unpacks what it means to be adopted as sons of God rather than slaves living in fear. Along the way, they wrestle with why Paul uses the word "sons" instead of "children," dig into the promise that our suffering now is nothing compared to the glory being revealed in us, and debate whether "empathy" is even a biblical concept worth keeping — sparked by a reaction to Gad Saad and Andrew Klavan's conversation on "suicidal empathy." They close out contrasting empathy with compassion, and get into a broader conversation on postmodernism, cultural relativism, and where they see truth getting quietly traded for feelings.Andrew Klavan & Gad Saad Full VideoTina Talks Q&A Round 2----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it hereCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast ----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro2:37 Romans 8:10-1937:35 Reaction: Klavan interviews Gad Saad43:03 Empathy vs. sympathy debate1:00:07 Islam, assimilation, 9/111:13:16 Postmodernism & atheism debate1:34:13 Lindsay Clancy case & justice1:43:12 Next episode teaser & sign-off

In this week's episode, Mike and Will move into Romans 8, unpacking why Paul calls it the pinnacle of the whole book — starting with "no condemnation" and working through what it really means to set your mind on the Spirit instead of the flesh. Along the way, they get into a wild AI story about Claude and ChatGPT breaking out of their test environments to hack a company, debate the data center controversy and what it means for the future of AI, and dig into the cultural firestorm around the Lindsay Clancy case — including a viral Spencer Pratt video on "suicidal empathy" that's got the internet talking. They close things out on a hopeful note with a young commentator using economics to push back on socialism.Don Bowers EpisodePrayer EpisodeHelen Andrews EpisodeC.S. Lewis Book Perelandra----------------------------------------------------------Want your question featured on a future episode? Leave a comment or submit it hereCheck out Harvest's other podcast, @tinatalkspodcast ----------------------------------------------------------Video Chapters:0:00 Intro 9:12 Bible study: Romans 841:37 AI, data centers & the "sandbox escape" news55:39 Spencer Pratt & the Lindsay Clancy case1:02:52 Reacting to Spencer Pratt's viral video1:23:32 Society, free speech & Elon Musk1:29:06 Emma Camp: economics common sense1:36:14 Closing thoughts