Endurance for Excellence Part 2 Feat. Jake Phillips and Steve Rosen
We all dream of mastering our craft. Whether we are painters, surfers, or accountants, the pursuit of excellence is something we’ve all considered. But is it really as unattainable as it sometimes feels? Certainly not! On today’s episode of Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby welcomes two master teachers: Jake Phillips—voice actor and Lamplighter Theatre legend—and Steve Rosen—music designer, composer, and producer. Together, they share personal testimonies of how God has used life’s most difficult experiences to strengthen their faith.
Listen in as these two master craftsmen reveal the wisdom and lessons that have guided them in achieving—and continuing to pursue—excellence for God’s glory. Tune in today and discover what it truly takes to follow hard after the Lord and grow in your God-given gifts!
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The Silence of Adam Feat. Charlie Kirk
On this episode of Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby reflects on the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, a man whose bold faith and passion for God’s Word shaped a generation. Drawing parallels between Charlie’s life and the martyrdom of Stephen in Acts 7, Mark explores how God often uses tragedy to ignite revival and spread the truth of the Gospel. He challenges listeners to rise up and continue Charlie’s mission—to speak truth with courage, disciple the next generation, and trust that God is in control even when the world rages against His Word. This powerful conversation is both a tribute to a faithful servant and a call to action for all who desire to see God’s Kingdom advance.
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26:35
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26:35
Endurance for Excellence Part 1 Feat. Jake Phillips and Steve Rosen
We all dream of mastering our craft. Whether we are painters, surfers, or accountants, the pursuit of excellence is something we’ve all considered. But is it really as unattainable as it sometimes feels? Certainly not!
On today’s episode of Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby welcomes two master teachers: Jake Phillips—voice actor and Lamplighter Theatre legend—and Steve Rosen—music designer, composer, and producer. Together, they share personal testimonies of how God has used life’s most difficult experiences to strengthen their faith.
Listen in as these two master craftsmen reveal the wisdom and lessons that have guided them in achieving—and continuing to pursue—excellence for God’s glory.
Tune in today and discover what it truly takes to follow hard after the Lord and grow in your God-given gifts!
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32:08
Who's Really Rich? Feat. Pastor Langley
Wealth is something we all wrestle with at some point in life. In a culture that constantly urges us to chase after more, how often do we pause to consider what it truly means to be rich? On today’s podcast, Pastor Justin Langley and Dr. Mark Hamby explore these questions through the well-known parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. From Luke 16:19–31, this unusual story offers a fresh perspective on rags, riches, and the secret to everlasting wealth.
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A Puzzling Parable Feat. Pastor Langley
We all like to be clever. Be it a smart joke, a well-timed business venture, or a sly move in a board game, acting shrewd can feel very satisfying. But is “shrewdness” always a good thing? Today on Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby and Pastor Justin Langley delve into one of the Bible’s most puzzling parables: The Unjust Steward. The steward is dubbed “shrewd” by his actions, but whether or not that’s a good thing is up for debate. Dr. Hamby and Pastor Justin present two sides to this parable, expositing the Scripture in equally compelling ways. Perhaps there’s more to shrewdness (and this steward) than meets the eye! Listen in to find out more…
The mission of Lamplighter Ministries is “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, by building Christ-like character one story at a time.” The mission of this ministry is deeply rooted in the truths found in Malachi 4:6 and Luke 1:17. The gospel writer Luke quotes from Malachi 4:6 in his first chapter. His handling of the text is peculiar because he leaves out part of the quote and adds a sentence that changes the entire meaning of Malachi’s text. In Malachi we read: “To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” In Luke we read: “To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The first part of this verse is identical in both passages. The second part, “turning the hearts of the children to their fathers” is similar to “turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.” It appears that Luke is emphasizing that children’s hearts (the disobedient) will turn to their fathers, if their fathers’ hearts become righteous and worthy. The last part of the verse in Malachi, “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse,” has been deleted and new text has been added, thus changing the meaning. Generally, the New Testament writers will change an Old Testament text to help clarify the intended meaning, but here Luke changes the meaning of the text entirely. Whereas the Old Testament closes out with the word “curse” and a strict warning, the New Testament closes out with hope and an emphasis on grace—“the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.” By Divine design the Old Testament closes in “curse” and the New Testament closes with “grace.” When Luke the physician quotes Malachi 4:6 and removes the curse, I believe he was adding that which is at the heart of Christian discipleship—“making ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
As I studied Luke’s addition, I realized that the words “make ready” and “prepared” are the very essence of our mission. The word “ready,” in Greek, hetoimaz het-oy-mad’-zo, means to prepare, provide, construct, create, or make ready through internal fitness. The word “prepared,” in Greek, kataskeuaz, kat-ask-yoo-ad’-zo, means to build, make, ordain, or prepare thoroughly and properly by external equipment. Lamplighter Ministries has a two-fold focus: preparing people to serve the Lord through internal character development and external career preparation. The words “ready” and “prepared” form the foundation for our mission at Lamplighter. We are building Christ-like character internally through inspiring and godly role models, and motivating individuals to live a life of excellence through external opportunities that cultivate their God-given abilities into the highest level of skill and excellence.
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