Does “sweetness” characterize your speech?
In this episode of Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Hamby and Molly Mayo welcome Jake Phillips—voice actor and Lamplighter Theatre legend—to the podcast. Together, they reflect on the wisdom of Proverbs 16:21: “Sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” Jake also shares personal insights into what God is teaching him through John 13.
Tune in for a gentle reminder about the power of responding with “sweetness,” and a heartfelt conversation about trusting God through trials and circumstances we may not yet understand.
“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” — John 13:7
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A New Commandment Feat. Norm Wakefield
“A new commandment I give to you: love one another.” (John 13:34)
Do you find it difficult to love those who challenge you? Does the Christian life sometimes feel overwhelming? You are not alone.
Many of us assume we must generate love ourselves to obey Christ, yet He promises that if we ask anything in His name, He will provide it. Like branches joined to a vine, we cannot bear fruit apart from Him—but connected to the Vine, we can experience the joy of His love flowing through us.
In today’s episode, Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo welcome Norm Wakefield to explore John 13–15. Together, they examine the profound meaning behind Jesus’s words: “In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you,” offering insight and encouragement for living in the love of Christ.
Resource Mentioned on the Show: https://livetolovewithjesus.com
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Light in the Darkness Feat Dr. Lew Sterrett
This week on Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby and Dr. Lew Sterrett unpack the world’s rising hostility toward God’s Word—and why we shouldn’t be shaken by it. What if persecution isn’t a setback, but a setup for revival? Just ask Saul, who went from hunting Christians to spreading the gospel. Even the fiercest persecutors can become God’s mightiest instruments! And as history shows, whenever the Church faces pressure, she always answers with greater passion and boldness for Christ. Tune in for a timely reminder that God’s light shines brightest in the dark!
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A Spoonful of Rice Part 2 Feat. Radha Manickam
Amidst unimaginable suffering, Radha Manickam heard a whisper: “I have a plan for your life.”
On this episode of Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo welcome Radha Manickam on the podcast to tell the incredible story of how God brought him through the Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia. Evacuated from his home and forced to work on 3 hours of sleep and one spoonful of rice per meal, Radha testifies to suffering, loss, survival…. but most of all, the faithfulness of God.
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD God is an everlasting rock” - Isaiah 26:4
Resources Mentioned on the Show:
“Intended for Evil” by Les Sillars
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A Spoonful of Rice Part 1 Feat. Radha Manickam
Amidst unimaginable suffering, Radha Manickam heard a whisper: “I have a plan for your life.”
On this episode of Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo welcome Radha Manickam on the podcast to tell the incredible story of how God brought him through the Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia. Evacuated from his home and forced to work on 3 hours of sleep and one spoonful of rice per meal, Radha testifies to suffering, loss, survival…. but most of all, the faithfulness of God.
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD God is an everlasting rock” - Isaiah 26:4
Resources Mentioned on the Show:
“Intended for Evil” by Les Sillars
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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