CIAM Radio

No matter what is going on in the world around us, we can still have inner peace.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the late nineteenth century, few people had access to the great sequoia groves in the US, and many didn’t believe the reports of the massive trees. In 1892, however, four lumberjacks ventured into the Big Stump Forest in California and spent thirteen days felling the grand tree named Mark Twain. Twain was 1,341 years old, three hundred feet tall, and fifty feet in circumference. One observer described Twain as a tree “of magnificent proportions, one of the most perfect trees in the grove.” They shipped part of this remarkable beauty, now destroyed, to the American Museum of Natural History where everyone could see a sequoia.

The reality, though, is that we can’t prove every truth with our eyes alone. Hebrews describes faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith isn’t irrational or a fit of fancy, because the whole story is grounded in a person—Jesus—who has entered human history. Faith includes human senses and reason, but it’s not limited to them. Faith requires more. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,” Hebrews says, “so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (v. 3).

It’s often difficult to trust what we can’t touch or see or completely comprehend. But our faith in Christ, made possible by the Spirit, helps us to believe more than we can see.

Maybe burnout isn’t a badge of honor but a warning light from God. When life feels out of balance, it’s often a sign we’re pushing past the limits God designed for our good. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Carey Nieuwhof (NEW-hoff) joins Rob West to share how we can find biblical rest and live with renewed purpose. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live—biblical wisdom for your financial journey, weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.

To learn more about Rob West, click here.

To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Witness Wednesday!

Todd engages two Georgia Tech students on issues like sin, morality, and the afterlife. Listen along as real, street-level evangelism is done to God’s glory.

Segment 1

• Philip admits the Christian God makes the most sense but refuses to submit because he doesn’t want his lifestyle to change.

• He confesses he knows God’s rules, knows they’re real, and still chooses to live how he wants and “take his chances with death.”

• Todd uses God’s law (lying, lust, blasphemy) to show Philip he’s not “basically good,” but a willful rebel against a God he knows exists.

Segment 2

• Philip clearly says he understands hell, believes he’d go there, and is still content to keep enjoying sin “for a season.”

• He admits he’s weighing Jesus versus his current pleasures and, for now, deliberately chooses sin, thinking he can always reconsider later.

• Todd warns that greater knowledge brings greater judgment, prays that Philip’s conscience will torment him in his sin, and pleads with him to see Jesus as better than “fun” and temporary pleasure.

Segment 3

• Scott, sporting royal blue hair and loving the attention, says he’ll only conform to laws he personally deems just—rejecting God’s laws as unfair.

• He argues that if God created people with their flaws, God is responsible for their sins and has no right to punish them.

• Scott calls the God of the Bible evil, citing genocides and hell as proof, and leans on Dawkins-style thinking while insisting humans aren’t basically bad.

Segment 4

• Todd shares the tribal-king story where the ruler takes the lashes his guilty son deserves, using it as a picture of Jesus taking God’s wrath in our place.

• He explains that sin against an infinitely holy God deserves infinite punishment, and that the cross is how God remains both just and merciful.

• Scott still rejects eternal punishment and substitution as unjust, while Todd urges listeners to see the cross as the greatest act of kindness ever offered to a guilty sinner.

___

Thanks for listening!

Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners.

If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/

If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Welcome to episode #248! ️ Pure Victory Podcast: Neural Pathways- Why Porn Feels Powerful- and Why Freedom Is Still Possible!

In today’s episode, Braden breaks down how God designed your brain, how porn hijacks it, and why understanding this can be a total game-changer in your freedom journey.
You’ll learn what neural pathways actually are, how they get formed, and—best part—how they can be rewired for healing.

Braden also shares part of his own story, the moment hope entered the battle, and a powerful biblical example that shows God isn’t just interested in freeing your spirit—He’s renewing your mind and restoring your whole self.

This episode is practical, hope-filled, and packed with truth:
  You’re not broken.
  You’re not spiritually defective.
  And you’re definitely not stuck.

Your brain can change. Your spirit can be renewed. And God walks beside you every step.

Key Takeaways

• Neural pathways are real. Porn isn’t “just a bad habit”—it literally rewires the brain.
• You’re not weak or defective. Your brain is doing what it was designed to do… just with the wrong input.
• The same system that builds addiction can build freedom. Repetition creates new pathways toward healing, connection, and purity.
• Healing requires integration. Not just prayer. Not just willpower. Not just brain science. Freedom comes through the mind, body, and spirit together.
• Biblical freedom is a journey. Like Israel leaving Egypt, God frees us step by step—not by shaming us, but by walking with us.
• There is real hope. Neuroplasticity + Scripture = your brain can be renewed, and your life can be restored.

Scripture Highlight

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2
Science calls it neuroplasticity. Scripture called it long before. God wired your brain for transformation.

Ask a question

Have a question you'd like answered live on an episode? Send a voice recording of your question to [email protected]

Share this with your friends

Who do you know that can benefit from this podcast and other episodes coming in the future? Share it with them so they can subscribe as well.

Subscribe

Subscribe on any podcast app to make sure you catch new episodes! 

Resources

FamilyLife Canada: Porn Recovery Resources

FamilyLife Canada: Resources and events to strengthen your marriage

Online marriage resources (FamilyLife Canada)

Covenant Eyes Accountability Software - use promo code FLCANADA for 30 days free
Pure Freedom Community for men 18+
Book a FREE call (men)
Pure Freedom Journey for men and women

Podcast Host

BRADEN HAFNER

Braden is the Regional Director in Alberta for FamilyLife Canada. He and his wife Kristen live in Edmonton, Alberta. He knows all too well the destruction that porn use and addiction can have, and now wants to see people experience freedom away from porn. Along with that he is passionate about seeing marriages grow and thrive, and helping couples move to a deeper oneness with one another and with God. FamilyLif

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "3 True Confessions." Enjoy!

Is the Bible really the only holy book, and how can a loving God send people to hell? In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld explores two foundational questions about God's ways: that He speaks through Scripture, and that He holds humanity accountable. He examines what makes the Bible utterly unique among all books in human history, then tackles the difficult doctrine of hell, explaining that the severity of sin is determined by the infinite worth of the One we sin against.

I've Got Questions: In this thought-provoking series, Dr. John Neufeld tackles the real questions people are asking today—from the exclusivity of Christ to the problem of suffering, from biblical authority to assurance of salvation. Rather than offering quick answers, he uses each question as a bridge back to the foundational truths of Scripture. Dr. Neufeld equips believers to build their faith on solid ground while engaging honestly with the challenges of our contemporary world.

Tune in to hear Pastor Chuck Swindoll discuss four principles for effective prayer from Romans 15:30–33.

From the Series: Romans: The Christian’s Constitution

read more

Merry Christmas from the entire Practice Makes Parent team! On this episode Danny and Rebecca discuss the joys and complexities of Christmas. They share personal stories, family traditions, and the challenges of maintaining a Christ-centered, less materialistic holiday. We touch on family dynamics, managing expectations, and the impact of grief during the holiday season with commentary from Mary Hunt, Kathy Lip, Greg and Erin Smalley, and Levi and Jenny Lesco. We also talk about how parents can promote charitable activities that will bless others, too.

Sign Up For The Free Parenting eNewsletter

Send us your email or voicemail questions here!

Support the show!

If you enjoyed listening to Practice Makes Parent with Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James, please give us your feedback.