Upside Down People

Noah Asher is a former prisoner who found redemption in Jesus amidst his experiences of chaos. The mantra on Noah's heart comes across clear in this conversation as he shares his about his hope, healing and the humour that helped him come through some of his darkest days.

He now is an Award-Winning Author, Chaos-survivor, business owner, and communicator. Noah helps people find purpose within their pain and their past.

Noah is a testimony of the redemptive work of Jesus, regardless of where we may find ourselves. In this conversation we dive into the areas of vulnerability and acceptance as approaches in supporting others through their own chaos. The church should create a safe space for people to be honest about their struggles. Chaos is a common part of people's stories, and worship can help overcome it.

To find out more about Noah Asher or his work:

⁠https://www.thenoahasher.com/⁠

Sarah Walton is an author and speaker who authentically shares about finding hope in Jesus amidst adversity, pain & struggles. From dealing with daily chronic illness to financial loss, to raising a child with behavioural/neurological challenges Sarah shares vulnerable around navigating these complexities of life and how she has found joy in sharing the deep lessons God has taught her through difficulties.

In this conversation you will hear Sarah's heart that true hope can be found in nothing but Jesus. She emphasises the importance of being dependant on God and finding contentment in His presence, even in the midst of pain. Sarah also shares the importance of humour and finding joy amidst chaos.

Find out more about Sarah or her work here:

https://setapart.net/

Seph Schlueter is an emerging artist and songwriter who is passionate about music & Jesus. His debut single “Counting My Blessings” has garnered a mass international following, hitting No. 1 on Spotify Brazil’s Viral Playlist. It’s a story covered in God’s fingerprints, one that Seph happily shares in this conversation.

Naturally, this conversation is marked by Seph's gratitude and thankfulness as he shares about expressing his faith & the recent success that has followed his music. We also talk about how the crippling nature of the fear of man, and how the desire to please God should outweigh the desire to please others. Seph where's his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Jesus and we see this throughout the conversation.

You can listen to his music pretty much anywhere you find your music & you can find out more about him on his socials "Seph Schlueter" (Instagram, TikTok, FB, X)

Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517 and is the author of several books. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College.

In this episode we have a conversation around the impact of individualism on the church and the need for a shift from self-focus to serving others. Cultural narratives in the church often differ from the cultural narratives of society, and this difference is usually a good thing.

Click here to find out more about Chad & his work:

www.1517.org

Youtube, X (formerly twitter)

Instagram

Ingrid Faro (PhD, MDiv) is Professor of Old Testament and Coordinator of the MA in Old Testament–Jerusalem University College Program. Ingrid is an author and international speaker on topics including deconstructing evil, navigating suffering, forgiveness, lament, abuse and power dynamics, women in the Bible and ministry, Genesis, and Ecclesiastes.

In this conversation Ingrid shares her journey of healing from trauma & abuse and discusses the problem of evil. We also talk about the importance of safety in relationships, the dangers of when the church becomes a corporation & finding healing from abuse and trauma.

To find out more about Ingrid head over to her website: https://www.ingridfaro.com/

In this episode Dr. O. Alan Noble, an author and Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, joins the podcast to have a conversation around the real challenges faced by Christians journeying through mental affliction and why it's worth persevering through such suffering. He unpacks the question "Why get out of bed when facing suffering of various kinds?" and talks into the burden and gift of living.

We also talk about cultural Christianity is disrupting people's personal relationship with Jesus. Following Jesus means taking up our cross daily, embracing hardship and suffering, and relying on God's grace and power to transform us.

To find out more about Alan Noble or his work head over to his website - https://www.oalannoble.com/

In this episode Caleb has a conversation with Jadon Swanson, a Gen Z, Jesus loving, creative human. We talk about the chalenges of content creation, social media and the need for authentic and grace-filled conversations with each other. Jadon gives us his take on the particular struggles Gen Z encounters with finding their identity & purpose & what support looks like in this space.

To find out more about Jadon head over to his socials @swannydonny on Instagram / Tiktok

In this episode Caleb chats with Sharon Dirckx and has a conversation around the ideas of nurturing thoughtfulness and feeling in our faith as well as finding hope in the midst of tragedy.

Dr Dirckx is an Adjunct Tutor at the OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Originally from a scientific background, she has a Ph.D. in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge.  She is a speaker and author whose work focuses on responding to the spiritual and faith-related questions that people ask today.

In this conversation she also explores the mind-brain problem and argues against the view that humans are solely their brains. Sharon highlights the complexity of human beings and the limitations of materialistic explanations.

The Christian faith provides a framework for understanding the brokenness of the world and the presence of suffering. We explore these theological and philosophical aspects of natural disasters which Sharon has written about in her book "Broken Planet". The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a reminder that God is with us in our suffering and that there is hope beyond this life.

To find out more about Dr. Sharon Dirckx - https://www.dirckx.org/

You can find her book "Broken Planet" - https://ivpbooks.com/broken-planet

In this milestone 50th episode Caleb celebrates by having a conversation that is inspired by love with Perth's beloved Amanda Viviers.

Amanda is a gifted author, communicator, creative & enthusiast for living life with Jesus. She shares how Jesus transformed her identity & discusses the challenges of faith in the creative space. Amanda notices that shifting our worldview from self-focus to other-focus, helps us embrace diversity and reframe moments of self-criticism that we experience.

The episode explores the significance of gathering around the table, the return to liturgies and sacraments, and the role of women in the church and society. It delves into the importance of simplicity, reflection, and the celebration of diversity.

To find out more about Amanda Viviers:

https://amandaviviers.com/

In this episode Caleb unpacks the origins & impacts of individualism & authenticity on this cultural moment, noticing that looking to the gospel and being with Jesus can provide guidance & a sense of purpose in navigating the challenges of authenticity & individualism.

The episode explores the rise of authenticity & individualism in society, attributing it to factors such as the shift from religion to reason, the emphasis on subjective morality, and the focus on individual rights. He also examines the impact of authenticity and individualism on the church, including the idolisation of individuals and the shift towards a performance-based Sunday service. Caleb concludes by emphasising the importance of looking to the gospel and being with Jesus as a way to navigate the challenges of authenticity and individualism.