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The Role of Prayer in Content Creation: Passion & Pivotal Moments (Series Introduction)
What Do You Do Before Creating Content? Imagine you’re getting ready to start a big creator project – new video, art portfolio, new podcast concept, stream-a-thon. You’ve got your equipment set up, software open, references lined up, and a carefully curated playlist in the background to keep your energy up. You even posted on…
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Discover Your God-Given Purpose: 8 Steps to Uncover What You’re Meant to Do
Are you struggling to find your purpose in life? You’re not alone. Many of us wonder how to align our talents, passions, and opportunities with what God has in store for us. In a recent discussion, I explored how to discover your God-given purpose and what steps you can take to uncover what you’re…
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Anxiety Meds, Intrusive Thoughts, Mental Health Compassion: Moments from This Week’s Streams
So many things happen during a week of livestreams that it would be impossible for me to make them into separate YouTube videos or articles – but are too exciting to keep to myself. My plan is to gather some of the best segments and provide links so you can come and watch the…
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XtianNinja’s Story: From Traditional Ministry to Digital Outreach (My Testimony/Biography)
In crafting this comprehensive story, I drew from a multitude of sources, including personal experiences, podcast transcripts, interviews, and testimonials. With the assistance of ChatGPT, I’ve been able to weave these elements together into a cohesive narrative. This is the story of my journey, from traditional pastoral ministry to becoming XtianNinja, a digital missionary…
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2022 XN Year in Review: From Foundation to Framework
Introduction Like many others, 2022 was a year of ups and downs for me and my ministry work. It began with the sudden death of my second-born son which led to a series of difficult months, but throughout them all, my local church and online communities were there with support and encouragement for my…
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9 Ways to Build Your Confidence
Everyone who creates has times when they struggle with motivation and confidence – sometimes so debilitating that it causes them to stop creating altogether! Whether you are a Twitch Streamer, YouTuber, Digital Artist, Musician, Cook, or any other type of creative, here are 9 practical ways to boost your confidence so you can get…
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The Difference Between Devotions and Bible Study
There is a huge difference in approach between your personal devotional time and doing a personal Bible study, and knowing that difference is going to change everything about how you connect with God. XtianNinja explains the difference and then gives an example of what it looks like. Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/The-Difference-Between-Devotions-and-Bible-Study-e1lak0r I Need Your Support…
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How long do you need to wait between sinning and praying?
What does it mean that we are “Free in Christ”? How free? Does that mean we can do whatever we want? Is there anything we can do to lose that freedom? How long do you have to wait between sinning and praying? Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/How-long-do-you-need-to-wait-between-sinning-and-praying-e1l57e9 I Need Your Support I’m doing this full-time and…
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How to be MAXIMUM Christian!
What’s the secret to living for God – for REAL? What steps do we need to take in order to discover God’s plan for our lives and how to live it out in an effective and fruitful way? This message might help. Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/How-to-be-MAXIMUM-Christian-e1kltm3 I Need Your Support I’m doing this full-time and…
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Where is God Anyway?
Each day on stream we take time to go through a Verse of the Day, explain its meaning, and find an application. This verse is a very encouraging one on the surface, but what does it mean, really? Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/Where-is-God-Anyway–And-What-Does-it-Mean-that-God-is-With-You-e1kikto I Need Your Support I’m doing this full-time and the only way I…
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What Makes Jesus Special?
What does it mean that Jesus had the “fullness of God” and why is that such a big deal to Christians? What does it mean that Jesus is Preeminent? Join in as XtianNinja (Pastor Al) talks through Colossians 1:15-20 and answers those questions. Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/Jesus-is-e1kc64k I Need Your Support I’m doing this full-time…
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When God Asks the Impossible
Sometimes life throws stuff at us that we just can’t handle. Illness, relationship issues, responsibilities, big needs, cause all of us to shrink back and ask ourselves, “Why would God bring this into my life?”. There are a lot of people who have faced the same situation. What are we to do? Podcast Version:…
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Is AWANA a “Christian Nationalist Child Indoctrination Cult”
@Ex-Fundie Diaries released a video outlining how the AWANA Clubs program isn’t just a fun church group, but a nefarious “Christian Nationalist Child Indoctrination Cult”. Is she right? What defines a cult? What’s up with all the weird stuff that goes on at AWANA anyway? XtianNinja, a pastor and former AWANA leader (and clubber)…
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But What if They’re a Really Good Person?
If you’ve ever asked, “Do good people go to heaven?”, give this a watch: XtianNinja talks through the thought process we see in Romans 1-3 and explains why understanding it is critical to understanding what Christians call “salvation”. Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/But-What-if-Theyre-a-Really-Good-Person-e1iplfr I split my YouTube channels, so if you’re looking for the fun and…
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Can Anyone Ever Actually Feel “Peace” in this Troubled World?
Everyone in the world wants “peace” – but when we try to make it ourselves it doesn’t seem to work very well or last very long. How does the peace that Jesus promises us in the Bible differ from the peace we keep trying to make for ourselves? Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/Can-Anyone-Ever-Actually-Feel-Peace-in-this-Troubled-World-e1ikg2v I split my…
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“I HATE Easter and I love Christians” Tweet is Ridiculous! Twitch Pastor Reacts
Jo Luehmann tweeted out a pretty intense message declaring her love of Christians, but hatred for the Christian gospel. It just so happened that Logos’ Verse of the Day hit this topic perfectly. So, let’s talk about that through the lens of 1 Corinthians 15:19-20. Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/I-HATE-Easter-and-I-love-Christians-Tweet-is-Ridiculous–Twitch-Pastor-Reacts-e1hgbeu I Need Your Support I’m doing…
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Does Everything Really “Work Out For the Good”?
Christians often quote Romans 8:28 (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” to each other as a way to bring encouragement to someone going through a tough time. So, why then does it come as such cold…
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When Jesus Was Attacked by an Angry Mob! (Passion Week: Tuesday)
The leading men of Jerusalem took turns attacking, arguing, and trying to discredit Jesus, in hopes He would fall for their trap so they could accuse and kill Him. It didn’t work. Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/Jesus-Faces-an-Angry-Mob–Passion-Week-Tuesday-e1h6t0e I Need Your Support I’m doing this full-time and the only way I can keep it up is through…
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Cursing Figs & Flipping Tables: Passion Week Monday
What do a dead fig tree and overturned tables have to do with worship? And what does it mean for us today? Podcast Version: https://anchor.fm/xtianninja/episodes/Cursing-Figs–Flipping-Tables-Passion-Week-Monday-e1h3psl I’m doing this full-time and the only way I can keep it up is through support from folks like you – so please consider supporting me on Patreon. There…
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When an Agnostic Muslim Asked: “Where Do You Think I’ll Go When I Die”, I Said This…
New Video: An agnostic person, raised Muslim, came into my chat during a live stream and asked “Where do you think I’ll go when I die?”. This was my answer. Hopefully, it helps. This is exactly the kind of moment I hope for as a full-time streamer! If you’d like to help me stay…
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Ripples: What If Your Worst Day was the Best Way to Change the World For the Better?
Is it possible that the misery you have been through – or are going through – is exactly the secret sauce that God is using to inspire others and make positive changes that you could never do yourself? Would it make it easier to face if you knew that your pain was necessary to…
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What *Really* Happens When Someone Becomes a Christian
Christians have been talking about what happens when you give your life to Jesus for a long time, but what do they really mean? What does “conversion” really look like? What really changes when you become a “believer”? This message is from my Twitch channel’s Devos & Chill series where, on Thursdays, I give…
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Why Are So Many Christians Such JERKS?!
If Christians are supposed to be loving, kind, and compassionate – why do so many have a reputation for being terrible people? Here are some reasons why, where it comes from, and how to fix it. This message is from my Twitch channel’s Devos & Chill series where, on Thursdays, I give a short…
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Where the Rubber Meets the Road (The Sermon on the Plain)
Please turn to Luke 6:17 where we read about Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain”. We’re used to hearing about the “Sermon on the Mount”, but Jesus obviously preached the same message more than once to different audiences. So, this is the “Sermon on the Plain” and you’re going to see lots of parallels to…
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Stay in the Word (God Speaks to You Personally Through the Bible)
Service Video: Podcast Audio: A Living and Active Word Most of you know the passages I read at the beginning of service – the Call to Worship and the weekly Scripture Reading – are chosen long before I read them on Sunday mornings. Around the beginning of December each year I usually take…
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EPIC (for Palm Sunday)
Chapter 1: The Beginning “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) This is the start of our story. Notice how I said that it’s the start of our story. Not the beginning of The Whole story. Just our part. God is eternal, existing before there was either heaven…
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Jesus: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord? (HC:LD14)
*Sorry, no audio this week. 😞 * One of the people in that video, the artist, Makoto Fujimura said that at one point in his life Jesus became real to him. He said, “This historic figure was no longer just this historical figure… and he wanted to reveal himself to me in a way I…
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The Nature of Christ (HD:LD6)
Audio: Text: I heard an ad on the radio for the Canadian Legion that started with something like, “Think of all the things you enjoy in life, like summer fun, going out with your family, kissing your kids goodnight. We can take these things for granted because a veteran didn’t. They fought so we…
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Toronto Van Attack, Humboldt Broncos, Dave Chappelle, Amazon Go & More… (Ninja News: Ep. 5)
I’m back from vacation! Ninja News Episode 5 covers a lot of ground. The Toronto Van Attack, Humboldt Broncos, Dave Chappelle, Loneliness and Amazon Go, Imitation of Christ, GQ Magazine and the Bible, & Dragons! Don’t forget to leave your comments on the Facebook and YouTube pages. Story Links: Toronto: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/04/23/toronto-van-tragedy-bonds-city-in-blood-but-no-one-will-say-the-word-terrorism.html Dave Chappelle: https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80171965 Amazon: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-lonely-future-of-amazon-go/ Imitation of Christ: https://www.amazon.com/Imitation-Christ-Thomas-Kempis/dp/0882707663 GQ: http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/04/22/gq-magazine-says-bible-among-most-overrated-books-all-time Dragon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZYNADOHhVY
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Bible Word Studies: The Pleasure and Peril (Carnivore Theology: Ep. 101A)
Steve’s away so Chad and Al get their nerd on with some talk about the pleasures and perils of Bible Word Studies. Podcast Audio: How Can You Help Carnivore Theology? 1. Pray for us! 2. Buy some cool stuff from our new Merch Store! 3. Record a question in your voice on our SpeakPipe page! (We love this the most!) Or…
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Why There Are So Many Different Bibles (Carnivore Theology: Ep. 96)
What’s the deal with all the Bible Translations out there? Why so many? Which one is correct? Does it matter? Podcast Audio: Resources We Shared: Understanding English Bible Translation by Leland Ryken Blue Letter Bible Bible Gateway Life Church YouVersion Bible App Tim Challies: Translating Translations Tim Challies: 7 Great Study Bibles 5 Minutes in…
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What to Do When a Christian Friend Talks About Divorce (Carnivore Theology Ep. 95)
Here’s some practical and biblical advice about what we can do when we see a Christian friend headed towards divorce or talking about troubles in their marriage. Podcast Audio: Book Resource: God Redeeming HIs Bride by Robert K Cheong How Can You Help Carnivore Theology? 1. Pray for us! 2. Subscribe to and rate…
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Resources for Every Stage of the Christian Life (Carnivore Theology: Ep. 93)
We do a data dump of the best resources for every stage of the Christian life. Whether you are a new believer, have some years in the church, or are a longtime elder, you’ll find something to challenge you! Podcast Audio: The Resources: Pilgrim Theology – Michael Horton ESV Study Bible NIV Life Application Study…
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What’s Wrong With Weed: The Bible and Marijuana (Carnivore Theology: Ep. 77)
Does the Bible allow the use of Marijuana or Cannabis? What about medicinal and fiber use? Podcast Audio: How Can You Help Carnivore Theology? 1. Pray for us! 2. Subscribe and rate us on iTunes and watch us on YouTube!! (If you don’t have iTunes use one of these FeedBurner links) 3. Record a question in your voice…
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5 Reminders for Students (Carnivore Theology – Ep. 73)
Whether you’re going into High School, College, University or Post-Grad, Pastor Al gives some important reminders to students returning to school this semester. 1. Guard your reputation. 2. Remember why you’re there. 3. Find a good church. 4. Keep your devos going. 5. Try to find balance. Podcast Audio: How Can You Help Carnivore…
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Called & Cleaned Part 3: A Biblical Case for Pursuing a Godly Life
Right now, and over the past few weeks, we’ve been working through an extended introduction to the first few verse of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. It begins as most letters began, by stating who the letter was from and who it was to. It reads: “Paul, called by the will of God…
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Aliens, Ghosts and the Bible (Carnivore Theology. Ep 67)
This week we look at the biblical perspective regarding aliens, ghosts and the paranormal! Podcast Audio: How Can You Help Carnivore Theology? 1. Pray for us! 2. Subscribe and rate us on iTunes! (If you don’t have iTunes use FeedBurner) 3. Record a question in your voice on our SpeakPipe page! (We love this the most!)…
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How to Have a Quiet Time (Carnivore Theology Ep. 62)
Doing your devos discussed! We talk about what devotions are (and are not), why they’re important, and some practical ways to spend time with God. Podcast Audio: Behind the Scenes Video: Links: Spiritual Journaling Using Scripture as Your Guide Two Traps To Avoid in Your Daily Time with God How Can You Help Carnivore…
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The Role and Qualifications of Deacons
(I want to start by thanking 9Marks for some great articles that helped me put this together.) Intro to Deacons This week, however, I want to talk about something that I’ve never covered here before – the role of deacons in the church. This is both important and pertinent as the Nominating Committee…
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The Reluctant Doctor (Mark 7:24-30)
The Story of the Reluctant Doctor Once upon a time there was a doctor of medicine. This doctor was somewhat controversial, in that, though his patients were cured, he used extremely unconventional, even odd ways to cure them – he also had a bit of a mouth on him. He tended to…
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The LGBT Episode (Carnivore Theology: Ep. 22)
The 22nd episode of “Carnivore Theology”. The LGBT Episode This beginning of the year, super-sized episode, takes on a current, controversial and emotionally charged topic: What does the Bible say about Homosexuality? How should we, as followers of Christ respond to the LGBT movement? Podcast Audio: Click here to download the episode MP3. Here’s the…
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An Inexplicable God
Podcast Audio: Insatiable Curiosity Today, we want to have an explanation of everything. We want to know how everything works, where it came from, what it’s doing, why it does it, and what it’s going to do next. Our society has an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Sociologists study people so they can learn how…
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Competition & Sports (Carnivore Theology: Ep. 17 + Hot-dog Eating Competition!)
The 17th episode of “Carnivore Theology”. Are Christians Allowed to Be Competitive? Let the games begin! Chad and Al let their competitive sides take over as they go head-to-head in a hot dog eating contest. But are Christians allowed to be competitive in life, sports and church? How competitive is too competitive? Podcast Audio: Click here to download…
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Christianity, Evolution & The Pope (Carnivore Theology: Ep. 15)
The 15th episode of “Carnivore Theology”. Click here to subscribe. Can a Christian Believe the Theory of Evolution and Stay Faithful to the Bible? The Pope recently said that Creationism and Evolution are compatible, what does this mean and what are the implications of the statement? Podcast Audio: Click here to download the episode in MP3.…
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Tattoos and Body Modification (Carnivore Theology: Episode 7)
Here is the seventh episode of a new podcast series called “Carnivore Theology“. Click here to subscribe. Tattoos and Body Modification Many people today have tattoos, piercings, and body alterations. We have an entire generation of people that are using body art as a form of expression, memories, memorials and interests. What does the…
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The Double Edged Sword – Why God’s Word is So Powerful
Podcast Audio: Over the past couple of weeks we have talked about the importance of making the daily reading of scripture the core part of our lives, and the foundation of our relationship with God. This all started because I wanted to share a way that God has spoken to me through my devotional…
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Cultivating Desperation for God’s Voice
Podcast Audio: We’re continuing our sub-series in the Gospel of Mark which I’m simply calling “God Still Speaks”. Last week we talked about seeing the condition of our hearts, and how we have a responsibility to make sure we are not crowding out God’s voice with unrepentant sin or other things we are giving…
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Jesus Died
Podcast Audio: As the sun gets warmer and the trees start to bloom, I find myself looking forward to summer vacation. I’ve heard of one place that sounds nice… but I’m not sure that I’d ever go there for a holiday. I think you’ll understand why once I tell you about it. A Not…
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Integrity: Loving Your Neighbour & How to End Discrimination
For the past couple weeks, and the next few, we are looking at what it means to look like a Christian. Saying that it is controversial because a lot of people don’t understand, or want to talk about, the fact that there are standards of practice for all Christians. “God Loves Me The Way…