Citizen of Heaven
389 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsI am Hal Hammons, a citizen of heaven. I broadcast regular reports of what it is for a child of God to live in Satan's world. My reports typically break down into four segments:"What I've been preaching" -- a point I have made in a recent sermon."What I've been reading" -- A brief breakdown of a book of the Bible or other reading material that has helped me in my understanding or application of the Bible."What I've been hearing" -- news from the internet or other sources about what is going on, either among brothers and sisters in Christ or out in the world at large."What I've been playing" -- how I've been entertaining myself in my spare time, and some spiritual points I have been able to extract.
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Episodes
ARGUING: Paul's example. "Letters from a Skeptic." Karens. Castles of Burgundy.
March 13, 2023 21:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MB“It’s his fault!” “She started it!” “They are a lot worse than us!” Am I describing the squabbling of children? Or am I describing a typical Tuesday afternoon at Walmart? I say, can’t both be true? This week we will discuss Paul’s keys to arguing properly; how starting with love and respect makes the arguments go much better; the queen of arguing and how to avoid becoming her next opponent; and the best way to avoid arguing in the first place. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods...
MINISTRY, part 3: with Scott Taylor and Ryan Joy
March 09, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBIf you haven’t checked out the first two segments of my talk with Scott Taylor and Ryan Joy, it would be well worth your while to do so. In this, the final part of our talk, we focus on the help that we try to provide for people who, for whatever reason, seem to be too much trouble. Exactly how much grease do we give the squeaky wheel? Providing service for a needy brother is one thing; but does his burden ever become an unreasonable obligation for me? Ryan preaches for the North church of...
MINISTRY, part 2: With Scott Taylor and Ryan Joy
March 08, 2023 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBIt can be easy to convince ourselves that serving ourselves is tantamount to serving the body of which we are a part. In truth, it can be exactly the opposite. We pursue this idea in the second part of my conversation with Scott Taylor and Ryan Joy. Ryan preaches for the North church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and cohosts the Bible Geeks podcast. Scott Taylor is preacher and shepherd for the West Mason church of Christ in the Cincinnati area. He also cohosts the You Are From God podc...
MINISTRY, part 1: with Scott Taylor and Ryan Joy
March 07, 2023 08:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBMinistry is service, pure and simple. And I have two “ministers” joining me this week to describe how it works. Ryan Joy, co-host of the Bible Geeks podcast, ministers to the church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Scott Taylor is preacher and shepherd for the West Mason church of Christ in the Cincinnati area. He cohosts the You Are From God podcast. In part 1 we discuss what ministry looks like in the local church. https://www.facebook.com/youarefromgod https://www.facebook.com/groups...
TRANSFORMATION: The refiner's fire. "The Geographer's Library." Diets. Alchemists.
February 28, 2023 08:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBOur life in Jesus is about changing from one thing into another – from sinner to saint, from rebellious to obedient. It’s not easy, and it doesn’t always work. But when it does, it’s a wonder to behold. This week we will discuss the blessings of God’s fiery ordeals; the ancients’ efforts to cheat death, and whether that would be a good thing; the diet that will save your soul, as opposed to the diet that will just delay the inevitable; and why we get bad results when we tweak God’s recipes. ...
POVERTY: Jesus and the poor. Hillbilly Elegy. The Great Depression. QE.
February 21, 2023 02:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBPoverty is the rule, not the exception. We have become prosperous enough in modern-day America that “poor” people write Yelp reviews on their smart phones about how expensive their sushi was. Actual poor people do exist, though. They always have and always will. This week we will discuss Jesus’ apparent indifference to poverty; a young man’s trip from hopelessness to Congress; the origin story of Hal Hammons, Famous Tightwad; and how my wife stopped the Federal Reserve from invading our boa...
WALKING: Two roads. "Facing Fear." Bodily exercise. Isle of Skye: Journeyman.
February 14, 2023 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBWalking is how we get from here to there. From a baby’s first steps to a bride’s walk down the aisle to the day our six best friends carry us away, walking symbolizes the way we progress through this life and on into the next. This week we will discuss the two paths we have to choose from; how Nik Wallenda conquers fear in a life with no safety net; my own mediocre efforts at exercise and whether I should be concerned; and the Irish pedestrian who threatens to ruin one of our favorite board...
SCHOOLS: Daniel and Tyrannus. "The School of Christ." Homeschooling. Hangman.
February 07, 2023 08:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBWe should be going to school every day. Life is full of lessons waiting to be learned. And that’s especially the case with spiritual instruction. Believe me, you don’t want to be a dropout. This week we will discuss a couple of schools in the Bible and how God’s people handled the influences they found there; the one school where attendance is absolutely mandatory; the school you run in your own home, whether you realize it or not; and the schools that are provided by churches and sabotage...
FRIENDSHIP, part 3: with Kenny Embry, Jacob Hudgins and Adam Shanks.
February 02, 2023 21:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBAll good things must end, and that includes my discussion with Kenny Embry, Adam Shanks and Jacob Hudgins on the topic of friendship. In this episode, we discuss “hate drafting” and the implications it has regarding brotherly love. What happens when my welfare seems to be at odds with the welfare of others? And what are the implications for the local church when self-serving Christians are the rule instead of the exception? Check out Kenny's podcast at www.balancingtheChristianlife.com. ...
FRIENDSHIP, part 2: with Kenny Embry, Jacob Hudgins and Adam Shanks.
February 01, 2023 08:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBThis is more of my conversation with Kenny Embry, Adam Shanks and Jacob Hudgins on the topic of friendship. In this episode, we wrap up a month of conversation centered around Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life. How healthy are our friendships? Should we be serving them at the expense of our own welfare? And when if ever is it appropriate to cut someone out of our lives completely — even a brother or sister in Christ? In part 1 we discuss exactly what sort of friend we have in Jesus. Che...
FRIENDSHIP: with Kenny Embry, Jacob Hudgins and Adam Shanks
January 31, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBFor a very special episode 200, I invited three friends of the podcast — Dr. Kenny Embry is the host of the :Balancing the Christian Life podcast; Adam Shanks preaches for the Edwards Lake church of Christ in Birmingham, and the host of the Preach Impediments podcast; Jacob Hudgins preaches for the Twin City church of Christ in my adopted hometown of College Station, Texas. In part 1 we discuss exactly what sort of friend we have in Jesus. Check out Kenny's podcast at www.balancingtheChri...
CHALLENGES: Challenging your brethren. Jordan Peterson, rule 11. Water for BJ. Cooper Island.
January 24, 2023 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBA challenge is at the same time a barrier and a gateway. The burden is on us to make the most of our circumstances and find a way to use them for our own good and the good of the gospel. This week we will discuss challenges that can destroy the brotherhood, that will save the next generation (if we get out of the way), that may or may not be extending and improving my life, and that have kept a great game off my table for more than two years. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods D...
CATS: Microevolution. Jordan Peterson's rule 12. Leopards and lepers. The Isle of Cats.
January 17, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBI won’t lie to you; I’m not a fan of cats. They make me cry – literally cry, and not in a good way. But even the dog-lover in me has to admit, they are pretty cool. This week we will discuss how lions and tigers and Russian blues all managed to be represented on Noah’s ark; how Jordan Peterson has almost convinced me to pet stray cats; how to tell the difference between a leopard and a leper, spiritually speaking; and how my pettiness interferes with my pursuit of board gaming happiness. H...
CATS: Microevolution. Jordan Peterson, Rule 12. Leopards and lepers. The Isle of Cats.
January 17, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBI won’t lie to you; I’m not a fan of cats. They make me cry – literally cry, and not in a good way. But even the dog-lover in me has to admit, they are pretty cool. This week we will discuss how lions and tigers and Russian blues all managed to be represented on Noah’s ark; how Jordan Peterson has almost convinced me to pet stray cats; how to tell the difference between a leopard and a leper, spiritually speaking; and how my pettiness interferes with my pursuit of board gaming happiness. H...
LYING: All liars. Jordan Peterson, rule 8. Politicians. I Doubt It.
January 10, 2023 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBLying is bad. Everyone knows that. And yet most of us do it. Is that just the way things are? Or can we hold ourselves to a higher standard? This week we will discuss how the Bible makes heroes out of liars and yet condemns all liars to hell; Jordan Peterson’s thoughts on the lies we tell others and ourselves; the liars we elect and re-elect, and how we can be part of the solution — or at least stop being part of the problem; and whether getting the win by lying makes the lying better or wor...
COMMUNICATION, part 3: with Josh Creel and Dr. Kenny Embry
January 05, 2023 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBJosh Creel and Dr. Kenny Embry are back again. You can catch them on Upward Calling, their joint podcast that is produced in conjunction with their work with the University church of Christ in Tampa, Florida. Of course, you likely already know Kenny through his own podcast, Balancing the Christian Life. Links are in the show notes. We finish with a centuries-old parlor game and how playing it properly can enhance your marriage, your church experience, and your life in general. https://www.b...
COMMUNICATION, part 2: with Josh Creel and Dr. Kenny Embry
January 04, 2023 08:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBThis is the second of three parts of my conversation with Josh Creel and Dr. Kenny Embry. This segment introduces 12 Rules for Life by Dr. Jordan Peterson, a book we will be referencing throughout the month. No, we won’t be covering all 12 rules. But we will touch on several of them. We get the ball rolling this week by talking about the value of listening — especially when the person talking is, in our minds, downright wrong. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of C...
COMMUNICATION: With Josh Creel and Dr. Kenny Embry
January 03, 2023 08:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBI’ve brought back Dr. Kenny Embry this week; he’s a professor of communication at St. Leo University. With him is Josh Creel, who preaches for the University church of Christ in Tampa, Florida, where Kenny attends. They cooperate on the Upward Calling podcast. A link is in the show notes, along with a link to Balancing the Christian Life, Kenny’s other podcast. The first part of our conversation is about finding a way to share the gospel with people who have no idea what we’re talking about ...
HOUSEKEEPING: The past, present and future of the podcast
December 27, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBWith the end of season 4 approaching, and with the dramatic increase in listenership over the last year (thanks so much for that), I thought it was high time I spent an episode talking about what I’m doing with the podcast, what changes have been implemented, and what you might see in the future. I am in a constant state of reevaluation – what works, what doesn’t work, what tweaks I might make, and ultimately whether I can sustain this for another season. Hopefully this will answer some ques...
SHAKESPEARE: Famous phrases. "Interred With Their Bones." The language. Black Sonata.
December 20, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBWilliam Shakespeare is generally conceded to be the greatest and most popular writer in the history of the English language. His influence covers the gamut of the human experience — including, as of this week, this podcast. Today we will discuss the impact Shakespeare has had on our culture (second only to the Bible); the controversy over canon, both in the folio and the Bible; the language used by the bard and his king, with its pros and cons; and the mystery woman who has scholars baffled...
RED: Red sky at morning. "Redefining Red." "Red Headed Stranger." The Red Cathedral.
December 13, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBRed means many things to many people, from love to KFC to the sock you left in a load of whites that one time. Red coats the Bible as well, from Esau’s “bowl of that red stuff” to the rider on the red horse to the blood of Jesus. This week we cover the messages God circles in red; the red lights that signal go instead of stop; the red-headed preacher and killer who became a country music legend; and how Russian Communists tried to destroy religion but left enough behind to inspire a terrific...
DEPRESSION, part 3: with BJ and Kylie Sipe
December 08, 2022 08:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBBJ Sipe is the host of the Set Your Mind Above podcast, which I constantly plug and yet have not plugged this week — shame on me! Link is below. He and his wife, Kylie, minister to the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky. In the third and final part of our conversation, we discuss the dangers of isolation and what both givers and receivers of aid can do to bridge the gap. Of all the segments of all the episodes featuring all the guests I’ve had over the last 4 years, this may be my favori...
DEPRESSION, part 2: with BJ and Kylie Sipe
December 07, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBBJ Sipe and Kylie Sipe, who work with the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky, are back with the second part of our conversation. The focus this time: social media. Are the relationships we are forming through the internet part of the solution or part of the problem? And can we tell the difference? BJ and Kylie have some great things to say on the topic. And if you listen carefully, you may also catch the contributions of little Findlay Grace Sipe in the background. Check out BJ's podca...
DEPRESSION, part 1: with BJ and Kylie Sipe
December 06, 2022 08:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBBJ Sipe, a frequent contributor to the podcast, joins us this week along with his wife, Kylie, to discuss their experience with depression. I think you will find their willingness to be open and honest about their struggles, failures and successes to be a tremendous blessing. If you know someone who is struggling, do them a favor and share this episode with them. In the first part of our conversation, we will discuss what depression actually is, and whether a simple study of Philippians and ...
MORE TIME-TRAVEL: Signs and faith. "The Time Machine." The Flash. Steam Time.
November 29, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBWe’ve all fantasized about being able to go back in time and correct past wrongs, or go forward and escape current hardships. Current technology will not allow either, though — and I for one am glad. This week we will discuss how to live in the world we have made for ourselves or was made for us; the folly of asking John F. Kennedy to fix the world; how the “Grandfather Paradox” doesn’t negate time travel, and why it doesn’t matter; and a new, politically correct look at an old favorite.
TIME-TRAVEL: Regret. "11/22/63." The grandfather paradox. Skymines.
November 22, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBWe’ve all fantasized about being able to go back in time and correct past wrongs, or go forward and escape current hardships. Current technology will not allow either, though — and I for one am glad. This week we will discuss how to live in the world we have made for ourselves or was made for us; the folly of asking John F. Kennedy to fix the world; how the “Grandfather Paradox” doesn’t negate time travel, and why it doesn’t matter; and a new, politically correct look at an old favorite. ...
SINKING: Peter in the storm. "In Harm's Way." Quicksand. Whistle Mountain.
November 15, 2022 08:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBHave you ever had “that sinking feeling?” Disaster slowly approaches. You find yourself paralyzed — partly by the terror itself, partly by your inadequacy, mostly by the sense that there’s nothing you do about it. This week we will discuss the ebbs and flows of Peter’s faith in the storm; the death of American seamen and the subsequent search for a scapegoat; the nature of quicksand in real life instead of cartoons; and the perils of building a dam on your game table. Hal Hammons is the ...
PLAGUE: Leprosy. "Love in the Time of Cholera." Vaccines. Bristol 1350.
November 08, 2022 08:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBIt isn’t 2020 anymore. Distance has brought some perspective to the COVID-19 issue. Perhaps now we can look at the idea of contagion, put it in a proper context, and learn some lessons that can apply both in sickness and in health. This week we will discuss practical applications from the Bible’s medical advice; whether romantic love counts as a deadly disease; the evolution of illness and our treatment of it; and the feeling of knowing you have lost when you pick up your cards. Hal Hammo...
OREGON, part 2: with Nomads You and I, Mark and Cindy Dunagan
November 02, 2022 07:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBI’m back with more from Mark and Cindy Dunagan, the hosts of Nomads You and I. If you missed the first part of our talk, the Dunagans are in the business of talking to anyone and everyone about Airstreams, national parks, and Jesus Christ — not necessarily in that order. Check them out at nomadsyouandI.com. Since their home base is in Oregon, I thought they’d be the perfect partners for a discussion centered around my second-favorite state. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Dri...
OREGON: with Nomads You and I, Mark and Cindy Dunigan
November 01, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBMark and Cindy Dunagan are the hosts of Nomads You and I, a podcast devoted to sharing their love of travel, hiking, Jesus Christ, and one another. Check them out at www.NomadsYouAndI.com. Since their home base is in Oregon, I thought they’d be the perfect partners for a discussion centered around my second-favorite state. In this section we cover their hikes through national parks and through the Bible, how the two are connected, and some of the lessons they have learned along the way. H...
OREGON: with Nomads You and I, Mark and Cindy Dunagan
November 01, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBMark and Cindy Dunagan are the hosts of Nomads You and I, a podcast devoted to sharing their love of travel, hiking, Jesus Christ, and one another. Check them out at www.NomadsYouAndI.com. Since their home base is in Oregon, I thought they’d be the perfect partners for a discussion centered around my second-favorite state. In this section we cover their hikes through national parks and through the Bible, how the two are connected, and some of the lessons they have learned along the way. H...
RENAISSANCE/EXPLORATION: Paul the traveler. Magellan. New music. Exploriana
October 25, 2022 07:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBGod put in the heart of man a craving for the unknown, a need to expand his world. Ultimately it is intended to compel him to reach for heaven itself. Earthbound humans don’t know what they are missing, literally. We conclude Renaissance Month by discussing the greatest Christian explorer and his path to success; the greatest Renaissance explorer and his accidental success; the myth of my own refusal to explore new music; and the secret to pushing your luck just enough but not too much. ...
RENAISSANCE/EXPLORATION: Paul the traveler. Magellan. New music. Exploriana.
October 25, 2022 07:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBGod put in the heart of man a craving for the unknown, a need to expand his world. Ultimately it is intended to compel him to reach for heaven itself. Earthbound humans don’t know what they are missing, literally. We conclude Renaissance Month by discussing the greatest Christian explorer and his path to success; the greatest Renaissance explorer and his accidental success; the myth of my own refusal to explore new music; and the secret to pushing your luck just enough but not too much. ...
RENAISSANCE/PRINT: Paul's books and parchments. Erasmus. Smart phones. Gutenberg.
October 18, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBIf it’s important, write it down. The printed word has power unlike anything in human history — especially the printed word of God. For 1,000 years it had been unavailable to the common man. The Renaissance changed that forever. This week we will discuss an inspired writer’s obsession with what other people wrote; how comedy helped take down the papacy; the pros and cons of the Bible on your phone; and the clever little Rhinelander who started it all. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the L...
RENAISSANCE/CORRUPTION: Sound doctrine. Robin Hood. Politicians. Architects of the West Kingdom.
October 11, 2022 07:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBEven modern Catholic leadership will agree that the church was horribly corrupt in the Middle Ages. Systems were put in place specifically to keep the elites in their place and the peasants in theirs. This week we will discuss God’s plan to keep churches free of corruption; a hero of song and legend who was probably anything but; the angst we feel when we see the powers that be going down the same crooked road; and the impossibility of winning God’s game by using Satan’s tactics. Hal Ham...
RENAISANCE/IGNORANCE (part 3): with Jacob Hudgins and Michael Walls
October 06, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBMy conversation with Jacob Hudgins and Michael Walls went so well, I felt compelled to split our conversation into three parts instead of my usual two. If you have not checked out the first two, please do so. Here we finish up the conversation by talking about how to take something seemingly unapproachable — such as modern board games, or the gospel of Jesus — and making it a bit more palatable to the uninitiated. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Geor...
RENAISSANCE/IGNORANCE (part 2): with Jacob Hudgins and Michael Walls
October 05, 2022 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MB“A World Lit Only by Fire” by William Manchester is an amazing look into the Renaissance — what brought it on, what made it possible, and the people at the center of it. One of the most important of those people was a German monk named Martin Luther — a man lionized by many, demonized by many others. What is the legacy that Luther left behind, and should we consider him part of the solution or part of the problem? Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Geo...
RENAISSANCE/IGNORANCE: with Jacob Hudgins and Michael Walls
October 04, 2022 07:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBThis month we will be discussing the revival of learning that took the western world by storm in the 16th and 17th centuries. The world would never be the same afterward. Our first topic: the ignorance that preceded the learning. We begin with a conversation with Jacob Hudgins, preacher for the Twin City church of Christ in College Station, Texas; and Michael Walls, college history professor and preacher for the Westside church in Killeen, Texas. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewo...
SCIENCE: Science in the Bible. "Charles Darwin." Bats. Genotype.
September 27, 2022 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBRenaissance month begins next week. I thought it would be a good introduction to discuss the way we look at the physical world and how it can either defeat or reinforce faith, depending on how much faith we had to start with. This week we will discuss the scientific facts found in the Bible and which ones are more persuasive than others; Charles Darwin’s argument regarding human suffering, which has lived far longer than he did; the testimony of 1.5 million airborne Austinites; and a form o...
DIFFICULTY: Being saved. "The Sound and the Fury." "Flight of the Bumblebee." Kanban.
September 20, 2022 07:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBEasy is better than hard, all things being equal. But all things are not always equal. In fact, the more desirable the skill, object or accomplishment in question, the harder the quest seems to be. And that’s a good thing. This week we will discuss why life has to be so hard in general; why I have never finished a William Faulkner book, and have no intention of doing so; how the seemingly impossible can be rendered entirely reasonable; and how order of operations can build either a car or a...
BEACHES: Paul on Malta. "The Power of Your Influence." The Beach Boys. Santa Monica.
September 13, 2022 07:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBDrawing a line in the sand is a common expression in English. And the beach has plenty of sand, and plenty of opportunities to draw lines. When does comfort become complacency? When does relaxation become laziness? This week we will discuss Paul’s day on the beach and how it informs the book of Philippians; our influence at the beach, and whether we are part of the solution or part of the problem; beach music, and whether Jesus would sing along; and whether a beach trip without beach activ...
COACHING, part 2: with Kris Emerson and Terry Francis
September 06, 2022 07:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBWe’re back with the rest of my conversation with Kris Emerson and Terry Francis; if you missed the first part, do yourself a favor and check it out. In this section I bring up the idea of the “authentic swing” from “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (which I consider to be bogus — both the concept and the book), and then ask how true to our individual nature we should try to be. Then I turn to my poor efforts to teach chess to my daughter and use that to discuss how adept we must be to take on a c...
COACHING, part 1: with Kris Emerson and Terry Francis
August 30, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBWhen I decided to put together an episode on coaching, I wanted to get two preachers who knew the topic — from both a sports perspective and a church perspective. I definitely got the right men. Kris Emerson is the preacher for the church of Christ in Lindale, Texas, and the host of the Excel Still More podcast. Terry Francis preaches for the church of Christ in Chelsea, Alabama, and partners with Phillip Martin to host the Do The Work live stream on Facebook. Timothy had Paul. Paul had Ba...
PEACE: Passing understanding. "Finding Moosewood Finding God." Facebook jail. Village Green.
August 23, 2022 07:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBMaybe I’m still in stay-cation mode from last week. In any case, I’m spending this week talking about taking it easy and enjoying the life Jesus blesses us with here on earth, even in troubled times. We’ll discuss why the world is so confused by our peace; the extreme measures we sometimes need to take in its pursuit; the peace that has recently been forced upon me against my will; and the work that often goes into finding it. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of ...
STAY-CATION: Salt of the earth. "42 Faith." Restaurant reviews. Cape May.
August 16, 2022 07:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBCan you get away from it all without going anywhere? Tracie and I decided to give it a try this summer. We did some research on area restaurants, ordered a big batch of new board games, and settled in for two days of rest and relaxation. Long story short, I recommend it. In this somewhat different episode we will discuss the sermon I put together on half a week’s work; the book I was saving for later but seems to fit here; the faith I place in online reviews, and whether that faith is warra...
ESCAPE: The consuming fire. "Catch Me If You Can." "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)." Escape rooms.
August 09, 2022 07:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBMaybe it’s the fact that I am fresh off a short “stay-cation” with Tracie, an experience I’ll likely discuss in a later podcast. In any case this week I’m in the mood to talk about the pros and cons of getting away from it all. We’ll talk about the folly of attempts to escape from an angry God; the problems that come with getting away with your crimes; one of the most annoying songs I know, both musically and philosophically; and a real-world adventure that turned out to be considerably les...
MONSTERS: Biblical monster stories. "Beowulf." The monster within us. Cryptid: Urban Legends.
August 02, 2022 07:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBWhat comes to mind when you think of monsters? The Sasquatch? The T-Rex? The boss? If telling your children there’s no such thing as monsters helps them sleep, go right ahead. But the grownups should know better. This week we will discuss the most famous monster story in the Bible, and the greatest one; how heroes find monsters instead of letting the monsters find them; how the monster inside of you can be a blessing instead of a curse; and how we defeat monsters by getting up close and per...
SERVICE, part 2: with Tim Jennings and Edwin Crozier
July 27, 2022 07:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MBThis is the second half of my discussion of the topic of service with Tim Jennings and Edwin Crozier. Tim is the preacher for the Castleberry church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas. Edwin preaches for the Livingston Avenue church of Christ in Lutz Florida. We pick up with a discussion of how being a friend of Jerry Seinfeld does not make you an expert in the art of dealing with support staff; and how inviting friends to game night may say more about your selfishness than your service. Ha...
SERVICE: with Tim Jennings and Edwin Crozier
July 26, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBThis is the first half of my discussion of the topic of service with two of the most qualified servants I know. Tim Jennings is the preacher for the Castleberry church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas. Edwin Crozier preaches for the Livingston Avenue church of Christ in Lutz Florida. I had a lot of trouble trimming this week. Lots of great content. In this part we discuss how sincere our service in local churches is, and how we can check ourselves for insincerity. Both speakers appear with m...
ANGER, part 2: with Reagan McClenny and Scott Taylor
July 20, 2022 07:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBThis is the second half of my conversation with Reagan McClenny and Scott Taylor. Reagan preaches for the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, Texas. Scott preaches for the West Mason church of Christ in suburban Cincinnati. In the second part of our conversation, we explore why God chooses to squeeze out the grapes of His wrath as slowly as He does, instead of taking care of things quickly like we tell Him to. Go to www.balancingthechristianlife.com to find out more about the lec...