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.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
GOVERNMENT: Assurance. Epitaph. Impeachment. Council of Verona
December 03, 2019 13:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBWe will discuss placing our faith in government. Only God can give assurance in the matters Christians truly care about. If that isn’t enough for us, an ineffectual government is the least of our worries. We will discuss Epitaph, by Mary Doria Russell. There is the Wyatt Earp who played by the rules and lost, and the Wyatt Earp who broke the rules and won. Which one is your hero? We will discuss the impeachment process, and why people seem to be pursuing an impossible goal. Turns out, s...
The Government Episode: Assurance. Epitaph. Impeachment. Council of Verona
December 03, 2019 13:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBWe will discuss placing our faith in government. Only God can give assurance in the matters Christians truly care about. If that isn’t enough for us, an ineffectual government is the least of our worries. We will discuss Epitaph, by Mary Doria Russell. There is the Wyatt Earp who played by the rules and lost, and the Wyatt Earp who broke the rules and won. Which one is your hero? We will discuss the impeachment process, and why people seem to be pursuing an impossible goal. Turns out, s...
The Thanksgiving Episode: Confidence and humility. Aaron's benediction. Charles Schultz. Between Two Cities.
November 26, 2019 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBI will give thanks for the assurance we have in our salvation. Balancing confidence and humility is tricky, but thankfully we have Jesus to show us the way. I will give thanks for God’s presence, as expressed in Aaron’s benediction. It’s easier to remember our blessings when we remind one another from time to time. I will give thanks for Charles Schultz. I plan on watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving again this year, and remembering the great opportunities and responsibilities we have i...
THANKSGIVING: Confidence and humility. Aaron's benediction. Charles Schultz. Between Two Cities.
November 26, 2019 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBI will give thanks for the assurance we have in our salvation. Balancing confidence and humility is tricky, but thankfully we have Jesus to show us the way. I will give thanks for God’s presence, as expressed in Aaron’s benediction. It’s easier to remember our blessings when we remind one another from time to time. I will give thanks for Charles Schultz. I plan on watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving again this year, and remembering the great opportunities and responsibilities we have i...
LOCAL CHURCHES: Authority. The Bridezilla of Christ. Led by the Spirit. Shadows over Camelot.
November 19, 2019 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBWe will discuss the authority given in the New Testament for local congregations. Simply put, you can’t go it alone, and Jesus will not permit you to try. We will discuss The Bridezilla of Christ, by Ted Kluck and Ronnie Martin. It is tough to adopt a “you first” mentality in a “me first” culture. But we will kill the church if we don’t try. We will discuss what it means to be led by the Spirit. Some Christians use the Spirit as an excuse to disobey Jesus. And they ought to be ashamed of ...
The local church episode: Authority. The Bridezilla of Christ. Led by the Spirit. Shadows over Camelot.
November 19, 2019 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBWe will discuss the authority given in the New Testament for local congregations. Simply put, you can’t go it alone, and Jesus will not permit you to try. We will discuss The Bridezilla of Christ, by Ted Kluck and Ronnie Martin. It is tough to adopt a “you first” mentality in a “me first” culture. But we will kill the church if we don’t try. We will discuss what it means to be led by the Spirit. Some Christians use the Spirit as an excuse to disobey Jesus. And they ought to be ashamed of ...
MONEY: Priorities. Barbarians at the Gate. Pro sports. London
November 12, 2019 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBWe will discuss the myth of “priorities.” Thinking we can balance commitments to money and the Lord is wrongheaded, and doomed to tip to the wrong side. We will discuss Barbarians at the Gate, a book that details the buyout of RJR Nabisco. When making money is the only objective, there’s no limit to how insane the behavior can get. We will discuss professional athletes and their contracts. Measuring men by their wallets is par for the course in sports. That’s not the kind of role model we ...
The Money Episode: Priorities. Barbarians at the Gate. Pro sports. London
November 12, 2019 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBWe will discuss the myth of “priorities.” Thinking we can balance commitments to money and the Lord is wrongheaded, and doomed to tip to the wrong side. We will discuss Barbarians at the Gate, a book that details the buyout of RJR Nabisco. When making money is the only objective, there’s no limit to how insane the behavior can get. We will discuss professional athletes and their contracts. Measuring men by their wallets is par for the course in sports. That’s not the kind of role model we ...
Loincloths. John. Kanye West. Lisboa.
November 05, 2019 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBI’ve been preaching … about loincloths — not the physical garments made famous by Tarzan, the spiritual ones we make to rationalize getting by with the absolute minimum. I’ve been reading … John, the gospel written specifically to build faith. You can read the gospel and believe, or you can see Jesus in the flesh and disbelieve. It’s about your heart, not your circumstances I’ve been hearing … Kanye West is having a spiritual awakening. How sincere it is or how long it lasts is not my con...
Born of the Spirit. Luke. Kobe Bryant. City of Spies: Estoril 1942.
October 29, 2019 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBI’ve been preaching … about being born of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes a powerful and unmistakable impact on the souls He touches. If you don’t know what I mean, maybe that should tell you something. I’ve been reading … Luke, the gospel account that presents Jesus as the Master Teacher. But no matter how great a Teacher He is, it will do us no good if we do not listen. I’ve been hearing … Kobe Bryant is coaching youth girls’ basketball, and they’ve come a long way in two years. T...
Baptized. Mark. Houston Astros. Azul.
October 22, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBI’ve been preaching … about whether you are baptized. Not whether you have been baptized, mind you — whether you are baptized. There is a difference. I’ve been reading … Mark, the gospel account that particularly emphasizes the power and authority of our Savior. Strange that those closest to Him had such difficulty with the concept. I’ve been hearing … about my Houston Astros going to the World Series. I’ll tell you how they made it, and how you can succeed in your faith by doing the s...
Tolerance. Matthew. Slavery and the 1619 Project. Riverboat.
October 15, 2019 12:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBI’ve been preaching … about tolerance. We have fits tolerating pain and ill treatment in this life; why do we find it so easy to tolerate sin? I’ve been reading … Matthew, the first of the four gospel accounts. Matthew is all about the kingdom of heaven. And it’s like no kingdom you’ve ever seen before. I’ve been hearing … about the 1619 project and the role slavery has played in creating the America we know today. Is Jesus the problem? Is Jesus the solution? I say, none of the above. I’...
Storm shelter. Max Lucado. Greta Thunberg. La Isla.
October 08, 2019 12:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBI’ve been preaching … about our storm shelter. You can embrace the danger, ignore it, hope to escape it, or seek a shelter that guarantees your safety. You choose. I’ve been reading … Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café, by Max Lucado, Candace Lee and Eric Newman. If you could ask God anything, what would it be? I might ask, “Why aren’t Christians satisfied with reading the Bible?” I’ve been hearing … Greta Thunberg’s diatribes about climate change. Children should not be allowed to talk ab...
God's lists of requirements. Union Theological Seminary. The Carter Scratch. Museum.
October 01, 2019 12:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBI’ve been preaching … God’s lists of requirements. The fact that they differ so much doesn’t mean I get to pick and choose; it just means I have extra reading to do. I’ve been reading … about Union Theological Seminary. You could search for God in a place where they confess sins to plants, or you could search in the Bible. You won’t be surprised which one I recommend. I’ve been hearing … the Carter Scratch. We can argue all day about the greatest lead guitar player ever. But we can all agr...
Joy. Hosea. Brie Larson. Architects of the West Kingdom.
September 24, 2019 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBI’ve been preaching … about the joy we find in Jesus. And maybe that’s the problem with unhappy Christians — they aren’t really “in Jesus” in the first place. I’ve been reading … Hosea — a book about a man determined to make his marriage work despite his wife’s best efforts. Fidelity is a word seldom used and seldom practiced today, it seems. I’ve been hearing … people don’t like Brie Larson. I’m trying to stay neutral, but she certainly doesn’t seem to care how she comes across. Reminds m...
Patience. Tornado in a Junkyard. Antonio Brown. Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective.
September 17, 2019 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBI’ve been preaching … about patience. Patience is a choice, just like every other virtue. The trouble is, patience comes with a price tag we are often unwilling to pay. I’ve been reading … Tornado in a Junkyard, by James Perloff. If we are supposed to believe something as ridiculous as Darwinism, we really ought to have some proof. And despite what you may have heard, we don’t. I’ve been hearing … Antonio Brown still has a job in the NFL. That may change, though. Even in pro football, bad...
Godlessness and identity. Three Finger. Soft tissue. Fallout Shelter.
September 10, 2019 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBI’ve been preaching … about our lost sense of identity. With everyone telling us God is irrelevant or imaginary, it’s no wonder so many Americans feel lost. I’ve been reading … Three Finger, a biography of hall of fame pitcher Mordecai Brown. He earned his nickname the hard way, then he made it work to his advantage. I’ve been hearing … soft tissue has been found in dinosaur fossils. Multiple times, by multiple scientists. Evolutionists struggle to explain how that could happen. But I don’...
Godlessness and values. Mark Twain. Carli Lloyd. Escape: The Curse of the Temple.
September 03, 2019 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBI’ve been preaching … about the decline of values in a godless society. If you don’t have God defining right and wrong, there is no right and wrong. We’re proving it in America every day. I’ve been reading … quotations from Mark Twain. All this time I’ve thought I was a big Mark Twain fan. All this time I was wrong. I’ve been hearing … Carli Lloyd is thinking about trying out for an NFL team. I say, good luck. But seeing is believing, and if Ms. Lloyd is really an NFL prospect, we’ll know ...
Godlessness and violence. Downfall of empires. Road noise. Fortune and Glory.
August 27, 2019 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBI’ve been preaching … about the rise of violence in our godless society. The world reacts radically when situations do not suit them. People of faith should know better. I’ve been reading … prophecies about the downfall of empires. Sometimes it seems God is disconnected from the affairs of history. But He isn’t. Just ask any Assyrians or Babylonians you run across this week. I’ve been hearing … traffic noise in the background of this podcast. Sorry, I can’t fix it. I can only hope you can ...
The Servant. The Babylon Bee. "My pleasure." The Resistance.
August 20, 2019 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MBI’ve been preaching … about the servant. Isaiah 53 shows us what the true servant of God looks like. Fair warning — you won’t like what you see. I’ve been reading … Some people actually believe the Babylon Bee. Maybe instead of blaming the news, or fake news, outlets, we should put the blame where it belongs — on the readers. I’ve been hearing … “My Pleasure” at Chick fil-A. Does the culture create the behavior, or does the culture create itself simply by existing as an option for like-m...
Conscience. Moral facts. Beethoven's 3rd. Isle of Skye.
August 13, 2019 12:00 - 31 minutes - 22 MBI’ve been preaching … about how our conscience is not our guide. God’s word is our guide. It is never wrong, and our conscience often is. I’ve been reading … about moral facts, and whether they exist. Our children are being taught that they do not, and that explains a great deal about children today. I’ve been hearing … Beethoven’s 3rd symphony, the Eroica. It’s a story about heroes — the ones who let you down, and the ones who push through adversity and achieve greatness. I’ve been playi...
Submitting to brethren. Aaron Burr. Racist brethren. Game cafes.
August 06, 2019 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBI’ve been preaching … about submitting. Any Christian can form an opinion based on the Bible; it takes a special breed to know when to let it go. I’ve been reading …Fallen Founder, by Nancy Isenberg. Maybe there really is another side to the Aaron Burr story, but a book like this one isn’t likely to convince me. I’ve been hearing … there’s a racism problem in the Lord’s church. I don’t doubt it’s true. But I doubt the best solution is to label thousands of strangers as racists. I’ve been ...
Wasted grace. ICR.org. Gilroy. Golf.
July 30, 2019 12:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBI’ve been preaching … about wasted grace. Hezekiah is a great example of faith, but he’s also an example of how we can squander the greatest gift we could ever receive. I’ve been reading …ICR.org. If you want information about harmonizing Biblical teaching with actual scientific data, this is a great website to visit. I’ve been hearing … about another mass shooting, this one in Gilroy, Calif. We are sure to hear an abundance of theories as to who the real villain is. Me, I vote for the sho...
Episode 16: Kris Emerson and Reagan McClenny visit.
July 23, 2019 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBFor this special episode of Citizen of Heaven, I am pleased to share with you my conversation with my friends Kris Emerson and Reagan McClenny. Kris preaches for the Lindale church of Christ in Lindale, Texas. He is the host of the popular Excel Still More podcast. Subscribe at https://excelstillmore.life/. Reagan preaches for the Timberland drive church of Christ in Lufkin, Texas. You can hear his sermons by subscribing to the Timberland Drive podcast and through their website: https://...
The evolution of Christians. How to Lead When You're Not in Charge. Moon landing. Yokohama.
July 16, 2019 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBI’ve been preaching … about the evolution of Christians. Christians beget Christians after their kind, just like dogs and cats. But there is a limit to the diversity this process will allow. I’ve been reading … How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, by Clay Scroggins. It’s difficult to command when you’re not at the head of the table, but you can be a good example from any seat. I’ve been hearing … the 50th anniversary of the moon landing is approaching. Imagine how famous Neil Armstrong’s...
King Asa. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Work-life balance. Newton.
July 09, 2019 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBI’ve been preaching … about Asa, king of Judah. Is it possible to be blessed too much? There’s every reason to think the answer is yes, and that we should take warning. I’ve been reading … Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Jonathan Edwards is often cast as believing in a God searching for opportunities to destroy us. The truth, and Edwards’ actual message, are quite different. I’ve been hearing … Work-Life balance is a myth. Kudos to Time Magazine for publishing something that the Bibl...
Intoxication. Jonathan Edwards. Chinese prisoners. Euphoria.
July 02, 2019 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBI’ve been preaching … about intoxication. Proverbs 23 describes two kinds of drunkenness, literal and figurative — and they both start before the first sip. I’ve been reading … Jonathan Edwards, by Iain H. Murphy. I’m no Calvinist, but I dare say Edwards could have taught some of my brethren some things about the sovereignty of God. I’ve been hearing … Religious dissidents in Chinese prisons are being executed and their organs harvested. Give it to the Communists: they’re all about efficie...
One thing. Da Vinci (2). Galaxy's Edge. Catan.
June 25, 2019 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBI’ve been preaching … about the one thing. If you could ask God for only one thing, what would it be? You might be surprised what David asked for. I’ve been reading … How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, by Michael J. Gelb. Again. Becoming a genius sounds like a lot of work. Maybe I’ll pass. I’ve been hearing … Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open soon at Walt Disney World. If I were given free tickets on the space shuttle I would sell them on Ebay; yet I am pretty excited about leaving the ...
Faith in Adversity. How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci. Whataburger. Carpe Diem.
June 18, 2019 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBI’ve been preaching … about faith in adversity. The key is not finding a kinder, better life; it’s finding the strength to cope with the life you have — and finding it in God. I’ve been reading … How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, by Michael J. Gelb. I would love to be as good at one thing as Leonardo seems to have been at absolutely everything. I’ve been hearing … Whataburger, the legendary Texas burger chain, has been sold. All my friends in Texas are panic-stricken, and I totally get ...
God's plan for you. Start With Why. Kawhi Leonard. Wingspan.
June 11, 2019 12:00 - 34 minutes - 15.9 MBI’ve been preaching … about God’s plan for you. Psalm 114 is a great reminder of the extremes to which God will go to glorify you. It would be a shame to get in His way. I’ve been reading … Start With Why, by Simon Sinek. And I’m more convinced than ever that a large number of Christians have no idea what it really means to be a Christian. I’ve been hearing … Kawhi Leonard, one of the best basketball players in the world, has had trouble relating to teammates who needed help. I can relate ...
Being perfect. The Sushi Economy. Martin Luther King. Reworld.
June 04, 2019 12:00 - 35 minutes - 16.1 MBI’ve been preaching … about being perfect — how it’s possible, and how it’s impossible, and how that isn’t a contradiction. I’ve been reading … The Sushi Economy, by Sasha Issenberg. Japanese wholesalers are willing to spend $100,000 for a single fish — and that’s not even the crazy part of this story. I’ve been hearing … Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may have been guilty of numerous reprehensible behaviors. I don’t approve, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still a hero of mine. I’ve been play...
Paul Hammons visits: Receiving sight. Gulliver's Travels. Abortion. MMOs.
May 28, 2019 12:00 - 36 minutes - 16.7 MBPaul has been preaching … about the blind man in John 9. Just like Jesus brought light to the eyes of this man, so also He brings light to the world — if the world will open its eyes to Him. Paul has been reading … Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift. Exactly how advanced is human society? It depends on how honest we are willing to be with ourselves. Paul has been hearing … Alabama has criminalized abortion — but that doesn’t mean the culture war has been won, even in Alabama. Paul has...
Making plans. Psalm 88. Game of Thrones. The Voyages of Marco Polo.
May 21, 2019 12:00 - 38 minutes - 17.6 MBI have been preaching … about making plans. If you can plan for a family vacation or a comfy retirement, why not also plan to grow your faith? I have been reading … Psalm 88, arguably the saddest chapter in the Bible. But even though the psalm doesn’t say so, there is a reason for your suffering. In fact, there may be several. I have been hearing … Game of Thrones is done after 8 seasons — and unlike some Christians, I actually think that’s a good thing. I have been playing … The Voyages...
Jesus' anger. The CEV. Transgender athletes. Cryptid.
May 14, 2019 12:00 - 37 minutes - 17 MBI have been preaching … about Jesus’ anger, and about how the things that angered Him typically have very little in common with what angers us. I have been reading … The Contemporary English Version, or CEV, and all things being equal, I’d rather be reading the Bible. I have been hearing … Transgender athletes keep entering and winning youth athletic events. The need to win has officially gotten out of hand, and I mean for everyone. I have been playing … Cryptid, a game that pits my inte...
Wrestling with God. Different Bible versions. Vivaldi. Dead of Winter.
May 07, 2019 12:00 - 39 minutes - 18.3 MBI have been preaching … about wrestling with God — in a good way, like Jacob did, as though your faith depends on it, which it does. I have been reading … different versions of the Bible, and it’s reminding me of what distinguishes one translation from another, and which distinctions are more important than others. I have been hearing … Vivaldi’s Concerto for Lute in D Major, RV 93 — and I have to say, I think it is best the way the master wrote it. I have been playing … Dead of Winter. ...
Mountains and valleys. Undaunted Courage. Nurses. Istanbul.
April 30, 2019 12:00 - 39 minutes - 18 MBI've been preaching ... about mountains and valleys, and how God rules in both despite what we sometimes think. I've been reading ... Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose, and as amazingly effective as the Lewis and Clark expedition was, it seems they underutilized one of their greatest resources. I've been hearing ... nurses spend a lot of their work hours playing cards. I'm pretty sure that's not right, and I'm also pretty sure there isn't someone out there who hasn't at some point contr...
Natural. The Corporate Coach. Sri Lanka. King of Tokyo.
April 23, 2019 12:00 - 30 minutes - 14 MBI've been preaching ... about the natural man, and how serving Jesus the way we would choose on our own is certainly wrong. I've been reading The Corporate Coach, by James Miller, which emphasizes service in the corporate world -- which both resembles and differs from service in the Lord's kingdom. I've been hearing about the bombings in Sri Lanka -- and I am neither afraid nor angry. I've been playing King of Tokyo, which makes a distinction between playing to have fun and playing to win.
Caesar. America's Prophet. Walls. No Thanks.
April 16, 2019 12:00 - 30 minutes - 14.2 MBI've been preaching ... about rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. I've been reading ... America's Prophet, by Bruce Feiler. I've been hearing ... people want to build a wall to keep the bad people away. I've been playing ... No Thanks, a game far more entertaining than its simple appearance would indicate.
Fear. Plain Talk. Improving. Modern board games.
April 08, 2019 05:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MBI've been preaching ... about how living in fear can make you fearless. I've been reading ... Plain Talk, and learning how to be a mentor. I've been hearing ... preachers are using new techniques to improve. I've been playing ... games that don't depend entirely on luck.