My guests this week are brothers in Christ, brothers in labor, and brothers-in-law. Emerson Brown is the preacher for the Westfield church of Christ in Westfield, Indiana. Jeff O’Rear preaches for the Judson Road church of Christ in Longview, Texas. Together they host the Working in the Word podcast, an excellent resource for Christians who want to learn how to study the Bible better. We discuss being unequally yoked, cooperation in disagreement, and the possibility and/or desirability of reading one another’s minds. I’ve been preaching about 2 Corinthians 6:14. The idea of being “unequally yoked” has generally been applied to marriage. But it seems to me that any partnership requires commonality, both in nature and in purpose. How can we find the “true yokefellow” to whom Paul refers in Philippians 4:3? And what should we expect when we attach ourselves to someone else instead?I’ve been reading “A Newer World” by David Roberts. He tells the story of how John C. Fremont and Kit Carson teamed up to open the Western frontier for the United States of America in the mid-19th Century. Sometimes they worked in different ventures, sometimes they disagreed, but they were always united in purpose. It gives me a bit of a Paul and Barnabas vibe. Partners in the work don’t always work together. But with mutual faith in God and respect for one another, the work can still progress. How big of a deal is it when brethren don’t get along? And does every brotherhood problem have a solution?I’ve been playing The Mind. The concept could not be simpler. Everyone at the table has a hand of cards numbered between 1 and 99. The job of the group is to play the cards in order. There are two complications. One, not every number is represented. And two, the players are not allowed to speak. The idea is, through nonverbal communication, the players get in one another’s heads and begin to intuit when to play a card and when to stubbornly insist that someone else play instead. Personally, I don’t like The Mind. I don’t find confusion amusing. I’m a straight to the point kind of guy. When you leave important information unspoken, you set yourself up for problems. What does good communication look like in a functioning partnership? And when if ever can we start taking one another for granted? Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words, partners, partnerships, partnership, Paul, Barnabas, Saul of Tarsus, 2 Corinthians 6:14, yoke, unequal, unequally yoked, "A Newer World", David Roberts, The Mind, John C. Fremont, Kit Carson, The Mind, relationships, marriage, 

Citizen of Heaven

PARTNERSHIP: with guests Emerson Brown and Jeff O'Rear

If you noticed that we discussed men and women, respectively, over the last two episodes, you may already have an incorrect idea of what the Blending episode is all about. So let me be clear. Things God made to be distinct will remain distinct, despite our best efforts. But sometimes the whole becomes more than merely the sum of its parts. That’s true with Jews and Gentiles in the church, fact and fiction in books, different singing parts in a chorus, and even the occasional board game mashup. May God help us know the difference between the good blends and the bad. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words, blending, blend, singing, men, women, Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Castles, Between Two Cities, King Ludwig, mashup, Jews, Gentiles, Galatians 3:28, roles, harmony, songs, 

BLENDING: Jews and Gentiles. "The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln." Singing. Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig.

Well, I haven’t gotten in too much trouble lately, so I thought I would spend a week talking about women. I will be using the Bible as my guide, though, so I am confident I have the truth. I pray it comes out in a respectful way. This week we will discuss how “understanding” women is not only possible but mandatory; how “Chick Lit” feeds stereotypes, and the result is John Wilkes Booth; how God shows women how to excel — and it’s not by imitating men; and how men and women really are the same in all the truly important things. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: women, men, understanding, 1 Peter 3:7, Fates and Traitors, John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Surratt, marriage, wives, husbands, homemakers, keepers at home, differences, Rococo, dresses, seamstress, similarity

WOMEN: An understanding way. "Fates and Traitors." The differences. Rococo.

What does it take to be a man in today’s society. It depends on who you ask. Some may say, get in touch with your feelings. Others might prefer kick-boxing classes. But when we ask God, we get a very consistent message — one that focuses on the heart more than emotions or physical strength.This week we will discuss how the proper use of a belt can make all the difference; the best example of a “man’s man” from modern fiction; the curious closet culture of barbershop quartets; and what board games, Walt Disney World, and a weird Bavarian king have in common. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: men, women, roles, manly, loins, gird, belt, Clive Cussler, Dirk Pitt, Atlantis Rising, Atlantis, fiction, barbershop, barbershop quartets, harmony, weird, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, King Ludwig, Bavaria, castle, Walt Disney World, approved, gate, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 7:22-23, Isaiah, Jeremiah, excuses, attitude, result, 

MEN: "Gird up your loins." "Atlantis Found." Barbershop quartets. Castles of Mad King Ludwig.

I wanted two true originals to be my guests this week, and I think I found them. Mark Roberts preaches for the West Side church of Christ in Irving, Texas; he is the author of numerous books, including “Understanding Apocalyptic Literature” and “Seeking God’s Way.” Terry Francis returns to the podcast this week. He preaches for the Chelsea church of Christ in the Birmingham area and is the cohost of the Do the Work podcast.We discuss the original Son of God, the most remarkable book in human history, and how much originality is too much for gospel preachers. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: Mark Roberts, Terry Francis, Do the Work, original, originality, Son of God, Just One,

ORIGINALITY: with guests Terry Francis and Mark Roberts

We revisit Ayn Rand’s philosophy of objectivism this week. Solomon said wisdom excels foolishness as light excels darkness. But he never intended reason to exclude God, and that is specifically what Objectivists do mean.This week we discuss the ways reason fails to properly explain the world or our part in it; the things about rationality that Ayn Rand actually got right; the question of whether we actually own our own lives; and how good Monopoly players often make for bad Christians Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: Objectivism, reason, mind, heart, Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, right, rights, Monopoly, player elimination, egotism, wisdom, Solomon, 

REASON: Where it comes up short. "Atlas Shrugged" (2). A right to your own life. Monopoly (2).

Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism has either inspired or infuriated her readers for more than a half-century now. That’s fine. But many Christians see Objectivism as a way to rationalize rampant materialism. That’s a problem.This week we will ask whether selfishness is, in fact, a sin; whether Atlas has a right, or even an obligation, to shrug off his duties to society; what is implied by the mantra, “Existence exists”; and why playing Monopoly makes you a bad person — maybe. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: Objectivism, Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, work, industry, laziness, responsibility, society, Atlas, existence, reality, Monopoly, business, industrialists, Dagny Taggart,

AYN RAND: Selfishness. "Atlas Shrugged." Existence exists. Monopoly.

Idealism is a two-edged sword. We need something perfect or near-perfect to use as a target. But continually aiming for and missing an ideal mark can leave us discouraged and cause us to quit entirely. Balance is key.This week we will discuss Philippians 3 and the paradox of perfection; what war taught C.S. Lewis about Germans and about humans; where churches go to die and who is killing them; and how an imperfect villain may work Satan’s purposes better than a perfect one. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: idealism, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, local church, split, Lewis, war, World War I, perfect, Philippians 3, Secret Hitler, evil, Hitler, lizard, caricature,

IDEALISM: The "perfect" paradox. "A Hobbit, ..." (3). Church splits. Secret Hitler.

Progress is forward movement. We have a tendency to think of it as inherently good and more or less inevitable. In truth, neither of those is true — especially when we are considering matters of the Spirit.This week we will discuss one of the greatest lines in our hymnals, and what it actually means; one way in which J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were just plain wrong; the rebellion inherent in “progressive” Christianity; and how to properly celebrate the progress we should be proud of. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: Tolkien, Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, fantasy, hobbits, C.S. Lewis, Narnia, World War I, war, death, progress, progressive, politics, Crystal Palace, London, progressives, Social Gospel, hymn, hymn lyrics, O Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Ebenezer,

PROGRESS: Ebenezer. "A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and a Great War" (2). Progressive Christianity. Crystal Palace.

This episode represents the final section of my conversation with Josh Everett, professor of British literature at Central Texas College, and Edwin Crozier, preacher and co-host of the Text Talk podcast. If you have not checked out the first two installments, please do so. Here we discuss the literary legacy J.R.R. Tolkien has left for us, and the legacy of faith we inherit from those who came before and leave to those who come up afterward. “Generic fantasy” is a term boardgamers often use to describe the sort of quasi-human creatures that have become ubiquitous in our lifetime. We have seen enough dwarves, goblins, elves, sorcerers and halflings to fill a game library — and that is exactly what many have done. Others scoff at “generic fantasy,” saying it’s all the same, hopelessly derivative and cliché. But it wasn’t cliché in Tolkien’s day. He made it cliché by doing it so well and inspiring thousands of copycats. We inherit a legacy from earlier generations of Christians, and we leave one for the generations to come. How important is it to respect what we have received, and what measures can we take to leave something valuable behind? Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: Tolkien, hobbits, Lord of the Rings, Lewis, C.S. Lewis, Narnia, fantasy, generic fantasy, legacy, copycats, cliche, Reformation, Frodo, Bilbo, Faramir, Samwise Gamgee,

TOLKIEN (part 3): with Josh Everett and Edwin Crozier

This week I am sharing my conversation with two Christians who know Tolkien far better than I. Josh Everett is a professor of English literature at Central Texas College in Killeen; Edwin Crozier is an evangelist with the Livingston church of Christ in Lutz, Florida, and the co-host of the popular Text Talk podcast. Thank you for coming back for part two of my conversation with Josh Everett and Edwin Crozier.  We discussed the existence of evil in the first segment; please check that out if you have not done so already.In this segment, we discuss Joseph Loconte’s excellent book, “A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War.” He discusses the role World War I had on the lives of Tolkien and his friend, C.S. Lewis. Here we are particularly dealing with how adversity can build faith in us — if we have enough faith to begin with. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Key words: Tolkien, Hobbits, Lord of the Rings, Joseph Loconte, hobbit, wardrobe, great war, World War I, World War II, Hitler, free will, providence

TOLKIEN (part 2): with Josh Everett and Edwin Crozier

J.R.R. Tolkien has to be considered one of the most influential authors of the 20th Century — especially by Christians. His stories speak directly to great spiritual and moral truths for those inclined to listen.This week I am sharing my conversation with two Christians who know Tolkien far better than I. Josh Everett is a professor of English literature at Central Texas College in Killeen; Edwin Crozier is an evangelist with the Livingston church of Christ in Lutz, Florida, and the co-host of the popular Text Talk podcast. In part 1, we discuss the existence of evil and its ramifications for us today -- from orcs to false teachers to Adolf Hitler.Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien, fantasy, orcs, goblins, monsters, evil, Hitler, false teachers, sheep&apos;s clothing, Frodo, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, hobbits, Boromir, Gandalf

TOLKIEN (part 1): with Josh Everett and Edwin Crozier

Who am I? That’s the most basic question there is. We spend our entire lives trying to find the answer. And Jesus gives it to us by telling us who we were in sin and who we are capable of becoming by His grace.This week we will discuss Jesus’ true identity and the implications it has for us; what a true Christian is, according to C.S. Lewis; what being a Christian means with regard to our other relationships; and how, despite our best efforts, the truth of our identity always comes out. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  identity, identity politics. C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity, What Christians Believe, transfiguration, Matthew 17, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 3:28, Galatians 3:27, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Daniel 6:10, Acts 4:13, Colossians 1:18,

IDENTITY: Transfiguration. C.S. Lewis. Identity politics. Spyfall.

It seems the more we are blessed by God, the more discontented we get. Why is that? The problem is, we have fallen into the trap of building our house on the world’s sand instead of Jesus’ rock-solid promises. The quicker we realize that, the sooner we can find the joy He has promised us. This week we will discuss the secret to contentment, which isn’t much of a secret at all; Dennis Prager’s version of “Mo’ money mo’ problems”; The odd phenomenon of whiny Christians; and how someone with my huge and growing game collection has the nerve to speak on this subject. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  contentment, Dennis Prager, happiness, joy, secret, Paul, Philippians 4:13, whiny, complainers, collection, Happiness is a Serious Problem,

CONTENTMENT: The secret. "Happiness is a Serious Problem." Whiny Christians. 300 games.

I talk a lot on this podcast about achieving, about striving for improvement, about not settling the achievements of the past. But sometimes you need to go back to square one and remember why we are here in the first place. This week we will talk about how we reorient ourselves in times of stress; how the most important of the Ten Commandments may not even be one of the ten; how the word “Basic” has taken on brand new meaning; and why we still need to play checkers and play it well. Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God&apos;s word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord&apos;s Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.  

FUNDAMENTALS: Returning to base. "The Ten Commandments." Basic. Checkers.

I 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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Citizen of Heaven

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