Empires of the Future: Recent Episodes
Jackson Van Dyke & Denton Ice
Friends Jackson Van Dyke and Denton Ice discuss the church and change. While the topics may vary, the focus is on Christian faithfulness in this time of rapid cultural change.
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Revival of the Ipod
Is there a good use for old(er) tech? For many, that answer is turning out to be “absolutely”. Tired of the many distractions that come with using a cellphone for everything, many are picking up their old devices again seeking the peace and quiet that was associated with many kinds of old tech. In particular, iPod sales are surging, and since both of the hosts of this podcast appreciate the utility of the iPod, it prompted a conversation about the devices we use and whether or not they’re using us.
https://apnews.com/article/ipod-music-streaming-iphone-a6a010a1d9001abb0580b7a1cebe9c13
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Should we use AI in Christian Worship?
The predictions concerning the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence are as varied as they are confusing. It may bring on an age of plenty. It may take every human job, eventually. It may open up opportunities undreamt of by previous generations, if it doesn’t kill us all. And it may do some mixture of all these things in just the next few years.
There is a temptation in the church to take one of two positions on this: either it won’t happen and I don’t want to know about it, or it may signal the end of the world. Faithful christians cannot assume just because a massive change is coming that we won’t need to make major adjustments to it. This podcast is our first effort in trying to do that. Here we discuss how much change A.I. is likely to bring in the church in particular, what uses we should avoid and what uses we could (with some care) engage with. The technology is not going away, but like so many other technologies, it holds promise and peril already, and certainly more in the future.
We use Ross Douthat’s recent article for the New York Times on changes in the workplace more as a jumping-off point for this discussion, but it is provided here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/opinion/ai-jobs-employment.html
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Lure of Danger and the Price of Achievement
Alex Honnold is a name some of us have come to know in the past few years for his death-defying climbs of both man-made and natural wonders. His "free solo" climb of natural wonder El Capitan with no safety gear leads us to ask important questions about danger, challenge, and achievement, while also considering sports of various kinds and how they fit into a life well-lived. We use Rusty McKie's article at the Gospel Coalition as a reference point.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/achieve-die-reflections-free-solo/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Don’t Have it Your Way, Against Consumer Spirituality
How should someone formulate his (or her) view of the world? In an article by Brett McCracken for The Gospel Coalition, he documents the emergence of what he calls “metamodern” Christianity. This is not “modern”, meaning dedicated to an abstract idea of truth and pointed toward “progress”. It is also not “post-modern”, dedicated to feelings and dismissing notions of truth in favor of viewing the world as only consisting of power dynamics. It’s somewhere between the two. In contrast, christians should be a people dedicated to God almighty, to loving Him first and others second and seeking to live lives of sacrifice and love after our Savior Christ who gave himself for us.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/challenge-opportunity-metamodern-christianity/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Seven Reasons to Celebrate Advent
What is Advent? Many christians struggle with the busyness and the feelings of loss that often accompany the lights and trees at this time of year. How should a Christian feel about how we “do” Christmas in our consumeristic age, and how do we make sure Christmas stays about what it should be about, the birth of Christ? In this episode we examine an article by Ryan Shelton for Desiring God which gives us seven reasons to incorporate the sense of longing that Advent brings into our Christmas experience.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/seven-reasons-to-celebrate-advent
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
We are at the front end of a wave of churches closing in the United States. But what does it mean when a local church closes its doors? What can be done about it? In this episode, we examine an article from Axios.com by Russell Contreras and consider these questions and more.
https://www.axios.com/2025/10/03/us-churches-close-religious-shift-christians
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, Conversations to Encourage the Church in a Time of Change
Tyler Robinson and the Violence of Pornography
The availability and depravity of porn is among the many challenges and toxic elements of the twenty-first century, but one that many adults are not aware of in terms of its subtlety and propensity to twist young minds. The connection between Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, and hardcore pornography provides an opportunity and a milestone for us to stop and consider the dangers of pornography in our day. What is the hope for anyone caught in the net of porn? Who can free us from its grip? We consider all this in this episode of Empires of the Future.
"The empires of the future will be empires of the mind." - Winston Churchill
https://firstthings.com/tyler-robinson-and-the-violence-of-porn/
Smart glasses are coming. This new technology will enable not only easier interaction with the internet and augmented reality, but a greater capability to record everything we see, whether people around us might know it or not. We talk about all this in this episode of Empires of the Future, dealing with this article by Austin Gravley for the Gospel Coalition.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/churches-smart-glasses/
"The Empires of the Future will Be Empires of the Mind"
- Winston Churchill
Christians are generally in agreement that baptism is an important practice, but there is considerable disagreement on many other aspects of baptism. In this video we discuss the rise of infant baptism in the church and the teaching of the New Testament on baptism.
Gavin Ortlund's video on "How did Infant Baptism Begin?: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WE0Ea2ke_c
Infant Baptism Rap Battle by Reformed and Dangerous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od5U9qNTpSw&list=RDod5U9qNTpSw&start_radio=1
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
How can we best prepare ourselves and our children for the challenges they will face in the world? What does it take for a young person to grow up, accept responsibility, hold down a job, and all the rest? One answer to that question is to take a “gap year”, meaning to take a year off after high school to work or serve one’s country in the military. We talk about this idea and reference an article by Erica Komisar from the Institute for Family Studies.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-benefits-of-taking-a-gap-year
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The First Sexual Revolution
Much has been written about the sexual revolution, and in past podcasts we’ve mentioned a recent book by Louise Perry called “The Case Against the Sexual Revolution”, and believe she makes a strong case that the sexual revolution was actually bad for men, women, and children. In an article posted at First Things, Kyle Harper explains how Christianity actually drove a completely countercultural sexual revolution in the first century whose effects are not only still felt today, but too often taken for granted. We explore all this and more in this episode of Empires of the Future.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
The Problem of Sexual Extortion
Sexual extortion, or “Sextortion” as it is sometimes called, is a new and growing problem. In the 21st century, there have been various problems related to the “connectedness” that being online offers, and sometimes these problems are not evenly divided among the sexes. Sexual extortion is one of the newer ones. Young men seem to be particularly susceptible not just to being fooled into seeking and sharing nude pictures but also into an even darker situation when those pictures are used against them. Because of this, we wanted to release a short episode encouraging christian parents and ministers to do two things:
- Parents - Talk with your children about why God invented sex but also the dangers associated with it.
- All christians - Be clear that Christ died for all sins, and paid for all guilt and shame in the believer’s life so that we don’t have to fear consequences related to sin, even in our very online age.
This too shall pass.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Sheol, Death, and the Grave
“There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
the grave, the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
Proverbs 30:15
“Sheol”, here translated “the grave” is a complex concept in the Bible. What did Old Testament believers (and non-believers) think when they spoke of “Sheol”? What are Christians to think about the afterlife? What is the relationship between the Hebrew “Sheol”, Greek “Hades” and “Gehenna”, and English “Hell”? We consider all these questions and more in this episode of Empires of the Future.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
On Gentle Parenting
In this episode, we discuss an article by Trevin Wax for the Gospel Coalition entitled “The Church’s Opportunity When ‘Gentle Parenting’ Crashes.” We agree with Wax that Gentle Parenting is lacking in some key areas, and examine the philosophy behind gentle parenting, what it assumes about children and people in general, and why we believe it does not reach the goals it strives for. We also outline authoritative, biblical parenting, which does not fall into either the domineering, authoritarian style nor the passive, discipline-lacking parenting that is too often the norm in our culture today.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Beginning in 1678, Puritan John Bunyan published The Pilgrim’s Progress, a religious allegory that took the English-speaking world by storm and remains one of the most read books in the English language. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, it is the most famous Christian allegory still in print.
Written while the author was in prison, this work attempts to consider and reflect upon all manner of troubles the christian will encounter in his or her life, and remains a gold mine of devotional reflection and christian imagination and encouragement. In this episode Jackson and Denton reflect upon their own experiences with the book.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Why Don’t Men Sing in Church?
Some men do sing in church, to be sure. But many don’t. A great deal of ink has been spilled about contemporary worship music and whether or not it encourages men to get involved in the corporate gathering, but we want to ask a few different questions in the four parts of this episode:
- Is there a biblical mandate to sing?
- What is singing about anyway?
- Are we assuming that women do sing in church? Is the struggle to get men to engage in singing a new development in the church?
- How do we foster and encourage male voices?
The article that we discuss in this episode is entitled “All about that Tenor: Why Men Don’t Sing in Worship” by Kelsey Kramer McGinnis for Christianity Today
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/09/men-not-singing-in-church-male-voice-masculinity/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Beauty and the Eye of the Beholder
In this episode, we consider the article “Gaming’s Uneven Progress Toward Diverse Female Figures” by Jamal Michel for the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/18/arts/video-games-women-gamergate.html
In addition to considering how women have been and should be portrayed in video games, we ask more foundational questions about beauty and dignity as well.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
What are the benefits of an Ivy League education? Recently in his newsletter, Rob Henderson brought attention to one benefit that is rarely thought of: marrying an Ivy League spouse.
The Hidden Marriage Market: The college sorting machine has replaced traditional arranged marriages by Rob Henderson, July 14, 2024
https://www.robkhenderson.com/p/the-hidden-marriage-market
Additionally, "zoomers" (the generation after Millenials, or Gen. Z) seem to be finding one thing about their work very enjoyable: making friends with coworkers.
After the Lockdown Years, Teens Want One Thing From Their Jobs: Friends
By Terell Wright, WSJ – July 6, 2024
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/summer-jobs-teen-relationships-bf28810c
Taken together, these trends outline a path forward for young people searching for companionship in our fractured age.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Anxious Generation By Jon Haidt, Part 2 - A Plan of Action
Can childhood be salvaged?
“After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why?” - The Anxious Generation
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com
In this episode, we look at the challenges Gen. Z is facing according to this book. The technology, and the cultural trends that have followed it, have changed childhood. This calls for the current generation of parents to make changes for the sake of their children, so that childhood can be free from excessive comparison, bullying, distraction, and information overload.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Anxious Generation By Jon Haidt, Part 1 - Defining the Challenge
“After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why?” - The Anxious Generation
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com
Matt Castro rejoins Empires of the Future for this installment of the podcast! In this episode, we look at the challenges Gen. Z is facing according to this book. The technology, and the cultural trends that have followed it, have changed childhood. All who care about young people should ask how childhood has changed and what we can do about it.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Law Amendment, In Vitro, Sex Abuse Reform - SBC Annual Meeting 2024 Recap
What is the SBC Annual Meeting?
· Messengers are elected from churches, starting at 2 per church and adding more dependent on giving to the cooperative program, with a maximum of 12.
Link to kentuckytoday.com summary:
https://www.kentuckytoday.com/baptist_life/wrap-up-2024-sbc-annual-meeting/article_f23f9cc4-29b1-11ef-bedb-27acbbb11f5e.html
Link to In Vitro Resolution:
https://www.sbc.net/resource-library/resolutions/on-the-ethical-realities-of-reproductive-technologies-and-the-dignity-of-the-human-embryo/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3jYwrmfT7uJ__8qjE1MF9SMCCvGI5rjN5L8Vs1C9mGa4VySOPt2tgq06o_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw
Link to SBC Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force Ministry Toolkit:
sbcabuseprevention.com
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
We will all suffer. Life is not suffering, but suffering is a part of life. In this episode, Jackson interviews Matt Higgins, the worship pastor of Northwoods Church on the north side of Evansville concerning the Doctor of Ministry that Matt is working on at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. The conversation ranges from trauma and sadness to joy and hope. It was an encouragement to us, and we hope it will be an encouragement to you.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“What Good are Children?”
In a recent New York Times opinion piece called “The Birth Dearth and the Smartphone Age”, Ross Douthat speaks to the precipitous fall in the birthrate that marks all of the western world in our day.
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/04/06/opinion/the-birth-dearth-and-the-smartphone-age/?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral
What are the possible reasons for this decline? Is modern western culture itself hostile to children? What good are children, after all? We consider all these questions and more in this episode of Empires of the Future.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health” by Donald Whitney
Donald Whitney, popular author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, also wrote this very helpful book called Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health. Here are his 10 questions:
- Do you thirst for God?
- Are you governed increasingly by God’s Word?
- Are you more loving?
- Are you more sensitive to God’s presence?
- Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
- Do you delight in the Bride of Christ?
- Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important for you?
- Do you still grieve over your sin?
- Are you a quicker forgiver?
- Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“Rest - What it is and How to Do it”
What’s the difference between “rest” and “sleep”? Why, with all of our modern conveniences and with all the advances in medical care that have taken place over the last hundred years are we seeing such increases in anxiety and struggles with stress, work, and peace? How much peace does God even want us to have? All these questions are considered in this episode of Empires of the Future, which uses the Holman Treasury of Key Bible words by E.E. Carpenter and P.W. Comfort (2000) as a references.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
"Five Challenges Now Facing the Church"
Hershael York retired from 43 years of pastoral ministry just a couple of weeks ago in January of 2024. In an article at Southern Equip, he speaks to five ministry challenges he didn't anticipate in his time as a lead pastor. In this article he speaks candidly about new challenges facing the church in the twenty-first century and encourages christians to face these issues with courage and wisdom.
https://equip.sbts.edu/publications/magazine/five-ministry-challenges-i-didnt-anticipate/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“What do we do with Club Sports?”
Over the last twenty years, club sports have come to replace many other activities that used to take place in the recreational life of a young person. In this podcast, we consider the article “Why We Pulled Our Kids from Club Sports” by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and Ross Douma for The Gospel Coalition. What’s the difference between club sports, rec. leagues, and Kiwanis Baseball for that matter? What is the value of kids’ sports programs? How does all this fit into Christian faithfulness? All these questions and more are considered on this episode.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/pulled-kids-club-sports/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
What is the purpose of hobbies? If Labor produces Leisure, how should we balance work and play? In this episode of Empires of the Future, Jackson and Denton share their top three favorite hobbies and consider why God might have given us hobbies at all.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
"We are in a masculinity crisis", begins Seth Troutt in his article at Mereorthodoxy.com. In an age that struggles to answer the question "what is a man?", is it any wonder that that men are struggling? Seth answers this question by considering four important questions:
- How is man different from God?
- How is man different from an animal?
- How is a man different from a boy?
- How is a man different from a woman?
We consider all this and more in this episode of Empires of the Future.https://mereorthodoxy.com/the-masculinity-pyrami
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
One of the things that certainly decreased during the pandemic and has not returned its previous levels is singing with other people. What are the benefits of singing with others? Why is it a big deal to actually sing when you gather for worship? We explore these questions and more in this episode of Empires of the Future based on this article by Alexandra Moe for the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/06/25/singing-with-others-mental-physical-health/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
“Identifying the Idols of the City” by Leonardo de Chirico”
Every city has patterns of living and ever group of people has certain ideas, practices, and opinions about the kind of life that is worth living. The Bible describes an idol as anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. Through the lens of this helpful article on Acts 17 by Italian church planter and missionary Leonardo de Chirico, we examine what the Idols of Evansville may be and what we ought to do about it.
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/identifying-the-idols-of-the-city/
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“Company Says facial recognition can’t be used in arrests, but it’s happening in Evansville”
10-19-23 By Houston Harwood for the Evansville Courier & Press
Here in Evansville, Indiana, the Evansville Police Department is using facial recognition software to give them a leg up on seeking out those suspected of crimes. But what are the limits of this system, and what crimes should be prosecuted using this AI? We explore these questions and more on this episode of empires of the future.
https://www.courierpress.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.courierpress.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2023%2F10%2F19%2Fevansville-police-using-clearview-ai-facial-recognition-to-make-arrests%2F70963350007%2F
https://ts2.space/en/facial-recognition-technology-used-by-evansville-police-misleadingly-identifies-crime-suspects/
https://www.14news.com/2023/06/13/epd-utilizing-facial-recognition-software-investigations/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
In an upcoming conference billed for parents of LGBTQ+ children and ministry leaders, Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point community church, claims “You will be equipped refreshed, and inspired as you hear from leading communicators on topics that speak to your heart, soul, and mind,” It further claims “”No matter what theological stance you hold, we invite you to listen, reflect, and learn as we approach this topic from the quieter middle space.” What is the quieter middle space? Given the speakers at the conference and the claims on the website, it is the same road that other Protestant liberals have walked in the past, leaving behind biblical authority to affirm popular cultural teaching, in this case on accepting LGBTQ+ sexuality. Unfortunately, this is a path to theological emptiness and ruin, as we examine in this podcast. Here is a link from World opinion by Albert Mohler, which we discuss in this episode.
https://wng.org/opinions/the-train-is-leaving-the-station-1695036498
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
The West is Repaganizing
Anyone who grew up in the 80s or 90s remembers the claim that if the west could just get free of religion, then a golden age of science, reason, and technology would await. What we are finding in the 21st century is the receding of Christianity in the West is leading to to a return of pagan morality, if not religion. Louise Perry deals skillfully with this reality in an article at First Things entitled "We are Repaganizing". https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/10/we-are-repaganizing
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
“Read the Bible, pray everyday, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” This phrase common among christian teachers agrees with one of C.S. Lewis’ sentiments that Christianity is a form of education in itself. If so, what are the disciplines that come with it? What is expected of a Christian? Don Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life is a simple yet comprehensive answer to this question, and in this podcast we dive into Whitney’s summary of biblical teaching regarding the disciplines.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Boy Crisis
Boys seem to be falling behind their sisters in almost every way, from educational achievement to emotional resiliency. Why is this happening, and what can be done about it? In this episode we examine an article by Physician Leonard Sax from the institute for family studies to consider these questions.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/boys-are-falling-farther-and-farther-behind-their-sisters-should-we-care-
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
New Methods and Timeless Truths - 8 Ways Modern Relationships are Forming
Who makes the first move in modern relationships, and does it matter? What methods and platforms are people meeting on and forming relationships through today? To answer these questions, we look at an article by Wendy Wang at the Institute for Family Studies.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/who-asked-whom-does-it-matter-who-makes-the-first-move-in-a-relationship
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
Season 4, Episode 1 - A Christian Esports Coach?
Sam Henderson has recently moved to the Evansville area to pioneer an ESports program at the University of Evansville. In this interview, we ask him about being adopted from South Korea, growing up as a gamer, becoming a Christian, and how he became an Esports coordinator and coach.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this article we consider the actions taken two weeks ago at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2023. We talk through an article written by Denny Burk at https://www.dennyburk.com/the-narrative-vs-the-reality-of-sbc-23/
and consider such issues as complementarianism vs. egalitarianism, sexual abuse in the church, and the future of the SBC.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
More than Nice People - Mere Christianity, Part 11
Should Christians always be nice? Why do my daily decisions matter? What is God's goal for humanity anyway? In this, the final installment of our review of Mere Christianity, we cover Chapters 10 and 11 of Book 4 and complete our journey through the book.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
Let's Pretend - Mere Christianity, Part 9
Is Christianity Hard or Easy, and how does moral change happen at all? What is the value of many of the old stories, which often surface as Disney movies in our day, about character and how it grows in us? In this review of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, we explore Book 4, Chapters 7-9, which deal with these very questions.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Good Infection - Mere Christianity, Part 9
How can we receive the spiritual life God has for us, and how is God working to give life to humanity at all? How does God hear a thousand prayers all at the same time? In this review of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, we explore Book 4, Chapters 3-6, which deals with these very questions.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
God and the Atlantic - Mere Christianity, Part 8
How can we have knowledge of God? What is the use of good theology, and how do we get it? In this episode we talk about Book 4, Chapters 1&2 of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. These chapters deal with questions about what makes Jesus unique, why God should be thought of as a Trinity, and how this fundamentally relates to what we are as human beings made in God's image.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Greatest Good and the Deepest Evil - Mere Christianity, Part 7
In this chapter we engage with both what is the deepest problem with humanity as well as the greatest heights God may take us to. We begin talking about Chapter 8 of book 3 which is on Pride, the Great Sin. We also cover Chapters 9 and 10 which are on Charity and Hope. We close with Lewis’ consideration of Faith in chapters 11 and 12.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this episode we talk about an article by Eric Levin for New York Magazine titled "No,Teen Suicide isn't Rising Because Life Got Objectively Worse". https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/02/teen-suicide-depression-girls-social-media.html He discusses the crisis facing Gen. Z (born 1995-2015). We reflect on this article and try to consider holistically all the problems young people are facing right now, and what can be done about them.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Christian Marriage and Forgiveness - Mere Christianity, Part 6
What is meant by the "one flesh" union in christian marriage? How does this explain and affect the nature of divorce as well? How do we find the heart and the courage to forgive? These topics are discussed here in Part 6 of our discussion of "Mere Christianity".
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this episode we discuss this article from the Independent in the UK:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mounjaro-uk-ozempic-weight-loss-drug-b2295499.html?amp
What is a balanced life? What new vulnerabilities do our online lives bring us? Here we talk about the feud over Mounjaro that is taking place in online spaces and what pharmaceuticals can and can't do for us.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Psychoanalysis and Sexual Morality - Mere Christianity, Part 5
What do we know about our own consciousness and unconsciousness? Is it wise to give in to our desires? In this section of Mere Christianity, we deal with Book 3 Chapters 4 and 5 which includes Lewis' writing about psychoanalysis, a topic that was viewed very differently in his time than ours, and sexual morality, which has continued on the same "fewer limits are better" trajectory from his own time.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
How can we think clearly about morality? Is there anything beyond the level of individuals hurting each other? In this chapter we look at a deeper way to think about right and wrong and how it extends to individuals, society, and the meaning of life itself.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
This is part 3 of our review through Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Here we cover Book 2, Chapters 4 and 5 entitled "The Perfect Penitent" and "The Practical Conclusion", respectively.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this episode we talk about good and evil in what is probably the most popular franchise of the last twenty years, Marvel movies.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe contains near-endless messages about good and evil, and in this episode we analyze those themes with Christians like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis as our guides.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
Are our intuitions about good and evil pointing to something real? What kind of reality is it? In our second podcast on Mere Christianity, we examine Chapters 1-3 of Book 2 entitled "The Rival Conceptions of God", "The Invasion", and "The Shocking Alternative".
Here we begin our review of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, published in 1952. This book is a clear summary of Christian doctrine that contains helpful insights not only about Christianity and the nature of humanity but also about communication and even clear thinking itself. We hope it is helpful to you.
What's been happening on college campuses since the Dobbs decision overturning Roe vs. Wade. Denton interviews Kira O'Neal, president of Students for life at the University of Evansville and asks about the purpose of the pro-life movement, opposition on campus, and the future of the pro-life witness.
How can we become more physically fit? Are we simply stuck with the metabolism we were born with? Jackson and Denton look into the work of Dr. Casey Means, founder of "Levels" and consider this article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-metabolic-health
There is a mental health crisis on college campuses. What is the origin of this phenomenon, and what is to be done about it? Is college for everyone after all? All these questions and more are considered in this podcast based on this article: https://www.commonsense.news/p/the-honest-guide-to-college
Splanka therapy claims to utilize the mind-body connection to heal a variety of physical and emotional ailments. What is this practice? What should Christians think about it? All these questions are dealt with in this episode of Empires of the Future.
What do we do when our focus on immediate happiness leads to spiritual bankruptcy? In this episode, we turn toward the future and plot a course toward fulfillment rather than frustration.
How fundamental is sex to who we are? Is gender a gift from God? In this chapter we look at these questions against the backdrop of the LGBTQ movement, the most successful movement in terms of culture change of the last one hundred years.
What's the difference between a network and a community? How can we attain real connectedness in a digital world? We explore all these questions and more on this episode of Empires of the Future.
What would really make me happy? Is there more to it than sex and pleasure? What can the ancients tell us about happiness? These questions are more are considered as we make our way through "Strange New World" by Carl Trueman.
To what extent can we really invent ourselves? What does it mean to be authentic? This podcast continues exploring the book "Strange New World", by Carl Trueman
Is there more to life than being true to yourself? Could this itself be a burden that's too much to bear, or one that's not worth giving yourself to? This podcast is the beginning of an exploration of "Strange New World", a book by Carl Trueman.
What are the consequences of a stable home-life? What does social science research tell us about the effect of a two-parent family on the life of a child? What wisdom does the Bible give us on how to get there? All these questions are considered as Denton and Jackson discuss this article from Kevin DeYoung at Eikon, a Journal of Biblical Anthropology:
https://cbmw.org/2022/05/23/the-power-of-the-two-parent-home/
A recent independent investigation by Guidepost Solutions found that Sexual Abuse was ignored by leadership within the Southern Baptist Convention, and not acted upon even while a database was being compiled for fifteen years. Christianity Today writer Kate Shellnut covers this here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/may/southern-baptist-abuse-investigation-sbc-ec-legal-survivors.html
On Tuesday, March 10, 2022, Apple announced that it will stop producing iPods. What does this mean for the Future of music? What's the best way to hear your favorite songs? All this and more is discussed this week on Empires of the Future.
Jackson and Denton discuss the recent leak of an upcoming ruling out of the Supreme Court of the United States that indicates two longstanding rulings in Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey may soon be overturned.
Denton and Jackson discuss another case headed to the Supreme Court concerning Coach Joe Kennedy and whether his post-game 50-yard-line prayers should be allowed under the establishment clause of the US Constitution.
The article this episode is based on can be found at https://www.wsj.com/articles/high-school-football-coach-takes-case-for-prayer-to-supreme-court-11650798000
Since 2019, the number of people who know of a "Third Place" where they can freely interact with people has declined from 2/3rds to 1/2. What does this mean for us and what should we do about it? Consider these questions with us in this episode of Empires of the Future.
Jackson and Denton discuss a recent Supreme Court decision that allows a convicted murderer to receive pastoral care in the closing moments of his life.
For more information on this decision, visit the website of the Supreme Court at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-5592_feah.pdf
New co-host Denton Ice joins Jackson Van Dyke to discuss current challenges within Evangelicalism and what might be done about them.
Matt and Jackson discuss an important issue that is rarely discussed at the dinner table. The issue is gerrymandering. The state of California is potentially setting the model for other states to follow. Enjoy!
This is the last episode of Empires of the Future. Matt and Jackson discuss Christmas movies. Enjoy this Christmas episode.
Matt and Jackson discuss climate change. A recent article in the WSJ by economist Bjorn Lomborg presents a reasonable approach to climate change. The guys discuss the article, and present their thoughts on the topic. Enjoy.
Matt and Jackson discussed Bobby Duffy's article in the WSJ about generations like Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
Matt and Jackson discuss the meaning of suffering. This is one of our more important and complex episodes to date. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson discuss the issue of work burnout. How can you create balance in your life?
Matt and Jackson discuss the alarming exodus of males from universities and colleges in America.
Matt and Jackson discuss the controversy around the pornographic social media platform OnlyFans. The guys discuss the larger issues of pornography and intimacy.
Matt and Jackson return to discuss Afghanistan, the Taliban, and the Biden Administration's failure to withdraw from the longest war in American history. They discuss Dan Crenshaw's article in the WSJ entitled "The Endless War Fallacy."
Matt and Jackson return with an episode about the Tokyo Olympics. We look at different issues related to the this Olympic and the Olympic in-general. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson are back with a serious discussion on the fragile condition of the American society today due to identity politics. They discuss Charles Murray's article "Identity Crisis: How the Politics of race will Wreck America."
Matt and Jackson discuss transgenders athletes and the impact on women's sports. They look at a recent issue with women's high school track in Connecticut.
Matt and Jackson are discussing the future of cars. Are you ready for a fully electric driving experience? The guys examine an article from WSJ entitled "The New World of Auto-Tech: How Electric, Self-Driving Cars, and Ride Hailing Will Transform the Car industry."
Matt and Jackson discuss a great article about the dark side of social media, which has increased connectivity and unfortunately mutual animosity.
Matt and Jackson discuss the intensive parenting philosophy of today's parents, which has led to issues for parents and children.
Matt and Jackson are back discussing the potential of anxiety for some after life returns to normal. The guys also discuss the frustrating reality of a corporate America gone woke. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson discuss Shadi Hamid's article in the National Review about the decline of religious faith and the placement of that religious intensity in politics.
Matt and Jackson discuss the rise of the religious left to positions of power in the U.S. government.
Matt and Jackson discuss some alarming decisions by two European governments on the issue of religious freedom. France and Denmark both passed laws recently that will negatively impact religious freedom.
Matt and Jackson discuss the fight between parents and teachers union about opening schools. They also look at the stimulus issue as the U.S. Government continues to artificially prop up the economy.
Matt and Jackson discuss the growing popularity of "Spiritual companions" or "spiritual directors."
Matt and Jackson are back for a second season of Empires of the Future. We discuss a book review of American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Affections of Our Time by Joshua Mitchell. We attempt to answer the question, "What does it mean to be an American?"
Matt and Jackson discuss the horrible event at the US Capitol on Wednesday. They talk about the future of democracy, and the future of the Republican Party.
Matt and Jackson discuss the potential homes of tomorrow, and an interesting lifestyles of the digital nomad. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson discuss Becket Cook's article on the Gospel Coalition entitled "Why Hollywood Praises Elliot Page (and Blacklists Me)." Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson discuss the longer term impacts of Covid on local and state governments. They also discuss the positive influence of music during difficult times. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson are back discussing an interesting article about teenagers and Covid. Erica Komisar's article "Lockdowns have a Bright Side for Teens" in WSJ intoduces improvements in mental health among teenagers during Covid. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson discuss the first Presidental Debate and the Vice-President Debate. Will the country chose Biden out of desire to return to normalcy? The guys also discuss Amy Coney Barrett and her nomination to the Supreme Court. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson discuss the concerning future of movies and Hollywood. The guys look at the box office numbers of Christopher Nolan's Tenet, which has under-perfomed in the U.S. What does this mean for the future of the movie industry?
Matt and Jackson discuss the topic of free speech in America today. They discuss Adam Kirsch's WSJ article "Land of Free (And Fettered Speech)."
Matt and Jackson discuss an article about Nick Cave, an Australian singer songwriter, and political correctness from Stephen McAlpine entitled "The Unhappiest Religion in All the World."
Matt Castro and Jackson Van Dyke are back to talk about the current issues of the evangelical movement. The guys discuss the hotline news about Jerry Falwell Jr, who resigned recently from his position as the President of Liberty University. The news of Falwell Jr. highlights the authority problem in evangelicalism.
Matt and Jackson discuss the controversial with the NBA's support of China over the freedom protests in Hong Kong. Does the NBA have selective justice bias?
Matt and Jackson are discussing the return of space travel. Space X successfully sent two men into space this summer. What is the future of space?
Here is part 2 of our two part episode on cancel culture. We discuss Ross Douthat article in the New York Times entitled "10 Theses about Cancel Culture."
Matt and Jackson are back after a few weeks off. They split this episode into two parts. The guys discussed canceled culture. The first article they discuss is by Daniel Schwanmmental. The second article is by Joshua Katz entitled "I Survived Cancellation."
Matt and Jackson are back for another episode of "Empires of the Future." The guys discuss the question, "Should Sports Return?" We also conclude the episode discussing an article about alternative history, "What if Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 election."
Matt and Jackson are back to discuss some interesting issues from the past few weeks. They are looking at three articles. One is from WSJ entitled "My Girlfriend is a Chatbot" by Parmy Olson. This article addresses the current phenomenon of men with romantic relationships with A.I. In the next article, the guys discuss the Supreme Court's recent decision. They end the episode discussing an article by Ian Rowe entitled "The Power of Personal Agency." Enjoy the podcast.
Matt and Jackson discuss the book Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt. The book reveals issues that have risen to surface right now in our society.
Matt and Jackson discuss the economic results of Covid-19. They get into the issue of class struggle that has awaken in the midst of the pandemic. Peggy Noonan's article in WSJ entitled "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Lockdown" provides the context for the discussion. The guys discuss stimulus policies and the winners and losers of the coronavirus lockdown. We will give you a hint its Walmart. Enjoy!
Matt and Jackson discuss the topic of anxiety during the pandemic and the rising cases of anxiety amongst children. Hope you enjoy!
This is a special episode of Empires of the Future as Matt and Jackson join Matt Higgins from Northwoods Church to discuss Calvinism. This is part two of the episode.
This is a special episode of Empires of the Future as Matt and Jackson join Matt Higgins from Northwoods Church to discuss Calvinism. This is part one of a two part episode.
Matt and Jackson look at few ongoing changes brought on by Covid-19. They discuss the budget cuts at colleges, and the impact Covid-19 has and will have on colleges. They also share their thoughts on the recent news from Southern Seminary due to the budget cuts brought on by Covid-19. They also discuss the impact on global travel by discussing Yaroslav Trofimov article entitled "A World of Hardening Borders" this week. The end the episode by having a fun debate about dress during Covid-19. Should we bother getting dressed? Matt and Jackson have differing opinions on the matter. Enjoy the episode.
Matt and Jackson discuss if the government has gone too far with the lockdowns. They discuss Robert Douthat article "When Coronavirus Lockdowns Go Too Far." They also discuss the decision for churches as they plan to open back up. They end the episode discussing the challenge to Hollywood the coronavirus has been to Disney and other entertainment companies.
Matt and Jackson are back for an interesting discussion on the potential death of consumer Christianity at the hands of Covid 19, and the impact on baptism and communion in the church during coronavirus lockdown. Also the guys end the episode discussing Ross Douthat's book The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success. Enjoy the episode.
Matt and Jackson discuss some upcoming technologies like virtual reality, biotech, and self-driving cars. Will the coronavirus birth a new technological revolution?
Friends Matt Castro and Jackson Van Dyke discuss the discovery of the Houston Astros cheating in the 2017 World Series and the implications of cheating on sports in general. A second segment involves the Iowa Caucuses and what role technology should play in our lives. The third segment is a discussion of the mysterious power of music.
Matt and Jackson discuss a few different topics this week. With the continual coronavirus, people now have an unexpected wealth of leisure time. How are Americans dealing with more time at home? The guys discuss an article in WSJ called "Mommy, I like Coronavirus." Also, the guys discuss President Trump's quote in a recent press conference on his lack of interest in listening to advice from former Presidents during the pandemic. They also look at Youth Ministry today by looking at a Book Review by Timothy Paul Jones in Christianity Today.
Matt and Jackson discuss how Christians should react to the virus from the lessons of history. Also the guys have some fun discussing the new superhero team in Britain from Marvel Comics.
Friends Matt Castro and Jackson Van Dyke discuss the results of Super Tuesday in the Democratic Primary for 2020 and its' implications about power in today's World.
In part two, we talk about current concerns regarding the Corona virus and how fear impacts all of our lives.
Empires of the Future is available on Itunes, Podbean, and Youtube.
Matt and Jackson catch up with movies that they have watched recently like "The Irishman" and an oldie but goodie "The Matrix."
They dive deep into the surprising news of Prince Harry and Megan Markle's decision to leave the royal family.
They also talk about their personal heroes.