Citizen of Heaven: Recent Episodes

Hal Hammons

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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It’s not soccer; it’s football. That’s how the world says it, and that’s the way Terry Francis, Nick Angel and I have been trying to say it. The things you say and the way you say them makes a big difference – including and particularly when you’re talking with brethren. And not always in a good way. So check your biases at the door; it’s time to decide which shibboleths are needful and which are needlessly divisive and destructive.

Check out Terry Francis's work with the Chelsea church at https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaChurch

Check out Nick Angel's work with the Louden church of Christ in Loudon, Tennessee, at loudoncoc.org

and his daily Bible reading plan at
https://www.facebook.com/share/1GpcMwM7Ew/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://youtube.com/@dbrwnickangel?si=lhjqltGUHCCki61q

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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Nick Angel preaches for the Loudon church of Christ in Louden, Tennessee; Terry Francis is with the church in Chelsea, Alabama. Links to their work are in the show notes. In the second part of our World Cup conversation, we discuss the anti-American propaganda and a German named Freddy has headed up the charge of rebutting it, and how we as Christians can be both victims and perpetrators ourselves while wearing the colors of Team Jesus Christ.

Check out Terry Francis's work with the Chelsea church at https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaChurch

Check out Nick Angel's work with the Louden church of Christ in Loudon, Tennessee, at loudoncoc.org

and his daily Bible reading plan at
https://www.facebook.com/share/1GpcMwM7Ew/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://youtube.com/@dbrwnickangel?si=lhjqltGUHCCki61q

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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Confession time: I did not watch the World Cup this summer. But I did keep up with it well enough to appreciate the cultural phenomenon that it is in the world and that it became here in America. To show proper respect for the game we’re trying to call “football” this week, I enlisted the help of true aficionados Terry Francis and Nick Angel to help me through some of the highlights, beginning here with the pros and cons of nationalism, especially as it impacts our heaven citizenship.

Check out Terry Francis's work with the Chelsea church at https://www.youtube.com/@ChelseaChurch

Check out Nick Angel's work with the Louden church of Christ in Loudon, Tennessee, at loudoncoc.org

and his daily Bible reading plan at
https://www.facebook.com/share/1GpcMwM7Ew/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://youtube.com/@dbrwnickangel?si=lhjqltGUHCCki61q

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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In a month full of drinking one thing or another, we finish with the most basic liquid of all. We’ll cover whether water can actually save you or whether it just gets you wet; whether the depths of the ocean and all the terrors therein should be enough to make you change your vocation; why I’m not as excited about rain as I usually am this time of year; and how the water outside your habitat can sneak in and destroy both your game and your soul.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Wine comes up in a wide variety of contexts in the Bible. This week we’ll discuss how the most famous Bible passage about wine may not really be talking about wine at all; how choosing to leave the drunken lifestyle doesn’t always yield the results you had hoped for; how being in love is like drinking wine, both for good and for ill – and how it’s worth it in at least one instance; and how you don’t have to make wine while playing a game just because the cards say so.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re talking beverages this month on the podcast. Last week was coffee; this week we’re going a bit highbrow – or maybe not; we’ll have to see. We’ll discuss whether civilization is all it’s cracked up to be; whether tea is merely a beverage or an entire lifestyle; what “the tea” really is (not “tea,” mind you – “THE tea”); and whether you should content yourself with growing “good enough” tea, both in your game room and in your walk with Christ.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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I hope everyone else has enjoyed this week at the coffee shop as much as I have; let’s have one last cup before we leave. To conclude the discussion, Mark Roberts and BJ Sipe discuss the willpower you have to find sometimes to walk away from something that may not be dangerous or sinful in and of itself. Links to their respective work are included in the show notes. Thanks again, fellas, for the talk. I’m stepping away from the table with quite the buzz.

Check out "Romans for Everyone" and "The Sermon on the Mount for Everyone" at https://truthbooks.com/romans-for-everyone-coffee-and-the-bible-series/?searchid=540723&search_query=mark+roberts

Subscribe to BJ's podcast at https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re back for a second cup with Mark Roberts of the West Side church of Christ in Irving, Texas, and BJ Sipe of the church in Danville, Kentucky. Links are included in the show notes. We’re talking here about mornings – how a cup of coffee can get you going physically, and what it might take to get you going on a daily basis spiritually. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, I think you’ll find something here to get you into gear for your work in the kingdom.

Check out "Romans for Everyone" and "The Sermon on the Mount for Everyone" at https://truthbooks.com/romans-for-everyone-coffee-and-the-bible-series/?searchid=540723&search_query=mark+roberts

Subscribe to BJ's podcast at https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Mark Roberts’s Coffee and the Bible series was a big prompt for this episode. I was excited to sit down with him and BJ Sipe, another avid coffee drinker, to discuss a variety of coffee-adjacent topics. We start with the idea of combining coffee and Bible study. No one says you can’t study the Bible without a cup of coffee. But Mark and BJ clearly think it helps. So I just asked them how that worked. Links to Mark’s books as well as their other efforts in the kingdom can be found in the show notes.

Find out more about Sacred Selections by going to https://sacredselections.org/

Check out "Romans for Everyone" and "The Sermon on the Mount for Everyone" at https://truthbooks.com/romans-for-everyone-coffee-and-the-bible-series/?searchid=540723&search_query=mark+roberts

Subscribe to BJ's podcast at https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

These are the best books I've read in 2026 so far. See also my list of "most surprising" books." Lord willing, the lists for the entire year will be posted in December.

(Honorable mention): Doubts About Darwin, by Thomas Woodward

Mr. Roberts, by Thomas Heggin
Under God, by Toby Mac and Michael Tait
Conquerors, by Roger Crowley
John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace, by Jonathan Aitken
The Last Outlaws: The Lives and Legends of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, by Thom Hatch
What We See When We Read, by Peter Mendelsund
Passage to Byzantium: The Romanov-Habsburg Feud that Led to World War I
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, by Candace Millard
Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter, by Tom Clavin
Leonardo da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

These are the most surprising books I've read in the first half of 2026.

Where God Was Born, by Bruce Feiler
The Death of Evolution: Restoring Faith and Wonder in a World of Doubt, by Jim Nelson Black
The Grave of John Wesley Hardin: Three Essays on Grassroots History, by C.L. Sonnichsen
The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid: A Faithful and Interesting Narrative, by Pat F. Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln Co., N.M., By Whom He Was Finally Hunted Down & Captured By Killing Him
The Nazi and the Psychopath, by Jack El-Hai
The Lone Ranger at the Haunted Gulch, by Fran Striker
When the Irish Invaded Canada, by Christopher Klein
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, by Donald Miller
Box Socials, by W.P. Kinsella
Humpty Dumpty After the Fall, by Vuthy Kuon

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Jesus wanted to be about His Father’s business as soon as possible. Here’s hoping His attitude will rub off on us. This week we’ll cover the difference between a successful businessperson and a crooked one; the help the business world has offered over the years in the cause of Christ and why we’re better off without it; an expression from the movies that is both true and offensive; and the way to grow a business on your game table that gives you the biggest chance to cash in when the last round is over.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

It’s my eternal struggle: balancing keeping things proper and keeping things interesting. This week we’ll cover whether efforts to sneak the gospel in the back door are ethical or even effective; the most interesting and perhaps least profitable sort of books I read; the inherently deceptive nature of modern news and what our response should be; and an entire category of games I avoid for no good reason whatsoever.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This topic is near and dear to my heart; it’s worth acquiring and protecting, especially if you wear the name of Jesus. We’ll discuss apostles and how they were able to do their job so well and continue to do so; a storyteller who may or may not be insane and how you can tell which; a flashback to the mistakes I made in my career as a journalist as well as a preacher and the lessons I learned; and the sources we turn to for guidance and why they matter – both in gaming and in Christ.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I’m actually on the road this week; apologies in advance for any sound issues I may have being away from my normal microphone. We’ll be talking about one road God has prepared for us and the challenges we find walking in it; two roads that converge in the woods and why Robert Frost doesn’t care which one you take; another road the devil wants you to take and the rock band that’s urging you along; and the road leading back home -- a home that, God willing, I will have arrived at by now.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

“All the blessings in the heavenly places” sounds like the greatest gift of all – and it is. But what exactly are the “heavenly places” to which Paul refers in Ephesians 1:3? And why does the devil seem to be there too? Thankfully we have the Bible Geeks, Ryan Joy and Bryan Schiele, here to answer the tough questions in the last part of our conversation. Links are provided in the show notes; make sure you check them out.

Check out the Bible Geeks Podcast at https://biblegeeks.fm/podcast

Check out Bryan's blog at https://www.fieldready.faith/

Check out the North church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at fortwaynechristians.org and https://www.facebook.com/northchurchofchrist

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

My conversation with Ryan Joy and Bryan Schiele, the Bible Geeks, turns to Psalm 127 and the blessing of children. As each of us is a father, we each have a perspective on the subject. Hopefully we didn’t brag on our own children very much. However full or not full your own quiver may be at the moment, or may become in the future, I think you’ll be benefitted by what they have to say.

Check out the Bible Geeks Podcast at https://biblegeeks.fm/podcast

Check out Bryan's blog at https://www.fieldready.faith/

Check out the North church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at fortwaynechristians.org and https://www.facebook.com/northchurchofchrist

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This month we welcome in, for the first time as a pair on the podcast, Ryan Joy and Bryan Schiele, the Bible Geeks, a couple of the best podcasters I know. Links to the show and to Ryan’s work with the North church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, are included in the show notes. We start the blessed ball rolling by talking about the nature of daily bread – what it is, what it isn’t, and whether praying for something beyond that is good initiative or just plain rudeness.

Check out the Bible Geeks Podcast at https://biblegeeks.fm/podcast

Check out Bryan's blog at https://www.fieldready.faith/

Check out the North church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at fortwaynechristians.org and https://www.facebook.com/northchurchofchrist

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We finish our world tour in a land considered a fertile field for the gospel until godless Communists took over. We’ll discuss the apostle who may have first brought Jesus to China and why; a radical new theory about world exploration (embrace or discard at your pleasure); the super-fancy products China used to be famous for making in earlier centuries; and the wall you and your fellow game players must defend at all costs, even the cost of your own ego.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is one of the last two stops in our trip around the world; I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am. This week we’ll talk about one of the best men Germany ever gave the world; one of the worst, and how his biggest opponent was more like him than he realized; a city determined to make Germany well known for unity instead of starting wars; and a legacy you can build for yourself with nothing more than some plastic blocks and a vision of the future.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Egypt is the nation mentioned most in the Bible other than Israel and Judah. So naturally our trip around the world had to make a stop here. We’ll discuss the irresistible urge in God’s people to embrace the life God’s trying to get us out of; an alleged murder mystery and the dangers of presuppositions; a cultural phenomenon and what it doesn’t mean with regard to genuine interest; and the best way to secure your place in the afterlife with a simple deck of cards.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The greatest wrestling match in history is described in Genesis 32. It speaks to the struggles Jacob faced throughout his life in his walk with God, but also to the struggles of the nation that descended from him. Even more so, though, it prefigures the “wrestlings” of all servants of God, trying to find the blessing He has for us and sometimes seems to be hiding from us. My talk with Jacob Hudgins and Mark Russell concludes with this topic – and it turned out to be one of the best discusssions I’ve had on this podcast. Enjoy.

Jacob Hudgins is the author of "The School of Christ" and various other books. Check out the work of the Twin City church on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/twincitychurchofchrist

Mark Russell works with the Vale church of Christ in Valparaiso, Indiana. Check out the work of the Vale church on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ8V7pJ_StxFBd3-WSt4Qcw/videos

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Jacob Hudgins and Mark Russell are back to continue our discussion about Israel. But what do we really mean when we use the term “Israel” today? Is the nation on modern maps equivalent to the chosen people of God? Do we have an obligation as Christians to support the nation of Israel? And is Israel still God’s chosen people? As always, we’re going to try to stay away from taking specific political positions here. But whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or a None of the Above, I think you’ll find some valuable insights here.

Jacob Hudgins is the author of "The School of Christ" and various other books. Check out the work of the Twin City church on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/twincitychurchofchrist

Mark Russell works with the Vale church of Christ in Valparaiso, Indiana. Check out the work of the Vale church on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ8V7pJ_StxFBd3-WSt4Qcw/videos

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I had so much fun going around the world with you last month that we’re going to do another lap this month, starting with a long-overdue look at the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Here to help are Jacob Hudgins from the Twin City church of Christ in College Station, Texas, and Mark Russell of the Vale church of Christ in Valparaiso, Indiana. Links to their great work is included in the show notes. We start with something simple: What does it mean to be the foreknown people of God, and does that imply a lack of free will on our end?

Jacob Hudgins is the author of "The School of Christ" and various other books. Check out the work of the Twin City church on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/twincitychurchofchrist

Mark Russell works with the Vale church of Christ in Valparaiso, Indiana. Check out the work of the Vale church on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ8V7pJ_StxFBd3-WSt4Qcw/videos

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

If you say you knew we’d be traveling to Mongolia in our trip around the world this month, I will straight-out call you a liar. And yet here we are. We’ll cover the so-called heretics who brought Jesus to this distant corner of the world and whether their efforts count at all; the greatest Mongolian of all time and whether he was really “great” at all; the part of Mongolia that scarred me for life, and how I’m better off for it; and the best way to convert confused cattle into victory points, both in games and in life.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Our trip around the world brings us to a nation not mentioned in the Bible yet fraught with Biblical history – or at least Bible-adjacent history. We’ll cover the French’s obsession with Mary Magdalene (and ours); the most obsessive and rebellious teenager you’ve ever seen and why the French love her; the one-size-fits-all approach to war and why it fails every time; and the tunnel we’re building in our game room that will reach all the way to heaven if we get help from the other side.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The first month in Season 8 will take you around the globe, looking at the lessons we can learn from our neighbors. This week we’ll discuss whose way of doing things is the right way, and what that “right way” is; the reason Vladamir Putin is in the news so much and why you shouldn’t be surprised; the advantages of getting drunk and why I think you should avoid it anyway; and the conflict that defined my childhood – and tragically, continues in large measure to define my brotherhood.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

OK, we’ve saved it for last, but we finally get to what you came to hear. Colton McDaniel and Paul Casebolt, links provided in the show notes, finish off our citizenship discussion by weighing in on the issues of borders, immigration, and policing them both with regard to the kingdom of heaven. I’m making a point of leaving carnal politics out of the discussion as much as possible. Infer whatever lesson with regard to the headlines of the day; that’s on you. And may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be on us all.

Follow Colton's work at facebook.com/bcoltonmcdaniel and
https://www.youtube.com/@stonecanyonchurch

Paul's blog can be found at https://clearandpresentfaith.com/. There is a page on the website with links to the various platforms on which it is live at https://clearandpresentfaith.com/the-podcast/.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We pick up where we left off with Colton McDaniel and Paul Casebolt discussing our role as citizens. In this part of the conversation we discuss the nature of our simultaneous roles as kingdom citizens and residents of planet earth. Can we balance our obligations? If not, which one comes first? And most importantly of all – what does this mean for me on April 15? I think you will be impressed with the Biblical foundation for their answers, even if it doesn’t get you where you might want to go.

Follow Colton's work at facebook.com/bcoltonmcdaniel and
https://www.youtube.com/@stonecanyonchurch

Paul's blog can be found at https://clearandpresentfaith.com/. There is a page on the website with links to the various platforms on which it is live at https://clearandpresentfaith.com/the-podcast/.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

What better way to start Season 8 than a long-overdue discussion of what it means to be a resident of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. A couple of newcomers join me for the discussion. Colton McDaniel preaches for the Stone Canyon church of Christ in Owasso, Oklahoma. Paul Casebolt is new to online ministry. Follow his podcast and blog at Clearandpresentfaith.com. Links are in the show notes. We’ll start by discussing what rights we have as Christians – and even if there is such a thing as rights in Jesus’s kingdom.

Follow Colton's work at facebook.com/bcoltonmcdaniel and
https://www.youtube.com/@stonecanyonchurch

Paul's blog can be found at https://clearandpresentfaith.com/. There is a page on the website with links to the various platforms on which it is live at https://clearandpresentfaith.com/the-podcast/.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is an encore episode. The original "Good Future" episode appeared as one of a series of four "future" episodes on May 30, 2023.

I am an optimist by nature. When I talk about the future, sometimes I forget that. This episode helped remind me, for which I am grateful.This week we will cover the glorious future of the persecuted church, and when and how it might arrive; the future of church growth and why we are running from it; a guarantee of a brighter future from a voice that Elvis Presley envied; and an opportunity to boldly go where no one has gone before, and to glorify God in the process.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is an encore episode. The original "Piano" episode appeared first in Season 5, Episode 256, on February 27, 2024.

The piano, perhaps more than any other instrument, changed the way music is played. As with a lot of things I tried as a child, I’d be a better person now if I had worked harder at it. Today we’ll discuss where the piano got its name and what it has in common with God; the challenge for an American trying to buy a piano in Paris; the pressure that comes from playing the toughest music in the world, and how to overcome it; and a game that won’t fit in my house but that I would gladly play – especially with Tom Hanks.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is an encore episode. The original first appeared in Season 5 as Episode 230 on August 29, 2023.

This week we will discuss the short and winding road, and how San Franciscans have turned it into a blessing instead of a problem; the disaster of 1906 and how humans’ best efforts made it far, far worse; Norton I, emperor of the United States, and his relationship with his subjects; and the bigger business you can build by sinking your existing business into San Francisco Bay.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is an encore episode. The original "Werewolves" aired as Episode 237 on October 26, 2023.

The story of the werewolf is a metaphor for the battle of good and evil within all of us. Are you human, or are you an animal? You get to choose.

This week we will discuss the closest thing to a werewolf the Bible has to offer; the original werewolf and his modern kinfolk; my own checkered history with Halloween and trick-or-treating; and a dark, stormy night full of werewolves that brought a smile to the face of all the Hammonses.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is an encore episode. It originally debuted on July 6, 2023, as part 3 of Episode 222.

This is the final part of my conversation with Reagan McClenny and Adam Shanks. Reagan preaches for the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, TX; Adam preaches for the Edwards Lake church of Christ in Birmingham, AL, and his podcast, Preach Impediments, will soon return from hiatus. Today we look at the struggles we often face in seeing our walk with Christ as a lifelong process rather than individual steps, especially when those steps don’t go so great.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is an encore episode. It originally appeared as part of Episode 222 on July 5, 2023.

Adam Shanks, host of the Preach Impediments podcast, is also the author of In God We Trust, an excellent book on money management. You can find it at Adam’s website, Edenhollow.com. In this segment, Adam and Reagan McClenny, who preaches for the church of Christ in Lufkin, TX, discuss with me the importance of properly managing our money, and what our failure to do so says about our faith.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is an encore episode. The original, Episode 222, debuted July 24, 2023. The month of March will feature episodes from at least two years ago. Season 8 begins April 2026, Lord willing.

This week I am joined by Reagan McClenny and Adam Shanks, both of whom are participating in this month’s Balancing the Christian Life Conference. Find out more at balancingthechristianlife.com. Check out Reagan’s work through the podcast of the Timberland Drive church of Christ. Adam’s work can be found at his website, edenhollow.com.

In our first segment, we discuss the demons we try to cast out of our hearts (i.e., bad habits) and the struggles we face in replacing them with something better.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re ending Season 7 by talking about things crumbling over time. Let’s hope it’s not too meta. This week we’ll discuss how we can develop a taste for things that don’t go bad (it’s not as obvious a choice as you might think); how a national landmark fell apart because of its genius builder’s personal failures; how our tiny underground neighbors can show us the upside of rot; and how rust accumulates in your gameplay and your service to Jesus, but only when you let it.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Everyone knows about “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” That’s what God gives, and I hope and trust it’s what I’m giving about Him and His word. We’ll discuss the role the Ten Commandments played in ancient Israel, up to and after the time they lost them; a former U.S. president whose message was just too spectacular to be true; the assurances we can take from God’s word simply because it is, in fact, God’s word; and the best place to go for advice I have learned to routinely ignore.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Each and every one of us has a reputation. Whether yours is for good or ill, or whether you want to keep it or change it, that’s up to you. This week we’ll cover Solomon’s thoughts about pursuing a good reputation vs. chasing a big bank account; the world’s most famous gunfighter and how he both lived and died for his reputation; the future apostle Paul and how he built confidence in people he previously wanted to kill; and the two different reputations we chase in games and in the church, and how we can make them compatible.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Here we conclude my discussion with Noah Diestelkamp and BJ Sipe on the topic of honor; I hope you’ve benefitted from it half as much as I have. We wrap up by talking about the honor God says is waiting for us at the end, how we build confidence in His promises, and how we sustain ourselves along the way while He waits to give it to us. If you’re thinking we may not quite be done talking about the book of Philippians, prepare to not be disappointed.

Noah Diestelkamp, husband and father of three, works with the Cedar Park church of Christ in the Austin area. He and Paul White host the Stand Strong Podcast. Check it out at https://standstrong.buzzsprout.com/

BJ Sipe, also a husband and father of three, is with the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl3Ug77n1gc for links to simulcasts from the work at Danville and to https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/ to find the Set Your Mind Above podcast.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Believe it or not, we’re not done yet talking about how we show honor to politicians and other public figures. I guess we just can’t help ourselves. Again, Noah Diestelkamp and BJ Sipe are here sharing their thoughts; as the conversation continued, we tried to get a little more practical in our application. Regardless of your political affiliation, I think they will both exhort you to stand for the right and urge caution in dealing with those you think are in the wrong.

Noah Diestelkamp, husband and father of three, works with the Cedar Park church of Christ in the Austin area. He and Paul White host the Stand Strong Podcast. Check it out at https://standstrong.buzzsprout.com/

BJ Sipe, also a husband and father of three, is with the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl3Ug77n1gc for links to simulcasts from the work at Danville and to https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/ to find the Set Your Mind Above podcast.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re back with more from my conversation with Noah Diestelkamp and BJ Sipe, preachers with the churches in Cedar Park, Texas, and Danville, Kentucky, respectively; check out their links in the show notes. It’s the segment you’ve all been waiting for: a definitive answer as to whether we really have to honor our governmental officials, even the ones we think – nay, we KNOW – are agents of the devil. Something’s telling me we might need more than one segment for this question.

Noah Diestelkamp, husband and father of three, works with the Cedar Park church of Christ in the Austin area. He and Paul White host the Stand Strong Podcast. Check it out at https://standstrong.buzzsprout.com/

BJ Sipe, also a husband and father of three, is with the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl3Ug77n1gc for links to simulcasts from the work at Danville and to https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/ to find the Set Your Mind Above podcast.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I’m joined by two eminently honorable preachers of the gospel – Noah Diestelkamp and BJ Sipe. Bios and links are provided below; make sure you check out their outstanding work in the kingdom. I asked them to comment on Biblical honor, starting with the way we show honor to one another as Christians. I think you’ll be blessed by what they have to say. A word of caution first: it may wind up hitting you in your wallet.

Noah Diestelkamp, husband and father of three, works with the Cedar Park church of Christ in the Austin area. He and Paul White host the Stand Strong Podcast. Check it out at https://standstrong.buzzsprout.com/

BJ Sipe, also a husband and father of three, is with the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl3Ug77n1gc for links to simulcasts from the work at Danville and to https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/ to find the Set Your Mind Above podcast.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Climbing can be exhilarating. It can also be daunting, and even dangerous. We’ll deal with both extremes this week – the experiences that draw us closer to God spiritually if not physically; the alternative “highs” that may interfere with bigger purposes; the mountains God moves for us, as opposed to the ones He asks us to climb; and the annoyances that come with building a stack of game pieces that reach all the way to heaven.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

At long last, I’m ready address one of the hottest topics of the day – one that Jesus deals with frequently. We’ll cover what if anything immigration policies in Jesus’s day have to do with us; the nature of nationalism and how it crosses geographical and cultural boundaries; whether Jesus is for or against building walls (yes, there is an answer); and what actually gives you the right to cross over from one kingdom to another, both in games and in the gospel. Check your politics at the door, brethren.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

It’s in our nature, I think, to want to leave something permanent behind, something people will see and take note of. This week we’ll discuss the monument Samuel left and how it has inspired hymn singers and preachers for decades; a president who chose no memorial at all over one made under false pretenses; one of the most famous landscapes in film and how it stays the same year after year; and the monument you can build on your game table and in your own life.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Maybe it’s the advent of winter – or at least what passes for winter in Central Texas. But ice has been on my mind of late, and I thought I’d share. This week we’ll cover climate change from a Biblical perspective; one of my favorite books of 2025 and what it tells us about human resiliency; one of the most overused metaphors in the natural world – one that somehow has escaped my attention here so far; and the quest to finish first or die trying in the only race that matters.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Forgive the rough cut! I am having no end of trouble on my end -- the least effect of which is, I cannot put a standard podcast out. But I did make a recording for you! Hopefully my technical problems will be worked out by next Tuesday.

Also, you'll note I didn't include 10 brand new books -- just 9. Forgive me!

My top books of 2025, including holdovers, are ...

Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White

Coolidge, by Amity Shlaes

A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway

The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck

The Fire of His Genius, by Kirkpatrick Sale

I Only Read Murder, by Ian and Will Ferguson

Mightier than the Sword, by David S. Reynolds

Mayflower, by Nathan Philbrick

The Time it Never Rained, by Elmer Kelton

The Cheating Culture, by David Callahan

Presenting Buffalo Bill, by Candace Fleming

Endurance, by Alfred Lansing

The Sunflower, by Simon Wiesenthal

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

So, it's the week of Christmas. And it's episode #350. I didn't plan to save the "Smiles" episode for a week like this, but now I'm glad I did. We'll discuss why smiles are so rare in the Bible and why you shouldn't worry about it; how the cutest little girl and the saddest "Little Tramp" in the history of Hollywood combined forces to drag us out of a national malaise; and how games in general, and one small game in particular, has brought smiles to our faces for years.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Steve Wolfgang, preacher for the Downers Grove church in the Chicagoland area, has been schooling us regarding math, church style, this week. As you likely have figured out, we’re wrapping the discussion up with division. What has “split the church” in times past? What “splits” are on the horizon. Or is it even possible to “split the church? in the first place?

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Our favorite category of math in local churches is multiplication, no doubt about it. And in this part of my conversation with Steve Wolfgang, we discuss the pros and cons of growth — and yes, there are cons. We all want the church to grow. But is a quick response a good response? What if any warning signs should be anticipated when the gospel spreads more than we hoped for?

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Steve Wolfgang is back, helping us with math lessons of sorts from God’s word. This part of our discussion relates to subtraction — the unfortunate but often necessary process of taking souls out of fellowship. When is it necessary? And how do we carry it out when it is? By the way, perhaps I should have mentioned it before, but Steve was struggling mightily with a sinus infection at the time of this recording; he would appreciate it if you would not hold his vocal quality against him.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Steve Wolfgang preaches for the Downers Grove church in the Chicagoland area. He is well-known throughout the brotherhood for his grasp on historical trends throughout the centuries. This week I’m harnessing his abilities in a somewhat unconventional way, using a math theme. We start here by discussing the way we add people to our fellowship and the role local leadership must play in doing it right — including choosing to not do it at all.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Bad things happen in life. That's just the way it is. The question is whether we will be able to recover and build better afterward. This week we'll discuss how flirting with disaster can come back to haunt you and your family; how a man froze to death trying to get you a better deal on silk and gunpowder; how my own carpentry work led to holes in my wall and nearly a hole in my foot; and how planning your disaster properly could result in the end of the world.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Trust is a rare commodity these days -- earned slowly, lost quickly. Christians should thank God we have One worthy of trust, and a host of others trying their best. This week we'll discuss the trustworthy One and the untrustworthy alternatives; the danger in picking the wrong partner when committing a felony; a staple of trust-building in the corporate world that people don't actually trust; and the difference between a team with a great player and a team.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Every year it seems I have more and more to be thankful for, and it's high time I said so on the podcast. this week I'll tell you which Hebrew word brings joy to my heart and why; the particular genre of book that piquest my interest the most and where I find them; the reason Roy Orbison and Brian Wilson are better musicians than your favorite current chart-topper ever will be alive; and why two players at the table are better than one -- and maybe even better than four.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

If I could choose any superpower, I might pick being able to fly. I doubt I'm alone in that. No wonder flight is used so often in the Bible as a spiritual metaphor. This week we'll learn how to escape the problems of this life by looking at the world the way God does; how to embrace the desire to fly God put in us and use it properly; how to accept adversity on the way to spiritual achievement; and how to reject dreams of world domination in favor of being just one cog in a gigantic wheel.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is my final installment of my conversation with Scott Taylor and Tyler Hall, who partner in the work with the West Mason church of Christ in Mason, Ohio. We finish by talking about the most popular game in town, or so it seems — the Blame Game. These are smart fellows; can they explain to me why people’s situations are going to bet better when they find a way to blame their problems on someone else.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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Scott Taylor and Tyler Hall preach for the West Mason church of Christ in the suburban Cincinnati area. Scott, Tyler and I are all fathers, so I thought it would be good to continue our conversation by addressing the accountability of fathers in the home, and how we practically apply the concept of bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Scott Taylor and Tyler Hall preach for the West Mason church of Christ in the suburban Cincinnati area. We start our conversation with a simple question: What is your favorite story in the Bible about judgment?

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Turns out, there's not quite enough weeks in the year for me to say everything I have to say about San Francisco. So this week we'll put all the leftovers into a pot and see what comes out -- what if anything was really wrong with hippies; what businesses on the waterfront are closed and whether I care; whether the sound of sea lions is charming, annoying, or both; and whether going to Chinatown is worth yet another mile of walking.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The Golden Gate is a bridge, a park, and a geological feature. All three made a tremendous impression on me on my recent trip to San Francisco, and I'm here to tell you about it. We'll talk about crossing the barrier between opportunity and accomplished reality; the hazards of walking where others are careening; the most famous meteorological phenomenon in the Bay Area; and the reason why it's worth walking an extra couple of miles to find yet another statue.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

If you don't have the time or the vehicle to travel 5 1/2 hours to Redwood National Park on your next San Francisco trip, you can instead cross the Golden Gate Bridge, take a scenic drive through Marin County, and spend some quality time in Muir Woods National Monument. We did, and it's awesome in every sense of the word. This week we'll talk about some experiences from our recent vacation that cannot be put into words -- but of course, I'll try to put them into words anyway.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We're going to do something a bit different this month. I am going to spend October telling you about my recent vacation with Tracie to San Francisco. Spoiler alert: It was amazing. Life-altering, even. We'll have plenty to say in the weeks to come about Alcatraz, the redwood trees of Muir Woods, and the Golden Gate; we'll begin this week by discussing what motivated us to go to San Francisco in the first place.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Scheduled postings:

October 7: Tourism.

October 14: Alcatraz.

October 21: Muir Woods.

October 28: The Golden Gate.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We finish Animal Month with my third and (probably) final venture into ursine territory. If my buddy Kenny Embry is out there, this one's for you. We'll discuss Sarah Palin's favorite mammal and the situations in which you might encounter it; the most famous bear-hunter in history and my surprising issues with him; the most obnoxious meme on the internet (and that's saying something); and the race you absolutely must win, even if it means leaving your buddy in the dust.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Again we turn to the insect world for help with living among the humans. I hope it's not bugging you. This week we'll discuss how smart humans have figured out a way to destroy themselves (which stupid ants don't do); the incredible work ants do by being what they are and doing what they are meant to do; a personal trip down memory lane with ants and my father; and a game that can serve as the remedy for the affliction after which it is named.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I hate cats. But I enjoy Chinese food. See, there’s a blessing in every part of God’s creation – especially the lessons they teach us. This week we’ll deal with whether cats think they’re better than you or just don’t know you exist; some amazing poetry that somehow gave rise to some horrible acting; whether curiosity is actually deadly or if it will just give you hives; and whether it’s appropriate to actually detonate a feline, even for a good cause.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Maybe when I announced “Animal Month,” you just thought “lions and tigers and bears, oh my.” But God teaches us big lessons with little things. This week we’ll discuss how ugly things grow beautiful through forces beyond their understanding; the man with a butterfly tattoo who went to crazy extremes to avoid being caged; a wonderful lie and a lesson it teaches about rearing children; and the triumphant story of tiny creatures migrating all the way from one end of your gaming table to the other.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Edwin Crozier and Andrew Roberts of the Text Talk podcast are back to finish up our discussion of everyone’s favorite reptile. Here we discuss a children’s game that, deliberately or accidentally, teaches us that life isn’t fair, some people catch more breaks than we do, and there’s not much we can do about it. Can that make us bitter? Absolutely. How can we avoid that? Let’s find out.

Check out the Text Talk podcast at https://texttalk.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Edwin Crozier and Andrew Roberts are partners in the gospel for the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue in Lutz, Florida. They also co-host the excellent Text Talk podcast; a link is provided in the show notes. Edwin and Andrew are back to give the other side of the Biblical picture of snakes — one in which they, at least after a fashion, provide a good example for us.

Check out the Text Talk podcast at https://texttalk.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re talking animals this month, and we start in style by bringing in Edwin Crozier and Andrew Roberts of the Text Talk podcast to discuss everyone’s favorite reptile. We start where you would expect — the garden of Eden. But when I suggested Eve fell victim to a relatively obvious ploy, my guests didn’t necessarily agree. And the conversation went in all kinds of interesting directions from there. See what you think.

Check out the Text Talk podcast at https://texttalk.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

It’s time for one of my very favorite topics. How I got six and a half seasons in without a “Children” episode, I have no idea. We’ll discuss the reason spiritual people have children and then launch them out into the world; the sort of society we get when children make the rules; the simplicity or lack thereof of our hymn worship, and why I suggest erring on the side of the former; and the happy memories Tracie and I have playing the dumbest game we have ever owned.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

If something important is on the horizon, you get ready for it. That’s just common sense. Unfortunately, sense isn’t as common as you might think. This week we’ll discuss how Jesus is coming quicker than you think, and not in the way you might think; the extremes to which people will go in pursuit of what they really want; the voices in my head and how they don’t help me as much as I like to think; and yet another game in which I know precisely what to do and cannot do it for the life of me.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

If there’s any subject in which I could claim to be an expert, this is the one. Thankfully God is more than competent enough to compensate for me. We’ll discuss how our repeated failures will not get in the way of a God determined to save us; a president whose best wasn’t nearly good enough and the problems that resulted; the very worst preacher who ever preached (and yes, I think I can prove it); and the latest example of how horrible I am at board games, why that’s the case, and why I keep playing anyway.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re wrapping up with Brent Clanton and Phil Robertson in this part of the episode. Here we focus on clickbait — the news industry’s increasing tendency to rope viewers in with wild headlines, claims of urgency, and countless other tactics designed to keep us glued to the screen. How can we protect ourselves? And how extreme should our reaction be? Is the best approach to just tune out completely? Let’s find out.

Check out Brent and The Real Investment Show with Lance Roberts at https://www.youtube.com/c/therealinvestmentshow and https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-investment-show-podcast/id1271435757

Contact Phil Robertson at https://floridacollege.edu/employee/phil-robertson/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re picking up where we left off from the first part of my conversation with Brent Clanton and Phil Robertson, two veterans of the news business. If you missed the first part, make sure you go back and check that out. Is there media bias? If so, is it deliberate? And if so, what should be Christians’ approach if any to gathering news? And what implications do our viewing and listening habits have regarding our work as Christian parents?

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I got a couple of insiders for our discussion this week. Brent Clanton is a long-time radio celebrity in the Houston area and formerly served as shepherd for the Kleinwood church of Christ. Links to his work are included below. Phil Robertson worked in TV news in a former life; currently he is an associate vice president at Florida College. They’re here to talk about the impact the news has on our lives as Christians.

Check out Brent and The Real Investment Show with Lance Roberts at https://www.youtube.com/c/therealinvestmentshow and https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-investment-show-podcast/id1271435757

Contact Phil Robertson at https://floridacollege.edu/employee/phil-robertson/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

My final featured state this month is one that sparks extreme reactions -- fitting for a state that can be icy cold and boiling hot on the same day. We’ll discuss the most famous feature of Arizona and what it tells us about how the world came to be; the most famous gunfight in history and the lawlessness that lawmen can create; the reason most people avoid Arizona and why the locals don’t seem to care; and the beauty of God’s creation, all of it, and how you will miss it if you don’t open your eyes and your mind.

For more on Dr. Andrew Snelling's research on the Grand Canyon, go to https://answersingenesis.org/geology/grand-canyon/fight-53-rocks/.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Louisiana has given me some of the best food I’ve ever eaten, and with it ten pounds I don’t need. And the potholes on I-10 owe me a TV set and a dining room table. I’m calling it even. This week we’ll talk about how one man’s paradise is just another man’s swamp; whether New Orleans is a cultural mecca or a financial and moral sinkhole; the music style that makes accordions worth listening to; and what to do when you grow way, way too many radishes in your game room.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Our tour of America brings us to the Silver State this week, where all that glitters may be gold or may be just a mirage. We’ll discuss the way casinos work to keep you trapped in a situation that will destroy you, and how best to avoid the trap; an old-fashioned lynch mob and what sometimes passes for justice; a commercial that says more about American culture than it does about Las Vegas; and the family you’ll need to survive and prosper on your long, dirty grind across your game room.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re touring the United States this month, starting with the biggest state of all. This week we’ll discuss the pros and cons of chasing gold (turns out there may be more of the latter than the former); the crazy scheme that saved America, and then saved it again, and again; the easiest way to wealth you’ve ever heard of – but which still requires some effort; and perhaps the silliest reason the Hammonses have ever had for buying a board game – and how, strangely enough, it isn’t working out that well for us.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

In years past I’ve tried to supply four lists of books around this time of year — my best books, the books that made me think the most, the most surprising books I’ve read, and the most disappointing books I’ve read. Unless I hear a barrage of protests, I’m going to cull that to two lists this year. I may or may not talk about surprising and disappointing books in December. For now, though, I’m contenting myself with two. Last week it was thinky books; today I share my favorites. It’s been a pretty good year so far; here’s hoping the best is still to come.

Here's the list:

Race to the Top of the World, by Sheldon Bart
Moscow Nights: The Van Cliburn Story, by Nigel Cliff
Laughing Matters, various writers, edited by Gene Shallot
A Brilliant Solution, by Carol Berkin
The Beatles: A Hard Day's Write, by Steve Turner
The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck
Jesus: Who is He?, by Tim LaHaye
Mightier than the Sword, by David S. Reynolds
Robert E. Lee and Me, by Ty Seidule
The Sunflower, by Simon Wiesenthal

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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I hope you’ve enjoyed my discussion with Steve and BJ as much as I have. As we celebrate another birthday in the United States this week, we often find ourselves in a position to brag on ourselves a bit. Or maybe more than that. What’s good for America is good for Americans, basically — including American Christians. But is that really so? Is “America First” compatible with the Bible, and can patriotism be carried too far?

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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There’s a lot of talk in recent years about how great America is, or was, or might be in the future if we vote for the right people. But instead of America’s greatness, I’d like to talk about its goodness. Steve Wolfgang and BJ Sipe are here to help me cover the topic in the second part of our recent discussion. Whatever your political affiliation, I think you’ll find a lot of spiritual meat to chew on here.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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Steve Wolfgang is a historian of the first order, as well as being the preacher for the Downers Grove church in the Chicagoland area. BJ Sipe preaches for the church in Danville, KY, and hosts the Set Your Mind Above podcast. They join me this week to talk about America, beginning with the balance we strike between the unofficial national motto, E Pluribus unum, and the real motto since 1956, In God We trust.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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The last few years I've been detailing the books that have impacted me the most while putting the podcast together. Here's the "thinkiest" books I've read of late.

Here's the list:

The Land Between, by Jeff Manion
Saving Monticello, by Mark Leepson
The Dragon and the George, by George R. Dickson
Greenlights, by Matthew McConaughey
Enemies in the Orchard, by Dana Vanderlugt
Rise and Grind, by Daymond John
Excellence Wins, by Horst Schultze
Against Football, by Steve Almond
The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell
Why New Orleans Matters, by Tom Piazza

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

As an admitted control freak, I must say – I hate chaos. And I think you should hate it too. Bad things happen in the absence of order. This week we’ll discuss chaos as the antithesis to God – the un-God, if you will; a president who defined himself by a set of rules instead of a set of circumstances; the reasons rioters riot and why you should care; and a chaotic evening’s entertainment that may or may not lead to something more.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

They say there are no guarantees in life. That’s not quite true. God offers us guarantees, both in this life and in the next. This week we’ll discuss the assurances God has given His people and whether they come with strings attached; the guaranteed financial results God either does or does not offer His investors; the commitment I make to you, my loyal listener, and the lengths I go to to keep it; and the biggest gamble of all and how you can assure yourself of coming out on top.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

OK, I haven’t had any death threats lately, so what do you say I push the envelope a bit? This week we’ll discuss Biblical teaching on what a woman is, what a woman’s role should be, what happens when women push back against that, and who you should be listening to on the subject. Please keep in mind, there’s nothing on God’s green earth I love more than women. It’s the best work God ever did. I just hope the modern Feminist movement hasn’t done damage that can’t be undone.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Scott Beyer preaches for the Eastland church in Louisville, KY. Check out his great work at biblegrad.com and the Love Better podcast. Links are in the show notes. In the last part of our talk, we discuss the role rest and relaxation play in the life of the Christian. Can more work be a bad thing? Can work actually be restful? And what does the Bible’s teaching on the Sabbath day have to do with it all? Let’s talk about it.

Check out Scott's work at www.biblegrad.com

Listen to Scott's podcast, Love Better, at https://lovebetter.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Scott Beyer is a frequent contributor to the podcast; links to the good work he does are included in the show notes. When I thought of busy people in the Lord’s vineyard, I immediately thought of Scott. In the second part of our conversation, we discuss the difference (if any) between being busy for the Lord and just being busy — and how just being busy can be more of a problem than an asset.

Check out Scott's work at www.biblegrad.com

Listen to Scott's podcast, Love Better, at https://lovebetter.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

In 1 Kings 20, an unnamed prophet tells King Ahab that he, the prophet, had been required to guard a captive from the battle, but that he was busy here and there and the prisoner wound up escaping. Ahab saw that as a dereliction of duty, which of course made the prophet’s point. Ahab’s duty had been to defeat Israel’s enemies, not make alliances with them. Scott and I use this story to discuss how the busyness of life causes us to neglect important matters to our own destruction.

Check out Scott's work at www.biblegrad.com

Listen to Scott's podcast, Love Better, at https://lovebetter.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

As promised last week on the “Defense” episode, we’re back to discuss the other side of the argument – or the line of scrimmage. We’ll discuss four different ways of looking at offense: Jesus’s alleged offensiveness and how He responded; the offensiveness of the greatest hero of the South; the offended ones who just need to toughen up a bit; and the offensive approach we should take in our efforts to win the biggest game of all.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The most basic instinct we have is self-defense. It’s a pity we leave ourselves so open to attacks on spiritual fronts. This week we’ll discuss how my least favorite kind of apology is sometimes the best kind; how a president secured the nation by taking custody of an entire continent; how the best defense in the history of football disappeared, never to be seen again; and how growing your sphere of influence can cost you everything that matters.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

It’s not that I’m cynical; really I’m not. But sometimes I just need a little extra testimony to convince me that things are as they present themselves. And that’s not a bad thing. Today we’ll discuss how to get confirmation of our eternal destiny; how God’s claims are even more outrageous than those of a professional athlete – and that’s saying something; how God speaks to us to tell us we’re on the right track (or not); and the risks we take in games and in life when we take people at their word.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I can’t believe I haven’t done a “Construction” episode already. The Bible is full of metaphors about builders and building, and lessons for us abound. Today we’ll discuss the biggest construction project of your life and whether you should even start it; the blame that gets shifted, even toward Jesus, when the project goes wrong; the woes of dealing with poorly conceived and poorly executed projects; and the best Bible-themed game I have ever played – maybe the best game, period.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

After five years of waiting, working and praying, the Hammons family is actually living in a place worthy of the name Casa Hammons. Since I’ve been unable to think of anything else for the last two weeks, I thought I’d give in to the urge and just talk about what’s been going on with us – how we’re settling in, the challenges that lie in front of us, the pain the move is caused and whether it’s all worth it; and the increasingly numerous opportunities for finding joy while we wait for heaven.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Last week was “needs”; this week it’s all about “needs’s” sexy cousin. If “needs” are critical, “desires” are not; in fact, they’re often destructive. We’ll cover what the devil desires and how we can keep him from getting it; a vision of heaven on earth that I consider blasphemous; a rationalization for adultery, or at least hypothetical adultery, that’s all the rage these days; and a game that proves getting hungry for something sweet is not the same as eating dessert.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

“Need” is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days. It’s a fine word; but in the words of Inigo Montoya, “I do not think it means what you think it means.” We’ll discuss how the Hammons family told God what we needed and He gave us what we wanted; the “needs” we ought to be praying that God not fulfill; the biggest need our physical body has and how we’ve turned it into a curse; and a 7,000-year-old game that’s teaching us lessons even today.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

It’s been a minute since I recorded an episode, but Season 7 is off and running – and we’re starting at full speed. This week we’ll discuss the craziest driver in the Bible and how he compares to the people on your daily commute; the attitude you take toward people who get in your way and whether you can control it; the fastest speed limit in America (what a shock, it’s in Texas); and the worst drivers in the world and how they are justified in feeling completely safe.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Today’s episode wraps up my conversation with Wilson and Julie Adams — a strong start indeed to Season 7. you’ll find links in the show notes to Julie’s podcast, entitled “Just Julie”, as well as the counseling she provides through StillWatersLife.com and the Still Waters Podcast. My last question for Wilson and Julie: How can young couples today set themselves up for success?

Check out Julie's work at www.stillwaterslife.com.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re back with more from Wilson and Julie Adams on the topic of Couples — what goes right and why, what goes wrong and why, all those questions we’ve been tossing around ever since the garden of Eden. The second part of our discussion begins with a simple question: What is the biggest myth about marriage?

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Welcome to Season 7 to new visitors and old friends alike. I’m back from a month-long hiatus and getting the ball rolling in a big way. Wilson and Julie Adams join me this week to discuss couples, and who better to do so? Wilson has preached for decades and has recently semi-retired into appointment preaching work. Julie is a licensed counselor; you can learn more about what she does at stillwaterlife.com. The question we’re starting with is a simple one: What’s your favorite Bible couple and why?

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is a repeat of one of my most enduring episodes -- episode 95. New episodes begin in April -- the beginning of Season 7.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The "Plague" episode originally aired November 8, 2022. Season 7 begins with new episodes in April.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The "Staycation" episode originally aired August 16, 2022. Season 7 begins with new episodes in April.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The "Depression" episode originally aired the week of December 6, 2022. Season 7 begins with new episodes in April.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The "Depression" episode originally aired the week of December 6, 2022. Season 7 begins with new episodes in April.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The "Depression" episode originally aired the week of December 6, 2022. Season 7 begins with new episodes in April.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I will be taking a month off from the podcast starting next week. I thought the timing was good to discuss the blessings and dangers of taking a step back. This week we’ll discuss God’s approach to rest and how it can benefit us; the insights of various presidents regarding the work they did and how they responded when it ended; the ways you can help me make the most out of my time away from the microphone; and the most stressful and enjoyable Sabbath I ever spent at the board game table.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

For years, semaphore flags have been used to communicate over long distances. This week I’m using flags myself; here’s hoping the message gets through. We’ll discuss the flag Jesus waves and how we benefit from it; the flag some Americans wave, not caring whose eye it irritates; my own system of flags and how I use it to manage the problems in my life; and the red flags that may be filtering out the man or woman of your dreams (or giving you the opposite).

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I love boats. If it weren’t for the time investment, the enormous financial investment, and the fear of drowning, I’d be on the water all the time. This week we’ll cover Jesus’s expertise at the captain’s wheel and how we get too distracted to appreciate it; a boat full of youngsters that found a way to defeat Adolf Hitler; a genre of music that made itself eminently mockable, and how we’re the worse for it; and how you can do your part in turning a pile of rocks into the most glorious construction project in history.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is the last part of my conversation with Jacob Hudgins and Scott Beyer. Links to their good work are in the show notes. Here we discuss whether making yourself happy, with no consideration of others, is ever a good objective. As we will discover, my guests find their happiness in a place where, well, let’s just say I have trouble relating.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I’m a sarcastic person. Sarcasm makes me happy. So what should my response be when it makes other people unhappy? Can I get them to change, or do I have to? Here to help me with the answers are Jacob Hudgins and Scott Beyer. Jacob preaches for the Twin City church in College Station, Texas; Scott preaches for the Eastland church in Louisville, Kentucky. Links to their good work are in the show notes.

Check out Scott's work at https://biblegrad.com/

Find Jacob's books at https://onestone.com/search?q=jacob+hudgins

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

In my search for guests this month, I finally settled on a couple of preachers who strike me as having a generally happy outlook on life, thinking maybe I could learn something. And I absolutely did. Jacob Hudgins preaches for the Twin City church in College Station; check out his excellent books at Amazon and other retailers; Scott Beyer preaches for the Eastland church in Louisville, Kentucky; links to his outstanding podcast, Love Better, are included below.

Check out Scott's work at https://biblegrad.com/

Find Jacob's books at https://onestone.com/search?q=jacob+hudgins

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Yes, Luckenbach, Texas, is a real place. Barely. Its presence in the Texas consciousness, however, is as big as Texas itself. Today we’ll cover how its insignificance makes it so great; the glory days of Luckenbach and what remains in their place; the song that made Luckenbach and killed it at the same time; and a game of dominoes to which no one was invited and everyone came to watch anyway.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We went to my hometown last week; this week it’s my adopted hometown. The contrast could not be more stark, and both towns like it that way. We’ll discuss how concepts as opposite as normal and weird can become basically interchangeable; how willing you are to actually join the effort instead of standing by idly; the rude awakening a new set of circumstances can bring; and the games we play while waiting for the real game to start.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re talking about my hometown today, for better and for worse. Longhorns, fear not: I have kept my biases to a minimum. Aggies, rest assured: we go to College Station next week. This week it’s all about the lights that are shining and what they are shining on; the late great Armadillo World Headquarters and its legacy of inclusiveness; Austin’s most famous guitar and how it made such sweet music; and the best way to make it up Congress Avenue without tripping on a possum on the half-shell.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Jerry King, Jeremy Dehut and I wrap up our conversation about the city of Dallas by discussing its most famous fictitious citizens and the lifestyle they represent. You, too, can live on the Southfork Ranch with J.R., Bobby, and the rest of the Ewing clan — all from the comfort of your family game table. But would you want to do that? Is city life all it’s cracked up to be? And would you shoot a family member if you had the chance? Let’s find out.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

When you think Dallas, you think silver football helmets with big blue stars — at least, I do. Sometimes your heroes live up to their calling, sometimes not so much. In the second part of my discussion with Jerry King and Jeremy Dehut, we discuss what makes a hero, what if anything disqualifies a hero, how much patience we should have for them in their failures, and how you can be a hero to someone looking up to you.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’re starting the year off right with Texas month. I’ll be giving all the unfortunate uninitiated out there the grand tour, high points and low points alike. We’ll start in the D/FW metroplex (whether that’s a high point or a low point is up to you) with my friends Jerry King and Jeremy Dehut, who work with the Twin Creeks church of Christ in Allen, just north of Big D. Jerry is the one who sounds like a native Texan.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’ve been talking about gifts this month. I’m going to complete the journey today by commenting on your gift to me – 300 weeks of letting me talk about the things I care about. I thought I’d use this landmark occasion to give you four examples of things I preach, read, hear and play, and tell you a bit about why, after five and a half seasons, I still like tying up all these bits of business into a podcast for you every week.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

In lieu of my regular monthly report, I am here today to finish my list of the best books I’ve read this year. My final total for 2024 is going to come in at between 204 and 210 books — well off my ridiculous pace of 2023, but still, a lot. Obviously I have no hope of retaining everything or even anything from the vast majority of them. But casting a wide net makes it more likely that I find a few real delights. With a great deal of effort, I’ve whittled them to 10. Here they are.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
Tombstone, by Tom Clavin
The Little Girl who Fought the Great Depression, by John F. Kasson
The Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy
The Battle for the Beginning, by John MacArthur
Thunderstruck, by Eric Larson
Worst. President. Ever., by Robert Strauss
Luckenbach, Texas, by Becky Crouch Patterson
The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown
Goodbye, Mr. Chips, by James Hilton
A Man of Iron, by Troy Senek
God's Hand on America, by Michael Medved
* Boundaries, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
How to Read a Book, by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren

= carryovers from the list from the first half of the year

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I have another gift for you this week. You’ve figured out by now I’m leaning toward the conceptual, deeper end of the gifts spectrum. Hopefully you’ll still get a smile out of it. We’ll discuss my 5-minute version of the meaning of life; one author’s gargantuan version of the meaning of the English language; the meaning of a book and who gets to decide what it is; and the meaning of a time-honored game you may not know nearly as well as you think.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

More than anything else, I read to make myself think. Maybe I’m thinking about a point of view I have not explored much, maybe I’m thinking about a struggle that I am facing or I’m helping someone else face, maybe I’m thinking about how lessons from the past can be helpful in the present, maybe I’m just thinking about one of my favorite topics and trying to get a deeper understanding. In any case, thinking is good. And maybe it will catch on if I talk about reading enough. It’s worth a try anyway. So these are the 10 books that made me think the most in the latter half of 2024.

The list includes:
The Cow in the Parking Lot, by Leonard Scheff and Susan Edmiston
David and Goliath, by Malcolm Gladwell
Memoirs of Hadrian, by Marguerite Yourcenar
Life and tragic death of Jesse James (anonymous)
And Then There's This, by Bill Wasik
A Simple Plan, by Scott Smith
How to Suffer … in 10 Easy Steps, by William Arntz
The Earth Dwellers, by Erich Hoyt
Moll Flanders, by Daniel Defoe
The Devil's Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I hope I both give and receive the gift of laughter this holiday season. It really is the best medicine in a sick, sick world. But not all laughs are created equal. This week we’ll cover the pros and cons of the most famous laughing fit in the Bible; the jokes preachers tell and why they tell them; the balance we strike between flexibility and inauthenticity, complete with examples; and a game I won’t play specifically because it will make you laugh.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

My Surprising Books list for the first half of the year appeared on June 14 of this year. Please go back and check that out if you have not done so already.

My second-half list includes:
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
Just Faith, by Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons
The Names of God, by Ken Harrison
The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck
The Thief of Bagdad, by Achmed Abdullah
Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, by Greg Laurie with Marshall Terrill
Aesop's Fables
The Last Supper on the Moon, by Levi Lusko
Coronado's Children, by J. Frank Dobie
What's Your World View?, by James N. Anderson

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Security may not be the first blessing that comes to mind. But really, what good would any of the other blessings be without it? This week we’ll discuss our salvation and exactly how and why we should feel secure in it; a hero of the Christian community and why I am slow getting on the bandwagon; the standard of truth in our world today and how-slash-if it should impact our walk with Christ; and a game show that put relationships at risk with the allure of big bucks.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Unfortunately, this segment concludes my discussion with BJ Sipe of Danville, KY, and Terry Francis of Chelsea, AL. We wrapped up (pardon the expression) by discussing the best gift you can give your family and/or your church family — your time. This segment includes, I believe, the longest and perhaps best monologue in the history of this podcast. I leave it intact as my gift to you.

Check out BJ's podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/set-your-mind-above/id1566696596

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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We’re talking Gifts this week with BJ Sipe and Terry Francis. BJ works with the church of Christ in Danville, KY; follow him through the Set Your Mind Above podcast. Terry is with the Chelsea church of Christ in the Birmingham area. We recorded this the week of Thanksgiving. It gave us a chance to discuss an attitude of gratitude — why it’s absent so often, what consequences result, and how we can reverse the trend.

Check out BJ's podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/set-your-mind-above/id1566696596

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This month we’re dwelling on the good things God gives us, and one of the biggest blessings He’s given me recently is my conversation with BJ Sipe and Terry Francis. BJ works with the church of Christ in Danville, KY; follow him through the Set Your Mind Above podcast. Terry is with the Chelsea church of Christ in the Birmingham area. In the first segment of our talk, we discuss the greatest gift God ever gave His people, and that’s no exaggeration.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This month I'm giving thanks -- especially for everything God has brought me through podcasting.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Our survey of some of the horrors of the world takes us inside the human mind this week – a scary place if ever there was one. We’ll discuss Paul’s alleged struggles with insanity and how we can develop the real thing ourselves; a journey into the depths of the Lord’s church and the terrifying characters we find there; the famous definition of insanity and how we just can’t believe it might apply to us; and a game that puts me in the loony bin and whether I should try to get out of it.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Surely no sin in our culture, except perhaps for fornication, has been glamorized more than drinking. Too bad Prohibition didn’t work. But then, making sin illegal rarely does. We’ll discuss whether drinking rules apply to rich and poor alike; how wine ruins your life, and how it may show up wearing a dress; the connection between songs from the bar and songs in the church; and the lines I won’t cross, even to play a terrific board game.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This month we’re talking about some of the bad things in this world. Unfortunately we have plenty of specific topics to choose from. This week we’ll discuss fake brethren and their fake gospel, and the very real problems they cause; the fake stories we hear and how important it is to check them out; the fake miracle-workers I see in the world and whether the real thing might be out there; and the fake masterpieces unworthy of a place in heaven or in your board game.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

This is part 2 of my conversation with Colton McDaniel and Jay Horsley, preachers respectively for the Stone Canyon church of Christ in the Tulsa area and the church of Christ in Mulvane, Kansas. Here we cover Superman, Jedi masters, and all the other heroes we used to have who were above reproach — and how now we seem to favor the bad guys, who may or may not be dressed up in good guy clothes.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The fact that this Texan has invited two Oklahoma boys to discuss villains this week is completely coincidental. Really. Colton McDaniel preaches for the Stone Canyon church in the Tulsa area. Jay Horsley, world famous Sooner, works with the church of Christ in Mulvane, Kansas. In the first part of our conversation we discuss the villain in our midst, and how he often seems to take residence in our mirror.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

As humans, our eyes are our best tools for assessing what is real. But our eyes don’t see everything, and the sooner we accept that the quicker we’ll quit stubbing our toes. This week we’ll discuss the invisible work of the Spirit and how we can put it to work in our lives; the connection between invisibility and personal accountability; the witnesses to invisible things and why you should believe them (all of them); and the way you can do battle with an unseen enemy and see your own inevitable victory.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

The Balancing the Christian Life Conference is finally here, or almost here. After a couple of delays because of factors beyond our control, we are good to go (Lord willing) on November 7-10. The theme is Heaven Citizens, so my interest should be obvious. Dozens of speakers are going to be delivering excellent Bible lessons. Check out BalancingTheChristianLife.com and follow the links to sign up for free. This month’s report was presented live on Facebook on Friday, October 25, and I’m including the audio here. With the season of giving and receiving drawing near, here are my thoughts as to what make for a good gift for someone you love — or maybe just for yourself.

Sign up for the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Cheating is violating an agreed-upon set of rules for your own benefit. Athletes do it. Politicians do it. You and I do it, unfortunately. This week we’ll discuss the saddest cheating story ever and how a husband responded with mercy; one of the ugliest cheating stories in modern sports (and that’s saying something); the cheating songs we sing along with, and what it says about our character; and the worst cheating I’ve ever experienced first-hand, and why it makes me love the offender more instead of less.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

An institution is something that has been established. There are all sorts. It can be an organization built to accomplish a specific purpose for an extended period of time; a building that has been in place for decades or even centuries; a system established by God Himself to accomplish His purposes in human society; or a silly little pastime that is an indispensable part of visiting an iconic restaurant chain. We’ll discuss all of the above this week.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

A contranym is a word that serves as its own opposite. (How does anyone ever learn English as a second language?) This week we’ll discuss whether being “finished” means completing your work or leaving it incomplete; whether “cleaving” is tying something together or breaking something up; whether being “bound” assures you of being mobile or being stationary; and whether “to wear” is to endure the hardships of the world or to be destroyed by them.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Check out the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Check out Kenny's podcast, Balancing the Christian Life, at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/

Check out Edwin's podcast, Text Talk, at https://texttalk.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I usually try to stick with the “What I’ve been preaching,” “What I’ve been reading,” “What I’ve been playing” format with my guests. But for whatever reason, I decided to break from that and just talk regular talk with my guests, Edwin Crozier and Kenny Embry. Links to the good work they each do are in the show notes. In this part of the conversation, we discuss our song worship — perhaps the closest thing we get to heaven in this life.

Check out the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Check out Kenny's podcast, Balancing the Christian Life, at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/

Check out Edwin's podcast, Text Talk, at https://texttalk.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I had a wonderful conversation last week with Edwin Crozier and Kenny Embry. Edwin cohosts the Text Talk podcast; Kenny hosts the Balancing the Christian Life podcast; both are longtime friends of the program. In search for practical ways to live as heaven citizens here on earth, we found ourselves going back again and again to the sermon on the mount. If you want to know how to prioritize heaven, take instruction from Jesus.

Check out the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Check out Kenny's podcast, Balancing the Christian Life, at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/

Check out Edwin's podcast, Text Talk, at https://texttalk.buzzsprout.com/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Beginning Tuesday, Lord willing, I’ll be sharing my conversation with Edwin Crozier and Kenny Embry, two long-time friends of the podcast. The topic was heaven. The impetus was the Balancing the Christian Life Conference — October 10-12, mark your calendars. And the significance, as far as I was concerned, was particularly noticeable. It reminded me yet again what it means to walk on earth as a heaven citizen. I’d love to tell you about it.

Check out Balancing the Christian Life at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/

Register for the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at
https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Music is copyright-free and royalty-free, courtesy of Pixabay. Intro music: "The Beat of Nature," Olexy. Outro music: "The Cradle of Your Soul," lemonmusicstudio

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Arrogance is something we absolutely despise in others. It’s a good thing you and I aren’t ever guilty of it, right? This week will discuss someone who was too proud to accept the gift God was trying to give him; a woman who did her best to turn her child into an entitled monster; the right of winners to brag, and whether it actually exists; and my own slice of humble pie served to me in cyberspace.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Are you a rebel? And do you consider that a good thing? If your answer is yes, lock in for 20 minutes and I’ll try to change your mind. We’ll cover rebellion posing as good judgment that brought down a king; the original curse word and what it teaches about submissiveness; another hit song from my youth with a message as stupid now as it was then; and why I had a chance to save the galaxy and decided to pass.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Most of us have been bullied at some point. If you haven’t, you’re probably the bully yourself, so listen close this week. We’ll be covering Christian bullies and when they should and shouldn’t be allowed to win; some coping tactics that fail horribly and a couple that might succeed; a pop star who has been known to beat up half the world’s population with her microphone; and a tactic that might get you banned from the game table but earn you a friend for life in the church.

Check out the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at
https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We come to the conclusion of my talk with Scott Taylor and Tyler hall today. I hope it’s been the blessing to you that it has been to me. Again, check out the You Are From God podcast that they host through the West Mason church of Christ. And watch for their contributions at the Balancing the Christian Life Conference next month; links are in the show notes. We conclude by talking about the spiritual habits we build and reinforce in our children, for better or for worse, and how we can emphasize the “better.”

Check out Scott and Tyler's podcast, You Are From God, at https://open.spotify.com/show/5sjURrBfLMGOT44BxOMyrk?si=3b88a85349fd47ec

Find out more about the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at
https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We continue here with my discussion with Scott Taylor and Tyler Hall of the West Mason church of Christ in the Cincinnati area, also the hosts of the You Are From God podcast. Both are scheduled to present lessons at the Balancing the Christian Life Conference next month; check out the link in the show notes. Here we discuss one of my favorite books and the particular aspects of Jesus’s character that we struggle to adopt.

Check out Scott and Tyler's podcast, You Are From God, at https://open.spotify.com/show/5sjURrBfLMGOT44BxOMyrk?si=3b88a85349fd47ec

Find out more about the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at
https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

They say character is the person you are when no one is watching. I think there’s a lot of truth in that. People of faith such as David, Elijah, Jeremiah and Peter had moments of weakness when no one was looking, yet always seemed to find their way home in the end. What does that say about their character? And what does it say about us when we find ourselves giving in to sin when no one is watching?

Check out Scott and Tyler's podcast, You Are From God, at https://open.spotify.com/show/5sjURrBfLMGOT44BxOMyrk?si=3b88a85349fd47ec

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

Sign up for the conference at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/

Music is copyright-free and royalty-free, courtesy of Pixabay. Intro music: "The Beat of Nature," Olexy. Outro music: "The Cradle of Your Soul," lemonmusicstudio

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

If you have the idea that I did Texas Month as an excuse to talk about barbecue, I plead guilty. I may have trouble getting through this, my mouth’s watering so much. This week we’ll talk about how shortcuts come at a price, with food and with Christians; an unabashed celebration of the ridiculous things ridiculous men do; some non-Texans’ idea of where to go for barbecue (whatever); and how I love my yet-unborn grandchildren too much to play certain games with them.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Texans have a reputation for bragging. In reality, we’re just worried you may not know how much better than you we are. I’m joking. I’m mostly joking. This week we’ll cover Bible braggadocio and whether it’s warranted; the many stories of Texans chasing treasure and bragging about not finding it; a Texas crooner who wants to help you understand Texans better; and my daughter’s increasing proficiency at board games that is rapidly passing mine.

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

If it’s Texas Month, we’ve got to talk about the most sacred site in Texas – the place that defines what it means to be a Texan more than any other. We’ll discuss the ultimate sacrifice and when it’s appropriate to make it; the long-disputed story of exactly how Davy Crockett died; the current state of the Alamo and how we have to make the best of an unfortunate situation; and my own dumbed-down version of the most famous moment in Texas history.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We are wrapping up our conversation Reagan McClenny of the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, and Terry Starling of the Grissom Road church of Christ in San Antonio. Links are in the show notes. We’ve discussed the pros and cons of the concept of independence. We conclude by discussing how we are not as independent from the world around us as we might thing, and how we can let that lift us up in our warfare instead of letting it tear us down.

Check out Reagan's work at https://www.timberlandchurch.org/

Check out Terry's work at https://www.grissomroadcoc.org/

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I’m talking with a couple of Texas boys this week — Reagan McClenny of the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, and Terry Starling of the Grissom Road church of Christ in San Antonio. In the first part of our conversation, we gave the idea of independence a pretty good flogging. But being independent isn’t all bad. How can we take an independent spirit and point it in a direction that honors God? Let’s find out.

Check out Reagan's work at https://www.timberlandchurch.org/

Check out Terry's work at https://www.grissomroadcoc.org/

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I know July might be a more typical month to discuss this topic, but Reagan McClenny, Terry Starling and I are native Texans, and Texans do things our own way. You’ll get a lot of that this month. Reagan preachers for the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, Texas; Terry for the Grissom Road church of Christ in San Antonio. How important

Check out Reagan's work at https://www.timberlandchurch.org/

Check out Terry's work at https://www.grissomroadcoc.org/

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I had more ideas for Animal Month, but we’re out of weeks. Maybe we’ll do it again sometime. And thanks to everyone in the Heaven Citizens Facebook group who participated in the poll – we’ll do it again soon. We’ll cover how camels and their drinking habits saved the family of Abraham; how an Englishman failed to get the Arabs to leave their camel-riding ways; how camels passed along their ugliest habit to the humans; and how Jesus helps you win the race no matter how slow your own camel is.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

In all my obsessing over books the last year or two, I’ve gotten away from board gaming a bit. I’m still playing, mind you, and occasionally I’m still purchasing. But the closet’s pretty full already. True, the same could be said of my bookshelves, but board games are a lot bigger and more expensive than books. Today I’m going to use this space to finally get around to keeping a promise I made more than a year ago — my suggestions for starting a board collection from scratch.

The Mind
Love Letter
No Thanks
Werewords
Sushi Go!
Just One
Kingdomino
Machi Koro II
Azul
Ticket to Ride

Donkeys won the poll last week for the animal to feature this week. That was done through the Heaven Citizens Facebook group – check it out if you have not already. This week we’ll discuss the lesson a donkey taught Balaam and is trying to teach us today; the donkeys we meet every day and how to avoid becoming one of them; the rationalizations we make for celebrating donkey-ish behavior; and a long-overdue celebration of the hardest workers in all of board-gaming.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We did dogs last week; this week it’s about their wild and perhaps evil predecessors. Exactly how wild and how evil, well, that’s why you’re here, right? We’ll discuss Jesus’s ideas about wolves – if anything they’re worse than dogs; the wolf that became a dog, and the baggage he brought with him; the living space wolves need and why it doesn’t overlap with my living space; and a game about wolves I won’t play because of one word I found on the box cover.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It’s all animals this month, and we’re starting with my favorite – the one that’s most likely to defend me if I’m attacked, and least likely to eat me when I’m dead. This week we’ll discuss how the Bible does not love dogs nearly as much as I do; how the wolf inside every dog is there looking for a chance to get out; how my dog communicates with me, and how she can teach me to communicate with humans; and how the story your dog tells can bring you victory at the game table.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This wraps up a terrific conversation with Josh Collier and Steven McCrary; if you haven’t checked out the first two sections, please do yourself a favor and give those a listen. Here we conclude by discussing the beast that hides from the mirror, and how he looks a lot like us on our bad days. How should we respond when God tries to lift us out of the mess we’ve made of ourselves? Let’s find out.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We are back with part 2 of my talk with Josh Collier and Steven McCrary — two “beasts” in the absolute best sense of the word. Josh preaches for the church of Christ in Joliet, Illinois; Steven for the Golden Springs church in Aniston, Alabama. The talking beasts in the Narnia books start the conversation going on the topic of rising above our base nature. For fun, try to keep track of all the fantasy franchises these three geeks sub-reference in a single conversation.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We kick off Animal Month on the podcast by talking about beasts and beastliness. Here to help are Josh Collier, who preaches for the church of Christ in Joliet, Illinois; and Steven McCrary, who preaches for the Golden Springs church in Aniston, Alabama. In the first of three segments of our conversation, we talk about the beasts in Revelation 13 and the horror they strike in our hearts even today.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I’ve completed more than 100 books thus far in 2024 — a bit behind my pace from 2023, but still, not too bad. And yes, some of those books were on the short side. But not all — I’ve read six books this year that were 500 pages or longer. I try to balance my reading between fiction, non-fiction and inspirational books. Fiction is lagging behind in 2024, which no doubt accounts for its poor representation here. And my inspirational reading has been a bit underwhelming. But I’ve been on a tear recently; I read half the books on this list in the last month. Anyway, I hope my reading habits will encourage you to read more — and especially, read with a view of improving your ability to function as a Christian in an ungodly environment.

A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens
Thunderstruck, by Eric Larson
Mastery, by George Leonard
The Impeachers, by Brenda Wineapple
Barnum, by Robert WiGeorge Vecsey
Cash, by Johnny Cash
Musial, by George Vecsey
A Man of iron, by Troy Senik
Luckenbach, Texas, by Becky Crouch Patterson
Boundaries, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’ve accidentally stumbled on a bit of a theme this week. Knives are deadly. Poison is deadly. Passion is deadly, too, and I could not be more serious. This week we’ll cover what the Bible says about living a passionate life and why it’s different from the world’s idea; the rivalry that largely defines the state of Texas; what tropical fruit and the cross of Christ have in common; and the attitude of heart that failed to scare me away from board games.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Thinking is the whole reason the “What I’ve Been Reading” segment exists on the podcast. In fact, it’s why I read at all. It’s gratifying to read things that confirm what you already were thinking, and that can be a worthwhile exercise. But usually the “thinking” to which I refer in this list is the tougher kind — getting outside my comfort zone and considering other possibilities. Sometimes I change my mind, sometimes I don’t, and sometimes I just think I need to read another book. In any case, reading done right encourages you to think, and thinking is a good thing — as long as you don’t think your way out of fearing God and keeping His commandments. Anyway, this list should give you a notion of what I’ve been thinking about so far in 2024. Let’s get started.

Rethinking the Synoptic Problem, David Alan Black and David R. Beck, editors
The Bullying Breakthrough, Jonathan McKee
Cinematic Faith, William D. Romanowski
Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne
If Jesus is Lord, Ronald J. Sider
The Myth of Multitasking, Dave Crenshaw
American Wolf, Nate Blakeslee
The Man Who Was Thursday, G.K. Chesterton
The Shadow in the Glass, JJA Harwood
Our Eyes are on You, Nathan Ward

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Poison is bad. You should avoid it, generally. That’s my policy, anyway. And as obvious as I may think that approach is, clearly some people disagree.

Today we will deal with people who think the poison of the world can’t possibly hurt them; people so distraught they would rather take poison than deal with their day-to-day lives; the possible benefits of poison, when used carefully and with wisdom; and the poison selfish people may use to destroy you, and how you can make yourself immune.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

When I buy a book, I weigh three considerations: my level of interest, the cost, and the. book’s length (more or less in that order). I will never read a book I don’t want to read. I will rarely pay anywhere remotely close to retail (Hal Hammons, famous tightwad; you know my schtick by now) And I would rather read a short book than a long book; if you saw my To Be Read stack, you’d understand why. My “surprising books” tend to be ones where either my level of interest was pretty low and I was surprised in a good way, or ones where my level of interest was unusually high and I was surprised in a bad way. I’m pleased to say most of the surprises so far in 2024 have been good ones. Lord willing, as with the other lists I’ll post this month, I’ll be back in December with my lists for the year as a whole.

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, by Philip Pullman
The Bookstore that Floated Away, by Sarah Henshaw
The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom
Deceived No More, by Doreen Virtue
Helen of Troy, by Margaret George
Sense and Sensuality, by Ravi Zacharias
Our Town, by Thornton Wilder
God and My Father, by Clarence Day
A God Named Josh, by Jared Brock
Selfies, by Craig Detweiler

A knife is like most tools – helpful when used properly, dangerous when used by the wrong person or with the wrong training. This week we’ll discuss the strangest knife story in the Bible and what it says about our connection to God; the strangest and most beautiful knife story on my bookshelf; the debate over whether sharp knives are worth the price you pay (and I don’t mean at the store); and an updated version of a kid’s game that will send you running for the first-aid kit.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Today we wrap up my conversation with Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams, from Lutz, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, respectively; I hope you’ve gotten as much out of it as I did. Links to the great work they do are included in the show notes. Here we discuss the centrality of Jesus in the life and work of a Christian, how we can forget about that from time to time, and how we find our way home when we do.

Check out Text Talk at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/text-talk/id1498708071

Check out Tyler Sams and the work of the University Oaks church of Christ at https://www.youtube.com/@uococ

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re back with more of my conversation with Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams. Links to the great work they do are included in the show notes. In our second session, we discuss the problems that may come when growth is the actual goal, and when we accomplish our goal in even more remarkable fashion than we had hoped. If you’re just wishing the church where you are had that kind of problem, stick around to the end and see if you change your mind.

Check out Text Talk at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/text-talk/id1498708071

Check out Tyler Sams and the work of the University Oaks church of Christ at https://www.youtube.com/@uococ

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week I’m blessed to be joined by Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams. Edwin works with the Christians that meet on Livingston Avenue in Lutz, Florida, and cohosts Text Talk, one of my favorite podcasts. Tyler preaches for the University Oaks church in San Antonio, Texas. In the first segment, we discuss the smallest seed in a Jewish garden and what it can teach us about the kingdom of Jesus Christ that may or may not be growing in our hearts.

Check out Text Talk at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/text-talk/id1498708071

Check out Tyler Sams and the work of the University Oaks church of Christ at https://www.youtube.com/@uococ

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

My plan this month was to start my halftime report on the books I’m reading this year, but that’s going to have to wait. The plan now is for a show on my most thought-provoking books, another for surprising books, and then one for my best books. I’ll be sharing those with you in June, Lord willing, instead of the regular monthly report. But I just finished “Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea,” by Charles Seife, and I had too much to say to just leave it to an item on a list. So I’m sharing it here – and in doing so, I’m announcing a new scientific principle I am modestly naming Hal’s Law. First, let me encourage you to subscribe to the podcast if you have not done so, and share with someone else if you have.

Find "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea," by Charles Seife, at https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/zero-the-biography-of-a-dangerous-idea_charles-seife/255143/?resultid=037c9693-b705-4b4d-9034-27ad9606084e#edition=2345585&idiq=3074762 and other retail and resale sites.

My YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL3vweLti5pi42_dFFWD2_A

Music is copyright-free and royalty-free, courtesy of Pixabay. Intro music: "The Beat of Nature," Olexy. Outro music: "The Cradle of Your Soul," lemonmusicstudio

I hope you’ve enjoyed the numbers this month. I have a confession. I did the previous three episodes as an excuse to do this one. This week we’ll discuss the four winds of the earth and how they carry God’s judgment to the four corners of the earth; an example of four-part harmony that works because it doesn’t work; an album that I’ve been wrong about for 40 years; and a game that brings out a weird violent streak in my normally peaceable daughter.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

If 1 and 2 are the most important spiritual numbers in the Bible, and I think they are, then 3 may be the most interesting. Everywhere it pops up in the Bible, fascinating things are happening. This week we will discuss the “third day” – and the other third day, and the other third day; a friendship that transformed an entire genre of literature; a musical trio too talented for its own good; and the genie in a bottle that will ruin a good game of cards.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It’s all numbers this month. If “One” is the right place to start, “Two” seems like an obvious follow-up. Feel free to guess what the next two weeks may bring. Here we’ll discuss the “in or out” attitude of Jesus and what we should do if we disagree with Him; a classic novel about how “the best of times” can possibly also be “the worst of times”; the reasons why singers and preaching combos break up; and the way you can endure a global flood in your game room and live to tell your children about it.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

All month long you listen to me and me alone on this podcast. But early on I determined to let you listen in once a month as I sit at the feet of others. The results are some of my favorite episodes of all. That certainly includes my conversation with Keith Stonehart and Paul Hammons, which wraps up today. We wrap up by talking about the game of solitaire some of our brethren seem determined to play and why they should pay the price, however painful, to join up and play with the rest of us.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re back with Keith Stonehart and Paul Hammons, talking about the number one. Keith works with the Fultondale church of Christ in the Birmingham, Alabama, area. Paul works with the Graham church of Christ in north Texas. In this segment, we’re discussing the benefits, and especially the dangers, of obsessing over a single thing. Is it possible to focus too much on a single thing — even if that thing is Jesus Christ? Let’s find out.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re talking about numbers this month on the podcast, and we’re starting with the number 1, which seems appropriate. Keith Stonehart joins from the Birmingham, Alabama, area. He preaches for the Fultondale church of Christ. I’ve never met Keith in the flesh, but he’s good friends with my other guest whom I’ve known for all his life and almost all of mine. Paul Hammons preaches for the church of Christ in Graham, Texas, and is widely considered “the smart one of the family.”

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

As I mentioned regarding salt a couple of weeks ago, the Bible says honey is good. Proverbs 24:13-14 compares it to God’s wisdom. Count your calories if you want, but don’t argue with God.

This week we’ll discuss the best honey coming from the worst places; the most adorable honey-eater in literary history; the best honey in the world and what it has in common with Elvis Presley; and a way to grow your own honey empire that is the envy of all you play with.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I'm switching to a monthly report. Here you will find updates on what's going on behind the scenes with the podcast, particularly my reading schedule.
Today I want to talk about American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee.
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31825422035&searchurl=ds%3D20%26kn%3Damerican%2Bwolf%2Bnate%2Bblakeslee%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1

Find my sermon, "How narrow is too narrow?" here:
https://youtu.be/M001gTPJD2Q

Music is copyright-free and royalty-free, courtesy of Pixabay. Intro music: "The Beat of Nature," Olexy. Outro music: "The Cradle of Your Soul," lemonmusicstudio

I said last week fish is one of my favorite proteins. Eggs may be my very favorite. If your chicken will lay it, I will eat it. This week we’ll discuss the goodness of eggs, and of everything else God gives us; the discovery of dinosaur eggs and the hypocrisy it revealed; a new word I invented to connect the price of eggs and the gradual (or not so gradual) change in our attitude toward sin; and the part eggs played in building the most beautiful city to ever be depicted in a board game.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Food month continues with one of my favorite sources of protein. I don’t think it stinks – but you be the judge. This week we’ll discuss the best fish dinner ever, and why it wasn’t good enough; two different looks at fish eggs – one relating to evangelism, one relating to egotism, neither relating to that weird goo that foodies eat on toast points – and the frustration penguins and Christians encounter when the bad guys keep getting in our way when we’re just trying to waddle through life.

"Cod," by Mark Kurlansky

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31806386776&searchurl=kn%3Dmark%2Bkurlansky%2Bbooks%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title2

"Hey, That's My Fish!"
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8203/hey-thats-my-fish

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Today I want to tell you about romance novels — why I tend to avoid them, one that fell across my path this week, why I read all 500 pages of it, and the general problems I have with the genre.

Books I mention:
Cod, by Mark Kurlansky
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruis Zafon

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Today I want to tell you about romance novels — why I tend to avoid them, one that fell across my path this week, why I read all 500 pages of it, and the general problems I have with the genre. Let’s get started.

Salt is good. That’s not my opinion; that’s the word of the Lord Jesus. So far be it from me to have a month devoted to food without adding a sprinkle or two. This week we’ll discuss the worst salt there is and how it can be a blessing; the way salt built the Roman empire, from its roads to its army; the impact for ill the navy has had on our language; and the best way to use the salt you might find in your board game collection.

Salt: A World History, by Mark Kurlansky
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31643816388&searchurl=ds%3D20%26kn%3Dsalt%2Bmark%2Bkurlansky%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1

Concordia: Salsa
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181084/concordia-salsa

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the Citizen of Heaven podcast, my report for the week of March 30-April 5, 2024. I am Hal Hammons, citizen of heaven. I’m here with a behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on in my life and the life of this podcast. This week’s livestream on Facebook was thwarted by the gremlins in my internet service; apologies for that. Most of my time this week will be focused on “Helen of Troy” by Margaret George, my first big book of the year. Before I start the show, let me encourage you to subscribe to the podcast if you have not done so. If you have and it has been a blessing to you, please consider sharing it and giving it a good review.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the third and final part of my talk with Ryan Joy and Jeff O’Rear. Check the show notes for links to the work they do. What kind of bread should we be serving up to the world? Whole grain loaves? Cinnamon buns? Is there a point in giving them something they don’t want? Is a fat-filled half loaf better than no bread at all? We will search for answers in a game about the size of a credit card.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re back for more of the first episode of Season 6 — my conversation with Ryan Joy and Jeff O’Rear. Check the show notes for links to the
work they do. We’re talking bread. Or more broadly, we’re talking food. Real food. What does God provide for us? And what kind of substitutes do we convince ourselves will do just as well? Why do cupcakes taste better than broccoli? Let’s find out.

Find Jeff O'Rear at www. judsonroad.church

Find Ryan Joy at www.fortwaynechristians.org and https://www.youtube.com/@northchurchofchrist

Find the Bible Geeks Podcast at https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Ic3DwbVt3zANwA2w2tJTb?si=4899874e401d40a0

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

The first month of Season 6 is all food, all the time. And we’re starting with a discussion of Biblical bread with Ryan Joy and Jeff O’Rear. Ryan co-hosts the Bible Geeks podcast and preaches for the North church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jeff preaches for the Judson Road church in Longview, Texas, and was the one who brought the Bible Geeks to my attention. We’ll start with the daily bread we get from God, and whether we think we could do better.

Find the Bible Geeks podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/01lseSKZvqry1P3kxEZnXs?si=200a1d341d2e4b2c

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week I’m reporting on the books I’ve read, as shared with the Heaven Citizens group on Facebook — please seek us out if you have not already. I characterized this as the books I read this week. In hindsight, “the last couple of weeks” would have been more accurate. Hey, I’m new at this. I’m making this up as I go. Before I start the show, let me encourage you to subscribe to the podcast if you have not done so. If you have and it has been a blessing to you, please consider sharing it and giving it a good review.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

My sermon, "The Parable of the Car Trip", can be accessed at https://youtu.be/L0PfYLzp3tQ after 5 p.m. CDT.
Music is copyright-free and royalty-free, courtesy of Pixabay. Intro music: "The Beat of Nature," Olexy. Outro music: "The Cradle of Your Soul," lemonmusicstudio

This is the last episode of Season 5 – thanks to everyone for coming along for the ride. Getting ready for Season 6 has gotten me in the mood to talk about planning. This week we’ll discuss how our plans bring out God’s sense of humor; how God’s planning process and ours don’t always coincide; why we say “Lord willing” when we pray, and what we should mean when we do; and three different ways to plan a path to victory.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

If money, time, self-discipline, and my wife’s fear of drowning were non-factors, sailing would be the hobby for me. And so, I remain landlocked. Today we’ll discuss how to sail with Jesus instead of going with the prevailing winds; how a quest doomed to failure cost Henry Hudson his life; how the king of yacht rock still calms my spirit; and how knowing the ocean currents can help you sail into the winner’s circle.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

As God’s child, you have the obligation and the privilege of praising Him. Do it well, or do it poorly. As always, you get to choose. Today we’ll discuss actual “rock music” that is in the Bible (please forgive the play on words); a careful venture into the Hebrew language to learn what praise really is; the idea of worship as a competition – an idea from Hollywood, to no one’s surprise; and a game whose praises I sang prematurely, and how I managed to literally avoid paying the price.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is part 3 of my discussion with the ladies of the Book Fare podcast — links and book suggestions are included in the show notes. We close with a short but exciting game of Bring Your Own Book — a game I figured would click with them. Turns out, I was right. Everyone brought their own book to the game, just like we all bring our own preconceptions to our discussions with others. Can we be so enamored of our own ideas that we are blinded to new ones? Let’s find out.

Books we discussed:
Murder at the Polo Club, by C.J. Archer
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
The Tall Woman, by Wilma Dykeman
The Four Winds, by Kristen Hannah
The Communist Manifesto
White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo
Insurrection, by Peter Rollins
The End of Faith, by Sam Harris
Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-fare-book-club-fun-wholesome-recommendations-deep/id1604023656

https://www.facebook.com/groups/345153513747272

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We continue our discussion with Tricia Culp, Amanda Payne and Elizabeth Nowlin, co-hosts of the Book Fare podcast. That’s F-A-R-E, by the way. Find them wherever you get your podcasts. If you want fun, casual, and, yes, inspiring discussion about books, these are your girls. In this segment we discuss inspiration on a more general level — what lifts us up to a better, more noble lifestyle. Get some pen and paper; recommendations are coming.

Books we discuss include:
An Uphill Climb, by Dave Sargent
The Hardest Peace, by Kara Tippets
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Complete Surrender, by Julian Wilson
The Case for Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-fare-book-club-fun-wholesome-recommendations-deep/id1604023656

https://www.facebook.com/groups/345153513747272

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

What inspires you? And what exactly is “inspiration” anyway? To help me find the answer, I brought on some ladies who have been inspiring me of late — the hosts of the Book Fare Podcast — Tricia Culp, Amanda Payne, and Elizabeth Nowlin. A link is in the show notes. In the first part of our conversation we discuss the Bible as the epitome of inspiration, and how well or how poorly our human efforts have been in replicating that.

Books we discussed:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen
The Man Who Was Thursday, G.K. Chesterton

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-fare-book-club-fun-wholesome-recommendations-deep/id1604023656

https://www.facebook.com/groups/345153513747272

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

The piano, perhaps more than any other instrument, changed the way music is played. As with a lot of things I tried as a child, I’d be a better person now if I had worked harder at it. Today we’ll discuss where the piano got its name and what it has in common with God; the challenge for an American trying to buy a piano in Paris; the pressure that comes from playing the toughest music in the world, and how to overcome it; and a game that won’t fit in my house but that I would gladly play – especially with Tom Hanks.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of those great ones, like Ludwig von Beethoven, where the last name is all you need to identify him. Like Einstein, or Shakespeare, or Washington. This week we’ll discuss childhood genius and the good and bad things that come with it; Mozart’s less than ideal marriage and its lessons for us; the precise number of notes that a piece of music should include (if there is one – spoiler alert, there isn’t); and a way you can build on the work of Mozart today on your game table.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Ludwig von Beethoven is one of two names that come up more than any other when the topic of “history’s greatest composer” is discussed. Herr Mozart gets his day next week, Lord willing. This week we’ll discuss Beethoven’s battle with deafness and how losing it helped him win the war; the heroic nature of his work and how it can help you be a hero today; one of the worst pieces of music Beethoven ever wrote and why I love it so much; and a game I shoehorned into this space because I needed another segment.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the final installment from my conversation with Brian Rainwater and Michael Eldridge on the topic of songs. And this is likely what you came to hear — two experts on congregational song music weighing in on what makes a good hymn, which ones have impacted them in a particular way over the years, and what makes the special hymns so special. Brian teaches music at Florida College; Michael performs music at acapeldridge.com. Check the show notes for appropriate links.

Michael Eldridge's music can be found at www.acapeldridge.com.

For the "Mary, Did You Know" song referenced here, go to https://youtu.be/uaRpeMT1tjQ?si=g2RBQn7OpO4eZLRp

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Here’s more of my discussion with Michael Eldridge and Brian Rainwater. Here we talk more particularly about the songs we sing as the people of God, old hymnals vs. newer collections, old-style hymns vs. modern radio fare, how we learn songs and whether it’s worth the effort, and much much more. Apologies ahead of time to Hillsong and their song “Oceans,” which some might think we are picking on. Brian teaches music at Florida College; Michael performs music at acapeldridge.com.

Check out Michael's music at https://acapeldridge.com/.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

As Music Month kicks off, I thought it would be best to consult a couple of musicians. Michael Eldridge is a hymn writer and vocalist, perhaps best known for “When I Go Home”; check out his work at acapeldridge.com. Brian Rainwater is Director of Bands at Florida College, and quite the hymn writer as well. In the first part of our discussion we address the power that comes from pairing beautiful music and inspiring words, especially in pursuit of the cause of Christ.

www.acapeldridge.com

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

They say seeing is believing. But what does it really mean to “see” something? Is it possible to visualize something conceptual? Something futuristic? Something heavenly? This week I say yes. We’ll discuss the times when God’s vision of the future is wrong, or at least seems to be; an unbeliever’s view of prophecy and the blinders he puts on himself; a musical insight into realms beyond what mere eyes perceive; and my constant inability to see around the corners of my gaming table.

See a playlist for Praise and Harmony at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCnoACuhJhY&list=PLC_wOWAWGsUTgHMJCUUCKxiAjktsuf0G_.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Whether you’re talking about the Bible, the bookstore, the music you hear, or the games you play – it can get pretty strange. But sometimes the strange parts are the most interesting parts. Today we’ll discuss perhaps the most disgusting chapter in Israelite history (and that’s saying something); the oddest bookstore in the world and its piece-of-work proprietor; the world’s most maligned musical instrument; and the piles of fecal matter being left on my game table of late (and no, that’s not a euphemism).

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I started writing this episode planning to describe weakness as being not nearly as awful as you might think. I wound up deciding weakness isn’t a bad thing at all. Not if we see it as God sees it. This week we’ll discuss what makes wives weaker than their husbands (that’s enough to know it’s not a bad thing right there); the weakling God used to build a nation; the weakness deliberately designed by engineers that saves lives every day; and the most easily damaged game I own – and why I’ve kept it for 40 years.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

My dad’s funeral is this week. So comfort is on my mind. I’ve gotten a lot over the last few weeks, so I’m here to share some with you. This week we’ll discuss Paul’s counterintuitive and yet foolproof recipe for contentment; my own favorite “warm and fuzzy” book, which in places is anything but warm and fuzzy; perhaps the music industry’s best example of a feel-good song; and the place I go for comfort and the effort I’m willing to expend to get there.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Maybe we should have done this episode before the holidays. Then again, maybe you have just as much stress now but with more bills to pay. If so, I’m here to help. This week we discuss embracing the simple truth about stress; celebrating a tiny book on a huge subject; considering whether medicine is the problem or the solution (spoiler alert: it’s both); and playing a game that need not create as much stress as perhaps it has.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re finally at the end of the road — the best books I’ve read in 2023. Here I discuss 10 books I read in the back half of the year and mix in the best from the first half. From self-help to Jesus allegories to nuclear apocalypse, you’ll find a little bit of everything here. Enjoy.

Books that made the list (*=appeared on one of the Halfway Point lists):

Salt: A Global History
The Blood of Heroes
East of Eden, by John Steinbeck
The Pearl, by John Steinbeck
QBQ: The Question Behind the Question
The Character of Jesus, by S.E. Jefferson
The Samson Solution
Alas, Babylon
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
Dracula, by Bram Stoker

Special mention: The School of Christ, by Jacob Hudgins; In God We Trust, by Adam Shanks.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Books that make you go “Hmmmm” are my favorite kind of books. Whether I’m challenging my current mode of thinking or simply investigating the other side of the argument, more information is almost always better than less. And if what I read can help me understand who I am and who I am trying to become, even help me get there a bit more efficiently, that’s a good use of my time and money. I shared this list with Heaven Citizens, my Facebook group, earlier this week. Some of it got through; some of it, for technical reasons, did not. Apologies for that. Here is the complete list. Enjoy.

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis
Disconnected, by Thomas Kersting
Those Who Walk Away, by Patricia Highsmith
In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
As Nature Made Him, by John Colapinto
San Francisco is Burning, by Dennis Smith
King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochschild
The Madness of Crowds, by Douglas Murray
God's Bestseller, by Brian Moynahan

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It’s that time once again. Christmas, New Year’s Eve, the college football playoffs. Fun, food and fellowship in abundance. Truly, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” This week we’ll discuss the parties that get a bit too festive; political parties and whether they are really necessary; the party spirit that dominates far too many churches today; and a game we break out at parties that will leave you wondering where in the world you are.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

These are the biggest surprises, mostly good ones, that I got in the second half of 2023. Since I’m going back and editing the livestream I shared with my Facebook group, Heaven Citizens, I get to make an important correction. One of the books on the list was not in front of me; in fact, I never actually bought it in the first place. And since I didn’t see it, I skipped over it. So if you actually counted down with me, you may have noticed there were only nine slots mentioned instead of ten. The book I omitted was “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. Actually I read it while standing there in the clearance section. As I go on to mention with a couple of other books that appear on the list, I wish I’d just ponied up the $2 or whatever and bought it. Check out the Whining episode from a few months ago for my thoughts. A terrific allegory on a very important subject — staying motivated when the breaks don’t go our way. Anyway, with that out of the way, here’s the list. Enjoy.

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
The Messiah Book, by Peter Jacobi
Passover, by David Mamet; and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot
Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury
The Joe Shuster Story, by Julian Voloj and Thomas Campi
The Quick and the Dead, by Louis L'Amour
The Secret Sharer, by Joseph Conrad
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, by Thad Carhart
Putting an X Through Anxiety, by Louis Giglio
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Signs are everywhere, from giant words in the sky to the fuzzy green stuff in your refrigerator. God gives you signs, too. Ignore them at your peril.

This week we’ll cover the greatest sign Jesus ever performed and why people completely missed it; three authors’ ideas about how dense people can be in the presence of absolute proof; the road signs that bring out either the humility or the selfishness in all of us; and the longest 1,000-mile road trip in the history of gaming.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Back in May, when I listed my best, most disappointing, most surprising and thinkiest books I had read to that point, I had no idea what I was in for. Since that time I have averaged a bit more than one book a day. That translates to, well, a lot of books. And they weren’t all winners. I was able to derive some benefit from everything I read. However, some of my choices did not deliver nearly as much as I had hoped. These are those books. Enjoy.

The Map that Changed the World, Simon Winchester.
Live to Tell, Brad J. Kellenberg
Walt Disney: An American Original, Bob Thomas
Dragon Hunter, Charles Gallenkamp
Treasure in a Cornfield, Greg Hawley
The Denver Mint, Lisa Ray Turner and Kimberly Field
Come Fly the World, Julia Cooke
Out on the Cutting Edge, Lawrence Block
Simfonia Eroica, James Hamilton-Paterson
Mr. Beethoven, Paul Griffiths
War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
The Autobiography of Davy Crockett
Kings of the Grail, Margarita Torres Sevilla and Jose Mieuel Ortega del Rio
Moby Dick, Herman Melville

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Is bigger always better? That depends on what we’re measuring, and how we are defining “big.” (Wait a minute. Am I talking about context again?) This week we’ll cover the real giant who fought in the valley of Elah; the biggest book I have ever read and whether it was worth the exercise carrying it to Florida; the “Dollar General theory” of churches and whether it has any merit; and the most expensive and frustrating air I’ve ever bought, and why I don’t regret it at all.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

What does the next level of development look like in the cause of Christ? How do we know we are getting there and staying there? This is the topic in the last part of my conversation with Adam Shanks and Reagan McClenny. If I do say so myself, I thought their comments were pretty great. Find out more about my guests respectively at edenhollow.com and TimberlandChurch.org. Links are in the show notes.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re back with more greatness from Adam Shanks and Reagan McClenny. In this segment of our conversation we discuss the book they both urged me to read, how they were right (of course), and how we can create some “atomic habits” in our walk with Jesus that will keep us on course and drive us toward greater success. Find out more about my guests respectively at edenhollow.com and TimberlandChurch.org. Links are in the show notes.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Are Adam Shanks and Reagan McClenny the greatest preachers I know? Let’s just say they are part of a big logjam at the top. So I brought them back this week to talk about what true greatness is, especially in God’s eyes. In part one of our conversation we discuss the one Jesus singled out for greatness and how he can be a model for us today. Find out more about my guests respectively at edenhollow.com and TimberlandChurch.org.

Find out more about Adam Shanks and his work at edenhollow.com.

Find out more about Reagan McClenny and his work at TimberlandChurch.org.

It’s Reading Month here on the podcast, and I’m taking you down to the mailbox this week to see what lessons we might find there. We’ll discuss the “snail mail” that served the apostles so well in the First Century and that serves us still today – if we read it correctly; a murder scheme that has absolutely nothing to do with the postman or how many times he rings the bell; the blessings and burdens of the envelopes I usually never open at all; and the price I am willing to pay to preach the gospel of board games.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We continue Reading Month with one of my least favorite genres. I’ll traverse the galaxy to find a good topic for the podcast if I have to. And this week I have to. We’ll cover what one Bible character did upon seeing a legitimate UFO; C.S. Lewis’s attempt to get us to find Jesus on a different planet; the “proof” of alien life and why no one seems to care very much; and my own “close encounter of the board-gaming kind.”

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

In part 3 of the “Books” episode, which aired earlier this month, I asked my guests, Edwin Crozier and Elizabeth Nowlin, to give me their list of books other than the Bible they would want to take with them if they were going to stay indefinitely on a desert island. If you haven’t checked it out, please do, along with the other two parts of the episode. Now it’s my turn. I shared my list live with the Heaven Citizens Facebook group, and now I’m sharing it with you. Enjoy.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

“Reading Month” turns to Satire this week, defined as the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity. And the Bible is full of it. This week we will discuss the fun God’s prophets had at the expense of idolators; a different take (to say the least) on the Pride and Prejudice story; the madcap adventures of my favorite musical satirist; and how you turn dystopian lemons into your faction’s favorite flavor of lemonade.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Instead of shoehorning a game into this segment, I’ve decided to make my own. It’s called “Gilligan’s Island,” and here’s how it works. You’re going to spend an indefinite period of time isolated from everything and everyone. You can take five books with you, other than the Bible. And for reasons I can’t get into now, the books can’t be about building boats, satellite dishes, or luxury getaway resorts. Which ones do you choose?

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
Prayer by O. Hallesby
The Character of Jesus by C.E. Jefferson
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Peacemaker by Ken Sand
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Swiss Family Robinson by Robert Louis Stevenson
Beginning Biblical Hebrew by Mark Futato
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Poetry of Robert Frost, Complete and Unabridged
Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
The Gulag Archipelago by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Check out the Book Fare podcast at
https://open.spotify.com/show/2QeGl8rwtkILHX3MoOgIqO?si=face63efe1e54d17

Check out the Text Talk podcast at
https://open.spotify.com/show/7p3ELZdBSpvydmDeDDvRHB?si=5ea65dd79caa4915
Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is part 2 of my conversation with Edwin Crozier and Elizabeth Nowlin. Edwin is the co-host of the Text Talk podcast and preaches for the Livingston Road church in Lutz, Florida. Elizabeth is a member at Livingston with Edwin, and she co-hosts the Book Fare podcast. Links are in the show notes. Here we discuss the character we build and/or reveal through the books we read.

Books mentioned on this segment of the podcast include:
Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
Little Britches, by Ralph Moody
The Book of the Dun Cow, by Walter Wangerin Jr.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Leadership and Self-Deception, by the Arbinger Institute
Profiles in Courage, by John F. Kennedy
What do they Hear?, by Mark Powell
Everything Sad is Untrue, by Daniel Nayeri
The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan
The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith

Check out the Book Fare podcast at
https://open.spotify.com/show/2QeGl8rwtkILHX3MoOgIqO?si=face63efe1e54d17

Check out the Text Talk podcast at
https://open.spotify.com/show/7p3ELZdBSpvydmDeDDvRHB?si=5ea65dd79caa4915
Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the first part of my conversation with Edwin Crozier and Elizabeth Nowlin, as we kick off Reading Month. Edwin is the co-host of the Text Talk podcast; Elizabeth co-hosts the Book Fare podcast. They worship together at the Livingston Road church in the Tampa, Florida, area. Here we discuss the value of reading, beginning with the apostle Paul and continuing right to your bedside table.

Books cited in the first segment include:
Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe
1984, by George Orwell
What do they Hear? By Mark Allan Powell

Check out the Book Fare podcast at
https://open.spotify.com/show/2QeGl8rwtkILHX3MoOgIqO?si=face63efe1e54d17

Check out the Text Talk podcast at
https://open.spotify.com/show/7p3ELZdBSpvydmDeDDvRHB?si=5ea65dd79caa4915

Are robots taking over? Probably. Are you in imminent danger? Probably not. How bad will it get? That remains to be seen. This week we will discuss how much of your life you should turn over to a machine; how just following directions poses problems for both robots and humans; whether you should trust a TV spokesperson to sell you robot insurance; and how to put tech to work fixing up your underwater habitat and/or your real life.
Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Recently I shared with the Heaven Citizens Facebook group my list of ten games I recommend if you are thinking about starting a game collection. Whether you’ve never played a game in your life, or if you think entertainment begins and ends with checkers, I think you’ll find some information that might make your days in Satan’s world a bit more manageable.

The list includes:
(extra) The Mind
10. Love Letter
9. No Thanks
8. Werewords
7. Sushi Go!
6. Just One
5. Kingdomino
4. Machi Koro 2
3. Azul
2. New York Slice
1. Ticket to Ride

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I. Hate. Zombies. Don’t bring up the Walking Dead with me. Don’t tell me how the zombies in your show or movie are different. I don’t care. This week we will discuss the “walking dead” among the Lord’s apostles; the global impact (or lack thereof) in one particular zombie apocalypse; the zombies you face every Monday at the water cooler; and how to choose between dying and living to fight another day against the hordes of evil.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

The story of the werewolf is a metaphor for the battle of good and evil within all of us. Are you human, or are you an animal? You get to choose.

This week we will discuss the closest thing to a werewolf the Bible has to offer; the original werewolf and his modern kinfolk; my own checkered history with Halloween and trick-or-treating; and a dark, stormy night full of werewolves that brought a smile to the face of all the Hammonses.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Vampires are evil beings that find their sustenance by sucking the life force out of their unsuspecting victims. They are not fictitious. They are all too real.

This week we will discuss the bloodsucking parasites that afflict us daily; the three sorts of victims vampires seek out and how you can avoid being two of them; vampiric preachers and the havoc they wreak on local churches; and a game I’ve never played that promotes an ethic I always promote.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the third and final installment of my conversation with Jared Bollman and Brian Haynes. Jared preaches for the Fifth Street church of Christ in Beaverton, Oregon, and hosts the Man Up podcast and the Biblically Speaking YouTube channel. Brian preaches for the Cornelius church of Christ in Hillsboro, Oregon. Together they host the Biblically Speaking podcast. Check ’em out. Today we focus on cartoony versions of evil things and how dangerous they are or are not.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Today we have more from my conversation with Jared Bollman and Brian Haynes from the Biblically Speaking podcast. Both men preach in western Oregon, the land of my birth — Jared in Beaverton, Brian in Hillsboro — so there’s an extra connection there. Here we discuss Frankenstein and the implications it has for people today who would try to build a bigger, better human according to their own plan instead of trusting in God’s plan.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We begin Monster Month on the podcast with a conversation about the fears that Satan’s world brings out in us, the sort of treatment we can expect from Satan and from God along the way, and how we can find faith to survive and thrive. My guests are the cohosts of the Biblically Speaking podcast, Jared Bollman and Brian Haynes. Make sure to check them out, as well as the Biblically Speaking YouTube channel.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Today I’m sharing with you my list of my favorite bad guys from the Bible. I shared the list with my Facebook group, Heaven Citizens, and now I’m sharing it with you. Feel free to agree or disagree as you like. Enjoy.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Autumn always makes me think of trees, with the changing of the colors. Of course, trees have been changing color in Texas for a couple of months, and autumn has nothing to do with it.

This week we will discuss the surprising rise to the top of the king of the trees; Joanna Gaines’s horrible judgment in trees and why I forgive her; a tree with no trunk that is as beautiful as it is deadly; and the prettiest and meanest card game we own.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

They say the pen is mightier than the sword. Me, I’ve never seen a pen that can cut a sword in half. Swords are powerful things; the more we know about them the better.

This week we will discuss the road from weapons of war to weapons of peace, and back again; a sword of myth and legend that may be too powerful to use; the cool stripy marks on really fancy swords and what it means for the church; and a cardboard sword I sacrificed for the good of the children.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week’s episode is for all the football fans out there. If you are a friend and you think I’m talking about you, you’re probably right.

Today we will discuss the kind of children who don’t whine, and why you should be one; a pair of mice and what they can teach us about the maze of life; the extreme unlikelihood of college football referees actually being bought and paid for; and how pitching a hissy fit can help you conquer the world.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It’s nice, if a bit intimidating, to be in the room with people smarter and better read than you. That’s how I felt in this week’s conversation with Phillip Martin and Brent Moody.

We wrap up by discussing how to build a library. You may be surprised at some of the suggestions they make. Fewer books. Getting rid of Bible dictionaries and concordances. Nice words about the NIV. You’re going to want pen and paper nearby for this one. Links for some of the resources cited follow:

Effective Bible Teaching, by Leland Ryken and James C. Wilhoit
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31540401363&searchurl=kn%3Deffective%2Bbible%2Bteaching%2Bryken%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1

How to Read a Book, by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
https://www.hpb.com/how-to-read-a-book/M-7806473-C.html

The Old Testament: A Historical, Theological, and Critical Introduction, by Richard S. Hess.
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31413232701&searchurl=kn%3Dhess%2Bold%2Btestament%2Bintroduction%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title26

An Introduction to the New Testament, by David Desilva
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=david%20desilva%20introduction%20new%20testament&sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-topnav-_-Results

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Two good friends of mine help me cap off our five-week trip around the globe this week. Phillip Martin serves as preacher and shepherd for the Eastside church of Christ in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Check out his work at gospeldefender.com and tacticalpreacher.com. Brent Moody preaches for the Decker Prairie church of Christ in the suburban Houston area.

In the second part of our conversation, we discuss Paul’s short preaching visit to Athens, and the role education plays in our walk with Christ (for better and for worse).

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Two good friends of mine help me cap off our five-week trip around the globe this week. Phillip Martin serves as preacher and shepherd for the Eastside church of Christ in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Check out his work at gospeldefender.com and tacticalpreacher.com. Brent Moody preaches for the Decker Prairie church of Christ in the suburban Houston area.

In the first part of our conversation, we discuss Paul’s short preaching visit to Athens, and the role education plays in our walk with Christ (for better and for worse).

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

San Francisco is perhaps the most unique city in the United States, for better or for worse. Probably both.

This week we will discuss the short and winding road, and how San Franciscans have turned it into a blessing instead of a problem; the disaster of 1906 and how humans’ best efforts made it far, far worse; Norton I, emperor of the United States, and his relationship with his subjects; and the bigger business you can build by sinking your existing business into San Francisco Bay.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

In our trip around the world this month, we land in Paris – home of great bread and snooty waiters. But we’ll leave the topic of restaurants for another day.

Today we will discuss how Napoleon’s triumph measures up with that of Jesus Christ; whether residence and citizenship are synonymous concepts; why intense planning couldn’t safe a thousand-year-old cathedral and won’t save the Lord’s church; and why the lights of Paris have been shining on me in the game room lately.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is from a livestream I did for the Heaven Citizens Facebook group this week. If you don’t know about Heaven Citizens, seek us out and join in the fun. I took some time to point out some good things Hollywood has done for us over the years, and to celebrate some noble, virtue-affirming ways we can entertain ourselves. Enjoy.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

In our trip around the world this month, we land in the home of Wrigley Field, deep-dish pizza, and “Da Bears.” Not my style, but Chicagoans clearly disagree. And that’s fine.

This week we’ll discuss the city’s insulting nickname it’s worked so hard to earn; its greatest moment and vilest villain and how they relate; its most successful musicians and their most perplexing song; and its most famous citizen and why you won’t find him at my gaming table.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

From Nimrod to Sadaam Hussein, Babylon has implications far beyond its walls. It is one of the most important cities in human history, and in the Bible as well.

This week we will consider the great harlot of Revelation (PG-13 rated, I promise); Babylon, American-style, and how it-slash-we might fall; Babylon’s contribution to the wonders of the world (or maybe not); and how blame and credit flow in different speeds and directions, both in board games and in life.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week Kris Emerson and Phil Robertson are addressing the topic of youth. Both have extensive experience with young people; in fact, as this episode premieres, Kris and the church in Lindale have just concluded a weekend especially targeting the needs of young Christians. In this conversation we discuss a book all three of us have read — a book written by young people for young people (and their parents), encouraging us all to set the bar high — the higher the better.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

"Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris is a favorite of all thee of us. In this segment we discuss the value of young people setting high standards for themselves.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” I lost track of how many times Solomon’s words from Ecclesiastes 12:1 were drilled into my head as a child by people whose youth had been long since lost. Most of my friends — the ones who were listening, anyway — seemed to think the message was, “Make sure you don’t have too much fun.” I’m quite sure that isn’t what Solomon meant; it’s not what I mean when I said similar things to my daughters. But what do we mean? What does it mean to remember your Creator, and how can young people do it?

Check out Kris at www.excelstillmore.life

Check out Phil at knowmyjesus.com

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Fantasies are by definition unspeakably wonderful and virtually unattainable. Living in a fantasy world can bring a smile to your face right now, but it’s likely to end in something more like a nightmare.

This week we will discuss the folly of seeking perfection in imperfect people; the “field of dreams” and what we will do to play there; one rocker’s willingness to settle for a fantasy over the real thing; and the games we play with our children, and why we should let them be a little scary.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Go to https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/ to find out more about Kenny Embry and his podcast, Balancing the Christian Life.

Go to https://whova.com/web/-ktUVwMqnD9fszQViQSvXUVkH2DuxaJ9wkFaaL7ygps%3D/?fbclid=IwAR1JJn-qJ5zNgwW-SU-tOBil4mOThOLBeexJIT7gBALy5ox4GQ6N3RUEcyI to register for the conference. Free options are available!

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It’s a mistake to think of the word “no” as merely a rejection of an offer, request or suggestion. Sometimes saying “no” to one thing is a gateway to saying “yes” to something better.

Today we will hear Jesus say no to stagnation and yes to growth; we will hear two political pundits say no to isolation and yes to discussion; we will hear Aussies say something that’s impossible to understand, as always; and we will hear gamers say no to points and yes to winning.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I am sharing here the Top Ten list I did for my Facebook group, Heaven Citizens, of the characters in the Bible that I think (1) feature prominently in the story and (2) do not get much credit for it. Agree or disagree as you like -- but I hope you will agree at least that these characters deserve our respect.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Meekness has come to mean weakness or passivity in our modern vernacular. But that’s not what it means in the Bible. And it’s not what it will mean here for the next 20 minutes.

This week we will discuss the difference between the strongest man in human history and a muscle-bound oaf from the book of Judges; the frustratingly nice words from a Hall of Famer; the boastfulness of people who have done very little to boast of; and the friendliest competition in Hammons family history

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the final part of my conversation with Reagan McClenny and Adam Shanks. Reagan preaches for the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, TX; Adam preaches for the Edwards Lake church of Christ in Birmingham, AL, and his podcast, Preach Impediments, will soon return from hiatus. Today we look at the struggles we often face in seeing our walk with Christ as a lifelong process rather than individual steps, especially when those steps don’t go so great.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Adam Shanks, host of the Preach Impediments podcast, is also the author of In God We Trust, an excellent book on money management. You can find it at Adam’s website, Edenhollow.com. In this segment, Adam and Reagan McClenny, who preaches for the church of Christ in Lufkin, TX, discuss with me the importance of properly managing our money, and what our failure to do so says about our faith.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week I am joined by Reagan McClenny and Adam Shanks, both of whom are participating in this month’s Balancing the Christian Life Conference. Find out more at balancingthechristianlife.com. Check out Reagan’s work through the podcast of the Timberland Drive church of Christ. Adam’s work can be found at his website, edenhollow.com.

In our first segment, we discuss the demons we try to cast out of our hearts (i.e., bad habits) and the struggles we face in replacing them with something better.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

“But Hal,” you may be saying, “photography wasn’t invented until the 19th Century. What does it have to do with the gospel?” Well, that’s what you’re here to find out, right?

This week we will discuss whether God is a photographer or a sketch artist; who the most famous anonymous couple in America actually was, and whether we should care; what exposure to Jesus can do if we take the lens cap off; and the perfect way to take the perfect picture of not-so-perfect people.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Nothing shows the power of God like a flood. Water, the most common and necessary object in the world, becomes an irresistible force, destroying everything in its path.

This week we will discuss the impact Noah’s flood had on the songs Israel sang for centuries afterward; the most famous weather event in Texas history and the lesson in humility it taught; the hazards of associating blue skies with an absence of danger; and whether you should pitch in to save the town or just let everyone drown and cry all the way to the bank.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

As of this posting I have finished 63 books this year. There’s no way I will be able to address all or even most of them on the podcast. Since I am largely reading these books for the benefit of you, my listener, I don’t want my experience to go entirely to waste. Hence these Top Ten lists. These are the books that have had the biggest impact for good on me so far this year. I shared them live with my Facebook group, Heaven Citizens, and now I’m sharing them with you . Enjoy.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Do unicorns exist? Have they ever? It depends a bit on which sort of unicorn you’re talking about. And there are several. This week we will talk about the unicorns we find in the Bible, and what they can teach us about the gospel; the dream of a unicorn farm I am sadly having to surrender; the unicorns our young singles are looking for, and a bit about why they’re not finding them; and how you can take the occasional unicorn you come across and make him even more magical.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We brought someone new into the Hammons family recently; my daughter Taylor married a fine Christian man, and we are thrilled to put an extra chair at the game table for him. But his experience with gaming is very different from ours. We want him to be part of our lives, but we want him to feel comfortable in making the transition. Dice Town was a good choice for Jake. It’s not quite the same as playing poker with dice, but close enough for him to understand it quickly. He was beating me in no time at all — not that that’s any great accomplishment. What are some methods you used to incorporate adopted children into your families? And how can we make those principles work for fresh-out-of-the-water brothers and sisters in Christ?

Go to https://open.spotify.com/show/2g3wiZDVim7iW4fG9Fqza2 to find out more about the Love Better podcast.

Go to https://www.biblegrad.com/?fbclid=IwAR19laEvxTTt9ZY3JPKDzxxkM5PYs1Nb-4P-6ksYrtg51eFGHPvZYyiR8ik to study the Bible with Scott Beyer.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re back for the second part of my conversation with adventurers in the field of adoption. Wilson and Julie Adams have adopted three teenagers from overseas. Scott Beyer and his wife Jenna have adopted a total of seven children, many with serious health issues. In this section we discuss the role we play in accomplishing the will of God in our lives — and the roles our friends and brethren play, both for good and for ill.

Go to https://open.spotify.com/show/2g3wiZDVim7iW4fG9Fqza2 to find out more about the Love Better podcast.

Go to https://www.biblegrad.com/?fbclid=IwAR19laEvxTTt9ZY3JPKDzxxkM5PYs1Nb-4P-6ksYrtg51eFGHPvZYyiR8ik to study the Bible with Scott Beyer.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

When it comes to adoption, my guests are experts. Wilson and Julie Adams serve with the Veterans Parkway church of Christ in Murfreesboro, TN. They are licensed counselors and adoptive parents of three. Scott Beyer preaches for the Eastland church of Christ in Louisville, KY. He is also the host of the Love Better podcast and has adopted seven of his eight children. We begin with a discussion of the process of bringing outsiders in, whether it’s to our own personal family or the family of God.

Go to https://open.spotify.com/show/2g3wiZDVim7iW4fG9Fqza2 to find out more about the Love Better podcast.

Go to https://www.biblegrad.com/?fbclid=IwAR19laEvxTTt9ZY3JPKDzxxkM5PYs1Nb-4P-6ksYrtg51eFGHPvZYyiR8ik to study the Bible with Scott Beyer.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It’s almost unfair for me to describe the books in this week’s list as “disappointing.” In most situations, the fault is entirely mine — I had unreasonable or inaccurate preconceptions before starting the books, and then they naturally let me down when I realized what they truly were. In any event, I did not enjoy these experiences as much as the others I have had this year. As always, your mileage may vary.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I am Hal Hammons, citizen of heaven, your embedded correspondent in Satan’s world. Thanks for listening, rating and subscribing.

I am an optimist by nature. When I talk about the future, sometimes I forget that. This episode helped remind me, for which I am grateful.

This week we will cover the glorious future of the persecuted church, and when and how it might arrive; the future of church growth and why we are running from it; a guarantee of a brighter future from a voice that Elvis Presley envied; and an opportunity to boldly go where no one has gone before, and to glorify God in the process.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Last week I introduced my Facebook group, Heaven Citizens, to the ten books I’ve read so far this year that made me think. This week I did the same, looking at the books that took me by surprise. I appreciate the interest being shown; if this encourages you to read more, my work here is done — so long, of course, as your regular Bible reading doesn’t suffer.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I have good news, and I have bad news. Please come back next week for the good news, which I am very excited about. But the bad comes first.

This week we will cover the church so sick it thinks it’s healthy; one man’s effort to blame religion for everything; the trendsetters of our culture and how they are setting us all up for disaster; and my 48-hour experiment with the ultimate in isolationism.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is a special edition of COH.

I took the time to connect with my followers on Facebook and talk for a bit about the books I’ve been reading this year. It’s halfway through my biggest reading year ever, and there’s no way I will be able to even briefly discuss all of these books on the podcast. So I thought I would put together a few Top 10 lists of what I have gotten through so far in 2023. On the spur of the moment, I decided to share the list here on the podcast. These are the most thought-provoking books I have read this year.

The List:
(Special mention: In God We Trust, by J. Adam Shanks)
The Passion Generation, by Grant Skeldon
Futureville, by Skye Jethani
No Safe Spaces, by Dennis Prager and Mark Joseph
An Expensive Way to Make Bad People Worse, by Jens Soering
The End of Faith, by Sam Harris
Mildred Pierce, by James M. Cain
Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson
East of Eden, by John Steinbeck
World War Z, by Max BrooksHoly Roar, by Chris Tomlin and Darren Whitehead

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

The unknown can be terrifying – and nothing says “unknown” like the future. This week we will cover how the mighty can fall hard and in a remarkably short span of time; what genetic manipulation could do with regard to divine authority and human ego; whether a machine can write an essay better than I can; and the games people play in the parking lot while we’re in the church house.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the first of four episodes focusing on the future – good, bad, scary, and exciting. I’m excited about it, so I guess “The Exciting Future” is the place to start.

This week we will discuss the church that excited Jesus and why it might not excite you or me; the book that got me started on this line of thought in the first place; the power of the universe and our failed efforts to find a plug that fits; and the sense of stability I get from seeing old forms in new packages.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

BJ and Kylie Sipe from Danville, KY, are back to finish our conversation about bearing and rearing children, and especially the spiritual implications that come with it. Check out parts 1 and 2 if you have not done so already. We finish by talking about bringing another generation of humans into a sinful world, and another generation of potential Christians into the church, and how that should inspire us to do the job right.

Check out Kylie's podcast, Called & Worthy, at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125620

Check out BJ's podcast, Set Your Mind Above, at https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/

BJ and Kylie Sipe work and worship with the church of Christ in Danville, KY. They host the Set Your Mind Above and Called & Worthy podcasts, respectively; links are in the show notes. In part 2 of our conversation, we discuss how children can become a serious spiritual problem in our homes, and how we can commit ourselves to the task of parenting — including and particularly in the hard times.

Check out Kylie's podcast, Called & Worthy, at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125620

Check out BJ's podcast, Set Your Mind Above, at https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/

Travail is a synonym for work, especially painful, extended work. In the bible, it is often used specifically for childbirth. Perhaps “going into labor” is a more common figure of speech today. An extended period of suffering can seem unbearable, but it is forgotten in the bliss of the birth of a child. Describe some ways God works good things in us through extended hardship, and how we can find peace while waiting for the end of the journey.

Check out Kylie's podcast, Called & Worthy, at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125620

Check out BJ's podcast, Set Your Mind Above, at https://setyourmindabove.buzzsprout.com/

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Tolerance is in short supply these days – especially with the people who are always preaching tolerance. I hope I didn’t just condemn myself there.

This week we will discuss the problems tolerance brought to the church in Thyatira back in the day, and that might pop up in our churches today; the crazy beliefs we will accept in our heroes, and whether that’s a good thing; the secret to dealing with selfish people, both on the road and in the pew; and the game I was glad to play once with my daughter, who loves me too much to ask me to play again.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Sequels are a mixed bag. Sometimes they celebrate or even improve upon the original. Sometimes they make us wish someone had just left well enough alone.

This week we will discuss the purpose of sequels in the Bible and how we can make the most of them; the war we fought because we didn’t fight the previous one well enough; the upcoming Indiana Jones film and why I’m nervous about it; and the board game sequel that improved our gaming experience by robbing me of victories.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week we will discuss how standing in front of an oncoming train is an absolutely idiotic thing to do, but also could actually be necessary; we’ll talk about the most famous train in the world and one of the most famous murders; a song about a train that goes a lot further than you may have realized; and a game that brings out the best in some and the quit in others. All aboard, we’re leaving the station.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We finish the tribute by talking with Clay Gentry, who preaches for the Jackson Heights church of Christ in Columbia, TN. Until recently, Clay shared a pulpit there with Matt. Clay brings us up to date regarding Matt’s battle with ALS and the example of courage in the face of adversity that Matt and his wife Lauren continue to set . Make sure you stick around to the end for the greatest Matt Bassford story I have ever heard.

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second of three conversations I had recently with friends of Matt. In this part Steve Wolfgang, preacher for the Downers Grove church in the Chicago area, joins to talk about what Matt would likely consider his magnum opus. It’s a book entitled “Worshiping With the Psalms,” and it allows us to easily sing our way through all 150 of the Psalms. A link to the book is provided in the show notes.

https://www.amazon.com/Worshiping-Psalms-Matthew-W-Bassford/dp/1584275448 Click here or visit a brotherhood bookstore to pick up a copy of Worshiping With the Psalms.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We begin Season 5 with one of the most special episodes I’ve done to date. Matt Bassford is a preacher, a writer, and a dear friend. In my judgment, he has had as much or more of an impact for the cause of Christ as anyone I know. In part 1, I talk to Tim Jennings, preacher at the Castleberry church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas, about Matt’s contributions to the hymns we sing and how we sing them.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the last episode of season 4. Thank you so much for supporting this effort. I did a “favorites” show for episode 100; for this milestone, I thought I would go in the other direction. This week we will discuss the worst part of my preaching; the worst book-reading experience I’ve had recently; yet another rant against the so-called music of the current generation; and the biggest waste of time you can have with a deck of cards.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Magic is a term we use to describe things that make no sense, things that defy description. Whether it’s “real” or not depends on the sort of magic you’re talking about. And there are several.

This week we will discuss the magic we see in every starry sky, and the true power behind it; the two different kinds of magic in Narnia, and which is stronger; the magic being worked on us by the powers that be and who knows who else; and the magic show you can put on in your very own living room.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

“It’s his fault!” “She started it!” “They are a lot worse than us!” Am I describing the squabbling of children? Or am I describing a typical Tuesday afternoon at Walmart? I say, can’t both be true?

This week we will discuss Paul’s keys to arguing properly; how starting with love and respect makes the arguments go much better; the queen of arguing and how to avoid becoming her next opponent; and the best way to avoid arguing in the first place.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

If you haven’t checked out the first two segments of my talk with Scott Taylor and Ryan Joy, it would be well worth your while to do so. In this, the final part of our talk, we focus on the help that we try to provide for people who, for whatever reason, seem to be too much trouble. Exactly how much grease do we give the squeaky wheel? Providing service for a needy brother is one thing; but does his burden ever become an unreasonable obligation for me?

Ryan preaches for the North church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and cohosts the Bible Geeks podcast. Scott Taylor is preacher and shepherd for the West Mason church of Christ in the Cincinnati area. He also cohosts the You Are From God podcast.

https://www.facebook.com/youarefromgod

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2777943452238844

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It can be easy to convince ourselves that serving ourselves is tantamount to serving the body of which we are a part. In truth, it can be exactly the opposite. We pursue this idea in the second part of my conversation with Scott Taylor and Ryan Joy. Ryan preaches for the North church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and cohosts the Bible Geeks podcast. Scott Taylor is preacher and shepherd for the West Mason church of Christ in the Cincinnati area. He also cohosts the You Are From God podcast.

https://www.facebook.com/youarefromgod

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2777943452238844

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Ministry is service, pure and simple. And I have two “ministers” joining me this week to describe how it works. Ryan Joy, co-host of the Bible Geeks podcast, ministers to the church of Christ in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Scott Taylor is preacher and shepherd for the West Mason church of Christ in the Cincinnati area. He cohosts the You Are From God podcast.

In part 1 we discuss what ministry looks like in the local church.

https://www.facebook.com/youarefromgod

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2777943452238844

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Our life in Jesus is about changing from one thing into another – from sinner to saint, from rebellious to obedient. It’s not easy, and it doesn’t always work. But when it does, it’s a wonder to behold. This week we will discuss the blessings of God’s fiery ordeals; the ancients’ efforts to cheat death, and whether that would be a good thing; the diet that will save your soul, as opposed to the diet that will just delay the inevitable; and why we get bad results when we tweak God’s recipes.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Poverty is the rule, not the exception. We have become prosperous enough in modern-day America that “poor” people write Yelp reviews on their smart phones about how expensive their sushi was. Actual poor people do exist, though. They always have and always will.

This week we will discuss Jesus’ apparent indifference to poverty; a young man’s trip from hopelessness to Congress; the origin story of Hal Hammons, Famous Tightwad; and how my wife stopped the Federal Reserve from invading our board game table.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Walking is how we get from here to there. From a baby’s first steps to a bride’s walk down the aisle to the day our six best friends carry us away, walking symbolizes the way we progress through this life and on into the next.

This week we will discuss the two paths we have to choose from; how Nik Wallenda conquers fear in a life with no safety net; my own mediocre efforts at exercise and whether I should be concerned; and the Irish pedestrian who threatens to ruin one of our favorite board games.

We should be going to school every day. Life is full of lessons waiting to be learned. And that’s especially the case with spiritual instruction. Believe me, you don’t want to be a dropout.

This week we will discuss a couple of schools in the Bible and how God’s people handled the influences they found there; the one school where attendance is absolutely mandatory; the school you run in your own home, whether you realize it or not; and the schools that are provided by churches and sabotaged by teachers.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

All good things must end, and that includes my discussion with Kenny Embry, Adam Shanks and Jacob Hudgins on the topic of friendship. In this episode, we discuss “hate drafting” and the implications it has regarding brotherly love. What happens when my welfare seems to be at odds with the welfare of others? And what are the implications for the local church when self-serving Christians are the rule instead of the exception?

Check out Kenny's podcast at www.balancingtheChristianlife.com.

Check out Adam's podcast at https://preach-impediments.captivate.fm/.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is more of my conversation with Kenny Embry, Adam Shanks and Jacob Hudgins on the topic of friendship. In this episode, we wrap up a month of conversation centered around Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life. How healthy are our friendships? Should we be serving them at the expense of our own welfare? And when if ever is it appropriate to cut someone out of our lives completely — even a brother or sister in Christ?

In part 1 we discuss exactly what sort of friend we have in Jesus.

Check out Kenny's podcast at www.balancingtheChristianlife.com.

Check out Adam's podcast at https://preach-impediments.captivate.fm/.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

For a very special episode 200, I invited three friends of the podcast — Dr. Kenny Embry is the host of the :Balancing the Christian Life podcast; Adam Shanks preaches for the Edwards Lake church of Christ in Birmingham, and the host of the Preach Impediments podcast; Jacob Hudgins preaches for the Twin City church of Christ in my adopted hometown of College Station, Texas.

In part 1 we discuss exactly what sort of friend we have in Jesus.

Check out Kenny's podcast at www.balancingtheChristianlife.com.

Check out Adam's podcast at https://preach-impediments.captivate.fm/.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

A challenge is at the same time a barrier and a gateway. The burden is on us to make the most of our circumstances and find a way to use them for our own good and the good of the gospel.

This week we will discuss challenges that can destroy the brotherhood, that will save the next generation (if we get out of the way), that may or may not be extending and improving my life, and that have kept a great game off my table for more than two years.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I won’t lie to you; I’m not a fan of cats. They make me cry – literally cry, and not in a good way. But even the dog-lover in me has to admit, they are pretty cool.

This week we will discuss how lions and tigers and Russian blues all managed to be represented on Noah’s ark; how Jordan Peterson has almost convinced me to pet stray cats; how to tell the difference between a leopard and a leper, spiritually speaking; and how my pettiness interferes with my pursuit of board gaming happiness.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Lying is bad. Everyone knows that. And yet most of us do it. Is that just the way things are? Or can we hold ourselves to a higher standard? This week we will discuss how the Bible makes heroes out of liars and yet condemns all liars to hell; Jordan Peterson’s thoughts on the lies we tell others and ourselves; the liars we elect and re-elect, and how we can be part of the solution — or at least stop being part of the problem; and whether getting the win by lying makes the lying better or worse.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Josh Creel and Dr. Kenny Embry are back again. You can catch them on Upward Calling, their joint podcast that is produced in conjunction with their work with the University church of Christ in Tampa, Florida. Of course, you likely already know Kenny through his own podcast, Balancing the Christian Life. Links are in the show notes. We finish with a centuries-old parlor game and how playing it properly can enhance your marriage, your church experience, and your life in general.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1856634 Click here to find the Upward Calling podcast with Josh and Kenny.

https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/ Click here to check out Balancing the Christian Life, including the podcast episodes and information about the coming Balancing the Christian Life conference.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second of three parts of my conversation with Josh Creel and Dr. Kenny Embry. This segment introduces 12 Rules for Life by Dr. Jordan Peterson, a book we will be referencing throughout the month. No, we won’t be covering all 12 rules. But we will touch on several of them. We get the ball rolling this week by talking about the value of listening — especially when the person talking is, in our minds, downright wrong.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I’ve brought back Dr. Kenny Embry this week; he’s a professor of communication at St. Leo University. With him is Josh Creel, who preaches for the University church of Christ in Tampa, Florida, where Kenny attends. They cooperate on the Upward Calling podcast. A link is in the show notes, along with a link to Balancing the Christian Life, Kenny’s other podcast. The first part of our conversation is about finding a way to share the gospel with people who have no idea what we’re talking about or why they should care.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1856634 Click here to find the Upward Calling podcast with Josh and Kenny.

https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/ Click here to check out Balancing the Christian Life, including the podcast episodes and information about the coming Balancing the Christian Life conference.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

With the end of season 4 approaching, and with the dramatic increase in listenership over the last year (thanks so much for that), I thought it was high time I spent an episode talking about what I’m doing with the podcast, what changes have been implemented, and what you might see in the future. I am in a constant state of reevaluation – what works, what doesn’t work, what tweaks I might make, and ultimately whether I can sustain this for another season. Hopefully this will answer some questions you might have, stir up some conversation about what should stay and what should go, and get us all geared up for Season 5, scheduled to kick off (Lord willing) in April.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

William Shakespeare is generally conceded to be the greatest and most popular writer in the history of the English language. His influence covers the gamut of the human experience — including, as of this week, this podcast.

Today we will discuss the impact Shakespeare has had on our culture (second only to the Bible); the controversy over canon, both in the folio and the Bible; the language used by the bard and his king, with its pros and cons; and the mystery woman who has scholars baffled and me completely lost at the game table.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Red means many things to many people, from love to KFC to the sock you left in a load of whites that one time. Red coats the Bible as well, from Esau’s “bowl of that red stuff” to the rider on the red horse to the blood of Jesus. This week we cover the messages God circles in red; the red lights that signal go instead of stop; the red-headed preacher and killer who became a country music legend; and how Russian Communists tried to destroy religion but left enough behind to inspire a terrific board game.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

BJ Sipe is the host of the Set Your Mind Above podcast, which I constantly plug and yet have not plugged this week — shame on me! Link is below. He and his wife, Kylie, minister to the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky. In the third and final part of our conversation, we discuss the dangers of isolation and what both givers and receivers of aid can do to bridge the gap. Of all the segments of all the episodes featuring all the guests I’ve had over the last 4 years, this may be my favorite.

Check out BJ Sipe's podcast, Set Your Mind Above, at https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set-your-mind.../id1566696596 or wherever you get your podcasts.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

BJ Sipe and Kylie Sipe, who work with the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky, are back with the second part of our conversation. The focus this time: social media. Are the relationships we are forming through the internet part of the solution or part of the problem? And can we tell the difference? BJ and Kylie have some great things to say on the topic. And if you listen carefully, you may also catch the contributions of little Findlay Grace Sipe in the background.

Check out BJ's podcast, Set Your Mind Above, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/set-your-mind-above/id1566696596 or wherever you find your podcasting content.

The deeper you wade into the social media ocean, the more you will encounter people drowning there and crying for help. In my experience, they get it. Dozens if not hundreds of comments pour in with affirmation, adulation, and the ubiquitous promises of “whatever we can do.” But is this making the problem better or worse? Can we tell the difference between genuine distress calls and old-fashioned begging for compliments? And how important is it for us to try?

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

BJ Sipe, a frequent contributor to the podcast, joins us this week along with his wife, Kylie, to discuss their experience with depression. I think you will find their willingness to be open and honest about their struggles, failures and successes to be a tremendous blessing. If you know someone who is struggling, do them a favor and share this episode with them. In the first part of our conversation, we will discuss what depression actually is, and whether a simple study of Philippians and related Bible texts will cure it.

"You’re listening to a sermon based in the book of Philippians. The preacher (not this preacher, I hasten to emphasize) sums up his view thusly: “The cure for depression is Jesus. Jesus will make you content. Jesus will give you joy. Jesus is bigger than whatever you are currently facing. If you are wrestling with depression, your problem is not circumstances. It is not brain chemistry. It is, at its core, a lack of faith.” BJ and Kylie, how would you react?"

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’ve all fantasized about being able to go back in time and correct past wrongs, or go forward and escape current hardships. Current technology will not allow either, though — and I for one am glad.

This week we will discuss how to live in the world we have made for ourselves or was made for us; the folly of asking John F. Kennedy to fix the world; how the “Grandfather Paradox” doesn’t negate time travel, and why it doesn’t matter; and a new, politically correct look at an old favorite.

We’ve all fantasized about being able to go back in time and correct past wrongs, or go forward and escape current hardships. Current technology will not allow either, though — and I for one am glad.

This week we will discuss how to live in the world we have made for ourselves or was made for us; the folly of asking John F. Kennedy to fix the world; how the “Grandfather Paradox” doesn’t negate time travel, and why it doesn’t matter; and a new, politically correct look at an old favorite.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Have you ever had “that sinking feeling?” Disaster slowly approaches. You find yourself paralyzed — partly by the terror itself, partly by your inadequacy, mostly by the sense that there’s nothing you do about it.

This week we will discuss the ebbs and flows of Peter’s faith in the storm; the death of American seamen and the subsequent search for a scapegoat; the nature of quicksand in real life instead of cartoons; and the perils of building a dam on your game table.

Hal Hammons is the 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

It isn’t 2020 anymore. Distance has brought some perspective to the COVID-19 issue. Perhaps now we can look at the idea of contagion, put it in a proper context, and learn some lessons that can apply both in sickness and in health.

This week we will discuss practical applications from the Bible’s medical advice; whether romantic love counts as a deadly disease; the evolution of illness and our treatment of it; and the feeling of knowing you have lost when you pick up your cards.

Hal 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I’m back with more from Mark and Cindy Dunagan, the hosts of Nomads You and I. If you missed the first part of our talk, the Dunagans are in the business of talking to anyone and everyone about Airstreams, national parks, and Jesus Christ — not necessarily in that order. Check them out at nomadsyouandI.com. Since their home base is in Oregon, I thought they’d be the perfect partners for a discussion centered around my second-favorite state.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Mark and Cindy Dunagan are the hosts of Nomads You and I, a podcast devoted to sharing their love of travel, hiking, Jesus Christ, and one another. Check them out at www.NomadsYouAndI.com. Since their home base is in Oregon, I thought they’d be the perfect partners for a discussion centered around my second-favorite state.

In this section we cover their hikes through national parks and through the Bible, how the two are connected, and some of the lessons they have learned along the way.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

God put in the heart of man a craving for the unknown, a need to expand his world. Ultimately it is intended to compel him to reach for heaven itself. Earthbound humans don’t know what they are missing, literally.

We conclude Renaissance Month by discussing the greatest Christian explorer and his path to success; the greatest Renaissance explorer and his accidental success; the myth of my own refusal to explore new music; and the secret to pushing your luck just enough but not too much.

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'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.

If it’s important, write it down. The printed word has power unlike anything in human history — especially the printed word of God. For 1,000 years it had been unavailable to the common man. The Renaissance changed that forever.

This week we will discuss an inspired writer’s obsession with what other people wrote; how comedy helped take down the papacy; the pros and cons of the Bible on your phone; and the clever little Rhinelander who started it all.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Even modern Catholic leadership will agree that the church was horribly corrupt in the Middle Ages. Systems were put in place specifically to keep the elites in their place and the peasants in theirs.

This week we will discuss God’s plan to keep churches free of corruption; a hero of song and legend who was probably anything but; the angst we feel when we see the powers that be going down the same crooked road; and the impossibility of winning God’s game by using Satan’s tactics.

Hal 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

My conversation with Jacob Hudgins and Michael Walls went so well, I felt compelled to split our conversation into three parts instead of my usual two. If you have not checked out the first two, please do so. Here we finish up the conversation by talking about how to take something seemingly unapproachable — such as modern board games, or the gospel of Jesus — and making it a bit more palatable to the uninitiated.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

“A World Lit Only by Fire” by William Manchester is an amazing look into the Renaissance — what brought it on, what made it possible, and the people at the center of it. One of the most important of those people was a German monk named Martin Luther — a man lionized by many, demonized by many others. What is the legacy that Luther left behind, and should we consider him part of the solution or part of the problem?

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This month we will be discussing the revival of learning that took the western world by storm in the 16th and 17th centuries. The world would never be the same afterward. Our first topic: the ignorance that preceded the learning.

We begin with a conversation with Jacob Hudgins, preacher for the Twin City church of Christ in College Station, Texas; and Michael Walls, college history professor and preacher for the Westside church in Killeen, Texas.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Renaissance month begins next week. I thought it would be a good introduction to discuss the way we look at the physical world and how it can either defeat or reinforce faith, depending on how much faith we had to start with.

This week we will discuss the scientific facts found in the Bible and which ones are more persuasive than others; Charles Darwin’s argument regarding human suffering, which has lived far longer than he did; the testimony of 1.5 million airborne Austinites; and a form of evolution I can embrace and have fun 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Easy is better than hard, all things being equal. But all things are not always equal. In fact, the more desirable the skill, object or accomplishment in question, the harder the quest seems to be. And that’s a good thing.

This week we will discuss why life has to be so hard in general; why I have never finished a William Faulkner book, and have no intention of doing so; how the seemingly impossible can be rendered entirely reasonable; and how order of operations can build either a car or a home in heaven.

Check out the katieflute channel on YouTube. Here is the link to the video I mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxMDLYqGsiiVFKkiakE7A81RuBkkWYhPqT

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Drawing a line in the sand is a common expression in English. And the beach has plenty of sand, and plenty of opportunities to draw lines. When does comfort become complacency? When does relaxation become laziness?

This week we will discuss Paul’s day on the beach and how it informs the book of Philippians; our influence at the beach, and whether we are part of the solution or part of the problem; beach music, and whether Jesus would sing along; and whether a beach trip without beach activities is worth the effort.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We’re back with the rest of my conversation with Kris Emerson and Terry Francis; if you missed the first part, do yourself a favor and check it out. In this section I bring up the idea of the “authentic swing” from “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (which I consider to be bogus — both the concept and the book), and then ask how true to our individual nature we should try to be. Then I turn to my poor efforts to teach chess to my daughter and use that to discuss how adept we must be to take on a coaching role.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

When I decided to put together an episode on coaching, I wanted to get two preachers who knew the topic — from both a sports perspective and a church perspective. I definitely got the right men. Kris Emerson is the preacher for the church of Christ in Lindale, Texas, and the host of the Excel Still More podcast. Terry Francis preaches for the church of Christ in Chelsea, Alabama, and partners with Phillip Martin to host the Do The Work live stream on Facebook.

Timothy had Paul. Paul had Barnabas. We all have mentors, and we should all be mentors to others. That’s the way we keep the gospel alive and vibrant for succeeding generations. How does mentoring work in the Lord’s church, and how can we make it work better?

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Maybe I’m still in stay-cation mode from last week. In any case, I’m spending this week talking about taking it easy and enjoying the life Jesus blesses us with here on earth, even in troubled times.

We’ll discuss why the world is so confused by our peace; the extreme measures we sometimes need to take in its pursuit; the peace that has recently been forced upon me against my will; and the work that often goes into finding it.

Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Can you get away from it all without going anywhere? Tracie and I decided to give it a try this summer. We did some research on area restaurants, ordered a big batch of new board games, and settled in for two days of rest and relaxation. Long story short, I recommend it.

In this somewhat different episode we will discuss the sermon I put together on half a week’s work; the book I was saving for later but seems to fit here; the faith I place in online reviews, and whether that faith is warranted; and the hour-long trip to New Jersey that happened in the middle of it all.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

All music in this episode is provided free for personal or commercial use through Pixabay.

Happy Whistling Ukelele, by Lesfm.

Breeze in my Hair, by Lesfm

The Cradle of Your Soul, by Lemonmusicstudio

Freshness, by Gvidon

Uplifting Coffee, by AudioCoffee

Maybe it’s the fact that I am fresh off a short “stay-cation” with Tracie, an experience I’ll likely discuss in a later podcast. In any case this week I’m in the mood to talk about the pros and cons of getting away from it all.

We’ll talk about the folly of attempts to escape from an angry God; the problems that come with getting away with your crimes; one of the most annoying songs I know, both musically and philosophically; and a real-world adventure that turned out to be considerably less than that.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

What comes to mind when you think of monsters? The Sasquatch? The T-Rex? The boss? If telling your children there’s no such thing as monsters helps them sleep, go right ahead. But the grownups should know better.

This week we will discuss the most famous monster story in the Bible, and the greatest one; how heroes find monsters instead of letting the monsters find them; how the monster inside of you can be a blessing instead of a curse; and how we defeat monsters by getting up close and personal with them.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second half of my discussion of the topic of service with Tim Jennings and Edwin Crozier. Tim is the preacher for the Castleberry church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas. Edwin preaches for the Livingston Avenue church of Christ in Lutz Florida.

We pick up with a discussion of how being a friend of Jerry Seinfeld does not make you an expert in the art of dealing with support staff; and how inviting friends to game night may say more about your selfishness than your service.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the first half of my discussion of the topic of service with two of the most qualified servants I know. Tim Jennings is the preacher for the Castleberry church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas. Edwin Crozier preaches for the Livingston Avenue church of Christ in Lutz Florida. I had a lot of trouble trimming this week. Lots of great content. In this part we discuss how sincere our service in local churches is, and how we can check ourselves for insincerity.

Both speakers appear with me on the Balancing the Christian Life Lectures. Go to www.balancingthechristianlife.com for information about tickets. Enter the promo code MYPEOPLE to get a $30 discount off tickets.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second half of my conversation with Reagan McClenny and Scott Taylor. Reagan preaches for the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, Texas. Scott preaches for the West Mason church of Christ in suburban Cincinnati.

In the second part of our conversation, we explore why God chooses to squeeze out the grapes of His wrath as slowly as He does, instead of taking care of things quickly like we tell Him to.

Go to www.balancingthechristianlife.com to find out more about the lecture program that Reagan, Scott and I will be participating in. Use the promo code MYPEOPLE to get $30 off!

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week I have a special pair of guests for you. Reagan McClenny is a long-time friend of the show. He preaches for the Timberland Drive church of Christ in Lufkin, Texas. Scott Taylor is a first-timer. He preaches for the West Mason church of Christ in suburban Cincinnati. Reagan and Scott will help me deal with the topic of anger this week.

In the first part of our conversation, we discuss the example of Elijah and the difference between righteous indignation and just plain old losing your cool.

Go to www.balancingthechristianlife.com and check out the lecture series my friend Kenny Embry is hosting online July 28, 29 and 30. You’ve likely noticed I’ve been having more guests than normal this month; that is to introduce you to some of the speakers who are scheduled to appear on the program, including this week’s guests. I am moderating one of the Practical Christianity tracks, and I will be presenting a lesson on Serving our Children as well. Enter the promo code MYPEOPLE, you will get a $30 discount off the admission ticket. You will be able to listen to three days worth of content live, and then go back and catch up on what you missed later. You will be able to interact in real time with me and the other moderators and presenters. I am sure your time and money will be well spent.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I’m back with the second part of my conversation with Jeff O’Rear and BJ Sipe. Again, Jeff is the evangelist for the Judson Road church of Christ in Longview, Texas, and co-host of the Working with the Word podcast; BJ is the evangelist for the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky, and the host of the Set Your Mind Above podcast. BJ is another contributor to the Balancing the Christian Life Lectures; links are in the show notes. We finish by talking about the number of days and years it takes to get all the way home and the decisions we make along the way.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week I spend some time with Jeff O’Rear, evangelist for the Judson Road church of Christ in Longview, Texas, and co-host of the Working with the Word podcast; and also BJ Sipe, evangelist for the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky, and the host of the Set Your Mind Above podcast. BJ is another contributor to the Balancing the Christian Life Lectures; check it out if you have not already. In the first half of the conversation we discuss Solomon’s ideas about time in Ecclesiastes 3, and Morgan Tyree’s book about sorting our time constraints by color.

Subscribe to Working with the Word, with Jeff O'Rear and Emerson Brown, at https://lnns.co/PBogdqrU_x2
Subscribe to Set Your Mind Above with BJ Sipe at https://lnns.co/b5soKVHzZU2

Find out more about the Balancing the Christian Life Lectures at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second half of my conversation on the topic of truth with Adam Shanks and Chris Kramer, two of several participants in the Balancing the Christian Life Lectures who will be appearing in this space in coming weeks. In these two segments we discuss what we think of Ron Wyatt and his outrageous claims, as well as spurious Biblical arguments in general; and the “Telephone” game so popular at gatherings of young people that turns out to have been triggering to one of my guests. We’ll start with what I’ve been playing.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I’m joined this week by Adam Shanks and Chris Kramer, both first-time guests on the podcast. Adam is the preacher for the Edwards Lake church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, and the host of the Preach Impediments podcast. Chris is the preacher for the church of Christ Northside in Russellville, Kentucky, and a regular contributor to the Answering Religious Error stream on Facebook. Both will be contributors this month to the Balancing the Christian Life Lectures. In the first half of our conversation, we will discuss the nature of the search for truth itself.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Are secrets good or bad? It probably depends on whether it is others’ secrets under consideration or your own. Knowledge may be power, but too much power can overload our circuitry.

This week we will discuss the secrets God is keeping from us, whatever they may be; whether privacy is an inherently bad thing (and I can make the case); whether introverts can get to heaven — and if so, how; and how Alfred Hitchcock made his way to my game table.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Is silence golden? Is it deadly? Is it nervous? Is it dramatic? As with everything else I seem to talk about, it depends on the context.

This week we will discuss the role silence plays, if any, regarding authority; the greatest silent picture star of all time, and what he didn’t say; the thousand tiny triangles that play constantly between my ears; and your new favorite game that I’m here to make you hate.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

There is evil in the world. I remember President George W. Bush getting in a lot of trouble saying that 20 years ago. But he was right then, and he’s right now.

This week we will discuss my theory on why the ones who knew God best rejected Him the most; how Dr. Jeckyl thought he could have his cake and eat it too; why I insist on saying Satan is ruling in the world today; and why we avoid one of the most beloved characters in the board gaming world.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Spy stories have always fascinated me — the subterfuge, the twists and turns, the idea of being involved in something bigger than yourself. I’m largely over that, though, and this week I’ll tell you why.

We will cover the challenges of getting too much information; the sacrifices that must be made for the cause; the moral dilemma of banana pudding; and the options available to us when we are in over our heads.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

The Bible speaks of three “heavens” — the one with birds and clouds, the one with the sun, moon and stars; and the one where God dwells. We will touch them all this week.

We will discuss Psalm 8 and how we may have our telescopes pointed in the wrong direction; Carl Sagan’s idea of God and how woefully short it falls; one of the best arguments against the six-day creation, and my argument against that; and how making the most of your time on earth can cause you to miss the only voyage that matters.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

The sea represents the edge of the inhabited world. It’s deep, cold, mysterious, intimidating — not to be trifled with. This week we talk about the sea that separates us from God, and what God’s doing about it; Clive Cussler’s take on the Titanic story — better than James Cameron’s in my book; a pair of seas from the Bible and from our hymnbooks, one of which one may represent you; and the best scuba diving experience you will ever find that’s made out of cardboard.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We follow up on last week’s “Creation” episode by talking about the land we inhabit and the role God gives us while we do so.

We will discuss the nature of our stewardship, and its implications for our own bodies; the folly of thinking we can every really know what we’re doing; what it means for the meek to “inherit the earth,” and how we can act responsibly with an uncertain future ahead of us.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This month is all about God’s power over the physical world — starting with our Evidence talk with the Appian Media guys last week, and continuing this week with the world we inhabit and how it came to be.

We will discuss making something from nothing, both in the world and in our own lives; the great lie our enemies are telling, and how we can defeat it; the problems with squeezing the Bible into a model built by atheists; and why God’s ecosystems work so much better when we aren’t in them.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the rest of my conversation with Craig Dehut and Stuart Peck, the founders of Appian Media. Appian Media provides free resources of extraordinary quality to help flesh out and fortify the faith of Bible believers. Check them out at AppianMedia.org.

In this part we discuss the testimony of the resurrection and how it paves the way for faith in other areas of study; and what we should do if and when the answers we are getting to our questions are not giving us the assurance we had hoped for.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

A few months ago I got to speak to Jeremy Dehut and Barry Britnell about some of the work being done by Appian Media. This week the founders of Appian Media are here, Craig Dehut and Stuart Peck. I got to pick their brains about the effective use of evidence from archaeology and history in efforts to build faith in ourselves and others.

In the first part of our conversation we discuss the use of entertainment media, especially on behalf of our young people. Nothing will challenge the importance of Bible study, certainly. But if we can use entertainment media to supplement our understanding, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Find more content and/or download the app at appianmedia.org.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Ironic, isn’t it? The man who never gets sick catches COVID the week he plans an episode on luck. You can’t make this stuff up. Anyway, I’m likely not at my best vocally, so your patience is appreciated.

This week we will discuss the myth of Karma; our tendency to see bad luck crossing our path more often than good luck; the odds of humans evolving from non-living matter, if it’s even fair to calculate them; and how we can turn an unfortunate roll of the dice to our advantage.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We talked about standing up straight in the Posture episode last week. But stand where? For how long? Using our best judgment is critical; but sometimes what we call “best judgment” is simply what comes easiest. That may be simplistic and even counterproductive.

This week we will discuss the dangers of thinking too much, the real difference (if any) between rich and poor, a new and perhaps horrifying vision of pizza, and the value of a good box cover.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Take a stand for truth. Be a stand-up guy. Stand up and be counted. We instinctively connect good posture and good character. If you don’t buy into that, if you prefer to be a slouch, it’s probably going to affect your relationships — including your relationship with Jesus.

This week we will discuss what our loins are and how we gird them up; what separates princes and paupers; Jordan Peterson’s first rule for life; and what motivates me to play games, including awful games.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We pick up where we left off in my conversation about racism with Benjamin Lee and Saif Alsafeer. If you haven’t checked out part 1 yet, please do so. In this conversation we go back to Robinson Crusoe one last time to discuss how relevant the racism discussion is in today’s world and today’s church; and the hazards of stereotyping people based on a sliver of facts or surface appearances, especially in the era of social media.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

We begin Season 4 of the podcast this week with a very special conversation with Benjamin Lee and Saif Alsafeer on a very sensitive topic. I very much appreciated the perspective of these two men, and I enjoyed how we were able to approach the topic as brethren. This is the first part of our discussion. We spend it emphasizing our commonality and our need to live together in the body of Christ, as well as assessing the problem of racism in the church today and how we should combat it.

Check out Benjamin Lee's podcast, I Can Do with Benjamin Lee, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-can-do-with-benjamin-lee/id1488687000?fbclid=IwAR35jvbV6HdiIUs3zupxgS95_WOgLHjie1zW6BIhjRHW9_rQuxm-i1sIhhQ

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second half of my conversation with Kenny Embry, Edwin Crozier and Jared Bollman, three of my favorite people in this space. We will discuss the blessings and hazards of social media, what draws us to this space, the price we pay to participate, and the upcoming Balancing the Christian Life Lectures.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

To cap the third season of Citizen of Heaven, I sat down over Zoom with three of my podcasting buddies to talk about the medium, how we are all using it, what potential pitfalls await us, and how we came to podcasting in the first place. I hope the conversation will be interesting and informative.

Jared Bollman hosts the Man Up! podcast, as well as the Biblically Speaking channel on YouTube. Edwin Crozier teams up with Andrew Roberts to host the Text Talk podcast, an extension of the work he does with the Livingston Avenue church in Lutz, Florida. Dr. Kenny Embry is a communications professor at St. Leo's College and hosts the Balancing the Christian Life podcast.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Words are the tools of my profession. Whether written or spoken, live or recorded, they are the weapons of my warfare, to borrow from 2 Corinthians 10:3.

This week we will discuss a word used constantly by preachers like me — and if you ask me, we ought to use it more; the havoc that 300 years of usage can wreak on our vocabulary; the lie we tell ourselves about profanity and what it says about our view of God; and how the smallest of words can make the greatest of impacts.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

“Repentance” is a church word. We don’t hear it very often in our daily lives in the world. And maybe that’s the problem. We’re not doing it because no one is talking about it.

This week we will discuss our utter unworthiness of the kingdom of God, our utter unwillingness to learn from our mistakes, our utter incompetence at simple apologies, and my own utter refusal to accept the consequences of my actions.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

When I think of getting away from it all, I think of an island. Me here, problems way out there, it’s a comforting way of looking at the world. But island living is not as simple as that.

This week we will discuss God’s plan to bridge the gap between the mainland and the islands; Robinson Crusoe conforming the island to meet his needs instead of the other way around; why “wasting away in Margaritaville” is not all it’s cracked up to be; and the island getaway so near and dear to my wife and me.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second half of my conversation with BJ Sipe, the preacher at the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky, and the host of the Set Your Mind Above podcast. Check out the first half if you have not already. True confession: the connection here to cannibalism is weak. But we have been personifying disease and death since long before Edgar Allen Poe picked up a pen or I picked up a game piece. We spend this segment discussing how to avoid being eaten up by the devil.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Do Christians actually eat other Christians? Yes they do, and my guest and I have the bite marks to prove it, as do countless other Christians.

BJ Sipe, the preacher at the church of Christ in Danville, Kentucky, and the host of the Set Your Mind Above podcast, sat down with me to discuss the topic. This is the first half of our conversation. We discuss Galatians 5:13-16 and the eating habits of some brethren; and we’ll discuss how we maintain our love for bad actors despite their bad acts.

This is the first of two parts of our conversation. We discuss "spiritual cannibalism" and how brethren make spiritual meals out of one another; and how we can confront sinful behavior without becoming hateful ourselves.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

For all the kindergarten teachers out there who are annoyed with me already, stick with me; I will get to you in a minute. The fact is, stupidity exists. And it’s not tough to prove it.

This week we will discuss the things the Bible calls stupid; the behavior that makes you stupid, at least in the eyes of one author; the confusion over what is and is not a “cuss word”; and my weird obsession with playing games I don’t understand.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Anarchy is society without government. If you’re not a big fan of government, and I’m not, that can sound pretty good. And in a perfect world, it would be. But in case you didn’t know, this isn’t a perfect world.

This week we will discuss what it means to be under law to Christ; how conspiracy theories feed into our worst tendencies; whether political protests are part of the solution or part of the problem; and yet another reason not to play Monopoly.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Fair warning: This week’s episode will sound more like a lesson for preachers than normal. But I’m confident that any child of God will find a way to adapt it for personal use. (See what I did there?)

We will cover the difference between being adjustable and being spineless; the importance of good source material, for movie makers and for Christians; why my new bumper music should be reminding you of Swing Low Sweet Chariot; and why a designer would want to rip off his own board game.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second half of my conversation with Kris Emerson and Steve Wolfgang. Kris Emerson is host of the Excel Still More podcast and preacher for the Lindale church of Christ. Steve Wolfgang is the evangelist for the Downer’s Grove church of Christ in suburban Chicago. In the final part of our conversation, we discuss Jesus’ ideas about brotherly love, why the world isn’t generally interested, and how we should respond.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I have two guests with me to share their insights — and if they choose, their feelings as well. Kris Emerson is host of the Excel Still More podcast and preacher for the Lindale church of Christ. Steve Wolfgang is the evangelist for the Downer’s Grove church of Christ in suburban Chicago. This is the first two segments of our discussion; we discuss the role conscience plays in spiritual decision-making; and whether we should care more about people’s feelings than Ben Shapiro seems to.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

In some ways this week’s installment is a follow-up to last week’s. We discussed the concept of “Big” last week. And there’s nothing bigger than eternity.

This week we will discuss the secret to life, according to the wisest man to ever live; how Native American philosophy, as narrated by James Michener, strangely mirrors the Bible; how you can be resurrected and not go to heaven, at least according to one composer; and a game from my childhood that reminds me why I play.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

They say everything is bigger in Texas. The bluster, the egos, the steaks, the belt buckles. You name it, we can supersize it. But bigger comes with its problems — big commitments, big disappointments, big failures and big consequences among them.

This week we will discuss big faith and why you should be trying to find it; big dreams that have always characterized the Lone Star State; big work from the greatest composer you’ve never heard of; and the big version of an old favorite.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed. God told Noah that thousands of years ago. And the value of human life has not diminished since then. Unfortunately our valuation of it has in many cases.

This week we will discuss whether Christians actually murder other Christians, and if so, how; the secrets to staying out of a sex-drug-murder cult; another reason not to stop for gas in Louisiana; and the only board game we own based on the work of a serial killer.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is the second part of my discussion with Jeremy Dehut and Barry Britnell.

Check out www.appianmedia.com for the great work Jeremy, Barry and the rest of the crew put together.

I absolutely loved Bruce Feiler’s book, American Prophet, which detailed the importance of the Moses story in American life. So when I heard he had written a book about charting the story of God through actual journeys through Bible lands, I grabbed it quickly. What a disappointment. It became obvious early on that “Walking the Bible” was not about strengthening personal faith; it was purely cultural. Can we identify ourselves as being “the people of God” without actually knowing God at all?

Lately I’ve been honing my geography skills at www.seterra.com. And I have to admit, I’m getting pretty good. If you need someone to name 50 African nations or distinguish between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, I’m your guy. But I’m not sure it’s actually improving my life. I’ve also spent a lifetime stockpiling facts from the Bible, memorizing lists of names, verse citations, the number of chapters in Paul’s epistles, all sorts of things. It’s easy to assume that acquiring facts is the same as acquiring wisdom. But after 50-plus years of experimentation, I’ve learned that it’s not. How do we keep from becoming complacent and prideful in our education?

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This week I have the privilege of sharing my discussion with Jeremy Dehut and Barry Britnell of Appian Media, a wonderful resource for professional and Biblical material. Check them out at www.appianmedia.org. This is the first half of our discussion. We will discuss the insights the crew found into the book of Revelation while filming their most recent project — “Trial and Triumph: Revelation’s Churches.”

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Maybe it’s the holidays, Maybe it’s my new son-in-law. In any case, I’ve been spending a lot of time recently thinking about taking people on the outside and bringing them inside, creating blessings for host and visitor alike.

This week we will discuss Biblical hospitality and Abraham’s example; barriers we may be erecting to keep brethren at a distance; the blessings that my guests have brought to the podcast; and how getting everything you want rarely comes from taking everything you can.

In the spirit of the week, allow me to direct you to the great podcasting work of some of my guests:

Excel Still More, with Kris Emerson
Do the Work (on Facebook), with Phillip Martin and Terry Francis
Working with the Word, with Jeff O'Rear and Emerson Brown
Intimate Covenant, with Matt and Jenn Schmidt
Appian Media, with Jeremy Dehut, Barry Britnell, and others
Balancing the Christian Life, with Kenny Embry
Set Your Mind Above, with BJ Sipe
Monday Morning Coffee with Mark, with Mark Roberts
Text Talk, with Edwin Crozier and Andrew Roberts

Looking at things from different perspectives is the fair way to approach a situation. But it’s more than that. It’s about compiling all the relevant information, including information that challenges our way of seeing the world.

This week we discuss circumspection — the skill of viewing things from other points of view. And then we practice it on subjects from last week — poor, unappreciated Captain Bligh; the enablers of Mars Hill; and the true spirit of cooperation in search of truth.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Bullies are people who take what they want at the expense of the weak. From the short kid on the playground to the minimum-wage worker to the next nation in the path of a warmonger, most of us have suffered bullying. And many of us have inflicted it.

This week we discuss David’s failed and selfish leadership; the pros and cons of public whippings; the downfall of a mega-church and its mega-pastor; and the real bully at the Hammons game table (the name may surprise you).

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

In the western corner, representing the Oregon Ducks, we have BJ Sipe, host of the Set Your Mind Above Podcast and evangelist with the church of Christ in Danville, KY. In the eastern corner, representing the Tennessee Volunteers, we have Terry Francis, preacher for the church of Christ in Chelsea, Alabama, and his son Peyton. In the second half of our conversation, we debate the merits and demerits of football.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Last month we discussed Nerds; this week we flip the coin over. Sitting in with me are the biggest sports fans and occasional participants I could find. BJ Sipe preaches for the church of Christ in Danville, KY. He also hosts the Set Your Mind Above podcast. Terry and Peyton Francis co-host the Pork and Son podcast, focusing on sports in general, Tennessee football in particular. Terry also preaches for the church of Christ in Chelsea, Alabama.

In part 1, we discuss Samson, the greatest athlete in the Bible, as an archetype of the sort of "hero" we don't want to be. We also discuss whether greatness can be measured among Christians like with baseball players and whether trying to do so is even a good idea.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Ephesians 4:26 reads, “Be angry, and yet do not sin.” I fear sometimes we effectively leave off the second half of that sentence. The fact is, giving in to anger is just as bad as giving in to lust or envy. God’s words to Cain ring true for us: “You must master it.”

This week we will discuss choosing brotherly love over angry words; a single outburst that radically changed two lives; my unhealthy obsession with dash cam footage; and the board game most likely to lead to literal bloodshed.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

I don’t know how it is in your house, but I’m seeing pumpkins everywhere these days. From the coffee shop to the craft store to my front porch, it’s all pumpkin all the time. And for me, that’s a good thing.

This week we discuss extreme reactions to extreme hunger; the lie you have been told your entire life about pumpkin pie; the weirdest meat in a can you’ve ever seen; and how upgraded pieces do not a board game make.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, Thanksgiving, food, gourds, squash, Elisha, Elijah, Samaritan woman, John 4, special edition, Heritage Edition, firstfruits, first fruits, 1 Corinthians 1, 1 Corinthians 2, windows in heaven, famine, drought, Romans 10:1-3, 2 Peter 1:16-18, Romans 10:14-15,

Lions run wild in the Bible, pardon the expression. Everyone knew about them. Everyone respected and feared them. That’s why they make such a great metaphor — make that a series of metaphors.

This week we will discuss why the sluggard stays in bed, why our original state of freedom is preferable to luxury in captivity, a personal flashback to a day at the Tulsa Zoo, and the blessings and obligations of having lions in your pocket.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, lion, Croesus, king, animals, beasts, roar, Elsa, Joy Adamson, George Adamson, Kenya, Africa, lioness, "Born Free," Uzzah, Uzza, power, 1 Peter 5:8-9, excuse, Luke 14, Luke 9, excuses, Amos 3, original sin, Matthew 3, Romans 7:9, Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3, Romans 8:1, Galatians 5:13-16, Proverbs 28:1, comfort, safety, 1 Peter 2:16, Proverbs 30:29-30, Ecclesiastes 9:4, money,

More than a year ago, when I posted the Beauty episode, I said an episode on Art was on the way. Like I tell my wife, I always follow through with my promises; I don’t have to be reminded every six months.

Today we discuss whether Renaissance artists actually accomplished anything for Jesus; whether Picasso was a brilliant master or a self-involved egomaniac (I vote for both); how postmodernists are lying to us about great art; and why simply collecting paint won’t make you a great painter.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, art, artists, paint, painters, sculpture, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, David, marble, Europe, Picasso, cubism, modern art, postmodernism, postmodern art, Mailer, Norman Mailer, Portrait of Picasso as a Young Man, ego, greatness, ugliness, mind, Psalm 139, Job 28, wisdom, intelligence, design,

I hope no one considers “nerd” to be a pejorative term; my guests this week certainly do not. Jared Bollman is the preacher for the Fifth Street church of Christ in Beaverton, Oregon; The action figures in his office speak volumes. Jared also hosts the Biblically Speaking podcast on Facebook.

Jared Saltz is a professor at Florida College and preaches for the Palmetto church of christ in Tampa. There is no Star Wars film, TV show or novel he has not consumed.

We discuss our role as underdogs in our spiritual fight; the hyper-correctness of spelling bees; and the chess moves that show the world our true values.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words nerds, geeks, books, words, spelling, spelling bee, chess, queen, knight, FC, Portland,

Loyalty to an underachieving sports team can be noble. Loyalty to an abusive relationship can be destructive. It’s all about finding a worthy cause, group or individual.

This week we will discuss whether you can be both a Jew and a Christian, and why you and I should care; the choice between patriotism and pragmatism in 17th Century Jamaica; whether “I swear to God” is a confession or a blasphemy; and how choosing a side early maximizes the upside and minimizes the downside.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, loyalty, oath, swear, camp, Hebrews, Hebrews 13, Jews, Law of Moses, circumcision, Michael Crichton, pirate, privateer, 17th Century, 1600s, Caribbean Sea, Caribbean, sail, boats, ships, governor, pirate ship, Matthew 26:64-65, friends, political parties, associations, friendships, clubs, commit, last minute, preparation, prepared, Matthew 5:10-12, persecuted, prophets,

At some level we all want to be the lone wolf, to prove ourselves as individuals. That’s not all bad. But it’s not all good either.

This week we will discuss the relationship between musical groups and their members who go solo, and what that has to do with the church; the ethos of Jack Reacher (who does not resemble Tom Cruise in the slightest); how an Englishwoman is changing the way I think about trumpeters; and why I continue to let a terrific solo game languish on the shelf.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, solo, artists, musicians, soloists, groups, music, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, 61 Hours, novel, authority, Alison Balsom, trumpet, blowhard, blend, Maricaibo, initiative, Shammah, 2 Samuel 23:11-12, 1 Thessalonians 4:10,

From T-Rexes to pterodactyls to triceratops, dinosaurs have fascinated humans since the early 1800s. When did they live? Where did they all go? And for Christians, how do they impact our faith?

This week we will discuss dinosaurs in the Bible (I would argue there are at least three); Michael Crichton’s commentary on the hubris of humankind; our persistence in denying facts we don’t like; and how I destroyed an entire theme park just to amuse my nephew.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, dinosaurs, T-Rex, behemoth, leviathan, ketos, Jonah, Matthew 12:40, Exodus 20:11, Genesis 1:21, Job, Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton, Congo, Timeline, Sphere, Romans 10:2, James 4:10, James 4:13, 3 John 9, denial, learning, wisdom, Ecclesiastes 2:13, knowledge, Proverbs 26:7, Proverbs 26:12, fool, Philippians 2:3, selfishness, important,

This is the second part of my conversation with Matt and Jenn Schmidt, the co-hosts of the Intimate Covenant podcast. Find out more about their work at intimatecovenant.com. Check out the first segment if you have not done so already. Here we will discuss lessons in marriage preparation from the Shulammite, and what might be gained from teaching some new tricks to old dogs like me.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, covenant, Intimate Covenant, marriage, courtship, Song of Songs, Song of Solomon, Shulammite, Solomon, wall, door, podcast, podcasting, aging, Fog of Love, simulation, relationships,

This is part 1 of my conversation with Matt and Jenn Schmidt.

My guests this month are Matt and Jenn Schmidt, the cohosts of the Intimate Covenant podcast. Matt and Jenn are all about having more and better sex in a covenant relationship between one man and one woman, joined by God, defined by the Bible. Find out more at intimatecovenant.com

In the first segment we discuss the marriage bed and how to keep it clean. The conversation is candid, but still appropriate for younger ears; in fact, Matt and Jenn would argue that younger ears need to hear this more often.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, sex, marriage, covenant, intimate, Intimate Covenant, podcast, podcasting, podcasters, Houston, retreat, marriage bed, Hebrews 13:4, fornication, adultery,

A legacy of children. A legacy of debt. A legacy of work. For good or ill, we all leave something behind. Christians inherit the legacy of brethren, and ultimately of Jesus Himself. May God help us be worthy of them.

This week we will discuss Elijah’s mantle and what it meant for Elisha; the worst vice president ever, and how he paid the price for personal growth; my own memories of a recently departed mentor; and the trail of games the Hammons family leaves in its wake.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, legacy, Nehemiah 14:31, Elijah, Elisha, mantle, vice president, Garfield, James Garfield, President Garfield, president, President Arthur, Chester Alan Arthur, politics, boss, New York, Russell Conkling, Dee Bowman, preacher, Southside, Sagrada, remember, reminder,

I love me a good tool. Tools give us the ability to alter the world around us. But we need to actually use them. Better yet, we need to use them well, and for the right purpose. Otherwise we just make a mess out of our garage and our life.

Men love tools. We admire them. We collect them. We want to have the right tool for the job. But if are not well acquainted with the tool, or if we never start the that is of little benefit if we do not start the job. Starting the job with a poor knowledge of the tool is not much better.

This week we will discuss my frustrating search for tools in the Bible; how tools go to waste in the wrong hands; what I’ve done to eliminate background noise on the podcast, and how you can help; and how tools can help you rule the Mediterranean without leaving your house.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, tools, tool, altar, noise, static, Destiny of the Republic, Garfield, James Garfield, president, President Garfield, Alexander Graham Bell, infection, clutter, podcast, recording, podcasting, Concordia, trading,

Character is more than what you do. It is who you are on the inside—your true identity. It’s a tough concept. We struggle to judge others. We struggle to judge ourselves. In the end for Christians, it all boils down to the same thing: Adopt the character of Jesus.

This week we will discuss the person Jesus is trying to turn us into, the blind eye the world turns to Jesus’ impact, yet another ready-fire-aim moment from the world of sports, and the blessings corruption brings (such as they are).

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, character, Garfield, president, Destiny of the Republic, Simone Biles, Olympics, Lords of Waterdeep, Scoundrels of Skullport, expansion, new self, Ephesians 4

If you missed the first part of my conversation with Matt Bassford and Keith Stonehart, please do yourself a favor and check it out. We covered the role suffering has played in their own lives and the lessons they have drawn from it. We begin the second part by discussing the (mostly) well-intentioned doctors who killed my favorite president. We close with advice for how we can exercise reasonable preparation without living in fear.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, suffering, pain, intentions, Garfield, President Garfield, James Abram Garfield, Destiny of the Republic, Candace Millard, assassination, infection, good intentions, brethren, help, Galaxy Trucker, adversity, planning, faith, hope, future,

Life in Christ is still life on earth. And that means hardship — sometimes beyond what we think ourselves capable of bearing. And in that moment, we can lean into God or run away from God. My guests this week have chosen the former, and we are all the richer for it. Matt Bassford, well-known hymnist, is the preacher for the Jackson Heights church of Christ in Columbia, Tennessee. Keith Stonehart preaches for the Fultondale church of Christ in Fultondale Alabama. Their perspective on suffering will inspire you to praise God for His blessings and commit to never taking them 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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

key words, suffering, suffer, pain, hardship, Matt Bassford, Matthew Bassford, Keith Stonehart, adversity, hymns, This World is Not My Home, Job, rest, abuse, sexual abuse, ALS, disease, illness, unfair,

I don’t typically do sequels. But the Bears episode was well received, and I still have Daniel Boone on the brain, so I decided to revisit one of my favorite mammals this week.

We will discuss whether children should take on big game, how Boone’s name got on all those trees, the story of the giant maneater that wouldn’t die (either the story or the bear), and how meeting a bear changes your daily routine.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, bears, sequel, Daniel Boone, stolen honor, credit, humble, David, shepherd, Philistine, 1 Samuel 17, father, carving, tree, authentic, man-eater, myth, grizzly, Sierra West, workers, delay, COVID-19, COVID, pandemic, disaster, delay, goal, objective, priority, hurricane, normal, exaggeration, child, surrender, lying, Revelation 22:15, Revelation 21:8, Numbers 12:1-8, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, embellishments, Matthew 5:37, truth, John 8:32, Proverbs 23:23, Proverbs 29:25, fear, fear of man, Matthew 12:1-7, circumstances,

Something that is buried is assumed to be gone forever, of no more relevance. Jesus teaches us to think of it in a more nuanced way. It’s not just about what was; it’s about what will come afterward, and what we will do with what remains.

This week we will discuss Israel’s baptism in the Red Sea and the implications it carries for us; the furor over the true location of Daniel Boone’s remains; A six-foot piece of property with my name on it; and how a seed must die so that my hopes of winning the game might live.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, buried, burial, bury, baptism, Moses, wilderness, Red Sea, Egypt, Daniel Boone, Kentucky, Missouri, grave, Spicewood, Austin, Texas, Burnet County, home, roots, 1 Timothy 6:3-6, Matthew 23:23, Romans 15:4, Exodus 14:13-18, Deuteronomy 34, Genesis 3:19, dust, hope, souls, source, Romans 5:1-5, rebellious, heaven, hell, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, farm, Uwe Rosenberg, At the Gates of Loyang, China, farmer, farming, market, Genesis 22, Abraham, son, John 3:16, only begotten Son, Matthew 27:40, cross, Hebrews 12:1-2, solution, shame, 1 Peter 1:3-9,

The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible — not in any translation I checked, anyway. But the idea of bringing two sides together, for better or worse, is a constant theme in the text. This week we will discuss the bridge God refuses to build in eternal realms, the bridges He has built for us now and how we can best use them, the real-life soap opera that topped the country music charts for years, and the futile quest for the shortest distance between two points.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, bridges, bridge, rich man, Lazarus, Dives, Luke 16, chasm, afterlife, engineers, "Engineers of Dreams," brotherhood, kindness, instruction, design, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, reconciliation, reconciled, location, Ephesians 3:1-7, beauty, Jacob, Genesis 28:12, ladder, Judds, Naomi Judd, Wynonna Judd, Philippians 2:1-8, 1 John 4:7-11, forgiveness, Matthew 18:35, parable, initiative, Matthew 5:23, Matthew 18:15, Whistle Stop, Jude 3-4, Matthew 5:38-42, Judges 3:1-2, challenge, Ephesians 4:1-3, peace, harmony,

They say commitment is necessary to find success at the highest level — athletics, business, playing an instrument, whatever. And serving Jesus may be the best example of all. It’s all or nothing; the more we push back against that, the more we doom ourselves to failure.

This week we will discuss Jesus’ remarkably candid approach to discipleship, John C. Fremont’s disastrous ego trip through the Rockies, the series of political debacles at the Olympics, and the best game we ever threw in the garbage.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words, commitment, endure, committed, commit, Matthew 10:38-39, Revelation 2:10, discipleship, disciples, costly, hard, Matthew 10:21-22, Luke 14:25-33, parables, A Newer World, David Roberts, John C. Fremont, Kit Carson, explore, prize, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 1 Corinthians 15:19, success, self-interest, Philippians 2:3-4, Luke 16:13, relationships, Ephesians 5:21, Charterstone, Ephesians 5:10, 2 John 9, priority, priorities, Lot's wife, Luke 17:32-33,

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'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'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,

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'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'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,

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'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'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

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'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'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,

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words: Mark Roberts, Terry Francis, Do the Work, original, originality, Son of God, Just One,

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'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'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,

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'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'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,

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'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'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,

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'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'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,

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'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'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,

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'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'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

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien, fantasy, orcs, goblins, monsters, evil, Hitler, false teachers, sheep's clothing, Frodo, Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, hobbits, Boromir, Gandalf

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'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'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,

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'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'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,

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Get three preachers to comment on a combination of the gospel and sports, you’re bound to go long. And we did. So here is the second half of my conversation with Brent Moody, preacher at the Decker Prairie church of Christ in Houston, and David Osteen, preacher for the O’Connor Road church of Christ in San Antonio. In this final segment, we start with Bocce and move on to topics including Tom Brady, Nick Saban, and a certain podcaster of mutual acquaintance whose name must remain unspoken.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Running, boxing, wrestling—sports metaphors are all over the Bible. If you’re a sports fan, the Bible speaks to you in your own language. I’m joined this week by Brent Moody, who preaches for the Decker Prairie church of Christ in suburban Houston, and David Osteen, who preaches for the O’Connor Road church of Christ in San Antonio. We discuss giving ourselves a chance to win God’s race; taking lessons from Bible underdogs; and maximizing our scoring opportunities instead of settling for mediocrity.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Somehow I made it through more than 100 episodes without talking about my home state. But I’ve been back in my ancestral homeland for close to a year now, and that’s long enough. So saddle up.

This week we will discuss stereotypes and whether we truly deserve them; the strange bedfellows that Texas politics makes; the pros and cons of secession; and the Texas domino game we can’t get anyone else to play.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Every day is a learning experience — or at least it should be. When we position ourselves to learn, we grow; when we don’t, we stagnate. And when the subject is our walk with Christ, that can be tragic.

This week we will discuss Jesus’ frustrations with His own apostles, the simple answer to the JFK assassination, some suggestions for carrying on conversations via social media, and the excellent game I almost quit on before I even started playing.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

“How is ‘bears’ a topic for a Bible-based podcast?” some of you are already asking. I’ll admit, it’s a bit of a hodgepodge this week. But I kept seeing things I wanted to address that had to do with bears one way or another, and finally I decided to just go with it. So here we are.

This week we will discuss the dangers that come with laughing at bald people, the weirdest moment in all of Shakespeare’s plays, the perils of “Florida man,” and an all-bear zoo on your dining room table. Bears feature prominently in all of the above.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

This is Season 3 of the Citizen of Heaven podcast — episode 106a, Parenting (uncut).

I am Hal Hammons, and I am a citizen of heaven, and your embedded correspondent in Satan’s world. Thanks for checking in.

Is it possible to rear godly children in an ungodly world? Absolutely. God’s people have been doing it for centuries. But we have to do it God’s way, no matter what the world may tell us. I am joined today by Rickie Jenkins, preacher and shepherd for the Campbell Road church of Christ in Garland, Texas — also by Phil Robertson, the preacher for the Glen Springs church of Christ in Gainesville, Florida. This is a special, uncut version of our conversation.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Is it possible to rear godly children in an ungodly world? Absolutely. God’s people have been doing it for centuries. But we have to do it God’s way, no matter what the world may tell us. I am joined today by Rickie Jenkins, preacher and shepherd for the Campbell Road church of Christ in Garland, Texas — also by Phil Robertson, the preacher for the Glen Springs church of Christ in Gainesville, Florida.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Foolishness is running wild in the world today, and Jesus is here to help. The problem is, we often define “foolishness” and “help” very differently than He does

This week we will discuss Jesus’ commentary on financial planning; who the “fool” of Psalm 14 truly is; how “lawnmower parenting” is cutting our children off at the knees; and how my family conspires to keep me from winning a game I’m actually good at.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

If you are a Christian, that means you have volunteered to serve in the army of Jesus Christ. Like many volunteers, you may not have known the full scope of the war that is going on. But believe me, it is terrible. But it is worth the fight.

This week we will discuss who is our true enemy (and it’s not your neighbor), the philosophy that under-girds the enemy’s every effort, inspiration for the fight from the music of Peter Tchaikovsky, and a game from my childhood that was more philosophical than I knew.

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'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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

The existence of suffering is one of the oldest arguments against the existence of God. But God has always wanted different things for us than we wanted for ourselves. People of faith accept and embrace that — even when it hurts.

This week we will discuss the purposes pain plays in our lives; the historical connection between the absence of pain and the presence of problems; the last and perhaps greatest message from Johnny Cash; and how you can build a spaceship that will make it to port without breaking in half.

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, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another.

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's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Adventure means excitement for a child. To an adult it usually means something complicated at best, terrifying at worst. They’re both right. The key is not to embrace or avoid adventure; it’s choosing the right one.

This week we will discuss the challenges that come with walking by faith; the impact of two bicycle repairmen from Dayton, Ohio; the parallels between Abraham’s adventure and ours; and the level of commitment we are willing to show for Jesus.

Is the internet the irresistible and desirable future for the church, or is it the church’s doom? What are “social influencers,” who are they influencing, and for what purpose?

We cover this and more in the second half of my conversation with Kris Emerson and Dr. Kenny Embry. Kris preaches for the Lindale church of Christ in Lindale, Texas, and hosts the Excel Still More podcast. Kenny is an associate professor of communication at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida, and hosts the “Balancing the Christian Life” podcast.

It’s a new world out there, for better or worse. And the internet is its university, its playground, and its courtroom. There’s no point in pretending otherwise.

We will explore the pros and cons of the internet with my two guests. Kris Emerson preaches for the Lindale church of Christ in Lindale, Texas, and hosts the Excel Still More podcast. Dr. Kenny Embry is an associate professor of communication at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida.

In part 1, we discuss the echo chamber effect we experience online; and we consider the profound effects, both positive and negative, social media is having on our lives.

To celebrate 100 episodes, I tried to pick out the things above all others that I like to preach, read, hear and play. I’m not sure I was successful, but what follows is the best I could do.

So today we will discuss our own wandering in the wilderness and our anticipation of Canaan land; lessons in governing we can learn from fictitious, sentient rabbits; my fascination with four Italian guitar players; and my incessant, and largely unsuccessful, efforts to get better at Great Western Trail.

We need goals to stay motivated and on course. Maybe it is a particular number on the bathroom scale. Maybe it is getting all the way to Revelation chapter 22 this year. In any case, the goals need to be reasonable and measurable if we are to maximize our chances of success.

This week we will discuss how we “do” the Christian Graces of 2 Peter 1, what makes a truly great president, why heaven should NOT be your goal as a Christian, and how having fun with a game directly interferes with my efforts to win.

Cowboys are part of American history — and even more than that, American folklore. It’s a lifestyle: play by your own rules, answer to your own conscience, and ride quietly off into the sunset at the end of the day. Noble hero or ruthless outlaw? Depends on who is making the movie.

This week we will discuss the difference between herding cattle and tending sheep; the legacy of Texas legend Judge Roy Bean; the music of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings; and why my daughter beats me regularly in my favorite game — and the surprising reason that upsets me.

2 Timothy 3;16-17 promises that God’s word will make us adequate in all spiritual things — including “training in righteousness.” So we have the equipment. How to go about using it, that’s another matter.

Today, to help us understand what it means to train and to be trained in the things of God, I’m joined by Stephen Russell, evangelist for the Pepper Road church of Christ in Athens, Alabama; and Aric Russell (no relation), who preaches for the Spring Warrior church of Christ in Perry, Florida.

Everyone wants to be happy. But most of us aren’t — at least it seems that way. For people in Satan’s world, that’s understandable, and even good — maybe they’ll search for a better way. We as Christians, though, have no excuse.

This week we will discuss why pursuing happiness is actually part of the problem; where Chip Gaines finds that smile he’s always wearing; why Mike Rowe is more right with his philosophy of work than he knows; and why playing a game that doesn’t give you joy misses the whole point.

No, I’m not quitting this podcast. Nor am I quitting my job, my marriage, or my faith. But many people do. And depending on the situation, that can be disastrous.

This week we will discuss one preacher’s unfortunate approach to adversity, What drove Chip and Joanna Gaines to abandon their hit TV show, the various rocks people are lobbing at Donald Trump these days and their implications for us, and why quitting a game is not the same as quitting gaming.

The world is on fire — and not in a good way. I can see it. I can smell it. I suspect you can too. But adverse and even dangerous circumstances are the rule in Satan’s world, not the exception. God promises peace to those who seek it. But you must seek it — especially when it seems impossible to find.

This week we will discuss the one fear that will banish all the others, the integrity of Chip Gaines and his business model, the potential loss of freedom (if such is even possible), and the way to turn small successes into total failures.

A pattern is a template, a plan used to construct something — whether it’s a dress, a house, or in our case, a Christian. It can be specific, it can be general. But to build the item in question, it must be followed.

Today I’m joined by Lonnie Oldag, who shepherds and preaches for the Quinn church of Christ in Russelville, Alabama; and Steve Wolfgang, the evangelist for the Downer’s Grove church of Christ in suburban Chicago; We will discuss whether Biblical patterns exist, and if so how we identify and follow them.

I’ve been preaching about types and antitypes. Hebrews 8:5 reminds us how worship during Moses’ day was done “according to the pattern.” And since Hebrews is all about putting the old law into a Jesus framework, we should be as meticulous about our worship today in the church, God’s holy temple, as they were in their day. That’s the argument I’ve heard all my life and made for most of it. Is it a fair use of Scripture? And what other examples can we see of old covenant theology fleshed out in the gospel?

I’ve been reading two books. The first is “Searching for the Pattern,” by John Mark Hicks, which describes how he came to reject what he calls a “pattern hermeneutic.” The second is “The Simple Pattern,” a collection of essays edited by Jim Deason. Perhaps someone should have introduced these brethren to one another; the complexity of the pattern, especially the use of “approved examples,” is one of the main reasons Bro. Hicks wound up rejecting it. What exactly constitutes an example? And does example constitute binding law?

I’ve been playing New York 1901. Players participate in the vertical growth of Manhattan Island. “Bronze era” buildings, perfectly fine at the beginning of the game, eventually are razed to build “Silver era” and ultimately “Gold era” ones to accommodate modern times and preferences. It’s the American way. Why keep something simply because it’s old when something cleaner, stronger and more efficient can be built in its place?

Most Americans look at the church in the same way. The idea of going back to the days of traveling on donkeys and writing on papyrus seems ridiculous on the face of it, in any context. And no one would argue against evolving tactics and technology. But should doctrine evolve as well? And can we stop it even if we want to?

We were told nine months ago that we would have to make temporary sacrifices for the common good. Today the situation is largely unchanged, and many are saying these measures — including church shutdowns — should stay in place indefinitely.

Today we will discuss the function of the body of Christ in isolation conditions; Charles Lindbergh’s keys to success for solo flight; the disturbing level of contentment I see in “virtual worship”; and the improvement I have experienced playing games no one will play with me.

The Bible says nothing of celebrating Jesus’ birthday or how to do so. It’s sad that so many Christians only celebrate their Savior when they are the ones getting the gifts. Still, we can rejoice in the Lord on December 25 as well as any other day.

This week we will discuss preparing room for Jesus in our hearts, and not just when the day is circled on the calendar; the real St. Nicholas and his evolution from bishop to cultural icon; how cold it really is out there in Satan’s world; and takeaways from one of the games the Hammons family has already unwrapped.

Worship is the greatest privilege afforded any of God’s creatures. In a sense, we do it simply by existing, like the rocks and flowers. But we have the ability to consciously, deliberately give praise and honor to our Creator.

Today we will discuss Hebrews 10:25 and what it does and does not mean regarding our obligation to assemble; how good hymn lyrics draw us closer to God, His people and His plan for us; why singing always sounds better in person; and how just going through the motions may be fine for board games but not for actual worship.

An outlaw is one who works outside acceptable and/or legal boundaries. Sometimes he is accomplishing something he would call “the greater good”; sometimes he is only concerned with himself. But one thing is constant: he does what he wants.

This week on the podcast we will discuss John Wayne’s last role. And the danger in his last message for us; why “superheroes” are neither super nor heroes; how “Wanted! The Outlaws” saved country music and killed Waylon Jennings; and how “Sheriff of Nottingham” is a great game but a bad model for ethics.

Edwin Crozier is the co-host of the Text Talk podcast, an extension of the work he does with the Livingston Avenue church of Christ in Tampa, Florida. Neal Grantham preaches for the Somerville church of Christ in northern Alabama.

This season is devoted to the giving of thanks to God. But as always, we often make things all about ourselves. I’m trying to do better this year, and I hope I can encourage you to do so as well. This week we will discuss the very real problem of having too much of many, many good things; the story of one who got everything he could hope for and was strong enough to get rid of it; the way to find blessings when you believe they are being withheld from you; and the one game above all for which I am the most thankful.

Cleaning yourself is one of the first jobs we learn. It helps keep us healthy, and it makes us more pleasant to be around — and that was true long before COVID-19 came along. This week we will discuss the ritual washing known as baptism; how filthy the job of priest must have been; how cleanliness may actually be next to godliness, or at least pretty close; and how carelessness destroyed one of my family’s favorite games and changed the way we play games forever.

One jazz master put it this way: If you know the basic chords, you can improvise and create all sorts of music. But you have to know the chords. If Jazz is freedom, then good jazz is knowing how to have freedom without chaos. This week we will discuss what rules, if any, should apply in our worship, whether “Christian spirituality” has anything to do with the bible, what music puts me to sleep and why, and how you play a game with constantly changing goals — if there is a goal at all.

This is the second half of my conversation with Ty Clevenger and Reagan McClenny; please check out the first part if you have not done so already. We covered the topic of tolerance in the first part; here we turn to the war climate in our country that is quickly and perhaps inevitably coming to a boil, much like it did a century and a half ago. We will also discuss the downside to a win-at-all-costs mentality, whether it is in board games or in life.

Keep up with Ty's work at www.lawflog.com.

Listen to Reagan's sermons and subscribe to the congregational podcast at www.timberlandchurch.org.

Check out the YouTube version of the podcast for extra footage, including a guest appearance from Ty's son, Ethan. Some of the background noise will make more sense if you do!

This is the first part of my conversation with Ty Clevenger, a New York attorney well known for his political activity; and Reagan McClenny, the pulpit preacher for the Timberland Drive church of Christ. In this segment we discuss tolerance -- whether Democrats and Republicans can coexist in the Lord's church, and how we might go about helping that happen.

God is not the author of confusion, we are told; but His people create a great deal of it on their own in His name. This week we will discuss why modern charismatic worship is unscriptural (and selfish to boot), the crude language we could do with more of, the confusion we use to do what we want instead of doing what He says, and the only game I own that is not in English.

We all seek to live in a kinder, gentler world. But instead of hoping the world will change when we know it won’t, we need to be working on being kinder people ourselves. This week we will discuss going the extra mile in showing kindness, the problems JD Tant had when he did exactly that, the way you can be part of the solution (or at least less a part of the problem), and how winning the game can be the last thing in the world you want to do.

Marriage is one of my favorite topics, and one that is in dire need of attention in our world. Today we will discuss the various applications of the “one flesh” principle; we will revisit the J.D. Tant biography and discuss the pros and cons of his philosophy of courtship; we will deal with perhaps the most selfish argument anyone has ever made to excuse sin; and we will marry off our daughters in an effort to become the greatest family in Renaissance Italy.

Zeke Flores may be the best preacher I know. He’s been a good friend for most of this millennium, and has been working with the Eastside church of Christ in Baytown TX for the last 7 years. When I think of local work, I think of Zeke. Andy Cantrell may be the best preacher I don’t know. I do know that his name always features prominently when preachers sing the praises of other preachers. A native of southern California, he has been preaching in Champlin, Minnesota for 14 years.

Find more information about Andy Cantrell at https://www.nwcocmn.org/.

Find more information about Zeke Flores at https://www.eastsidebaytown.org/.

Confession refers to a public acknowledgement. The New Testament describes two specific contexts in which Christians confess, and we will touch on both. We will discuss what it means to call Jesus your Lord, my takeaways from my very first Russian novel, the distinction between confessing sins and confessing sin, and a bit of a confession of my own regarding my gaming habits.

Communication is both my vocation and my avocation, and language is the tool of my trade. This week I am taking you behind the curtain to show you a bit of how my mind works. A terrifying prospect, that. We’ll discuss the least appreciated part of speech, why we have punctuation at all, the differences between inferences and implications and why you should care, and how you can prove your point with literally any book in the world.

We’ll cover the parallels between musical harmonies and the unity of the Spirit, how worship music can actually push people away from God, the most frequently covered song in all of YouTube, and a game in which too much talent can ruin everything.

I’ve been preaching about heroes. The Bible is full of them, and we’ve never needed heroes more than we do today. What are some of the issues confronting the people of God today, and what Biblical heroes can we emulate while trying to address them?

I’ve been reading biographies — some focusing on spiritual activity, some not. One of the most satisfying things about the experience is finding a way to connect with individuals from the past and learn from their experiences. The trouble is, I sometimes think I’m just reinforcing the ideas I have already embraced. Is there a way to actually learn from history?

I’ve been playing Santa Maria, a game that derives its name from the flagship of Christopher Columbus. Players do not experience the spread of measles or smallpox, there is no coerced conversion to Catholicism, no one is kidnapped and forced into slavery. And that’s a good thing. I oppose the extermination of indigenous peoples, and beyond that I don’t think it makes for a very interesting format for a board game. Certainly Columbus is a flawed hero. But does that mean he can’t be a hero at all? And for us as Christians, how do we handle flawed heroes, both from the Bible and from our own lives, without glorifying or excusing sin?

I’ve been preaching … about the Nephilim. Greatness in this life is usually incompatible with greatness in the eyes of God.

I’ve been reading … What It Is, Is Preaching, the memoirs of Robert Turner, one of the true giants of the faith I was privileged to know.

I’ve been hearing … fossilized giant footprints have been found all over the world. Your attitude toward so-called proof says more about you than it says about the prints.

I’ve been playing … Kingdomino, with the Age of Giants expansion. If you dare strive for greatness, you are likely to get stomped on.

I’ve been preaching … about Babylon the Great, one of the great images from Revelation. Is it an image of New York? Let’s talk about it. (Bible condemns sin, warns of consequences)

I’ve been reading … New York’s in a decline that may never reverse itself. Exactly how surprising is that, from a Biblical perspective? (Nothing is forever)

I’ve been hearing … a man was shot and killed at a memorial to gun victims. Really. (bad people do evil b/c they can)

I’ve been playing … Pit. The chaos of the stock exchange might make for an exciting afternoon, but it’s no way to live your life. (pray for peace)

Links to cited articles are:
https://jamesaltucher.com/blog/nyc-is-dead-forever-heres-why/?fbclid=IwAR2sLC3Jc4T4dFLa4uvHo-_CSvVLHC8gQM2KYcHUJgOdoh4-6vccAvXreCA

https://nypost.com/2020/08/16/nyc-man-fatally-shot-at-gun-violence-memorial-as-shootings-rage-on/?fbclid=IwAR3ZAYw0ith582g2E33WzZBwWs1_rJ4Z4WLZmMDtzR7O33Twhbk5rA9XmL4

I am joined by two of my brethren in the work, Phillip Martin and Tony Mauck. Phillip is the cohost of the Do the Work podcast. He preaches and serves as one of the shepherds for the Eastside church of Christ in Sharpsburg, Georgia.

Tony is one of my oldest friends in preaching, currently laboring with the Decker Prairie church of Christ in suburban northwest Houston.

I’ve been preaching about the variety we find in our fellowship. It strikes me that many of our brethren over the years have deliberately limited the degree to which we differ in local churches — skin color, native language, clothing styles, you name it. We would all agree that drawing lines of distinction over doctrinal matters is a good thing and occasionally even a necessary thing. But can variety — even in spiritual matters — be a good thing? And if so, is there a way to embrace our differences without compromising Biblical truth?

I’ve been reading a variety of Bible versions in recent years, a hard left turn from my “NASB only” past. Three times the Proverbs writer extols the value of a multitude of counselors. But clearly some counselors are wiser than others. How many versions do you read from, do you have a single go-to version, and how important is it for the congregation and the preacher to be (pardon the expression) on the same page?

I’ve been playing Ticket to Ride a lot more in recent days. We’ve had the original North America map for years and played it to death. But over time we have collected various expansions with different maps and slightly tweaked rules. And we’ve not only found our interest in the general concept renewed, we have even found ourselves finding joy in the original worn-out version. In short, variety can bring life to old, worn-out forms and rejuvenate our interest. What are some ways we can diversify the service we offer to God and still offer Him what He wants without letting it grow stale in our own minds?

I’ve been preaching … about the temple of Artemis in ancient Ephesus. All physical beauty fades; God’s temple is not physical.

I’ve been reading … Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats. Is beauty truth? Is truth beauty? It depends on your definitions.

I’ve been hearing … women weighing themselves by the “worthy woman” of Proverbs 31 and finding themselves wanting. It’s OK. At least you’re using the right scale.

I’ve been playing … Wingspan. But not since it last appeared on the podcast. Turns out, beauty alone isn’t enough.

I’ve been preaching … about the woman at the well. The original personal evangelist gives us the pattern: Tell what you know to who you know.

I’ve been reading … Blue Ocean Strategy. Why try to run the denominations’ playbook better than they do? Jesus has a better plan.

I’ve been hearing … online worship is becoming more and more the rule. Instead of fussing, let’s turn that to our advantage.

I’ve been playing … Lorenzo il Magnifico. It and games like it are not for everyone, but I’m coming to grips with that.

I’ve been preaching … about the vision Elisha saw in 2 Kings 6. Those who are with us are truly more than those who are with them.

I’ve been reading … Complete Surrender, by Julian Wilson — the first biography of Eric Liddell I have read, and likely not the last.

I’ve been hearing … Liddell actually fell during a quarter mile race, picked himself up, and won. I thought for sure the movie made that up.

I’ve been playing … Rook. Help is right there, staring you in the face. It just may not be the specific kind of help you are looking for.

I’ve been preaching … about local overseers for local churches. It takes a special man for the task. Thank God for those special men.

I’ve been reading … A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by Phillip Keller. The more we learn about sheep, the more remarkable our Lord looks.

I’ve been hearing … myself and people like me called “Pastor” all my life. And I really wish they would stop.

I’ve been playing … Fields of Green. Sheep are a blessing to their owner. If they are not, the shepherd is likely to blame.

I’ve been preaching … about the crosses we have to bear for Jesus. If that sounds painful, you don’t know the half of it.

I’ve been reading … The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Grace that does not lead to discipleship is beneath the dignity of our calling.

I’ve been hearing … excuses, one after another. And they all mean the same thing — “Lord, I just don’t want to.”

I’ve been playing … Otys. Play the game to the best of your ability. But don’t get discouraged if your ability doesn’t amount to much.

I’ve been preaching … about Stephen. He knew better than most, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

I’ve been reading … Animal Farm by George Orwell. Despite all our talk about being equal in Jesus, some of us do seem to be more equal than others.

I’ve been hearing … Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro talk about Bible stories. I wish they could take those stories to their logical conclusion.

I’ve been playing … Deception: Murder in Hong Kong. Stories are supposed to reveal important truths. Let’s make sure they do.

I’ve been preaching … about how doing nothing is not inherently safer than doing something. You can’t shop for the perfect fire extinguisher forever.

I’ve been reading … debates between brethren over various issues. The “safest route” argument is not a good one for either side.

I’ve been hearing … “The Prayer,” lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager — a beautiful song, but one that asks God for the wrong kind of safety.

I’ve been playing … Small World. If your goal is to lose very little, you’d better be prepared to lose everything.

I’ve been preaching … about straw men, and trying not to fight too many of them. Easy victories are not really victories at all.

I’ve been reading … Plain Talk, by Robert Turner. I thought I would comment on how he handled the political chaos of his day. Trouble is, he didn’t.

I’ve been hearing … Voctave, the best singing group I’ve ever heard — and especially how the uninitiated respond upon their first hearing.

I’ve been playing … Castles of Burgundy. Occasionally you have to respond to others’ actions, but it’s rarely an excuse for not playing your own game.

I’ve been preaching … about lazy parents. We can’t discipline our children if we aren’t disciplined ourselves.

I’ve been reading … lazy accusations against my brethren. It’s hateful, it’s prideful, and it’s tearing apart the body of Christ.

I’ve been hearing … lazy preachers, feeding themselves at the expense of the flock. I’m looking hard into the mirror here.

I’ve been playing … Silver & Gold, a fun filler game that might have been a staple in our house if the designers had just tried a bit harder.

I’ve been preaching … about “last words” speeches in the Bible. It may not be important to make them count, but you might as well try.

I’ve been reading … Nehemiah. At the end of the work, we will be remembered for something. Let it be for good.

I’ve been hearing … a new preacher will carry on after we have gone. And really, it makes a lot less difference than you might think.

I’ve been playing … Amerigo. A new world means new challenges and opportunities. Predictability can be nice, but it’s probably overrated.

I've been preaching ... about perspective. The definition of "essential" changes depending on circumstances.
I've been reading ... the gospel Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15. The resurrection is at the core of everything.
I've been hearing ... about Shelley Luther and the world's most famous hair salon. When if ever is it essential to rebel against the government?
I've been playing ... Silver. Fighting off vampires every day can get boring. Changing your tactics keeps it fresh.

I've been preaching ... about the spiritual implications of the COVID-19 lockdown. Whatever you do, do it in love.
I've been reading ... worldly comments on social media. If Jesus isn't in your virtual life, maybe He's not in your real life either.
I've been hearing ... churches measuring success with numbers. But real concerns don't show up on a spreadsheet.
I've been playing ... Similo. We all make judgments based on obvious factors, and what we find obvious may be disturbing.

I’ve been preaching … about wineskins, and how our attitude can directly affect the gospel’s attempt to change us.

I’ve been reading … The Second Incarnation — A Theology for the 21st Century.” The question is, do we really need one?

I’ve been hearing … polls being quoted everywhere by everyone and for every purpose. I’m inclined to ignore them all.

I’ve been playing … Coloma, a great example of a game that’s just not for everyone. And that’s OK.

I’ve been preaching … about the signs of the times — what they were in Jesus’ time, and what they are today.

I’ve been reading … Revelation. The key is seeing what God wants you to see, not what you expect to see.

I’ve been hearing … the COVID-19 models were off. Way off. And why not? They were made by humans, after all.

I’ve been playing … Grand Austria Hotel. You can’t know the future, but you can set yourself up for success.

I’ve been preaching … about being born again, the absolute core of what it means to be a Christian.

I’ve been reading … Ezra, and seeing parallels to our current situation that are absolutely stunning.

I’ve been hearing … “Here Comes the Sun,” one of the most beloved Beatles songs of all — and for good reason.

I’ve been playing … Dice Hospital, and now I’m even more grateful that God doesn’t give up on us.

I’ve been preaching … about zero-sum Christianity. God does not need to rob you to give to your brother.

I’ve been reading … more from Wealth: is it worth it? By S. Truett Cathy. More money does not always make us more generous.

I’ve been hearing … Tax cuts can lead to smaller church contributions. How exactly does that work?

I’ve been playing … Gugong. You can’t give to God more than He has already given to you.

I’ve been preaching … about talents, and a willingness to work with however many you have.

I’ve been reading … Wealth: is it worth it? by S. Truett Cathy. Do good work and growth takes care of itself.

I’ve been hearing … The stock market is down. Like in 2008, and 1930, and 1893. Don’t panic just yet.

I’ve been playing … Underwater Cities. If you live your life just going turn by turn, you will drown.

Since I had some extra bandwidth, I included as a bonus this month my sermon from Psalm 46. I think this directly addresses some issues of faith that have been brought to the surface because of the current crisis. I hope it is an encouragement to you.

I’ve been preaching … About Elisha, a bald man my father can be proud of.

I’ve been reading … Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, by Charles Swindoll. The standard of greatness has definitely changed in 30 years.

I’ve been hearing … stories about doctors and nurses running into the line of fire. And celebrities giving concerts. Which is nice, too

I’ve been playing … Adventure Land. Eyes forward, always. Remember Lot’s wife.

I’ve been preaching … to the camera for the last couple of weeks. I really thought it was going to be easy. Actually, for me at least, it’s much much harder. I’ll explain why and what I’m doing about it.

I’ve been reading … a lot less news. Once I thought the news connected me to what was really going on in the world. These days I really believe the exact opposite is true.

I’ve been hearing … about social distancing — both the voluntary and the involuntary versions. I’m tired of complaining about it; now I’m looking for a way to make it work in our favor.

I’ve been playing … Sheriff of Nottingham. Our family got into board gaming to make our entertainment more interactive. And this game is all about interaction.

I’ve been preaching … about the spread of evil, and why holiness doesn’t spread as easily. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if it did? It’s worth a try, at least.

I’ve been reading … The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. Children amid the worst horror imaginable find escape, freedom and glory. Yes, it can happen to you.

I’ve been hearing … about virus rebels. Many young adults are fighting cabin fever by just pretending Coronavirus doesn’t exist or that it won’t touch them. They’re idiots.

I’ve been playing … Not Alone. If you stay too long in the alien world, you will be swallowed up by it. It’s not just a game — it’s your life.

I’ve been preaching … about the sin virus. It invades, it spreads, and it kills. And we’ve all got it. Thankfully, there is a cure — and best of all, it’s free.

I’ve been reading … how regular soap and water is the best preventative. So I’ll wash my hands — not because I’m scared, but because I care about other people.

I’ve been hearing … the NBA is in lockdown after Rudy Gobert mocked the precautionary measures in place and then tested positive himself. Don’t mock what you don’t understand.

I’ve been playing … Pandemic. To millions, it is the ultimate cooperative experience. To me, it’s Whack-A-Mole, the board game. But maybe you are more patient than I am.

I’ve been preaching … about the appeal of idols. As strange as it may seem to me, clearly people have always been drawn toward idol-worship. Let’s talk about why.

I’ve been reading … Hawaii, by James Michener. Celebrating our culture is fine. But cultures are rarely found in complete harmony with God’s will. At some point, we have to make a choice.

I’ve been hearing … “American Idol” is still on the air. We quit watching it years ago, mostly because the show celebrates everything that’s wrong with our society.

I’ve been playing … Bora Bora, which in our mind steers clear of actually honoring pagan gods. It’s a fine line to walk; I’ll share how exactly I walk it

I’ve been preaching … about how jealousy landed Daniel in the lion’s den. Have you ever been jealous enough to kill someone? And don’t be too quick to answer.

I’ve been reading … more from The Daniel Dilemma. Satan wants us to adopt the name of his choosing instead of the name God gives us. It is critical that we just say no!

I’ve been hearing … different theories about the Hanging Gardens. It’s amazing how the so-called wonders of the world come and go, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

I’ve been playing … 7 Wonders, in which you try to build the most glorious civilization possible. To succeed, build something of your own; don’t be satisfied with sabotaging your opponents.

I’ve been preaching … about the jealousy of Daniel’s subordinates, and how it landed him in the lion’s den. Have you ever been jealous enough to kill someone? And don’t be too quick to answer.

I’ve been reading … The Daniel Dilemma, by Chris Hodges. One of the most powerful things Satan can do to defeat us is to adopt the name of his choosing instead of the name God gives us. Just say no!

I’ve been hearing … different theories about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It’s amazing how the so-called wonders of the world come and go, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

I’ve been playing … Dream Home. We work with the material we have, and it’s not always ideal. But if you value the right things, you can build a spiritual house you can be proud of.

I’ve been preaching … about predestination. It’s not a question of whether it is true; it’s a question of what it means and what it doesn’t mean.

I’ve been reading … Atlantis Rising, by Clive Cussler. Some people just think they are better than everyone else. I wish they were all in novels, but they’re not.

I’ve been hearing … Jeremiah 29:11 quoted out of context all my life. If you think God’s plan for your life is marrying the prom queen or getting through dental school, you are aiming way too low.

I’ve been playing … Medici, a game I have never won and likely never will win. I’m coming to grips with that, and I’ll tell you how.

I’ve been preaching … about unity and division. Jesus provides a way for all humans to come together in peace and harmony. But we have to do it His way. Not ours.

I’ve been reading … What Americans Really want … Really, by Frank Luntz. Honesty is the best policy, especially being honest with ourselves about our real values.

I’ve been hearing … the impeachment process is really over, and Donald Trump is still our president. We don’t always like the reality that exists, but we would do well to accept it.

I’ve been playing … Coup. Amass influence, assert power, lie through your teeth whenever advisable, and you can overthrow the government. It’s a lot more fun to play than to live through.

I’ve been preaching … about finishing. How you finish something is far more important than how you start. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are great examples.

I’ve been reading … two different reactions to the halftime show featuring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Which one is yours will depend on whether you value carnal things or spiritual things.

I’ve been hearing … about female participation, in sports and in every other walk of life. If women want to assume traditionally male roles, fine. But if I were a woman, I would resent the demotion.

I’ve been playing … Pizza Box Football, the best tabletop representation of football I’ve seen. And like in real football, good strategy is no guarantee against bad luck.

I’ve been preaching … about the power of smiles. Joy is meant to be shown and shared. It makes all the difference in the world.

I’ve been reading … the lyrics to “Closed on Sunday,” from Kanye West’s new album. This is why I don’t listen to hip-hop.

I’ve been hearing … All the local Chick-fil-A employees sing their boss’s praises. And I mean everyone. They’re not brainwashed. They are just made in his image.

I’ve been playing … New York Slice. Like in retail, the only way you can get what you want is by giving other people what they want. I wish some Christians could figure that out.

I’ve been preaching … about leadership. Chick fil-A #01389 trains its employees to be “leaders,” both inside and outside the workplace. And it shows.

I’ve been reading … about Christians withdrawing their support for Chick Fil-A because of changes in their charity policy. We have got to get a grip on who the good guys and bad guys are in this culture war.

I’ve been hearing … “My pleasure.” A lot. Is there a difference between “My Pleasure” and “You’re Welcome”? I think there is, and I’ll tell you why.

I’ve been playing … Lanterns: The Harvest Festival. When the idea is to get as much glory for yourself as possible, it inevitably means denying it to others. A good game, and a rotten way to live.

I’ve been preaching … about the fear of God in a godless world. Sinners do not fear God; we know that. But there may be a bigger problem — that there is not enough fear of God in us.

I’ve been reading … Faith for This Moment, by Rick McKinley. It is our job as Christians to present the gospel to the world. But if we think it is merely a tool to make the world less worldly, we are missing the whole point.

I’ve been hearing … the Lord’s church must change with the times to accommodate changes in culture. Funny, I’ve always thought it was exactly the opposite.

I’ve been playing … Mombasa, in which trading companies invade Africa and carve it up for their own self-serving purposes. It’s a fantastic game. But I’d hate to live in a world that was actually like that.

I’ve been preaching … about God-given rights. They are not as “self-evident” as the founders asserted. And they certainly are not as important as the right God actually endowed us with.

I’ve been reading … Epitaph, by Mary Doria Russell. Again. The OK Corral incident was all about gun-control laws. They didn’t work then, and they don’t work now, because they don’t deal with the real problem.

I’ve been hearing … about the White Settlement shooting. In all the talk about concealed carry permits and church security, we have ignored the real issue. And it’s not gun-related.

I’ve been playing … Bang! The Dice Game. The trick is to shoot the other team and not your own. Trouble is, you don’t always know who is who. Sort of like in the church.

I’ve been preaching … about The Little Drummer Boy. This is not a beloved icon of the season; it’s an example of everything that’s wrong in the church today, and I’ll be glad to tell you why.

I’ve been reading … A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The spirit of giving manages to escape many of us. Surely the story of Jesus should be enough to make us think of someone other than ourselves.

I’ve been hearing … Baby it’s Cold Outside. And I’ve been hearing the backlash, and the backlash against the backlash. Well, here’s my backlash against that.

I’ve been playing … Chicken Foot, a traditional domino game that is a staple at Hammons family gatherings. It’s not my favorite by any stretch of the imagination, but then, that’s not the point.

I’ve been hearing … the good work Terry does in cooperation with Philip Martin on the popular Do the Work podcast. If you’re on Facebook, look it up. It will give some excellent insight in to the work of an evangelist — helpful for preachers and non-preachers alike.

In the “I’ve been Playing” segment, we will discuss Terry’s lifelong obsession with the football program at the University of Tennessee. He’s had a rough go of things in recent years, but that’s what being a fan is all about — sticking it out through good times and bad.Are you ready? Here we go.

In this special two-part episode, I will be speaking with Terry Francis, who preaches for the Chelsea church of Christ in the Birmingham, Alabama area.

Terry cohosts the popular Do the Work podcast with his colleague, Philip Martin. I was able to sit down with Terry recently. Here is some of what we talked about:

Terry has been preaching … about the role non-traditional families play in the local church. Every church craves more young families with children. But the church is here to serve. And often it is single-parent families that need service the most.

Terry has been reading … The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. Human societies feature what Gladwell calls Connectors, Mavens, and Influencers — people who bring people together; people with needful information, and people who persuade. Churches have a need for all of the above; which one are you?

We will discuss what I call “The Magnificent Seven,” Biblical characters that remind me of the heroes from the classic film.

We will discuss Epitaph, by Mary Doria Russell, again. Josie Marcus was determined that the world see her man, Wyatt Earp, as the man she knew him to be. We should be equally protective of Jesus’ reputation

We will discuss John Wayne’s “The Alamo,” a film he saw as his commentary on freedom and communism. The stand he took, both behind the scenes and on the big screen, should inspire us to stand for Christ.

We will discuss Dicetown, which combines Yahtzee and poker to create a game where, to quote Kenny rogers, every hand’s a winner and every hand’s a loser.

We 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, so-called pointless fights say more about the fighter than the cause.

We will discuss Council of Verona, in which the Montague and Capulet clans fight for control. Whether Romeo and Juliet wind up together is only part of the story.

I 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 in America.

I will give thanks for Between Two Cities, a board game that makes the player pursue his own goals by helping his neighbors pursue theirs. Kind of like the local church.

We 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 themselves.

We will discuss Shadows over Camelot, a game in which King Arthur and his knights cooperate to achieve a common goal. Or not. Sometimes traitors live among us, and they can be difficult to identify.

We 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 need these days.

We will discuss London, a board game in which you are forced to balance a growing economy with the real problems that it creates. Turns out, more prosperity is not necessarily better.

I’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 concern. I’m just happy to see a high profile figure taking a stand against sin.

I’ve been playing … Lisboa. This game lets the players help rebuild the capital city of Portugal. Those not prepared to do some heavy lifting need not apply.

I’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. The apples are not falling too far from the tree.

I’ve been playing … City of Spies: Estoril 1942. If you were recruiting people to join Jesus in His resistance against the forces of evil, which approach would you use? I say, why not all of them?

I’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 same thing.

I’ve been playing … Azul, probably the best of all of the Portuguese board games in our collection. Believe it or not, that’s saying something.

I’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’ve been playing … Riverboat, in which you farm your lands, put your produce on a boat, and sail it down the mighty Mississippi. And apparently, that makes you a racist.

I’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 about serious matters in public. If that makes me a grumpy old man, so be it.

I’ve been playing … La Isla — a game in which you capture animals thought to have been extinct. What do the animals want? Who cares? They’re animals!

I’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 agree that the first one was a poor country housewife from rural Virginia.

I’ve been playing … Museum. There’s a difference between a good move and the best move. When I properly grasp that concept, maybe I’ll start winning this game.

I’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 me of some Christians I know.

I’ve been playing … Architects of the West Kingdom. Find a strategy, and stick with it. It’s what I’ve done all my life as a Christian; I’m not sure why it took so long for me to do it in board games.

I’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 actors will often reap what they sow.

I’ve been playing … Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. It can be exhausting trying to measure up to an ideal standard

I’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’t.

I’ve been playing … Fallout Shelter. Being an overseer in an apocalyptic world is a lot like being an overseer in a local church. The more seriously you take the job, the more work you make for yourself.

I’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 soon enough.

I’ve been playing … Escape: Curse of the Temple. I play games to alleviate stress. When I find a game that causes stress, I just say no.

I’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 come to ignore it like I do.

I’ve been playing … Fortune and Glory: the Cliffhanger game. Beating up Nazis and getting famous in the process sounds like a game that can’t miss. But it did, at least in our house.

I’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-minded individuals?

I’ve been playing … The Resistance. The difference between lying and telling the truth is obvious; it is only confusing when you listen to people who want to feel better about their lies.

I’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 playing … Isle of Skye. My preconceptions were keeping me from playing my favorite board game designer’s most popular game. Now I know better.

I’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 playing … in game cafes. Play for hours on end in a safe, clean environment, and all I have to do is buy something? Count me in.

I’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 shooter.

I’ve been playing … golf. God gave us a beautiful world, and He gave us the power and the mandate to mold it to suit our purposes. Let’s make sure those purposes are noble.

For 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://www.timberlandchurch.org/.

Kris and Reagan help organize the annual Gospel Preachers Golf Association golf tournament in East Texas, which is where and how we met up. For information about the 2020 GPGA tournament, please follow the link provided: https://ukalumni.heliohost.org/gpgagolf/.

We will hear Kris and Reagan tell us what they have been preaching and reading. And since golf brought us together, we will throw in some faith lessons from our antics on the golf course as well.

I’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 words would be if we had heard what he was actually trying to say.

I’ve been playing … Yokohama. Both in the game and in life, your ability to act effectively depends on the trail of influence you leave behind.

I’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 Bible has been teaching us all along.

I’ve been playing … Newton. If the game, or God, sets you up for success, it would be tragic not to take proper advantage.

I’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 efficiency.

I’ve been playing … Euphoria: Building a Better Dystopia. Keeping your people happy and ignorant may seem like a good plan for spiritual leadership today, but Jesus has a better one.

I’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 galaxy for a few hours.

I’ve been playing … Catan, a game in which you can pridefully go it alone and lose, or learn to play well with others and have a chance to win.

I’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 it.

I’ve been playing … Carpe Diem, a game that succeeds despite the best efforts of the art department.

I’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 to him. Sort of.

I’ve been playing … Wingspan, and if you don’t think artwork is a significant element in board games, this game will change your mind.

I’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 playing … Reworld, in which earthlings abandon an uninhabitable planet to start over somewhere new. It’s a great idea — probably because God thought of it first.

Paul 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 been playing … MMOs — massive multiplayer online games. Leveling up is a lot tougher to measure in our walk with Christ, but that doesn’t make it any less important.

I 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 of Marco Polo, and it makes me wonder whether superheroes ever get jealous of one another.

I 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 intelligence against my ego — and if I had more intelligence, I’d try to have less ego.

I 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. I probably couldn’t survive a zombie apocalypse, but I think I could find purpose fighting one battle at a time.

I'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 contracted foot-in-mouth disease.
I've been playing ... Istanbul, with two of its expansions. I'm not a big fan of expansions generally, but with Istanbul, the more game the better.

I'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.

I'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.

I'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.