Chris Rice, Director of the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office and Coauthor of "More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel," joined Brian to chat about the special re-release of “More Than Equals” as part of the IVP Signature Collection. 

Check out Chris’ blog at reconcilers.wordpress.com and connect with him on Twitter at @reconcilers

Chris Rice, Director of the <a href="https://mcc.org/get-involved/advocacy/un">Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office</a> and Coauthor of <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/more-than-equals">"More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel,"</a> joined Brian to chat about the special re-release of <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/more-than-equals">&ldquo;More Than Equals&rdquo;</a> as part of the IVP Signature Collection.&nbsp;
Check out Chris&rsquo; blog at <a href="https://reconcilers.wordpress.com/">reconcilers.wordpress.com</a> and connect with him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/reconcilers">@reconcilers</a>

The idea of “the common good” has a rich history within the Christian church. It’s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God’s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God’s design for all of us fulfilled.

The idea of &ldquo;the common good&rdquo; has a rich history within the Christian church. It&rsquo;s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God&rsquo;s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God&rsquo;s design for all of us fulfilled.

The Common Good Podcast

The Common Good

Guest: Chris Rice, Director of the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office and Coauthor of "More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel" - August 9, 2021

Brian From starts the weekend with a reminder about the work it takes to build adult friendships once the kids leave home, and why we need people who point us to Jesus. He takes on the Portland Trail Blazers' firing of new broadcaster Braden Bell over posts he made at 13 to 15 years old, asks where grace fits, and warns parents that what kids post online lives forever. He covers two AI stories: a Reuters report on McDonald's using AI to set prices store by store, and a Christianity Today feature on worship leader Tyler Anson Newberry's "Song Theology" tool for evaluating worship lyrics. From there he reflects on proclaiming God's Word and trusting God with the size of the church. Brian points to signs of God at work in unlikely places: Swedish youth naming Jesus "influencer of the year," a surge of adult baptisms in France, and Princeton philosophy students who converted to Catholicism. He also responds to the Cornell Seven case with a call to Christian character and integrity. He pushes back on a State of Theology survey finding most U.K. evangelicals believe people are good by nature, and he closes with the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19.

Brian From starts the weekend with a reminder about the work it takes to build adult friendships once the kids leave home, and why we need people who point us to Jesus. He takes on the Portland Trail Blazers' firing of new broadcaster Braden Bell over posts he made at 13 to 15 years old, asks where grace fits, and warns parents that what kids post online lives forever. He covers two AI stories: a Reuters report on McDonald's using AI to set prices store by store, and a Christianity Today feature on worship leader Tyler Anson Newberry's "Song Theology" tool for evaluating worship lyrics. From there he reflects on proclaiming God's Word and trusting God with the size of the church. Brian points to signs of God at work in unlikely places: Swedish youth naming Jesus "influencer of the year," a surge of adult baptisms in France, and Princeton philosophy students who converted to Catholicism. He also responds to the Cornell Seven case with a call to Christian character and integrity. He pushes back on a State of Theology survey finding most U.K. evangelicals believe people are good by nature, and he closes with the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19.

Should We Be Held Accountable for What We Said as Teenagers?

With Adam Holz out, Brian From welcomes fellow Plugged In reviewer Bret Eckelberry for the weekly entertainment check-in. Bret warns families that this week's biggest releases aren't kid-friendly. One is Digger, an absurdist political satire starring Tom Cruise as a megalomaniacal oil tycoon. The other is Verity, a sexually charged thriller based on Colleen Hoover's novel. Brian and Bret reflect on The Chosen filming its final scene: what the series has done for the Christian world, how it shows the humanity of Jesus and His disciples, and whether its success will lead to more biblical series. Bret closes with some family options: the theatrical re-release of Avengers: Endgame, the colorful but sometimes scary Forgotten Island for older kids, and the live-action Moana.

With Adam Holz out, Brian From welcomes fellow Plugged In reviewer Bret Eckelberry for the weekly entertainment check-in. Bret warns families that this week's biggest releases aren't kid-friendly. One is Digger, an absurdist political satire starring Tom Cruise as a megalomaniacal oil tycoon. The other is Verity, a sexually charged thriller based on Colleen Hoover's novel. Brian and Bret reflect on The Chosen filming its final scene: what the series has done for the Christian world, how it shows the humanity of Jesus and His disciples, and whether its success will lead to more biblical series. Bret closes with some family options: the theatrical re-release of Avengers: Endgame, the colorful but sometimes scary Forgotten Island for older kids, and the live-action Moana.

There's Not Much Family-Friendly Fare at the Box Office This Week, but Plugged In Has Some Alternatives

Brian From talks with John Brennan, national recruiting coordinator for Angel Tree, a Prison Fellowship ministry that works through local churches to deliver Christmas gifts to children of incarcerated parents on their parents' behalf. John shares how his family got involved in 2001, when a church delivered Angel Tree gifts to the four grandchildren he and his wife were raising while their father was in prison. He describes the shame, guilt, and feelings of worthlessness these children often carry, and how churches can help break the cycle that leads many to follow a parent into prison. John tells the story of a 13-year-old boy whose gift tag from his father opened the door to reconnecting. He also explains how churches can stay involved year-round through Bible cards, prayer, and personal delivery, and he invites listeners and churches to sign up at prisonfellowship.org.

Brian From talks with John Brennan, national recruiting coordinator for Angel Tree, a Prison Fellowship ministry that works through local churches to deliver Christmas gifts to children of incarcerated parents on their parents' behalf. John shares how his family got involved in 2001, when a church delivered Angel Tree gifts to the four grandchildren he and his wife were raising while their father was in prison. He describes the shame, guilt, and feelings of worthlessness these children often carry, and how churches can help break the cycle that leads many to follow a parent into prison. John tells the story of a 13-year-old boy whose gift tag from his father opened the door to reconnecting. He also explains how churches can stay involved year-round through Bible cards, prayer, and personal delivery, and he invites listeners and churches to sign up at prisonfellowship.org.

Guest: Chris Rice, Director of the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office and Coauthor of "More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel" - August 9, 2021

The Common Good

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