Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity, joined Brian to chat about his new book, No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation. 

Learn more about Greg and his books at gregorycoles.com

Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/single-gay-christian">Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity</a>, joined Brian to chat about his new book, <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/no-longer-strangers">No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation</a>.&nbsp;
Learn more about Greg and his books at <a href="https://www.gregorycoles.com/">gregorycoles.com</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: Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of "No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation" - March 1, 2021

Brian From starts the weekend glad to have his son home from college for fall break, remembering his own first trip home from Wheaton. With the midterms weeks away, he urges listeners on both sides of the aisle to remember that elections are important but not ultimate, because Christ remains on the throne. He looks at Chick-fil-A’s growth from a small Georgia diner into a $24 billion company and argues its success comes from doing the basics with excellence and integrity, which then opens doors for generosity and witness. He shares Tim Challies’s reflection on stewarding whatever gifts God has given, and draws lessons for the spiritual life from a long overnight drive home. Brian highlights former ESPN producer Nicole Noren, who left the network after it launched its own betting platform, drawing on her family’s painful history with gambling addiction. He closes with John Piper’s classic “Don’t Waste Your Life” sermon and a call to boast only in the cross.

Brian From starts the weekend glad to have his son home from college for fall break, remembering his own first trip home from Wheaton. With the midterms weeks away, he urges listeners on both sides of the aisle to remember that elections are important but not ultimate, because Christ remains on the throne. He looks at Chick-fil-A&rsquo;s growth from a small Georgia diner into a $24 billion company and argues its success comes from doing the basics with excellence and integrity, which then opens doors for generosity and witness. He shares Tim Challies&rsquo;s reflection on stewarding whatever gifts God has given, and draws lessons for the spiritual life from a long overnight drive home. Brian highlights former ESPN producer Nicole Noren, who left the network after it launched its own betting platform, drawing on her family&rsquo;s painful history with gambling addiction. He closes with John Piper&rsquo;s classic &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t Waste Your Life&rdquo; sermon and a call to boast only in the cross.

Elections Matter, but They Aren’t Ultimate, and Jesus Isn’t on the Ballot

Adam Holz of Plugged In rejoins Brian From after several weeks away. He shares that a kidney tumor removed in surgery turned out to be benign despite a 90 percent chance it was malignant, but a septic infection put him back in the hospital. He reflects on how suffering can deepen our compassion for others, including people who are sick or injured in war zones. Then it’s on to the movies. Adam describes Whale Fall, a survival thriller about a diver swallowed by a sperm whale while searching for his father’s body, with unavoidable echoes of Jonah. He offers a quick take on The Social Reckoning, an R-rated follow-up to The Social Network about the legal case against Facebook, and notes yet another Sense and Sensibility adaptation. He closes with Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul, a Portuguese-language Brazilian remake of the Kendrick Brothers’ 2003 film about a dishonest used-car salesman transformed by faith.

Adam Holz of Plugged In rejoins Brian From after several weeks away. He shares that a kidney tumor removed in surgery turned out to be benign despite a 90 percent chance it was malignant, but a septic infection put him back in the hospital. He reflects on how suffering can deepen our compassion for others, including people who are sick or injured in war zones. Then it&rsquo;s on to the movies. Adam describes Whale Fall, a survival thriller about a diver swallowed by a sperm whale while searching for his father&rsquo;s body, with unavoidable echoes of Jonah. He offers a quick take on The Social Reckoning, an R-rated follow-up to The Social Network about the legal case against Facebook, and notes yet another Sense and Sensibility adaptation. He closes with Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul, a Portuguese-language Brazilian remake of the Kendrick Brothers&rsquo; 2003 film about a dishonest used-car salesman transformed by faith.

Plugged In’s Adam Holz Returns from a Health Scare to Review a Movie Set Inside a Sperm Whale

Brian From opens with a study linking walking to better mental health in teens, a good reminder for all of us. In a vulnerable moment, he admits that hearing about a hardship faced by someone who hurt him brought him a flash of satisfaction, and he reflects on what that reveals about unfinished forgiveness. He wrestles with senseless tragedies, including a father killed on a roller coaster and a Wheaton College freshman struck by a train, and points to the nearness and ultimate victory of Christ. He shares John Piper’s answer to a mother with a disability who feels she can’t measure up to Proverbs 31, and Nancy Guthrie’s reflection on longing to behold Jesus face to face. Brian applauds an Oregon Catholic high school for removing a football coach who called an onside kick while leading 57–0, and considers a report that the “American Dream” now costs $5.3 million. He condemns online cruelty toward philanthropist Susan Dell and reflects on Billy Crystal’s honest admission that tragedy has cost him his trust in God. He closes with Paul’s call in Philippians 1:27 to live worthy of the gospel and a GC Discipleship article arguing that God is more happy than harsh.

Brian From opens with a study linking walking to better mental health in teens, a good reminder for all of us. In a vulnerable moment, he admits that hearing about a hardship faced by someone who hurt him brought him a flash of satisfaction, and he reflects on what that reveals about unfinished forgiveness. He wrestles with senseless tragedies, including a father killed on a roller coaster and a Wheaton College freshman struck by a train, and points to the nearness and ultimate victory of Christ. He shares John Piper&rsquo;s answer to a mother with a disability who feels she can&rsquo;t measure up to Proverbs 31, and Nancy Guthrie&rsquo;s reflection on longing to behold Jesus face to face. Brian applauds an Oregon Catholic high school for removing a football coach who called an onside kick while leading 57&ndash;0, and considers a report that the &ldquo;American Dream&rdquo; now costs $5.3 million. He condemns online cruelty toward philanthropist Susan Dell and reflects on Billy Crystal&rsquo;s honest admission that tragedy has cost him his trust in God. He closes with Paul&rsquo;s call in Philippians 1:27 to live worthy of the gospel and a GC Discipleship article arguing that God is more happy than harsh.

Guest: Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of "No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation" - March 1, 2021

The Common Good

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