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

A Pennsylvania man demolished his own house with an excavator after his wife said the marriage was over — which is a wild story, but also a useful case study in what not to do when you're angry. Jim Carrey showed up to a French awards ceremony looking unrecognizable, which opens a bigger conversation about image, aging, and why the only foundation for genuine self-acceptance is knowing you are created in the image of God, fearfully and wonderfully made. Carl Truman has coined a new term — Gig Eva — and it's more concerning than Big Eva: online evangelical influencers who are accountable to no one, may not even be real, and are quietly replacing the local church as the primary discipleship vehicle for millions. Mitt Romney told Harvard Business School graduates that the true measure of wealth is the people you love and your friends — which is either obvious or convicting depending on how you're actually spending your time. Nate Bargatze on why not cursing actually gives you more freedom as a comedian, and what that says about being distinctively different in your field. And a closing devotion from Charles Stanley on the stages of the Christian journey — recognizing where God is working right now, and why we all need people ahead of us, behind us, and alongside us in the race.

A Pennsylvania man demolished his own house with an excavator after his wife said the marriage was over &mdash; which is a wild story, but also a useful case study in what not to do when you're angry. Jim Carrey showed up to a French awards ceremony looking unrecognizable, which opens a bigger conversation about image, aging, and why the only foundation for genuine self-acceptance is knowing you are created in the image of God, fearfully and wonderfully made. Carl Truman has coined a new term &mdash; Gig Eva &mdash; and it's more concerning than Big Eva: online evangelical influencers who are accountable to no one, may not even be real, and are quietly replacing the local church as the primary discipleship vehicle for millions. Mitt Romney told Harvard Business School graduates that the true measure of wealth is the people you love and your friends &mdash; which is either obvious or convicting depending on how you're actually spending your time. Nate Bargatze on why not cursing actually gives you more freedom as a comedian, and what that says about being distinctively different in your field. And a closing devotion from Charles Stanley on the stages of the Christian journey &mdash; recognizing where God is working right now, and why we all need people ahead of us, behind us, and alongside us in the race.

Gig Eva, Clean Comedy & What Makes You Wealthy

184 trillion dollars is changing hands over the next two decades — and 70% of it is coming to women who, by and large, don't feel ready for it. The average age of a widow is 59. 95% of women will be the primary financial decision-maker for their household at some point. And yet most women are still sitting on the sidelines when it comes to money. Julie Wilson, president of Women Doing Well, joins Brian From to talk about what the data shows, why the real issue isn't financial literacy but values and purpose, and what actually happens when a woman engages in her family's finances — spoiler, her husband said he finally didn't feel so alone. Julie also challenges pastors directly: if your church doesn't have a strategy for women and wealth, your congregation will start suffering as women become the primary financial decision-makers — and they won't come to you for help if you haven't built the relationship first. A practical, grounded conversation about stewardship, marriage, and what it looks like to manage money in alignment with your faith. Learn more at womendoingwell.org.

184 trillion dollars is changing hands over the next two decades &mdash; and 70% of it is coming to women who, by and large, don't feel ready for it. The average age of a widow is 59. 95% of women will be the primary financial decision-maker for their household at some point. And yet most women are still sitting on the sidelines when it comes to money. Julie Wilson, president of Women Doing Well, joins Brian From to talk about what the data shows, why the real issue isn't financial literacy but values and purpose, and what actually happens when a woman engages in her family's finances &mdash; spoiler, her husband said he finally didn't feel so alone. Julie also challenges pastors directly: if your church doesn't have a strategy for women and wealth, your congregation will start suffering as women become the primary financial decision-makers &mdash; and they won't come to you for help if you haven't built the relationship first. A practical, grounded conversation about stewardship, marriage, and what it looks like to manage money in alignment with your faith. Learn more at womendoingwell.org.

Women, Wealth & Faith with Julie Wilson

Adam Holtz is temporarily indisposed (Paul Asay's version of events involves a closet), so Paul steps in from the Plugged In team at Focus on the Family to run through what's worth watching this weekend. First up: The Breadwinner, a PG comedy starring Nate Bargatze about a dad who discovers he has no idea how to run his own household once his wife leaves for a month — sweet, clean, and a genuine rarity at the multiplex. Then a heads-up for parents of teenagers: Backrooms is getting buzz, teens are already emailing Plugged In asking when the review drops, and the R rating is earned. Finally, a World War II drama that tells a genuinely underreported story — the meteorologists whose weather forecast either made or broke the D-Day invasion. Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower takes some adjusting to, but the history is real and the story is worth knowing. All three are in theaters. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.

Adam Holtz is temporarily indisposed (Paul Asay's version of events involves a closet), so Paul steps in from the Plugged In team at Focus on the Family to run through what's worth watching this weekend. First up: The Breadwinner, a PG comedy starring Nate Bargatze about a dad who discovers he has no idea how to run his own household once his wife leaves for a month &mdash; sweet, clean, and a genuine rarity at the multiplex. Then a heads-up for parents of teenagers: Backrooms is getting buzz, teens are already emailing Plugged In asking when the review drops, and the R rating is earned. Finally, a World War II drama that tells a genuinely underreported story &mdash; the meteorologists whose weather forecast either made or broke the D-Day invasion. Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower takes some adjusting to, but the history is real and the story is worth knowing. All three are in theaters. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.

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

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