Brian catches up with Adam Holz of Plugged In for a lighter Friday roundup. They discuss Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, a Halloween-themed stop-motion comedy spoofing classic horror tropes when a hair-growth tonic turns a bald farmer into a mistaken "monster," with a same-gender couple briefly appearing and some content notes for younger or sensitive viewers. Adam also reviews Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, the latest in a wave of biblical dramas following the success of The Chosen, praising its effort to set up the broader biblical context before diving into Daniel's story in Babylon, while noting the usual minor artistic liberties common to the genre. They close with Adam's personal recommendation for a rainy day double feature: the World War II films Pressure and Nuremberg.

Brian catches up with Adam Holz of Plugged In for a lighter Friday roundup. They discuss Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, a Halloween-themed stop-motion comedy spoofing classic horror tropes when a hair-growth tonic turns a bald farmer into a mistaken "monster," with a same-gender couple briefly appearing and some content notes for younger or sensitive viewers. Adam also reviews Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, the latest in a wave of biblical dramas following the success of The Chosen, praising its effort to set up the broader biblical context before diving into Daniel's story in Babylon, while noting the usual minor artistic liberties common to the genre. They close with Adam's personal recommendation for a rainy day double feature: the World War II films Pressure and Nuremberg.

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

Shaun the Sheep's Halloween Horror Spoof, and a New Daniel Movie

Brian opens with a rich theological reflection on living coram Deo — before the face of God — arguing that God's presence isn't confined to two hours of Sunday worship but fills the other 166 hours of ordinary work and life. He calls out the cruelty he witnessed in Christian social media responses to a seminary student's video about pursuing a Master of Divinity, arguing online meanness reveals true character rather than excusing it. Brian reacts to reports the Trump administration is considering federal subsidies for stay-at-home parents, questioning the shift toward government handouts regardless of party. He shares a Christianity Today piece distinguishing "niceness" from biblical kindness, arguing Christians are called to speak hard truths without reveling in others' humiliation. Brian discusses a striking shift in global missions — the West now receiving as many missionaries as it sends — and plays a clip of JD Greer wrestling with the ethics of sports gambling ahead of football season. He closes with Greer's essay explaining why he rejects Christian nationalism, and a reflection on C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces and its answer to the problem of evil and divine silence.

Brian opens with a rich theological reflection on living coram Deo &mdash; before the face of God &mdash; arguing that God's presence isn't confined to two hours of Sunday worship but fills the other 166 hours of ordinary work and life. He calls out the cruelty he witnessed in Christian social media responses to a seminary student's video about pursuing a Master of Divinity, arguing online meanness reveals true character rather than excusing it. Brian reacts to reports the Trump administration is considering federal subsidies for stay-at-home parents, questioning the shift toward government handouts regardless of party. He shares a Christianity Today piece distinguishing "niceness" from biblical kindness, arguing Christians are called to speak hard truths without reveling in others' humiliation. Brian discusses a striking shift in global missions &mdash; the West now receiving as many missionaries as it sends &mdash; and plays a clip of JD Greer wrestling with the ethics of sports gambling ahead of football season. He closes with Greer's essay explaining why he rejects Christian nationalism, and a reflection on C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces and its answer to the problem of evil and divine silence.

Living in God's Presence Daily, and Should the Church Speak Out on Sports Gambling?

Brian talks with Paul Batura, VP of communications and chief editor of the Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family, about the disturbing public sympathy that emerged during the trial of Lindsey Clancy, who admitted to killing her children. Paul argues the case reveals a broader cultural inability to hold two truths at once — that someone can be mentally ill and still criminally responsible — pointing to a similar celebrity-like sympathy that surrounded the Luigi Mangione case. He connects the moral confusion to a broader cultural normalization of abortion, noting that Massachusetts expanded late-term abortion access around the same time as the trial, and argues that compromising on the value of life in one area makes it easier to rationalize elsewhere. Paul calls Christians to develop a biblical worldview through daily Scripture reading and prayer for wisdom as the antidote to being swept up by social media contagion and secular framing of such cases.

Brian talks with Paul Batura, VP of communications and chief editor of the Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family, about the disturbing public sympathy that emerged during the trial of Lindsey Clancy, who admitted to killing her children. Paul argues the case reveals a broader cultural inability to hold two truths at once &mdash; that someone can be mentally ill and still criminally responsible &mdash; pointing to a similar celebrity-like sympathy that surrounded the Luigi Mangione case. He connects the moral confusion to a broader cultural normalization of abortion, noting that Massachusetts expanded late-term abortion access around the same time as the trial, and argues that compromising on the value of life in one area makes it easier to rationalize elsewhere. Paul calls Christians to develop a biblical worldview through daily Scripture reading and prayer for wisdom as the antidote to being swept up by social media contagion and secular framing of such cases.

The Lindsey Clancy Trial and a Culture of Moral Confusion

Brian talks with British pastor and Christianity Today columnist Andrew Wilson about his new book, Happiness: What It Is, Where to Find It, and How to Make It Last Forever. Andrew pushes back on the common church teaching that pits "holiness over happiness," arguing Scripture consistently uses joy and pleasure as near-synonymous terms — "in your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" — and that separating the two leaves people confused or chasing happiness outside the faith instead of within it. He unpacks the book's structure around questions of what happiness is, how it shifts across the seasons of life per Ecclesiastes, and where it's found — arguing the holiest place in Scripture, wherever God dwells, is also the happiest. Andrew offers practical starting points for cultivating joy: coming to God through Christ, forming virtues like gratitude, compassion, and humility, and intentionally pursuing joy in prayer and Bible reading, while acknowledging that deeper love and joy also open us to deeper sorrow.

Brian talks with British pastor and Christianity Today columnist Andrew Wilson about his new book, Happiness: What It Is, Where to Find It, and How to Make It Last Forever. Andrew pushes back on the common church teaching that pits "holiness over happiness," arguing Scripture consistently uses joy and pleasure as near-synonymous terms &mdash; "in your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" &mdash; and that separating the two leaves people confused or chasing happiness outside the faith instead of within it. He unpacks the book's structure around questions of what happiness is, how it shifts across the seasons of life per Ecclesiastes, and where it's found &mdash; arguing the holiest place in Scripture, wherever God dwells, is also the happiest. Andrew offers practical starting points for cultivating joy: coming to God through Christ, forming virtues like gratitude, compassion, and humility, and intentionally pursuing joy in prayer and Bible reading, while acknowledging that deeper love and joy also open us to deeper sorrow.

Shaun the Sheep's Halloween Horror Spoof, and a New Daniel Movie

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