Life is full of change — whether you're ready for it or not. Brian From reflects on the personal transitions hitting close to home as his kids approach major milestones, and asks the question we all wrestle with: how do you hold on to what matters when everything around you is shifting? Brian also unpacks a striking survey showing that only 3.4% of worship leaders describe their mental health as excellent, and what church communities need to hear about that. Plus: why a viral Altoids moment between George W. Bush and Michelle Obama says something profound about what Americans are actually hungry for; a challenge to expand your view of worship beyond Sunday morning and a Spotify playlist; the surprising case that a mundane life is actually a courageous one; a cautionary tale about an AI-generated MAGA influencer who fooled millions; and a fresh look at Mary and Martha — and what Jesus was really saying about distraction, urgency, and choosing what's best.

Life is full of change &mdash; whether you're ready for it or not. Brian From reflects on the personal transitions hitting close to home as his kids approach major milestones, and asks the question we all wrestle with: how do you hold on to what matters when everything around you is shifting? Brian also unpacks a striking survey showing that only 3.4% of worship leaders describe their mental health as excellent, and what church communities need to hear about that. Plus: why a viral Altoids moment between George W. Bush and Michelle Obama says something profound about what Americans are actually hungry for; a challenge to expand your view of worship beyond Sunday morning and a Spotify playlist; the surprising case that a mundane life is actually a courageous one; a cautionary tale about an AI-generated MAGA influencer who fooled millions; and a fresh look at Mary and Martha &mdash; and what Jesus was really saying about distraction, urgency, and choosing what's best.

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

The Only Constant: Change, Courage, and Choosing What's Best

Brian From welcomes Pastor Bill Farina of Bethel Christian Church in Warren, Michigan. Pastor Bill shares the remarkable story of how he arrived in Michigan in 1987 at age 27 — originally intending only a short fill-in visit to a struggling congregation of eleven senior citizens — and how God redirected his path into what has now become 39 years of faithful ministry at the same church.

In this conversation, Pastor Bill opens up about the joys and challenges of long-tenured pastoral ministry, including the privilege of dedicating the babies of babies he once dedicated and officiating weddings for the seventh member of the same family. He unpacks Bethel's vision of being "a Spirit-filled community church touching heaven and earth," rooted in a balanced Pentecostal tradition that leaves room for the Holy Spirit while honoring decency and order.

Pastor Bill also shares the convicting question that reshaped his ministry philosophy decades ago: "If your church closed tomorrow, would anyone notice, and would anyone care?" That question drove him into deep community engagement — 17 years on the local school board, 16 years as Senior Chaplain of the Warren Police Department, chaplaincy work at Jimmy John's Field, prison and jail ministries, and partnerships with Forgotten Harvest.

The episode closes with a pastoral word of hope for anyone feeling discouraged, drawn from Romans 15:13 — a prayer that the God of hope would fill listeners with joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Learn more about Bethel Christian Church: 📍 13211 Ten Mile Road, Warren, MI (south side of I-696 service drive between Hoover and Schoenherr) 🌐 bethelchristian-mi.org

Brian From welcomes Pastor Bill Farina of Bethel Christian Church in Warren, Michigan. Pastor Bill shares the remarkable story of how he arrived in Michigan in 1987 at age 27 &mdash; originally intending only a short fill-in visit to a struggling congregation of eleven senior citizens &mdash; and how God redirected his path into what has now become 39 years of faithful ministry at the same church.
In this conversation, Pastor Bill opens up about the joys and challenges of long-tenured pastoral ministry, including the privilege of dedicating the babies of babies he once dedicated and officiating weddings for the seventh member of the same family. He unpacks Bethel's vision of being "a Spirit-filled community church touching heaven and earth," rooted in a balanced Pentecostal tradition that leaves room for the Holy Spirit while honoring decency and order.
Pastor Bill also shares the convicting question that reshaped his ministry philosophy decades ago: "If your church closed tomorrow, would anyone notice, and would anyone care?" That question drove him into deep community engagement &mdash; 17 years on the local school board, 16 years as Senior Chaplain of the Warren Police Department, chaplaincy work at Jimmy John's Field, prison and jail ministries, and partnerships with Forgotten Harvest.
The episode closes with a pastoral word of hope for anyone feeling discouraged, drawn from Romans 15:13 &mdash; a prayer that the God of hope would fill listeners with joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Learn more about Bethel Christian Church: 📍 13211 Ten Mile Road, Warren, MI (south side of I-696 service drive between Hoover and Schoenherr) 🌐 bethelchristian-mi.org

Pastor Bill Farina: 39 Years of Faithful Ministry at Bethel Christian Church

Brian From works through a stack of uncomfortable questions for the church. When Eric Metaxas calls for grace toward Trump over the Jesus meme, Brian asks the harder question — do we extend that same grace across the aisle? A new Barna survey finds only 22% of Americans see Christians as empathetic, and nearly half describe the faith as judgmental or hypocritical. Brian sits with what that means for how we engage a watching world. Plus: Moses never entered the Promised Land and Joshua had to take his place — what God's "I am with you" means for us in seasons of fear and transition; a sobering new report showing just 3.4% of worship leaders rate their mental health as excellent, and why pastors need to be asking harder questions of their teams; Tim Challies on why heaven will forget none of its heroes — even the ones no one on earth ever noticed; and Chuck Swindoll's 1985 challenge that still lands today: who do you want to be ten years from now?

Brian From works through a stack of uncomfortable questions for the church. When Eric Metaxas calls for grace toward Trump over the Jesus meme, Brian asks the harder question &mdash; do we extend that same grace across the aisle? A new Barna survey finds only 22% of Americans see Christians as empathetic, and nearly half describe the faith as judgmental or hypocritical. Brian sits with what that means for how we engage a watching world. Plus: Moses never entered the Promised Land and Joshua had to take his place &mdash; what God's "I am with you" means for us in seasons of fear and transition; a sobering new report showing just 3.4% of worship leaders rate their mental health as excellent, and why pastors need to be asking harder questions of their teams; Tim Challies on why heaven will forget none of its heroes &mdash; even the ones no one on earth ever noticed; and Chuck Swindoll's 1985 challenge that still lands today: who do you want to be ten years from now?

"I Am With You" — Grace, Change, and Faithfulness in the Unseen Places

From the wreckage of the Titan submersible to the walls of ancient Rome, this episode traces a single thread: the difference between a culture that worships strength and a faith that finds power in weakness.

Brian opens with two somber anniversaries — the Oklahoma City bombing and Columbine — before turning to the cautionary tale of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, whose hubris cost five lives on a preventable voyage to the Titanic. From there, Brian unpacks JD Greer's reflection on the Corona Morales, Rome's highest military honor, and how the Apostle Paul flipped that imagery on its head in 2 Corinthians to boast not in triumph but in being lowered down a wall in shame. The crown that matters isn't earned by climbing over — it's received in weakness.

Other segments tackle why middle-aged Americans are lonelier, sadder, and weaker than their global peers (and why the church has the only real answer), a Yale committee's surprising admission about ideological echo chambers in higher education, Matt Chandler on sanctification as a winding coil rather than a straight line upward, and a closing meditation on Psalm 136 and the Hebrew word hesed — God's covenant love that endures forever.

Plus: a cold, rainy afternoon at Wrigley watching the Mets extend their losing streak, a shout-out to former producer and current Wrigley organist John Benedict, and the modern confusion of trying to figure out whether someone is talking to you or their AirPods.

Because sometimes the most formative work God does in us isn't when we're winning — it's when the floor falls out.

From the wreckage of the Titan submersible to the walls of ancient Rome, this episode traces a single thread: the difference between a culture that worships strength and a faith that finds power in weakness.
Brian opens with two somber anniversaries &mdash; the Oklahoma City bombing and Columbine &mdash; before turning to the cautionary tale of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, whose hubris cost five lives on a preventable voyage to the Titanic. From there, Brian unpacks JD Greer's reflection on the Corona Morales, Rome's highest military honor, and how the Apostle Paul flipped that imagery on its head in 2 Corinthians to boast not in triumph but in being lowered down a wall in shame. The crown that matters isn't earned by climbing over &mdash; it's received in weakness.
Other segments tackle why middle-aged Americans are lonelier, sadder, and weaker than their global peers (and why the church has the only real answer), a Yale committee's surprising admission about ideological echo chambers in higher education, Matt Chandler on sanctification as a winding coil rather than a straight line upward, and a closing meditation on Psalm 136 and the Hebrew word hesed &mdash; God's covenant love that endures forever.
Plus: a cold, rainy afternoon at Wrigley watching the Mets extend their losing streak, a shout-out to former producer and current Wrigley organist John Benedict, and the modern confusion of trying to figure out whether someone is talking to you or their AirPods.
Because sometimes the most formative work God does in us isn't when we're winning &mdash; it's when the floor falls out.

The Only Constant: Change, Courage, and Choosing What's Best

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