Brian Fromm opens the show with a remarkable story of online generosity, as strangers raise over $1.4 million to help an 88-year-old Army veteran finally retire with dignity. He then reflects on why choosing the “hard way” in life—spiritually, relationally, and personally—often becomes the path to lasting peace. The episode closes with insights on identity and Advent longing

Army veteran Ed Bambas' son Michael says father will finally retire after $1.5 million GoFundMe fundraiser | New York Post 

Collin Rugg on X: "NEW: Internet users raise over $1.2M for an 88-year-old US Army veteran to help him retire after his pension was wiped out. Ed Bambas lost his wife 7 years ago and is now working 40 hours a week to make ends meet. Bambas retired from General Motors in 1999, expecting to have https://t.co/tKkIys1rvT" / X 

Paul David Tripp on X: "Christ not only gives me forgiveness and a new future, but a whole new identity as well! I’m now a child of God, with all of the rights and privileges that this title bestows." / X 

Paul David Tripp on X: "We all live out of some sense of identity, and our Gospel identity amnesia will always lead to

The Hard Way Is the Easy Way - Redeeming Productivity 

Ian Simkins on Instagram 

Mind Your Christmas Imperatives | Tim Challies 

Brian Fromm opens the show with a remarkable story of online generosity, as strangers raise over $1.4 million to help an 88-year-old Army veteran finally retire with dignity. He then reflects on why choosing the &ldquo;hard way&rdquo; in life&mdash;spiritually, relationally, and personally&mdash;often becomes the path to lasting peace. The episode closes with insights on identity and Advent longing
<a href="https://nypost.com/2025/12/04/us-news/army-veteran-ed-bambas-son-michael-says-father-will-finally-retire-after-1-5-million-gofundme-fundraiser/">Army veteran Ed Bambas' son Michael says father will finally retire after $1.5 million GoFundMe fundraiser | New York Post</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1996291823997014076">Collin Rugg on X: "NEW: Internet users raise over $1.2M for an 88-year-old US Army veteran to help him retire after his pension was wiped out. Ed Bambas lost his wife 7 years ago and is now working 40 hours a week to make ends meet. Bambas retired from General Motors in 1999, expecting to have https://t.co/tKkIys1rvT" / X</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/PaulTripp/status/1996396284840997307">Paul David Tripp on X: "Christ not only gives me forgiveness and a new future, but a whole new identity as well! I&rsquo;m now a child of God, with all of the rights and privileges that this title bestows." / X</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/PaulTripp/status/1996551055283229045">Paul David Tripp on X: "We all live out of some sense of identity, and our Gospel identity amnesia will always lead to</a>
<a href="https://redeemingproductivity.com/the-hard-way-is-the-easy-way/">The Hard Way Is the Easy Way - Redeeming Productivity</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DR146QgABl4/?img_index=1">Ian Simkins on Instagram</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.challies.com/articles/mind-your-christmas-imperatives/">Mind Your Christmas Imperatives | Tim Challies</a>&nbsp;

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.

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