Good Faith

There is no shortage of punditry, analysis and Monday morning quarterbacking about this week's midterm elections, including David's own work at the Dispatch. In this podcast, however, David and Curtis try to take a slightly broader (dare we say higher?) view, to ask not only the raw political questions, but also the broader questions about what this election might be signaling for our country, our culture, and our church. What are the signs we should be paying attention to, and how should we as Christians be thinking, praying and responding to them? Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

Episode 51 - Does Jesus Need an Ad Campaign? with Jason Vanderground If you watch any sports on television you may have seen one of the edgy, black & white ads from the "He Gets Us" campaign. Designed to introduce Jesus to a culture that is actually quite intrigued by him, this campaign has created both curiosity and questions. We are excited to be joined this week by one of the chief architects of the campaign, Jason Vanderground. Join us for this excellent conversation about the campaign itself, the broader theological questions at play, and even the role of advertising as a tool of evangelism. Show Notes: -He Gets Us campaign Video Ads: -The Rebel -The Birth -Outrage -The Influencer -Dinner Party -He Gets Us campaign - About Us Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

This week David and Curtis are joined by David Skeel, one of the world's leading experts on bankruptcy law and the Chairman of the Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico, which was responsible for helping the territory restructure and cut its public debt by 80%. David brings a unique perspective as both a legal scholar and follower of Christ, particularly around how our understanding of debt can and should image Biblical values while not being strictly prescribed by Biblical law. -Getting Puerto Rico's Financial House Back in Order (WSJ) - Natalie Jaresko and David Skeel -The Law, The Gospel, and David Skeel (The Pennsylvania Gazette) -Practicing Poetry, Teaching Law - David Skeel -Poem | Hurakan Despacito, by David Skeel Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

So how should Christians be approaching the midterm elections? Apart from the basic question of who to vote for, are there perhaps deeper questions to consider? What about the fact that 60% of Americans will have an election denier on their ballot this year? Is our democracy as unstable as a game of Jenga? Join David and Curtis for this enlightening discussion around the midterms and how we as Christians should be thinking about our role in the process. -Alexander Solzhenitsyn - Live Not by Lies -The New York Times - Democrats Aid Far-Right Candidate Against Republican Who Backed Impeachment -Five Thirty Eight - 60 Percent Of Americans Will Have An Election Denier On The Ballot This Fall -David French (The Dispatch) - Stacey Abrams Challenges the Pro-Democracy Left Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

Anxiety is everywhere. It feels as though it is at crisis levels individually, and is also spilling over into our culture at large, particularly in the political arena. This week David and Curtis are joined by a live studio audience in Washington, DC to talk about our personal and cultural anxiety. Fortunately, they also offer some good news. Drawing upon Curtis' upcoming book "The Anxiety Opportunity", we learn how Christians can actually view anxiety as an opportunity to grow closer to a Savior who was constantly approached by anxious people, and who experienced very real human anxiety himself. Show Notes: Anxiety as Opportunity for Spiritual Growth (7-session online series for small groups and individuals Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

Are Christians called to navigate their finances differently from everyone else? Are the oft-repeated directives to save aggressively and avoid all debt either scriptural or wise? Is it possible that spiritual wisdom and practical wisdom are sometimes one and the same? Join David and Curtis in this excellent discussion with James Choi, Professor of Finance at Yale. As a Christian and a behavioral economist, James brings both spiritual and practical wisdom to the area of personal finance and exposes where some of our most popular financial gurus might be giving us poor advice. Show Notes: -Derek Thompson (The Atlantic) - All the Personal-Finance Books Are Wrong -Greg Rosalsky (Planet Money) - An economist studied popular finance tips. Some might be leading you astray -Why I am a Christian (James Choi) Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

Raise yourself up by your own bootstraps. This is a refrain we hear all the time, especially as Americans catechized in the dogma of personal responsibility. But what if some people don't have bootstraps? What if some don't even have boots? This week David and Curtis welcome educational expert and Rice University sociology professor Ruth López Turley. Raised on the U.S./Mexico border, Ruth's own educational story is fascinating and lends special weight to her observations about educational equity and how the scriptures (including Mary's Magnificat) might lead us to some surprising and challenging conclusions. Show Notes: -$50M Kinder Foundation grant will expand Kinder Institute's work to solve challenges facing Houston -Claire Cain Miller, Josh Katz, Francesca Paris and Aatish Bhatia (The New York Times) - Vast New Study Shows a Key to Reducing Poverty: More Friendships Between Rich and Poor -Cynthia M. Allen - Want economic mobility? Make friends at church Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

Evil is certainly a powerful force in our world. We are witnessing it live in the form of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But is evil ultimately as powerful as it is popularly portrayed? Does evil perhaps contain in itself the seeds of its own destruction? Join David and Curtis in this week's fascinating discussion about the inherent weakness of evil. Show Notes: Why the Allies Won by Richard Overy Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield N.T. Wright: "Paul and Caesar: A New Reading of Romans" Good Faith Podcast with Tish Harrison Warren: "Praying Through Wars, Real and Imaginary" Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

In this special re-release, we at the Good Faith podcast want to honor the life of Jonathan Tjarks, who passed away last week. Jonathan was an NBA beat writer and podcaster for The Ringer, but he was so much more! Just 6 months ago we had the pleasure of having Jonathan join us to talk about his cancer diagnosis, the role of his faith community in caring for his family, and even a little NBA talk. Whether you caught this episode or not, we believe his hard-earned wisdom is worth hearing over and over again. Rest in the peace of God Jonathan. Show Notes: Jonathan Tjarks: "Does My Son Know You?" Jonathan Tjarks "Blogs About Books (Of The Bible)" Melissa Tjarks announcement of Jonathan's passing Sign up for David's French Press newsletter Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

In a previously recorded (but never released) episode, David and Curtis tackle the particularly vexing challenge of justice when crimes are committed. For those who do not engage regularly with the criminal justice system, these questions can feel distant, or even irrelevant. But as we are reminded, God's repeated calls for justice throughout the scriptures don't give the Christian such an easy out. Show Notes: -Sign up for David's French Press newsletter -Follow Curtis' work at RedeemingBabel.org