What is Good: Christian Life Commission Podcast

In this episode, David and John talk to ex-gambling addict John Allman. Allman shares about the nature of addiction, his testimony of recovery, and the recovery ministry that he is involved in at his church. We also discuss the predatory nature of online sports betting, and the role that advocacy plays reducing its impact in Texas. Timestamps:2:50 - How did gambling give you a sense of identity? What are some root causes of addiction?8:10 - How did you first get involved in sports betting? How did it turn into a downward spiral?11:52 - How were you able to recover after hitting rock bottom?15:05 - How has sports betting changed with advances in technology?20:32 - Whose job is more important, John’s or John’s?26:02 - John Allman describes the Recovery and Steps ministries at his church. 28:10 - What advice would you give for how to approach someone with a gambling addiction?31:07 - Do you feel like churches in general overlook the harms of gambling?34:40 - If gambling is a heart issue, what are your thoughts on the CLC’s efforts to keep sports betting out of Texas?37:50 - gospelrecoverynetwork.com38:50 - What is Good?43:58 - Outtakes For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode of What is Good, Irene and David speak with Dr. Jeremy Everett, the founder and executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. We discuss his book, “I Was Hungry” and talk about what it would take to end hunger in Texas.To learn more Dr. Everett’s work and the Hunger Free Community certificate program at hungerandpoverty.org   TIMESTAMPS:1:54 - Who is your favorite Lord of the Rings character?4:55 - An overview of “I Was Hungry”10:05 - Stories highlighting the importance of a lifestyle of proximity to poverty.20:42 - Opening our eyes to see hunger differently.25:10 - The call to action to create a systemic collaborative response.32:58 - How does one grow to confidently believe that we can have a world without  hunger?37:50 - What ways can people connect with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty.40:43 - What is Good?46:45 - Outtakes that show how old some of us are. For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

 In this episode of What is Good, Katie and David talk to two co-workers within our Texas Baptists family, Jennifer Howington and Sarah Johnson about the Special Friends Retreat. This retreat is specifically for individuals with special needs and their families. This is something the CLC cares about deeply, and we are excited to help get the word out.TIMESTAMPS:1:26 - Introduction of our guests3:54 - What is the Special Friends Retreat?11:25 - Why are special needs ministries important?15:26 - Why do families sometimes feel judged by the church for having a relative with a disability?22:00 - How would you describe the characteristics of churches leading well in special needs ministry?30:10 - What does ministry to the siblings of special needs kids look like?34:30 - How do people sign up for the Special Friends Retreat?          Go to txb.org/specialfriends | e-mail jennifer.howington@texasbaptists.org or sarah.johnson@texasbaptists.org36:08 - Who is eligible to attend this retreat?38:50 - What is Good?45:50 - Outtakes: Sneak Peek of our new podcast "What's Your Type?" :) For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode of What is Good, the Texas legislative session has just ended and it's time for a recap. All four CLC directors are back to discuss how things went for the CLC this year at the state capitol.John Litzler leads the discussion, sharing some of the bills that were passed that we supported, that align with our four public priorities: Sanctity of Human Life, Religious Liberty, Human Flourishing, and Fair & Just Financial Practices. TIMESTAMPS:1:56 - Intro: John's been busyFair & Just Financial Practices6:30 - Success against the expansion of gambling, 8:06 - Success against predatory consumer loans and earned wage access.18:04 - Bill passed for High School financial literacy course.20:35 - The Texas Lottery Commission is being abolished.Religious Liberty21:54 - Push back on bills that seek religious liberty for all, not just for the majority group.24:24 - Passage of education savings accounts (school vouchers).Other Bills of Note25:57 - The Cuddle Cots bill (HB 37).33:38 - Widow's Insurance (SB 1238)38:00 - Wins within the State Budget, including:45:05 - Funds towards AC in Texas Prisons.49:55 - And Funds for summer food stamps for kids in low income families.55:20 - We're thankful for this role we get to play with Texas Baptists 58:20 - What is Good?1:03:30 - Outtakes - Summer movies banter For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode of What is Good, our directors discuss all things Texas Baptist Hunger Offering, as this year marks its 30th anniversary. We begin with memoirs of Phil Strickland, and his travels that lead to the creation of the Hunger Offering.Katie shares from her experiences overseeing the offering during the COVID pandemic. Irene shares about current ministries the Hunger Offering supports. Through this discussion we see how this offering fits the CLC purpose to live out Micah 6:8 and help our churches do so as well.TIMESTAMPS:1:40 - Happy 30th Anniversary, TBHO!!2:10 - What were you doing in 1995?4:20 - Have you had experiences overseas with poverty?14:20 - Readings from Phil Strickland's book, "Do Justice, Love Mercy"27:00 - Katie shares from her experiences with TBHO during COVID lockdown44:10 - Irene shares from her experiences with TBHO as curring director of Hunger & Care59:35 - What is Good?1:06:30 - Outtakes For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode of What is Good, our directors summarize some of the workshops we have presented at the recent conferences Congreso and WMU Pursue. Katie shares about the ethical challenges of AI and the Christian response. Irene speaks on the power of women in ministry connecting with each other for encouragement and collaboration. David looks at Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan Woman as an example for how to love those who identify as LGBTQ+ with grace and truth.TIMESTAMPS:2:12 - Takeaways from Advocacy Day6:53 - Updates on John advocating during the Texas Legislative Session10:20 - The CLC at conferences - workshops and Irene's booth mojo16:03 - Irene's workshop on Relationships at Congreso18:42 - David's workshop on Responding to LGBTQ+ with Grace and Gruth at Congreso25:25 - Katie's workshop on AI and Kingdom Growth and Discipleship at WMU Pursue34:34 - Irene's workshop (in Spanish) on Involving Women in Ministry at WMU Pursue40:16 - The CLC would love for you to invite us to give our workshops! (See link below)41:20 - Other workshops of the CLC46:58 - What is Good?54:42 - Outtakes *For more information on our workshops, contact us using the form at the bottom of our website: www.texasclc.org For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode of What is Good, we are excited to share with you a message from author Tim Alberta. This message was recorded on March 3rd, 2025, during our Advocacy Day conference where he was one of our keynote speakers. After being introduced by our CLC director, Katie Frugé, Tim Alberta speaks on the importance of Christian witness in politics and the public square in a time of increasing polarization.TIMESTAMPS:0:35 - Speaker intro by Katie1:55 - Introduction4:35 - Toughness in politics & the Sermon on the Mount13:27 - A story about my friend...16:00 - Peter's political agenda & the Kingdom of God27:55 - Peter's story arc & mine34:44 - The challenge for Early Church & for today44:15 - This Upsidedown Kingdom46:26 - Conclusion53:55 - Final words from Katie For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode of What is Good, we are excited to share with you a message from the executive director for Texas Baptists, Dr. Julio Guarneri. This message was recorded on March 3rd, 2025, during our Advocacy Day conference where he was one of our keynote speakers. After being introduced by our CLC director, Katie Frugé, Dr. Guarneri challenges us from Hebrews 11 and 12 to consider these foundational truths as we engage in advocacy: the supremacy of Jesus, the nomadic nature of the Christian life, and the endurance of the Kingdom of God.Timestamps:0:36 - Introduction by Dr. Katie Frugé2:30 - Intro: "Where Jesus is the Main Attraction."5:25 - Jesus is better 11:35 - The Christian faith is a nomadic faith15:32 - Our lasting citizenship is the Kingdom of Heaven19:55 - His Kingdom includes suffering23:50 - His Kingdom intents sanctification29:06 - His Kingdom implies success32:44 - Conclusion For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode of What is Good, we are excited to share with you a message from pastor Steve Bezner. It was recorded on March 3rd, 2025, during our Advocacy Day conference where he was one of our keynote speakers. After being introduced by our CLC director, Katie Frugé, Steve challenges us to understand the roles of Gospel and government in seeing the Kingdom of God realized "on earth as it is in Heaven."TIMESTAMPS:0:35 - Katie introduces Steve Bezner1:30 - How to Change the World: Opening Prayer & Intro4:45 - We need a theory of change7:35 - Two Prongs: Gospel and Government8:00 - Prong One: The Gospel of the Kingdom   11:18 - Community living in radical obedience to Jesus   14:30 - The Church creates a colony of life in a culture of death26:13 - Prong Two - The Usefulness of Government   29:57 - The Church's prophetic voice   33:27 - Christian participation36:00 - Conclusion: Love Defiantly For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In this episode, John and David are joined by Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. If you wonder what it is they do, then listen in as Brent shares about their work at our nations capitol and ways that the ERLC partners with state commissions like the CLC, as we advocate for kingdom values in the public square. Also, for the second week in a row, David's "What is Good" item is spoiled by a co-worker. TIMESTAMPS:2:26 - What is the work of the ERLC?7:40 - Why and how does the ERLC intentionally partner with Baptist state conventions?14:30 - How does the ERLC advocate in judicial cases at the Supreme Court and State court levels?23:45 - An example of partnership - Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v Paxton.33:20 - How do we advocate and engage in a way that doesn't add to the divisiveness of the times but instead points people to Christ?39:20 - Do you have any tips or suggestions for others on how to advocate well? (speaking to pastors)42:50 - John gets David to promote his new book.45:27 - Do you have any tips or suggestions for others on how to advocate well? (speaking to individual Baptists in the pews)47:40 - What's the correct pronunciation of "amicus"?50:20 - What is Good?56:33 - Outtakes RESOURCES:ERLC main webpageYour/Our Identity in Christ by CLC Associate Director, David Sanchez2025 Advocacy Day - March 3rd and 4th in Austin, Texas.  For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).