What is Good: Christian Life Commission Podcast

In this episode, Katie, John, and David talk about the upcoming CLC Advocacy Day. They discuss its purpose, keynote speaker lineup, and schedule, but also give insights into what it's like to advocate at the state capitol in Austin with your state senators and state house representatives.Advocacy Day is March 3-4, and you can learn more about the event here: texasclc.org/advocacy-dayYou can register via this link: https://texasbaptists.tfaforms.net/4964511  TIMESTAMPS:2:24 - What is Advocacy Day? It's a chance for the CLC to equip and facilitate advocacy for our Texas Baptists pastors and church members.5:06 - What are the CLC's public policy priorities this session? Sanctity of Human Life, Religious Liberty, Fair and Just Financial Practices, Human Flourishing.14:00 - What is your favorite thing about Advocacy Day? 21:10 - The schedule for this Advocacy Day, March 3rd at 800 Congress Ave. in Austin, TX; March 4th, at the capitol25:50 - Who are our keynote speakers and what is the theme?28:40 - You never know who you'll see or meet at the Capitol...31:40 - The CLC has our priorities, but we are happy to help you follow and advocate for the bills and issues you care about.36:00 - What is Good  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, David speaks to Dr. Malinda Fasol-Leewright, a licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of experience and professor at a faith-based university. Together, they discuss practical ways to encourage those who say they are feeling anxious about what is going to happen in the next four years.TIMESTAMPS:0:36 - Introducing our special guest, Dr. Malinda Fasol-Leewright3:52 - Can you think of any irrational fears that you have now or have had in the past?7:53 - How the idea of this episode came about.9:35 - What are your thoughts on the unhelpful and sometimes trite advice of well-meaning people?15:15 - In this day and age, where we've adopted the clinical language of counselors and psychologists, are we using the word "anxiety" correctly?21:15 - What do you say to someone who is worried about the next for years, when so much of that is out of their control?30:15 - How do you help someone see the damage of "doomscrolling"?32:32 - How do you respond to someone who keeps their struggles to themself because they don't want to appear "weak" spiritually or mentally?37:25 - What are other simple, practical tips to give to those struggling with anxiety?44:55 - The  importance of gratitude to combat negative thinking and it's impact on our emotions and actions.50:15 - Shoutout to the Counseling Services of Texas Baptists - https://www.texasbaptists.org/ministries/counseling-services50:53 - When would you advise someone to go to counseling for feelings of anxiety?53:29 - What is good?56:40 - 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, Katie Fruge and David Sanchez discuss the curriculum of The After Party with one of the co-founders, Curtis Chang. The After Party is a free online course that helps Christians consider the "how" vs the "what" of politics. exploring what the Bible has to say and equipping us to better navigate challenging topics in today's difficult political environment. TIMESTAMPS:1:10 - Curtis Chang shares his vision of The After Party3:50 - How did they decide on the name "After Party" for this content?8:34 - What scriptures or scriptural principles inspired The After Party's focus?12:28 - What scriptural principles do you use to help you speak on divisive topics in a productive way?15:16 - What should our response be to politicians using words like "enemy" to describe their political opponents?20:30 - What is missing in our theological framework that allows us to mislabel others as our enemy?23:30 - How should believers navigate the anxiety that people are feeling right now due to our political landscape?28:02 - What is Good?33:22 - Outtakes Want to learn more about The After Party? Visit their website: https://redeemingbabel.org/the-after-party/ For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

Steve Bezner, Senior Pastor of Houston Northwest Church and author of 'Your Jesus Is Too American', dives deep into how American culture shapes perceptions of Jesus. He discusses his inspiration for the book and emphasizes the need for the Church to reflect the kingdom of God. Bezner challenges the norm of power dynamics in leadership, advocating for serving others. He also explores the intersection of faith, economics, and political engagement, urging Christians to seek justice with empathy. Prepare for a thought-provoking conversation!

In this episode, John Litzler leads us in asking how to have uplifting family conversations during the holidays. Growing up, there were two things you didn't talk about at the dinner table- politics and religion. Things have changed, and recently politics have become a sore subject during family get-togethers. Is there a way for us to model political discussions that don't lead to anger and division with our loved ones? Let's find out.TIMESTAMPS:3:00 - In the past, did your family discuss politics and/or religion at the dinner table? What about now?9:57 - Do you think hyper-partisanship has in America has gotten worse during our lifetime?19:07 - We often judge ourselves by our intent, and others by their actions. How do you see that playing out in politics? How do we start to change that mentality with our own family and friends?25:10 - Many American Christians are finding their identity in politics. How should we find our identity primarily in Christ? 31:58 - During an election season, it is so easy to bear false witness against political opponents. How do we deal with our own tendency towards bias, and how can that improve our family conversations?43:45 - Other practical tips on uplifting family conversations during the holidays?50:10 - What is good?57:05 - 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 Director of Hunger & Care, Irene Gallegos, shares with us her passion for public health. She guides us in a discussion of the factors of health and how more impoverished communities will have greater difficulty accessing help in times of need. We discuss what community development ministries to these areas can look like and the various ways the CLC strives to advocate and be a part of the transforming of these communities.TIMESTAMPS:1:10 - What type of community did you grow up in?7:50 - What community factors were involved in your decision to live in the house you do now?18:05 - Some who serve in less fortunate communities choose to live in them and commit to a missional lifestyle among the people they serve. Others live outside, but still advocate for and support these communities. Scripturally, is one method more Biblical than the other?31:45 - Explanation of the Cliff of Good Health Analogy35:05 - What are some specific ways the CLC is involved in helping people fall off the good health? Or, worded differently, how are we involved in systemic issues?48:45 - What is Good?57:35 - Outtakes For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In today's episode, the CLC discusses helpful biblical principles for making decisions in grey areas. If you are a pastor or even a small group leader, you’ve probably had someone ask you “What does the bible say about _____?” They are not usually wanting to know what is pleasing to God. They want a one verse proof text that shows how they are right and someone else is wrong. Or they want to know what they can get away with. How will the conversation look different if instead of giving a quick answer, we give godly principles based on 1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1 to equip them to make difficult decisions? David Sanchez leads this discussion.TIMESTAMPS:1:50 - Topic intro: Examples of grey area issues8:25 - "What does the Bible say about ___?"14:15 - Idol meat in 1 Corinthians 8:1-11:116:26 - Scenario #1 (1 Cor 8:4, 7-12)19:47 - The Stumbling Principle (1 Cor 8:13)26:43 - Scenario #2 (1 Cor 10:14-22)29:44 - The Mastery Principle (1 Cor 10:23; see also 6:12)36:38 - Scenario #3 (1 Cor 10:24-27)42:52 - The Offending Principle (1 Cor 10:32-33)49:23 - The Glorifying Principle (1 Cor 10:31)56:46 - What is good?1:02:58 - Outtakes For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).

In today's episode, the CLC discusses a topic that is near and dear to Katie's heart - Disability and Dignity. Two of her three daughters have moderate to severe disabilities, and she has witnessed how the world often views disabilities negatively. In contrast, the scriptures challenge us to view those who have various disabilities as still possessing dignity and to treat them with respect and compassion. The church should show the world the value of human life in how we care for those in our congregations and communities who have disabilities. Katie Fruge leads this discussion.1:28 - Topic intro2:13 - Do you have a personal connection to a person with a disability, and did you have one growing up?4:46 - Thoughts on the broadness of the term disability and its use.10:00 - Many who have disabilities experience isolation and lack of relationship. Some would even call certain groups who have disabilities unreached people groups. What do you think of this idea?16:04 - Can you think of examples of disabilities mentioned or on display in the Bible?20:42 - In John 9, you see that God loves to use people with disabilities to highlight his power, but also how people often view disabilities incorrectly.34:20 - Have you ever experienced God making much of someone's limitations or even your own?38:36 - Society tends to implicitly devalue those with disabilities. As Christians, what should be our response to this?46:45 - 1 Corinthians 12 shows us how the church should view those within our congregations with disabilities not as object of ministry in our church but as participating members of our community.  How can we do this practically?54:45 - What is good?1:00:22 - 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, the CLC continues our discussion of the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The book addresses the current rise of mental illness among young people and makes the argument that this increase is due to two things. One, the impact of cell phones and social media; and two, the lessening of unsupervised free play during childhood. We had so much to say on this topic that it turned into two episodes. This is part two. The discussion is led by David Sanchez.0:38 - Chapter 6: the negative impacts of social media on the mental health of girls.10:52 - Chapter 7: how virtual gaming and online porn impacts the mental health of boys.19:15 - A great resource: the book Good Pictures Bad Pictures23:00 - Recent Texas laws on pornography, they're good but they can't block everything.24:48 - Chapter 12: What else can parents do?31:38 - Discussion about the shortcomings of the book due to the author's beliefs as an atheist/agnostic.35:42 - Is collective action possible, and what does it look like?39:05 - How else has reading this book impacted us?44:05 - Two other great books: My Tech-Wise Family and  My Tech-Wise Life46:41 - What is Good?51:05 - 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, the CLC discusses the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The book addresses the current rise of mental illness among young people and makes the argument that this increase is due to two things. One, the impact of cell phones and social media; and two, the lessening of unsupervised free play during childhood. We had so much to say on this topic that it turned into two episodes. This is part one. The discussion is led by David Sanchez.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - CLC released a statement after the Trump assassination attempt on July 13, 2024.1:20 - Introduction to today's episode3:52 - Can you remember when you got your first cell phone?8:42 - How many kids do you have? What age are they? And has this book had any impact on how you plan to raise them?12:10 - Summary of Chapter 113:12 - Chapters 2-3 of the book talk about the value of unsupervised free play. What was your childhood like in this regard?20:10 - What advantages of free play that the author mentions stood out to you? (Bonus: John's disclaimer - Listeners be aware it is written from an agnostic perspective).30:10 - When you hear about the dangers of the online world for minors, what are some of the typical examples given?34:45 - The book mentions four foundational harms of smart phones and social media. (1) Social deprivation, (2) sleep deprivation, (3) attention fragmentation, and (4) addiction. Let's start with us. Which of these harms do you potentially see in manifested your own life?41:15 - What is Good?49:26 - Outtakes For more information on the Christian Life Commission visit our webpage (texasclc.org), and follow us on Facebook (@TexasCLC) and Instagram (@txclc).