&nbsp;How should Christians approach contraception and family planning?Unless a Christian couple has taken the time to investigate contraceptive and family planning options, it can be hard to know what exists, what is safe, and what is ethical. In part two of this two-part episode, we continue our conversation about how to honor God in our approach to family planning. We discuss the risks of hormonal birth control and respond to some additional listener questions about when to start having kids — and also whether it's OK to be done.Chapters: (0:00) Introductions: Resetting the Discussion (1:45) Fertility Awareness vs. Hormonal Birth Control (8:13) When Are You Ready to Have Kids? (17:30) Is It OK to Be Done Having Kids? (22:38) Christian Freedom in Family Planning

<description>&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;How should Christians approach contraception and family planning?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;Unless a Christian couple has taken the time to investigate contraceptive and family planning options, it can be hard to know what exists, what is safe, and what is ethical. In part two of this two-part episode, we continue our conversation about how to honor God in our approach to family planning. We discuss the risks of hormonal birth control and respond to some additional listener questions about when to start having kids — and also whether it's OK to be done.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Chapters&lt;/strong&gt;:&lt;br&gt;(0:00) Introductions: Resetting the Discussion&lt;br&gt;(1:45) Fertility Awareness vs. Hormonal Birth Control&lt;br&gt;(8:13) When Are You Ready to Have Kids?&lt;br&gt;(17:30) Is It OK to Be Done Having Kids?&lt;br&gt;(22:38) Christian Freedom in Family Planning&lt;/p&gt;</description>

 How should Christians approach contraception and family planning?

Episode 552: Family Planning (Part 2)

How should Christians approach contraception and family planning?Unless a Christian couple has taken the time to investigate contraceptive and family planning options, it can be hard to know what exists, what is safe, and what is ethical. In part one of this two-part episode, we address a listener's question about how to honor God in our approach to family planning. We discuss the predominant cultural narratives about contraception, how a Christian view is different, and why the fertility awareness method offers a unique wisdom in this area.Chapters: (0:00) Introductions: Listener Justin Has a Question (3:16) The Cultural Starting Point for Contraception (9:03) Strengths &amp; Weaknesses of Protestant Thought (13:33) Reflecting on Our Assumptions about Birth Control (21:44) Jenn Newman Joins Us to Talk About Fertility Awareness

<description>&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;How should Christians approach contraception and family planning?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;Unless a Christian couple has taken the time to investigate contraceptive and family planning options, it can be hard to know what exists, what is safe, and what is ethical. In part one of this two-part episode, we address a listener's question about how to honor God in our approach to family planning. We discuss the predominant cultural narratives about contraception, how a Christian view is different, and why the fertility awareness method offers a unique wisdom in this area.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Chapters&lt;/strong&gt;:&lt;br&gt;(0:00) Introductions: Listener Justin Has a Question&lt;br&gt;(3:16) The Cultural Starting Point for Contraception&lt;br&gt;(9:03) Strengths &amp;amp; Weaknesses of Protestant Thought&lt;br&gt;(13:33) Reflecting on Our Assumptions about Birth Control&lt;br&gt;(21:44) Jenn Newman Joins Us to Talk About Fertility Awareness&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How should Christians approach contraception and family planning?

Episode 551: Family Planning (Part 1)

How can we resist the gamification of our economy — and help others do the same?The advent of digital technology has incentivized ease and encouraged isolation. Young people, especially young men, have become socially risk-averse — spending more time alone and cultivating negative habits on their devices. In this episode, we engage a Derek Thompson Substack article that explores the connection between online betting and social isolation. We discuss the fight for young men's souls, the need for embodied discipleship, and how the church can be a counter-cultural champion of relationships and community.Chapters: (0:00) Introductions: Keep it Up, Young Christian Men (3:07) We’ve Forgotten How to Feel Lonely (7:05) The Loss of the Pro-Social Script (16:19) Why Embodied Discipleship Matters (21:13) Disempowering the Digitization of Our Lives (27:33) Concluding Reflections

<description>&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;How can we resist the gamification of our economy — and help others do the same?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;The advent of digital technology has incentivized ease and encouraged isolation. Young people, especially young men, have become socially risk-averse — spending more time alone and cultivating negative habits on their devices. In this episode, we engage a Derek Thompson Substack article that explores the connection between online betting and social isolation. We discuss the fight for young men's souls, the need for embodied discipleship, and how the church can be a counter-cultural champion of relationships and community.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Chapters&lt;/strong&gt;:&lt;br&gt;(0:00) Introductions: Keep it Up, Young Christian Men&lt;br&gt;(3:07) We’ve Forgotten How to Feel Lonely&lt;br&gt;(7:05) The Loss of the Pro-Social Script&lt;br&gt;(16:19) Why Embodied Discipleship Matters&lt;br&gt;(21:13) Disempowering the Digitization of Our Lives&lt;br&gt;(27:33) Concluding Reflections&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How can we resist the gamification of our economy — and help others do the same?

Episode 550: The Casino Economy

How can we submit to and enjoy the slow process of sanctification?It’s not uncommon for Christians to feel discouraged by their progress (or lack thereof) in sanctification. But what if our vision of maturity focused less on the destination and more on slow growth over time? In this episode, we use the Sermon on the Mount to consider Christian discipleship and maturity. We discuss Jesus's image of discipleship as a path or road, how to handle discouragement along the way, and the joy of not taking ourselves too seriously.Chapters: (0:00) Introductions: Follow-Up on AR-15's (5:49) Reframing Sanctification as a Journey (15:25) The Journey is Slow (20:57) We Will Reach the Destination (27:33) How to Enjoy the Process

<description>&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;How can we submit to and enjoy the slow process of sanctification?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;It’s not uncommon for Christians to feel discouraged by their progress (or lack thereof) in sanctification. But what if our vision of maturity focused less on the destination and more on slow growth over time? In this episode, we use the Sermon on the Mount to consider Christian discipleship and maturity. We discuss Jesus's image of discipleship as a path or road, how to handle discouragement along the way, and the joy of not taking ourselves too seriously.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Chapters&lt;/strong&gt;:&lt;br&gt;(0:00) Introductions: Follow-Up on AR-15's&lt;br&gt;(5:49) Reframing Sanctification as a Journey&lt;br&gt;(15:25) The Journey is Slow&lt;br&gt;(20:57) We Will Reach the Destination&lt;br&gt;(27:33) How to Enjoy the Process&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How can we submit to and enjoy the slow process of sanctification?

Episode 549: Christian Maturity Is a Journey, Not a Destination

How can we advocate for a people-first economy?Artificial intelligence is disrupting our vocational and social worlds — and as it starts to dominate industries, more people are trying to discern its proper limits and boundaries. Intuitively, we are hesitant about the increasing growth of AI. But why? Is it because we sense that people should do our work? In this episode, Bob weaves together two articles to discuss the contrast between building an AI-first culture and a people-first culture. Along the way, we consider the importance of a Christian anthropology, the growing questions about AI's economic impact, and how Christians can be champions of others in their lives and workspaces.Chapters: (0:00) Introductions: What Do We Do about AI? (5:39) We’re Heading Toward an AI-First World (11:04) Choose the Person over the Non-Person (15:46) A Principle for Engaging AI (21:57) The ROI on AI (27:49) A People-First ApproachArticles &amp; Resources: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/the-ai-profits-drought-and-the-lessons-of-history">https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/the-ai-profits-drought-and-the-lessons-of-history</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://mereorthodoxy.com/wendell-berrys-unanswered-question">https://mereorthodoxy.com/wendell-berrys-unanswered-question</a>

<description>&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;How can we advocate for a people-first economy?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;Artificial intelligence is disrupting our vocational and social worlds — and as it starts to dominate industries, more people are trying to discern its proper limits and boundaries. Intuitively, we are hesitant about the increasing growth of AI. But why? Is it because we sense that people should do our work? In this episode, Bob weaves together two articles to discuss the contrast between building an AI-first culture and a people-first culture. Along the way, we consider the importance of a Christian anthropology, the growing questions about AI's economic impact, and how Christians can be champions of others in their lives and workspaces.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Chapters:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;(0:00) Introductions: What Do We Do about AI?&lt;br&gt;(5:39) We’re Heading Toward an AI-First World&lt;br&gt;(11:04) Choose the Person over the Non-Person&lt;br&gt;(15:46) A Principle for Engaging AI&lt;br&gt;(21:57) The ROI on AI&lt;br&gt;(27:49) A People-First Approach&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Articles &amp;amp; Resources:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/the-ai-profits-drought-and-the-lessons-of-history"&gt;https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/the-ai-profits-drought-and-the-lessons-of-history&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://mereorthodoxy.com/wendell-berrys-unanswered-question"&gt;https://mereorthodoxy.com/wendell-berrys-unanswered-question&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How can we advocate for a people-first economy?

Episode 548: TWC Commentary | AI-First or People-First?

A weekly conversation about how the gospel of Jesus Christ connects to the questions and issues of everyday life. Hosted by the leaders of Coram Deo Church in Omaha, Nebraska.

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