Episode

Does God call us to suffer? If so, how do we suffer well when He does? This is no easy question to answer, but as Mike and I stumble our way through it, the Martial Gospel offers hope.

Many have an end game, the end of the road, the “good life”. It’s what we pursue, and why we do the things we do. I was curious how Mike viewed the “good life” and how his view has changed over time. We spend time talking about his early days in college ministry, planting a…

You read about layoffs in the news a lot these days. The surprising headlines of course have been large tech companies many of us thought were insulated from economic challenges. We read what happened, but we often don’t know how it happened. How can companies manage layoffs while still respecting the dignity of the individual?…

What should we expect Christmas to look like in a culture that decreasingly celebrates its true meaning? Do believers today celebrate Christmas the way we ought to? Mike addresses these and several other questions related to what Christmas is like in Babylon.

Jesus prayed that those who believed in him would be one. What does that mean and how do we reconcile that with our multitude of denominations and expressions of the faith?

Many churches celebrate Advent around the world but how many Christians know why we do? What can we do to bring this season to life for our children so they learn to engage in it early? In today’s conversation Mike, as always, steps back to shed light on the “why” behind Advent and offers helpful…

Recently I stumbled upon an article noting the rise in state government trifectas over the past some fifty years. My heart broke, thinking about the continued trend of even more heightened, modern polarization. In this episode, I seek Mike’s advice on what can be done to steer us towards a healthier political atmosphere. Books mentioned…

Ambidextrous organizations think and operate using both right and left hemispheres. You can find a good little video on establishing an ambidextrous infrastructure at https://claphaminstitute.org/businesses-with-an-ambidextrous-infrastructure. While the context of the conversation for this infrastructure is often bringing it into existing businesses, I wanted to get Mike’s advice on how to start a business with this…

As our kids grow up, how do we give them a strong start in gaining cultural capital? Are private schools better suited for this than public schools? In our conversation, Mike talks about the history of public education, its flaws and advantages. Books mentioned in this episode: Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the…

That’s not fair! I’m reminded of my time as a kid thinking this way, yet admittedly it’s not only a childhood expression. What is fairness and why is it often an unhelpful way to approach the world? This is the question I pose to Mike in today’s episode. Books mentioned in this episode: Joy at…