Citizen of Heaven

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the crosses we have to bear for Jesus. If that sounds painful, you don’t know the half of it. I’ve been reading … The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Grace that does not lead to discipleship is beneath the dignity of our calling. I’ve been hearing … excuses, one after another. And they all mean the...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about Stephen. He knew better than most, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I’ve been reading … Animal Farm by George Orwell. Despite all our talk about being equal in Jesus, some of us do seem to be more equal than others. I’ve been hearing … Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro talk about Bible s...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about how doing nothing is not inherently safer than doing something. You can’t shop for the perfect fire extinguisher forever. I’ve been reading … debates between brethren over various issues. The “safest route” argument is not a good one for either side. I’ve been hearing … “The Prayer,” lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about straw men, and trying not to fight too many of them. Easy victories are not really victories at all. I’ve been reading … Plain Talk, by Robert Turner. I thought I would comment on how he handled the political chaos of his day. Trouble is, he didn’t. I’ve been hearing … Voctave, the best singing group I’ve ever h...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about lazy parents. We can’t discipline our children if we aren’t disciplined ourselves. I’ve been reading … lazy accusations against my brethren. It’s hateful, it’s prideful, and it’s tearing apart the body of Christ. I’ve been hearing … lazy preachers, feeding themselves at the expense of the flock. I’m looking hard...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about “last words” speeches in the Bible. It may not be important to make them count, but you might as well try. I’ve been reading … Nehemiah. At the end of the work, we will be remembered for something. Let it be for good.  I’ve been hearing … a new preacher will carry on after we have gone.  And really, it makes a l...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705 Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Driv...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I've been preaching ... about perspective. The definition of "essential" changes depending on circumstances. I've been reading ... the gospel Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15. The resurrection is at the core of everything. I've been hearing ... about Shelley Luther and the world's most famous hair salon. Whe...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I've been preaching ... about the spiritual implications of the COVID-19 lockdown. Whatever you do, do it in love. I've been reading ... worldly comments on social media. If Jesus isn't in your virtual life, maybe He's not in your real life either. I've been hearing ...  churches measuring success with numbers. But...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about wineskins, and how our attitude can directly affect the gospel’s attempt to change us. I’ve been reading … The Second Incarnation — A Theology for the 21st Century.” The question is, do we really need one? I’ve been hearing … polls being quoted everywhere by everyone and for every purpose. I’m inclined to ignore...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the signs of the times — what they were in Jesus’ time, and what they are today. I’ve been reading … Revelation. The key is seeing what God wants you to see, not what you expect to see. I’ve been hearing … the COVID-19 models were off. Way off. And why not? They were made by humans, after all. I’ve been playing...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about being born again, the absolute core of what it means to be a Christian. I’ve been reading … Ezra, and seeing parallels to our current situation that are absolutely stunning. I’ve been hearing … “Here Comes the Sun,” one of the most beloved Beatles songs of all — and for good reason. I’ve been playing … Dice Hosp...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about zero-sum Christianity. God does not need to rob you to give to your brother. I’ve been reading … more from Wealth: is it worth it? By S. Truett Cathy.  More money does not always make us more generous. I’ve been hearing … Tax cuts can lead to smaller church contributions. How exactly does that work? I’ve been pl...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about talents, and a willingness to work with however many you have. I’ve been reading … Wealth: is it worth it? by S. Truett Cathy.  Do good work and growth takes care of itself. I’ve been hearing … The stock market is down. Like in 2008, and 1930, and 1893. Don’t panic just yet. I’ve been playing … Underwater Cities...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! Since I had some extra bandwidth, I included as a bonus this month my sermon from Psalm 46. I think this directly addresses some issues of faith that have been brought to the surface because of the current crisis. I hope it is an encouragement to you. Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705 Hal Hammons serves as...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … About Elisha, a bald man my father can be proud of. I’ve been reading … Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, by Charles Swindoll. The standard of greatness has definitely changed in 30 years.  I’ve been hearing … stories about doctors and nurses running into the line of fire. And celebrities giving concerts. Which is...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … to the camera for the last couple of weeks. I really thought it was going to be easy. Actually, for me at least, it’s much much harder. I’ll explain why and what I’m doing about it.   I’ve been reading … a lot less news. Once I thought the news connected me to what was really going on in the world. These days I really...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the spread of evil, and why holiness doesn’t spread as easily. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if it did? It’s worth a try, at least.   I’ve been reading … The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. Children amid the worst horror imaginable find escape, freedom and glory. Yes, it can happen to you. I’ve...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the sin virus. It invades, it spreads, and it kills. And we’ve all got it. Thankfully, there is a cure — and best of all, it’s free.   I’ve been reading … how regular soap and water is the best preventative. So I’ll wash my hands — not because I’m scared, but because I care about other people. I’ve been hearing...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the appeal of idols. As strange as it may seem to me, clearly people have always been drawn toward idol-worship. Let’s talk about why. I’ve been reading … Hawaii, by James Michener. Celebrating our culture is fine. But cultures are rarely found in complete harmony with God’s will. At some point, we have to make...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about how jealousy landed Daniel in the lion’s den. Have you ever been jealous enough to kill someone? And don’t be too quick to answer. I’ve been reading … more from The Daniel Dilemma.  Satan wants us to adopt the name of his choosing instead of the name God gives us. It is critical that we just say no! I’ve been he...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the jealousy of Daniel’s subordinates, and how it landed him in the lion’s den. Have you ever been jealous enough to kill someone? And don’t be too quick to answer. I’ve been reading … The Daniel Dilemma, by Chris Hodges. One of the most powerful things Satan can do to defeat us is to adopt the name of his choos...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about predestination. It’s not a question of whether it is true; it’s a question of what it means and what it doesn’t mean. I’ve been reading … Atlantis Rising, by Clive Cussler. Some people just think they are better than everyone else. I wish they were all in novels, but they’re not. I’ve been hearing … Jeremiah 29:...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about unity and division. Jesus provides a way for all humans to come together in peace and harmony.  But we have to do it His way. Not ours. I’ve been reading … What Americans Really want … Really, by Frank Luntz. Honesty is the best policy, especially being honest with ourselves about our real values.  I’ve been hea...

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about finishing. How you finish something is far more important than how you start. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are great examples. I’ve been reading … two different reactions to the halftime show featuring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Which one is yours will depend on whether you value carnal things or...