The Common Good Podcast

(00:00-9:19): According to new data, the coronavirus has destroyed the job market in every state . Brian and Ian talked about how to comfort people in our lives who have lost their job.  (9:19-18:43): Brian and Ian talked about the dangers of optimism fatigue , and the balance between being completely transparent and motivating people by focusing on positives. (18:43-28:20): Simon Wilce is th...

(00:00-09:15): What sort of an impact will the COVID-19 shutdown have on kids growing up? It’s not just the lack of schooling, it’s also the lack of social interaction . (09:15-18:19): Ed Stetzer says there is always a chance to turn traumatic events into positive opportunities for advance . Brian and Ian shared their response. (18:19-27:49): Brian and Ian took a break from the COVID-1...

(00:00-10:02): There’s some disagreement between Governor Pritzker and his predecessor about how to handle the COVID-19 lockdown in Illinois (10:02-19:56): Col. Michael Lewis is Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Tulane University School of Medicine and completed his post-graduate training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, and Walter Reed Army...

(00:00-09:44): Brian and Ian talked about the latest developments in the fight against COVID-19. (09:44-21:15): K.P. Yohannan is the founder and director of Gospel for Asia. He joined Brian and Ian to talk about his new book “Never Give Up.” (21:15-29:52): Brian and Ian shared their reaction to the announcement by Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias about his grim cancer prognosis . (29...

(00:00-09:42): Why do people buy into conspiracy theories? Brian and Ian talked about a video that has been floating around social media in recent days . (09:42-19:38): Why is it people who know nothing about a topic feel like they are an expert? Brian and Ian talk about the Dunning Krueger Effect , and how it has surfaced during the COVID-19 outbreak. (19:38-28:55): Ian shared a clip from a Ted T...

(00:00-09:15): Will you be ready to rejoin society immediately when the shutdown ends? States that have opened up have had a mixed record with people actually going out . (09:15-18:52): Kenny Luck is a pastor, author and founder of Every Man Ministries . He joined Brian and Ian to talk about the work he does and the impact the COVID outbreak has had and his series The Covid Chronicles. (18:52-28:0...

(00:00-09:03): The good news is the Governor of Illiniois announced a plan for returning to normal after the COVID-19 outbreak . The bad news is there are a lot of steps between where we are now and the end of that path. Brian and Ian talked about what’s head of us. (09:03-18:34): As they navigate the shutdown, are churches behaving like malls in the age of Amazon, just hoping for people to...

(00:00-09:10): What are the opportunities presented by only having small groups in the church? Brian and Ian talk about principles for discipleship during the COVID-19 lockdown .  (09:10-19:45): Kristin Hosen is the Director of Outreach with Liquid Church in New Jersey. She joined Brian and Ian to talk about the work that they do to help third world countries, and the impact the ourbreak has...

(00:00-09:36): Today is Brian From’s birthday and his family recorded a special message for the occasion. Plus, Huffington Post compiled a list of funny things kids have said about the pandemic . (09:36-18:49): Former President George W. Bush released a video message calling for unity in the face of the virus . Brian and Ian shared their reaction to the video. (18:49-29:28): Michael Frost wr...

(00:00-09:10): Yale is offering their popular class “ The Science of Well-Being” online during the COVID outbreak. What are you doing to grow as a person during the shutdown. (09:10-18:17): The cast of Fresh Prince of Bel Air had a virtual reunion on Will Smith’s Snapchat show this week . If you could see one cast get back together, who would you choose? (18:17-27:07): An article...

(00:00-09:01): Despite what politicians and news personalities are saying, a new poll indicates that most people aren’t ready to re-open public spaces quite yet . (09:01-18:02): Brian and Ian see some parallels between how colleges are preparing for Post-COVID life in the fall and what churches are doing to prepare for the future. (18:02-27:30): Pornography searches are up during the COVID l...

(00:00-09:13): One thing that might be permanently a thing of the past because of the COVID-19 lockdown? Buffet restaurants . (09:13-18:21): Why do Pastors who are fired for wrongdoing keep getting hired by other churches? Brian and Ian talked about a couple of different examples of church corruption. (18:21-28:26): Tim Keller said on Twitter : “Bad evangelism says: I'm right, you're wrong,...

(00:00-09:10): How will we navigate the recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown? Brian and Ian talked about the different perspectives regarding the re-starting the economy, and how divided people seem to be already. (09:10-18:32): Brian and Ian talked about how Christians can avoid conspiracy theories in uncertain times like the COVID-19 shutdown. (18:32-28:11): Brian and Ian talked about how to be g...

(00:00-09:13): Are you suffering from quarantine fatigue? Brian and Ian talked about the dangers of slacking off in your quarantine efforts as the shutdown stretches on and on. (09:13-18:41): Domestic violence calls are up in 18% Chicago during the shutdown , with people cooped up at home and stressing over coronavirus and paying bills. (18:41-28:46): Dave Ramsey is giving people advice for how to...

(00:00-09:54): Is it time to ditch the sweatpants and start dressing like the adults we are despite all of us working from home? Brian and Ian discuss. (09:54-19:45): Vermon Pierre with The Gospel Coalition is concerned that after the COVID-19 lockdown, churches will spend too much time creating online content rather than gatherings . (19:45-29:28): What do you think you’ll remember most fro...

(00:00-08:17): Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has announced the stay-at-home order will be extended until the end of May . Brian and Ian talked about priorities for living life during the COVID-19 shutdown. (08:17-29:24): Jarrett Stevens is the lead pastor and CEO of Soul City Church, one of the fastest growing churches in Chicago. He joined Brian and Ian to talk about how his organization is survi...

(00:00-09:35): Brian and Ian start the show off by discussing how different heads-of-states are handling the lock downs, and some remarks from the Texas lieutenant governor and others. Plus they discuss protesters’ remarks “ Jesus is my vaccine ”. (09:35-19:02): We hear from a friend of Ian’s Georgia Coats. She shares her perspective on weakness and how from it, we can have...

(00:00-09:16): Jo Yurcaba writes “ No, we actually *don’t* have a ton of free time right now. Why we need to stop perpetuating that myth ” in Well and Good magazine. Brian and Ian respond to the premise of “having more time” but also how having to adapt to the circumstances is posing more challenges and taking up more time.  (09:16-18:33): Willie Geist responds i...

(00:00-09:17): “ Churches: Don’t Get Too Comfortable Online ” writes John Thomas in Christianity Today. Digital worship is a necessary stopgap under pandemic conditions. But in the long run, in-person fellowship is indispensable. (09:17-18:41): In a PBS Essay series, author and military affairs expert Tom Nichols speaks on “ The problem with thinking you know more than the...

Hour 1 Seg 1: “ Coronavirus testing must double or triple before U.S. can safely reopen, experts say. "We are an order of magnitude off right now from where we should be," said an expert in infectious disease modeling who advised the Obama administration. Trump proposed a three step plan to reopen , and Over 43,000 US millionaires will get ‘stimulus’ averaging $1.6 million each ....

Hour 1 Seg 1: The White House announced plans to reopen businesses and establishments, but advised some areas to remain closed.  Hour 1 Seg 2: Andy Crouch tweeted : If I were a pastor of the modal US congregation (granted the huge diversity within that set) I would be planning for 50% decline in giving over the next 12 months, no gatherings of >100 allowed for at least a year gatherings of...

(00:00-09:11): US coronavirus : Highest number of deaths in a day recorded after several days of a downward trend. PLUS, Dr. Anthony Fauci is cautiously optimistic about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  (09:11-18:13): Eric Peterson in The Navigators posted “ Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation ”. Brian and Ian discuss how we are going to reorient ourselves back i...

(00:00-09:45): We discussed this “ Virginia pastor who defiantly held church service, dies of coronavirus ”. PLUS, Fire Fauci? What a disaster that would be for Trump and the US (09:45-19:10): Does Stay-in-Your-Car Worship Comply with Stay-at-Home Orders? Church, state, and health officials across the country disagree about drive-in services. This is a concept popping up in several chu...

(00:00-09:14): It is Holy Monday, and Brian and Ian take time to reflect on the unusual Easter Weekend. What was different? Good or bad differences?  (09:14-18:08): How to consume news during the coronavirus pandemic . Your guide to reading, watching and listening to news, and how you can stay informed while managing your stress levels and avoiding misinformation. (18:08-27:35): We heard from...

(00:00-10:15): “ Seeing My Child Face Death Made Me Rethink the Passion ” NIJAY GUPTA writes in Christianity Today. The Cross secured our salvation. But Jesus’ fate still breaks the Father’s heart. PLUS, Jonathan Martin Tweeted this prayer and reflection for Good Friday.  (10:15-19:37): Randy Gariss writes on Facebook about isolation and separation. Brian and Ian refle...