Shows
Empires of the FutureThe Benefits of Taking a Gap YearThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
How can we best prepare ourselves and our children for the challenges they will face in the world? What does it take for a young person to grow up, accept responsibility, hold down a job, and all the rest? One answer to that question is to take a “gap year”, meaning to take a year off after high school to work or serve one’s country in the military. We talk about this idea and reference an article by Erica Komisar from the I...2025-07-021h 12Empires of the FutureThe First Sexual RevolutionThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The First Sexual Revolution
Much has been written about the sexual revolution, and in past podcasts we’ve mentioned a recent book by Louise Perry called “The Case Against the Sexual Revolution”, and believe she makes a strong case that the sexual revolution was actually bad for men, women, and children. In an article posted at First Things, Kyle Harper explains how Christianity actually drove a completely countercultural sexual revolution in the first century whose effects are not only still fe...2025-05-211h 14Empires of the FutureThe Problem of Sexual ExtortionThe Problem of Sexual Extortion
Sexual extortion, or “Sextortion” as it is sometimes called, is a new and growing problem. In the 21st century, there have been various problems related to the “connectedness” that being online offers, and sometimes these problems are not evenly divided among the sexes. Sexual extortion is one of the newer ones. Young men seem to be particularly susceptible not just to being fooled into seeking and sharing nude pictures but also into an even darker situation when those pictures are used against them. Because of this, we wanted to release a short episode enco...2025-04-3019 minEmpires of the FutureSheol, Death, and the GraveThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Sheol, Death, and the Grave
“There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
the grave, the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
Proverbs 30:15
“Sheol”, here translated “the grave” is a complex concept in the Bible. What did Old Testament believers (and non-believers) think when they spoke of “Sheol”? What are Christians to think about the afterlife? What is the relationship between th...2025-03-261h 03Empires of the FutureOn Gentle ParentingThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
On Gentle Parenting
In this episode, we discuss an article by Trevin Wax for the Gospel Coalition entitled “The Church’s Opportunity When ‘Gentle Parenting’ Crashes.” We agree with Wax that Gentle Parenting is lacking in some key areas, and examine the philosophy behind gentle parenting, what it assumes about children and people in general, and why we believe it does not reach the goals it strives for. We also outline authoritative, biblical parenting, which does not fall into either the do...2025-02-1256 minEmpires of the FutureThe Pilgrim's Progress by John BunyanThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Beginning in 1678, Puritan John Bunyan published The Pilgrim’s Progress, a religious allegory that took the English-speaking world by storm and remains one of the most read books in the English language. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, it is the most famous Christian allegory still in print.
Written while the author was in prison, this work attempts to consider and reflect upon all manner of troubles the christian will encounter in his...2025-01-2950 minEmpires of the FutureWhy Don't Men Sing in Church?This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Why Don’t Men Sing in Church?
Some men do sing in church, to be sure. But many don’t. A great deal of ink has been spilled about contemporary worship music and whether or not it encourages men to get involved in the corporate gathering, but we want to ask a few different questions in the four parts of this episode:
Is there a biblical mandate to sing?
What is singing about anyway?
Are we assuming that women do...2025-01-151h 34Empires of the FutureBeauty and the Eye of the BeholderThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Beauty and the Eye of the Beholder
In this episode, we consider the article “Gaming’s Uneven Progress Toward Diverse Female Figures” by Jamal Michel for the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/18/arts/video-games-women-gamergate.html
In addition to considering how women have been and should be portrayed in video games, we ask more foundational questions about beauty and dignity as well.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - W...2024-10-301h 06Empires of the FutureThe Hidden Marriage MarketThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
What are the benefits of an Ivy League education? Recently in his newsletter, Rob Henderson brought attention to one benefit that is rarely thought of: marrying an Ivy League spouse.
The Hidden Marriage Market: The college sorting machine has replaced traditional arranged marriages by Rob Henderson, July 14, 2024
https://www.robkhenderson.com/p/the-hidden-marriage-market
Additionally, "zoomers" (the generation after Millenials, or Gen. Z) seem to be finding one thing about their work very enjoyable: making friends wi...2024-09-041h 05Empires of the FutureThe Anxious Generation by Jon Haidt, Part 2 - A Plan of ActionThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Anxious Generation By Jon Haidt, Part 2 - A Plan of Action
Can childhood be salvaged?
“After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why?” - The Anxious Generation
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com
In this episode, we look at the challenges Gen. Z is facing according to this b...2024-07-311h 17Empires of the FutureThe Anxious Generation By Jon Haidt, Part 1 - Defining the ChallengeThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Anxious Generation By Jon Haidt, Part 1 - Defining the Challenge
“After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why?” - The Anxious Generation
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com
Matt Castro rejoins Empires of the Future for this installment of the podcast! In this episode, we look at the challenges Gen. Z...2024-07-2451 minEmpires of the FutureLaw Amendment, In Vitro, Sex Abuse Reform - SBC Annual Meeting 2024 RecapThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Law Amendment, In Vitro, Sex Abuse Reform - SBC Annual Meeting 2024 Recap
What is the SBC Annual Meeting?
· Messengers are elected from churches, starting at 2 per church and adding more dependent on giving to the cooperative program, with a maximum of 12.
Link to kentuckytoday.com summary:
https://www.kentuckytoday.com/baptist_life/wrap-up-2024-sbc-annual-meeting/article_f23f9cc4-29b1-11ef-bedb-27acbbb11f5e.html
Link to In Vitro Resolution:
https...2024-06-261h 28Empires of the FutureThe Bible and Suffering with Matt HigginsThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
We will all suffer. Life is not suffering, but suffering is a part of life. In this episode, Jackson interviews Matt Higgins, the worship pastor of Northwoods Church on the north side of Evansville concerning the Doctor of Ministry that Matt is working on at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. The conversation ranges from trauma and sadness to joy and hope. It was an encouragement to us, and we hope it will be an encouragement to you.
"The Empire...2024-05-011h 29Empires of the FutureWhat Good are Children?This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“What Good are Children?”
In a recent New York Times opinion piece called “The Birth Dearth and the Smartphone Age”, Ross Douthat speaks to the precipitous fall in the birthrate that marks all of the western world in our day.
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/04/06/opinion/the-birth-dearth-and-the-smartphone-age/?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral
What are the possible reasons for this decline? Is modern western culture itself hostile to children? What good are children, af...2024-04-241h 06Empires of the Future10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Don WhitneyThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health” by Donald Whitney
Donald Whitney, popular author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, also wrote this very helpful book called Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health. Here are his 10 questions:
Do you thirst for God?
Are you governed increasingly by God’s Word?
Are you more loving?
Are you more sensitive to God’s presence?
Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
D...2024-02-291h 22Empires of the FutureRest - What it is and How to Do itThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“Rest - What it is and How to Do it”
What’s the difference between “rest” and “sleep”? Why, with all of our modern conveniences and with all the advances in medical care that have taken place over the last hundred years are we seeing such increases in anxiety and struggles with stress, work, and peace? How much peace does God even want us to have? All these questions are considered in this episode of Empires of the Future, whi...2024-02-1559 minEmpires of the FutureFive Challenges Now Facing the ChurchThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
"Five Challenges Now Facing the Church"
Hershael York retired from 43 years of pastoral ministry just a couple of weeks ago in January of 2024. In an article at Southern Equip, he speaks to five ministry challenges he didn't anticipate in his time as a lead pastor. In this article he speaks candidly about new challenges facing the church in the twenty-first century and encourages christians to face these issues with courage and wisdom.
https://equip.sbts...2024-02-081h 16Empires of the FutureWhat Do We Do with Club Sports?This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“What do we do with Club Sports?”
Over the last twenty years, club sports have come to replace many other activities that used to take place in the recreational life of a young person. In this podcast, we consider the article “Why We Pulled Our Kids from Club Sports” by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and Ross Douma for The Gospel Coalition. What’s the difference between club sports, rec. leagues, and Kiwanis Baseball for that matter? What is the value o...2024-01-3159 minEmpires of the FutureWhat are Hobbies For?This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
What is the purpose of hobbies? If Labor produces Leisure, how should we balance work and play? In this episode of Empires of the Future, Jackson and Denton share their top three favorite hobbies and consider why God might have given us hobbies at all.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2024-01-2445 minEmpires of the FutureThe Masculinity PyramidThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
"We are in a masculinity crisis", begins Seth Troutt in his article at Mereorthodoxy.com. In an age that struggles to answer the question "what is a man?", is it any wonder that that men are struggling? Seth answers this question by considering four important questions:
1. How is man different from God?
2. How is man different from an animal?
3. How is a man different from a boy?
4. How is a man different from a wo...2024-01-101h 05Empires of the FutureSinging (with others) is Good for YouThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
One of the things that certainly decreased during the pandemic and has not returned its previous levels is singing with other people. What are the benefits of singing with others? Why is it a big deal to actually sing when you gather for worship? We explore these questions and more in this episode of Empires of the Future based on this article by Alexandra Moe for the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/06/25/singing-with-others-mental-physical-health/
"Th...2023-12-061h 16Empires of the FutureThe City of God and the City of Evansville“Identifying the Idols of the City” by Leonardo de Chirico”
Every city has patterns of living and ever group of people has certain ideas, practices, and opinions about the kind of life that is worth living. The Bible describes an idol as anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. Through the lens of this helpful article on Acts 17 by Italian church planter and missionary Leonardo de Chirico, we examine what the Idols of Evansville may be and what we ought to do about it.
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/identifying-the-idols-of-the-city/
2023-11-011h 22Empires of the FutureCaesar Bears the Sword, Uncle Sam Bears the WebcamThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
“Company Says facial recognition can’t be used in arrests, but it’s happening in Evansville”
10-19-23 By Houston Harwood for the Evansville Courier & Press
Here in Evansville, Indiana, the Evansville Police Department is using facial recognition software to give them a leg up on seeking out those suspected of crimes. But what are the limits of this system, and what crimes should be prosecuted using this AI? We explore these questions and more on thi...2023-10-251h 27Empires of the FutureAndy Stanley and the Path of Protestant LiberalismThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
In an upcoming conference billed for parents of LGBTQ+ children and ministry leaders, Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point community church, claims “You will be equipped refreshed, and inspired as you hear from leading communicators on topics that speak to your heart, soul, and mind,” It further claims “”No matter what theological stance you hold, we invite you to listen, reflect, and learn as we approach this topic from the quieter middle space.” What is the quieter middle space? Give...2023-09-281h 00Empires of the FutureThe West is RepaganizingThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
The West is Repaganizing
Anyone who grew up in the 80s or 90s remembers the claim that if the west could just get free of religion, then a golden age of science, reason, and technology would await. What we are finding in the 21st century is the receding of Christianity in the West is leading to to a return of pagan morality, if not religion. Louise Perry deals skillfully with this reality in an article at Fir...2023-09-201h 36Empires of the FutureSpiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald WhitneyThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
“Read the Bible, pray everyday, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” This phrase common among christian teachers agrees with one of C.S. Lewis’ sentiments that Christianity is a form of education in itself. If so, what are the disciplines that come with it? What is expected of a Christian? Don Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life is a simple yet comprehensive answer to this question...2023-09-131h 22Empires of the FutureThe Boy CrisisThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Boy Crisis
Boys seem to be falling behind their sisters in almost every way, from educational achievement to emotional resiliency. Why is this happening, and what can be done about it? In this episode we examine an article by Physician Leonard Sax from the institute for family studies to consider these questions.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/boys-are-falling-farther-and-farther-behind-their-sisters-should-we-care-
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-08-301h 07Empires of the FutureNew Methods and Timeless Truths - 8 Ways Modern Relationships are FormingThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
New Methods and Timeless Truths - 8 Ways Modern Relationships are Forming
Who makes the first move in modern relationships, and does it matter? What methods and platforms are people meeting on and forming relationships through today? To answer these questions, we look at an article by Wendy Wang at the Institute for Family Studies.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/who-asked-whom-does-it-matter-who-makes-the-first-move-in-a-relationship
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Chu...2023-08-231h 08Empires of the FutureA Christian Esports Coach?This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
Season 4, Episode 1 - A Christian Esports Coach?
Sam Henderson has recently moved to the Evansville area to pioneer an ESports program at the University of Evansville. In this interview, we ask him about being adopted from South Korea, growing up as a gamer, becoming a Christian, and how he became an Esports coordinator and coach.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-08-161h 09Empires of the FutureThe ”Narrative” vs. the Reality of SBC ’23: 6 Actions taken at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist ConventionThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this article we consider the actions taken two weeks ago at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2023. We talk through an article written by Denny Burk at https://www.dennyburk.com/the-narrative-vs-the-reality-of-sbc-23/
and consider such issues as complementarianism vs. egalitarianism, sexual abuse in the church, and the future of the SBC.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-06-281h 09Empires of the FutureMore than Nice People, Mere Christianity Part 11, The FinaleThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change.
More than Nice People - Mere Christianity, Part 11
Should Christians always be nice? Why do my daily decisions matter? What is God's goal for humanity anyway? In this, the final installment of our review of Mere Christianity, we cover Chapters 10 and 11 of Book 4 and complete our journey through the book.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-06-211h 14Empires of the FutureLet’s Pretend, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 10Let's Pretend - Mere Christianity, Part 9
Is Christianity Hard or Easy, and how does moral change happen at all? What is the value of many of the old stories, which often surface as Disney movies in our day, about character and how it grows in us? In this review of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, we explore Book 4, Chapters 7-9, which deal with these very questions.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-06-071h 07Empires of the FutureGood Infection, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 9This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Good Infection - Mere Christianity, Part 9
How can we receive the spiritual life God has for us, and how is God working to give life to humanity at all? How does God hear a thousand prayers all at the same time? In this review of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, we explore Book 4, Chapters 3-6, which deals with these very questions.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-05-3159 minEmpires of the FutureGod and the Atlantic, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 8This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
God and the Atlantic - Mere Christianity, Part 8
How can we have knowledge of God? What is the use of good theology, and how do we get it? In this episode we talk about Book 4, Chapters 1&2 of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. These chapters deal with questions about what makes Jesus unique, why God should be thought of as a Trinity, and how this fundamentally relates to what we are as human beings made in God's image.
"Th...2023-05-1752 minEmpires of the FutureThe Greatest Good and the Deepest Evil, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 7This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
The Greatest Good and the Deepest Evil - Mere Christianity, Part 7
In this chapter we engage with both what is the deepest problem with humanity as well as the greatest heights God may take us to. We begin talking about Chapter 8 of book 3 which is on Pride, the Great Sin. We also cover Chapters 9 and 10 which are on Charity and Hope. We close with Lewis’ consideration of Faith in chapters 11 and 12.
"The Empires of the future will be Empi...2023-05-031h 23Empires of the FutureThe Tragic Increase in Teen SuicidesThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this episode we talk about an article by Eric Levin for New York Magazine titled "No,Teen Suicide isn't Rising Because Life Got Objectively Worse". https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/02/teen-suicide-depression-girls-social-media.html He discusses the crisis facing Gen. Z (born 1995-2015). We reflect on this article and try to consider holistically all the problems young people are facing right now, and what can be done about them.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Wins...2023-04-191h 16Empires of the FutureChristian Marriage and Forgiveness, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 6This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Christian Marriage and Forgiveness - Mere Christianity, Part 6
What is meant by the "one flesh" union in christian marriage? How does this explain and affect the nature of divorce as well? How do we find the heart and the courage to forgive? These topics are discussed here in Part 6 of our discussion of "Mere Christianity".
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-04-051h 21Empires of the FutureDiabetes, Obesity, Mounjaro, and OzempicThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this episode we discuss this article from the Independent in the UK:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mounjaro-uk-ozempic-weight-loss-drug-b2295499.html?amp
What is a balanced life? What new vulnerabilities do our online lives bring us? Here we talk about the feud over Mounjaro that is taking place in online spaces and what pharmaceuticals can and can't do for us.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Chu...2023-03-0853 minEmpires of the FuturePsychoanalysis and Sexual Morality, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 5This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
Psychoanalysis and Sexual Morality - Mere Christianity, Part 5
What do we know about our own consciousness and unconsciousness? Is it wise to give in to our desires? In this section of Mere Christianity, we deal with Book 3 Chapters 4 and 5 which includes Lewis' writing about psychoanalysis, a topic that was viewed very differently in his time than ours, and sexual morality, which has continued on the same "fewer limits are better" trajectory from his own time.
"The Empires of t...2023-02-221h 07Empires of the FutureThe Three Parts of Morality, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 4This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
How can we think clearly about morality? Is there anything beyond the level of individuals hurting each other? In this chapter we look at a deeper way to think about right and wrong and how it extends to individuals, society, and the meaning of life itself.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-02-011h 07Empires of the FutureHow God Brings Us to Life, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 3This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
This is part 3 of our review through Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Here we cover Book 2, Chapters 4 and 5 entitled "The Perfect Penitent" and "The Practical Conclusion", respectively.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-01-251h 00Empires of the FutureGood and Evil in Marvel MoviesThis is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.
In this episode we talk about good and evil in what is probably the most popular franchise of the last twenty years, Marvel movies.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe contains near-endless messages about good and evil, and in this episode we analyze those themes with Christians like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis as our guides.
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill
2023-01-181h 04Empires of the FutureThe Reality of Good and Evil - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 2Are our intuitions about good and evil pointing to something real? What kind of reality is it? In our second podcast on Mere Christianity, we examine Chapters 1-3 of Book 2 entitled "The Rival Conceptions of God", "The Invasion", and "The Shocking Alternative".
2023-01-041h 15Empires of the FutureThe Moral Law - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 1Here we begin our review of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, published in 1952. This book is a clear summary of Christian doctrine that contains helpful insights not only about Christianity and the nature of humanity but also about communication and even clear thinking itself. We hope it is helpful to you.
2022-12-281h 05Empires of the FuturePro-Life on Campus with Kira O’NealWhat's been happening on college campuses since the Dobbs decision overturning Roe vs. Wade? Denton interviews Kira O'Neal, president of Students for life at the University of Evansville and asks about the purpose of the pro-life movement, opposition on campus, and the future of the pro-life witness.
2022-11-3058 minEmpires of the Future3 Keys for Fitness as a ChristianHow can we become more physically fit? Are we simply stuck with the metabolism we were born with? Jackson and Denton look into the work of Dr. Casey Means, founder of "Levels" and consider this article: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-metabolic-health
2022-11-021h 10Empires of the FutureThe Honest Guide to CollegeThere is a mental health crisis on college campuses. What is the origin of this phenomenon, and what is to be done about it? Is college for everyone after all? All these questions and more are considered in this podcast based on this article: https://www.commonsense.news/p/the-honest-guide-to-college
2022-10-051h 10Empires of the FutureWhat is Splankna? Questions and Answers about this new idea in therapy.Splanka therapy claims to utilize the mind-body connection to heal a variety of physical and emotional ailments. What is this practice? What should Christians think about it? All these questions are dealt with in this episode of Empires of the Future.
2022-09-2152 minEmpires of the FutureWhere Do We Go from Here? Strange New World by Carl Trueman, Part 6What do we do when our focus on immediate happiness leads to spiritual bankruptcy? In this episode, we turn toward the future and plot a course toward fulfillment rather than frustration.
2022-09-081h 16Empires of the FutureWhat is Sexuality? A Political History of the LGBTQ Movement - Strange New World by Carl Trueman, Part 5How fundamental is sex to who we are? Is gender a gift from God? In this chapter we look at these questions against the backdrop of the LGBTQ movement, the most successful movement in terms of culture change of the last one hundred years.
2022-08-311h 04Empires of the FutureWhat is Community? - Strange New World by Carl Trueman, Part 4What's the difference between a network and a community? How can we attain real connectedness in a digital world? We explore all these questions and more on this episode of Empires of the Future.
2022-08-171h 11Empires of the FutureWhat is Happiness? - Strange New World by Carl Trueman, Part 3What would really make me happy? Is there more to it than sex and pleasure? What can the ancients tell us about happiness? These questions are more are considered as we make our way through "Strange New World" by Carl Trueman.
2022-08-101h 03Empires of the FutureCan We Trust our Feelings? - Strange New World by Carl Trueman, Part 2To what extent can we really invent ourselves? What does it mean to be authentic? This podcast continues exploring the book "Strange New World", by Carl Trueman
2022-07-2757 minEmpires of the FutureWhat’s the Real Me? - Strange New World by Carl Trueman, Part 1Is there more to life than being true to yourself? Could this itself be a burden that's too much to bear, or one that's not worth giving yourself to? This podcast is the beginning of an exploration of "Strange New World", a book by Carl Trueman.
2022-07-131h 15Empires of the FutureThe Power of the Two-Parent FamilyWhat are the consequences of a stable home-life? What does social science research tell us about the effect of a two-parent family on the life of a child? What wisdom does the Bible give us on how to get there? All these questions are considered as Denton and Jackson discuss this article from Kevin DeYoung at Eikon, a Journal of Biblical Anthropology:
https://cbmw.org/2022/05/23/the-power-of-the-two-parent-home/
2022-06-231h 26Empires of the FutureThe Southern Baptist Convention Sex Abuse ScandalA recent independent investigation by Guidepost Solutions found that Sexual Abuse was ignored by leadership within the Southern Baptist Convention, and not acted upon even while a database was being compiled for fifteen years. Christianity Today writer Kate Shellnut covers this here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/may/southern-baptist-abuse-investigation-sbc-ec-legal-survivors.html
2022-06-011h 00Empires of the FutureApple Killed the iPodOn Tuesday, March 10, 2022, Apple announced that it will stop producing iPods. What does this mean for the Future of music? What's the best way to hear your favorite songs? All this and more is discussed this week on Empires of the Future.
2022-05-1854 minEmpires of the FutureThe Future of AbortionJackson and Denton discuss the recent leak of an upcoming ruling out of the Supreme Court of the United States that indicates two longstanding rulings in Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey may soon be overturned.
2022-05-1152 minEmpires of the FutureWhere can a Coach Pray?Denton and Jackson discuss another case headed to the Supreme Court concerning Coach Joe Kennedy and whether his post-game 50-yard-line prayers should be allowed under the establishment clause of the US Constitution.
The article this episode is based on can be found at https://www.wsj.com/articles/high-school-football-coach-takes-case-for-prayer-to-supreme-court-11650798000
2022-05-0452 minEmpires of the FutureFinding a Third PlaceSince 2019, the number of people who know of a "Third Place" where they can freely interact with people has declined from 2/3rds to 1/2. What does this mean for us and what should we do about it? Consider these questions with us in this episode of Empires of the Future.
2022-04-201h 02Empires of the FuturePastoral Care on Death RowJackson and Denton discuss a recent Supreme Court decision that allows a convicted murderer to receive pastoral care in the closing moments of his life.
For more information on this decision, visit the website of the Supreme Court at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-5592_feah.pdf
2022-04-1333 minEmpires of the FutureHow to Save Evangelicalism from ItselfNew co-host Denton Ice joins Jackson Van Dyke to discuss current challenges within Evangelicalism and what might be done about them.
2022-04-031h 24Empires of the FutureIs A Party-First Mentality Destroying Democracy?Matt and Jackson discuss an important issue that is rarely discussed at the dinner table. The issue is gerrymandering. The state of California is potentially setting the model for other states to follow. Enjoy!
2021-12-2833 minEmpires of the FutureFavorite Christmas MoviesThis is the last episode of Empires of the Future featuring Matt and Jackson. In this episode, they discuss their favorite Christmas movies and reminisce about what makes movies great.
2021-12-2539 minEmpires of the FutureThe Climate ChallengeMatt and Jackson discuss climate change. A recent article in the WSJ by economist Bjorn Lomborg presents a reasonable approach to climate change. The guys discuss the article, and present their thoughts on the topic. Enjoy.
2021-11-1949 minEmpires of the FutureGenerational TalkMatt and Jackson discussed Bobby Duffy's article in the WSJ about generations like Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
2021-11-0558 minEmpires of the FutureThe Meaning of SufferingMatt and Jackson discuss the meaning of suffering. This is one of our more important and complex episodes to date. Enjoy!
2021-10-261h 01Empires of the FutureWork BurnoutMatt and Jackson discuss the issue of work burnout. How can you create balance in your life?
2021-10-0651 minEmpires of the FutureInstagram ToxicityMatt and Jackson are back with a new episode about the dark side of instagram.
2021-09-211h 00Empires of the FutureMale Exodus from CollegeMatt and Jackson discuss the alarming exodus of males from universities and colleges in America.
2021-09-151h 04Empires of the FutureThe Future of IntimacyMatt and Jackson discuss the controversy around the pornographic social media platform OnlyFans. The guys discuss the larger issues of pornography and intimacy.
2021-08-3152 minEmpires of the FutureThe Crisis in KabulMatt and Jackson return to discuss Afghanistan, the Taliban, and the Biden Administration's failure to withdraw from the longest war in American history. They discuss Dan Crenshaw's article in the WSJ entitled "The Endless War Fallacy."
2021-08-2056 minEmpires of the FutureA Review of the Tokyo OlympicsMatt and Jackson return with an episode about the Tokyo Olympics. We look at different issues related to the this Olympic and the Olympic in-general. Enjoy!
2021-08-191h 12Empires of the FutureSBC Convention in ReviewMatt and Jackson discuss the aftermath of the SBC Convention in Nashville.
2021-07-081h 03Empires of the FutureAmerican Identity in CrisisMatt and Jackson are back with a serious discussion on the fragile condition of the American society today due to identity politics. They discuss Charles Murray's article "Identity Crisis: How the Politics of race will Wreck America."
2021-06-211h 06Empires of the FutureAre Transgender Athletes Making Women's Sports Unfair?Matt and Jackson discuss transgender athletes and the impact on women's sports. They look at a recent issue with women's high school track in Connecticut.
2021-06-181h 05Empires of the FutureThe Future of CarsMatt and Jackson are discussing the future of cars. Are you ready for a fully electric driving experience? The guys examine an article from WSJ entitled "The New World of Auto-Tech: How Electric, Self-Driving Cars, and Ride Hailing Will Transform the Car industry."
2021-06-0154 minEmpires of the FutureJames Madison's Fears Have Come TrueMatt and Jackson discuss a great article about the dark side of social media, which has increased connectivity and unfortunately mutual animosity.
2021-05-071h 16Empires of the FutureThe Social Life of Parents TodayMatt and Jackson discuss the intensive parenting philosophy of today's parents, which has led to issues for parents and children.
2021-05-031h 14Empires of the FuturePost-Covid Anxiety and the Georgia Voting LawMatt and Jackson are back discussing the potential of anxiety for some after life returns to normal. The guys also discuss the frustrating reality of a corporate America gone woke. Enjoy!
2021-04-231h 07Empires of the FutureAmerica's Fastest Growing Religion is PoliticsMatt and Jackson discuss Shadi Hamid's article in the National Review about the decline of religious faith and the placement of that religious intensity in politics.
2021-04-0558 minEmpires of the FutureRise of the Religious LeftMatt and Jackson discuss the rise of the religious left to positions of power in the U.S. government.
2021-03-121h 02Empires of the FutureReligious Freedom in Retreat in the WestMatt and Jackson discuss some alarming decisions by two European governments on the issue of religious freedom. France and Denmark both passed laws recently that will negatively impact religious freedom.
2021-03-0258 minEmpires of the FutureCovid's Impact on Schools and the EconomyMatt and Jackson discuss the fight between parents and teachers union about opening schools. They also look at the stimulus issue as the U.S. Government continues to artificially prop up the economy.
2021-02-181h 06Empires of the FutureSpiritual Hunger During CovidMatt and Jackson discuss the growing popularity of "Spiritual companions" or "spiritual directors."
2021-02-121h 03Empires of the FutureWhat Does It Mean to Be An American?Matt and Jackson are back for a second season of Empires of the Future. We discuss a book review of American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Affections of Our Time by Joshua Mitchell. We attempt to answer the question, "What does it mean to be an American?"
2021-02-031h 06Empires of the FutureJanuary 6th 2020Matt and Jackson discuss the horrible event at the US Capitol on Wednesday. They talk about the future of democracy, and the future of the Republican Party.
2021-01-0851 minEmpires of the FutureThe House of TomorrowMatt and Jackson discuss the potential homes of tomorrow, and an interesting lifestyles of the digital nomad. Enjoy!
2020-12-2139 minEmpires of the FutureWho is Elliot PageMatt and Jackson discuss Becket Cook's article on the Gospel Coalition entitled "Why Hollywood Praises Elliot Page (and Blacklists Me)." Enjoy!
2020-12-1641 minEmpires of the FutureGovernments Catch CovidMatt and Jackson discuss the longer term impacts of Covid on local and state governments. They also discuss the positive influence of music during difficult times. Enjoy!
2020-12-121h 18Empires of the FuturePositive Trends for Teens During CovidMatt and Jackson are back discussing an interesting article about teenagers and Covid. Erica Komisar's article "Lockdowns have a Bright Side for Teens" in WSJ intoduces improvements in mental health among teenagers during Covid. Enjoy!
2020-11-2344 minEmpires of the FutureBiden and a Divided GovernmentMatt and Jackson discuss the Presidental Election.
2020-11-1659 minEmpires of the FutureThe Real Causes of Human Sex DifferencesMatt and Jackson discuss an article by David C. Geary on gender differences.
2020-11-071h 14Empires of the FutureA Return to NormalcyMatt and Jackson discuss the first Presidental Debate and the Vice-President Debate. Will the country chose Biden out of desire to return to normalcy? The guys also discuss Amy Coney Barrett and her nomination to the Supreme Court. Enjoy!
2020-10-231h 26Empires of the FutureThe Future of MoviesMatt and Jackson discuss the concerning future of movies and Hollywood. The guys look at the box office numbers of Christopher Nolan's Tenet, which has under-perfomed in the U.S. What does this mean for the future of the movie industry?
2020-10-0544 minEmpires of the FutureIs There a Free Speech Crisis in America?Matt and Jackson discuss the topic of free speech in America today. They discuss Adam Kirsch's WSJ article "Land of Free (And Fettered Speech)."
2020-09-251h 14Empires of the FutureThe Unhappiest Religion in the WorldMatt and Jackson discuss an article about Nick Cave, an Australian singer songwriter, and political correctness from Stephen McAlpine entitled "The Unhappiest Religion in All the World."
2020-09-2156 minEmpires of the FutureJerry Falwell Jr. and the Authority Problem of EvangelicalismMatt Castro and Jackson Van Dyke are back to talk about the current issues of the evangelical movement. The guys discuss the hotline news about Jerry Falwell Jr, who resigned recently from his position as the President of Liberty University. The news of Falwell Jr. highlights the authority problem in evangelicalism.
2020-08-2957 minEmpires of the FutureThe NBA and Selective JusticeMatt and Jackson discuss the controversial with the NBA's support of China over the freedom protests in Hong Kong. Does the NBA have selective justice bias?
2020-08-2445 minEmpires of the FutureSpace the New FrontierMatt and Jackson are discussing the return of space travel. Space X successfully sent two men into space this summer. What is the future of space?
2020-08-1837 min