Signs of Hope from 2022

Anticipating the Kingdom of God.

By
9

What does it look like to have Christian hope in this chaotic world?

As believers, we live in the “already but not yet,” which means that we are currently in the kingdom of God, though the kingdom has not reached its full expression. In other words, we are “already” in the kingdom of God, but we do “not yet” experience its full glory.

In this Advent episode, David and Curtis look back at the challenging year and look for signs of the “coming Kingdom” so that listeners can “read the signs of the times”–  in a way that is both Biblical and hopeful – and live in the anticipation of God’s justice, restoration, and glory.

Show Notes:

-YouTube: God Bless You’: Residents Welcome Ukrainian Troops As They Advance Toward Kherson

-YouTube: Ukrainian woman plays violin from apartment basement in Kharkiv

-World Health Organization: COVAX delivers its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose

-Forbes: How A Rock Star, A Physician-Legislator, And An Evangelical Senator Bonded To Help End The Global AIDS Pandemic: A Backstory

-The Perception Gap: Americans tend to have a distorted understanding of people on the other side of the aisle.

By
Comments (9)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Avatar photo
    JonathanRRogers

    This episode was mostly excellent. However, I had no idea what Curtis was talking about WRT the fight for Speaker of the House. Was he comparing opposition to McCarthy with denying the results of the 2020 election? I hope Curtis knows that the Speaker is not elected by American voters, but by members of the House in whatever way they see fit. David pointed out that there were some valid reforms proposed as part of the negotiation, but he could have done more to correct Curtis' strange statements.

    Similarly, I was surprised that David didn't push back on Curtis' assertion that Marvel movies are primarily about wielding power independent of virtue. Those movies vary in quality, but the best ones are about courageous use of power. The best example is probably Captain America: Civil War, in which the primary conflict is about the proper limits on power.

    Collapse
  2. Pap2inc@yahoo.com

    I know David is. Taking another job but what’s happening with Good Faith?

    Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    LeGrand Northcutt

    I loved this episode, which got me thinking of an AMA for both of you— are you pre-, post-, or a-millennial? Or none of the above? How did your understanding of Revelation influence this episode?

    Collapse
  4. Lovell.Eugene

    I appreciate your comments on the war in the Ukraine and I am hopeful the Ukraine ultimately prevails in their war against Russia. Politically, I worry about Russian aggression, particularly in this instance. If Russia succeeds here, where does it end?

    I am uncomfortable with apparent Christian (Russian and U.S.) complicity in supporting Russia in their war. I failed to hear it discussed specifically in this podcast. It would be helpful if you could discuss at length how best to understand when evil appears to reside within the Church itself (or, perhaps more properly, it’s representatives).

    Collapse
  5. Awesome

    About people not knowing what other people believe, I remember Rush Limbaugh once saying something like "Listen to me about what liberal people believe, because I know what they believe better than liberal's do themselves." It's deeply self-deceptive thinking, wanting to see our enemies as caricatures of themselves instead of as our neighbors. Maybe it's impossible, but someone has to figure out how to meaningfully push back on such sloppy thinking.

    Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    Medhistprof

    PEPFAR is great, but do not get carried away: WHO eradication of smallpox, roll back malaria, and even control of hookworm and Yellow Fever by Rockefeller Foundation are equally dramatic

    Collapse
  7. Bobfryling

    Thanks again for a spiritually and culturally discerning program. I would like to not only underline the “More in Common” research you mention about the size of “the middle” politically but add there are signs that this middle might be finding its voice in valuable ways. I like to observe what is happening in Christian publishing which often is both a harbinger and a reflection of what is happening among Christian leaders and Christian organizations. This past year despite the increased visibility of Christian nationalism and the rise of the nones, there seem to have been more books on reconstructing faith in areas of healthy race relations and true spiritual unity than on deconstructing faith due to Christian malfeasance. This still has to settle more deeply into local congregations but some hopeful signs are there.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Curtischang1

      Thanks for the note, Bob - that is an encouraging sign!

      Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Wrob77

    Is it me or does Good Faith not get that many comments all that often?

    I think part of the problem of evil is no one ever thinks of themselves as evil.

    Evil doesn't triumph when good men do nothing.

    Evil triumphs when good men let their friends get away with everything.

    Certainly Putin doesn't consider himself evil. Nor do those around him though I am sure some consciences are attuned to the suffering they are inflicting.

    I don't know how to interrupt the signs of the times as Jesus said. I more go with the book of James. Why do you boast about tomorrow for you are vapor.

    Collapse