Citizen of Heaven

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This episode represents the final section of my conversation with Josh Everett, professor of British literature at Central Texas College, and Edwin Crozier, preacher and co-host of the Text Talk podcast. If you have not checked out the first two installments, please do so. Here we discuss the literary legacy J.R.R. Tolkien has left for us, and the legacy of faith we inherit from those who came before and leave to those who come up afterward.

“Generic fantasy” is a term boardgamers often use to describe the sort of quasi-human creatures that have become ubiquitous in our lifetime. We have seen enough dwarves, goblins, elves, sorcerers and halflings to fill a game library — and that is exactly what many have done. Others scoff at “generic fantasy,” saying it’s all the same, hopelessly derivative and cliché. But it wasn’t cliché in Tolkien’s day. He made it cliché by doing it so well and inspiring thousands of copycats. We inherit a legacy from earlier generations of Christians, and we leave one for the generations to come. How important is it to respect what we have received, and what measures can we take to leave something valuable behind?

Hal Hammons is the preacher 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 Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words: Tolkien, hobbits, Lord of the Rings, Lewis, C.S. Lewis, Narnia, fantasy, generic fantasy, legacy, copycats, cliche, Reformation, Frodo, Bilbo, Faramir, Samwise Gamgee,

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 Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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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 them all.

I’ve been playing ... Coloma, a great example of a game that’s just not for everyone. And that’s OK.

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 Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

I’ve been preaching ... about Asa, king of Judah. Is it possible to be blessed too much? There’s every reason to think the answer is yes, and that we should take warning.

I’ve been reading ... Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Jonathan Edwards is often cast as believing in a God searching for opportunities to destroy us. The truth, and Edwards’ actual message, are quite different.

I’ve been hearing ... Work-Life balance is a myth. Kudos to Time Magazine for publishing something that the Bible has been teaching us all along.

I’ve been playing ... Newton. If the game, or God, sets you up for success, it would be tragic not to take proper advantage.

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 Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

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Well, I haven’t gotten in too much trouble lately, so I thought I would spend a week talking about women. I will be using the Bible as my guide, though, so I am confident I have the truth. I pray it comes out in a respectful way.

This week we will discuss how “understanding” women is not only possible but mandatory; how “Chick Lit” feeds stereotypes, and the result is John Wilkes Booth; how God shows women how to excel — and it’s not by imitating men; and how men and women really are the same in all the truly important things.

Hal Hammons is the preacher 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 Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Key words: women, men, understanding, 1 Peter 3:7, Fates and Traitors, John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Surratt, marriage, wives, husbands, homemakers, keepers at home, differences, Rococo, dresses, seamstress, similarity

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 Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!

We’ve been talking about gifts this month. I’m going to complete the journey today by commenting on your gift to me – 300 weeks of letting me talk about the things I care about. I thought I’d use this landmark occasion to give you four examples of things I preach, read, hear and play, and tell you a bit about why, after five and a half seasons, I still like tying up all these bits of business into a podcast for you every week.

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 Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.