Citizen of Heaven

Hal Hammons

I am Hal Hammons, a citizen of heaven. I broadcast regular reports of what it is for a child of God to live in Satan's world. My reports typically break down into four segments:"What I've been preaching" -- a point I have made in a recent sermon."What I've been reading" -- A brief breakdown of a book of the Bible or other reading material that has helped me in my understanding or application of the Bible."What I've been hearing" -- news from the internet or other sources about what is going on, either among brothers and sisters in Christ or out in the world at large."What I've been playing" -- how I've been entertaining myself in my spare time, and some spiritual points I have been able to extract. read less

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BEST BOOKS OF 2024, final edition

BEST BOOKS OF 2024, final edition

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!In lieu of my regular monthly report, I am here today to finish my list of the best books I’ve read this year. My final total for 2024 is going to come in at between 204 and 210 books — well off my ridiculous pace of 2023, but still, a lot. Obviously I have no hope of retaining everything or even anything from the vast majority of them. But casting a wide net makes it more likely that I find a few real delights. With a great deal of effort, I’ve whittled them to 10. Here they are. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty SmithTombstone, by Tom ClavinThe Little Girl who Fought the Great Depression, by John F. KassonThe Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas HardyThe Battle for the Beginning, by John MacArthur* Thunderstruck, by Eric LarsonWorst. President. Ever., by Robert Strauss* Luckenbach, Texas, by Becky Crouch PattersonThe Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James BrownGoodbye, Mr. Chips, by James HiltonA Man of Iron, by Troy SenekGod's Hand on America, by Michael Medved* Boundaries, by Henry Cloud and John TownsendHow to Read a Book, by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren* = carryovers from the list from the first half of the yearCheck out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

Episodes

BEST BOOKS OF 2024, final edition

BEST BOOKS OF 2024, final edition

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!In lieu of my regular monthly report, I am here today to finish my list of the best books I’ve read this year. My final total for 2024 is going to come in at between 204 and 210 books — well off my ridiculous pace of 2023, but still, a lot. Obviously I have no hope of retaining everything or even anything from the vast majority of them. But casting a wide net makes it more likely that I find a few real delights. With a great deal of effort, I’ve whittled them to 10. Here they are. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty SmithTombstone, by Tom ClavinThe Little Girl who Fought the Great Depression, by John F. KassonThe Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas HardyThe Battle for the Beginning, by John MacArthur* Thunderstruck, by Eric LarsonWorst. President. Ever., by Robert Strauss* Luckenbach, Texas, by Becky Crouch PattersonThe Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James BrownGoodbye, Mr. Chips, by James HiltonA Man of Iron, by Troy SenekGod's Hand on America, by Michael Medved* Boundaries, by Henry Cloud and John TownsendHow to Read a Book, by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren* = carryovers from the list from the first half of the yearCheck out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

MEANING: Life. "The Meaning of Everything." Death of the author. Monopoly.

MEANING: Life. "The Meaning of Everything." Death of the author. Monopoly.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!I have another gift for you this week. You’ve figured out by now I’m leaning toward the conceptual, deeper end of the gifts spectrum. Hopefully you’ll still get a smile out of it. We’ll discuss my 5-minute version of the meaning of life; one author’s gargantuan version of the meaning of the English language; the meaning of a book and who gets to decide what it is; and the meaning of a time-honored game you may not know nearly as well as you think.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

THINKIEST BOOKS OF 2024, second half

THINKIEST BOOKS OF 2024, second half

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!More than anything else, I read to make myself think. Maybe I’m thinking about a point of view I have not explored much, maybe I’m thinking about a struggle that I am facing or I’m helping someone else face, maybe I’m thinking about how lessons from the past can be helpful in the present, maybe I’m just thinking about one of my favorite topics and trying to get a deeper understanding. In any case, thinking is good. And maybe it will catch on if I talk about reading enough. It’s worth a try anyway. So these are the 10 books that made me think the most in the latter half of 2024. The list includes: The Cow in the Parking Lot, by Leonard Scheff and Susan EdmistonDavid and Goliath, by Malcolm GladwellMemoirs of Hadrian, by Marguerite YourcenarLife and tragic death of Jesse James (anonymous)And Then There's This, by Bill WasikA Simple Plan, by Scott SmithHow to Suffer … in 10 Easy Steps, by William ArntzThe Earth Dwellers, by Erich HoytMoll Flanders, by Daniel DefoeThe Devil's Dictionary, by Ambrose BierceCheck out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

LAUGHTER: Abraham and Sarah. "Stuff Christians Like." Reading the room. Pie Face!

LAUGHTER: Abraham and Sarah. "Stuff Christians Like." Reading the room. Pie Face!

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!I hope I both give and receive the gift of laughter this holiday season. It really is the best medicine in a sick, sick world. But not all laughs are created equal. This week we’ll cover the pros and cons of the most famous laughing fit in the Bible; the jokes preachers tell and why they tell them; the balance we strike between flexibility and inauthenticity, complete with examples; and a game I won’t play specifically because it will make you laugh.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

SURPRISING BOOKS OF 2024, second half.

SURPRISING BOOKS OF 2024, second half.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!My Surprising Books list for the first half of the year appeared on June 14 of this year. Please go back and check that out if you have not done so already.My second-half list includes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank BaumJust Faith, by Guthrie Graves-FitzsimmonsThe Names of God, by Ken HarrisonThe Christmas Sweater, by Glenn BeckThe Thief of Bagdad, by Achmed AbdullahSteve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, by Greg Laurie with Marshall TerrillAesop's FablesThe Last Supper on the Moon, by Levi LuskoCoronado's Children, by J. Frank DobieWhat's Your World View?, by James N. AndersonCheck out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

SECURITY: Salvation. "The Hiding Place." Bonds. The Weakest Link.

SECURITY: Salvation. "The Hiding Place." Bonds. The Weakest Link.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!Security may not be the first blessing that comes to mind. But really, what good would any of the other blessings be without it? This week we’ll discuss our salvation and exactly how and why we should feel secure in it; a hero of the Christian community and why I am slow getting on the bandwagon; the standard of truth in our world today and how-slash-if it should impact our walk with Christ; and a game show that put relationships at risk with the allure of big bucks.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

GIFTS, part 3: with BJ Sipe and Terry Francis.

GIFTS, part 3: with BJ Sipe and Terry Francis.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!Unfortunately, this segment concludes my discussion with BJ Sipe of Danville, KY, and Terry Francis of Chelsea, AL. We wrapped up (pardon the expression) by discussing the best gift you can give your family and/or your church family — your time. This segment includes, I believe, the longest and perhaps best monologue in the history of this podcast. I leave it intact as my gift to you. Check out BJ's podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/set-your-mind-above/id1566696596Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

GIFTS, part 2: with Terry Francis and BJ Sipe

GIFTS, part 2: with Terry Francis and BJ Sipe

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!We’re talking Gifts this week with BJ Sipe and Terry Francis. BJ works with the church of Christ in Danville, KY; follow him through the Set Your Mind Above podcast. Terry is with the Chelsea church of Christ in the Birmingham area. We recorded this the week of Thanksgiving. It gave us a chance to discuss an attitude of gratitude — why it’s absent so often, what consequences result, and how we can reverse the trend. Check out BJ's podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/set-your-mind-above/id1566696596Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

GIFTS: with Terry Francis and BJ Sipe

GIFTS: with Terry Francis and BJ Sipe

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!This month we’re dwelling on the good things God gives us, and one of the biggest blessings He’s given me recently is my conversation with BJ Sipe and Terry Francis. BJ works with the church of Christ in Danville, KY; follow him through the Set Your Mind Above podcast. Terry is with the Chelsea church of Christ in the Birmingham area. In the first segment of our talk, we discuss the greatest gift God ever gave His people, and that’s no exaggeration. Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

MONTHLY REPORT, November 2024: I am thankful.

MONTHLY REPORT, November 2024: I am thankful.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!This month I'm giving thanks -- especially for everything God has brought me through podcasting.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

INSANITY: Paul and Festus. "Heart of Darkness." The definition. Obscurio.

INSANITY: Paul and Festus. "Heart of Darkness." The definition. Obscurio.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!Our survey of some of the horrors of the world takes us inside the human mind this week – a scary place if ever there was one. We’ll discuss Paul’s alleged struggles with insanity and how we can develop the real thing ourselves; a journey into the depths of the Lord’s church and the terrifying characters we find there; the famous definition of insanity and how we just can’t believe it might apply to us; and a game that puts me in the loony bin and whether I should try to get out of it.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

ALCOHOL: Not for kings. "The Mayor of Casterbridge." Drinking songs. Viticulture.

ALCOHOL: Not for kings. "The Mayor of Casterbridge." Drinking songs. Viticulture.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!Surely no sin in our culture, except perhaps for fornication, has been glamorized more than drinking. Too bad Prohibition didn’t work. But then, making sin illegal rarely does. We’ll discuss whether drinking rules apply to rich and poor alike; how wine ruins your life, and how it may show up wearing a dress; the connection between songs from the bar and songs in the church; and the lines I won’t cross, even to play a terrific board game.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

FAKES: False teachers. "Fake History." Modern miracle workers. Masterpiece.

FAKES: False teachers. "Fake History." Modern miracle workers. Masterpiece.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!This month we’re talking about some of the bad things in this world. Unfortunately we have plenty of specific topics to choose from. This week we’ll discuss fake brethren and their fake gospel, and the very real problems they cause; the fake stories we hear and how important it is to check them out; the fake miracle-workers I see in the world and whether the real thing might be out there; and the fake masterpieces unworthy of a place in heaven or in your board game. Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

VILLAINS, part 2: with Colton McDaniel and Jay Horsley

VILLAINS, part 2: with Colton McDaniel and Jay Horsley

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!This is part 2 of my conversation with Colton McDaniel and Jay Horsley, preachers respectively for the Stone Canyon church of Christ in the Tulsa area and the church of Christ in Mulvane, Kansas. Here we cover Superman, Jedi masters, and all the other heroes we used to have who were above reproach — and how now we seem to favor the bad guys, who may or may not be dressed up in good guy clothes. Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

VILLAINS: with Colton McDaniel and Jay Horsley

VILLAINS: with Colton McDaniel and Jay Horsley

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!The fact that this Texan has invited two Oklahoma boys to discuss villains this week is completely coincidental. Really. Colton McDaniel preaches for the Stone Canyon church in the Tulsa area. Jay Horsley, world famous Sooner, works with the church of Christ in Mulvane, Kansas. In the first part of our conversation we discuss the villain in our midst, and how he often seems to take residence in our mirror. Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

INVISIBILITY: Spirit and wind. "The Invisible Man." The experts. Letters from Whitechapel.

INVISIBILITY: Spirit and wind. "The Invisible Man." The experts. Letters from Whitechapel.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!As humans, our eyes are our best tools for assessing what is real. But our eyes don’t see everything, and the sooner we accept that the quicker we’ll quit stubbing our toes. This week we’ll discuss the invisible work of the Spirit and how we can put it to work in our lives; the connection between invisibility and personal accountability; the witnesses to invisible things and why you should believe them (all of them); and the way you can do battle with an unseen enemy and see your own inevitable victory. Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

MONTHLY REPORT, October 2024 -- My shopping list

MONTHLY REPORT, October 2024 -- My shopping list

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!The Balancing the Christian Life Conference is finally here, or almost here. After a couple of delays because of factors beyond our control, we are good to go (Lord willing) on November 7-10. The theme is Heaven Citizens, so my interest should be obvious. Dozens of speakers are going to be delivering excellent Bible lessons. Check out BalancingTheChristianLife.com and follow the links to sign up for free. This month’s report was presented live on Facebook on Friday, October 25, and I’m including the audio here. With the season of giving and receiving drawing near, here are my thoughts as to what make for a good gift for someone you love — or maybe just for yourself. Sign up for the Balancing the Christian Life Conference at https://www.balancingthechristianlife.com/p/btcl2024/ Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

CHEATING: Ishi and Baali. "The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino." Cheating songs. Golf.

CHEATING: Ishi and Baali. "The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino." Cheating songs. Golf.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!Cheating is violating an agreed-upon set of rules for your own benefit. Athletes do it. Politicians do it. You and I do it, unfortunately. This week we’ll discuss the saddest cheating story ever and how a husband responded with mercy; one of the ugliest cheating stories in modern sports (and that’s saying something); the cheating songs we sing along with, and what it says about our character; and the worst cheating I’ve ever experienced first-hand, and why it makes me love the offender more instead of less.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

INSTITUTIONS: Institutionalism. "Historic Churches Of Texas." Marriage. The peg game.

INSTITUTIONS: Institutionalism. "Historic Churches Of Texas." Marriage. The peg game.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!An institution is something that has been established. There are all sorts. It can be an organization built to accomplish a specific purpose for an extended period of time; a building that has been in place for decades or even centuries; a system established by God Himself to accomplish His purposes in human society; or a silly little pastime that is an indispensable part of visiting an iconic restaurant chain. We’ll discuss all of the above this week.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.

CONTRONYMS: Finished. "Cleaving." Bound. Who Wears the Crown?

CONTRONYMS: Finished. "Cleaving." Bound. Who Wears the Crown?

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!A contranym is a word that serves as its own opposite. (How does anyone ever learn English as a second language?) This week we’ll discuss whether being “finished” means completing your work or leaving it incomplete; whether “cleaving” is tying something together or breaking something up; whether being “bound” assures you of being mobile or being stationary; and whether “to wear” is to endure the hardships of the world or to be destroyed by them.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal 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.