Empires of the Future Jackson Van Dyke & Denton Ice

This 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 Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill 

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, after all?  We consider all these questions and more in this episode of Empires of the Future. 
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

This 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?
Do you delight in the Bride of Christ?
Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important for you?
Do you still grieve over your sin?
Are you a quicker forgiver?
Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

This 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, which uses the Holman Treasury of Key Bible words by E.E. Carpenter and P.W. Comfort (2000) as a references. 
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

This 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.edu/publications/magazine/five-ministry-challenges-i-didnt-anticipate/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

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 of kids’ sports programs?  How does all this fit into Christian faithfulness?  All these questions and more are considered on this episode.  
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/pulled-kids-club-sports/
"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill