Morning Mike Check Clapham Institute

Many have an end game, the end of the road, the “good life”. It’s what we pursue, and why we do the things we do. I was curious how Mike viewed the “good life” and how his view has changed over time. We spend time talking about his early days in college ministry, planting a church, discovering Augustine, and many more steps along the way.

You read about layoffs in the news a lot these days. The surprising headlines of course have been large tech companies many of us thought were insulated from economic challenges. We read what happened, but we often don’t know how it happened. How can companies manage layoffs while still respecting the dignity of the individual? How ought individuals respond when receiving a layoff notice? These are hard questions to answer. Naturally, that’s why I asked them to Mike.

What should we expect Christmas to look like in a culture that decreasingly celebrates its true meaning? Do believers today celebrate Christmas the way we ought to? Mike addresses these and several other questions related to what Christmas is like in Babylon.

Jesus prayed that those who believed in him would be one. What does that mean and how do we reconcile that with our multitude of denominations and expressions of the faith?

Many churches celebrate Advent around the world but how many Christians know why we do? What can we do to bring this season to life for our children so they learn to engage in it early? In today’s conversation Mike, as always, steps back to shed light on the “why” behind Advent and offers helpful advice for how to celebrate this season well.

Recently I stumbled upon an article noting the rise in state government trifectas over the past some fifty years. My heart broke, thinking about the continued trend of even more heightened, modern polarization. In this episode, I seek Mike’s advice on what can be done to steer us towards a healthier political atmosphere.
Books mentioned in this episode:


Perelandra - C.S. Lewis
Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter - Michael White & Tom Corcoran