Good Faith

Refusing Despair Amidst Cultural Darkness
 
What does it look like to cheerfully refuse a collapsing culture without giving in to cynicism, fear, or despair? Host Curtis Chang and Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson—Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University— dive into Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse, exploring why great novels still matter, how Christians can resist ideations of apocalypse with joy, and what faith-filled fiction reveals about beauty, truth, and survival in dark times. This conversation is for listeners hungry for cultural commentary,hopeful resistance, and deeper ways of reading the world through faith.
 
01:28 - Challenges of Reading Contemporary Novels
06:03 - The Meaning Behind the Title "I Cheerfully Refuse"
07:47 - Lessons for Dark Times
10:02 - The Enduring Power of Books vs. New Media
12:16 - Cultivating Fruitful Practices in Dark Times
14:36 - Living as a Cheerful Refuser Today
15:02 - Is the Christian Worldview True Reality Or A Bubble?
17:04 - What Is Enger's Idea of True humanity?
18:19 - Recommendations for Similar Books and Authors
 
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Mentioned In This Episode:
Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse
Leif Enger's Peace Like a River
Leif Enger's Virgil Wander
Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451
Claude Acho's Reading Black Books
Eugene Vodolazkin's Laurus
Rumor Godden's In This House of Brede
Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
More About Christopher Beha
Jessica Hooton Wilson's The Scandal of Holiness
 
More From Jessica Hooten Wilson:
Jessica Hooten Wilson's website

Explore Jessica's books HERE

Read articles and Essay by Jessica HERE

 
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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

The Intersection of Trump, Iran, and the Moral Limits of War
 
What should Christians think about the U.S. war with Iran, Israel's role in the conflict, and the risk of a wider Middle East war? In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang and New York Times columnist David French unpack the escalating U.S.-Iran war through the lens of Christian theology, just war theory, constitutional checks and balances, and the moral limits of presidential power. They explore whether America's military action against Iran is just, legal, or dangerously reckless, while also addressing Israel, regime change, MAGA foreign policy, and the growing risk of a wider global conflict. Join David and Curtis for a thoughtful framework for understanding war in a volatile moment.
 
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02:32 - Did Anyone See This Coming?
04:51 - Distinguishing Just and Legal Wars
09:25 - Evaluating America's War Against Iran
14:46 - Why Hasn't Congress Acted?
17:59 - Truthfulness of the Administration
22:32 - Potential Consequences of Prolonged War
33:12 - What About the Theory That Trump's War is a Diversion From Personal Scandals?
39:04 - Evangelical Support for Israel
44:08 - Are We Heading Toward World War III?
53:49 - Christian Prayer and Moral Response
 
 
Scriptures:
1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)
 
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
A primer on Just War Theory
Augustine and Just War Theory
The UN Charter  Chapter VII, Article 51: the use of force and collective self-defense
What is the War Powers Resolution?
Abraham Lincoln'sLetter to Congress: January 12, 1848 (Speech regarding Mexican War)
Background on U.S. Relations With Iran (1953-2026)
Background on Operation Praying Mantis
Impacts of the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani
More about the Lockerbie bombing
The Ezra Klein Show, March 3 episode: The Great Lie of War
 
 
More From David French:
David French's New York Times pieces HERE
Follow David French on Threads
 
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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What Does Radical Acceptance Look Like in Real Life?
 
In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang sits down with Dave Evans (co-founder of the Stanford Life Design Lab) to tear up the "find your purpose" script and explore how design thinking, faith, and radical acceptance can lead to real meaning—especially through grief and uncertainty. Expect sharp insights, honest stories, and practical tools to build a life with more presence, flow, and authenticity starting now. Dave and Curtis dig into faith and the tension of the "already and not yet" as they look at the ideas in Dave's latest book, How to Live a Meaningful Life.
 
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03:05 - Dave Evans' Journey & the Origins of Life Design
09:54 - Are there Pitfalls When Pursuing Impact and Transactional Mindset?
18:08 - Design Moves for Greater Meaning
22:05 - Radical Acceptance Illustrated by Personal Loss 
28:06 - Why Is the Concept of Flow Important?
39:37 - Compatibility of Design Thinking and Christian Worldview
41:06 - Four Areas of Human Experience for Meaning
45:34 - Meaning in the Second Half of Life 
48:59 - Getting Started: Practical First Steps
 
Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 30:11–14 (ESV) 
Deuteronomy 30:19–20 (ESV)
John 10:10 (ESV) 
Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV) 
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV)
Luke 17:20–21 (ESV)
Mark 8:18 (ESV)
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day
What is Radical Acceptance?
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
Lisa Miller's lecture The Awakened Brain 
Jill Bolte Taylor's TED Talk: My Stroke of Insight
More about Jean Vanier and L'Arche
Richard Rohr's Falling Upward
Veritas Forum: Dallas Willard
Stanford's Life Design Lab
What is Design thinking? (pdf)
Don Norman's The Design of Everyday Things
More from Dave Evans:
Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's Designing Your New Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness--and a New Freedom--at Work
Dave Evans Praxis Mentor page
Check out: Designing Your Life website
 
Connected Good Faith Episodes:
Good Faith ep. 68: The Impact Fetish (with Andy Crouch)
 
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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Prayers of the People: The Power of Prayer in Difficult Times
 
The Good Faith Podcast host Curtis Chang and producer DT Slouffman guide listeners through a communal time of prayer. Responding to heartfelt prayer requests from newsletter subscribers, they reflect on themes of hope, family reconciliation, and finding peace amid uncertainty. Each request is followed by a moment of silent prayer, inviting listeners to participate. The episode emphasizes surrendering to God's will, the challenges of strained relationships, and seeking God's presence in suffering.
 
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Mentioned In This Episode:
Matthew 6:9–13 (ESV)
Ephesians 3:14-15 (ESV)
C.S. Lewis' book The Four Loves
 
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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Can Missionaries, Not Politics, Depolarize Climate Change for Christians?
 
Climate change isn't a partisan talking point—it's a discipleship test, and Brian Webb, a seasoned sustainability director and educator, joins Curtis Chang to make the case that climate ignorance hurts both the body of Christ and the world God made for our flourishing. From typhoons overseas to Lyme disease at home, Webb shows how climate change is already hurting real people—and why Christians can't shrug it off. Forget guilt and "change your light bulb" advice: Brian and Curtis lean into stubborn optimism and practical action for churches, workplaces, and local communities.
 
06:01 - A Faith Journey Becomes A Creation Care Story
08:23 - Creation Care and 1 Corinthians 12
14:06 - Connecting Climate Change Impact to Human Suffering 
18:30 - The Problem of Warming From California Wildfires to Lyme Disease
33:35 - Examples of Institutional Action
39:10 - Measuring Institutional Progress
40:16 - Missionaries Sounding the Alarm 
43:56 - Dealing with Discouragement and Stubborn Hope 
50:01 - Series Wrap-Up and Final Takeaways
 
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Mentioned In This Episode:
Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (ESV)
Read the Cape Town Commitment 
Learn more about A Rocha USA
Learn more about the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus
The YWAM (Youth With A Mission) School of Sustainable Development
Learn about the Christian Climate Observers Program (CCOP)
Learn about Typhoon Haiyan survivor Marinel Ubaldo (Noble Women's Initiative)
Tuvalu & the Pacific Conference of Churches
Organizations Helping Tuvalu:
Tuvalu Climate Finance Project 
Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project
Government of Tuvalu – Climate Change / projects portal
 
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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.