Costly Grace, Chess, and the Summer Ahead

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Do you follow God because He's worthy of worship, or because of what He can give you? Brian From lands on that question after a Sunday sermon about Eli and Samuel — and it sticks. Is God a vending machine, a cosmic Santa Claus, or the one who is worthy of praise even when circumstances are bad? That's the challenge at the heart of this hour. First though: Memorial Day reflections on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's costly grace and what it actually means to be called to "come and die" — a word that cuts against a culture obsessed with comfort. A poignant piece called "Judson's Last Ride," a father's reflection on his autistic son's last school bus ride, and what every parent faces when their kids move into a new season. A study on pro chess players that becomes a personal confession about paralysis by analysis. The agonizing .02-second finish at the Indy 500 and what it means to get back in the car. Why youth group attendance is down and what youth ministers can actually do about it. Gas at $4.74 feeling like a victory. And a summer charge: be intentional, or it will pass you by before you know it.

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