042: What Is Church For? Worship as Receiving God’s Gifts

048: Should Christians Listen to Pope Leo on AI?: A Warning Christians Can’t Ignore

This week we discuss Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical on artificial intelligence through a Christianity Today article summarizing it. We explain what an encyclical is, distinguish ordinary vs. solemn magisterium, and compare it to Lutheran CTCR documents, asking why Lutherans should care about what the pope says. Reading the article, we note the warning that AI is a spiritual and civilizational test that could make humans more machine-like within a technocratic paradigm, using Babel vs. Nehemiah as imagery and treating limits as gifts. We compare AI’s power to nuclear proliferation, critique “move fast and break things,” and discuss isolation replacing communal vices, the Word (logos) not being algorithmic, and Christian hope grounded in Jesus. Lastly we debate practical use of AI in church, cautions about sermons/prayers, and concepts like transhumanism, posthumanism, vocation, and loving neighbor. We have included today’s article https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/05/christians-listen-pope-leo-encyclical-artificial-intelligence/ [https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/05/christians-listen-pope-leo-encyclical-artificial-intelligence/], the video we referenced https://youtu.be/xM4AOIZ-Uy8 [https://youtu.be/xM4AOIZ-Uy8] , and the encyclical http://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html [http://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html] .   02:10 What Is an Encyclical 04:43 Magisterium and Lutheran Parallels 08:51 Why Listen to the Pope 12:41 AI as Spiritual Test 16:28 Stay in Your Lane Debate 20:27 Silicon Valley Arms Race 24:14 Tech Bro Utopias and Bunkers 26:46 Tower of Babel Framework 27:44 Babel as Mercy 29:13 Broken People Using Tech 31:26 AI Without an Off Switch 32:10 Control Panic and Original Sin 35:02 Vices of Isolation 36:27 Christian View of Humanity 37:21 Logos Not Algorithmic 38:20 Hope After Babel 43:31 Language Barriers Falling 45:53 Love God Love Neighbor 50:57 Transhumanism vs Posthumanism 52:38 Limits as Gifts 54:24 Join the Tech Conversation   Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back every Friday to hear the latest from us here at ‘Desert Well’! You can also find this week’s episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/APGQY28Lk5E [https://youtu.be/APGQY28Lk5E] andApple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492]

047: Navigating a Season of Change: Faith, Leadership, and Turning the Page

This week we discuss a felt “season of change and transition,” comparing it to a page turning where you can’t yet see what’s next. We reflect on an earlier dramatic text about a difficult year ahead and on end-of-school-year emotions, including staff devotions and worship. Derek shares Psalm 90:17 and Ephesians 3 about God establishing the work of their hands and doing more than they can imagine, emphasizing that God works through people rather than their own effort. We talk about managing change by involving and empowering staff, communicating what is known and unknown, and recognizing different reactions to change. We balance trusting God’s control with using reason and discernment, finding comfort in knowing the Author even when the next page is unclear. 02:29 Season Of Transition 04:46 Wave And Page Metaphors 07:26 School Day Backstory 07:58 Devotions Psalm 90 17 12:17 Change Culture In School 19:53 Guiding Staff Through Change 23:12 Faith And Decision Making 24:02 Staff Worship Recap 25:33 Why Gather Together 26:25 Ephesians 3 Reminder 28:10 Faith in Decisions 30:20 Two Extremes of Control 31:53 Mary and Martha Balance 34:51 Ascension and Trust 37:06 We Not Me Culture 42:42 Turning the Page Forward 44:00 Interim Leaders Mindset 45:48 Closing Thoughts and Wrap Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back every Friday for the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also watch this week's episode on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/0YxcCpyltsw [https://youtu.be/0YxcCpyltsw]. You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 ! We will catch you next week!

046: Year In Review: Building Faith, Culture, and Community

In this end-of-school-year conversation, Pastor Jared and Mr.Blessing reflect on the past year. They share key highlights, starting with special baptism chapel as a meaningful community celebration that builds relationships with students and families, and they recall moments like Good Friday chapel where students powerfully sang “Reckless Love.” They also note strong academic outcomes through MAP Growth testing, describing it as a national standardized measure used to track student progress and affirm teaching practices, with results above national levels. Finally, they discuss a healthier, more unified staff culture marked by shared decision-making, openness in prayer requests,and ongoing systems work that supports the school’s ministry, closing with appreciation for students, staff, and families and how quickly the busy, fun year passed. 01:33 Secret Staff Spirit Days 06:18 School’s Out Recap 07:29 Baptism Chapel Highlights 11:54 Chapel Leading and Worship 13:58 Good Friday Reckless Love 18:17 MAP Testing Wins 20:06 Teacher Joy Moments 21:17 Goals And MAP Growth 22:43 Proving Academic Standards 23:38 Staff Culture Shift 25:35 Unity And Shared Ownership 31:29 Systems And Change Management 35:40 Student Relationships And Lunch 38:18 Why The Year Flew By 41:06 Community Partnership Wrap Up Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to hear the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also watch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/hvRGhCSMHi8! You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492!

045: Faith, Parenting & Leadership with Special Guest Tonya Tomlin

In this episode, we interview Tonya Tomlin, newly appointed preschool director at Lamb of God. Today we will hear about Miss Tonya’s background and passion for early childhood education and what lead her here to Lamb of God, where she has been with us the last three years. Tonya shares her journey from growing up in North Dakota to living in Texas for 24 years, working two decades in church preschool ministry, and moving to Las Vegas during the height of COVID. She explains how she began teaching Sunday school at 16, transitioned from volunteering in her son’s school to full-time preschool work, and why she loves the rapid growth and “aha moments” of three-year-olds. Tonya discusses joys and challenges in the classroom, how faith is woven throughout the school day, changes she’s seen in kids due to electronics, and her hopes to expand programs like the new 18-month-old class. 02:29 Meet Tonya Tomlin 03:26 From Texas to Vegas 06:07 New Preschool Director Role 06:33 How Tonya Became Teacher 10:18 Why Preschool Years Matter 15:26 Bucket Filling Moments 18:02 Hardest Parts of Preschool 22:21 Building Trust and Compassion 27:01 Teaching Faith in Class 28:11 Faith Woven In 29:11 Taught Versus Caught 30:47 Screens And Attention 32:09 Grandparents And Generations 34:25 Teachers Guide Parents 37:46 Trust Your Gut 39:24 Kids Say The Darndest 43:56 New Director Role 46:00 Future Of The Preschool 47:38 Starting Faith At Home 49:09 Family Worship Basics 51:41 Relationships And Leadership Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to hear the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also watch today's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/fbIDLr-UBPE. You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492!

044: Ordinary Men, Uncommon Calling: Discussing John MacArthur’s Book on the 12 Disciples

This week on 'Desert Well' we discuss the book "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur. We highlight the book’s main value: portraying the 12 disciples as ordinary, varied men empowered by Jesus, making them relatable and helping readers see themselves in Scripture. We also note distinctions between “apostle” and “disciple,” Jesus’ circles of influence, and the claim that the disciples’ main training with Jesus may have been about a year and a half. We touch on chapters about Peter, John, Andrew, and Judas, concluding the book encourages everyday believers to share the gospel and grow in sanctification. We have included the link to the book here https://a.co/d/0eeLtO3j. 02:25 Why This Book Now 04:13 How Derek Got the Book 05:45 Fiction Reading Detour 10:00 Why Recommend This Book 11:10 Disciples as Ordinary Men 14:32 Intro Insights and Circles 16:03 Apostles vs Disciples 16:44 How Long They Trained 20:25 Apostles as Sent Ones 22:11 Using Original Languages 23:43 Book Chapter Roadmap 25:39 Peter and Leadership 31:38 John Learns Love 36:09 Andrew and Small Things 38:50 Limits of the Sources 39:53 Judas and Divine Mystery 42:45 Living It Out 44:52 Wrap Up and Exit Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! We will see you next week! You can also catch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/vPgNRdrCJMM. You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492.