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As we come to the end of the first month of 2021, it may be a good time to reflect more intentionally and without the distraction of the holidays. Today’s article is timeless except for the fact that it is looking back at the year of 2020. Wait! Don’t stop reading. If you are like me, I am weary of rehearsing the challenges of this past year. However, Philip Yancey in the article for today’s blog, reviews 2020 in a manner that moves our hearts and minds from all the Why God this? and Why God that? to responses of compassion.

With the dawning of any new year, there is a sense that we get to start over with a clean slate. As we begin again, there are important lessons we should have learned from 2020. It is not enough to just remember them, but rather we need to find ways to incorporate them into our lives.

If you, along with so many of us, are having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, it is not too late, and the following list will help restore that triad of hope, joy, and love.

While society winds down its calendar year in December, Christians are just beginning their year with the season of Advent. The last Sunday of November and concluding with Christmas day are the days that mark Advent…Our communities need a rest after the frenetic rhythm and demands of daily life; and we take it. Likewise, the Christ-follower begins his year with a season of longing and tension as we embrace the reality of this broken world, but these days not only provide physical rest but more importantly the offering of hope by prophets of a New Covenant brought by the birth of the Messiah King.

When it seems like the darkness is winning, where do we begin to think about thankfulness?

Today is another installment of The Collaborative vlog. If you are reading this on November 11 (the day this was posted), then it is day 240 of Orange County, Florida being under some measure of restrictions due to COVID19. While I am weary of masks and the myriad of daily calculations (i.e. to go or not to go), these are such minor disruptions compared to those related to our work and spiritual livelihoods. Whether or not you are struggling, there is no doubt that you are only one degree removed from someone who’s world is being destabilized.

Today Case Thorp continues his discussion on the upcoming election in the second of three articles. Again, because the election is practically upon we are publishing these blog posts in three consecutive weeks. If you missed the first blog post, 6 Ways Christians Can Be Wiser in Political Engagement, by Dave Strunk and Case Thorp I would encourage you to read it. Just as this one challenged us to be more thoughtful about the election, so too will this week’s article. This year’s election has evoked deep emotions from all viewpoints, making this series all the more important as we should remember that our faith is not rooted in the whim of our visceral responses but rather the strong and unwavering foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Happy reading!

Christians can and should pursue wisdom and political engagement concurrently. But in this deeply polarized, reactive political climate, is it possible? We think so.

It’s important believers don’t simply mirror a broken world when engaging politics. Here are six ideas to help frame how our thinking can be more characterized by Christian wisdom than by the ways of the world.

Though on Labor Day we celebrated the vocational work of Americans, we would be shortsighted to miss out on celebrating the blessings of the avocational pastimes we enjoy as well.

Fear is a great motivator, but it will burn you out from the inside.