Preparing for Christmas

Every year more and more of my neighbors have their Christmas decorations up on November 1. I understand the impulse. The older I get, the more this fallen world wears on me, the more I look forward to the hope and joy of the Christmas season. But every year we also hear more people complain about the struggle to "get in the Christmas spirit" or to "keep the Christ in Christmas." I'm becoming increasingly convinced that the best way to get the most out of Christmas, to get into the spirit of Christmas, and to keep Christ in Christmas can be summed up in one word: Advent.

Joy in a World Gone Mad

This may have escaped your notice, but we live in world full of pain and suffering, turmoil and fear. Anxiety is the default mode for a lot of people. The rich, famous, and beautiful aren't sheltered from it by their wealth, so what hope to the rest of us have?

I want to tell you about a book that offers a compelling answer to that question. It's "a book about joy" written "to help you experience life to the fullest."

Election Reflections

We've all had a week to mope or exult over the election, but now we should stop and think about the big picture. It's important to put this in the proper perspective.

Let's Talk About Abortion

Recent studies show a decline in church attendance among young women. For centuries, women have tended to be more likely than men to attend church. What's changed?

The problem is apparently the ways traditional Christian teaching disagrees with the teaching of our culture. When we allow the schools, the media, and the internet to disciple our children, we shouldn't be surprised when their beliefs differ from ours. Now it's necessary to address their specific objections to the teachings of traditional Christianity, and no issue seems to be more important to them than abortion.

I'm putting this out after the election intentionally. While I want more voters to be pro-life, this isn't not about votes; it's about girls letting this issue draw them away from Jesus. I hope they will one day be fully pro-life, but in the meantime we want them in church hearing the gospel and learning to follow Jesus.