It’s what you do next that matters.
“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
After the 2024 election, Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a psychiatrist at Yale University, discussed the impact that the election of Donald Trump might have on family relationships. Talking to Joy Reid at MSNBC, in particular she offered advice for LGBTQ people faced with family members who voted for Trump. Since she’s a medical professional, and particularly in mental health, you might expect Calhoun to advocate for balance and compassion, or grace and tolerance. Or to offer…
On September 26 Hurricane Helene slammed into the Big Bend region of Florida, plowed through 800 miles of inland territory, and settled over Tennessee to end her destruction there. Western North Carolina, my state, continues to dig out from the destruction, caused mainly by winds and flooding. Death tolls exceed previous hurricanes, and many people remain missing or unaccounted for. Rebuilding may take years. Helene washed away bridges, roads, and even entire towns, like Chimney…
In the autumn of 1777, George Washington’s forces suffered two major defeats against the British. In one of those battles, Philadelphia fell to British forces. So, Washington had moved his beleaguered troops to an encampment near Philadelphia, hoping to block any further British advance. But he knew that his Continental Army, worn and ragged, was not ready for another fight, and would not be any time soon. And as if that were not bad enough,…
Prior to the holidays, a large segment of the population, Gen Z, said they would rather avoid political discussion altogether by just skipping family gatherings. The Harris Poll on “political avoidance” The Harris Poll recently surveyed over 2,000 Americans and found that around half of Gen Zers would rather skip holiday family gatherings than be confronted with a political debate. And 38% said they dreaded such gatherings. The Harris Poll called this “political avoidance.” Gen…
More than seven years ago retired optometrist Terry Sanderson collided with actress Gwyneth Paltrow in a skiing accident on the slopes of Utah’s Deer Valley Resort. Two lawsuits later, Paltrow was vindicated. A jury found in her favor and instructed Sanderson to pay her a symbolic $1 and her attorney fees. Ok. But why is it that the media assumes the general public wants to know all of the newsy snippets about entertainers and stars?…
The film Jesus Revolution portrays the spiritual awakening of the 1960s and the way that one young man, Greg Laurie, was swept up, saved by grace, and called by God to be a Christian pastor and evangelist. Baptisms anchor the film, and the most pivotal is the baptism of Laurie (Joel Courtney). The depiction of Laurie’s baptism is a moving reminder of what we believe about death, burial, and resurrection. Though he is clutched firmly…
Having trouble hanging in there? Maybe as you go into 2023 you feel like you are leaking stamina, and you are giving way to giving up. If that’s you, read this. Making history On December 17, 1903, at 10:35 AM, two brothers made history and changed the way the world travels. And it took only 12 seconds. Well, sort of. Wilbur Wright stood on the sandy shore of Kitty Hawk, NC, and watched his brother,…
I live in a close-knit neighborhood. So, it’s no surprise that new residents quickly join our community’s Facebook group and start asking questions. And every year in October, someone asks, Do kids come to our community for Trick-or-Treating, and, if so, how many should we prepare for? The short answer is—all of them. Our nightmare is not the costumes. Our nightmare is the chaos and clogged roads. But we are just a microcosm of the…
Have regrets? Join the club. In May 2021, management professor Anthony Klutz coined the term “The Great Resignation” to describe the avalanche of employee resignations during and after Covid. Workers saw a new era forming, with remote jobs exploding in popularity and opportunity, and the labor force shifted toward a higher demand for such work-away-from-the-office jobs. But that was then. This is now. And The Great Resignation is collapsing in a landslide of regrets. Employees’…
You’ve celebrated the neckties and put away the teacups. Maybe you celebrated Father’s Day like you always have. But these are not the times they have always been. On April 19, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a new guide for teaching children about sex. Called “You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body” the Academy asserts that the book aims “to talk about puberty in an inclusive way.” The book includes the chapters we might…