1. Many Americans are more consumers than contended: Lifeway research’s new poll offers some disconcerting news to Christians, “Religious service attendance is correlated to embracing a consumeristic mindset. Those who attend more than once a week are the most likely to say shopping makes them feel worthwhile (61%) and they know they are getting ahead when they have nice things (56%). They are also among the most likely to say they are driven to accumulate nice things (61%) and like to have the latest technology (55%).”

2. Ministers of Loneliness: Jacob Crouch reflects on the world’s response to the problem of loneliness, “What the world offers to the lonely is merely an anesthetic. It merely numbs the pain and ignores the real problem. It attempts to provide new remedies for a problem that has an ancient solution.”

3. Americans are getting healthier by some key metrics: Some encouraging news from Adriel Bettelheim, “Overdose deaths are down, life expectancy is up, the odds of surviving cancer are improving, and we're even losing weight.”

4. Laughing (at yourself) is grace: Cheryl Balcom shares, “Unfortunately, I like to think I am right most of the time. Okay, all of the time. I don’t like to be wrong. It’s right up there with being caught unprepared or making a mistake. Or receiving criticism, no matter how constructive. It’s hard being a perfectionist, and often lonely.”

5. Coming away cold: Tim Challies with a short but important reflection on meditation, “It is important to understand the distinction between information and wisdom. Where information is mere facts and figures, wisdom is the application of those facts and figures to real life. Man shall not and cannot live by information alone.”

6. Comedy Wildlife Awards: These are always fun. The peekaboo fish is pretty cute. 

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash