As Covid disrupts our lives at virtually every turn, people’s emotional lives are also taking a hit. In an era of “social distancing,” believers are especially mindful of the ancient truth that “it is not good to be alone.” This is why solitary confinement is still considered the worst possible thing that could happen among […]

While being “the most wonderful time of the year” for some, the holidays can be lonely, alienating, and isolating for others. Loneliness, alienation, and isolation often come from struggles related to family. Many of us have at least one “Cousin Eddie” situation that confronts us during the holidays, and that tempts us to look at our […]

In their book, unChristian, my friends Gabe Lyons and Dave Kinnaman wrote a sobering commentary on Christianity’s decline in the West due to departure from the biblical vision to engage a secular world with grace and love. Similarly, Philip Yancey wrote in What’s So Amazing about Grace: “When I ask people, ‘What is a Christian?’ they […]

At The Gathering 2014, New York Times writer David Brooks gave a fascinating talk called “How to Be Religious in the Public Square,” in which he said that we live in an achievement culture, where success is our primary pursuit. We live by two sets of virtues, two non-overlapping categories: the resume virtues – things […]