Over the last few years, there has been a steady decline in the U.S., not just in church attendance, but in church involvement as well. There are so many other things that people devote their time and energy to that getting connected with or volunteering at a church has taken a back seat to other priorities. But is it really important whether I go to church or not? What if I go to church fairly regularly but I don't really participate? Does it matter whether or not church matters to me?

Throughout the centuries of God's relationship with His people, one of the things He consistently challenged them with was their generosity...or their lack of it! God has always wanted His people to have a heart for giving, not just their time and attention, but also their finances and possessions. Why does it matter to the God (who doesn't need my money) whether or not I'm generous with my money? And what does it look like to have a heart that's devoted to giving?

There are a variety of things that people value and are most passionate about, from sports teams to vacation spots to favorite foods and more. It's easy to tell how much a person has a "heart" for something based on the time, energy, or effort they spend devoted to it. But how many of us have a heart for other people - a passion for helping those in need or sharing our faith with those who have none. How can I tell if I have a heart for people? And what can I do if I don't?

Psychologists and sociologists will say that you can tell a person has a heart for something if they have an intense interest or curiosity in it, if they "light up" or get excited when talking about it, if they actively seek opportunities to engage in a certain activity or to spend time with a certain person even if obstacles get in the way. The question is...do any of those characteristics describe my relationship with God? How do I know if I have a heart for God? And what can I do if I don't?

The bridge between Christmas and the new year is a tricky one. How can I reflect on the infant Christ while also preparing my mind, body, and spirit for the coming new year? Diet and Exercise are common goals for the new year, but I would wager that the biggest goal you can set for 2025 is to Treasure Jesus Christ more. Investing in a steady diet of God's word and exercising our faith are two crucial ways that we can learn to behold Christ daily.

Every nativity scene has some common characters included - obviously the Baby Jesus, his mother Mary, and his father Joseph. You might also see an angel and maybe some farm animals nearby as well. But there are also some characters that probably shouldn't be there...or at least we wouldn't expect them to be. And yet they are vital to the story of the birth of Jesus and vital to our full understanding of God's acceptance and grace that he offers to all of us.

The story of Jesus' birth is full of surprises - angels appearing, life plans changing, the Creator of the Universe becoming a vulnerable little Baby. Just like Joseph, Mary had plans for her life, and those plans got completely disrupted one day when she was visited by an angel. What did she do when God revealed an unexpected change to her plans? And what can I learn from Mary's experience so that I can fully embrace the changes God brings to my life?

We make lots of plans on a fairly regular basis - plans that range from simple decisions like where we're going to eat lunch to more complicated choices like relationships or career paths or finances. But our plans don't always work out the way we see them in our minds, do they? In the story of the birth of Jesus, we see a man who was a planner, a man who had his whole life figured out...until he didn't. What did Joseph do when his life plans got changed? And how can I be more in tune to the change of plans God wants to implement in my life?

Several moments in the Christmas story were unexpected. One of the biggest surprises is how Jesus chose to enter our world in the first place. It wasn't with a parade or nationwide proclamation. It wasn't as a conquering warrior or a popular politician. The Son of God, the Messiah, chose to enter our world as a defenseless Baby. That was a surprise! That was unexpected! But why does that matter? What is it about the surprising birth of Jesus that impacts my life?

There are many who believe that the United States is more divided politically than at any other time in our history. Competing political viewpoints on a variety of topics have fractured friendships and families and even churches. In the middle of such a volatile political climate, can the church really be a source of peace in our communities? As our country heads to the polls this Tuesday, how can Christians actively bring a sense of God's peace into our hostile political landscape?