As a kid, Jeff stood on tables at fast food restaurants and sang at the top of his lungs. And other examples of what our worship might look like. 

Politics Part IV. Why keeping a kudos file can help keep a leader going. Praying for our local leadership. Plus: lessons from the book of James on why not many of us should seek to be teachers. (Hint: it's a hard gig!)

Email addresses to send notes of encouragement:

Saddleback Valley School Administrator: Dr. Crystal Turner

Capistrano Unified School Administrator: Kirsten Vital

PCOM Preschool Director Vanessa Renich

PCOM Children's Director Stephanie Cleye

PCOM Youth Director Matt Becerra

Recommendations:

Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk by Eugene Cho

Honoring God in Red or Blue by Amy Black

PCOM Politics Pod Part III: idealism in American politics, from Emma Lazarus to Martin Luther King Jr. to Eugene Peterson. How can hope guide us? Plus, a wise word from James on true religion and the poet Scott Cairns on why paper training is so difficult for tortoises.

Emma Lazarus's "The New Colossus"

Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"

Eugene Peterson's "Hope on the  Line"

James 1:27

The Barkley Marathon

Matthew West's "Amen"

Perfectly Human: Nine Months with Cerian by Sarah Williams

Scott Cairns' "On Slow Learning"

PCOM Politics Pod Part II (say that five times fast!). Clearing our heads so we can listen well. Reading /listening to the news rather than watching it. Proverbs illuminates the need for wisdom. Plus, how disagreeing in love can help strengthen our positions and our faith.

The Argument - Ross Douthat and Michelle Goldberg on controversial issues (also available as a podcast)

The Greatest Showman movie

The Greatest Showman workshop video 

The Osterholm Update podcast - Dr. Michael Osterholm, epidemiologist at CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Prevention)

Center/Right Resources:

Ross Douthat and Esau McCaulley at the New York Times

The National Review

The Dispatch

The Daily Wire

The Federalist

First Things

The Economist

Center/Left Resources:

The New York Times

Politico

The Hill

National Public Radio

The Atlantic

BBC News

The Washington Post

Pastor Courtney on following Jesus into the choppy waters of politics, Pastor Daryl on 1 Peter's instruction to "honor the emperor," Pastor Tim Keller on the Christian call to engage in politics without accepting any party's entire platform, and loving each other well, even when we disagree. 

Rev. Dr. Tim Keller - "How Do Christians fit into the Two-Party System? They Don't."

Marilynne Robinson's new novel Jack

Marilynne Robinson's essays: The Death of Adam

Some history, some chicken squawks, and hopefully some good fruit. 

Plus, unexpected gifts of a pandemic season, a guide to devotional guides (see what we did there?), and goodness from the Gospel of Matthew.

NT Wright's "Philippians for Everyone"

Carol Bechtel's "Interpretation Commentary on Esther"

A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants

Glorious Weakness by Alia Joy

An Oral History of the Office by Brian Baumgartner 

Plus, praying for our small business owners, Matthew 6, Psalm 42, breaking  cycles of worry, and this week's recommendations.

The Osterholm Update - Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota (Dr. Michael Osterholm)

November: Lincoln's Elegy at Gettysburg by Kent Gramm

Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza card game 

Matthew 6

Psalm 42

Examples of blessings and benedictions from Scripture.

The New York Times Magazine's Decameron Project.

The Last Dance - Michael Jordan documentary

Jemar Tisby's The Color of Compromise 

The prophet Amos and the call to Abraham might still have something to say.