In American popular culture, the “first Thanksgiving” is generally believed to have occurred at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, featuring European settlers and the Wampanoag tribe sharing a harvest feast. There are multiple sites elsewhere in North America that claim to be the location of the first Thanksgiving, however, and will point to how their celebrations took place years before the celebration at Plymouth.
The Irony of Thanksgiving
Each year, people—Christian and non-Christian—sit around tables and take time to answer the question “What are you thankful for?” People from religious and secular backgrounds express their thankfulness for family, for health, for food, for jobs, for time to enjoy life together. But here’s the irony: to whom are they thankful?
The Spiritual Discipline of Thanksgiving
Nowhere does the Bible say thanking God is easy. But nowhere does the Bible say thanking God is optional. It’s not a practice reserved only for the good times. It’s a spiritual discipline necessary at all times.
12 Ways to Build Thanksgiving into Your Life
We have so much for which to be grateful today. I fear, though, that we too often limit our expressions of thanksgiving to only this day. Because the Apostle Paul tells us to “give thanks in everything” (1 Thess 5:18), we need to practice thanksgiving. Here are some practical ways to build thanksgiving into your leadership role.
10 Blessings That Will Enrich Your Thanksgiving
With the avalanche of anxiety-producing stories in the news, aren’t you glad we can pause this week and express gratitude to God for our manifold blessings? Let’s consider 10 areas often overlooked that can cultivate the attitude of gratitude we need personally and in our families.
7 Reasons Intentional Encouragement Matters
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I try hard to offer encouragement and hope to my readers, even when I address something difficult. Here are some reasons I believe encouragement matters....
You Need to Hear (and Share) These Life-Giving Truths
I once had a pastor say, “Ron, you’re a giant killer!” He encouraged me to kill giants for the Kingdom of God. It changed the trajectory of my life. I possibly wouldn’t be serving the church as I am today without those words. They came at just the right time in my life.
Four Tips for Having Good Conversations
Have you ever gotten into a conversation at Thanksgiving you didn’t want to be in? Do you avoid certain people at Christmas parties because you don’t want to talk with them? I’ve done both, but it doesn’t have to be this way. What if I told you it’s possible to have great conversations with almost anyone without wasting your time, getting bored, or even offending anyone? Here are four tips to help you do just that this holiday season.
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