Monday's Catch: 'Meet the Moment' And More

Meet the Moment
We are living through a protracted period of cultural disruption. That’s not cause for despair, but it is cause for discernment. Leaders who thought they could wait out the storm now realize this is not a squall passing over the horizon, it is a change in climate that we must adapt to and learn to inhabit. For Christians, this isn’t simply a matter of finding ways to live comfortably, but rather how to live faithfully. How should Christians respond in such a moment?

The Conservative Movement’s Intellectual Collapse
The Heritage Foundation, which has stood for decades as the intellectual crown jewel of the conservative movement, has been convulsed in an ugly public spat over the organization’s approach to anti-Semitism. Employees and visiting scholars are resigning from and revolting against the think tank over its defense of the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes, a white supremacist and anti-Semite who has gained prominence in MAGA circles. The conflict has exposed the degree to which previously forbidden bigotries have penetrated the heart of the Trump-era Republican Party. It has also revealed a somewhat different, yet related pathology: the brain death of the conservative movement.

MAGA diehard X accounts are exposed as being run from far-flung foreign countries
Countless diehard MAGA accounts that promote an 'America First' ideology on X have been exposed as originating from far-flung locations such as Thailand, Nigeria and Eastern Europe.

The latest update to Elon Musk's social media platform has sparked confusion and chaos across the world, as trusted sources of political information have had their motivations called into question.

Diocese of Texas, other faith partners launch effort to feed hungry people
The Episcopal Diocese of Texas is spearheading an effort to encourage people of faith across the state to help feed those who are hungry. On Nov. 21 it launched “Feed the People Today,” an online resource to help people connect with ways to give or receive food assistance.

This new effort also encouraged faith communities across the state to work together to take concrete action, including partnering with local food banks, volunteering and mobilizing resources for families affected by the interruption of their federal SNAP benefits, opening church kitchens and pantries, and using worship spaces to distribute food as well as hope.

Map shows states where COVID Is rising before Thanksgiving
While the threat posed by COVID-19 remains relatively low nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that infections are growing or likely growing in 19 states across the nation.

The triumph of Christianity over the Viking raiders
"From the fury of the Northmen deliver us, O Lord"

According to a popular tradition, this prayer – in the Latin form “A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine” – was prayed in the churches and monasteries of Britain as Viking raids escalated in the 9th century. However, there is no evidence that this particular litany was in use at this time.

10 Red Flags in a Pastoral Job Posting
When searching for a ministry position, you can come across some interesting job descriptions. Sometimes the wording is warm and clear, and sometimes the red flags practically wave themselves. If you’re a pastor looking for a healthy church home, recognizing these red flags early can save you from heartbreak, burnout, and a fast return to the job boards.

What Happens in Worship
Worship is the primary formational space in most congregations, yet many churches rarely consider what they hope will happen during the service. Emily Peck invites leaders to name their core values and design worship that intentionally forms disciples within their unique context.

Special Music Ideas for Your Christmas Eve Service
The Christmas Eve service is one of those moments where worship, story, and community converge. If you’re planning this year’s Christmas Eve service, you know the music can either lift the moment or let it fall flat.

Let’s talk about special music ideas that help your congregation feel the wonder, the pause, and the celebration.

Music sets the tone. Before the sermon or message, people arrive with all sorts of noise in their lives. When your service opens with music that leads them into the story of the incarnation, that’s good ministry.

This Nostalgic Christmas Craft Is Making a Major Comeback
It seems social media is catching on to what we here at Country Living have known for quite some time: paper chain garland is the best, most whimsical holiday decoration you can use.

When I was young and lived in rural East Anglia, we made paper chain garlands at Christmastime and decorated our cottage with them. We also made paper lanterns. Making them is an activity adults and children can do together as a family and as a church. As well as to decorate homes, paper chain garlands can be used to decorate school classrooms, and parish halls. In a small church they might be used to decorate the sanctuary.

How the Church Today is Getting Discipleship Wrong 

If you’ve heard the phrase “we need to do better at discipleship” more times than you can count, you’re not alone.

But what if the reason we keep having that conversation… is because we’ve been getting discipleship wrong?

In this video, I break down 7 key truths about Biblical discipleship—and why the modern church’s approach often misses what Jesus modeled. You’ll discover how discipleship and evangelism are inseparable, why maturity takes time, and how love, not control, should be the driving force behind spiritual growth.

Why Guests Don’t Come to Your Church After a Big Event
I’ve seen it in towns across America. Churches put tremendous energy and money into events—fall festivals, concerts, car shows, you name it—and then wonder why no one returns. It’s not that the events are bad. In fact, they’re often excellent. The problem is deeper—and it’s rarely about the barbeque.