Miracle on Miracle
Forty-six years after the Lake Placid “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Winter Olympics, the U.S. men’s hockey team has again won gold, this time defeating Canada when Jack Hughes scored a sudden death “golden goal” in overtime on Sunday. The U.S. win completed a clean sweep for U.S. hockey, with the women’s team also defeating Canada to win the gold medal a few days prior. While neither of the two gold medals was a sports “miracle” in the mold of 1980 (both of the modern teams were clear gold medal contenders while the 1980 team was a significant underdog), the back-to-back wins provided a jubilant end to 2026 Winter Olympics for American fans.
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs
Tariff policy likely does impact you in at least some way—perhaps prices at the grocery store or even the geopolitical posture of your favorite international destination. But far more important than tariffs or the major questions doctrine (both of which are certainly of some import) is the reality that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus (Matt. 28:18). It is a comforting reality as you grapple with complex questions of earthly authority.
Clintons Deposed
If it wasn’t clear before the recent release of additional evidence, it certainly is now: The nefarious and despicable actions carried out by Epstein and his associates implicated a very large number of powerful people all around the world. Some (i.e., the former Prince Andrew, who has been arrested on charges related to Epstein) are facing legal charges, while others (like former President Clinton) are for now facing reputational harm because of associating with Epstein.
Chaos in Mexico
Chaos and destruction in both life and death. That is the somber legacy of El Mencho. As deadly and chaotic as the scene of El Mencho’s death and the nationwide aftermath is, the destruction caused by the cartel’s trafficking operation is unquestionably more devastating. Untold thousands are almost certainly dead or addicted as a result of the illicit drugs trafficked by El Mencho. Both his life and death speak tragically of death, and his legacy remains one of destruction that will not unravel simply because he has passed from earthly life.
War in Iran
The United States and Israel conducted a joint bombing campaign in Iran on Saturday which resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and numerous other regime leadership. After the initial wave attack, the U.S. and Israel have continued widescale attacks across Iran. According to the White House, the attacks are aimed at regime infrastructure and facilities used to develop a nuclear weapons program. U.S. President Donald Trump said the bombing campaign is likely to last 4-5 weeks.
Plus-Six Vision
Do you have Plus-Six vision? God does, and while He is the only one who can take you there, He expects and requires you to first turn the five He has given you into ten. It is time to be courageous and do the work (1 Chron. 28:20).
Jesse Jackson Dies
As we pray for the Jackson family during their time of loss, we should also reflect on our own upcoming entrance into eternity. Are you prepared for that certain eventuality? You can be! Left to your own accord, your life will be deemed to have fallen short of the required standard (Rom. 3:23). But all that is required to change that fact is that you believe in Jesus and state that belief to those around you (Rom. 10:9, Matt. 10:32-33).
ICE Drawdown in Minnesota
We should continue to pray for both law enforcement as they put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities, and for the people of the Minneapolis area. We should pray for a sustained peace and calm (Ps. 34:14), and that love for neighbors would “cover a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).
Deadly Shootings
Brokenness is a reality of life on Earth. But we do not have to acquiesce to it. Our God sent His son to the cross to make a way of healing and restoration. It is the only way for a brokenness like that on display in our world to be made whole again.
Ashes and Affection
God’s affection burns for you, my friend! How do I know? The evidence is in the ashes!
Partial Shutdown
Truth is, always has been, and always will be, at odds with evil. Yes, you are called to stand for Truth. But what a beautiful and liberating reality that your unity with God and Truth does the opposite of make you enemies with your neighbor. In fact, your almighty God instructs that your love for Him be walked out through love for your neighbor (Matt. 22:34-40)!
These are divided times! But you, my friend, can be free of the division!
Strategic Withdrawal
Jesus would withdraw, pray, listen to His Father, and return to His Father’s work with renewed clarity.
You should withdraw, pray, listen to your Father, and return to your Father’s work with renewed clarity.
Olympic Glory
The distance from gold to devastated is exceedingly thin (Vonn said it was five inches in her race this week). The gulf between your sin nature and God’s holiness is vast and impassable save the cross. The amazing news of amazing grace is that the cross made the way plain—you must only believe in and surrender to the One who died on it.
Super Bowl LX
When was the last time you left an entertainment event feeling lighter? I can almost guarantee it was because the content of that event was some combination of true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy!
A New Summit
You and I are foolish when we “free solo” in life. This endeavor of following Jesus was never meant to be taken on without the support and encouragement of fellow believers. Galatians 6:2 instructs us to, “Carry each other’s burdens,” and Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us that, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
Burdens in life are meant to be shared. So are significant accomplishments—new summits reached, so to speak. We are to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Rom. 12:15).
All is lost . . . or is it?
We are on this journey right alongside you, and there are plenty of situations (maybe even a majority of them) that feel overwhelming to us. But we are committed to serving you as we together seek to be more like Jesus. Our prayer is that this publication will leave you better equipped to make Him famous as you engage with the world.
Winter Storm Fern
More than a dozen states made emergency declarations as Winter Storm Fern pummeled a huge portion of the United States over the weekend. A significant snowstorm was followed by sleet, freezing rain, and frigid temperatures, causing hundreds of thousands to be without power. More than half the U.S. population was impacted by the storm, and many areas remain under freezing temperatures, school closures, and limited mobility.
A Second ICE Shooting in Minnesota
There is essentially no common ground from which to start unless we start from neither of the two prevailing narratives. As we have before, we will defer to the ongoing legal process to sort these narratives out, and we will intentionally put on a different lens altogether and seek to breathe life into a story so consumed by death and destruction.
One thing is clear: The current approach is clearly not working.
Let’s you and I model the better way outlined above. It will be peculiar, and it is desperately needed.
The Peculiar Way
Nearly every story or happening in your world is immediately accompanied by two competing narratives, and each of them are rooted in some truth and an absolute prohibition on giving any quarter whatsoever to any portion of the other narrative. This is the vicious cycle that is clearly not working, and my friend, it is not working because it is not intended to work. The unstated goal of the entrenched and opposing narratives is to perpetually fuel the outrage industry.
Your approach is different, because it is not only intended to work, it also has the power to work! Your approach is not to disengage and it is not to perpetuate the chaos. It is to break through the chaos with the approach Jesus modeled by engaging cultural in a way that aims for eternal impact rather than temporary conquest.
Hoosiers
As a Jesus follower, you might have been for the Hoosiers or you might have been pulling for the Hurricanes (or perhaps, like me, you were for the Illini—another basketball-first school). No matter your rooting preference, this story lends a prescient reminder about our not-so-glittery past. To put it gently, each of us has a history that is less than stellar. Every one of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s magnificent glory (Rom. 3:23).
But that past doesn’t mark or determine your destiny! No matter how bleak your past, you are only one decision of surrender to Jesus away from the promise of being a child of God!