Welcome to the seventh annual edition of So What Faith’s 5 Star Books of the Year! This list is comprised of books rated 5 or 5+ on a scale of 1 to 5. To be eligible the book must have been published in 2025 and I must have read and rated it this year. This year, just 14.4% of all books rated received a rating of 5 or 5+ to earn this honor (in prior years the percentage has ranged from 15% to 17%). Past Years Be sure to check out prior lists Best of the Best Stay Read More …
Is Religion Gaining Influence in American Life? (#2277)
According to a Pew Research Center report, religion is gaining influence in American life. More specifically, there was a tremendous increase in the percentage of survey respondents who believed religion was gaining influence in American life in 2025 when compared to 2024 and also when compared to recent years. Over the most recent one year period, the percentage of respondents who believed religion is gaining influence in American life rose from 18% to 31%. The 31% number is the highest Read More …
Great New Books for December 2025 (#2276)
The best new books I’ve read in the last month are A Beautiful Year Advent arrived just a few days ago, ushering in the beginning of a new church year. In her twelfth and newest book, Diana Butler Bass invites readers to journey through the Christian calendar week by week, offering timely reflections that gently reorient us toward the Way of Jesus. Whether you prefer to savor her wisdom one meditation at a time or, like I did, devour the entire book in a single sitting while Read More …
Now is the Time (#2275)
Today I preached and presided as the supply pastor for Central Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Dallas, Texas on the first Sunday of Advent. Central Lutheran Church is among the founding member churches of White Rock Center of Hope. Hope founder Donagene Christian was a member of this congregation.. Sermon My message, “The Time is Now” is based on Romans 13:11-14 & Matthew 24:36-44.. You can watch on Facebook (sermon begins at 22:38) or read Read More …
Episcopal Church Unsure of Its Membership (#2274)
I, like so many others, have been actively monitoring the membership decline of Mainline Protestant denominations. Last year I wrote an article linking to more than 50 posts I wrote on this topic over the prior 15 years. While I've given limited attention to the Episcopal Church (see Another Decade of Major Decline in The Episcopal Church), I remain interested in its year over year decline. No Report I was shocked to learn that, for the first time, the Episcopal Church will not be Read More …
Celebrating Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving (#2273)
Friendsgiving Every year since moving to our current home in Arlington, Texas we have hosted a Friendsgiving Feast. What started as a gathering of friends who are connected through a Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ life group has expanded to include others. The first year, 20222, 15 folks gathered for a potluck style meal. To begin, we gathered in a circle so each person could share words of thanks or gratitude for the year passed then I offered a modified version of a Read More …
2025 in Exactly 100 Words (#2272)
After decades of decline in sending and receiving Christmas cards often containing Christmas letters, I longed for something new. Recognizing there is no real replacement, my alternative expression is simply one way to reflect on the year gone by and briefly share with others what has happened. In 2016 I started writing an annual year in review note consisting of exactly 100 words. In 2023, I started sharing those notes here on So What Faith (2023, 2024). 2025 in Review Next Read More …
My Visit to Covenant Presbyterian Church (#2271)
This morning I was a first time visitor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. About Covenant Formally organized in 1955, the congregation initially gathered in a dance studio at Casady Shopping Center. They moved to their permanent campus in 1972, which was then updated in 2005. As Covenant celebrates 70 years of ministry in Oklahoma City they gather on Sundays for worship at 10:30am and are shepherded by Rev. Kathleen Luke, Interim Pastor. Welcome I arrived Read More …
Picture-Perfect Plates: The Best Dishes & Best Restaurants (#2270)
Welcome to my fourth annual list of favorite food experiences! It all started back in 2022, when Thanksgiving was approaching and I couldn’t stop thinking about food. That year, I decided to switch things up here at So What Faith and write a post all about picture-perfect plates of food. More specifically, I shared the ten most popular food pictures - based on view counts - that I had shared as part of my restaurant reviews on Google. In 2023, the annual exploration expanded to feature two Read More …
Giving Thanks – Top 10 Experiences in 2025 (#2269)
November is the season of gratitude, a time to celebrate the good that has shaped the year. As I look back on 2025, I’m grateful for so many experiences. Today, I’m sharing my Top 10. Top 10 This is the fifth edition of what has become an annual tradition: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021. Read More …