There's little doubt that the past two years have significantly impacted The Church. Phrases like "pre-pandemic and post-pandemic" indicate new realities and how we're all trying to deal with them. Most noteworthy is the increase in apathy toward God and the relevance of The Church.

Growing up, I recall the Christmas season being about giving. Everyone focused on buying something for their loved ones. Somewhere along the way, the notion that we should also treat ourselves to something special got thrown into the mix.

Jesus met a lot of people throughout his earthly ministry. He dined with the sinful. He met and healed many crippled, disabled, and diseased desperate for his touch. He came to the defense of a woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:2-11) and shared a deep conversation with the outcast Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). He even met with the man notorious for his demonic possession among the tombs of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-20). In all of his encounters, he never indicates their qualification to be welcomed into God’s kingdom.

A lot of us have had to make the transition to working from home during this crisis. As someone who worked from home for nearly ten years, I have written a list of 10 things that I believe will help you not make some of the mistakes I made (and in some cases continue to make). Not all of these will apply to each of you, but I encourage you to go over the list with an open mind. Ask yourself, if I implemented any of these suggestions, would I be more productive? If the answer is yes, then you know what to do!