Many of you have heard the acronym "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) - an anxiety or fear that something is going on somewhere that you're missing out on.  Well, have no fear.  In case you're experiencing "Brookside Institute FOMO," I've helpfully included all of the "top 5 blog posts" for each month, for the last six months (July-December 2015).  If you're brand new to the Brookside Institute, be sure and check out our "About" page, our "Classes Overview," and our most recent "Speed Dating the Brookside Institute" as well.

Click on any of the posts included below to revisit posts you've already enjoyed and catch up on anything you may have missed!

Christmas is officially two weeks away, and that means many of us are considering gift ideas for others in our lives.  If you're looking for ideas for the "reader" you know, here are six suggestions.  Each of these suggestions has been recently published (in the last 2-3 years) and will be linked to an Amazon page where you can learn more.  You'll see they're listed under 6 categories that I try and stay loosely tethered to:

What other books (in any of these categories listed above) would you suggest people consider?  List 'em here!

Last Sunday in the Brookside Institute "Walking Wisely: An Introduction to Biblical Ethics" class, we turned the corner away from laying foundations for thinking ethically, to looking more closely at specific issues that deserve some ethical consideration.

And the first thing we looked at are what I like to call "ethical blindspots."  We all know what a blindspot is in our cars, right?  They're those spots we can't see using the side or rear-view mirrors.  If we're not careful, there can be a car in our blindspot that we're not even aware of.  And if we try to move into that space, accidents happen!  In the same way, I think there can be ethical blindspots in our lives - issues that deserve moral reflection that we're not even aware of - perhaps because of all the good that goes along with the issue, because the issues are new, or because of the cultural "water" we swim in.  

Thus far in the Brookside Institute class, "Walking Wisely: An Introduction to Christian Ethics," we've spent a lot of time (4 out of 10 sessions!) laying foundations for the rest of the class - for the upcoming sessions when we get into thinking ethically about technology, the sanctity of life, God's design for marriage and sexuality, and more.

What are the areas that we need to factor in, if we want to lay strong foundations in this field (and practice) of Christian Ethics?  Why are these so important?  I'm glad you asked!  Let's look at both of these questions together.

This upcoming weekend I'm teaching on Christianity and culture in the Brookside Institute "Walking Wisely" class on Christian Ethics.  I found this video (length: 14:22) and think it has some worthwhile stuff to say on this topic.  Listen especially to how what's said relates to issues of culture, Christian identity, and hope.

As I prepare for and teach through the Brookside Institute "Walking Wisely" class on Christian Ethics, I'm dipping into a number of books.  Here are eight books closely related to Christian Ethics that I'd recommend for your consideration.  In super-technical fashion, I've listed under the categories of "Longer Books on Christian Ethics" and "Shorter Books on Christian Ethics."  (I know many will gravitate towards the shorter books which are indeed helpful, but don't let size scare you away from the others.  They have worthwhile stuff to consider!)

Click on either the pictures or titles below to be taken to an Amazon.com site where you can learn a bit more about any of these books.

By way of FYI, the "textbook" we are using for the Walking Wisely class is Robert McQuilken and Paul Copan's An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom, 3rd ed.  IVP Academic, 2014.