Tonight we have Mike’s work Christmas party (last night was his birthday dinner with his parents!)—and then Saturday we are hosting Friendsmas (which is our rescheduled Friendsgiving that got cancelled because of sickness and travel and babysitting mishaps). I love this time of year—it’s so many sparkly parties and merriment. Everyone is in a better mood when they’re festive. At the same time, like everyone else, the holiday season also holds heaviness for all that is not right in both with our loved ones and the world. It’s this tension that I find all throughout the Christian faith—and I’m happy to hold that both/and tension at the holidays, too.

The Age of Instagram Face (New Yorker) - millennial culture writer Jia Tolentino looks at a startlingly phenomenon as we close the decade.

Speaking of Instagram (NY Mag) … an interview by the editor of The Cut with Instagram co-founder. I found it fascinating (duh…) but disturbing in a few ways.

Also fascinating: Americans are moving around less. Why? And what does that mean for us?

Did you see the worship leaders who went to the White House? How do you feel? What are your thoughts about it? Worship leader Kari Jobe shared her thoughts in a video that was posted on Twitter by the White House. Interestingly, so did the founder and pastor of Hillsong Brian Houston, an Australian.

Today I launched my new podcast Might I Suggest! In the first episode, I talk about my “gray phase” and how God moved me out of it. I mention Donald Trump, Mount Hollywood, and my first appearance on national television. Listen on iTunes // Access the Show Notes.

And, finally, if you still have Christmas shopping to do, my shop Nellie Taft (where we want you to WEAR what you need to HEAR) has FREE SHIPPING from now until our Christmas shipping deadline, next Wednesday 12/18. Use the code BESTGIFTEVER.