It continues to be wonderfully snowy here in Stockholm and we’re enjoying a proper winter. That means snowboarding, skiing, snowy walks, walking on lakes, and just drinking in the beauty of a world turned white. On the downside it makes running a bit harder but that’s why I joined a gym. So running is low-key while the rowing is getting spicy!

I’m dealing with that sense of overwhelm that comes when after a busy Christmas period you feel tired but determined to organize your life again only to realise you’re stacked against it. Nothing that won’t be sorted out by some time on the slopes.

You Should Read These

1. U.S. interventions in the New World, with leader removal. Tyler Cowen wonders, even if it’s not right, does it work?
2. 2025. How did Africa do? Ken Opalo is as good a guide as you’re going to get.
3. On still blogging in 2026. I agree with almost every word that Jeremy writes here. Superb.
4. From Sermon to Article: Turning Oral Teaching into Written Content. Good advice for pastors who write.
5. The C. S. Lewis Test
6. ‘Would that we could have half of the joy and courage of this young man.’
7. Theologically Endorsed by Liam Thatcher. I love this prank!

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You Should Look At This

ANIMALS! EVEN BETTER PETS!

Say “Meow” to the Adorable Winners of the 2025 International Pet Photography Awards

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You Should Listen To This

This one has a little bit of joy to it.

As a reminder here’s the Curiosity Index playlist from all the songs of 2025.

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You Should Watch This

There’s snow, and then there’s snow.

And here’s a Youtube playlist for 2025

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This Week’s Postings

I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up…

• Becoming an intentional father
• The world a decade on from ‘peak baby’
• My reading wishlist from everyone else’s best book lists (2026 edition). See also Leah Libresco Sargent’s 2026 reading list and how to read more (if you want to)
• The disciples of Apollos

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From The Archives

I wrote this in 2018. It will be interesting to see whether the vibe shift of 2025 leads to anything more concrete over the next 5 to 10 years, because that’s how long we’ll need to know or not. But I’d be very happy if this prediction proves to be wrong.

New research confirms what we have known for a long-time: Europe is a post-Christian continent and post-religious too. As the focus of the study is on 16-29 year olds Stephen Bullivant, a professor of theology and the sociology of religion at St Mary’s University in London and author of the report is probably correct when he says, “Christianity as a default, as a norm, is gone, and probably gone for good – or at least for the next 100 years.”

The rise of a non-Christian Europe

Thanks for reading and do please share anything interesting in the comments.