Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of

Unchanging Truth, the Colson Center on Johnstone Street.

The days around Thanksgiving make for an odd holiday.

Most Americans barely sit down to dinner before Elves Santa and Mariah Carey invade their

lives.

Then comes the corporate fever dream known as Black Friday, followed by its digital sequel,

Cyber Monday.

And in all that time, there's precious little room left to be thankful, a citizens of

the wealthiest nation in the world, or to consider how best to give back in light of that

reality.

Another tradition, however, offers the opportunity to buck this trend, falling on November 30th

this year, giving Tuesday as a chance to celebrate the abundance, so many of us enjoy and

to pass it on to others.

Christians have an even deeper legacy of, and even more powerful motivation to, if, got

generously created the world.

He generously blesses it with his presence, and generously in Christ gave himself for us.

Now despite our reputation, America is the world's most generous country, both in terms

of net donations and other individual metrics of charity.

According to Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Americans gave

away over $480 billion last year.

In 2021, some 60% of Americans gave money, 42% volunteered their time.

And incredibly, American charitable giving increased during the pandemic, which defied

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