Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.

Today, some fascinating insights into where Christians stand on moral absolutes, and how that changes generationally and denominationally.

Plus, I’ve got free Starbucks for you because you’ve been working so hard and deserve it, a question about whether you should remember everything about your life if technology makes it possible, some insight on character, and an article that’s a pretty comprehensive outline of all Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang.

Where Are Christians Today On Moral Absolutes?

Are issues black and white? Or does it depend?

As polarized as the world (and church) seems to be these days, how many Christians believe issues are clearly right or wrong, or whether it depends on the situation?

Not surprisingly, Evangelicals were most likely to say there are clear standards (61%) rather than things depending on the situation (37%).

But the response changes quickly based on age. If you were born in the 2000s, only 40% of Evangelicals think that morality is black and white.

​You can read the full report here.

Grab A Coffee On Us ☕

Hurry up… they go fast!

As promised, today’s the day we give back with a little caffeine, drink, or treat.

Here’s how it works:

1. Find one of the Starbucks barcodes posted in The Art of Leadership Academy or on Instagram.
2. When you’re grabbing your coffee (or snack) at Starbucks, show the barcode to your barista when it’s time to pay.
3. If there’s still a balance left on the barcode, your order is on us!

We’ve loaded extra inside The Art of Leadership Academy, so your best shot is there.

​Here’s a link to the first one. More coming throughout the day.

Enjoy your coffee—and thanks for being part of this community!

If You Could Remember Everything About Your Life…

Would you want to?

Technology is quickly making it so that, if you so choose, nothing about your life needs to be forgotten. With AI and tech wearables, you’ll soon be able to replay every moment of your existence if you want.

But is that good?

You probably only have a few core memories of first grade. I could probably tell you what I remember of that year in about five minutes. But what if, in the future, you could replay the entire thing—¸like the entire year in real time?

Should you?

We’re playing with what it means to be human in ways we never have before, and no one knows what the implications are.

​So I’m grateful for pieces like this that at least ask the question.

And no, I don’t know the answer either. I’m probably defaulting to my faulty, episodic, natural memory.

Does Productivity Actually Matter?

What makes the biggest impact?

When you’re caught up in the day-to-day, evaluating productivity tends to take a back seat. But for a ministry, productivity matters. It’s what allows you to devote your time and energy where they make the biggest impact.

So ask yourself:

• Are we using our time wisely?
• Am I trying to control every detail?
• Am I too overworked to be present?
• Are we operating to the best of our ability?

When you learn to embrace new systems and refine your productivity, your ministry can serve more effectively.

BELAY’s free resource, The Power of Productivity: Church Edition, will give you practical ways to strengthen your ministry’s productivity, so you can focus on making a difference.

Download Today

The Complete (Free) Dictionary of Gen Z and Gen Alpha Slang

Don't be unc.

If you’re the kind of person who finds your steak too juicy when you order heavy soda, this is perfect for your 6-7 weekend—a fairly comprehensive lexicon of Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang. ​

Not sus at all.

And I’m sure I used this all incorrectly. So cringe.

Cheering for you,

Weekend Watching

Dr. Caroline Leaf

Dr. Caroline Leaf explains her philosophy on the difference between mind and brain and how to use your mind to battle stress, anxiety, and burnout. She also weighs in on AI and how it can damage your mind and brain.