Welcome to another episode of Coffee with Hales! Today, we're diving deeper into our practicality series, focusing on practical Christianity in 2026. We'll explore what it means to truly show the gospel through actions like forgiveness, love, and servitude as described in the Bible. We'll also discuss the New Testament church's revolutionary approach to social barriers and how American Christianity can benefit from adopting these principles. Plus, we'll reflect on how cultivating a lifestyle of servitude can transform our families, marriages, workplaces, and communities. Don't forget to check out my other playlists, including Backyard Chickens, Gardening, Technocracy Loading, and Coffee and Conspiracy!

00:00 Welcome to Copy with Hales

00:17 Practical Christianity in 2026

00:56 Characteristics of a New Creation

02:13 The Power of Love and Forgiveness

04:00 Defining Actions of Christians

05:57 The New Testament Church and Cultural Impact

08:22 Equality and Breaking Social Barriers

12:12 Reflecting on Personal Faith

14:17 Conclusion and Encouragement

Creating a Vision for 2026:

Intentional Living & Setting Priorities Welcome to Coffee With Hale's! In this episode, I discuss how to create a vision for the new year and set goals that cultivate a lifestyle of change. I'll share my personal mission statement approach, inspired by my late father's planner, which helps maintain motivation and consistency. Learn how to identify and adjust your priorities through different seasons of life, and see practical examples of how I organize my spiritual, personal, and relationship priorities. Discover ways to make your mission statement visible to stay focused throughout the year and how small changes, such as cutting out distractions, can support your overall goals.

Join me as we plan for a more intentional 2026.

00:00 Welcome to Coffee With Hale's

00:09 Creating a Vision for the New Year

00:24 The Importance of a Mission Statement

01:29 Defining Your Priorities

01:57 Adapting to Life's Changes

02:20 Breaking Down Personal Priorities

02:50 Practical Steps to Implement Your Mission

03:03 Reflecting on Past Goals

04:18 Setting Intentions for 2026

04:41 Making Your Mission Statement Visible

06:23 Cutting Out the Noise

07:29 Maintaining an Intentional Prayer Life

08:04 Simple and Effective New Year's Resolutions

09:00 Conclusion and Encouragement

Rejoicing in the Lord: Practical Joy as We Look towards 2026 Welcome to the newly rebranded Coffee with Hales! In today's episode, we continue our practical advent series by exploring the concept of joy from a biblical perspective. As we navigate the time between Christmas and New Year's, let's understand joy not just as a feeling but as an active practice of rejoicing in the Lord. We'll delve into biblical examples of joy, discuss how to establish the habit of rejoicing, and reflect on the unchanging foundation of our joy in Jesus. Join me as we prepare for a joy-filled 2026!

00:00 Welcome and Channel Updates

00:45 Continuing the Advent Series: Joy

02:51 Biblical Examples of Joy

06:30 Practical Steps to Cultivate Joy

13:11 Final Reflections and Encouragement

Join me in episode 4 of our Practical Advent Series as we dive into the often-overlooked significance of John the Baptist in the Christmas story. Discover how John's role was prophesied in Malachi, how Jesus identified him as the Elijah to come, and how his life parallels key moments in Jesus's ministry. We'll also reflect on Mary and Elizabeth's touching encounter and the fulfillment of God's promises. Plus, I'll share some of my favorite Christmas movie recommendations.

Merry Christmas!

Sometimes there isn’t peace at Christmas—and that can feel discouraging when peace is one of the main themes of Advent. In this episode of our Practical Advent series, we explore what biblical peace (shalom) really means and why it’s more than the absence of conflict. Through Scripture, we’re reminded that peace is a state of wholeness and restoration made possible through Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Even when family tension, unmet expectations, or conflict are present, we can live from a place of peace because of who we are in Christ. This episode offers a practical and biblical perspective on pursuing peace this Christmas—not by forcing calm or ignoring issues, but by choosing restoration, servanthood, and gospel-shaped love.

Join me for today's episode in our practical Advent series as we reflect on the shepherds in the Christmas story. We'll explore the theme of shepherding from the Old Testament to the New Testament, how Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and the importance of shepherding in our lives and communities. We'll also discuss the significance of lowly shepherds being the first to hear about Jesus' birth and how we can share the hope of Jesus this Christmas season. Additionally, I challenge you to consider reading through the Bible in one year to deepen your spiritual journey. Merry Christmas!

Finding Hope During Advent: Embracing Biblical Assurance in the Christmas Season Join me for a moment with Hales as we kick off a special, practical Advent series, focusing on how to apply Advent in our daily lives. This episode covers the history of Advent, its various traditions, and our focal topic: hope. We discuss the biblical perspective of hope, including scripture from Psalms, Romans, Hebrews, and Isaiah, and how understanding Yahweh's character can turn our disappointments into a source of joy. Whether you're facing unmet expectations or navigating holiday struggles, discover how biblical hope can sustain you this Christmas season. Don't forget to tune in and subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Podbean, or Amazon!