Rebellions and revolts have long been a part of human history. From the dawn of civilization, humans have always found a way to protest against their governments — and the Tudor era was no different. Henry VIII’s reforms to the Catholic Church were not just shocking to the Pope, but to many of the people of England — and that is exactly what sparked the Pilgrimage of Grace.   Background to the Pilgrimage of Grace Banner of the Holy Wounds, used during the Pilgrimage of Grace. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Pilgrimage of Grace occurred in England over a period of around four months, from October 1536 until February 1537. It occurred during the middle of Henry VIII’s reign — three years after his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, had formally been annulled, two years since Henry had formed the Church of England after the Break with Rome, and the same year that his second wife, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded.   To say that these were tumultuous times is an understatement. On top of the religious factors, there were also a number of economic and political grievances that led to a rebellion starting in the north of England, which came to be known as the Pilgrimage of Grace.   Religious Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace Ruins of Binham Priory. Source: Wikimedia Commons   As mentioned, the religious causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace were a key factor. Northern England was still a Catholic stronghold, despite Henry’s English Reformation. Following the Break from Rome, Henry had established himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England, and aimed to move toward Protestantism and away from Catholicism.   One reason that the north was still a Catholic stronghold was because it was far from London, and Henry’s influence could not be felt so strongly this far afield — although this was to change in early 1535 when Henry passed the First Suppression Act,  parliamentary legislation that started the dissolution of the monasteries.   The dissolution of the monasteries was a series of Church reforms, whereby Henry dissolved monasteries, convents, priories, and friaries throughout England, Ireland, and Wales. He took away (or rather redirected to the Crown) their income, and stripped them of their assets.   There were two main reasons behind this: firstly, it was to establish Henry VIII’s control over the Church. Secondly, it was to fund his foreign wars, mainly centered on France at the time.   As a result, many of the monasteries in northern England were dissolved in 1535 and early 1536. The ruins of these once-magnificent buildings can still be seen today scattered across the country.   Political Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace Catherine of Aragon, by Lucas Horenbout, c. 1525. Wikimedia Commons   The political reasons for the Pilgrimage of Grace tie in with the religious reasons. Henry VIII’s decision to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon was partially politically motivated.   One reason that Henry had cited for the divorce was that he needed a male heir — something that (in his view) Catherine had been unable to provide for him. A male heir (once again, in Henry’s view) would stabilize his reign, and ensure that there was a future for the Tudor dynasty. This problem came to be referred to as Henry’s “Great Matter” — his obsession with a male heir.   Many people who were Catholics like Catherine of Aragon were disgusted at Henry’s treatment of his wife during the divorce proceedings. In addition, because Catherine and Henry’s daughter Mary Tudor was a Catholic, many northern Catholics wanted to ensure that the Catholic Mary would succeed Henry, rather than her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth, who he had fathered with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, by this time.   Economic Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace Richard II meeting with the rebels of the Peasants’ Revolt (1381), by Jean Froissart, 15th century. Source: The BNF   As with most rebellions, there were also economic grievances associated with the Pilgrimage of Grace. Henry VIII had foreign wars to fund — and one way of doing this was by raising taxes. Similar to the Peasants’ Revolt two centuries earlier, the poorest members of society were the ones most affected. During Henry’s VIII’s kingship, many of these people lived in the north of England.   Furthermore, “enclosure” was a process that had started under Henry VII but had been continued during Henry VIII’s reign. This was when members of the nobility who were also private landlords had the right to fence off land that had traditionally belonged to peasants.   With the financial burden of increased taxation and less land available to make a living from, it is not hard to see why the northern peasants rose up during the Pilgrimage of Grace.   The Lincolnshire Rising Thomas Cromwell, by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1532-33. Source: Art Hive   The very first uprisings started in early October 1536, in the town of Louth, Lincolnshire. This came to be known as the “Lincolnshire Rising,” and it would eventually develop into the Pilgrimage of Grace in the coming weeks.   The man who is often credited with starting the Lincolnshire Risings was called Nicholas Melton. He was a local cobbler from Louth, and due to his discontent at Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell’s Reformation policies, he grabbed a registrar, burned his papers, and attempted to force priests to swear an oath of loyalty.   Rather than simply being put down, due to the support for Melton, his story attracted thousands of local supporters, who rallied to his cause. A plan was drafted for these rebels to march on Lincoln to protest against the desecration of the monasteries.   However, the general feeling of anger soon turned violent, when a man called John Raynes, the chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln, was forcibly dragged from his bed and beaten bloody by the mob.   Part of the demands from the Lincolnshire rebels was that Henry VIII and Cromwell put an end to the dissolution of the monasteries, as well as an end to the collection of subsidies, both of which naturally threatened the Catholic Church.   Of course, Henry VIII was furious when he heard about the uprisings. He was even reported to have described Lincolnshire as “one of the most brute and beastly [counties] of the whole realm.”   Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, c. 1530. Source: Sotheby’s   Henry sent Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, north to Lincolnshire to suppress the rebellion. While many of the protestors were simply dispersed, one man who was not so fortunate was Nicholas Melton.   He was hanged at Tyburn for his involvement, in a move which Henry VIII anticipated would make an example of him to any future rebels. Clearly, this did not work, and Melton was viewed as an ambassador to those in the neighboring counties of Yorkshire.   Robert Aske’s Rebellion in Yorkshire Clifford’s Tower, York. Wikimedia Commons   From October 14, a rebellion began to stir in Yorkshire, after locals heard the news of the Lincolnshire Rising being suppressed. One of the key figures of the Pilgrimage of Grace was Robert Aske, a lawyer, who had returned to his native Yorkshire after practicing in London.   Aske himself was a devoted Catholic, so naturally the Henrician reforms went against almost everything he believed in. Because of his noble stock—he was from the de Clifford family, and loosely related to Jane Seymour—he was seen as the ideal leader. What must have been worrying for Henry, though, was that a member of the nobility was leading a rebellion of the common people.   The difference between the Lincolnshire Risings and those in Yorkshire which came to be termed as the Pilgrimage of Grace, was that the Yorkshire risings were not localized, and they garnered more support. On October 24, Aske marched into York along with 30,000 supporters.   One of Aske’s requirements was that he wanted the monks and nuns who had been forcibly removed from their monasteries and convents to be restored in place of the private tenants Henry VIII had installed. The rebels also compiled a long list of other demands in the meantime, many of which were requests to overturn Henry and Cromwell’s Protestant reforms.   The number of Aske’s supporters kept on growing and Henry eventually sent the retired Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, north to deal with the rebels. All Howard managed to do was delay them a bit — by early November they had taken over Pontefract Castle.   The Pontefract Articles Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1539. Source: The Royal Collection Trust   One of the most shrewd moves that the Duke of Norfolk made was to grant Aske an audience with Henry VIII, which he arranged for the Christmas period of 1536. The reason for this was because it separated Aske from his followers, many of whom then dispersed, which in the long run made the rebellion easier to suppress.   Aske discussed his demands with Norfolk and was given a safe passage in order to do so. There were 24 demands in total, nine of which were strictly religious. The rebels demanded an end to enclosure, as well as a return to papal authority. Perhaps the most significant demand was that they wanted a parliament to be held in the North.   Aske took Norfolk’s word for it that these vague promises would be met, and made his way back north. In turn, he asked for the rebels to make attempts to de-escalate any tensions.   Bigod’s Rebellion Henry VIII, by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1537. Source: Liverpool Museums   Sir Francis Bigod, a nobleman from Yorkshire, has sometimes been cited as the reason behind the downfall of the Pilgrimage of Grace, although this is quite a loose claim. When Aske returned and asked the rebels to de-escalate tensions, Bigod ignored him and attempted to stir up further rebellions in Cumberland and Westmorland in early 1537.   Aske had already negotiated with Norfolk at this point and still made attempts to stop people from supporting Bigod but to little avail. Bigod’s rebellion gave Norfolk and Henry the excuse they needed to send royal forces north and formally put an end to the Pilgrimage of Grace.   The Suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace Artist’s interpretation of the Pilgrimage of Grace, 1913. Source: Boston Story   Because many of Aske’s supporters had begun to disperse by Christmas 1536, they were only found in smaller groups by early 1537. This made it much easier for royal forces to deal with them — rather than the 30,000 strong force they had been in mid-October of the previous year.   It was an easy victory for Henry in the end, who managed to not only put the rebellion to its formal end, but also ensured that over 200 people were executed for their involvement in the rebellion, including Robert Aske.   Aske was captured, imprisoned in the Tower of London, before being convicted of high treason and taken back up north where he was hanged, reportedly in chains, outside of Clifford’s Tower in York.   The Legacy of the Pilgrimage of Grace Pontefract Castle, by Alexander Keirincx, 17th century. Source: Art UK   The Pilgrimage of Grace was the biggest anti-Reformation movement in Tudor history, and has been cemented in English history as one of the most popular rebellions of all time — it is certainly on par with the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381.   The immediate effect of the Pilgrimage of Grace shows how many people opposed the Henrician Reforms in Tudor England. From the impact of the dissolution of the monasteries, to subsidy collections and the forced removal of monks and nuns, there were a multitude of factors which contributed to the Pilgrimage of Grace.   The Pilgrimage of Grace had also been cited as a reason for further anti-Reformation rebellions, some of which occurred in the reigns of later Tudors, such as the Prayer Book Rebellion (1549) during Edward VI’s reign and the Northern Rebellion (1569) under Elizabeth I.   Without the impact of the Pilgrimage of Grace, it is highly unlikely that further rebellions would have taken place. While the rebels themselves were not successful, it was nevertheless a moment that showed where Henry VIII’s and Cromwell’s vulnerabilities lay.

Avoiding the Trap of Want "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." – Exodus 20:17 A fly was buzzing around one day when he saw a large crowd of flies dancing below him on a piece of brown paper. Intrigued, he flew in for a closer look. What fun they were having! He just had to be a part of it. But as he got ready to land, a bee suddenly stopped him. "Don't land there... that's flypaper and it will kill you!" said the bee. "Stop being silly," the fly retorted. "Look at how much fun they're all having!" And with that, the little fly landed and joined the ‘party'. Appearances can be deceiving, especially when it looks like things are working out so well for other people. They have nice cars, expensive clothes, and from the outside looking in, they seem to have it all together. But what you don't see with so many people who ‘have it together' are the mounds of debt they're drowning under, the self-image issues they're constantly battling, and the toxic, crumbling relationships they have with others. When it comes to coveting what others have, things are rarely what they seem. No good ever comes from coveting what someone else has. So instead of wishing you had more of this or a better that, thank God for what you have today. Live free from coveting and you'll experience much more joy! Prayer Challenge: Pray and ask God to release you from the trap of want so you'll find satisfaction in His blessings today. Questions for Thought: Think of something you want but you don't have today. Is it possible that want may have more control over life than God would desire? How might your life look differently if you were completely content with everything God has already given you? Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post Avoiding the Trap of Want – Senior Living – October 8 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Review & photos by Ira Kantor I’ll be honest… after witnessing in-person the BEAT quartet of Adrian Belew, Danny Carey, Tony Levin, and Steve Vai tear into tracks from the three of a perfect pair album lineup of King Crimson’s classic 1980s period, I gave serious thought to having this review be the following lyrics from the song “Indiscipline:” “The more I look at BEAT, the more I like it. I do think it’s good! The fact is no matter how closely I study it, No matter how I take it apart, No matter how I break it down, It remains consistent… I wish you were here to see it!” But that would have been taking the easy way out. Another variation I toyed with ─ also inspired by lyrics from the same track ─ was the following: “I repeat myself when I’m impressed, I repeat myself when I’m impressed, I repeat myself when I’m impressed, I repeat myself when I’m impressed, I repeat…” But again, perhaps a bit too concise and cliché… Either way, the one definitive sentiment I couldn’t get out of my head after watching BEAT all but blow the ceiling off the 1,300-seat Keswick Theatre over the course of two hours and close to 20 tracks was Belew’s same concluding, primal thought at the end of the song: “I LIKE IT!!!” Now, if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to go back a bit in time… I was a sophomore at Binghamton University and a friend of mine named Bill Grant introduced me to Crimson’s seminal 1981 masterwork Discipline. I did not know at that time (but I would over the next 20 years) how influential that album would be in my life. Never before had I heard music so cerebral and so appealing at the same time. I couldn’t get enough of Belew’s slashing guitar soundscapes, Robert Fripp’s complex guitar arrangements, Tony Levin’s unique use of a Chapman Stick (a what??), and Bill Bruford’s intricate drum patterns ─ both on traditional and electronic kits. From there, I would discover the group’s next two albums, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair, each one individual in exciting ways. Two hours of collective music that I go back and revisit time and time again despite their disregard for commerciality. The vinyl album trio purposely sits above my desk so I can stare at them multiple times each day. To get my then toddler son interested in music, I would play “Waiting Man” on repeat and finger mimic the double drum parts. For me, and the other 1,299 individuals in attendance, we came for a one-of-a-kind experience. We left jubilant and enthralled. I mean, anytime you walk into a venue and the background music playing is Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, settle in and get comfy as you’re in for a real artistic treat! Stepping onto the stage for their 20th show in a 65-show tour one-by-one at promptly 7:30 pm, each member acknowledged the crowd, plugged in, and proceeded to give it all they had mind, body, and soul. Four Beat tracks opened the show: a pulsating “Neurotica,” followed by the wonderful “Neal and Jack and Me,” “Heartbeat,” and “Sartori in Tangier.” Belew, donned in a black porkpie hat and black suit, let loose his distinctive vocal wail (which remains fully intact more than 40 years later) as Vai, looking like an expertly tailored amalgam of Billy Gibbons, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Zorro, made sure to contort his face to every thrust and blast of his multicolored psychedelic-looking guitar. “Math rock!” said one photographer standing next to me with a smile. He wasn’t wrong. To play the tracks on these albums requires tremendous concentration and virtuosity. I mean math was a subject I was always good at but could easily lose focus while working on problems. For these guys though, the fun came in fitting the complex musical pieces together and letting loose with abundant smiles when the puzzle came together. Even when there was a one-off pedal glitch or slowdown in tempo, the band just grinned and shrugged it off making for an overall non-pressure-filled night. Synergy between members was top priority. From my seat, I would look at Belew and Levin’s movements and be instantly taken back to the classic Crimson concert footage I’d watch on repeat of shows in Frejus in ’82 and Japan in ’84. Vai is no stranger to difficult melodies and technique. This is a man after all who managed to impress the unimpressible Frank Zappa when he was a teenager. But by not being a carbon copy of Robert Fripp, that alone brought a different energy and dynamic to what BEAT showcased here. The simple fact that Vai stood for the show and fired up his guitar with everything from tapping to shredding proved to be something unforgettable. His multi-minute solo on “The Sheltering Sky” in the second half of the show recalled everyone from Al Di Meola to Steve Hackett; it was a lesson in brilliance and we all eagerly took notes with our eyes and applause. And speaking of being blown away, the collective sound of BEAT proved to be so loud within the cavernous walls of the Keswick that I couldn’t help but wonder if the residents of Cherry Hill, New Jersey – a 45-minute drive away from the venue – could hear the concert. Helping the music come alive, was a glorious light display encircling members in red, yellow, and blue colors throughout the concert. Excitement also built when Belew brought out his multi-colored axe from the Three of a Perfect Pair touring period. “I thought I left this one at home,” Belew exclaimed, before adding it was the first time the guitar came “off the wall” in 40 years. “Now it’s the happiest guitar in the world,” he added. From here, the band would plow though several tracks from that same album – “Dig Me,” “Model Man,” “Man With an Open Heart,” and “Industry,” included. As mechanical as those tracks tend to sound on record, the group was a finely tuned well-oiled musical machine here. After their brief intermission, Carey, the most casual looking member of the bunch in T-shirt and shorts, came on stage right as the house lights went down to start playing “Waiting Man.” Switching to a red suit reminiscent of his Lone Rhino days, but still keeping his black porkpie hat, Belew gleefully picked up another pair of sticks and proceeded to play right along with Carey who truly looked like a kid on Christmas morning. You could see his teeth radiating from the back of the venue. Levin also shone through tremendously throughout the night, standing out in a stark white suit jacket and black clothes (perhaps in tribute to Peter Gabriel). “Sleepless” was particularly fun to watch, especially as Levin switched from his slapping days of yore to his trademark funk fingers. “Are you having fun yet?” Belew smugly asked. He already knew the answer. Even though the band didn’t have to prove anything to us, members proceeded to keep dazzling us with one stellar track after another. “Frame by Frame” was flawless, followed by the beautiful slide work of Belew on “Matte Kudasai.” Myself, I had goosebumps when I saw Belew play his guitar at the top of the neck during “Elephant Talk;” to me, this embodied earliest footage I had seen of the ‘80s Crimson lineup now personified in real time. If Vai was worried about pulling off Fripp’s guitar mastery, he needn’t have feared – he peeled back the layers of his talents just as he shed his hat and jacket for the second half of the show. Before BEAT kicked into its encore, Belew made sure to acknowledge Fripp and Bruford for their respective contributions to this music. In tribute, the band kicked into a meaty cover of “Red” before closing out the night with the powerhouse “Thela Hun Ginjeet.” As I made my way out of the venue, I could still hear the concert reverberating down the street. Overall, the consensus proved both undeniable and palpable: Belew, Carey, Levin, and Vai are actually four of a perfect pair!

Keyboardist’s solo albums may not have reached the heady heights of his bandmates’ output – but he’s had a great time making “more progressive” music with artists of his own choosing, including Fish, Toyah and Nik Kershaw

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After decades of tireless conservation efforts, the endangered Caretta caretta sea turtle is making a spectacular recovery on Greece’s coastlines. This ancient mariner, which has been around for over 100 million years, was nearly extinct due to human activity and environmental threats. Conservationists’ efforts led to a record number of sea turtle nests in Greece, marking an enormous triumph for wildlife preservation. The return of an ancient mariner Something amazing has been happening on the sandy beaches of Sekania on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, which is the largest nesting place for loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Charikleia Minotou, the WWF program manager in this protected area, has monitored loggerhead turtles for nearly 25 years. Her discoveries are nothing short of amazing. “The message sea turtles are sending is very clear,” says Minotou. “The measures we have taken over the past 25 years to ensure conditions are right for the marine turtles to nest here are working … It’s fantastic.” This year, more than 1,200 nests have been discovered on the beach—an incredible number, with one nest per 50 cm. Minotou and her crew have seen record numbers of both nests and surviving hatchlings, indicating a remarkable rebound for the species. Conservation wins in the Mediterranean The Mediterranean region has seen an extraordinary increase in sea turtle nesting numbers, from Spain to Cyprus. This recovery is the consequence of a coordinated effort by conservationists dedicated to saving the species. Although only one in every 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survives to adulthood, the number of nests is increasing, demonstrating the effectiveness of these conservation programs. Greece, which contains 60 percent of the Mediterranean’s loggerhead turtle nests, has seen the most dramatic recovery. According to Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, the average number of nests each year has increased from 5,000-7,000 to more than 10,000 since 2023. Dr. Aliki Panagopoulou, research coordinator for Archelon, explains the significance of this increase: “Throughout the 2000s, we were registering annual declines of about six percent on Crete, for example. Now we are looking at a dramatic increase in nest numbers, the result of decades of conservation efforts.” These efforts have centered on getting as many hatchlings as possible into the water, giving them the highest chance of survival. Early challenges in sea turtle protection The success of these conservation programs did not come easily. Thirty years ago, Greek authorities mostly neglected the plight of the Caretta caretta, putting the species on the brink of extinction. Human activities, particularly the expanding tourism industry, posed a significant threat to turtles. Speedboats, beach equipment, and an increase in people all interfered with crucial hatching locations. Few people understood these early battles better than Lily Venizelos, the founder of the Mediterranean Association to Save Sea Turtles (Medasset), based in the United Kingdom. In the 1980s, she aggressively advocated for legislation to protect turtles. “I spent years when they were endangered running around different ministries with pieces of paper because back then no one cared to listen,” Venizelos says. The loggerhead turtle population’s comeback encourages Venizelos, now in her nineties. “It’s been the most wonderful news, at my age, to find out that the Caretta caretta are no longer so threatened,” she declares. However, she emphasizes that the fight is far from done. “It’s crucial protective measures continue to be enforced. One false move and everything could be lost.” The new threats to sea turtles Despite positive advances, sea turtles in the Mediterranean still confront major obstacles. The region’s expanding tourism economy could jeopardize conservation efforts. Greece, which hopes to attract 40 million tourists by 2028, has seen an increase in “last-chance tours” offered to travelers who want to visit sites threatened by climate change and excessive tourism. Venizelos describes this trend as “catastrophic” for sea turtles, as the influx of visitors endangers fragile marine habitats. “On the one hand, the EU wants to protect the species and, on the other, organizations are taking tourists on these ‘last chance’ tours,” Venizelos says. “It makes no sense at all.” In addition to tourism-related pressures, additional dangers such as climate change, overfishing, pollution, and plastic waste are increasingly endangering sea turtles. Conservationists are working to fight these threats, but they warn that their progress might be jeopardized without ongoing support and enforcement of protective measures. Nadia Andreanidou, Medasset’s programs and policy officer, underscores the need for ongoing vigilance: “There’s no doubt that across the Mediterranean, the increase in the Caretta caretta population is a nature-based reaction to all the conservation efforts of NGOs over the last few decades. But now, more than ever, we need the support of the government to implement the laws we have pushed for if we are to build on the momentum and keep this extraordinary animal out of danger.” A bright future for sea turtles—if we stay the course The resurgence of the Caretta caretta sea turtle demonstrates the strength of prolonged conservation efforts. Record nesting numbers in Greece and throughout the Mediterranean bring optimism for the future of this iconic species, but the task is far from over. Minotou, Venizelos, and Andreanidou all underline the importance of maintaining vigilance and taking action to protect the loggerhead turtle’s long-term survival. With the correct regulations in place and dedication to safeguarding marine habitats, the Caretta caretta can continue to thrive.The post Greece’s sea turtle nests reach record numbers as conservation efforts pay off first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every day, social media bombards us with the most recent must-have products: a “life-changing” device, viral fashion pieces, or the hottest new beauty item. It’s easy to fall into a loop of endless buying, adding to your cart only to feel overwhelmed and unfulfilled. A no-spend month could be the solution for people wishing to break away from this cycle and regain control of their finances. Traci Williams, PsyD, a board-certified clinical psychologist and financial therapist, receives frequent inquiries from clients who are battling with overspending. “They’ve been charging things to their credit cards, carrying a balance every month, and accumulating debt,” Dr. Williams explains. Financial problems can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health, causing anxiety and sleeplessness. That’s where the no-spend challenge comes in—a straightforward, organized approach to resetting financial habits and reducing money-related stress. A no-spend month often entails refraining from non-essential spending for a defined period. You only spend money on necessities like groceries, utilities, housing, and transportation, avoiding discretionary spending like dining out, shopping, and entertainment. The criteria are flexible—each individual can establish their own guidelines—but the idea is to reduce wasteful spending so you can focus on financial goals. Here are five ways having a no-spend month could transform your life: 1. Improve your financial health It’s no surprise that spending simply on necessities can benefit your money. For Jazmine Waller, a month without spending was a game changer. “I decided I needed to do a no-spend month to stop spending money, see where it was going, and save to get ahead,” she said. After canceling superfluous subscriptions and following a strict budget, she was able to pay off $17,000 in debt in nine months. Dr. Williams notes that no-spend months are especially advantageous to people who live paycheck to paycheck. “By engaging in this practice, they become more conscientious of what they’re doing with their money. It can lead to lasting changes in their financial behavior,” she says. 2. Reduce stress and financial anxiety Money-related stress is far too prevalent. A 2023 study discovered a relationship between money anxieties and psychological distress. For Waller, the relief of paying off debt and avoiding late bills was life-changing. “Not receiving phone calls about overdue bills is a huge benefit,” she says. “I’m not running away from my phone anymore, or avoiding 1-800 numbers. It’s a great feeling.” When you actively manage your money and stick to a plan, you can feel in control, which is empowering. Waller reports that after completing her first no-spend month, she felt more confident and capable of reaching future financial goals. 3. Make the most of what you already have Elyse Lyons, a 29-year-old who does no-spend months four times a year, sees these trials as opportunities to rediscover the worth of what she currently has. “I have a bookshelf full of books, a closet full of clothes. I should be using those things before buying new ones,” she says. This shift in perspective from consuming more to appreciating what you already have might result in a more intentional and rewarding relationship with your things. Lyons has also devised innovative ways to use public resources such as libraries and community centers to take part in new experiences without paying money. She tells others that they can partake in hobbies or trends without continually purchasing new items. “No-spend months force you to take a step back and really appreciate what you already have,” she says. 4. Be creative with your free time A no-spend month challenges you to think outside the box and discover free or low-cost alternatives to your typical activities. Dr. Williams observes that breaking habits such as eating out or buying creates new opportunities. “Instead of brunch every Saturday, you may find yourself thinking, ‘What else can I do that’s cost-free?’” she explains. This transformation typically results in more meaningful experiences with loved ones. Lyons believes that it is important to find delight in small moments. “We’re more intentional about making quality time together,” she adds. Instead of going to a trampoline park or a movie theater, she may organize a fun family night at home, complete with homemade snacks and a movie. These kinds of activities not only save money but also help create lasting memories. 5. Reduce your environmental impact Aside from the financial and mental rewards, a no-spend month promotes more sustainable habits. Avoiding impulsive purchases, particularly low-quality items, helps you keep waste to a minimum. In 2018, Americans discarded nearly nine million tons of clothing, while the global fashion sector emitted more than two billion tons of greenhouse gases. Resisting the temptation to engage in fast-fashion or viral fads during a no-spend month will help you reduce your environmental impact. Lyons, who is now making more deliberate purchases, also looks for used products wherever possible. “I see things differently now. Instead of being stuck in the consumerism cycle, I enjoy my purchases more,” she explains. Tips for a successful no spend month If you’re considering starting a no-spend month, Dr. Williams recommends a balanced approach. “Avoid being too restrictive. Give yourself a little flexibility, or set a limit on how much you can spend on non-essentials,” she says. Lyons adds that it’s important to give yourself grace: “Don’t get wrapped up in perfection. If you slip up, reflect on why and learn from it.” Share your plans with friends and family to hold yourself accountable, and unsubscribe from any email lists or social media pages that may tempt you. Keeping track of your success throughout the month, such as marking a calendar for each no-spend day, will help you keep motivated and focused on your goals. A no-spend month is more than just a financial reset; it’s an opportunity to reduce stress, be creative, and live more deliberately. And at the end of the month, you may discover that the benefits go far beyond simply saving money.The post 5 ways a ‘no-spend month’ can transform your life for the better first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

We may feel like God could never forgive us, but like Abraham, we must believe God’s promise of grace.

Young men are turning back to the church. As per recent reporting from The New York Times, Gen Z men are more religious than our female counterparts. Young men are staying in churches even as young women leave them—the gender breakdown of Gen Zers disaffiliating from religion is 54 percent to 46 percent, with women in the majority. In a world where two-fifths (40 percent) of Gen Z women describe themselves as “religiously unaffiliated,” only about a third (34 percent) of Gen Z men are willing to adopt the same label. As researchers ponder this unprecedented trend, a question emerges: Ought the church to view this reversal optimistically, as a sign of abnormal spiritual renewal; or cynically, as the inevitable result of widespread institutional disparity in which young men get the short end of the stick? Young Men as Patients Augustine is often attributed as saying, “The church is not a hotel for saints but a hospital for sinners.” If this is the case, American masculinity is a population of perfect patients. Young men in America are, by many meaningful metrics, not doing well. As I’ve written elsewhere, On average, men my age are underperforming academically and taking fewer specialized courses—if they pursue higher education at all, which we’re also doing less on average. In three decades, the number of men reporting having zero close friends has jumped fivefold, while suicide rates among men 25–34 years old have risen by 34 percent. My generation’s tragic decline is, in far too many cases, quite literally a matter of life and death. Social scientist Arthur Brooks lists four building blocks for human happiness: faith, family, work, and friends. Men are struggling with at least the latter two. Add to this the decreasing prominence of social spaces curated specifically for men, and you can begin to understand why many young men perceive themselves as having been cast aside even as the culture ran to support and empower young women. Young men in America are, by many meaningful metrics, not doing well. As researcher Richard Reeves points out, “The trend has been for male organizations to become co-ed, even as female ones remain single-sex, or at least keep their specific mission to serve girls and women. . . . We’ll look back on the decision of so many organizations, especially those focused on boys and young men, to abandon a single-sex approach as a mistake.” Church as Hospital Against that backdrop, then, why are young men picking the church? It isn’t an institution with a single-sex approach—arguably, its desire to be a space for both genders has played a major role in its status as a formative institution that shapes both congregant and culture, as opposed to a performative institution shaped by culture. And yet, that’s just it—young men are staying in the church because we believe the church actually offers something more than a pro-masculine space. It offers an anthropology rooted in biblical responsibility instead of earthly identity. If, as sociologist Philip Rieff noted in the 1960s, the church is once again becoming an institution people seek out for “a rationale for their misery,” Gen Z men’s willingness to stick with religion is no surprise at all. Young men who feel cast aside by a culture where fixing female struggles means ignoring male ones will be better served by a culture where fixing earthly struggles means reorienting to a heavenly philosophy of human purpose and vocation. To the Gen Z man, the one battling loneliness or disenfranchisement or the PornHub tab that’s too easy to click on, the postmodern vision of enforced gender parity where all are one in the equal sharing of identity-based misery is far inferior to the Christian vision of human equality where all are one in Christ. Opportunity So how should the church view this surge of young, meaning-starved, community-hungry men coming through its doors? The temptation to view this as an opportunity to immediately pump them full of culture-war training points is strong. But that comes later. The church offers an anthropology rooted in biblical responsibility instead of earthly identity. Before channeling that formative energy into what the church can get young men to do for society, we need to view young men’s willingness to stick with the church as an unexpected opportunity to correct the errors the world’s philosophy has fed them, whether through the godless extremes of the manosphere or the insidious male guilt that progressivism has so widely sown to teach young men their struggles are some oppressor’s burden to be borne in silence. The church needs to view young men rediscovering the value of church the same way as anyone who comes through the doors on a Sunday—as an individual capable of profound virtue and excellence, and one whose soul can be cared for best by lifting the profoundly heavy burden of postmodernity and replacing it with the easy yoke and light burden of the only One by whom man’s chief end is ever to be achieved.