Christmas has come and gone and 2014 is drawing to a close. With a new year just around the corner, here are a few articles and links to check out. May they be helpful and encouraging as you move into 2015!

Incredible Hyper-Realistic Cat Latte Art – Though I am not a big cat fan, these artistic expressions through the medium of my favorite drink are pretty impressive, assuming they aren’t photoshopped. If that’s the case, then I have one more reason to not like cats.

The Swiss Army Knife – For most of my life, I dismissed the Swiss Army Knife as a simple tool with a lot of blades and gadgets in it. I assumed they were all alike. And then I discovered the SAK Alox. I am sold on these little things, and have added a few to my collection. My favorite so far is the Cadet.

Passion Planner – I really have a soft spot for analog writing tools such as planners, journals, pens and old typewriters. The Passion Planner was a project I stumbled across on Kickstarter, and I pulled the trigger and sponsored it. They won’t ship until mid-January due to some logistical issues, but a downloadable PDF is available on their website for now. This looks like it could be a very practical tool.

Why Is It So Difficult To Manage Our Time? – I often hear people (myself included) complain about not having enough time. Recently, I’ve begun to wonder if that is true or not, and, if so, why? I ran across this article, and I think he may be on the right track for many of us.

The Power Of Checklists – With the new year just days away, many of us are looking at our lives, our goals, and our dreams to see how we can accomplish them in 2015. Here is an article about checklists that may be helpful.

The Best Free Bible Study Tools – Many people seek to improve their Bible study and reading with the beginning of a new year. I offer a free Bible Reading Plan booklet with all email subscriptions, but there are tons more great resources out there. Here are a few of the best freebies.

Ten Winter Dates With Your Wife – One of the hardest things to find time for around our home is a regular date night. We have six kids, and our seventh is on the way, so in order for this to happen, we have to specifically prioritize it. Here are ten ideas for winter dates from All Pro Dad.

The New Testament without the miracles would be far easier to believe. But the trouble is, would it be worth believing? – J. Gresham Machen