As you may or may not be aware, besides this diary-style blog site, I also have a Substack titled The Radical Ordinary, where I post longer, more substantive essays, on a whole variety of topics. I wanted to take the opportunity of a slower week here to highlight some of the recent things that I’ve published over there recently:

The Lectionary Series: The most regular thing you’ll find over there is a regular series that posts on Saturday nights, called The Lectionary. This is my regular Scriptural writing practice; each week, I take one (or sometimes more) of the Scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, and write a sort of mini-sermon. I also include that week’s Collect from the Book of Common Prayer.

My Top Television of 2024: A long piece, sharing my top ten tv shows of the year, some things that almost made the list, and other comments on things I’ve watched over the last year.

The Long Victory: Some reflections on Joe Biden, the pardon power, and the crumbling of democracy.

homelessness and the precarity of life: A short piece (that I also shared here) on the cruelty we show to the homeless and the struggling.

At the Crossroads: My piece from the days after the election, taking stock of things with the help of Sam and Frodo.

I’m really proud of much the writing I do over on Substack, and I’d be really grateful if you subscribe. It’s free, and it comes straight to your email inbox. Consider it your Christmas gift to me!

Today’s Song: “Where Rainbows Never Die” by the SteelDrivers

Another song from my Apple Music Replay; I love Chris Stapleton, and this selection from his early work with bluegrass band the SteelDrivers is one of my favorites of his vocals. As you’ll see over the coming days, I listened to a lot of Chris Stapleton this year.

Merry Christmas, and thanks to everyone who has taken time to read this year. I know there aren’t many of you, but I appreciate you all.

Today’s Song: Christmas LoFi Mix with Bing Crosby

What better way to celebrate Christmas morning than some lofi with Bing Crosby? I’m a lofi junkie and this set of six songs really hits the spot this time of year.

Ok, I was a little overly pessimistic about my odds of writing more this week. Since it’s Christmas Eve, I just wanted to take the opportunity to share a series of blog posts I did waaaayyyy back in 2015, titled “Myths of the Nativity.” Back then, I was much more into engaging Scripture via historical criticism, so those posts are heavy on that kind of thing. Being much more orthodox in my faith today, I don’t necessarily agree with everything I wrote back then, but they are interesting posts, in my opinion. Here’s how I described my goal in writing these back then:

Studying the text alongside commentaries and analysis reveals the shaky factual foundation of such things as the Roman census, the location of Bethlehem, the appearance of the magi, the identities and attributes of Mary and Joseph, the Virgin Birth, and the date of December 25th. The question emerges, what is left of Advent and Christmas when this foundation is shaken? How can we find meaning and power in a story that largely appears to be myth and embellishment?

There are seven posts in all, on these topics:

• Introduction
• Mary, Joseph and the Virgin Birth
• Bethlehem vs. Nazareth
• The Adoration: Magi and Shepherds
• the Flight to Egypt and Herod’s Decree
• The Meaning of December 25th, Christmas Trees, Advent
• Jolly Old St. Nick

Enjoy reading, and Merry Christmas Eve!

Today’s Song: “Grow” by The Oh Hello’s

I’m going to spend the next week or so, before the turn of the new year, highlighting some of the top songs from Apple Music Replay. These are the songs that were on my list more than any others this year. First up, my favorite song by one of my favorite bands in the world.