#genXthings

Some artists really get the incarnation.

Merry Christmas!

New signage for my study door.

Don't be hasty... #tolkien #entwatch

Here’s a Venn diagram of the nativity accounts of Matthew and Luke for your seasonal amusement.

Saw someone upbraiding someone else for having a hobby while the world is on fire, and, my friends:

1. The world is ever on fire, this is today's conflagration;

2. If you don't find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you;

3. Don't let people shame you for being an entire human.

I mean, she didn't mince words. #magnificat

Ember Days are coming. I'll be on a hermitage retreat next week at Presbyterian Clearwater Forest.

I try to take quarterly retreats every year roughly aligned with Ember Days. Do you have any regular retreat plans that you observe? #emberdays

If it looks like a carrot, just grin and bear it. (Get it? Bear it? Barrett? Heh? I'll show myself out.)

Question for Tolkienistas: When does a new day begin in the works of #Tolkien? Is it at sunrise? Sunset? Midnight? Midnight only makes sense if you have clocks, but hobbits had clocks according to Tolkien's own illustrations. Did various peoples reckon it differently?

a man with a mustache is brushing his teeth in front of a mirror ALT: a man with a mustache is brushing his teeth in front of a mirror

Post someone you've been told you look like, who you definitely don't look like.

Bad theology in Christmas songs is not a new thing, but this one is particularly egregious if for the sheer repetition of an obnoxious question. Hello? Do you never recite the Magnificat in worship? Probably not. #liturgy #marydidyouknow

I'm finishing my umpteenth read of LOTR and loving the Rose-Sam-Frodo throuple in the final chapter. #lotr #tolkien

My church has a Monday lunch program for high school kids who have open campus privileges. We often poll them to see what they want us to serve. Today it was bibimbap! I love everything about this. #pcusa

"A" is for Advent

It's effing Advent, bitches.

When I'm dead and forgotten, this one picture will still live on. And... I'm okay with that.

I took this picture 12 years ago of my then teenage kids carrying the tree home. Every year I post it on social media because it just speaks to the essence of the holidays, doesn't it?

If you haven't read "Rest Is Resistance" by Tricia Hersey I highly recommend it.

I challenge you when writing your holiday letters to NOT use the word "busy" anywhere.

Don't say "work has been busy" or "it's been a busy year for the Andersons" or "our teenager sure keeps us busy."

Instead speak of the things that bring you joy, create hope, increase love, and make for peace.

I hope you get sugar cream pie tomorrow. I miss sugar cream pie.

Enjoy Thanksgiving! In spite of the icky cultural baggage, it's still one of my favorite holidays.

Wow. Did no one WARN you? I pray you safely get to your destination unscarred.

#tolkien #chappellroan

Preaching the Narrative Lectionary and the reading was from Jeremiah about Jehoiakim burning Jeremiah's scroll and him having to start over from scratch. I related it to starting over the church year from scratch and what if we had to start from scratch with our theology. What are our base beliefs?

There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you,
Be what you're like,
Be like yourself,
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
#tmbg