Skip to content ↓

Merry Christmas

Good morning, and merry Christmas!

It occurred to me as I lay in bed this morning that my family has turned a corner when it comes to Christmas. We’ve transitioned from the kids begging to be allowed to get up ridiculously early, to the kids wanting to be able to stay in bed as long as possible. And while there was something magical about the lie-awake-all-night excitement of little ones, I also don’t mind this slightly calmer approach.

Anyway, I expect I’ll begin to hear signs of life soon, and then hopefully our day will unfold according to our usual and much-loved traditions. We still do stockings for the kids, so they’ll begin with those. Then we’ll cook up a nice breakfast and eat together. Then we’ll get to those presents that have been waiting under the tree. That will bring us to a bit of a lull before we get into the whole turkey dinner routine.

And I guess this is where we will differ a little from our usual routine. We returned from my dad’s funeral almost a week ago, and I immediately got hammered with a brutal virus that had me in bed for four days—something that is unheard of for me. Yesterday was my first day back on my feet. Inevitably, Aileen came down with it as well, and she is now down and out. So that means cooking duty will fall largely to me! Thankfully cooking a turkey dinner is within my fairly limited list of abilities, so I think we’ll be okay.

Whatever the day holds: From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.


  • Free Stuff Fridays (Matthias Media)

    This week the blog and the giveaway have been sponsored by Matthias Media. Matthias Media is hosting Evangelize 2024 in Denver, Colorado on October 7-9, 2024. We have partnered with 10ofThose, Calvary Family of Churches and Vinegrowers to help you raise the evangelistic temperature at your church. We want to motivate and equip people to…

  • When Christians Disagree

    When Christians Disagree

    Wouldn’t it be nice if Christians only ever got along? Wouldn’t it be grand if all the discord we see in the world around us was completely foreign to the church? Wouldn’t it be heavenly if believers ever only experienced peace? I suppose it would be heavenly and, therefore, more than we can realistically hope…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (July 26)

    A La Carte: Therapy and bug men / How to have joy in hard times / Can a single pastor date in his church? / Life from barren ground / Shulamith Firestone was a prophet / Different ways of reading people we disagree with / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (July 25)

    A La Carte: What does it mean to die with dignity? / Did Paul endorse slavery? / Forgiveness in marriage / 5 ways to pursue contentment / The immense value of encouragement / and more.

  • Maybe We Make Meditation Too Difficult

    Maybe We Make Meditation Too Difficult

    Of all the Christian disciplines, it is my guess that meditation may be the least practiced—though I suppose fasting might have something to say about that. Most people diligently make time to read the Bible and pray. And yet, while most people have good intentions when it comes to meditation, it so often seems to…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 24)

    A La Carte: A mother to me, too / Never look your age? / Nine reminders for the struggle with body image / A ruler who trusts in Yahweh / No, I will not stop calling the church a family / Criminalizing sexual ethics / Bible journal sale / Kindle deals / and more.