25 Songs of Christmas – Silent Night

The Birth of Jesus. Luke 2:2-20 (NIV) In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee

25 Songs of Christmas – Oh Holy Night

This is my favorite song for one of my favorite night of the year.  I think the lyrics speak for themselves.

25 Songs of Christmas – Still, Still, Still

Done with the shopping, done with the traveling, done with the cookies, done with the manuscript, and done with the wrapping gifts.  Now is the time when I have nothing left to do that’s quite so pressing as preparing the way of the Lord.

25 Songs of Christmas – Celebrate Me Home

Today we travel.  It’s a long drive.  And those of you who follow my writing have likely realized that going “home” is always a complicated thing for me.  It’s never just easy to go back.  I think a lot of LGBT people get that.  Even with supportive friends and family like I have there a difference

25 Songs of Christmas – Go Where I Send Thee

Happy Solstice.  Aside from actual Christmas Eve/Day, this is my favorite part of the holiday season.  It’s a reminder that here in the longest night of the year, so many people of faith choose to celebrate the return of the light.  Hanukkah, Solstice, Diwali, Christmas, we all choose to turn from dark to light.  It’s a

25 Songs of Christmas – Belleau Wood

I posted this once a few years ago on a website and a bunch of people got into arguments in the comments about who could kicks who’s ass.  Army vs. Marines. USA vs England vs. Germany. War stories completely drowned out the message of the song. “Here’s hoping we both learn to see us find

25 Songs of Christmas – Strange Way To Save

I am reposting a blog for the first time ever, but I read it today when looking for this song and it still fits.  I found that interesting.  Also, it’s late in the day and while I’ve thought of this a lot I haven’t come up with anything to say that fits more than this.  So

25 Songs of Christmas – Joseph’s Lullaby

I saw Star Wars last night, and I’m not giving an spoilers here, but I am emotionally spent. This morning I talked to Jackson about the movie as best I could. I tried to prepare him without making too many assumption or revealing things that are his to learn in his own time.  He made

25 Songs of Christmas – Come and Worship

I am not a fan of the Santa/holly/sexy christmas songs.  I don’t really listen to Christmas on the radio for this reason.  I like the old Christmas hymns.  I like thinking about people several hundred years in the past facing the same problems and insecurities I face.  I like knowing they overcame them by looking

25 Songs of Christmas (and Star Wars) – Believe

Here in the Spangler house Christmas is a big deal.  And on an only slightly lesser scale, so is Star Wars. So, this year we are counting down to two holidays. I know that many of you who find me to be a model of Christian faith (look again) probably find this blog topic sacrilegious,